Town calls for repeal of NY SAFE Act on Valentine’s Day
WARWICK — At its regular meeting on Feb. 14 the Town of Warwick board voted unanimously to call upon the state Legislature to repeal the NY SAFE Act.
On Jan. 15 New York became the first state to enact gun control legislation in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Conn., last December.
Councilman Mickey Shuback insisted it be a roll call vote.
Resident Steve Gross pleaded with the board members to not pass their resolution and challenge instead those parts they find objectionable but keep good elements such as mental health restrictions and closing loop holes on gun sales.
“I feel that the action you’re about to take is the same thing you’re accusing this legislature of being,”he said. “I’ve talked to my neighbors and they applaud that legislation.”
Town Supervisor Michael Sweeton and councilman Floyd DeAngelo, who is a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association, said they believe the law was enacted hastily, without public debate and infringes on the right to keep and bear arms.
In the words of the resolution, the board believes the NY SAFE Act “would ban the possession and use of firearms now legally possessed by individual citizens of the Town of Warwick for defense of Life, Liberty and Property and … safe forms of firearms recreation, hunting and shooting as well as hinder the Warwick Police Department’s ability to ensure the safety of our residents.”
The resolution will be sent to President Obama, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, U.S. Rep. Patrick Sean Maloney, state Sen. John Bonacic and Assemblywoman Rabbitt Annie.
(See related story on page 8.)
In other news
The next regular meeting of the board has been changed to Tuesday, Feb. 26, at 1 p.m. from Thursday, Feb. 28, in Warwick Town Hall, 132 Kings Highway.
Honor Flight is now accepting applications for its inaugural flight of veterans who have yet to visit their National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., to see it free-of-charge. Hudson Valley Honor Flight is organizing a day trip departing from Stewart Airport. The chapter serves veterans living in Orange, Ulster, Westchester, Rockland, Putnam and Dutchess counties. First priority is given to veterans of the Second World War and to veterans who are terminally ill. For more information call Michael Sweeton at 986-1124 Ext. 241.
The following board openings are available:
Five seats on the Conservation Board, which has nine members serving three-year terms.
Five seats on the Recreation Commission, which has seven members serving four-year terms.
Four seats on the Pine Island Recreation Committee, which has seven members serving four-year terms.
One seat representing the Village of Florida on the Agricultural Advisory Board, which has four members plus one from each village.
To apply please send a letter to either the Office of the Town Clerk or Town Supervisor, 132 Kings Highway.
Residents are reminded not to park in the street 24-hours prior to a predicted snow event. Town plow truck drivers need to be able to get around and are having particular difficulty in the Kings Estates section.
Most FEMA projects fixing damage from 2011’s Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee are coming to completion.
Cascade Road on the 17A side is open but paving and guardrail installation cannot be done until the weather permits.
Ryerson Road requires more dewatering.
Newly approved improvements for Brady Road will begin as soon as the weather permits.
Expect delays as East Shore Road becomes one lane through end of March.
FEMA will reimburse the town for $44,344 in cleanup costs and $201,540 for emergency response costs incurred from Hurricane Sandy.
The Warwick Valley Humane Society is in need of bleach, heavy-duty garbage bags, stove pellets and cans of cat food.
By Birgit Bogler