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Archive for the 'Eliot Engel' Category

Engel pushes for anti-terror funding for Rockland

April
21

Rockland County has long been excluded from receiving federal anti-terrorism funding as part of the New York City-metropolitan area security net.

Sheriff James Kralik has raised the issue of Rockland being excluded from the Urban Area Securities Initiative since after Sept. 11, 2001. Several years ago, then Assemblyman Ryan Karben, D-Monsey, and Legislator Ellen Jaffee, who succeeded Karben in the Assembly, raised the issue, as have other county officials.

Now, Rep. Eliot Engel. D-Bronx, who represents parts of Rockland and Westchester counties, has picked up the gauntlet. The argument has been that Rockland is not a potential target for terrorism. The county has marked several sites, including the Tappan Zee Bridge, power plants and grips, malls and neighborhoods, as potential targets.

“Rockland in an integral part of the area, and with the Tappan Zee Bridge and the New York State Thruway, it has primary terrorist targets as well,” Engel said in a news release. “The various Metropolitan area agencies that are a part of UASI must be willing to include Rockland in our safety net. It’s time for the security net around New York City to be complete. New York State should take a leadership role in making this happen.”

For an area to be a part of the UASI funding it must be contiguous with New York City, such as Westchester, or an agency in the city, such as the Port Authority. Only a small part of Rockland is considered contiguous. Engel, there are notable exceptions. Suffolk County, which is separated from New York City by all of Nassau County, nevertheless gets UASI funds.

Last year , Engel got an additional $20 million included in the Urban Area Securities Initiative budget, raising it to $850 million, and this year he is working to get it raised again, this time to $900 million.

“Now it’s time for Rockland to be included,” Engel said. “The other agencies funded under UASI are reluctant to give up a share of the funding that would go to Rockland, but that is why I got additional money put in last year’s budget, and why I’m fighting to get an additional increase in this year’s budget.”

Posted by Steve Lieberman on Monday, April 21st, 2008 at 2:03 pm |

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IRS holds “Super Saturday” for stimulus returns

March
25

U.S. Rep. Eliot Engel’s office announced today that the Internal Revenue Service would open sites and be available by phone to assist residents who are eligible for the upcoming economic stimulus payment, but who don’t regularly file an income tax return.

On Saturday, the IRS will assist residents with the 1040A form that residents are filing solely to receive a stimulus payments. Most IRS offices across the country will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., though some will have longer hours.

Residents can call the IRS hotline at 800-906-9887 for free assistance locations.Taxpayers with economic stimulus questions on March 29, they can call 1-866-234-2942 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. local time.

Locally, the IRS office at 242 West Nyack Road in West Nyack will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday.

Residents who do not regularly file an income tax return can click here for more information.

Posted by Sarah Netter on Tuesday, March 25th, 2008 at 4:53 pm |

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Heinz may also be honored across the state

May
8

Heinz Ahlmeyer Jr.’s reach may extend far beyond his hometown hamlet this week.


On a day when the Pearl River man — who died about 40 years ago on his first day of combat in Vietnam — was honored with the dedication of the Post Office in Pearl River, lawmakers announced that Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee, D-Suffern, was working on legislation in the state Legislature to make May 10, 2007 (Thursday) Heinz Ahlmeyer Jr. Day in the state of New York.


Congressman Eliot Engel’s chief of staff, Bill Weitz, made that announcement, during his remarks to the crowd. Jaffee was in Albany.


Engel had sponsored the necessary legislation in the House to dedicate the Post Office, which was later approved in the Senate and signed by the President. (Engel could not be there yesterday because he was taking care of his mother who was sick, Weitz said.)


“It was a long time coming,â€? Weitz said to me before the official ceremony. “It’s a proud day for the family and for Pearl River.”


It may be a proud day around the state if people know Ahlmeyer’s story.

Posted by Gerald McKinstry on Tuesday, May 8th, 2007 at 2:38 pm |

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Rockland flooding

April
19

U.S. Rep. Eliot Engel (D-Bronx) met today with the new state DEC (Department of Environmental Conservation) commissioner, Alexander ‘Pete’ Grannis. On the agenda: flooding in Rockland and flood-control projects in Clarkstown and Ramapo.


Engel had a similar meeting last month with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers about the flood-control progjects, asking them to move foward on them, particularly Squires Gate.


Engel served in the state Assembly way back when with Grannis. Engel said his friend “promised to quickly review several flood control projects in Clarkstown and Ramapo that are pending.”


The Army Corps had told Engel that the Squires Gate project needed state approval before they could do their thing; Grannis promised to review it asap.


Other projects Engel spoke to Grannis about:

• Cranford Drive flood amelioration

• Elks Drive channel realignment projects


If you live in any of these areas, let us know what you think about the congressman’s efforts and how you fared in the recent storm.

Posted by Amy Vernon on Thursday, April 19th, 2007 at 5:18 pm |

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