tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33594888.post3467499400403485019..comments2023-10-30T06:13:34.382-04:00Comments on Supervisor Feiner: GREENBURGH DEMOCRACY week of August 13 Please post commentsPaul Feinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17087805120754057844noreply@blogger.comBlogger105125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33594888.post-20847038971141052562007-08-21T23:28:00.000-04:002007-08-21T23:28:00.000-04:00anon-idiot- 6:11I'll move upstate when you croak!r...anon-idiot- 6:11<BR/><BR/>I'll move upstate when you croak!<BR/><BR/>rjgAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33594888.post-8297304474892296772007-08-21T06:11:00.000-04:002007-08-21T06:11:00.000-04:00Gaffy - suggetion - move upstate where there is mo...Gaffy - suggetion - move upstate where there is more land and take the wall with you. A great first step to improve greenburgh.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33594888.post-70558316651093284082007-08-20T21:45:00.000-04:002007-08-20T21:45:00.000-04:00Mr. Lasser-Thanks for your letter. You know Bernst...Mr. Lasser-<BR/><BR/>Thanks for your letter. You know Bernstein better than I do, and you may have a better sense of what he has been up to. But in my reading of the affadavit, it seems to me that Bernstein had to play out his hand so that Troy would accept a smaller piece of the pie. Is that so? Maybe! <BR/><BR/>Does Edgemont have a right to form itself into a village? I believe they have that right. Do the numbers work? Maybe! can they be tweaked? Maybe!<BR/><BR/>But some of my friends in Edgemont, and I do have friends there, are long-time political people, one was even a party official, do not think it will work. Others say that the Edgemont study committee (EVEC) rejected the concept.But times and attitudes change. We all know nothing is set in stone. <BR/><BR/>Franly I believe in political choices and the two-party system. It is important for our community and the country. If it cannot work, lets go to an open primary and a runoff, and let everyone vote.<BR/><BR/>But today the primary rules, and only a fraction of the electorate will participate. That's too bad!<BR/><BR/>With regards to this blog, you at least sign your name, with three or so others. Does that signify that all of us have not written anonymously? No! But for sure there is no solid proof of the authorship of any of this claptrap! But, it is interesting that 95% of all of the criticism brought on Paul Feiner comes from anonymous contributions.<BR/><BR/>Hal Samis and myself (and we do not communicate or coordinate our thoughts under any stretch of the imagination,) have defended Paul Feiner and have attacked his opponents, and his political rivals, on the Board and off it, from different perspectives.<BR/><BR/>Samis was a brutal critic of Paul's, and time and time again, I defended Paul from his attacks. I have no partnership with him. But he has shown great insight and reason on this blog. Maybe he feels that Paul is the lesser of two evils or he has started to understand Paul's style of governing.<BR/><BR/>But for whatever reason, politics is the art of the possible, and compared to the average politician in Westchester, from Nick Spano to Clinton Young and to many others, Paul is an honest hard-working saint.<BR/><BR/>Yes, he has raised money! Is it tainted money, which bought his vote? No!<BR/><BR/>That's the bottom line. If people don't like Chase Caro, or decisions on WestHelp or other issues then vote for Berger. I would be astounded if any thinking person believes she is qualified. I believe she has been incredibly unfair as the party chairperson. I saw her in action in the summer of 2004 at a gathering of Kerry supporters at Rudy's Beau Rivage. She was hoorible and unfair to Paul then and there. Before I knew who the hell she was, I asked her why Paul was not allowed to speak! Of course she had no good reason, but said to me that it was Brodsky's party and he decided the agenda. So she the party boss, or tool, and played perfectly the role of the stooge. Well she still is one!<BR/><BR/>But this blog, which reflects much of the vitriole displayed at the Town Board over the last five years, is basically a forum for character assassination. Robert Bernstein is the new leader of that fading pack, which I characterized as the CABAL years ago. Even one unidentified wag (moron) accused me of anti-Semitism. That's a stretch! If I ever confront that slanderer he/she would need a new head.<BR/><BR/>Most of them, and I will not recount their names, have fallen by the wayside. They were either bored with their own rethoric or became tired of the counter-attacks. I came into this picture five years ago as a political person from White Plains, who was fed up with the Democratic organization there. I know, and get along quite well, with all the personalities from Al Delvecchio, to Joe Delfino, to Mike Keating, to Glen Hockley, to Paul Schwarz and all the others one can think of. I just got tired or party politics, and when Richard Ottinger, who my wife worked for for eight years, retired in the 1980's, I concentrated on national issues.<BR/><BR/>By accident I wound up in Greenburgh, and was invited down to the Town Hall by Paul Feiner and got an earful. Since that time I felt compelled to form a defense for Paul, for whom I regard as a decent full-time progressive politician, who likes new ideas and puts people first. I know political people all over the County, including County Legislator Marty Rogowsky, who is the current majority leader. I was his campaign manager in 1976. Most political people I know have a high respect for Paul's energy, work and concern for people. <BR/><BR/>So he has been in a long-time and he has beaten many people like Tolchin, Bronz, Abinanti, Greenawalt and others. He's not a glad-hander, and not a deal-maker, and not an organization flunky, but an independent hard-working Supervisor, and, yes, a politician. But his enemies have never forgotten their losses and he stands in the way of the Brodsky thirst for power.<BR/><BR/>So since "November Doesn't Count," and the election will be decided in September, you have one choice!<BR/>It is in the primary, and the choice must be Feiner and his running mates. This way Bernstein and his acolytes will fade away and we will go back to normality.<BR/><BR/>But thanks for contributing to civil discourse. I wish only that the personal attacks that started with Krauss, O'Shea, Sheehan and many others would finally cease. I believe that with a Feiner victory and a clean sweep a new and more harmonious era will begin. <BR/><BR/>Richard J. Garfunkel<BR/><BR/>PS: To the moron that is hung up over the wall at Presser Park, get a life. If I had room on my townhouse lawn I would gladly have that wall. I am gratified and honored that many youngsters put the time and effort into remembering the fallen herose and innocent souls lost on 9/11!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33594888.post-29142989933482608222007-08-20T21:38:00.000-04:002007-08-20T21:38:00.000-04:00People are so intolerant. Many people are happy w...People are so intolerant. Many people are happy with the wall. Stop trying to force your views on everybody.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33594888.post-2696092549592784722007-08-20T21:01:00.000-04:002007-08-20T21:01:00.000-04:00The concept of the wall at Presser Park was initia...The concept of the wall at Presser Park was initiated by some sort of society,the rotary club. Feiner and the town board only gave permission for them to put up the wall at Presser park.<BR/>Feiner had nothing to do with the drawings or final construction. <BR/>Please stop putting all the blame on Feiner. <BR/>You should respect each and everyone who passed away on that day. What have you done to remember the 911 victims. Think about it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33594888.post-89340843655589434062007-08-20T17:11:00.000-04:002007-08-20T17:11:00.000-04:00gaffy - should we order a crew to move the presser...gaffy - should we order a crew to move the presser park wall to your front lawn?<BR/><BR/>contrary to what you say (how should you know anyway you live so far away),presser park went downhill the minute that wall feiner wanted was put up. shame on feiner and juettner too - liaison to the parks dept!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33594888.post-8543057098415170612007-08-20T15:58:00.000-04:002007-08-20T15:58:00.000-04:00Dear Mr. Garfunkel -There is another possible expl...Dear Mr. Garfunkel -<BR/>There is another possible explanation for the Troy affidavit averring that Barnes and Bass were trying to engineer a deal for an Edgemont Town Hall. The deponent might just be shading the truth. A reasonable person might infer that the affidavit contains errors of fact because your nemesis Bernstein would never refer to the allegedly proposed use as a Town Hall when the proper term would, if that were the intended use, designate the parcel for a Village Hall. The only people who refer to Edgemont's investigation of incorporating as a village as an attempted secession are a small, very intense group who, for reasons they have never articulated, fear even the discussion. If Greenburgh can have six villages, why is a seventh such heresy? If Edgemont voters chose to incorporate what would be inherently wrong with their choice? <BR/>Please stop using the emotional charged, and completely inaccurate, term "secession". Only the incorporated villages have threatened to leave Greenburgh - Edgemont never has.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33594888.post-25960988763127858552007-08-20T15:52:00.000-04:002007-08-20T15:52:00.000-04:00Anything that Feiner did, he did with the consent ...Anything that Feiner did, he did with the consent of the Town Council.<BR/><BR/>If the Town Council could show up for all the photo-ops, they can also show up for the blame. There is enough to spread around<BR/><BR/>Bass. Barnes & Juettner<BR/>the Greenburgh version of <BR/>Larry, Curly & Moe<BR/><BR/>Just three votes!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33594888.post-42806890414611277632007-08-20T15:28:00.000-04:002007-08-20T15:28:00.000-04:00Do you idiots think that you are clever by distort...Do you idiots think that you are clever by distorting someone's name? At least Garfunkel signs his name, which is more than you do. I won't sign mine because I see what you idiots do.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33594888.post-80212918424551866202007-08-20T14:55:00.000-04:002007-08-20T14:55:00.000-04:00hey gaffy - you think the wall is so wonderful? (y...hey gaffy - you think the wall is so wonderful? (you dont say that do you....) lets take a vote whether to move it to either your front lawn or boulder ridge, the gated community where feiner lives.<BR/><BR/>what is really disgusting was the use of FEMA funds in the construction of the wall and the gift to the rotary of the other side of the wall which is also hideous. you want to see a fitting and well thought out memorial - go to kensico dam - what feiner gave us in greenburgh is an eyesore so he could issue a press release. shame on feiner.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33594888.post-9977436436704773102007-08-20T12:46:00.000-04:002007-08-20T12:46:00.000-04:00Anon 11:55AM I don't know or care who you are. But...Anon 11:55AM <BR/><BR/>I don't know or care who you are. But for sure you repeat the same drivil and mindless claims, time and time again. Your soapbox is worn out to splinters. The contributions, the story of WestHelp, the developers, and the mismanagement claims have been proven time and time again to be spurious. <BR/><BR/>Your remarks about Webb Field are pretty disgusting and insensitive. It is a memorial for 9/11 and it has not ruined the field or any vista of the field. it was put together by Westchester students, and your views are offensive.<BR/><BR/>Of course you don't have the guts to sign your name, so anything you write is questionable. You hide like a night-rider under a sheet, your cloak of anonymity. Come out of the darkness you guttersnipe and have the courage to say what you believe.<BR/><BR/>Feiner, like all the others, will stand on his record, face the electorate, not like yourself, and hopefully he will be again "hired" by the people. That is what democracy is about. It is not about nameless character assassins. I state my remarks at the Town Board, write letters to the editor, and sign this blog. <BR/><BR/>I note that members of the hate-oriented CABAL have secret meetings with the Board members and developers. I also recall unsigned campaign notes posted at the Hartsdale RR Station in 2005 slandering the Supervisor and his running mates.<BR/><BR/>But this tactic of hit and run and 11th hour slander and lies is not new. Last year it was the Feiner Team that was slandered over "choice," the Tappen Zee Bridge, and real estate. The Fair Campaign Practice Board ruled against Town Board Members, who were defended by Suzanne Berger, the party boss! Have you read about here court cases regarding housing and being on the other side of the NAACP?<BR/><BR/>What is your feeling about Bryan, Cave, secession by Edgemont and the breakup of Greenburgh?<BR/><BR/>Maybe you did not know that Bass and Barnes, when they were interviewed by the Scarsdale Inq., all stated they were diametrically opposed to secession by Edgemont. Wow! How come, according to the Troy sworn affadavit, (not mine)Bass was attempting to engineer a referendum on the Dromore property that would have given land to Edgemont wheeler-dealers? How come Barnes, a defender of Fairview, got sucked into this web of deceit? Did she understand the impact that seccession would have on the Young Center and her constituents? Obviously not!<BR/><BR/>Why don't you address that chicanery? I am not an apologist for the Supervisor, but a strong supporter. There is a difference.<BR/><BR/>So when you have the guts to sign your name, your issues will be addressed.<BR/><BR/>Richard J. GarfunkelAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33594888.post-43998016599651293602007-08-20T12:23:00.000-04:002007-08-20T12:23:00.000-04:00when millions are given away under false (or disho...when millions are given away under false (or dishonest) pretenses and there is no accounting as to how the money illegally given was spent (which is now under a separate audit byt he state comptroller), such circumstances can certainly be called corrupt. one might add that the money was given as a salve to the mayfair-knollwood folks who decried the homeless families living at the shelter on the grounds of westcheser community college. now we learn of 10 grand being given by a member of the mayfair knollwood community to the supervisor who became a lobbyist in chief for this tainted transaction.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33594888.post-83719981467999570052007-08-20T11:49:00.000-04:002007-08-20T11:49:00.000-04:00With Westhelp ,I think the county was also involve...With Westhelp ,I think the county was also involved ,With it's conception. Check it out ,because you keep putting the blame only on The Greenburgh Supervisor.<BR/>I also think some of the Board members also voted to proceed in giving the money to Westhelp.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33594888.post-1862419033282562142007-08-20T11:35:00.000-04:002007-08-20T11:35:00.000-04:00The Westhelp deal wasn't corrupt. It was unconsti...The Westhelp deal wasn't corrupt. It was unconstitutional. It made sense when it was done some years ago.<BR/><BR/>Calling it corrupt is just the typical way that Feiner-haters speak when they have no substance to their charges, which is most of the time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33594888.post-3420277949701887682007-08-20T10:55:00.000-04:002007-08-20T10:55:00.000-04:00gaffe-funkel cant hide from the fact that greenbur...gaffe-funkel cant hide from the fact that greenburgh has reached a political dead end with feiner. <BR/><BR/>only feiner defends the corrupt deal with westhelp. among other gaffes by feiner include the taxter ridge giveaway and thaat hideous webb field wall. now we learn that feiner took 10 grand from disbarred attorney chase caro from the mayfair - knollwood section. a person with true integrity would return the money to chase caro's victims. i really wonder - how does feiner sleep at night?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33594888.post-76251664783746340612007-08-20T09:55:00.000-04:002007-08-20T09:55:00.000-04:00samis - do not copy and paste entire newspaper art...samis - do not copy and paste entire newspaper articles - it's copyright lawAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33594888.post-75356203682490732322007-08-20T08:28:00.000-04:002007-08-20T08:28:00.000-04:00Regarding Anon 7:36 AM:As I recall the WestHelp vo...Regarding Anon 7:36 AM:<BR/><BR/>As I recall the WestHelp vote was 5-0, and therefore I believe that the Board's role regarding oversight failed. There have been countless explanations regarding the dispersal of funds, and as I recall recent audits have accounted for the monies. The onus on spending resides with the Valhalla School Board.<BR/><BR/>You call Feiner's budgetary prudence penny-pinching and foolish, but most understand that government has its limitations, and the problem many face in Westchester, and Greenburgh, is high local taxes, mostly coming from school budgets that are out of the control of any elected official including the Supervisor. Central 7 has a Board and they meet, allocate funds, and they can hire and fire administrators. Why don't you go after Chuck Bronz and his fellow Board members?<BR/><BR/>In the history of this region one couple lost their lives over a tragic and unusual accident. Most sensible and feeling individuals mourn this horrible loss of life. I have been a resident here for over six decades and thankfully this has happened with incredible rareness. So blame the Supervisor for Mother Nature. With regards to the insurance coverage, it was in line with many neighboring communities, he didn't reject the recommendations of the Board, or any of the underwriters. Yes, there can always be more coverage. But insurance expense always falls in the category of "risk, reward," and it is a decision that is shared across the Board. What is the evidence that the Supervisor rejected a call for greater coverage?<BR/><BR/>I noticed recently that Board Member Bass came into direct conflict with Con ED over tree trimming, and because of his actions, Con Ed said, that Greenburgh should take on the expense. It didn't seem that Bass's gambit worked.<BR/><BR/>There are an unlimited amount of trees in Greenburgh and the Town hired an arborist and the expense and time of loooking at every tree is titanic. I suggest that anon 7:36 volunteer to be part of NGO to work on the trees.<BR/><BR/>But when a tree ordinance regarding a ban on the "clear cutting" of trees on private property in Edgemont came up, with the support from the Supervisor, Board member Bass and his supporters, the McNally's, balked and the tree legislation has languished.<BR/><BR/>The Supervisor has been accused of accepting money from developers. As I recall that practice has gone on with every candidate and office holder from time and memorial. But the difference has been that the Supervisor has never been influenced by campaign gifts, plain and simple. His honesty is well-known and highly respected. There has never been a connection between the Supervisor and any nefarious deal, and your claims, as usual, are spurious.<BR/><BR/>With regards to infrastructure, the Parking Authority is working on the E.Hartsdale Parking structure and does it through their own revenue authority. The tennis facilities at Veteran's Park have been stalled by litigation initiated by Robert Bernstein. The recreation department's budget regarding the repair and enhancement of existing fields is always growing and work is constantly in motion. The Supervisor fought for repairs of the Metro North Bridge at Hartsdale and has insisted on making it accessable for the handicapped.<BR/><BR/>The Court House and the Police Headquarters are being renovated and under the Supervisor's watch our new Town Hall was acquired and the antiquated shack that served as Town Hall for decades has been fianlly removed.<BR/><BR/>So what are your real claims and issues? My sense is that you hide under the cloak of anonyminity because you do not have the courage to put your name under your silly piece. If you did, all of us would know that you are just another member of the fading CABAL that has wreaked havoc on Greenburgh for years. <BR/><BR/>Richard J. GarfunkelAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33594888.post-64169872064676048572007-08-20T07:36:00.000-04:002007-08-20T07:36:00.000-04:00hey gaffe-funkel, why do you always fail to say yo...hey gaffe-funkel, why do you always fail to say you are feiner's campaign manager? feiner was the engineer behind one of the worst fiasco's in the town's history - WestHelp. You speak of bond ratings - feiner's penny wise and pound foolish budgeting (and incompetence) caused the town to be vastly undersinsured when a serious accident (caused by a falling tree) occurred causing death and destruction on a local couple - feiner's neglect resulted in the failure to fund an adequate tree maintenance plan in the park district where the tree fell. feiner has been caught solicting thousands of dollars in campaign funds from developers and those with applications pending before the town board and its various boards. <BR/>We have had 16 years of feiner's gadfly antics, inability to focus on true priorties like infrastructure. Under his watch, the central seven school district has collapsed and hartsdale has been maginalized. The town has reached a political dead end under feiner. Time to sweep him from office.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33594888.post-30961484181903910552007-08-19T22:35:00.000-04:002007-08-19T22:35:00.000-04:00In response to Anonymous contributors complaining ...In response to Anonymous contributors complaining about E. Hartsdale and Central Avenues!<BR/><BR/>I was on East Hartsdale Avenue this morning, and I have been on it countless times since my uncle practiced dentistry, with an office there, after the last World War. The street is a typical small mixed-use commercial thoroughfare like many that can be visited thoughout Westchester County, and I have been on everyone, on and off, for the last 55+ years. Whether it is Main Street in White Plains, of Huguenot Avenue in New Rochelle, or the Boston Post Road, or White Plains Post Road in Eastchester, or Gramatan Avenue in Mount Vernon, or Mamaroneck Avenue in Mamaroneck, all these streets are heavily trafficked. East Hartsdale Avenue is in an area that services a train station; a bridge crossing the Bronx River and its parkway, and it is one of the few routes that one can travel across the county’s small rivers. There is also a heavy concentration of apartment buildings and a tremendous flow of traffic from Central Avenue to Scarsdale. It is what it is! It is not the responsibility of the Supervisor to prevent every natural disaster, and for sure it is not the Town, or the Supervisor’s responsibility to be the rental agent for the property owners. <BR/><BR/>The Supervisor has spent countless hours on that street promoting commerce and stimulating interest for both potential retail interests and consumers. He knows all the merchants, haveasked them for their input and has initiated action there for years. <BR/><BR/>Parking is difficult, traffic is heavy, and the public has been fleeing from these small commercial areas for years. How come with all the commuters, who constantly walk to the station and live nearby, a supermarket cannot exist? Supermarkets today need very large square footage to prosper, and there is not an adequate amount of parking to satiate their needs. Is that his or the Town’s fault? Meanwhile, many who carp about the need for expensive beautification, worry about high taxes in the same breath. Today, nothing comes cheap! As for Central Avenue, I see the parking lots that service the stores along Central Avenue and Route 119 constantly filled. Are shoppers being driven away by the lack of traffic mediums or beautification? No!<BR/><BR/>There are age-old struggles between commercial and residential areas. Everyone wants easy access to stores, adequate parking and wonderful leafy glades surrounding stately architecture to shop comfortably without a hassle. If you are interested in that type of venue, I suggest you shop on Pondfield Road in Bronxville or downtown in Scarsdale. But living there is another story, if you can afford the price tag, be my guest. By the way, even the Miracle Mile on Northn Boulevard in Nassau County fell apart because of inadequate parking! Whate else is new? <BR/><BR/>Therefore grousing about commercial areas seems a fool’s journey. My sense is that our local community, and its citizens, would be much better served by accuating less expensive healthcare, better and more affordable funding sources for our schools, affordable housing for the middle class, and less expensive government services. These goals are not easy to attain. In the Town of Greenburgh, taxes have not risen in the past few years, our bond ratings have increased three times in the last five years, services have been excellent, and public safety is record is second to none in Westchester. The Supervisor is accessible on a 24/7 basis, and has been an affective negotiator with developers and has kept the interests of the village residents who make up almost half of the Town population, at the top of his agenda. No elected official in Westchester has been more farsighted, progressive and more concerned with the environment, alternate energy solutions, and conservation.<BR/><BR/>Meanwhile, Ms. Suzanne Berger has sent out her first mailing and she wants to return to fiscal responsibility and transparency, but she has engineered a 6-7 figure contract for her law firm, Bryan, Cave with the Town, with the complete support of Board Member Francis Sheehan. Is that wrong? Well she is the current Greenburgh Democratic Party Chair, and a high percentage of her contributions come from Bryan Cave! A vast amount of the contributors live outside of Greenburgh. She claims they are friends for twenty years! Do you really believe that? She also states that she wants to stay out of court! Well, it has been the Board that has authorized a legal defense fund for themselves, and the new Ethics Board. It has been her ally, and Feiner-hater, Bob Bernstein that has sued the Town. She states, that she knows the law inside and out! But she has taken contributions from three judges. These contributions are unethical and illegal. She states that she wants to keep out parks and neighborhoods from overdevelopment. How does one over develop a “Park?” That statement is obvious flummery. She talks about making housing available to teachers – as well as our police officers. What is her housing plan, and why hasn’t it been revealed, and when will it be offered to the electorate?<BR/><BR/>She wants to end squabbles on the Town Board. In other words she will cave in to Francis Sheehan and his colleagues that were meeting illegally to finesses a real estate deal in Edgemont, which would "buffalo" the voters into supporting a moratorium on housing to protect the current schools population, while turning over property to the control of her political allies. She states that she will bring people together! Where is evidence of that? She promises in her last sentence that she will “re-focus our Town Government back on our schools and other priorities.” How does she plan to usurp the authority the local school boards? There are nine schools systems that serve all or part of Greenburgh. What are the “other priorities” and where and how does she intend to intervene regarding the schools? A lot of voters would like to know how she intends to engineer that “slight of hand” trick.<BR/><BR/>In other words, her campaign piece is full of platitudes, with nothing concrete, and basically fluff without substance. She talks of “transparency,” well her piece is so transparent that it could be made of Saran Wrap! <BR/><BR/>Richard J. GarfunkelAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33594888.post-67212564741889928182007-08-19T21:48:00.000-04:002007-08-19T21:48:00.000-04:00Dear 5:49PM,Interesting isn't it that onions have ...Dear 5:49PM,<BR/><BR/>Interesting isn't it that onions have layers.<BR/><BR/>Pop Quiz. What is Superlawyer Magazine?<BR/><BR/>Time's up.<BR/>Let me answer for you.<BR/><BR/>From The Wall Street Journal (WSJ.com)<BR/>July 21,2006 by Peter Lattman<BR/><BR/>"New Jersey Says "Super Lawyers" is Super Misleading"<BR/><BR/>New Jersey's Committee on Attorney Advertising ruled this week that lawyer advertising in a publication called "New Jersey Super Lawyers" violates state rules of professional conduct. The publisher plans to contest the decision.<BR/><BR/>New Jersey is the first state to rule that advertising in "Super Lawyers" -- which published different editions in 21 states -- violates professional conduct rules. The Garden State prohibits lawyer advertisements that either are comparitive in nature or would create unjustified expectations, and the "Super Lawyer" designation could give consumers a false impression, the committee said. The committee, which is appointed by the New Jersey Supreme Court, also wrote: "Participation in a survey of this type, where an attorney knows or reasonably should know that the survey would lead to a descriptive label that is inherently comparitive such as "Super Lawyer" is inappropriate."<BR/><BR/>Concidentally, earlier this week a glossy magazine slipped out of our New York Times called "New York Super Lawyers: The Essential Guide to the Top Attorneys in Mnahattan." It's the NYC version of Super Lawyers. In addition to a list of "Super Lawyers," the publication has original editorial content. Super Lawyers is a clearly labeled advertising supplement published by Minneapolis-based publisher Law & Politics, a division of Key Professional Media.<BR/><BR/>The New Jersey committee had problems with the methodology the publication uses to award the "Super Lawyer" designation. First, said the committee, the publication doesn't provide enough detail on its methodology available. Second, the committee wrote, "A careful review of the selective aspects of the promotional methodology, however, underscores the arbitrary selection and ranking process used by the publisher, and provides no empirical or legally sanctioned support for the results".<BR/><BR/>According to "Super Lawyers," its survey select 5% of a state's attorney population for inclusion in its publications. In New Jersey, which has an estimated 38,000 lawyers according to the American Bar Assocaition, that means roughly 1,900 lawyers receive the "Super Lawyer" designation.<BR/><BR/>"These self-aggrandizing titles have the potential to lead an unwary consumer to believe that the lawyers so described are, by virture of this manufactured title, superior to their colleagues who practice in the same areas of law," says the committee's opinion. "This simplistic use of a media-generated sound bite title clearly has the capacity to materially mislead the public."<BR/><BR/>Can you think of anything more embarrassing than if someone were to do the research and find that Mr. Caro was also a "Super Lawyer"?<BR/><BR/>I'm signing off now, I think I just heard an ambulance go by. Perhaps you want to give Bob a call.<BR/><BR/>But maybe you should reconsider your statement about taking Bernstein's word over anything you hear from (speaking only for myself) Samis.<BR/><BR/>Hurry with that call, it might even be a falling tree case.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33594888.post-14262738583252844932007-08-19T18:58:00.000-04:002007-08-19T18:58:00.000-04:00If the Troy Attorney had no right to subpeona Fran...If the Troy Attorney had no right to subpeona Francis, why was Sheehan scared to show up to the Zoning Board Meeting????Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33594888.post-43963226146730617572007-08-19T17:58:00.000-04:002007-08-19T17:58:00.000-04:00When will Bernstein, Sheehan, Barnes, Juettner, Mc...When will Bernstein, Sheehan, Barnes, Juettner, McNally, Bass agree to take sworn testimony so we can find out the truth about One Dromore?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33594888.post-5842258477471512502007-08-19T17:56:00.000-04:002007-08-19T17:56:00.000-04:00Feiner never hired Caro to be his lawyer.Feiner never hired Caro to be his lawyer.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33594888.post-21178624803731015672007-08-19T17:55:00.000-04:002007-08-19T17:55:00.000-04:00Dear Anon 5:49,Since Bernstein isn't running, does...Dear Anon 5:49,<BR/><BR/>Since Bernstein isn't running, does this mean you'll vote for Berger? <BR/><BR/>Do you think that a vote for Berger is a vote for Mr.Super Duper lawyer Bernstein?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33594888.post-6101669547611247912007-08-19T17:49:00.000-04:002007-08-19T17:49:00.000-04:00Feiner hired convicted felon and Mayfair Knollwood...Feiner hired convicted felon and Mayfair Knollwood lawyer Chase Caro to be his lawyer on WestHELP -- the day after Caro bounced a $310,000 check to one of his elderly clients. <BR/><BR/>Bob Bernstein is also a lawyer. He raised the issue of Feiner's hiring Caro, of Feiner taking $10,000 from Caro, and of Feiner's having accepted tens of thousands of dollars from developers with applications pending before the town. <BR/><BR/>Bernstein is also the lawyer who said Feiner was breaking the law in charging only the town's unincorporated area for the cost of parks and recreational facilities that are open townwide to all town residents, and so far, the courts have agreed with him. <BR/><BR/>Bernstein works for a prestigious international law firm and was recently named by Superlawyer Magazine as one of the New York metro area's "Super Lawyers" for 2007.<BR/><BR/>I'll take Bernstein's word over anything Feiner, Caro or Samis have to say.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com