Pork or not? Member items getting new scrutiny

The legal Crooks in Albany have been doing this for years. Nothing will change. If it wasn't taken to court we still wouldn't know where or how much money was involved. Why should our tax dollars go to places like they give to?
Our Senator from Orange Cty gave $10,000 to the local Little League who about a year ago gave $10,000 to a new Lacross team that was formed. Is this right? Is this what we are paying for from our income taxes, sales tax and gasoline tax?

How come Newsday didn't account for the $250.000 dollar grant given by Skelos to a bogus athletic group in Rockville Centre for a synthetic turf field for the high school. Maybe because the money is being filtered through the Dormitiory Auhtority. I don'r know how that could be, this group doesn't fit the criteria...

What an outrage! State funds should not be used to benefit a few citizens, they should be used to benefit the whole state.

If you give to one youth sports progrma than you must give to all, how about scouts, musicians or any other group.

NY SUCKS!

Skelos has a ball field named after him and it was built you YOUR tax dollars.
Edmund McMahon calls Members Items "Personal Philanthropy with other peoples money." These state legislators take credit for handing out YOUR money.
The Members Item fund is nothing more than a campaign slush fund. This year, the republicans gave extra money to republican senators who are in trouble in november. This just proves that it is all a scam and we the taxpayers are getting scammed.

http://nassaugopwatch.blogspot.com/2008/03/fu...

"Owen Johnson:$100,000 to the Long Island First Robotics Competition"

Are you saying this is bad, influencing thousands of kids into the world of engineering, technology, business, and much more. Is this a pork? Maybe one has to look beyond the numbers and into what matters.

Seer wrote:

What an outrage! State funds should not be used to benefit a few citizens, they should be used to benefit the whole state.
If you give to one youth sports progrma than you must give to all, how about scouts, musicians or any other group.
NY SUCKS!

Join a Communist government, there you will always be equal! Give it a try! Isn't it what you want?

New York voted for him.

This money would be better spent for food or medical care for those in need! BUT... these people don't vote. Politicians need to see that the public needs help.

Vote them out, change the laws, take back your state. Repeat the message to everyone you know.

NY Politicians with pork for their constituents who are carefully selected to get a public dole. It's all taxpayer money used by the powers of NY to selectively grant special money endearing favor to a select few.
Fair, NOT, but who would expect otherwise in New York Politics.
$410,000 granted to a single "Art Gallery in Setauket", by Legislator Englebright. That must be one special endearing constituent to repay. What a disgrace these NY Pols are by this robinhood style behavior.
Stop this favorite gift giving to political friends that costs NYers out of our own earnings for the few who are the elite ones with connections.

SantaClaus wrote:

NY Politicians with pork for their constituents who are carefully selected to get a public dole. It's all taxpayer money used by the powers of NY to selectively grant special money endearing favor to a select few.
Fair, NOT, but who would expect otherwise in New York Politics.
$410,000 granted to a single "Art Gallery in Setauket", by Legislator Englebright. That must be one special endearing constituent to repay. What a disgrace these NY Pols are by this robinhood style behavior.
Stop this favorite gift giving to political friends that costs NYers out of our own earnings for the few who are the elite ones with connections.

Have you done any research into the Gallery? It is a not-for-profit organization with significant ties into the community. From their web site: "Each year the gallery sponsors nine exhibitions in all media, the Gallery North/Joseph Reboli Wet Paint Festival, workshops with leading artists for both children and adults, an ArTalk series, scholarships for high school and university level art students, and the award-winning annual Outdoor Art Show. The Outdoor Art Show is staffed by community volunteers and Gallery personnel and helps to support the Gallery programs throughout the year."
The bulk of their financial support comes through fund raising endeavors in the private sector. Mr. Englebright's donation will help the gallery bring their 19th century buildings into the 21st century, clean up their grounds to make it a more appealing destination (drawing in more visitors) and increase programs to the public.
As a not-for-profit, there aren't any 'elite' ones profiting from Englebright's gift. As a matter of fact, most of the board gives generously to the Gallery -- they don't take from it.
This isn't some pop art gallery on the main drag of a tourist town; this is a 43 year-old institution which has served to promote Long Island artists and the Long Island community.
Newsday has a way of slanting things to meet their agenda. Had the Newsday 'reporter'been impartial, as opposed to trying to rile up taxpayers, you would have been given a real perspective as to the Gallery and it's operations.
As a community neighbor of this fine institution, I felt it was only fair to try and place the Gallery in the right light.