Address to Seniors at St. John's Meadows Senior Community

By Samuel R. "Sam" Trapani

It's troubling to see our community cut benefits to the very people who worked so hard to provide for us. With a failed economic policy it makes no sense to return incumbents, the people who failed us, to Albany.

I grew up in the Bay Goodman neighborhood. At the time I didn't know it but we were poor. We didn't have much.....but we had everything. I'll never forget who I am and where I came from.

I attended 25 school, Frederick Douglass Junior High, Edison Tech and MCC finishing my education at Cornell University. My degree is in electrical engineering and economics. College didn't introduce me to politics but it certainly prepared me for it because I have been professionally trained to identify problems, find good solutions and implement them successfully. That's what I do best. That's what I'd like to do for you.

I decided to run for office because over the last 16 years I've watched and complained as our children's, our families and our community's future has literally been robbed right from under us by a non responsive state legislature. My mother-in-law convinced me it was time to stop complaining about it and time to get involved + here I am.

This is my first run for office. I have no political baggage. I have no favors owed or owing. I will work first and foremost for you + always. I will not work for or take orders from Albany party bosses.

Over the past several months its been a pleasure to walk the district and talk with many constituents. I was surprised to see so many seniors but understand why in light of the fact that 40% of our young people between the ages of 25 and 34 have left our community over the past 5 years in search of jobs and a better life.

This is troubling to me because with such a loss of our taxpayer base I'm very worried about the future ability of our community to provide the care you folks need and deserve after all the years that you have worked hard and contributed to our community. I know you are aware of this because the gubernatorial candidates have targeted Medicaid for cuts.

In talking with seniors I've learned about issues that are important to you. Issues like having to go to the local hospital only to be faced with long waits in dirty waiting rooms. Sometimes even having to wait up to 4 days to get a bed. The closing of Genesee Hospital probably didn't help. After all, lack of competition is generally a bad thing.

Instead of cuts, I would look at issues of questionable spending, fraud and abuse - money that could be used for important needs of the people of our community.

As an example, last week I was informed that in the City Schools the cost per student is now $18K per year. With an average of 25 students in a class that's $450K per classroom. I know things are expensive but if a teacher is paid $50K where is the other $400K? As your Assemblyman I will immediately launch an investigation into this issue.

And then there are political campaign contributions from special interest and Political Action Committee or PAC's. I WILL NOT ACCEPT MONEY FROM THESE GROUPS. The cost to our community for this money is to place the politician ahead of the people.

It's interesting because when we listen to the candidates most sound alike. Most want the same things + good housing, health care, schools, etc....

The difference is how we get there + most people agree current fiscal policy of tax upstate and spend downstate has failed.

My analysis of the state Assembly has uncovered a condition I call the "Super Majority" which is in large part the reason why we cant get the changes we need in Albany.

Of the 150 members in the assembly, 105 are Democrats and 45 are Republicans. The Assembly has been controlled since 1994 by Sheldon Silver, a Democrat Assemblyman from New York City's lower east side and practicing personal injury attorney.

For legislation to be passed or turned down a simple majority is needed + 76 votes out of 150. With 105 votes available from fellow Democrats, Silver has 29 votes more than he needs. This excess has made the votes of our Upstate Democrats virtually useless simply because their votes are not needed.

The effect of the Super Majority in the Assembly has been to transfer disparity from political party's to disparity between geographic regions. Think of how it would be if there were one party + the issue would always be Upstate vs. Downstate. That is exactly what we have with the Super Majority. From the Assembly, the lions share of State aid, projects, programs, reform and the changes we need for our community to grow and prosper go Downstate with only scraps coming home to Upstate.

An ironic phenomena exists in the Super Majority + the more Democrats we send to Albany in the Assembly, the less we receive Upstate. This would also be true if the Super Majority were Republican controlled. With greater numbers in his ranks Speaker Sheldon Silver's power increases only to hurt Upstate more.

The solution is simple. As an Upstate voter you have the choice to either "enable" Speaker Silver by sending Democrats to the Assembly or you can "disable" him by sending non-Democrats. You only have one vote + please use it wisely.

In closing I would simply like to say, I know for some it's hard to take a risk and vote for change, but it's even harder for so many people in our community to say goodbye to their job and it's heartbreaking to say goodbye to your children when they move out of state.

It's time we said "we've had enough".

On Election Day, I'd be honored to have your vote so we can bring real change to Albany.

Thank you very much and may god bless you all!