The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Candidates

Clinton vs. Trump: The Race to the White House

by

chappaqua-summer-writing-program-for-girls-photo-three

By Amber Mildenhall 

Hillary Clinton vs Donald Trump, it’s a race to the White House. Both are leading the course by becoming their parties’ representatives. In addition to the obvious difference, namely the political parties they support (Hillary Clinton being Democratic and Donald Trump Republican), the two candidates have opposite opinions on so many matters.

I moved to the United States at the age of eight. I didn’t even think about politics until I was in second grade, the same year Barack Obama became President.

My elementary school simulated the election of 2008; each student was given a chance to enter a booth where we could either circle a picture of Barack Obama or his republican opponent John McCain, and therefore “vote” for each candidate.

Unaware that an election was even going on, I chose Barack Obama (whom I didn’t even realize was Barack Obama) based on whatever preference I had as an eight-year old (although I still do support my decision now, eight years later). I went home that day and asked my parents what this alien booth-circling activity even meant. They gave me facts and pointers comparing Obama and McCain, which all seemed quite complicated to my eight-year-old self. So, without further ado, here are the facts of this year’s candidates for all those as confused as I was eight years ago.

Gun control has been a major debate between many politicians. The Second Amendment to the Constitution allowing the right to bear arms is viewed by many as no longer relevant. The United Kingdom has already instituted many laws to prohibit firearms. Hours of paperwork, applying for a license, and proving that you are not a threat to society has limited the violence that results from firearms. The United Kingdom’s firearm-related death rate per 100,000 per year in 2011 was 0.23, and the United States’ rate in 2014 was 10.54. Hillary Clinton wishes to abolish the Second Amendment and have gun control more similar to the UK’s.

Hillary Clinton said, “More than 33,000 Americans are killed by guns each year. It’s time to act. As President, I’ll take on the gun lobby and fight for commonsense reforms to keep guns away from terrorists, domestic abusers, and other violent criminals—including comprehensive background checks and closing loopholes that allow guns to fall into the wrong hands.” Donald Trump has an opposite opinion, and wishes to keep the right to bear arms. Donald Trump wrote, “Democrats want to confiscate all guns, which is a dumb idea because only the law-abiding citizens would turn in their guns and the bad guys would be the only ones left armed.” Donald Trump believes that it is every US Citizen’s right to bear arms, whereas Hillary Clinton views the existence of the second amendment as dangerous.

Donald Trump’s and Hillary Clinton’s postions on immigrants, like gun control, are also opposite. Donald Trump wants to build a wall on the Mexican border and have Mexico pay for it. Hillary Clinton stands for the less extreme measure of a fence along the Mexican border. “They’re bringing drugs, they’re bringing crime, they’re rapists,” Trump said of undocumented Mexican immigrants while announcing his candidacy last June. Donald Trump wishes to allow legal immigration, triple the number of ICE officers (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers), and end birthright citizenship.

Hillary Clinton supports a path to legalization for illegal immigrants whereas Donald Trump believes they should be deported effective immediately. Clinton also wishes to toughen penalties for hiring illegal immigrants, and supports Obama’s executive decision which would have allowed for illegal immigrants who are parents to legal citizens to remain in the USA for a certain amount of time.

Terrorist threats are a major factor in the immigration issue the USA is currently facing, but Clinton continues to believe that, “First, we rely on partners in Muslim countries to fight terrorists. The immigration ban would make it harder.”

Hillary Clinton’s and Donald Trump’s views on gun control and immigration are opposite. Healthcare is yet another subject in which Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton must agree to disagree. Donald Trump wishes to get rid of Obamacare, the unofficial name for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act which was signed into law by President Barack Obama in 2010, whereas as Clinton wishes to expand it. When one of these two candidates becomes President, completely different policies will be instituted.

Amber is a legal alien, a citizen of the United Kingdom, and a sophomore at Horace Greeley High School who is currently obsessed with Pokemon Go.

Editor’s Note: One of Seven Girls’ Essays featured in the November “If Our Neighbor Becomes President” Cover Story.  The girls were directed by Keri Walsh, Ph.D., who heads the Chappaqua Summer Writing Program for Girls at the Greeley House.

Basics about Area Candidates

by

Compiled by Vicki de Vries

DavidBuchwald-New York State Assembly (District 93)

-David Buchwald: Incumbent Unopposed (Democratic Party line)

“Together we’ve made progress, but there’s more work to be done!”

Over the past two years, I’ve enjoyed working with local school officials in the District and have helped to increase state-aid for education to the Chappaqua Central School District–16% this year and 18% last year, which is an overall significant increase in state support for local education….

There’s still the ongoing need for high quality government. That’s why I’m the lead sponsor of a state constitutional amendment to strip state   officials of state pensions if they’ve been convicted of a felony involving a breach of the public trust…. Ninety State Assembly members have signed onto the amendment, which passed through its first committee vote. That’s an historic level of progress on this issue….

Passing the bill so that the people of New York can vote on it is still a long process, but I’m committed to pushing for something so many  Westchester residents believe in…. And now that my district office has moved to nearby downtown Mount Kisco, 
my constituents are always welcome to visit.

 

CHRISTOPHER-DAU.S. House of Representatives (U.S. Congressional District 17)

-Christopher Day: 
(Republican Party and 
Conservative Party lines)

“A Brighter Future Today”

Our country is at a point where we’re at risk of losing the American Dream… It’s time to make hard decisions to get high quality        jobs and strong defense back without petty partisan politics. I would work hard to get infrastructure projects [like the new Tappan Zee Bridge] and get decent immigration reform passed to have a secure border. Also, I would  incentivize local businesses to grow and expand and try to attract  new businesses to Westchester.

Then there’s the federal government telling our local school systems, “Teach Common Core or no money comes your way!” and getting involved in Westchester zoning and calling suburban areas ‘racist.’Educational and zoning issues are best resolved on the state and local levels.

 

nanhayworthU.S. House of Representatives (U.S. Congressional District 18)

-Nan Hayworth: 
(Republican Party, 
Conservative Party and 
Independence Party line)

“Doctor. Mother. Neighbor”

Everywhere I go in the Hudson Valley, I hear people saying we have the potential to do so much better…. We need to welcome hiring and business growth and help our neighbors so they can continue to live and prosper in our area.

I’ve been fighting to have affordable health care that does not cause employers to have to reduce work hours. I want to unburden the business community from unnecessary regulations and taxes. I’m also committed to protecting Social Security and Medicare and to keeping federal regulators from interfering with Westchester’s local zoning laws….

When I was in Congress, I co-sponsored the REINS Act, which would have reined in federal regulators and prevented them from passing major regulations that have significant economic impacts on our economy. My opponent voted against it, and now Hudson Valley families are stuck paying more for their electricity.

 

NitaLoweyU.S. House of Representatives (U.S. Congressional District 17)

-Nita Lowey: Incumbent (Democratic Party line)

“Helping New Yorkers 
Get Ahead”

I had a wonderful time meeting so many great people at the recent New Castle Community Day in Chappaqua. I’m proud of my success fighting for our communities’ fair share of federal resources. New                 Castle has benefited from vital public safety equipment for the Police and Chappaqua Fire Department and $1.2 million for work on the Route 120 bridge over the Metro-North tracks.

I will continue to fight for local projects as well as work to make sure that college is affordable for middle-class families and that women get equal pay for equal work.

 

SeanPatrickMaloneyU.S. House of Representatives (U.S. Congressional District 18)

-Sean Patrick Maloney: Incumbent 
(Democratic Party line)

“Proudly Serving New York’s 18th District”

I’ve been hard at work doing the job folks sent me to do. That means passing 13 bipartisan bills through the House of Representatives…passing disaster relief for our communities to rebuild from the damage done by Sandy, investing in our infrastructure, working across the aisle to fight things like the heroin epidemic in the Hudson Valley and helping our veterans

…I’ve fought to keep local manufacturers and hundreds of jobs in the Hudson Valley, partnered to grow and expand the biotech industry, pushed for local infrastructure projects that create jobs… In New Castle and Westchester, I’ve fought to repave Route 133 between Route 120 and Mt. Kisco and to get $65 million in disaster relief for our communities and nearly $4 million in aid to help our area’s homeless veterans. I want to grow this economy… by investing in the middle class and protecting programs like Social Security….

 

TerranceNew York State Senate (District 40)

-Terence Murphy: 
(Republican Party, 
Conservative Party, 
Independence Party and Green Party lines)

“Working Together To 
Give Everyone a 
Chance To Succeed”

In my work as Town Councilman in Yorktown Heights, I worked across the aisle and got the job done. I would do the same in Albany.

We have to cut taxes and make New York a more affordable place to live and also a business-friendly state. As a Town Councilman, I’ve given two consecutive tax decreases –more than any decrease in over a generation and helped to usher in close to $250,000 worth of new business development…all the while keeping our carbon footprint to a minimum….

We also need to change the ethics climate in Albany. In Yorktown, I helped to rewrite the ethics law to include financial disclosure statements and the creation of an ethics committee.

Of vital concern is the 300% increase in heroin use, which we must halt in Westchester County and elsewhere in the State. And finally, as your New York State Senator, I would continue to fight for the Veterans, who fought so hard for us.

 

JustinWagnerJustin Wagner:

(Democratic Party line)

“Mainstream Values. Common-Sense Solutions”

Albany needs to solve problems with common-sense solutions, not with partisanship. I’m not a career politician. I’m focused on passing  ethics legislation, meaningful mandate relief to reduce property taxes and rebuilding New York’s decaying infrastructure. These are not partisan issues, but they are issues that have been neglected by Albany for too long.

Economic issues are very important and will be my primary area of     focus, but I’m also concerned about value issues such as keeping New York a pro-choice state and passing the Women’s Equality Agenda.  I’m also a strong proponent of mandating background checks for gun purchases to ensure we keep guns out of the hands of criminals and the mentally ill.

The LWVNC: A Vital Member of the Community

by

League Volunteers at New Castle’s Community Day.
League Volunteers at New Castle’s Community Day.

By Sarah Ellen Rindsberg

The League of Women Voters of New Castle is a very welcoming group. Whether one is new to town or a longtime resident, joining and attending their events adds a new dimension to life by acquiring a breadth of knowledge and meeting fellow residents.  “Through the League, I have met many intelligent and interesting community members that I would not have crossed paths with otherwise,” LWVNC Membership Committee chair Lea Barth observed.

Candidates’ Night is one of the most popular forums held by the LWVNC.  In this nonpartisan discussion, residents are afforded the opportunity to learn about the qualifications of each person running for office.

Candidates on the local and state levels including those running for the House of Representatives, are invited to speak in the fall and those on the slate for the school and library boards, appear in the spring.

One of the former participants at Candidates’ Night is Town Supervisor Susan Carpenter, who is a huge proponent of the LWVNC. Carpenter spoke highly of their program on climate change too. She recommends the LWVNC to anyone interested in being  “informed about anything from very local issues to international concerns.”

Carpenter was on center stage in March at the LWVNC’s annual “Conversation with the Supervisor.” Sheila Miller Bernson and Jennifer Mebes Flagg, Co-Presidents of the League of Women Voters of New Castle mentioned that this is always “a highly anticipated event.” (All subsequent quotes attributed to the LWVNC were provided by the co-presidents.) It provides a special setting in which residents listen intently to Carpenter’s remarks and then pose questions which are answered in a very candid manner.

The effectiveness of the LWVNC is evident in local politics.  When a vote was scheduled to determine whether the current method of electing town board members would be changed from an at-large (where all voters can vote for all seats) to a ward system, a lengthy investigation was conducted. The LWVNC described the subsequent education process:

“The League held a community forum where the advantages and disadvantages of the current and proposed forms of government were presented to New Castle residents. The League then advocated against the change by writing a Letter to the Editor of NewCastleNow detailing our position and handing out flyers to the community explaining what adopting this system would mean to New Castle. The Referendum did not pass.”

At community day, representatives are on hand to respond to all manner of queries regarding voting.  This past fall, the LWVNC registered over 150 voters at events held throughout the county.  This spring, a voter registration drive will be held at Greeley. The LWVNC also encourages civic participation by attending and distributing information on voting at ceremonies for recipients of the Girl Scout gold awards in town and for newly naturalized Americans at the courthouse in White Plains.

And, yes, in an era where the issue of gender equity is still of paramount importance, men are also vital members of this organization; constituting 20% of the current 100 members. In addition, Bruce Gilchrist served as president in 2003. The LWVNC also participates in meetings on global issues at the United Nations.  Last spring, members attended a presentation on human trafficking. The LWVNC said that “Several New Castle League members have had the privilege of being Alternate UN Observers.”

Future programs include a forum on health care, co-sponsored by the Chappaqua Library, on May 7. This will be followed on May 15 by the annual meeting and luncheon (which is open to all) at Crabtree’s Kittle House where the featured speaker will be Assemblyman David Buchwald. On May 16, Candidates’ Night for the school and library boards will take place at the Chappaqua Library.  Further information on the LWVNC is available at www.lwvnewcastle.org.