mcmahon

Staten Island says 'no' to health reform

Posted by Joseph Tacopino

Staten Island’s Rep. Mike McMahon was the only “No” vote on health care reform out of the New York City delegation.

In a sense he gave the district exactly what they wanted: blind obstruction.

It’s no surprise that most of the island, although grossly misinformed, is decidedly against the president’s health care initiative — or any other initiative he has for that matter.

I’ve done some reporting on this issue in the past and the feelings from the mid-island business community was generally weary of this elusive health care plan.

Here is a sampling for Sept 09:

“My husband has his own business and he pays $2,000 a month for insurance. We’re hurting but I do have three kids. I don’t know what I’m going to get (if reform passes).”

– Pat Siringo, clerk at Uniquely Yours

“It’s not the cheapest but at least I have insurance. I am concerned about the effect this plan will have on seniors. I don’t want any more change; I’ve had enough change.”

-Lorraine Graziano, owner of S I Quick Print.

“My wife had to get a job at (Staten Island University) Hospital so I could get health care. I went for two years without insurance. But, if you work 20 years to get to a certain point with your business why should you be penalized (with higher taxes). It’s not right, I hope it doesn’t pass.”

-Michael DiGuido, owner of The Animal Pantry.

“He won’t vote for it, and it won’t pass. Financially it doesn’t make any sense. Staten Island is a conservative place in general. Staten Island can take care of itself.”
-Warren Crapo owner Crapo Realty

Every single business owner complained about the rising costs of health care. However, every single business owner was strongly against health care reform.

Is there a disconnect here? Where are they getting their info? Fox News? The Advance? The Marketeer?

By Tuesday, the media was sniping at McMahon from every angle.

The NY Daily News claimed that the White House was upset with McMahon’s intransigence.

The local paper spoke to a potential primary challenger, who had lost to McMahon in ’08.

Meanwhile McMahon’s opponents were unsheathing their right-wing rhetoric.

“It is a very sad day for all Americans when bribery and backroom deals beat the will of the people,” Mike Grimm said in a press release.

The other Mike, Allegretti, went to the NY Post to air his grievances

But what about the Island’s conservative base? They must be on McMahon’s side now right?

“As long as the congressman has a ‘D’ next to his name, he will be part of the problem in perpetuating the Pelosi Congress,” said Santarpia, the leader of Staten Island’s Tea Party, to the Staten Island Advance.

Looks like McMahon can’t please anybody.

GOP Candidates Battle it out on Staten Island

Posted by Joseph Tacopino

boxersAre you ready to rumble?

Well I hope not because you’ll be extremely disappointed.

The two Republican challengers to Congressman Mike McMahon faced off in a “debate” last week in the posh environs of the Hilton Garden Inn on Staten Island, and the affair was the exact claptrap you’d expect from a couple of “Island” Republicans.

It was Mike Grimm, the fiery Gulf War veteran, against Mike Allegretti, the wonder boy transplant from Brooklyn. Here are some observations:

1. Look at all those white people! We know Staten Island is more then 70 percent white according to census estimates, but how about a little diversity?  Political involvement on Staten Island doesn’t just occur in elite social clubs. Oh, wait, it does.

2. On health care reform Grimm starts off strong: railing against the “backdoor dealings” (btw, does he mean backroom, or is he talking about Rep. Massa?). Grimm quickly loses focus and his tirade devolves into a litany of talking points with a connect-the-dots relationship to the subject. “The Pharma, Unions, giveaways, the Louisiana Purchase” (huh?)

Bottom line: health care reform bad. Open up exchanges across state lines and cut taxes. That will fix everything!

3. Next up is wonder boy Allegretti. What’s his take on health care reform?

“[If] you wanna renovate your house you don’t knock it down. You renovate it and you continue living in it at the same time.”

Really? No shit, this is almost the same exact analogy that former Rep. Vito Fossella used during his half-assed attempt to make a public stance on the issue. Are these guys trading talking points like baseball cards? or do they have the same consultant? Maybe Allegretti has a family on the side as well. Probably not, just saying.

3. Next: How do we create jobs?

Believe it or not they both agree: cut taxes. Ronald Reagan’s cold dead body and trickle down economics lives on in the swank hotel lobbies of Staten Island.

4. Is global warming real?

Wait, this is a serious question? As soon as I start to feel bad for ripping on you guys you allude to the ridiculous, scientifically unsound position that global warming doesn’t exist.

Grimm: the jury is still out.

Props to Allegretti for admitting that global warming is in fact real and even if it’s not “what the heck do we do when the oil runs out and the coal runs out?” Great question. I’d love to hear Grimm’s response. Drill, baby drill??

5. They both hate abortion: no surprise.

6. On foreign policy, Allegretti sounds well-versed, tackling the issue of Yemeni terror groups and the threat of radical Islam in the Arabian peninsula.

In summary, Allegretti seems like a fairly nuanced conservative. One who can see both sides of an issue and come out with a well-informed position. Grimm seems like an ideologue. Unfortunately for Allegretti, the decision-making process will most likely take place in stuffy forums like this one rather than among ordinary Joe-six packs of Staten Island.