Carmel, N.Y.  – (2/21/12) – On Tuesday, February 22^th, Senator Greg Ball (R, C – Patterson) joined the Carmel-Kent Chamber of Commerce to give a legislative update, present his job creation initiatives, and to ask the group for their own ideas on local job creation.

“We have worked across party lines and with Governor Cuomo to cut taxes for middle class working families, announce a job creation plan and has repealed the job-killing MTA payroll tax. This is exactly the shot in the arm working families need and is a great jobs focused package that begins to adjust our unfair tax code. This is the lowest tax rate for the middle class in 50 years. The job-killing MTA payroll tax for the vast majority of payers will now go ‘bye, bye,” Senator Ball explained. “Now, at the local level, we need to build on this positive momentum. People in my district are in crisis. So I’m teaming up with the resources that are already out there and helping connect people with the tools they need to get back to work.”

Senator Ball has helped to pass major legislation that: delivered $250 Million in savings for more than 290,000 local businesses; delivered $67 million for local projects, creating jobs through major construction projects; capped property taxes at 2% to help working families and seniors hold on to their homes; helped to secure over $10 million dollars in economic development grants for the Hudson Valley region to finance major job creation projects; and repealed the job-killing MTA payroll tax completely for 80% of businesses previously paying it.

“Senator Ball gave a very clear and concise presentation,” said the Carmel-Kent Chamber Vice President, Bill Nulk. “He went into a lot of depth on many of our questions we were interested in, including fracking. He gave a very good response that made us feel very comfortable that we are headed in the right direction. He enlightened people on what it takes to get things going in Albany so I appreciate that.”

For more information or to speak with Senator Ball, please contact Brittany Oat (845) 200-9716.

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Peekskill, N.Y. – (2/18/12) – The Peekskill community descended on the Peekskill Salvation Army for a free community barbeque hosted by Senator Greg Ball (R, C – Patterson).

The cookout, which was open to the public, was a chance for Senator Ball to meet face-to-face with his constituents and to share his love of Peekskill.

“Cookouts like these give me the perfect opportunity to speak to the people of Peekskill and get a real understanding of what’s on their mind,” Senator Ball said. “I got to meet so many wonderful people today and I can’t wait for our next Peekskill BBQ.”

Envoy Chaka Watch runs the Peekskill Salvation Army said, “This is real people. This is real Senator Ball. He interacts with the people in this community and I think that is a beautiful thing.”

Peekskill resident Pedro Davila had the opportunity to discuss taxes and sportsmen’s issues with Senator Ball during the BBQ.

“I’m glad that he came to town to visit us and I really feel welcome because he greeted us with open arms,” Davila said. “He did listen to all of my comments and he took interest in them. By coming to town it shows the people that there is someone here for them and he is here for us.”

This was the second time comedian James McNair attended one of Senator Ball’s Peekskill barbeques, and he said he was impressed that Senator Ball kept his promise to return to the city for more cookouts.

“The last time he gave me his word and from the last time he kept his word,” McNair said. “I see his honesty and integrity. He’s never given his word yet that he didn’t keep. That’s important.”

Before the BBQ began, Senator Ball celebrated Lincoln’s 203rd Birthday and the 151^st Anniversary of Lincoln’s visit to Peekskill by taking part in the Lincoln Society’s 108^th annual parade.  The parade ended at the Peekskill train depot where Senator Ball and other members of the Peekskill community had the opportunity to speak.

“It was a lot of fun to step back in time and walk through the streets of historic Peekskill led by President Lincoln,” Senator Ball said. “Now, I can say I had the opportunity to share the stage and shake hands with President Lincoln!”

Senator Ball will be back another free community BBQ in Peeksill on April 15^th at the Mt. Olivet Baptist Church at 1p.m.

For more information or to speak with Senator Ball, please contact Brittany Oat: (845) 200-9716.

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In August, Senator Ball toured Dimock County, Pennsylvania where he witnessed firsthand the harmful effects hydrofracking can have on communities. Now, he is urging Governor Andrew Cuomo and his colleagues in the state legislature to take a similar tour before allowing gas companies to begin the hydrofracking process in New York.

“This past summer I took a trip to Dimock, PA to see for my own eyes the effects that fracking has had on Pennsylvania property owners. I visited families who had their drinking water contaminated with the toxic concoction natural gas companies use and who saw the values of their homes drop by 90 percent. I am working diligently to make sure the public is educated about the potential effects of fracking and that the proper regulations are put in place to prevent big gas companies from devastating our homes and landscape.”

Croton resident Marta Costantini, who attended the event with her daughter, said, “I’m so impressed, I had no idea that this issue was such a passion for him, turned me into a huge fan, and he’s such a good speaker. It was very educational.  All the big businesses to me seem more and more to me like a giant evil, and you have to fight.  It takes people like him that are passionate and are not afraid and will stand up to those guys.  It is like David and Goliath, and it’s very scary.”

Peekskill resident Barbara Lipp said Senator Ball has inspired her to start a social media campaign against fracking,  “I’m very impressed with Senator Ball’s expertise on the subject, his energy, him getting it out there. I know he’s been on a big campaign to inform people, so I am supportive of that and this does motivate me to get writing. I’ve already shared stuff on my Facebook page. Hopefully this whole thing snowballs and people will pass this around on social media and make other people aware of it.”

For more information or to speak with Senator Ball, please contact Brittany Oat: (845) 200-9716.

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Created and hosted by Senator Ball, the Veterans’ Hall of Fame is designed to honor outstanding veterans from throughout the 40th Senate District. The wall is touring local municipalities throughout the 40th district.

Ball stressed the purpose of having the wall at a school to teach students about the personal sacrifices the nation’s veterans are making on behalf of their communities.

“These veterans are real life heroes and deserve to be thanked and appreciated. Yet I also think it really helps the students to recognize that so many people before them have really contributed to keeping the principles of democracy and liberty and freedom alive. The school is to be applauded for welcoming this tribute and I am so proud to see these kids pay such great respect to these veterans who have lived such a selfless life, both in uniform and in their civilian lives,” Senator Ball said.  “I think it helps to make history come alive for them.”

Eugene Parrotta, who is one of the 27 Veterans on the Wall of Fame and the chairman of Senator Ball’s Veterans Advisory Council, gave a moving speech before unveiling the wall on behalf of Senator Ball.

“Freedom and liberty are the title and deed of the soil we stand on. That price of that freedom and liberty is very expensive. The men on this wall have all paid that price,” Said Eugene Parrotta. “I would like to thank Senator Ball for honoring us all with such great dignity and respect. God Bless Senator Ball, everyone here today, and The United States of America.”

For more information or to speak with Senator Ball, please contact Brittany Serra: (845) 200-9716.

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“Unlike when many of us were kids, bullying no longer stops when a kid gets off the bus. The advent of the internet and all social connected media has made bullying a stressful, debilitating 24-7 assault,” Senator Ball said. “While we cannot protect our children from all of the worlds various ills, bullying has become epidemic with tragedies that truly could have been prevented. Every kid should be able to enjoy an education free of harassment and intimidation. This legislation makes such a hope a priority and raises the overall level of awareness, allowing kids grow into kind, strong adults.”

The law is intended to prevent harassment and discrimination based on a student’s actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender, or sex.

The act requires that public schools: incorporate sensitivity and diversity curricula into lesson plans on civics and citizenship; implement sensitivity and tolerance training sessions open to all staff; assign one employee, who will undergo extensive training, to be the school’s designated contact for handling and responding to instances of bullying; draft plain-language versions of the law into student codes of conduct; and report instances of bullying to the New York State Education Department for evaluation.

The act takes effect on July 1, 2012.  As of now, a specially assigned task force is developing model programs for schools to tailor to each of their own needs.

For more information or to speak with Senator Ball, please contact Brittany Oat: (845) 200-9716.

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Carmel, N.Y. – (2/15/2012) – On Wednesday, February 15^th, Senator Greg Ball (R, C – Patterson) visited the Carmel Town Hall to accept the town’s nomination of Donna DiMaggio as a Woman of Distinction and continued his “Jobs Tour”.

Donna DiMaggio is a teacher and coach at Mahopac High School. She has coached many field hockey, soccer and softball teams to numerous league championships and in 2001 coached a state championship field hockey team. In addition to the Women of distinction award Donna has also been named, the 2001 and 2010 Section I field hockey coach of the year, 2005 NYSAHPERD “Amazing Person Award” and the 2000 Westchester/ Putnam Special Olympics “Striving For Excellence Award”. When Donna is not teaching or coaching she spends her time volunteering at numerous organizations including, Westchester/ Putnam Special Olympics, MHS girls field hockey winter and summer leagues, MHS environmental club and many more.

“It is impressive how much Donna has done for this community. She has dedicated herself to our youth and serves as a great mentor and inspiration,” Senator Ball said. “She has built a well deserved reputation as a woman of distinction and I am honored to accept her nomination!”

Senator Ball has asked each town, village, and city within the 40th Senate District to choose a nominee for induction into his Women of Distinction Hall of Fame.  Nominees will be formally inducted during a ceremony to be held on March 30th.

“Donna DiMaggio works so hard for the community and doesn’t expect anything in return,” said Carmel Town Supervisor Kenneth Schmitt. “ I can’t think of anyone more deserving to be nominated for this honor. Hats off to Donna DiMaggio.”

Senator Ball also continued his “Jobs Tour” at the town hall to update residents and community leaders on his job creation initiatives and asked for their ideas on how to bring jobs to the area.

Senator Ball has helped to pass major legislation that: delivered $250 Million in savings for more than 290,000 local businesses; delivered $67 million for local projects, creating jobs through major construction projects; capped property taxes at 2% to help working families and seniors hold on to their homes; helped to secure over $10 million dollars in economic development grants for the Hudson Valley region to finance major job creation projects; and repealed the job-killing MTA payroll tax completely for 80% of businesses previously paying it.

For more information or to speak with Senator Ball, please contact Brittany Oat: (845) 200-9716.

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Carmel, N.Y. – (2/17/2012) – Senator Greg Ball (R, C – Patterson) was joined by local lawmakers in Carmel on Friday to demand that his statewide Child Safety Zone Law (S1475) be passed immediately for the protection of our children in the wake of revelations that Level 3 Sex Offender and convicted pedophile Lance Smith was placed across the street from a daycare and a nursery school. In addition, a school bus stop where elementary children congregate is just 30′ away from his home, and Carmel High School and St. James the Apostle School are within a mile.

“It is hard to believe the state does not do everything in its power to protect our children from violent sex offenders,” Senator Ball said. “This is the least this state can do for our kids, and we should be leading the way and doing much more. There is no hole dark enough or deep enough for these predators. We are here to protect our kids.”

Smith is listed on the state sex offender registry as a Level 3, which is the most likely to re-offend. According to a 2002 study by the U.S. Department of Justice, approximately 4,300 child molesters were released from prisons in 15 States in 1994. An estimated 3.3% of these 4,300 were rearrested for another sex crime against a child within 3 years of release from prison.

Smith was convicted of sodomizing a girl under the age of 11 on June 21, 2005, according to the state Division of Criminal Justice Services sex offender registry. The record indicates threats and coercion were used in the crime, and that Smith knew his victim.

Smith was placed at 25 Seminary Hill Rd under guidance from state parole officials and according to guidelines in the state’s Sexual Assault Reform Act, which requires a convicted sex offender on parole or probation to avoid school grounds. The law doesn’t strictly exclude preschools or day-care centers. However, Senator Ball’s Child Safety Zone Law would close this loophole by setting up a 1,000 foot buffer for all schools including preschools and day cares, as well as parks and bus stops.

In 2009, Senator Ball worked with the Putnam County Legislature to enact a local Child Safety Zone Law that banned Level 2 and 3 offenders from living within 1,000 feet of a school, child-care facility, municipal recreation facility or open-space area. However, State Supreme Court Justice Francis A. Nicolai deemed  in 2010 that the state laws supersedes the county’s law, making Putnam County’s Child Safety Zone unenforceable.

Carmel Town Supervisor Kennth Schmitt says this is an ongoing problem in his town and he fully supports Senator Ball’s legislation to end the ambiguity once and for all.

“We as elected officials have to take every step we can to ensure the health safety and wellbeing of our children whether it be a daycare center, nursery school or educational facility,” Schmitt said. “ We have to take every step we can to make sure these children are not going to be victims. It’s up to us as the leaders and it’s up to the community. I applaud Senator Ball for taking the necessary steps and we totally support him in his efforts.”

Assemblyman Robert Castelli (R-Golden’s Bridge) is sponsoring the Child Safety Zone legislation in the Senate. Assemblyman Castelli says he would also like to see the Child Safety Zone laws passed on the County level.

“Our children are our most precious resource. We must take the lead in our State by having Child Safety Zone Laws properly passed and enforced,” Assemblyman Castelli said.

For more information or to speak with Senator Ball, please contact Brittany Oat: (845) 200-9716.

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MOUNT KISCO, N.Y. — The subject of hydraulic fracturing has been in the forefront of many news briefs across the country, and the topic was a hot one on the second floor of the Mount Kisco Public Library on Thursday thanks to Senator Greg Ball.

Ball, who represents the 40th District in New York, spoke of the dangers of what is generally referred to as “fracking,” and how he hopes to warn New Yorkers about the possibility of it entering New York. After a recent trip to Pennsylvania, which displayed the practice’s dangers, Ball arrived in Mount Kisco with pictures and information to show to interested locals.

Fracking, which is done in more than a handful of states around the country, is the process of cutting through layers of earth, stone, and shale to receive fossil fuels like natural gas and petroleum. A fluid is injected into the rock to create a pathway to the fuel. The process has been a controversial topic because of the chemicals in the injected fluid that go into the earth and into a water source.

A few examples of damage created by fracking were shown from his trip to Pennsylvania, including a stream that had been used as a dumping site for chemicals. Ball notes that one of the bigger crimes by the state was to not allow for strict regulations.

“By Pennsylvania environmental standards, because of the high flow of water in that river, they’re able to say, ‘Well, it’ll be diluted downstream,’” Ball said. “That’s a perfect example of how they moved forward, they fracked, and never put the proper regulations in place and they’re just now working to do that.”

One of the bigger crimes from the government standpoint is that money has been the biggest influencer in the fracking debate, instead of science.

“The problem with fracking is the problem with politics in the USA. And the problem is, absolute power and big money corrupts on both sides of the isle,” Ball said. “Those people love it when we point at each other…as if we’re the problem.”

Ball said that he believes fracking, whether the residents want it or not, will be heading to New York, and he hopes that the regulations can be enforced on the practice so it can do the least harm. In the mean time, Ball hopes that the residents of New York can get educated.

Harry McCartney is a historian of Mount Kisco who holds many sessions around the area, including at the library.

“I came out, because it’s been related to the program I’m running, and it has to do with the value of place,” McCartney said. “If you understand the value of a place, you would never allow this kind of thing to happen.”

Mount Kisco Trustee Jean Farber agreed, and hoped that those who attended became motivated to help the cause against it.

“I think residents need to be educated, aware what is a possibility,” Farber said. “And if they get really interested, they can get their friends to tell their friends to tell their friends, and that’s how things can get done.” (ARTICLE)

APPLAUDS CARMEL POLICE AND PUTNAM COUNTY FOR UPHOLDING CHILD SAFETY ZONE LAW.

Brewster, N.Y. – (2/13/2012) – Senator Greg Ball (R, C – Patterson) will join Yorktown Councilman Dr. Terrence Murphy in Carmel on Friday to demand that his statewide Child Safety Zone Law (S1475) be passed immediately for the protection of our children.

Recently, the Carmel community learned that a Level 3 sex offender on parole, Lance Smith, was living in his district within walking distance of several schools and preschools. Now, the Carmel Police Department and Putnam County are in the process of relocating Smith. The local Child Safety Zone law that has been enacted in Putnam County prohibits convicted sexual predators from living within 1,000 feet of any school, playground, school bus stop, or other areas where children congregate.

Lance Smith, 44, was living off Seminary Hill Road within walking distance of two preschools— the Little Wonders Preschool and the Gilead Preschool. In addition, a school bus stop where elementary children congregate is just 30′ away from his home, and Carmel High School and St. James the Apostle School are within a mile

Smith was convicted of having sex with a girl under the age of 11 on June 21, 2005, according to the state Division of Criminal Justice Services sex offender registry. The record indicates threats and coercion were used in the crime, and that Smith knew his victim. Level 3 is the most serious category of sex offenders, and considered the most likely to re-offend.

“I applaud the Town of Carmel and Putnam County for  protecting our children and upholding this critical piece of legislation,” Senator Ball said. “This is exactly why we need a statewide Child Safety Zone. This is the least this state can do for our kids, and we should be leading the way and doing much more. There is no hole dark enough or deep enough for these predators. We are here to protect our kids.”

Senator Ball and Councilman Murphy are also calling on officials in Westchester County to enact a local Child Safety Zone Law, which prohibits convicted sexual predators from living within 1,000 feet of any school, playground, school bus stop, or other areas where children congregate.

“There are children being protected here in Carmel yet, one mile away, children in Westchester who are just as precious are not being protected,” Senator Ball said. “ Let this serve as an example to Westchester County.”

As an Assemblyman, Senator Ball was a member of the Assembly Sex Offender Watch Task Force, which successfully passed and enacted Child Safety Zone laws in Putnam County. Senator Ball also sponsored Child Safety Zone legislation in the Assembly to create uniform standards across New York to protect children from dangerous sexual predators.

Who:               Senator Greg Ball

Terrence Murphy, President of Keeping Westchester Safe,
Chairman of Child Safety Zones NY and Yorktown Councilman

Kenneth Schmitt, Carmel Supervisor

Suzi McDonough, Carmel Councilwoman

What:              Press Conference on CSZ Legislation

When:             February 17^th at 12:00 p.m.

Where:           Carmel Town Hall

Meeting Room

60 McAlpin Ave.

Carmel, NY 10541

For more information or to speak with Senator Ball, please contact Brittany Oat: (845) 200-9716.

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Brewster, N.Y. – (2/14/2012) – On Sunday, February 19^th, Senator Greg Ball (R, C – Patterson) will attend a benefit fundraiser at the Empire City Casino in Yonkers for Sergeant Edward DiCaprio of the Yonkers Police Department.  Sgt. DiCaprio is a 21 year veteran of the department and a single parent of three who was recently diagnosed with a serious medical illness.  The benefit will contribute toward Sgt. DiCaprio’s medical expenses.

“I am very pleased to attend this event to acknowledge Sgt. DiCaprio’s years of service to the Yonkers Police Department as well as to contribute to the funding of this benefit.  Sgt. DiCaprio has shown tremendous bravery on-duty as well as off, and it’s wonderful to see the entire Yonkers PD community respond to the needs of one of their own.”

What:            Fundraiser for Sergeant Edward DiCaprio of the Yonkers Police Department

Who:             Senator Greg Ball

Police Commissioner Charles Gardner of Yonkers

When:           Sunday, February 19^th, 2012

12:00  p.m. – 6:00 p.m

Note: Please expect to arrive by 2:00 p.m.

Where:         Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway

Good Time Room

810 Yonkers Avenue

Yonkers, NY 10704

For more information or to speak with Senator Ball, please contact Brittany Oat: (845) 200-9716.

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