The Cornwall Democrat
Judge E. Loren Williams has been a Judge in Newburgh City Court for seven years. He has handled civil, commercial, landlord/tenant and criminal cases.
Judge Williams presides over five special, problem-solving courts in the City of Newburgh (Drug Court, Veterans Court, Opioid Intervention Part, Domestic Violence Court, and DWI Court). “The law applies equally to all who come before the Court, but I believe a Judge’s personal experience and values shape their decisions.”
This week ballots began being mailed to those who requested them. You can still request your mail-in absentee ballot until October 27 (Nov. 2 if requesting in person). Under COVID-based regulations, when requesting your absentee ballot, you may check “temporary illness” if you are voting by mail because of COVID concerns. After you get your absentee ballot, your completed ballot must be postmarked no later than November 3 to be counted.
Learn all about voting by mail here.
In September, Senator James Skoufis, with Town Council Members Virginia Scott and Josh Wojehowski looking on, announced the Bridge Street reconstruction project. Before the year is out Bridge Street will be landscaped and open to pedestrian traffic.
At the same event Supervisor Richard Randazzo announced a major renovation project at the traffic circle which will include enhancements to the 9/11 Memorial and a new bridge on Hasbrouck Avenue.
Senator Skoufis also spoke about the ongoing work on the area’s 9W bridges. Work that began at least four years ahead of the state Department of Transportation’s original estimate, due in large part to our Senator’s persistence.
America is reaching a critical point in its reckoning with law enforcement. As with any hot-button issue, the solutions have been polarizing: on the left, cries for racial justice are intertwined with calls to restructure policing; the most conservative policies advocate for the expanding of department budgets and police authority. However, at the imagined middle ground of this debate, is policy that aims to make police officers more accountable to the public they are bound to protect and serve. A Conservative might admit that accountability is a commonsense approach—a Progressive might call it the bare minimum.
Colin Schmitt calls it a bill he will vote “NO” on.
S.03595 established the Law Enforcement Misconduct Investigative Office, designed to provide avenues for recourse after police malpractice. Schmitt voted no.
S.08496 authorizes Disclosure of Law Enforcement Disciplinary Records which would prevent “bad apples” from being continually promoted or employed. Schmitt voted no.
A.10609 required courts to compile and publish data on misdemeanors and violations and law enforcement departments on arrest-related deaths. The law will lead to a public record of the number of arrest-related deaths; the race, ethnicity, age, and sex of the individual; the location where the death occurred; and a brief description of the circumstances surrounding the arrest-related death. Unsurprisingly, Schmitt voted no.
S.06601 required Police Officers to Provide Medical and Mental Health Attention required to persons under arrest or otherwise in custody and would allow a person who was denied such attention to pursue civil litigation against the offending officer. This bill became all the more relevant in the wake of Daniel Prude’s death in Rochester. Schmitt voted no.
A.05045 amends criminal procedure laws to waive certain surcharges and fees for defendants under the age of 21. Inexplicably, Colin and the entire Republican caucus voted no.
The common thread between all of this legislation is that it was designed to provide the same amount of accountability from police officers as we expect from the rest of society. These bills would make our communities safer and our law enforcement stronger; and yet, as a knee-jerk Republican reaction, Schmitt voted no on any bill that even hinted at police reform.
Sean was elected to represent the Hudson Valley in 2012. He quickly built a reputation for working across party lines to invest in and improve our infrastructure, strengthen the health and financial security of America's retirees, and keep the United States safe and free. He successfully won tax relief for small businesses in the Hudson Valley that bring good jobs to our area, and brought investments to our communities that improve our schools, make our highways and Metro North safer and more reliable, and hire more police and firefighters and give them the resources they need to keep us safe.
In the current Congress, Mr. Maloney has been unsparing in his opposition to the corruption and ineptitude of the presidential administration while still working to find common ground within the House. Many will remember his pointed and effective questioning of Gordon Sondland, Trump’s ambassador to the EU, during the impeachment hearings. Further, his passionate defense of his family and stance against LGBTQ discrimination—more relevant today than ever—makes us proud to have him as our Congressman.
Postcards To Voters is recruiting postcard-writers nationwide to support James Skoufis for NYS Senate! These are Democrat-to-Democrat notes that are gentle reminders to support Democrats who are walking the walk, like our own State Senator! Postcards to Voters is going gangbusters across the country, so these Skoufis addresses are going to go fast. Get on it!
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Judge Paul Trachte oversees cases in the City of Newburgh court. As a former defense attorney, a current City Judge, and soon to be Orange County Judge, he is committed to treating those charged and crime victims with respect.
Judge Trachte has served as a Defense Attorney, Special Prosecutor, and currently serves as a Judge on the Newburgh City Court. As a defense attorney he represented thousands of people in Orange County Court and tried over fifty criminal court cases, and as the Newburgh City Court Judge he has presided over thousands of cases. His opponent, although well-funded enough to post thousands of colorful signs around the County, has no judicial experience.
Judge Trachte knows the challenges of running an effective court. He believes in solutions that work. Using innovative policies to address approaches of the past that are ineffective and indeed, harmful.
He also keeps the well being of victims top of mind and is keenly aware how difficult it can be to testify. He requires that prosecutors review processes so the victim is well prepared for the events of the trial. He strives to ensure all victims are treated with dignity, respect, and kindness.
Perhaps most important, working with local experts in the field, Judge Trachte brought reason and empathy to the bench when he created a Mental Health Court, focused on treatment and recovery rather than incarceration. Judge Trachte is dedicated to working with diversion programs, faith based programs, and rehab centers to keep our communities safe and families intact. Operating on the principle that justice without compassion is simply punishment that benefits no one, he stands ready to join the Orange County Court as a Judge to bring compassion and experience to this important role.
As you make your plan to vote, check out the Cornwall sample ballot from the Orange County Board of Elections.
Also, we have two requests: 1) Let us know when you receive your absentee ballot. 2) And tell us your voting plan.
Perhaps you’ve seen our HTS badge on our literature and emails this election season and wondered what we mean.
It’s a couple of things:
First, we, the Democratic Committee volunteers of Cornwall, are here to help you to vote and keep you informed. You might not realize it, but we’re technically volunteer public servants, elected to represent all the registered Democrats in our individual Town districts when we convene as part of the Orange County Democratic Committee. We’re here to serve you, the voters who make us proud to be members of this party. And, hey, our members even do traditional “community service,” whether it’s shifts at the Food Bank, buying meals for COVAC during the pandemic, cleaning up Continental Avenue, or driving seniors on errands. Service takes many forms. If you need us, we’ll be there.
But more than that, it’s about our ideals as Democrats: the candidates who run on our party line are usually doing it because they want to help their fellow citizens. When you see James Skoufis’s record, you know he’s here to help. If you’re one of Sarita Bhandarkar’s clients, you understand the care she takes to make your life better. Maybe Paul Trachte presided over the case of a family member or friend, and you saw the compassion embodied in the Mental Health court he leads. Now, we know that no political party lives up to its ideals every day. But the thing that sets our party apart, right now, is that we’re trying. The other party offers nothing but chaos, division, and fear.
So we’re here to serve, and we will continue to to do so from now till November 3, and beyond.
Maria Patrizio is the supervising attorney at the Legal Aid Society of Orange County.
While her opponent asserts that she is the only candidate with experience on the bench, Maria has been practicing in family court for 20 years, and, during those years, has been able to see ALL the judges in that very important court. And Ms. Patrizio has literally written the book on family court practice! Successfully Navigating Family Court in New York provides compassionate guidance for getting through what is often a highly stressful and emotional ordeal.
Ms. Patrizio says, “Family court judges make life-altering decisions. They can reach into the most private sphere of your home and family life, so it is crucial to elect the person you trust the most to make these important decisions.”
And we believe that choice is clear.
“From day one, Sarita will have a strong voice in the legislature, and will ensure that New Windsor is heard.”
New Windsor is the home town of the 99th District’s incumbent Republican Assemblyman—the place where he got his start with a patronage job as a political appointee with a prior Town Board. The Town’s current Republican Town Supervisor, George Meyers, has endorsed Democrat Sarita Bhandarkar in the Assembly race.
Supervisor Meyers’ full statement:
"Today, I announce my endorsement of Sarita Bhandarkar for Assemblymember in the 99th District. As a Republican who works to represent all of my New Windsor constituents faithfully and equitably, I recognize the importance of assembling the best team, regardless of party label. Sarita is thoughtful, intelligent, and fair, and is passionate about improving the lives and livelihoods of everyone in our community. From day one, she will have a strong voice in the legislature, and will ensure that New Windsor is heard.
“For the past two years, our District and our Town have been ignored in the Assembly. Our current Assemblyman, Colin Schmitt, has not been the primary sponsor of any law that has benefited New Windsor. And unlike other productive Republicans in the Assembly, he has been simply unable to work with the majority to deliver for his constituents. This is not a surprise to New Windsor. Our Town’s prior administration invented an ineffective Chief of Staff position for Colin that cost our taxpayers $100,000 annually. Although my first act as Supervisor was to eliminate this role since it had no function, Colin had already used the title to position himself for future office. It’s time for all of us to stop funding his vanity and, instead, invest in representation who will work hard for us.
“I will be voting for Sarita Bhandarkar on November 3rd and encourage my community to do the same.”
“Nobody is better suited than Sarita to have our back in the Assembly”
Cornwall, NY—September 29, 2020—Town of Cornwall Supervisor Richard Randazzo today issued the following statement endorsing Sarita Bhandarkar (D, WFP-Cornwall) in the race to represent the 99th District in the New York State Assembly:
“I have been fortunate to know Sarita for several years through her leadership and civic engagement in our town. She is deeply dedicated to service and has committed her career to fighting for New Yorkers who need the most help.
“The next year is going to be pivotal for our community and our region. While I am confident that the people of Cornwall will come together, persevere, and succeed, as we always have, we need effective representation in Albany to make sure that our voices are heard at the state level. Nobody is better suited than Sarita to have our back in the assembly. She knows the law, she holds our values and she never stops working for our community.
“Sarita has my full support in her campaign to be our next assembly member for the 99th district, and I endorse her wholeheartedly.”
Richard Randazzo has served as Cornwall Town Supervisor for 25 years and served as a village of Cornwall-on-Hudson Trustee.
We’ve teamed up with Newburgh luxury shop Oliver & Chatfield to offer some great merch for a great cause. Three exclusive, carefully-curated bundles of socially-conscious merchandise, and a portion of proceeds benefits the Cornwall Democratic Committee. Limited quantities—these WILL sell out. Act fast. 💨 (Note: On the $35 gift, the bag has CHOICES!)
Pandemic precautions (and State rules) restricted our annual Fired Up! fundraiser to just 50 people, so it sold out fast—but we ate enough pizza for our usual crowd, and thanks to your generosity we raised more than projected. Thank you! We’re saving you some pizza for next year! Check out some photos from the day.
Check out the latest issue of our “print” newsletter—learn about your candidates, check out upcoming chances to help, and print it out to pass it along. Keep an eye out for it at local businesses, too.
