The political scene, is, of necessity, an important area of interest to caring youth service providers. Legislation is the source of mandates or entitlements underlying major services. Budget allocations determine in many cases whether a need is met or which need among many is chosen. Regulations to implement legislation also play significant roles.
Youth service personnel need to be as familiar as possible with the legislative, budgetary, and political processes in order to actively advocate for youth. It is a truism that youth themselves are poorly represented all along the decision-making road.
To learn the status of US House and Senate bills, call (212) 264-4464 (NYC Federal Information) or local representatives' offices.
To learn the status of NYS Assembly and Senate bills, call hotline number 1 800 342-9860.
The NYS League of Women Voters maintains a toll-free numberfrom 10 am to 4 pm weekdays during legislative sessions (1 800 462-6204).
PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON
White House, Washington, DC 20550
(202) 456-1414
(202) 456-7639 (to express an opinion)
US SENATOR ALFONSE D'AMATO
520 Hart Senate Office Bldg., Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-6542
NY Office: (212) 947-7390
US SENATOR DANIEL PATRICK MOYNIHAN
464 Russell Senate Office Bldg., Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-4451
(212) 661-5150 (NY office)
CONGRESSMAN BENJAMIN GILMAN
2160 Rayburn House Office Bldg., Washington, DC 20515-3222
(202) 225-3776
Local office: 223 Rt. 59
Bryman Bldg., Monsey 357-9000
GOVERNOR GEORGE PATAKI
State Capital, Albany 12224
(518) 474-2121
NYS SENATOR JOSEPH R. HOLLAND
(38th Senate District)
State Capital, Rm. 848, Albany 12247
(518) 455-3261
Local office: 150 Airport Executive Park, Spring Valley 10977 425-1818
NYS ASSEMBLYMAN ALEX J. GROMACK
(92nd Assembly District)
LOB, Rm. 544, Albany 12224
(518) 455-5735
Local office: 67 North Main St., New City 10956 634-9791
NYS ASSEMBLYMAN SAMUEL COLMAN
(93rd Assembly District)
LOB, Rm. 432, Albany 12248
(518) 455-5118
Local offices: 747 Chestnut Ridge Rd., Spring Valley 10977 352-5560
ASSEMBLY WOMAN NANCY CALHOUN
(94th Assembly District)
LOB, Room 531, Albany 12248
(518) 455-5441
Middletown, N.Y 10940
Local office: 2011 D Street. Stewart International Airport, New Windsor 12553 564-1330
COUNTY EXECUTIVE
Rockland County Executive
C. Scott Vanderhoef 638-5122
As mandated by the Charter, the County Executive is elected from the County at large for a term of 4 years. The duties subject to the provisions of the law, are to supervise, direct and control the administration of all departments of county government. Subject to the confirmation by the County Legislature, he shall appoint the head of each County department and members of the County Boards and commissions, who shall serve at his pleasure, except as otherwise may be provided by law.
COUNTY LEGISLATORS 638-5100
The Rockland County Legislature consists of twenty one (21) representatives elected at large in each of Rockland's five Towns. The number of representatives for each Town (District) is proportionate to population. The Legislature is responsible for the approval and funding of all County Programs and the adoption of all Local Laws.
The adoption of Programs or County Policy is expressed through Legislation in the form of Resolutions or Local Laws. These are initiated through the County Executive's Office, reviewed in the Legislative Committees and then voted on by the full Legislature. After a Resolution or Local Law is adopted by the Legislature, the Executive either signs or vetoes the legislation proposed.
Mail to County Legislators can be sent to County Office, Bldg., 11 New Hempstead Rd., New City 10956
Clarkstown: Richard W. Caunitz, Harriet D. Cornell, Theodore R. Dusanenko, Charles E. Holbrook, Chairman, Thomas P. Morahan, Catherine M. Nowicki
Haverstraw: Thomas J. Lawless, Philip J. Rotella, James T. Schuler
Orangetown: Edward J. Clark, Frank A. Fornario, Patrick J. Moroney, John A. Murphy
Ramapo: George O. Darden, Isaac Goodfriend, Michael A. Koplen, Bruce M. Levine, Brian L. Miele, George J. Parness, Sanford A. Rubenstein
Stony Point: Ann C. O'Sullivan
CLARKSTOWN 639-2000
Supervisor Charles Holbrook
Town of Clarkstown, 10 Maple Ave., New City 10956
HAVERSTRAW 429-2200
Supervisor Philip J. Rotella
Town of Haverstraw, 1 Rosman Rd., Garnerville 10923
ORANGETOWN 359-5100
Supervisor Jack Cassidy
Town of Orangetown, Orangeburg Rd., Orangeburg 10962
RAMAPO 357-5100
Supervisor Herbert Reisman
Town of Ramapo, 237 Rte. 59, Suffern 10901
STONY POINT 786-2716
Supervisor Steven M. Hurley
Town of Stony Point, 74 E. Main St., Stony Point 10980
AIRMONT 357-8111
Mayor Ralph Bracco
Village of Airmont, 321 Rte. 59
P.O. Box 578, Tallman 10982
CHESTNUT RIDGE 425-2805
Mayor Jerome Kobre
Village of Chestnut Ridge, 277 Old Nyack Turnpike, Chestnut Ridge 10977
GRANDVIEW 358-2919
Mayor Thomas Kilroy
Village of Grandview-on-Hudson, 118 River Rd., Grandview-on-Hudson 10960
HAVERSTRAW 429-0300
Mayor Thomas L. Watson
Village of Haverstraw, 25 Fairmount Ave., Haverstraw 10927
HILLBURN 357-2036
Mayor Brian L. Miele
Village of Hillburn, 31 Mountain Ave., Hillburn 10931
KASER 352-2932
Mayor Bernard Rosenfeld
Village of Kaser, 15 Elyon Rd., Monsey 10952
MONTEBELLO 368-2211
Mayor Kathryn Ellsworth
Village of Montebello, 1 Montebello Rd., Suffern 10901
NEW HEMPSTEAD 354-8100
Mayor Lawrence Dessau
Village of New Hempstead, 8 Old Schoolhouse Rd., New City 10956
NEW SQUARE 354-5591
Mayor Mates Freisel Village of New Square
Rte. 45, Spring Valley 10977
NYACK 358-0548
Mayor Robert Capone
Village of Nyack, 12 N. Broadway, Nyack 10960
PIERMONT 359-1258
Mayor John Zahn
Village of Piermont, 478 Piermont Ave., Piermont 10968
POMONA 354-0545
Mayor Melvin Klingher
Village of Pomona, Camp Hill Rd., Pomona 10970
SLOATSBURG 753-2727
Mayor Samuel Abate
Village of Sloatsburg, 96 Orange Turnpike, Sloatsburg 10974
SOUTH NYACK 358-0287
Mayor Charles J. Cross
Village of South Nyack, 282 S. Broadway, S. Nyack 10960
SPRING VALLEY 352-1100
Mayor Allan J. Thompson
Village of Spring Valley, 200 N. Main St., Spring Valley 10977
SUFFERN 357-2600
Mayor George Parness
Village of Suffern, 44 Washington Ave., Suffern 10901
UPPER NYACK 358-0084
Mayor John J. Reilly
Village of Upper Nyack, 330 N. Broadway, Upper Nyack 10960
WESLEY HILLS 354-0400
Mayor Robert Frankl
Village of Wesley Hills, 332 Rte. 306, Wesley Hills 10952
WEST HAVERSTRAW 947-2800
Mayor Edward R. Zugibe
Village of West Haverstraw, 15 Bridge St., Garnerville 10923
Youth who are 18, US citizens, and have been residents of Rockland County for 30 days before an election are entitled to vote. They must register in advance. To register call or go to the Board of Elections to get a registration form. The filled-in form can either be mailed in or brought to the Board of Elections.
BOARD OF ELECTIONS 638-5172
18 New Hempstead Rd., New City 10956
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS 354-2411
Halley Dr., Pomona 10970
Bipartisan agency dedicated to better public information regarding political issues.
The law requires that all males, when they reach their 18th birthday, register for the draft within 30 days. As of March 1995, there is no draft. However, if there is, and a person is drafted, only 10 days are available for appeal. Register at local post offices.
Air Force 356-6931
235 N. Main St., Spring Valley 10977
Army 425-2100
235 N. Main St., Spring Valley 10977
Coast Guard (NYC) (212) 668-7036
Marines 425-8118
235 N. Main St., Spring Valley 10977
Navy 425-1171
235 N. Main St., Spring Valley 10977
Draft alternatives counseling and information is available in Rockland County through the Fellowship of Reconciliation, 523 N. Broadway, Upper Nyack 10960 358-4601.
MARRIAGE LICENSES 638-5070
County Clerk: Edward Gorman
County Clerk's Office, 27 New Hempstead Rd., New City 10956
CONSUMER PROBLEMS 638-5279
Director: Joanna Farley
Consumer Protection Office
18 New Hempstead Rd. (2nd floor), New City 10956
DISCRIMINATION COMPLAINTS 638-5590
Human Rights Commission
18 New Hempstead Rd. (ground floor), New City 10956
MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION/DRIVER'S LICENSE
Motor vehicles to travel on public roads or property must be registered; those who operate them must be licensed. Mopeds and motorcyles are included in this category. Dirt bikes, motor scooters, mini-bikeds, and go-carts cannot be registered in NYS and therefore cannot be driven legally on public highways.
To drive a motor vehicle, one must own a driver's license. In NYS, a person must over 16 years of age and pass a driver's test to secure a license. Even with a license, there are restrictions until one reaches 18.
Dept. of Motor Vehicles 1-800-427-5368
50 Samsondale Plaza (on 9W), W. Haverstraw 10993 212-645-5550
Registration and driver's licenses. 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.-MTWF 11 a.m.-7 p.m.-Thurs.
NYS vehicular law requires that children under age 4 be restrained in car safety seats. Child restraint seats are available on loan from:
Traffic Safety 638-5187
18 New Hempstead Rd. (ground floor), New City 10956
Director: Rosie Jackson
Passports are necessary for most out-of-country travel. Passport application forms may be obtained from:
County Clerk's Office 638-5074
27 New Hempstead Rd., New City 10956
Call first to find out which papers to bring along. Certain immunizations are required for travel overseas. There is a foreign travel immunization clinic at the Pomona Health Center. Call 364-2513.
ROCKLAND COUNTY YOUTH COUNCIL 638-5166
c/o R.C. Youth Bureau 638-5378
18 New Hempstead Road, New City 10956
Youth Bureau Liaison: Marianne McCarney
Youth Bureau Advisor: Kevin Horan
A youth network with representatives from most of the Rockland high schools. The Youth Council provides leadership training and youth empowerment opportunities to young people in Rockland. The council sponsors activities to promote active youth involvement in their community.