Fireworks Fiasco Eludes Safety

Many people have commented that they have witnessed fireworks for sale in almost every retail store they go into. Local firefighters and police officers are also confused. Some that we've spoken to have claimed that they too have seen and even purchased fireworks, believing that they are now legal since they are being sold in stores throughout Westchester County.

While residents are now able to purchase fireworks legally in Westchester County, there is still some confusion about which ones people can buy and just as importantly, if it's legal to use them or shoot them off? Certain types of fireworks can be sold in New York to those 18 years of age or older, but according to New York law, the ones for sale are “sparkling devices.” These are what is commonly referred to as simply sparklers.

The law passed in 2014 and signed by Governor Andrew Cuomo, a democrat, lets retailers sell the small fireworks from June 1 to July 5 and December 26 to January 1 each year. Similar to tents and stands seen in other states, some even along the roadsides, temporary stands or tents can get a NY State permit to sell the sparkling devices from June 20 to July 5 and December 26 to January 1. According to the State's definition, sparkling devices are ones that burn on the ground and do not explode in the air.

A 2016 law decided that if a particular County wanted to “opt out” of selling fireworks, it would have to formally do so. Westchester never did opt out, allowing sparklers, fountains, cakes and tubes to be legally purchased. To that end, the Westchester County Association of Fire Chiefs, the Westchester County Volunteer Firemen's Association and the Westchester County Association of Fire Districts petitioned County Executive George Latimer as well as all County Legislators to have Westchester County "opt out" of this law, stating among other points that these devices are extremely dangerous burning at temperatures from 800 to 2,000 degrees!

In response to the letters sent, County Legislator Williams responded. An excerpt from her response clearly indicates that profits over safety were paramount for the legislators. Here's a portion of her response, "I have discussed your request, for Westchester Co. to opt out of the sparkler law, with my colleagues and some vendors in the area. It seems that it is too late to opt out now, due to the nearness of the July 4th Holiday, most vendors have already ordered their supply. However we will consider doing this next year, early enough to notify all involved.” A second legislator we discussed this with said she wasn't even aware of the "opt out" provision. In a subsequent meeting with County Executive George Latimer, he assured us that the County Attorney will be drafting a bill that will be introduced after the July 4th Holiday and he assures us that he will sign it.

While doing this after the July 4th Holiday may be the proverbial closing of the barn door after the animals are out, the attitude at the County Legislature appears somewhat apathetic. At least we can hope that no one gets injured during the highly anticipated use of these easy-to-come-by fireworks. It now comes down to each municipality as to whether or not they are legal to be used. So, even though you can purchase them, you might not necessarily be allowed to shoot them off! We urge you to check with your respective municipality's building and codes department or police department to find out wjhat you can and cannot do with fireworks.

As always, please stay safe this July 4th and enjoy the holiday, keep an eye on your kids and when in doubt, err on the side of caution and don't use any fireworks.

For those who prefer to write letters or call their legislators, please use the following information:

Your Legislator Name
Westchester County Board of Legislators
Michaelian County Office Building, 8th Floor
148 Martine Avenue
White Plains, NY 10601

Name	District	Phone
John G. Testa	1	(914) 995-2828
Kitley S. Covill	2	(914) 995-2810
Margaret A. Cunzio	3	(914) 995-2847
Michael B. Kaplowitz	4	(914) 995-2848
Benjamin Boykin	5	(914) 995-2827
Nancy E. Barr	6	(914) 995-2834
Catherine F. Parker	7	(914) 995-2802
Alfreda A. Williams	8	(914) 995-2833
Catherine Borgia	9	(914) 995-2812
Damon R. Maher	10	(914) 995-2817
James Maisano	11	(914) 995-2826
MaryJane Shimsky	12	(914) 995-2821
Lyndon Williams	13	(914) 995-2837
David J. Tubiolo	14	(914) 995-2815
Gordon A. Burrows	15	(914) 995-2830
Christopher A. Johnson	16	(914) 995-2829
Virginia Perez	17	(914) 995-2846

Paragon of Virtue

ABG posted our first discoveries of The Paul’s illegal sanctioning of Town Hall for a group of democrats making phone calls for Obama, and quite naturally assumed The Paul guilty. Then we read a post by one of the G8 which brought up a good point. Perhaps The Paul didn’t know of this usage as others in Town Hall routinely schedule rooms for meetings by various organizations, not the supervisor? A valid question to say the least. But, just like the kid who cries wolf one too many times, The Paul has had in hands in more dark, Town-wide “done-deals“ than an army proctologist with a new wave of recruits. As a result of his past behavior, we quite naturally placed the blame with him. We still do. Only after constituents and the media exposed the misuse of the Town Hall did the Obama campaign offer to reimburse taxpayers for the theft of public space. 

All one must do to arrange a meeting room for your organization at Town Hall is call the Town Clerks Office. There, Town Clerk Judith Beville, too busy planning the next concert, poetry reading or student film for the next Board meeting, will have one of her able assistants talk to you and book your room. How much vetting takes place during the process is unknown? Is it possible that one of the employees made the decision to provide the Obama Phone Bank the use of Town Hall? Did they clear it with, or was it Belville herself, that made the decision? Either way, it was Belville, who is responsible for all of the actions of that office. It’s immaterial whether she either assumed The Paul would be uninterested or consciously did not bother to tell him. Perhaps she was being intentionally deceptive, following in the footsteps of her boss? It doesn’t matter. The Paul is responsible for the actions of all of his departments.

ABG doesn’t believe The Paul will just let anything go and demand everyone throughout his administration keep him informed of their respective departments actions. If Belville alone made the decision, ABG is pretty sure she still “ran it by” her exalted leader. ABG would like to know if there are any written rules of usage to dictate what qualifies or not for booking or refusing a room? How thorough a vetting process exists for room usage? Would they simply book a room to a hate group if requested? ABG hopes not, but now we’re not so sure. This isn’t like pulling up to the Alexander Hotel and checking in for a couple of hours of fun in the sheets and leaving before anyone is the wiser. This happened every week on Tuesday nights for many weeks in a row! It would be hard to convince ABG that The Paul or Clerk Beville didn’t know who and for what reason this room was being used. This is a serious enough breach of ethics (contradiction of terms in Greenburgh) that The Paul should demand Town Clerk Beville’s immediate resignation!

Next we’ve learned that Douglas Colety, Chairman for the Westchester Republican Party and another paragon of virtue, has requested an investigation by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman for the possible illegal use of Greenburgh Town Hall by the Democratic Obama campaign group. Colety issued a press release stating, “Taxpayers have a right to know that public facilities are not being used for partisan political campaigns and no municipal building should ever be converted into campaign headquarters for any party. It is critical that the Attorney General step in to answer important questions, including whether any town employees were used to keep Town Hall open for the evening phonebank and whether any laws were broken in the process.”

It’s kind of funny that the “pot” is asking for the “kettle” to be investigated. Colety has attracted quite a bit of his own scrutiny in the recent past with his paid position as a Commissioner at the Board of Elections, the Chairman for the Westchester Republican Party, the New Rochelle GOP leader and owner of the Executive Star Mailing Services. ESMS is the million dollar printing company Colety owns and operates printing most, if not all of the Republican Party and candidates’ literature and campaign mailings. A printer we know told us he tried to work with Republican candidates but it was “suggested” they utilize Colety’s printing and mailing services or risk the consequences. What consequences you wonder? ABG was told by two candidates (promised anonymity) that Colety, who was joined at the hip with Westchester Independence Party Chairman Dr. Giulio Cavallo, can practically guarantee the Independence line if Colety asks him for it for a candidate. Colety is also known to donate money to the campaigns of those candidates he “likes”. 

By the way, Colety’s “lieutenant” at the Westchester Republican Party is John Cerino, Westchester County Executive Astorino’s “Scheduler”. There’s a terrific “title” for another hundred-thousand dollar payback position. Colety’s Deputy Chairperson for the Westchester Republican Party is Christine Sculty, who also works for Astorino at an annual hundred-thousand-plus dollars. Former Mt. Pleasant Supervisor and now Astorino-appointed Westchester County Attorney Robert Meehan along with his wife are both heavily involved in the Westchester GOP, as well as employed by Westchester County and the Westchester County Board of Elections (under Colety) respectively. Who doesn’t work for them, democrats? Nope, their side has numerous positions doled out by the Democratic Commissioner Reginald Lafayette.   

Regardless of Colety’s conflict of interests and improprieties, he has made a point that ultimately will get a headline for a few days and go nowhere. We agree that The Paul’s administration should be taken to task for this latest abuse of power. We know the Attorney General will leave The Paul alone for familial reasons. We do need someone to go after The Paul, his Stepford Board, the Town Clerk and the rest of his rancid administration to clean up the Town after this latest violation of trust from The Paul. We can only hope.