Westchester County Association’s “Call to Action Campaign” Rally Draws Nearly 1,000 People

May 26, 2010 - PRLog -- Nearly 1,000 businesses and individuals from across Westchester gathered recently and sent a strong message to New York State lawmakers that they must make substantive reforms now to control spending, lower taxes and consolidate services. Former New York City Mayor Ed Koch’s appearance highlighted the rally organized by The Westchester County Association’s (WCA) Call to Action Campaign. The gathering was held at the Rye Town Hilton in Rye Brook. Since February, the Call to Action Campaign has been mobilizing residents throughout Westchester and beyond to come together and make Albany lawmakers more accountable to taxpayers. The rally was the next phase of a sustained effort by the Call to Action Campaign and its partners requiring incumbents and challengers seeking election on November 2 to make a commitment to reform Albany.  

Koch, who is actively involved in seeking reforms in Albany, told the crowd that this was a unique election year because “people are tired and every incumbent is part of an endangered species. The key is that they know it and are scared to death they are going to lose.” He was optimistic that the WCA’s efforts— combined with those of a growing coalition of local, regional and state organizations— would prove effective in bringing about change.

William Mooney, WCA President, said: “Today, representatives from a broad section of economic sectors—business, construction, hospital, physician, banking, hotel, chambers of commerce and others—told our state lawmakers that out-of-control spending, sky-high taxes, excessive public sector compensation and costly inefficiencies are impacting all of us and can longer be sustained.”

He added: “This is a grass roots movement, not a fringe group. It’s not about Republicans or Democrats, it’s about businesses and taxpayers who want to save our state before it’s too late.  We intend to mobilize concerned citizens to speak in a unified voice and send an SOS distress message to Albany to Save Our State.”  

Speaking on behalf of the small business sector, Robin Murphy, co-owner of Maid Brigade, said:  “I’m fed up with tax money going to ‘stimulate’ union-run, mismanaged quasi government entities like the MTA that are supposedly too big to fail while my business is treated as too small to save.”

Alfred B. DelBello, WCA Chairman, said that the WCA Call to Action Campaign will ask all the candidates seeking New York State elected office to sign a pledge to:
•   Make a commitment to a balanced budget on time without increases taxes, fees, assessments or borrowing
•   Support a non-partisan commission to redraw legislative district lines
•   Promise not to vote for any unfunded mandates
•   Make full disclosure of all outside income.

The WCA will monitor how each candidate responds to the call to sign the pledge as well as adherence to its principles by those who are elected. It will also schedule a series of debates between the candidates in the fall. DelBello noted: “Our goal is to apprise the voters about where the incumbents and challengers stand on these critically important issues so that they make informed decisions on election day.”

Information about the candidates and the election can be obtained on the website, http://www.CalltoActionCampaign.org.
                 
The WCA’s Call to Action Campaign has gained broad-based support from local, regional and state-based organizations including the Long Island Association, National Federation of Independent Businesses, Unshackle Upstate, the Building and Realty Institute, Builders Institute, Construction Industry Council, the Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce, the Northern Metropolitan Hospital Association, Sleepy Hollow Chamber of Commerce, Westchester Bankers Association, Westchester County Medical Society and the Westchester Hotel Association.

Brian Sampson, Executive Director of Unshackle Upstate, said: “The WCA continues to be the voice of reform for the Westchester business community.  Their call for reducing state spending, reducing the tax burden and decreasing state debt should be embraced by anyone who is frustrated with New York State government.”

Daniel R. Perkins, Vice President of Government Affairs Long Island Association, Inc, stated: "During this economic downturn, it is an oxymoron to try and balance the deficit on the backs of small business through onerous taxes such as the MTA Mobility Tax and not focusing more on stoking the engines of economic development to pull us out of this mess."  

Mike Elmendorf, New York State Director of the NFIB, New York’s leading small business advocacy organization, said: “If we are going to pull New York out of its economic death spiral, we need real change in Albany, and that requires real leadership.  Only through the active engagement of citizens, business owners and taxpayers can we force the accountability and responsibility that New Yorkers deserve and demand from Albany.”

Mooney asked supporters to take 8 action steps to help the initiative succeed:

1)   Join the Call To Action Campaign

2)   Follow which candidates are signing  "The Pledge".

3) Visit the Call to Action website, www.CalltoActionCampaign.org, and keep track of how your candidates are voting and what they're saying

4) Spread the word to your neighbors, friends, co-workers and business associates to join the Call to Action!

5) Speak out by contacting your legislator on our Call to Action website

6) Attend the WCA candidates debates this Fall

7) Donate today by making a contribution to the Call To Action Campaign

8)  Vote on November 2nd