Stealing the Armory / Intrigue, Duplicity and Quid Pro Quo

Political Quid Pro Quo and the Unrepresented….. Another grab for the  Freeport Armory.

When Governor Cuomo vetoed the last Armory Bill (AB 508 now re-labeled A8821A) it was pretty clear that there was enough outrage and lack of common sense regarding selling the Armory to a Not –for-Profit Organization at the expense of the Freeport Community having a logistical post for the Department of Public Works was at best, unproductive and at worst misappropriation of Government Property. 

Most Citizens figured that this would be resolved for the benefit of the community like it was in Rome, NY, those Citizens got their Armory.

But the answer that the Citizens of Freeport received was resounding silence as Bill A8821A sailed through the Assembly and the Senate.  Earlene Hooper promised County Supervisor Ed Mangano to sponsor a bill to give state approval for the county executive's plan to change Nassau’s property-tax reimbursement system. 

Mangano, along with Senator Dean Skelos (9^th Senate District) backed the transfer of the Armory to the Cedarmore Corp., a nonprofit that shares space with Zion Cathedral Church of God in Christ, across the street from the former National Guard facility for $1.  And Skelos had a quiet (unpublicized) meeting with the Governor about two weeks ago (second week of July).  The Governor wants to solidify his voting block and Senator Skelos wants benefits for his voting district.

Is a promise for the Governor’s support the price Skelos got for betraying the Citizens of Freeport?   Below is a letter that was approved by American Legion Post 342 with absolute unanimity.    Please read this letter and support the Mayor of Freeport, the Citizens of Freeport and the American Legion in opposing this second attempt at stealing this Armory.

We ask you, Legionnaires, Veterans, Community Groups and Citizens all to get behind this letter to Governor Cuomo again asking to Veto this Bill!   Please put your name in the 'comments' section so we can again send this to the Governor.  Assemblywoman Hooper is supposed to represent the best interest of all the Citizens in her District, not just a few.

Thank You For Your Support!