The Yonkers Insider Online

Check out article on Dennis Robertson in this week’s Westchester Guardian Newspaper by Publisher Sam Zherka.

Posted on: March 14, 2013

Source: Westchester Guardian Newspaper – March 14, 2013 Edition.

Editor’s Note:   I received permission from Westchester Guardian Publisher Sam Zherka to post his article on Dennis Robertson from this week’s Westchester Guardian Newspaper – March 14, 2013.

CAMPAIGN TRAIL

Dennis Robertson – The Double Dipping Flip Flopper.

By SAM ZHERKA

sam zherka

Former Yonkers City Councilman Dennis Robertson has advised some confidantes that he is running for Yonkers City Council
President as a Democrat again.

Robertson served one-term on the City Council before running for Yonkers Mayor and losing to Amicone in 2007.  Dennis Robertson’s past conduct, patterns of conflicts of interest, and shady behind the scenes dealings have haunted him for many years, and continue to do so.

Robertson, a former conservative Republican, with close ties to Republican Liam McLaughlin, is an admitted, albeit a recovering
alcoholic who has been sober for a number of years.

During his time on the Yonkers City Council, Robertson supported nearly every bill, expenditure, and budget item asked for by former Mayor Philip Amicone.

He is anti-choice and is alleged to have very little respect for women or their rights.

A former employee who worked for Robertson at his cleaning business up until 2010,  and who asked to be kept anonymous, accused Robertson of being dishonest, and a slave driver who has no respect for his workers.

His influence in local politics as a former Yonkers City Councilmember has landed him a number of jobs and contracts, which many have deemed as conflicts of interest and described as border-line corrupt.

Robertson has been entrenched in the Yonkers political underbelly for many years. He was a former business partner of  Yonkers Mayor John Spencer under the company name of Skyscraper Cleaning Services.

Robertson played many different roles throughout his career.  He served on the Westchester County Planning Board. He was the Civil Service Commissioner for the City of Yonkers under Spencer, and was a member of the Yonkers Industrial Development Agency (YIDA). He was head of the Real Estate Committee when he was the Councilman representing the 3rd District.

Robertson was the Commissioner of the Office of Civil Service where he peddled his influence and garnered contracts worth over $250,000 this while on the city payroll for his company Skyscraper Cleaning.

In fact, one of those contracts was a no bid contract under former Mayor Amicone’s Administration. Robertson also received
a consulting contract valued at $86,000 to lobby for Cappelli’s Minor League Baseball Stadium in Chicken Island, located in
the heart of Yonkers downtown.

He did this with the help of Al Pirro, while still a member of the Yonkers Board of Directors of the Yonkers IDA, and on the City payroll.

Robertson has recently met with Westchester County Conservative Party Chairman Hugh Fox, Jr., to discuss the prospect for the Conservative Party endorsement in exchange for jobs and contracts; all at the expense of the hard working Yonkers taxpayers.

The Westchester Guardian contacted Dr. Giulio Cavallo, Westchester County Independence Party Chairman to inquire over whether Robertson sought the support of the Independence Party. The Westchester Guardian was told that Robertson does not stand a chance in winning the support of the Westchester Independence Party.

It is no rumor that rank and file Democrats and city residents are fed up with the antics and dirty politics of Dennis Robertson. He placed his name in nomination in his run against Chuck Lesnick for Yonkers City Council President in 2009 only to withdraw at the Democratic Convention. The question remains what was Robertson offered or paid to back out of that race?

In 2011 Robertson once again ran for Yonkers City Council in the 3rd District after getting nominated at a Yonkers Democratic City mini-convention and once again bowed out of the race while his name remained on the ballot, creating chaos for the Democratic Party by splitting the vote, and putting their candidates at risk. 

The questions are once again being asked, “What backroom deal did Robertson cut to force him to quit, and how much was he
paid, if any thing, and by whom?

The alliances, connections, and conflicts of interest clearly show that Dennis Robertson is not fit to run for Yonkers City
Council President or any political office.

Dennis Robertson has bilked taxpayers of hundreds of thousands of dollars, has lied to the people of Yonkers for years, and
has cut deals behind closed doors  that benefit no one but himself.

Its time the people of Yonkers wake up and smell the coffee and stop letting the same old goons hijack their very existence, homes, futures and their City.

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THIS IS NO WAY TO TREAT AMERICANS!!!

Dear Friends,
Concerning our Nations Economic problems, I am addressing a solution that I believe will aid in reigniting our country into an engine of prosperity for us and our children’s future.

After seeing our Nation on the verge of collapsing economically, all while passing a 16.5 trillion dollar National Debt, and knowing that millions of Americans are facing the worst calamity since the great depression, I am writing this essay after the failed passage of “The Bring Jobs Home Act., S.3364

The following is my suggestion and views as a businessman in the town of Astoria, borough of Queens, and the great State of New York in bringing American Manufacturing and American Industry back to the United States of America.

I cannot understand how our political leaders, on both sides of the isle, are not putting the interest, concerns, hardships, and triumphs of the American people 1st.

42 Senators blocked the S.3364: Bring Jobs Home Act on July 19, 2012. This bill would have banned tax deductions for companies that move their businesses overseas. It also would have given a 20 percent tax credit for companies returning from overseas. It would have created millions of jobs across our Nation, thus, igniting a fire of independence among millions of Americans, returning our Nation into an engine of prosperity.

The bill failed by a 56-42. A count of 60 was required to end discussion and move to a final vote.

Instead of owning up to what they done, the Senate swept it under the rug. This short 10 page bill addressed the problem of nearly 24 million Americans out of work, nearly 49 million Americans on the poverty line, badly damaging our economy.

Their are those politicians who are riding the waves of the unemployed and poverty lines. Then their are those politicians who are riding the waves of the affluent. All while the economic work force of America, America’s Middle Class, is on the road of uncertainty.

Its not that our leaders have been neglecting what their responsibilities and duties are, but their indirect paths and course of actions for which they are pursuing, is the direct cause of mass unemployment, extreme poverty, loss of one’s self esteem; as well as this nation’s generation being dependent upon one’s government.

Their inept ability to control our expenditures should be reason for termination from public office.
They had to be sleeping @ the wheel

Not too long ago, our forefathers left a nation that was guided by the crown of Imperialism to a land envisioned by FREEDOM.

Freedom, a gift from our forefathers, paid for by their blood, sweat, and years (tears) of hard work, only to be “laid to rest” by the stroke of a pen.

Imperialism has led our forefathers to leave a Nation guided by its Crown, settle in a new land, envisioned by FREEDOM, now only to have its children abandon by the “Wings of Capitalism.”

Industrialization, once the fuel of our Nation’s Economy, only to leave our shores in pursuit of “The Almighty Dollar”.

Its not that Industrialization has abandoned our nation directly, but indirectly, our legislatives has given it wings to settle and prosper on foreign land.

Because of the passage of these legislation’s, millions of America’s children, as well as their parents are now facing the worst economic times since the Great Depression.

What is the sense of getting an education, racking up our children debt, only to find out America’s jobs are no longer within one’s reach.

Jobs are not a God given right, although, it may be an earned right, especially when our parents and forefathers worked a life time building a Nation for their children’s future.

Concerning our nations job market, “Free Trade” along with a so called “Global Economy”, has led Americans to a road block. Capitalism progressive strides to globalization is inevitable, although, it shouldn’t be at the behest of American labor, and especially its children.

Since the signing of the free trade agreements, America’s Industries have been leaving in droves. It left Americans on the unemployment and poverty lines.

What a horror to know millions of Americans can no longer afford basic essentials.

The signing of NAFTA (1992), implemented January 1st., 1994, perhaps the single worst legislation this country has ever passed, along with CAFTA, (2006), the icing on the cake, pushed forward the inevitable, manufacturing plants leaving our country and settling abroad.

It left behind towns and local municipalities across our nation, along with their citizens, unemployed and helpless.

Revenue has stopped flowing for
local municipalities. Business closed, people out of work, people loosing their homes, health insurances, unable to pay their bills.

Americans, all across our nation, especially, a town in Georgia, Millen, @ a 21 percent unemployment, became The Town That Jobs Forgot.

Americans are resilient and tough. They can cope with change. But when change takes away the dream of owning your own business, your own home, your job, unable to pay your bills, raise your family, your way of life, thus, the American dream is all broken up, taken away by the stroke of a pen. A legislation signed by our leaders, hoping to change and improve the world, but leaving behind a country (USA) “without jobs”.

One (1) thing I do know, and this is a no brainier. If our nation would bring our manufacturing plants home, millions of Americans will be employed. Tax revenue will be generating once again. A fire of wealth, (taxes) would be ignited.

Americans would be generating goods and services. Americans would once again be dependent upon themselves rather to depend on the government and outside resources.

Its been nearly 20 years, “where are our current elected officials on this most important subject”. “Can’t anyone see that Nafta, Cafta, and now the signing of the “Asia America Free Trade Agreement” doesn’t work”.

Its great for the foreign countries who picked up our slack after thousands of American Corporations went out of business or moved abroad. And It’s great for the executives and shareholders who invest in American Corporations that is based on our homeland while the manufacturing plants are housed overseas.

The free trade agreements must be revamped, along with its loopholes allowing American corporations to leave our home land, settling on foreign land, manufacturing goods, re-directing its merchandise back to the United States of America.

As an American manufacturer my-self, I truly believe, if you want to sell a product here, it should be made here in America. If an American manufacturer decides to settle its wings abroad, then they should be outlining a method to cater to that particle geographic area regarding its consumers. Let them open up manufacturing plants abroad for the sole purpose of catering to the area’s geographic consumers.

Its not that I am against free trade, I am against the unfettered free trade.
American corporations leaving our home land, making deals with foreign governments, throwing Americans on the street, for the sole reason of cheap labor, avoiding labor laws, escaping regulatory regulations, and the “greed and pursuit” of the “almighty dollar.”

I also believe if these American Corporations who seek the support of our elected officials, our servicemen in uniform, and the American consumer, then I believe, for the good of our country, If you are an American Corporation, with a corporate seal of the United States, and you are in the manufacturing business, than that plant should be housed within the 50 states of our country, “employing Americans”.

“The future for tomorrow’s leaders, (America’s future leaders), concerning our children today, is probably the most important issue any parent, political and / or labor leader should be addressing today.”

Did we not learn how our nation became the greatest country ever? It was thru hard work, ingenuity, innovation, and a vision…..everyone pitching in; building our nation thru the sweat of our ancestors merits. Thru the sweat of our ancestors, came a nation that future generations were supposed to thrive on.

Instead, we are giving away our resources, technology, and most important American Ingenuity.

What good is free trade when millions of Americans are left on the unemployment and poverty lines.

Today we have a debt that passed the 16 trillion dollars threshold. (16 thousand billion). That number is absurd. How can a nation of so called educated leaders allow this horrific debt to incur on us and especially our children. What was the sense of building a nation, especially thru industrialization, and then allowing thousand of corporations along with its investors and shareholders to close up shop in our country, throw Americans on the street, for the sole purpose of escaping regulatory regulations, cheap labor, benefits that are associated with labor, and most important, revenue taxes.

All this is destroying our nation. How can corporate individuals, who love this nation, live and thrive here, allow our nation to go into default. How can they expect our political leaders, our military, and especially the American consumer to support them. Free trade needs to be revamped. Again, I am not against free trade, but allowing Americans to be thrown onto the streets, so the wings of capitalism can settle on foreign land is “just not American”.

We need Americans to stand on the sweat of their own merits. Jobs, economy, and the right to make a living should be our politicians 1st. concern.

We need to mobilize our economy again. We do not need a tune-up. We need to overhaul our economy. We need to bring American Manufacturing and American Industry back to our nation.

Since the signing of these free trade agreements; enacted and signed by our former legislators, the loopholes allowing American Corporation to settle on foreign land, for the sole purpose to manufacturer goods, re-directing it’s merchandize back to our home land, is not free trade. That is American Corporations selling our country out for the sake of “The Almighty Dollar”.

What good is cheap, when millions of Americans can’t afford cheap. I truly believe the loopholes that allows thousands of American Corporations to leave our homeland because of the enacted free trade agreements need to be revamped.

A good example are the US Olympic Uniforms being manufactured in China. For more than 45 years Ralph Lauren has built a brand that embodies the best of American quality and design rooted in the rich heritage of our country. There longstanding relationship with the United States Olympic Committee by serving as an Official Outfitter of the US Olympic and Paralympic teams should have meant that our Olympic Uniforms should have been “Made In America”. Instead, the “Greed and Pursuit” of the Almighty Dollar has led Ralph Lauren & Co. to “OUTSOURCE” the uniforms.

In the meantime, we need to enticed American Corporations that left our homeland to come back to the United States of America.

Our Goal should be as follows:

A) To bring American Manufacturing / American Industry back to the United States, we need to………..,

1) Have taxes cut domestically for American Manufactures, Industries, Corporation, “based and housed” here in the United States, including real estate taxes. This will definitely enticed corporation to move back home. There are thousands of plants across our nation that are no longer occupied, perhaps abandoned, where real estate taxes are not collected anyway.

2) Tariffs on outsourced labor and products.

3) Regulations streamlines.

4) Bureaucratic clutter eliminated.

5) Trade barriers for exports knocked down.

6) Building trade unions recognizing “American Manufacturing as a main source of American building products for installation. Today, building trade union members are installing products from other countries for the sole purpose of keeping members working. These products are being manufacturing abroad, escaping regulatory regulations, labor laws, taxes that were to be generated here, and most important, American Jobs in “Rural America”. As a signatory member of a Union my-self, I personally believe we should be putting in American goods manufactured here made by Americans, before installing products manufactured abroad, thereby escaping revenue that would have been generated if it was “Made In America.”

7) Install in the Presidents Cabinet a Secretary Of Industry / Manufacturing. This new post will entail a “mission”; to entice American Manufacturer Corporate Leaders to return back to the United States. His / Her “mission” will work with corporate leaders to inform them the benefits in returning American plants from overseas back to the United States. This “mission” would also entail working with political leaders in each state, working out the best possible tax breaks for these corporations that will come with bringing these jobs home. This position should not be mistaken as any job, but as a “mission” in “bringing American Manufacturing and American Industry home.”

8) Put in place in each State of the Union a Commissioner of Industry / Manufacturing. This new post will entail a “mission”; to entice American Manufacturer Corporate Leaders to set up shop in their own state. His / Her “mission” will work with corporate leaders, political leaders as well as labor leaders to inform them the benefits in returning American plants from overseas back to their own state. This “mission” would also entail working out the best possible tax breaks for these corporations that will come with bringing these jobs home. This position should not be mistaken as any job, but as a “mission” in “bringing American Manufacturing and American Industry home.”

I believe “If you want to sell it here………THEN MAKE IT HERE.”

With the support of our political leaders along with labor leaders of this great nation; we look forward in your support bringing our nation together. We can continue to sit on the side lines and do nothing and hope for the best; or we can come together with a common goal; to reverse the destruction of our economy….

The more interest we can generate to the American public will benefit our Nation’s cause for a brighter future.

I hope we will be able to “brainstorm new and creative ideas” to further educate the public the importance and needs of bringing American Manufacturing, American Industry along with American labor back to our country.

What this country needs (USA) is an army of workers, employees, employers, united, generating goods and services, igniting a fire of wealth, thus turning our nation into an engine of prosperity.”

Admirers of globalization contend that free access to foreign markets and cheap labor increase corporate profits and thereby benefit the U.S. economy. While this argument may superficially sound compelling, it ignores the dangerous long-term effects of manufacturing losses. In reality, outsourcing makes Americans poorer over time, because America’s wealth and technology slowly migrate to other nations.

If America does not manufacture and sell goods, then money only leaves the country. The U.S. now imports twice as much as it exports. This has resulted in a trade deficit that has ballooned to an unprecedented $800-850 billion on an annualized basis. Unfortunately, this trend shows no signs of abating.

Every time an American manufacturer closes and then reopens abroad, that foreign country gains American technology. Not having to spend resources developing technology, foreigners can focus on improving or beating it.

The importance and need of American Manufacturing is a vital part of our country’s economy. I believe it is the blood flow of any nations revenue. We are a fortunate and blessed Nation. I believe, if we start to manufacturer goods once again in this country; merchandise that we use everyday, whether it’s clothing, appliances, machinery, household goods, the clothing on our backs, the items American people uses everyday, then, I believe our Nation can put millions of Americans back to work, generating goods and services, igniting a fire of wealth, ONCE AGAIN turning our Nation into an engine of prosperity.

The Executive branch and Congress must make “job creation” there most important task, “bringing our jobs home”, I believe our nation’s debt may be cut in half and on the ROAD to a BRIGHT FUTURE.

I believe it’s time to get on with our country main objective; “JOBS.” Creating jobs in America should be out politicians 1st. concern, on both sides of the isle.

After nearly 4 years of bickering, and millions of people on the unemployment and poverty line, it’s time to start building our nations economy and putting Americans back to work.

May our problems shed wisdom
upon our leaders.

“Today, our faith will lie upon new blood in our Government and God views and recognition, where today the people are living in the ashes of new traditions and institutions.”
Frank J Spotorno

God bless The United States of America;

Frank J. Spotorno
Alliance of Americans for America
http://www.bringourjobshome.org

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