Patch Comments: Cuomo 'Is a Breath of Fresh Air'

Katonah-Lewisboro Retains February Holidays

"I chuckled when I read about the concern over lost class time. Obviously this trustee has no idea how many days children have attended classes only to find that the teacher is "out" for the day and they have left a movie for the class to watch! Having had 4 children in this district I cannot even begin to count the number of times this has happened. I would love to see a spreadsheet identifying how many times this has happened across all classes over the course of a year. Then we can have a conversation about lost class time!" -- Mom of 4

"It would be really inexcusable if we lost two more days due to students not making up these days and the district lost its entitled state aid. BOE should have approved making up two days on Feb 18/19 and parents should have just accepted that Sandy, not the the district, was responsible for these makeups. Let's hope that the BOE's decision does not cause the district to not call necessary weather days and put students and staff at risk as a result." -- Concerned Parent

Westchester Reacts: Cuomo's State of the State Address

"state of the state, really. what ? more rhetoric . same old and tired tax breaks for the phantom corporations ,that will come to ny , with all it's anti-business rules and regulations. the governors commitment to re-build the hard hit areas left devastated by hurricane sandy. of, course he leaves out the fact that we need the federal government to give us what we need. he is a true visionary , just look at what he did to the nations housing. all smoke and mirrors, and the other politicians stand in line , to get some crumbs off the table. get real!!" -- frank vecchione

...

"The reforms we need in NY are tax, state defined pensions, reduce the size of NY government, reduce the size of NY welfare, show some back bone and stand up to the teachers and civil service unions then you can run on gun reform. It does not matter how loud Andy boy yells he will lose to Christie next presidential election." -- sayitsnotsojack

... and ...

"The fact that Andrew Cuomo is getting so many negative comments shows me that he is a real and serious threat to the opposite party. I would dare to say that the majority of the nay sayers are of the opposite party. I did watch his whole State of the State speech and personally, I think he was terrific. I do believe he will be successful in many of the things that he will tackle that will be beneficial to the people of New York. He is a breath of fresh air compared to many governors who preceeded him." -- Bea Conetta

(UPDATE) State of the State: Cuomo Calls for 'Toughest Assault Weapon Ban in the Nation'

"Calling for the toughest gun laws in the country.....and simultaneously demanding the NYPD dismantle the most effective method of illegal gun confiscation. Politics. And, stay out of policing, Governor." -- Jacobs ladder

... 

"Stop and frisk deemed unconstitutional by a Brooklyn judge recently - it really is an individual right's issue. 90% of those stopped were of no concern - a pretty skewed percentage for such a far-reaching "policy."" -- Len Martello

... and ...

"As you point out, Frank, gang bangers use pistols, procured illegally as Mayor Bloomberg has on more than one occasion said. And that is a function of the fact that there is not uniformity or consistency among the states; some states regulated and restrictive; some states lax. Read about the VA Tech mass murderer who purchased his 2nd gun online with his parents credit card and address and the 1st at a pawn shop,, Didn't get on the no gun list because wasn't deemed so mentally ill that he required hospitalization. Judge, according to his words, placed him in the least restrictive environment. Appalling and deadly to the victims of his ramage. And many of you think there is not room for change?" -- Ann Fanizzi

Day Laborers Protest Unpaid Wages in Mamaroneck

"There is no excuse for not paying a worker his/her wages. If their work is unsatisfactory then don't rehire them. To continue to use them and owe them in excess of $3,000 and not pay them and then say that there work is subpar is bogus. Yes, bogus. Jeff Meyer Tuckahoe, NY" -- jeff meyer

... and ...

"With my job, if I do it poorly or if I don't finish projects, I get FIRED. With day laborers, if they are guilty of the same shortcomings, what option is there other than suspending their wages until such time as their job is done properly?" -- Mary Too

Coalition Seeks Re-evaluation After Hurricane Damaged Desal Pilot Plant

"A new reservoir is not a practical solution. The environmental impact is huge, clearing acres of vital woodland and the disposal of millions of tonnes of debris and at a cost exceed the desalination plant. A new reservoir would also be subject to the affects of droughts and climate change as it would still be drawing water from within Rockland County which would make it less reliable. A new reservoir would not negate the electrical problem and shutting down the desalination plant for a few days or even weeks would have no affect on our water supply.as production at Lake Deforest and the wells could be temporarily increased to offset the loss. The advantages desalination has is that it is not subject to drought as it draws water from outside Rockland, it is expandable to meet future water needs and has less of an environmental impact. You are however correct, as a capital improvement project the desalination plant would increase profits for UW, but a reservoir more so, as the investment is greater." -- Issy

South Nyack's Rosie O'Donnell Welcomes Baby Girl

"The kid does not have a chance at any kind of a stable life. Who has kids at 50?" -- Watchdog

... and ...

"I know a few people who had kids after 50......Nothing wrong with that...Probably make better parents at 50 then those in their 20's who can't even take care of themselves and then bring children into this world." -- Rob

"Instead of schadenfreude, you might want to recognize that the region has a serious drug problem. The war on drug has been a failure. This calls for new policy that must involve all sectors of the community, especially the medical profession which has been too liberal with dispensing pain killers." -- Michael