MID-HUDSON – Last year April Fools’ Day, Wallkill Town Supervisor Daniel Depew had a Wallkill flag raised over Middletown City Hall and a Wallkill parking sign in the mayor’s parking spot.
Middletown Mayor Joseph DeStefano took the gags in the spirit in which they were committed, but suggested the two municipalities consider real discussions of a possible merger.
On April Fools’ Day this year, Depew wanted to top his prank of last year so he Photoshopped a new version of the electronic billboard that is on Route 17 in Wallkill.
Depew, left, and DeStefano, and their plan for the kingdom of MiddleKILL
DeStefano enjoyed the fun, but said it should be taken seriously.
“We would become a powerhouse in the county, region and state, so I am glad he is thinking about these things, but the only time it comes out is on April Fools’ Day when he agrees with me,” DeStefano said.
And if a merger would come to pass, Democrat DeStefano said he would consider Republican Depew for a top level job.
“If he wants to apply for the deputy mayor job, then I would certainly consider him,” DeStefano said.
But, Depew said Wednesday that DeStefano has broken his promise.
“It looks like he is going back on his word,” Depew said. “Last year he said I could be the mayor of this new municipal entity that doesn’t exist,”
This isn’t the only April Fools’ gag in local government. The Kingston City Police Department issued an authentic looking news release saying it was going to employ a new “Sky Police” unmanned drone to patrol.
What’s up in the sky? It’s a bird, it’s a plane…
The police statement said the public has expressed concern about the
drone spying on them sunbathing in their birthday suit or changing inside
their home. “The public need not worry about such private issues.
A program that blurs any inappropriate photos or videos will be available
sometime in late 2016,” the news release said.
And the police concluded their announcement saying the “Sky Police” drone will have the capability of displaying messages to the public on a lighted banner, the first of which is “Happy April Fools’ Day.”
