The following is Part II of our interview with Joe Cavallaro.
When we last left our hero, he had been arrested by the New York State Police. His crime? Trying to speak with someone in John Faso's Albany Office. Warning! The content of this interview may not be suitable for those over eighteen years of age or older.
TP: So they took you to Hunter.
JC: Yes, I was fingerprinted and all that.
TP: Did they say what you were charged with?
JC: Well, after everything was done at Hunter, they transported me up the throughway. It was a whole big production. Another trooper met us about halfway and I was transferred to that car and taken in. It was some special trooper unit, the Executive Unit. Like the Gestapo.
TP: What were the charges?
JC: Aggravated Harassment in the 2nd Degree. Judge Herrick came and arraigned me. It was the only time I've ever been arrested so I didn't know anything at all. Then, a sergeant comes in to talk with me. He says, 'You know why you were arrested, don't you?' It was for calling Faso's house. He said, 'You're not being charged with that but that's why you were arrested.' The trooper looked surprised when I told him that Faso's phone number was in the phone book. He also said that since I had no record they'd probably give me something called an ACD or ACOD.
TP: He tells you that the phone calls to Faso's house caused the arrest but that's not part of the complaint? So you have to go up to Albany, where the office was located rather than stay in Greene County?
JC: Exactly. Afterwards, I was released.
TP: How many court appearances did you make?
JC: I had to go up there seven or eight times. The trial was adjourned once, at my request. It was scheduled for June but I was working with the Sheriff Department's D.A.R.E Program on an event for kids. I guess I'm a real menace to society.
TP: Who was your lawyer?
JC: Mark Mishler, a civil rights attorney. I spoke with a few lawyers. Many of them said I would lose and they didn't want to get involved. I went to a few lawyers who didn't want to get involved.
TP: What were your legal fees?
JC: About $5,000. My business also took a hit.
TP: Did the prosecution ever make you that offer? The ACOD?
JC: Yes, an ACD. Something where if I stayed out of trouble for six months the charges would be dropped. I said I couldn't do that. I wasn't brought up that way.
TP: This circus actually went to trial?
JC: About a year later. A day or two before the trial, my lawyer calls and is nervous. He had just found out that Paul Clyne was going to prosecute. I didn't know the name but my lawyer said that Clyne had the law in his blood, was Mr. Justice or something like that. One of the top guys in the office. I was light-hearted about it and actually ended up helping him relax.
TP: Who was the judge?
JC: Judge Duncan. Great guy.
TP: How long was the trial?
JC: It went into a second day before the prosecution ended its case.
TP: Did you have to put on a defense?
JC: No. The judge dismissed the case.
TP: Was Faso there when the case was dismissed?
JC: Yes. Because we subpoenaed him. In fact, we subpoenaed eveyone involved. Everyone that spoke to me at the office, the trooper, everyone. The only person I didn't subpoena was Mrs. Faso. She was the only one that didn't hang-up on me. She was nice and I wanted to show her more respect than Faso showed my wife.
TP: Why did you subpoena Faso's staff? Weren't you afraid they would lie?
JC: No. I just knew that they would tell the truth. I just had a feeling that under oath, they wouldn't lie.
TP: Did they lie on the stand?
JC: No. They all told the truth. They said I was polite and courteous. And the tape they played showed that also. Linehan made a terrible witness for the prosecution. At one point she testified, about me calling the Albany Office, "You don't call the White House and ask to speak with the President. It doesn't work that way." Can you believe that?
TP: You're fucking kidding me?
JC: No, I'm not. She also said that it was office policy that, because of my geographic location, that I speak with Elaine Martin, in the Coxsackie Office. Harry Spector, a spokesperson for Faso, later said that there was no such policy.
TP: What was your sense of Paul Clyne in all of this. Was he enthusiastic or did he look embarrassed?
JC: Embarrassed. He wasn't into it at all. I figure he's probably got murder and rape trials to prepare for and his boss tells him to go do this. No, he didn't want to be there.
TP: Did Faso ever apologize?
JC: No.
TP: So Faso is in the courtroom, at least one day. Presumably, and he's a lawyer, he could have brought this nonsense to an end. He didn't?
JC: No.
TP: Did Judge Duncan admonish the prosecution or did he just dismiss the case?
JC: No, he kind of went after them. He did say my phone calls were for a 'legitimate constituent concern.'
TP: Did you ever get the signs?
JC: Yes. I called my state senator, Senator Bonacic. Had the signs within the week.
TP: Did he have you arrested first?
JC: No.
TP: Has anyone contacted you about putting up a 'Faso for Governor' sign?
JC: No.
TP: Have you contributed any money to the Faso campaign?
JC: Yeah, I'm taking out a second mortgage so I can contribute.
TP: If Faso is elected governor, do you think there may be an increase in anti-sign behavior?
JC: Absolutely. It might be very difficult to drive to New Jersey, unless you already know the way.
TP: Has this effected your business?
JC: Yes. I've lost customers, especially customers from the local area. You see, in a small place like this, no one wants to rock the boat. The politicians control everything and no one wants to get on their bad side. A lot of people here have jobs with the town and county and no one wants to be on the bad side of any politician. Even the Democrats. I went and spoke with the Democratic Town chair a few days after my arrest. She wasn't interested in what had happened.
On the other hand, the further you get from Hunter, the more support I got. People will stop in and tell me they respect me for standing up for myself and not rolling over. The story was in a lot of the papers and people remember.
TP: Is contacting your elected representative a gateway crime? If you're willing to do that what's next? Leaving the room without turning off the lights?
JC: I don't think so. I've been clean ever since.
TP: Any advice for someone who may want a sign?
JC: Make sure your re-dial button works.
TP: What type of governor would Faso make?
JC: Can you imagine? Look how he treated me when he was only an assemblyman.
TP: Thanks for your time.
JC: Thank you.
TP: Never call us again or we'll have you arrested.
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
PART II
Due to overwhelming demand and great feed-back (plus a family emergency), we'll be posting Part II of our interview with Joe Cavallaro tomorrow. Stay tuned.
Monday, April 24, 2006
SIGNS
Joe Cavallaro resides in Haines Falls, in the Town of Hunter, Greene County. He has lived there since 1973, after moving there from Brooklyn. Mr. Cavallaro owns and operates the High Peaks Motel and the Twilight General Store.
In 1998, Joe Cavallaro was arrested for the first and only time in his life. His crime? Trying to speak with someone in John Faso's Albany office.
We were lucky enough to sit down and discuss this incident with Mr. Cavallaro. We thank him for his time and hope you enjoy this glimpse into the character of John Faso, a man who wants to be our next governor. So sit back and enjoy the show. And now.....
TP: To start off, are you a Republican, Democrat or other?
Joe Cavallaro: Registered Conservative.
TP: Have you ever voted for Mr. Faso?
JC: Yes.
TP: Why did you initially contact Mr. Faso's office?
JC: I had been approached by someone about my store being a designated Official Forest Preserve Information Station for the Catskill Forest Preserve. I'd get two signs. People hiking, camping or whatever, could stop in and get information about where to go, things like that. You know what the signs are? Two pieces of wood with yellow lettering. One for the store and one would go on the road. I thought it be good for business and for the area.
TP: How soon did you expect to get the signs?
JC: A few days before all this happened, I was talking with some Schenectady big shot who said, 'Joe, it'll take months for you to get those. Call someone.'
TP: Who did you call?
JC: My Assemblyman, John Faso. I called his Albany office. I thought someone in the Albany office could get something done.
TP: Who did you talk to on that first phone call?
JC: A staffer. I never even got the word 'sign' out of my mouth. Before I was arrested, if you asked anyone in Faso's office what I was calling about, they couldn't tell you. They wouldn't have even known about the signs.
TP: So, as far as you know, Mr. Faso does not have any irrational hatred of signs? No childhood sign traumas?
JC: I couldn't tell you.
TP: What did the staffer say?
JC: I was directed to call the Coxsackie office but I didn't want to call that office. A few years back I had called about something to do with an ice skating rink and the lady at the Coxsackie office and she was....I don't want to sound mean....like a box of rocks. You’d get nothing done with that office.
TP: So what happened?
JC: The staffer said they'd get back to me. A while later, Nancy Linehan, Faso's Staff Director calls me. She said, "You don't tell me who you are going to speak with. I tell you who you're going to speak with.”
TP: Charming.
JC: I said, 'the only person who talks like that to me is my 82 year-old mother. Then, click. She hung up on me.
TP: How many Faso staffers did you talk to when all is said and done?
JC: Two, the first lady and then Linehan. Then when I called, they hung up on me. I even sent a fax to make a complaint. I probably called thirty times and out of the thirty times, twenty-seven were hang-ups.
TP: The phone calls to the Albany office took place all in the same day?
JC: Yes. I just wanted to speak to someone. I'm a constituent. I wanted to speak with someone in the Albany office.
TP: Other than Mr. Faso, have you harassed any other assemblymen?
JC: Believe it or not, he's it.
TP: Would you like to harass my Assemblyman?
JC: Sure, give me his number.
TP: Did you ever talk to anybody in the Albany office again?
JC: Well, once, when I called back, a lady tried to talk with me. I think she felt bad about what was happening. Then, and this staffer testified to this at the trial, Linehan figured out who she was talking to and grabbed the phone and hung it up. Then I called back and I thought I was getting somewhere. They put me on hold and the next thing I hear is, "This is Trooper Roger Leavitt.” Honestly, I thought lines had been crossed.
TP: Because you hadn't called the troopers?
JC: Right. I honestly thought there was a connection problem. So this trooper starts telling me that I have to stop calling and If I don't, I will be arrested. This conversation is on tape and it was played at the trial. I started lecturing the trooper on the Constitution and all sorts of things. He even asked if the conversation was being recorded. I was like, 'do you realize what you're telling me? I can't call my elected representative's office? I was courteous, but I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I actually asked him how he could take a politician's word over mine. I told him that in a recent poll, politicians ranked below used car salesman for trustworthiness. When they played the tape at trial, the Judge said that I had been right on the law. Both the Judge and the jury laughed about that tape. Anyway, I even gave the trooper directions to my home.
TP: At some point, you call Mr. Faso's home?
JC: Right. The next day, I'm in my store and I think, 'what do you do when an office is out of control?’ You call the top dog.
TP: Woof, woof.
JC: So I called Faso's house.
TP: How did you get his phone number? Did you contact some underground network or pay big money for it on the black market?
JC: I used the phone book. A friend mentioned that he had had a problem and called Faso at home. I asked him for the number and he said, “I think it’s in the phone book.” We looked it up.
TP: What kind of phone book? A special, secret phone book?
JC: Just a big, yellow phone book. The kind everyone has. A third grader could have found his number. Faso's phone number was even pre-fixed with the letters, C-A-L-L.
TP: Pretty tricky on your part.
JC: Wasn't it? He wasn't home. His wife answered the phone. I just said, I'd like to speak with John about a problem. She said he wasn't home but she would give him the message. She was very nice.
TP: Did you get the sense that Mrs. Faso was being held against her will?
JC: Maybe. Probably.
TP: How many times did you call Mr. Faso's house?
JC: Well, the next day, he hadn't called me back so I phoned again. Mrs. Faso answered and said that he wasn't there but that he had been home and received the message. Later that day a trooper comes into the store, handcuffs me and carts me away. My wife started crying. I told her it would be fine.
TP: Did you go peacefully or did you contemplate some type of desperate last stand, like “you’ll never take me alive, copper!”
JC: I expected it. I wasn't really surprised. We drove to Hunter where I was finger printed and lodged. They call it ‘lodged’ like they’re taking you to the Holiday Inn. This is funny. On the way to Hunter, the trooper, and I'm not joking, stopped at The Hole Donut in Catskill to get some donuts. I couldn't believe it.
TP: In all fairness to Mr. Faso, he was a Republican Assemblyman in an overwhelmingly Democratic Assembly. Couldn't he have been very busy not getting legislation passed?
JC: True.
TP: Did you ever once, during this whole time, stop thinking about Joe Cavallaro the constituent and think about John Faso the public servant? Did you ever stop and think about how you could help serve John Faso?
JC: I did think about getting his staff some donuts from The Hole Donut.
Part II of the interview will be published on Wednesday. Stay tuned.
In 1998, Joe Cavallaro was arrested for the first and only time in his life. His crime? Trying to speak with someone in John Faso's Albany office.
We were lucky enough to sit down and discuss this incident with Mr. Cavallaro. We thank him for his time and hope you enjoy this glimpse into the character of John Faso, a man who wants to be our next governor. So sit back and enjoy the show. And now.....
TP: To start off, are you a Republican, Democrat or other?
Joe Cavallaro: Registered Conservative.
TP: Have you ever voted for Mr. Faso?
JC: Yes.
TP: Why did you initially contact Mr. Faso's office?
JC: I had been approached by someone about my store being a designated Official Forest Preserve Information Station for the Catskill Forest Preserve. I'd get two signs. People hiking, camping or whatever, could stop in and get information about where to go, things like that. You know what the signs are? Two pieces of wood with yellow lettering. One for the store and one would go on the road. I thought it be good for business and for the area.
TP: How soon did you expect to get the signs?
JC: A few days before all this happened, I was talking with some Schenectady big shot who said, 'Joe, it'll take months for you to get those. Call someone.'
TP: Who did you call?
JC: My Assemblyman, John Faso. I called his Albany office. I thought someone in the Albany office could get something done.
TP: Who did you talk to on that first phone call?
JC: A staffer. I never even got the word 'sign' out of my mouth. Before I was arrested, if you asked anyone in Faso's office what I was calling about, they couldn't tell you. They wouldn't have even known about the signs.
TP: So, as far as you know, Mr. Faso does not have any irrational hatred of signs? No childhood sign traumas?
JC: I couldn't tell you.
TP: What did the staffer say?
JC: I was directed to call the Coxsackie office but I didn't want to call that office. A few years back I had called about something to do with an ice skating rink and the lady at the Coxsackie office and she was....I don't want to sound mean....like a box of rocks. You’d get nothing done with that office.
TP: So what happened?
JC: The staffer said they'd get back to me. A while later, Nancy Linehan, Faso's Staff Director calls me. She said, "You don't tell me who you are going to speak with. I tell you who you're going to speak with.”
TP: Charming.
JC: I said, 'the only person who talks like that to me is my 82 year-old mother. Then, click. She hung up on me.
TP: How many Faso staffers did you talk to when all is said and done?
JC: Two, the first lady and then Linehan. Then when I called, they hung up on me. I even sent a fax to make a complaint. I probably called thirty times and out of the thirty times, twenty-seven were hang-ups.
TP: The phone calls to the Albany office took place all in the same day?
JC: Yes. I just wanted to speak to someone. I'm a constituent. I wanted to speak with someone in the Albany office.
TP: Other than Mr. Faso, have you harassed any other assemblymen?
JC: Believe it or not, he's it.
TP: Would you like to harass my Assemblyman?
JC: Sure, give me his number.
TP: Did you ever talk to anybody in the Albany office again?
JC: Well, once, when I called back, a lady tried to talk with me. I think she felt bad about what was happening. Then, and this staffer testified to this at the trial, Linehan figured out who she was talking to and grabbed the phone and hung it up. Then I called back and I thought I was getting somewhere. They put me on hold and the next thing I hear is, "This is Trooper Roger Leavitt.” Honestly, I thought lines had been crossed.
TP: Because you hadn't called the troopers?
JC: Right. I honestly thought there was a connection problem. So this trooper starts telling me that I have to stop calling and If I don't, I will be arrested. This conversation is on tape and it was played at the trial. I started lecturing the trooper on the Constitution and all sorts of things. He even asked if the conversation was being recorded. I was like, 'do you realize what you're telling me? I can't call my elected representative's office? I was courteous, but I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I actually asked him how he could take a politician's word over mine. I told him that in a recent poll, politicians ranked below used car salesman for trustworthiness. When they played the tape at trial, the Judge said that I had been right on the law. Both the Judge and the jury laughed about that tape. Anyway, I even gave the trooper directions to my home.
TP: At some point, you call Mr. Faso's home?
JC: Right. The next day, I'm in my store and I think, 'what do you do when an office is out of control?’ You call the top dog.
TP: Woof, woof.
JC: So I called Faso's house.
TP: How did you get his phone number? Did you contact some underground network or pay big money for it on the black market?
JC: I used the phone book. A friend mentioned that he had had a problem and called Faso at home. I asked him for the number and he said, “I think it’s in the phone book.” We looked it up.
TP: What kind of phone book? A special, secret phone book?
JC: Just a big, yellow phone book. The kind everyone has. A third grader could have found his number. Faso's phone number was even pre-fixed with the letters, C-A-L-L.
TP: Pretty tricky on your part.
JC: Wasn't it? He wasn't home. His wife answered the phone. I just said, I'd like to speak with John about a problem. She said he wasn't home but she would give him the message. She was very nice.
TP: Did you get the sense that Mrs. Faso was being held against her will?
JC: Maybe. Probably.
TP: How many times did you call Mr. Faso's house?
JC: Well, the next day, he hadn't called me back so I phoned again. Mrs. Faso answered and said that he wasn't there but that he had been home and received the message. Later that day a trooper comes into the store, handcuffs me and carts me away. My wife started crying. I told her it would be fine.
TP: Did you go peacefully or did you contemplate some type of desperate last stand, like “you’ll never take me alive, copper!”
JC: I expected it. I wasn't really surprised. We drove to Hunter where I was finger printed and lodged. They call it ‘lodged’ like they’re taking you to the Holiday Inn. This is funny. On the way to Hunter, the trooper, and I'm not joking, stopped at The Hole Donut in Catskill to get some donuts. I couldn't believe it.
TP: In all fairness to Mr. Faso, he was a Republican Assemblyman in an overwhelmingly Democratic Assembly. Couldn't he have been very busy not getting legislation passed?
JC: True.
TP: Did you ever once, during this whole time, stop thinking about Joe Cavallaro the constituent and think about John Faso the public servant? Did you ever stop and think about how you could help serve John Faso?
JC: I did think about getting his staff some donuts from The Hole Donut.
Part II of the interview will be published on Wednesday. Stay tuned.
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
BLOGS OF INTEREST
BLOGS OF NOTE
Upstream did an excellent series of posts on the saga of Ralph Tortorici. The posts are worth the time and underline the problems our justice system has in dealing with people who are clearly insane but do not meet the current standard of legal insanity.
Part 1;
Part 2;
Part 3;
There's also a post on Ms. Coleman, the prosecutor.
The posts are worth a look.
Luckily, the closest we've come to a Tortorici is John Romano, another sad case.
WITCH HUNT
The witch hunt is on! It looks like the authorities are coming down hard on Doyle Middle School English teacher Brian Switzer. Switzer was arrested for engaging in on-line conversations with a 14 year-old student. He is charged with Endangering the Welfare of a Minor.
In a time when teachers are the subject of great criticism, do we really need to arrest the good ones? How many teachers are dedicated enough to use their own private time to get to know their students? It looks like Switzer really wanted to get to know his students, so much so that he even inquires about sexual preferences, puberty and personal hygiene. That's dedication and that's why Switzer wins our Teacher of the Year Award!
The victim's mother also gets a thumbs up. So many parents fail to get involved with their teenager's lives. Not this one. Not only did the mother know her daughter was 'chatting' on-line with Switzer, once the story broke, she swung into action and decided to find out what they were chatting about. That's called "pro-active" parenting and it's damn refreshing.
Upstream did an excellent series of posts on the saga of Ralph Tortorici. The posts are worth the time and underline the problems our justice system has in dealing with people who are clearly insane but do not meet the current standard of legal insanity.
Part 1;
Part 2;
Part 3;
There's also a post on Ms. Coleman, the prosecutor.
The posts are worth a look.
Luckily, the closest we've come to a Tortorici is John Romano, another sad case.
WITCH HUNT
The witch hunt is on! It looks like the authorities are coming down hard on Doyle Middle School English teacher Brian Switzer. Switzer was arrested for engaging in on-line conversations with a 14 year-old student. He is charged with Endangering the Welfare of a Minor.
In a time when teachers are the subject of great criticism, do we really need to arrest the good ones? How many teachers are dedicated enough to use their own private time to get to know their students? It looks like Switzer really wanted to get to know his students, so much so that he even inquires about sexual preferences, puberty and personal hygiene. That's dedication and that's why Switzer wins our Teacher of the Year Award!
The victim's mother also gets a thumbs up. So many parents fail to get involved with their teenager's lives. Not this one. Not only did the mother know her daughter was 'chatting' on-line with Switzer, once the story broke, she swung into action and decided to find out what they were chatting about. That's called "pro-active" parenting and it's damn refreshing.
Monday, April 17, 2006
WORD ON THE STREET
By Huggybear
Word on the Street is that the City, in tearing down the Cinema Art Marquee, violated a court order. Looks like the CA's owner hired super-attorney Terry Kindlon. TK obtained a court order prohibiting the wrecking ball from swinging (or in this case sledge hammers). The city ignored the order. Not sure what the order was based on but it may have been something to do with the historical nature of the building. That's what we hear, anyway.
Funny, judges don't like it when their orders are ignored. Could be big trouble for someone.
Word on the Street is that the Feds will fine, sanction or otherwise spank the County for their Weed & Seed screw-ups. Not sure if they'll just have to cough up the $50,000 they "lost" or whether an actual sanction will be handed down. Wonder why the County won't have much to say and do with Weed & Seed anymore?
Word on the Street is that a 1st Street landlord has had numerous code complaints made against her building. The City has taken zero action. Could that be because she's a big GOP contributor?
Word on the Street is that Congressman John will not run for re-election. Seems he may be taking a job with Verizon. It will pay more and be a bit less stressful for the Congressman, who has recently had some medical issues.
Huggybear out!
Friday, April 14, 2006
HAPPY EASTER
We wish all our readers a Happy Easter, Passover and weekend.
We'll leave you with a few thoughts for the weekend.
SCHOOLS
There are two unaddressed items that will prevent Troy from it's supposed comeback, irregardless of which party or person controls the city: schools and the commercial tax base.
Today, we'll discuss the public schools. Troy's public schools, overall, suck.
Check out the Times Union site. Compare cost per pupil, teachers salaries, and academic achievements. Doyle Middle School and Troy High do not measure-up to schools like Shaker, who spend less per pupil and have a lower median teacher salary. Also, at Shaker, the poor students do almost as well, and sometimes as well, academically, as the 'economically advantaged' students.
That's just one school report. Although different school reports use different formulas the evidence all points in the same direction: Troy Schools are inadequate. And now, this!
We don't really know if the Troy Schools suck. That is the perception and as long as that perception remains, middle-class families will not move to Troy. These are the people you want. They work, they get involved in their children's schools and they own homes. They're not coming to Troy and they won't until something is done about the schools. If you do not think young couples with school age children research this topic, you're wrong.
Except for Schenectady, Troy residents have the highest tax burden in the area. What do you get for these outrageous rates: poor schools, garbage pick-up, some street maintenance and a park or two. That's about it. You get basic services at an overpriced rate.
A large part of Troy's future is not in the hands of City Hall or the City Council. Until the school situation is addressed, along with the deteriorating commercial tax base, Troy will, on a good day, do nothing more than tread water.
Have a nice weekend.
We'll leave you with a few thoughts for the weekend.
SCHOOLS
There are two unaddressed items that will prevent Troy from it's supposed comeback, irregardless of which party or person controls the city: schools and the commercial tax base.
Today, we'll discuss the public schools. Troy's public schools, overall, suck.
Check out the Times Union site. Compare cost per pupil, teachers salaries, and academic achievements. Doyle Middle School and Troy High do not measure-up to schools like Shaker, who spend less per pupil and have a lower median teacher salary. Also, at Shaker, the poor students do almost as well, and sometimes as well, academically, as the 'economically advantaged' students.
That's just one school report. Although different school reports use different formulas the evidence all points in the same direction: Troy Schools are inadequate. And now, this!
We don't really know if the Troy Schools suck. That is the perception and as long as that perception remains, middle-class families will not move to Troy. These are the people you want. They work, they get involved in their children's schools and they own homes. They're not coming to Troy and they won't until something is done about the schools. If you do not think young couples with school age children research this topic, you're wrong.
Except for Schenectady, Troy residents have the highest tax burden in the area. What do you get for these outrageous rates: poor schools, garbage pick-up, some street maintenance and a park or two. That's about it. You get basic services at an overpriced rate.
A large part of Troy's future is not in the hands of City Hall or the City Council. Until the school situation is addressed, along with the deteriorating commercial tax base, Troy will, on a good day, do nothing more than tread water.
Have a nice weekend.
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
MARINA OPERATIONS TO CHANGE
Oh....Sit right back and you'll hear a tale....
Last Thursday, the Troy City Council voted to award the rental of the marina to Joseph Berlino. The marina is currently operated by Rob Goldman and Tim Dufel.
The change in operations comes at a bad time. The canal system opens on May 1, giving Berlino less than a month to get up and running. We also understand that much, if not all, of the equipment and other accoutrements is owned by Goldman and Dufel, who will not be leaving it behind for Berlino.
The Mayor's issue with the marina was that it operated as a port/shipyard rather than a recreational marina. Berlino will also pay Troy $1,000 plus 5% of the profits, more than Goldman and Dufel paid in the last 10 years. Goldman and Dufel also offered to pay $2,500 a year, but have only paid $5,000 and have missed some payments.
That last bit is misleading. An "offer to pay" is not a contract to pay. The City never signed the contract and Goldman and Dufel stopped payment. Why pay anything if you don't have to? Also, one would believe that Goldman and Dufel were not operating a profitable business. Again, this is not accurate. The City never made a deal to share in the portion of the business that made money.
We don't care who runs the place, but the timing is inopportune to say the least. Even someone in the business, Richard Powell, told The Record that it was too close to the May 1 date to switch operations. An amendment was put forth to table to vote until next year. It was denied. Apparently, Harry and the City Council, with years of salty, maritime experience under their belts, felt otherwise.
Seems like they're looking to squeeze out a successful business so they can rummage through the couch cushions to find some spare change. The money's running out folks. It's not an election year so prepare for a tax hike.
No matter. The Troy Marina has, and will continue to, play second-fiddle to Waterford's waterfront. That's the destination for recreation on the waterfront. Once again, Troy has let an opportunity slip away. No one administration is to blame for this lost opportunity. It's decades of mismanagement. When jails, public buildings and parking garages are built on waterfront property, there's a distinct lack of vision.
Last Thursday, the Troy City Council voted to award the rental of the marina to Joseph Berlino. The marina is currently operated by Rob Goldman and Tim Dufel.
The change in operations comes at a bad time. The canal system opens on May 1, giving Berlino less than a month to get up and running. We also understand that much, if not all, of the equipment and other accoutrements is owned by Goldman and Dufel, who will not be leaving it behind for Berlino.
The Mayor's issue with the marina was that it operated as a port/shipyard rather than a recreational marina. Berlino will also pay Troy $1,000 plus 5% of the profits, more than Goldman and Dufel paid in the last 10 years. Goldman and Dufel also offered to pay $2,500 a year, but have only paid $5,000 and have missed some payments.
That last bit is misleading. An "offer to pay" is not a contract to pay. The City never signed the contract and Goldman and Dufel stopped payment. Why pay anything if you don't have to? Also, one would believe that Goldman and Dufel were not operating a profitable business. Again, this is not accurate. The City never made a deal to share in the portion of the business that made money.
We don't care who runs the place, but the timing is inopportune to say the least. Even someone in the business, Richard Powell, told The Record that it was too close to the May 1 date to switch operations. An amendment was put forth to table to vote until next year. It was denied. Apparently, Harry and the City Council, with years of salty, maritime experience under their belts, felt otherwise.
Seems like they're looking to squeeze out a successful business so they can rummage through the couch cushions to find some spare change. The money's running out folks. It's not an election year so prepare for a tax hike.
No matter. The Troy Marina has, and will continue to, play second-fiddle to Waterford's waterfront. That's the destination for recreation on the waterfront. Once again, Troy has let an opportunity slip away. No one administration is to blame for this lost opportunity. It's decades of mismanagement. When jails, public buildings and parking garages are built on waterfront property, there's a distinct lack of vision.
Monday, April 10, 2006
NIX ON THE FIX
Reform-minded county legislators, acting in the public interest, have killed Fasoldt's attempt to reform the process that led to the legislative pay raise last December.
Raise your hand if you didn't see this one coming. If your hand is raised you must be one of those people that is shocked that O.J. hasn't found the "real killer". The fact that Mirch was on the committee should have been a tip-off to everyone that Kelleher did not take reform seriously. The committee has accomplished exactly what it was intended to accomplish: nothing.
Republicans also refuse to concede that the pay raise was not public knowledge before their votes were cast. If, by public knowledge, Kelleher means that he opened his back door and whispered, "we're getting raises," then he's correct. Does he mean it was out in the open, debated and highlighted in area newspapers? No, it wasn't.
And why not? The rationale for the raise was that the legislature had not received a raise for many years. Supporters of the GOP majority also point out that the Rensselaer County Legislature may be one of the world's greatest deliberative bodies, second only to the Anglo-Saxon Althing. If true, why wasn't this case made to the voters before the election? Why did they lie to Talespin? Why did they do the deed during one of the busiest weeks in the year?
On the upside, according to Shawn Charniga's article (The Record, April 6, 2006, p. 8), Kelleher "shushed" Mirch at the meeting. That's priceless. On the otherhand, Kelleher said it would be unfair for a legislator to have to run in November on the lone issue of whether or not they voted for a pay raise. We'll file that complaint in the 'boo-fucking-hoo" file.
Good government marches on!
Raise your hand if you didn't see this one coming. If your hand is raised you must be one of those people that is shocked that O.J. hasn't found the "real killer". The fact that Mirch was on the committee should have been a tip-off to everyone that Kelleher did not take reform seriously. The committee has accomplished exactly what it was intended to accomplish: nothing.
Republicans also refuse to concede that the pay raise was not public knowledge before their votes were cast. If, by public knowledge, Kelleher means that he opened his back door and whispered, "we're getting raises," then he's correct. Does he mean it was out in the open, debated and highlighted in area newspapers? No, it wasn't.
And why not? The rationale for the raise was that the legislature had not received a raise for many years. Supporters of the GOP majority also point out that the Rensselaer County Legislature may be one of the world's greatest deliberative bodies, second only to the Anglo-Saxon Althing. If true, why wasn't this case made to the voters before the election? Why did they lie to Talespin? Why did they do the deed during one of the busiest weeks in the year?
On the upside, according to Shawn Charniga's article (The Record, April 6, 2006, p. 8), Kelleher "shushed" Mirch at the meeting. That's priceless. On the otherhand, Kelleher said it would be unfair for a legislator to have to run in November on the lone issue of whether or not they voted for a pay raise. We'll file that complaint in the 'boo-fucking-hoo" file.
Good government marches on!
Friday, April 07, 2006
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
We all enjoy Letters to the Editor in the area papers. Sometimes, though, it helps to know who's writing those letters: concerned citizens or political flunkies? Please welcome our newest staff member.....
By Politicus Ebonus Abyssus (bonus points for those of you who remember your Latin)
In last Tuesday’s Times Union, Shawn Van Wert had a letter to the editor on the recent pay raises, stating that Democrats in the fall election promised to work to reduce costs, yet voted for the pay raise. With appropriate moral indignation, he stated that the Democratic legislators would never get his vote again. Since Shawn is from Troy, I am sure that Peter Grimm, the lone Democratic Legislator from Troy, is shaking in is boots.
Yet, what does Peter have to worry about? Shawn has had several letters in various papers throughout the last few years, most likely penned by Crist, Buell, Mirch, or some other Republican operative. We know that Shawn worked for the Troy Department of Public Works and enrolled in the Working Families Party in 2004 at the behest of Mirch. At least while Mirch still controls jobs and these minor party lines, it is unlikely Shawn will take a step or put his name to a letter without Mirch’s approval.
More important, however, the analysis in the letter is faulty, regardless of who wrote the letter. None of the Democrats Shawn supposedly voted for in the last election voted for the pay raise. The pay raise was voted in prior to Peter taking office, when six Republicans represented the City of Troy. If you are going to be morally outraged, Shawn, direct it to those representatives of yours that actually voted in the raise.
If Shawn wants to feign moral indignation, maybe he should look at what has been going on with “Flora’s Law.” The Rules Committee killed it based on the potential impact it would have on county judges and the district attorney, whose salaries are set by the State, as Mirch pointed out. The truth is Mr. Mirch that a minor language revision, indicating that salaries not set by the county are not affected by this legislation, would remedy the issue. The truth is Mr. Mirch, that you are hiding behind word-smithing rather than doing what is morally and ethically right. Shawn, why are you not morally indignant about this game playing? Shawn, another thing. When you found out that Mirch made a total of $125,000 from three different government entities, where was your letter to the editor with appropriate moral indignation? Oops, I am sorry. Mirch would not have had you sign that letter.
By Politicus Ebonus Abyssus (bonus points for those of you who remember your Latin)
In last Tuesday’s Times Union, Shawn Van Wert had a letter to the editor on the recent pay raises, stating that Democrats in the fall election promised to work to reduce costs, yet voted for the pay raise. With appropriate moral indignation, he stated that the Democratic legislators would never get his vote again. Since Shawn is from Troy, I am sure that Peter Grimm, the lone Democratic Legislator from Troy, is shaking in is boots.
Yet, what does Peter have to worry about? Shawn has had several letters in various papers throughout the last few years, most likely penned by Crist, Buell, Mirch, or some other Republican operative. We know that Shawn worked for the Troy Department of Public Works and enrolled in the Working Families Party in 2004 at the behest of Mirch. At least while Mirch still controls jobs and these minor party lines, it is unlikely Shawn will take a step or put his name to a letter without Mirch’s approval.
More important, however, the analysis in the letter is faulty, regardless of who wrote the letter. None of the Democrats Shawn supposedly voted for in the last election voted for the pay raise. The pay raise was voted in prior to Peter taking office, when six Republicans represented the City of Troy. If you are going to be morally outraged, Shawn, direct it to those representatives of yours that actually voted in the raise.
If Shawn wants to feign moral indignation, maybe he should look at what has been going on with “Flora’s Law.” The Rules Committee killed it based on the potential impact it would have on county judges and the district attorney, whose salaries are set by the State, as Mirch pointed out. The truth is Mr. Mirch that a minor language revision, indicating that salaries not set by the county are not affected by this legislation, would remedy the issue. The truth is Mr. Mirch, that you are hiding behind word-smithing rather than doing what is morally and ethically right. Shawn, why are you not morally indignant about this game playing? Shawn, another thing. When you found out that Mirch made a total of $125,000 from three different government entities, where was your letter to the editor with appropriate moral indignation? Oops, I am sorry. Mirch would not have had you sign that letter.
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
CASALE MAY FACE PRIMARY
CASALE CHALLENGED
Everyone knows that area Assemblyman Pat Casale is, in many ways, challenged. Now he may face a primary challenge. The challenger is from Bethlehem and one has to wonder if the newer, more sophisticated part of Casale's district is trying to flex it's muscle. Casale is probably safe, which is a good thing. Casale does good work. Or did. Who can forget the days when you could buy cheap pints and loose cigarettes from his liquor store (not to mention over-priced Chianti).
We'd like to see Mayor Tutunjian eventually replace Casale so we hope the primary challenge fails. We feel, in all honesty, that Harry embodies all the traits and qualities that would make him an outstanding New York State, GOP, Assemblyman. And we really mean it.
JUNK CAR ORDINANCE
Looks like the City Council will vote on the new Junk Car Ordinance this week. And, it looks like the ambiguous language has been removed, meaning that it will pertain to junk cars, not all cars. Sounds like some people thought about it and didn't want to give His Mirchness carte blanche. Or maybe it was that whole pesky, property rights thing. Anyway, congratulations on a job well-done.
COLLAR CITY
Dowd has a piece on Troy's iron industry heritage. He doesn't suggest changing Troy's nickname, The Collar City, but does want to honor our iron heritage. As everyone knows, Troy is called "The Collar City" because of the number of arrests that occur each year.
That's not true. Troy is called "The Collar City" because the city was once a leading manufacturer of..............zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Dowd's wrong. Let's change the nickname. Collar City sucks. Personally, we like City of Big Shoulders but our legal department says that's taken.
Let's change Troy's nickname. Please choose one of the following. The selection that gets the most votes will become the new city nickname.
1) The Gateway to Lansingburgh;
2) Dworsky's Folly;
3) The Iron Collar City (covering both bases);
4) Where Henry Hudson Turned Around;
Leave your suggestions in the comments section or in an e-mail and we'll announce the winner whenever we feel like it.
Everyone knows that area Assemblyman Pat Casale is, in many ways, challenged. Now he may face a primary challenge. The challenger is from Bethlehem and one has to wonder if the newer, more sophisticated part of Casale's district is trying to flex it's muscle. Casale is probably safe, which is a good thing. Casale does good work. Or did. Who can forget the days when you could buy cheap pints and loose cigarettes from his liquor store (not to mention over-priced Chianti).
We'd like to see Mayor Tutunjian eventually replace Casale so we hope the primary challenge fails. We feel, in all honesty, that Harry embodies all the traits and qualities that would make him an outstanding New York State, GOP, Assemblyman. And we really mean it.
JUNK CAR ORDINANCE
Looks like the City Council will vote on the new Junk Car Ordinance this week. And, it looks like the ambiguous language has been removed, meaning that it will pertain to junk cars, not all cars. Sounds like some people thought about it and didn't want to give His Mirchness carte blanche. Or maybe it was that whole pesky, property rights thing. Anyway, congratulations on a job well-done.
COLLAR CITY
Dowd has a piece on Troy's iron industry heritage. He doesn't suggest changing Troy's nickname, The Collar City, but does want to honor our iron heritage. As everyone knows, Troy is called "The Collar City" because of the number of arrests that occur each year.
That's not true. Troy is called "The Collar City" because the city was once a leading manufacturer of..............zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Dowd's wrong. Let's change the nickname. Collar City sucks. Personally, we like City of Big Shoulders but our legal department says that's taken.
Let's change Troy's nickname. Please choose one of the following. The selection that gets the most votes will become the new city nickname.
1) The Gateway to Lansingburgh;
2) Dworsky's Folly;
3) The Iron Collar City (covering both bases);
4) Where Henry Hudson Turned Around;
Leave your suggestions in the comments section or in an e-mail and we'll announce the winner whenever we feel like it.
Monday, April 03, 2006
JUDGE GOES DOWN
ANOTHER AREA JUDGE REMOVED
Another area judge has been removed from the bench. Here's Michelle Bolton's story.
The nail in the coffin was the allegation that Spargo pressured lawyers (lawyers with cases pending before him) to contribute to his defense fund. An ugly business.
Spargo was an excellent election lawyer, the go-to guy for Republicans in the area. If his license isn't endangered, he can certainly find work. Not that he needs to. According to sources, Spargo is from a very wealthy family, Revere Ware being one of the family's "minor" business concerns.
By all accounts, Spargo is a decent guy, but a poor judge. One local attorney lamented that since the allegations have been pending, Judge Spargo "seemed completely uninterested in being a judge. He was lazy and apathetic about doing his work."
Spargo's removal came as a shock to no one, including Spargo.
Pataki now gets to make an appointment. Will Chris Hummel, who was lost in the politicial shuffle last year between county GOP chairs and Bruno, get the nod? Hummel will make a good Supreme Court judge. Or will Pataki reward an area flunkie before he leaves office? We're hoping for Hummel but putting our money on flunkie.
AREA SALARIES
The Times Union had an interesting piece in Friday's paper on average salaries in the area. Here's a PDF file with the complete U.S Labor Department report.
Police Officers came in at an average of $45,429 (presumably, overtime not included) with middle school teachers checking in at $55,180. We thought that odd until we remembered how dangerous it is being a middle school teacher in many area schools.
Another area judge has been removed from the bench. Here's Michelle Bolton's story.
The nail in the coffin was the allegation that Spargo pressured lawyers (lawyers with cases pending before him) to contribute to his defense fund. An ugly business.
Spargo was an excellent election lawyer, the go-to guy for Republicans in the area. If his license isn't endangered, he can certainly find work. Not that he needs to. According to sources, Spargo is from a very wealthy family, Revere Ware being one of the family's "minor" business concerns.
By all accounts, Spargo is a decent guy, but a poor judge. One local attorney lamented that since the allegations have been pending, Judge Spargo "seemed completely uninterested in being a judge. He was lazy and apathetic about doing his work."
Spargo's removal came as a shock to no one, including Spargo.
Pataki now gets to make an appointment. Will Chris Hummel, who was lost in the politicial shuffle last year between county GOP chairs and Bruno, get the nod? Hummel will make a good Supreme Court judge. Or will Pataki reward an area flunkie before he leaves office? We're hoping for Hummel but putting our money on flunkie.
AREA SALARIES
The Times Union had an interesting piece in Friday's paper on average salaries in the area. Here's a PDF file with the complete U.S Labor Department report.
Police Officers came in at an average of $45,429 (presumably, overtime not included) with middle school teachers checking in at $55,180. We thought that odd until we remembered how dangerous it is being a middle school teacher in many area schools.
Thursday, March 30, 2006
WHAT?
Monday's Talespin was only slightly more confusing than the Linear B tablets (and we're not talking about the writing).
First, the ordinance:
We thought the ordinance was ultimately for paving the way for jail expansion. We were wrong, bringing our accuracy rate down to 98.4% The ordinance is for anyone that qualifies for a special use permit. However, it looks as if it was introduced to allow the Taylor School to expand. The ordinance was introduced at the request of the Administration. The ordinance passed, 7-2, after an amendment, limiting the special use permit to those who hadn't expanded in the past five years, was added.
Harry vetoed the ordinance.
Why did Harry veto an ordinance introduced at the request of the Administration? Because of the amendment. The amendment would make the Taylor School ineligible for a special use permit.
The first issue is, why did no Council members ask what the ordinance was all about? It looks like they blindly voted for it. Then, the Council amended it in such a way that it was no longer useful. Hence the veto.
So, Dunne then asks DuBois if the ordinance can be rewritten to accommodate the Taylor School. Big deal. Dunne was only asking for what Harry wanted in the first place. Mayor Pattison's sister, Wendy, is the Executive Director of the school. Big deal. If the Taylor School is successful and wants to expand, why not write legislation that cuts them a break? Others could apply for the special use permit. It's not as if the ordinance would be written so only the Taylor School could get a special use permit. It's also not as if there's a huge stampede of Troy businesses looking to expand.
Sources close to the mayor also tell us that Harry wanted the legislation. Again, if the Taylor School needs to expand, he wants to help out. Why wouldn't the Mayor want to help a business that wants to expand?
Here's where things get bizarre. Dunne also suggested that the extra money that would come from the CDBG shell game be used to help out those damaged by the flooding of Old Sixth Avenue. It's an interesting suggestion. Maybe something can be done, maybe not.
Here's where we give Franco credit. It's rare when a reporter can get a quote from a public official that has his head so firmly wedged in his own ass (the acoustics tend to be bad). Crawley, of course.
Crawley calls Dunne 'partisan' because Wendy Pattison runs the Taylor School. The Deputy Mayor then goes on a rant that could only have been induced by a handful of valium and some fish paralyzers:
No, Dan. You have a private business that wants to expand. Why wouldn't everyone want to help out? Talespin opens with Dunne suggesting that you allocate a large chunk of money from your CDGB shell game to help people on Old Sixth Avenue. What does the tuition at the Taylor School have to do with it? Will you allocate that $8,000 from your precious CDBG money?
Troy's Deputy Mayor comments
Did Harry want to help the Taylor School expand? If yes, great. Or maybe Harry vetoed the ordinance because it would help out a business managed by a Pattison. Is that not partisan? Personally, we think the ordinance was bad because it gave too much power to non-elected officials. That's beside the point. It's a private business that looks to be successful. For the record, we don't think Harry vetoed it because of any Pattison connection. He vetoed it because Taylor would no longer be eligible. It doesn't really matter. Either way, Crawley's comment suggests a man in acute distress. It's completely nonsensical and it explains why he's been kept on a short leash lately.
The 'partisan' comment is classic Crawley and one has to wonder why any reporter continues to print the nonsense that spews from the hole below Crawley's upper lip. Crawley's denigration of partisanship is also confusing. After all, it's the only way he stays employed.
First, the ordinance:
"285-67 D Enlargement: Non-conforming uses may be enlarged only through the granting of a special use permit by the ZBA."
We thought the ordinance was ultimately for paving the way for jail expansion. We were wrong, bringing our accuracy rate down to 98.4% The ordinance is for anyone that qualifies for a special use permit. However, it looks as if it was introduced to allow the Taylor School to expand. The ordinance was introduced at the request of the Administration. The ordinance passed, 7-2, after an amendment, limiting the special use permit to those who hadn't expanded in the past five years, was added.
Harry vetoed the ordinance.
Why did Harry veto an ordinance introduced at the request of the Administration? Because of the amendment. The amendment would make the Taylor School ineligible for a special use permit.
The first issue is, why did no Council members ask what the ordinance was all about? It looks like they blindly voted for it. Then, the Council amended it in such a way that it was no longer useful. Hence the veto.
So, Dunne then asks DuBois if the ordinance can be rewritten to accommodate the Taylor School. Big deal. Dunne was only asking for what Harry wanted in the first place. Mayor Pattison's sister, Wendy, is the Executive Director of the school. Big deal. If the Taylor School is successful and wants to expand, why not write legislation that cuts them a break? Others could apply for the special use permit. It's not as if the ordinance would be written so only the Taylor School could get a special use permit. It's also not as if there's a huge stampede of Troy businesses looking to expand.
Sources close to the mayor also tell us that Harry wanted the legislation. Again, if the Taylor School needs to expand, he wants to help out. Why wouldn't the Mayor want to help a business that wants to expand?
Here's where things get bizarre. Dunne also suggested that the extra money that would come from the CDBG shell game be used to help out those damaged by the flooding of Old Sixth Avenue. It's an interesting suggestion. Maybe something can be done, maybe not.
Here's where we give Franco credit. It's rare when a reporter can get a quote from a public official that has his head so firmly wedged in his own ass (the acoustics tend to be bad). Crawley, of course.
Crawley calls Dunne 'partisan' because Wendy Pattison runs the Taylor School. The Deputy Mayor then goes on a rant that could only have been induced by a handful of valium and some fish paralyzers:
In response, Deputy Mayor Dan Crawley accused Dunne of engaging "in partisan politics."
"After talking to the planning people we did not think the ordinance was a good idea either, so Councilman Dunne was right, but now he wants to change it for one of his friends," Crawley said. "Here is Bill Dunne looking to help out a school that charges $8,000 per year when $8,000 would help out that whole (Old Sixth Avenue) neighborhood."
No, Dan. You have a private business that wants to expand. Why wouldn't everyone want to help out? Talespin opens with Dunne suggesting that you allocate a large chunk of money from your CDGB shell game to help people on Old Sixth Avenue. What does the tuition at the Taylor School have to do with it? Will you allocate that $8,000 from your precious CDBG money?
Did Harry want to help the Taylor School expand? If yes, great. Or maybe Harry vetoed the ordinance because it would help out a business managed by a Pattison. Is that not partisan? Personally, we think the ordinance was bad because it gave too much power to non-elected officials. That's beside the point. It's a private business that looks to be successful. For the record, we don't think Harry vetoed it because of any Pattison connection. He vetoed it because Taylor would no longer be eligible. It doesn't really matter. Either way, Crawley's comment suggests a man in acute distress. It's completely nonsensical and it explains why he's been kept on a short leash lately.
The 'partisan' comment is classic Crawley and one has to wonder why any reporter continues to print the nonsense that spews from the hole below Crawley's upper lip. Crawley's denigration of partisanship is also confusing. After all, it's the only way he stays employed.
Monday, March 27, 2006
PROPERTY RIGHTS
Enough about poverty and on to something more serious.
The City Council will soon vote on a "Junk Car" ordinance. There's no link to The Record story or we'd post the link.
Based on what we've read, this ordinance is troublesome (caveat: we haven't seen a copy of the ordinance so this is based on the story). The City Council wants to give the Mirch Department authority to remove vehicles that are not parked on the property's "official" driveway or in a garage. Essentially, cars located in backyards can be removed. We imagine that two neighbors in Lansingburgh are in a pissing contest and one went to their Councilperson looking for legislation (or, in the alternative, Mirch wants to break someone's balls).
Although the story refers to "Junk Cars" it would seem to apply to any car. There is a difference between a "junk car" and a car, is there not?
What happened to property rights in this city? Doesn't a person have the right to do with his property what he or she wants? We're not suggesting no limits on private property use. If there's a health or public safety issue, then limitations should be set. For instance, overgrown backyards can attract rodents that will affect surrounding properties. But, according to Mirch:
Hey, Bob, it's not your business who has what in their backyard. We hardly need to legislate your asthetic sensabilities.
If someone is going to fix-up a '68 Mustang and is doing it in their backyard, who is Mirch to say otherwise?
Is this about looks? Sure, it looks crappy. Collier was going to propose legislation that would keep satellite dishes off the front of homes because it looked crappy. She was right. It does look crappy. So what? Two-thirds of Troy would be removed if an anti-crappy ordinance was passed. Many Trojans would not be allowed on their front porches.
We don't even have a problem if it was limited to "junk cars." By that, we mean old cars, up on blocks, rusted out, unusable. At least some standard should be set.
Now, you'll have Mirch entering private property to remove a resident's personal property simply because they don't like it.
Remember when Republicans at least payed lip service to individual liberty and property rights. We guess that only applies when the Democrats are in power.
Besides, until the infrastructure problem is fixed, until new sources of revenue are found or developed, these cosmetic measures are just putting a new dress on a broken down whore
The City Council will soon vote on a "Junk Car" ordinance. There's no link to The Record story or we'd post the link.
Based on what we've read, this ordinance is troublesome (caveat: we haven't seen a copy of the ordinance so this is based on the story). The City Council wants to give the Mirch Department authority to remove vehicles that are not parked on the property's "official" driveway or in a garage. Essentially, cars located in backyards can be removed. We imagine that two neighbors in Lansingburgh are in a pissing contest and one went to their Councilperson looking for legislation (or, in the alternative, Mirch wants to break someone's balls).
Although the story refers to "Junk Cars" it would seem to apply to any car. There is a difference between a "junk car" and a car, is there not?
What happened to property rights in this city? Doesn't a person have the right to do with his property what he or she wants? We're not suggesting no limits on private property use. If there's a health or public safety issue, then limitations should be set. For instance, overgrown backyards can attract rodents that will affect surrounding properties. But, according to Mirch:
"There's no reason to have a car in the backyard." - His Mirchness, The Record, March 23, 2006
Hey, Bob, it's not your business who has what in their backyard. We hardly need to legislate your asthetic sensabilities.
If someone is going to fix-up a '68 Mustang and is doing it in their backyard, who is Mirch to say otherwise?
Is this about looks? Sure, it looks crappy. Collier was going to propose legislation that would keep satellite dishes off the front of homes because it looked crappy. She was right. It does look crappy. So what? Two-thirds of Troy would be removed if an anti-crappy ordinance was passed. Many Trojans would not be allowed on their front porches.
We don't even have a problem if it was limited to "junk cars." By that, we mean old cars, up on blocks, rusted out, unusable. At least some standard should be set.
Now, you'll have Mirch entering private property to remove a resident's personal property simply because they don't like it.
Remember when Republicans at least payed lip service to individual liberty and property rights. We guess that only applies when the Democrats are in power.
Besides, until the infrastructure problem is fixed, until new sources of revenue are found or developed, these cosmetic measures are just putting a new dress on a broken down whore
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
UPSTATE GIRLS - II
Monday's post, which frankly was done on the spur of the moment, has generated a lot of dialogue. Although not all the comments furthered the debate, many were quite interesting.
Here's some of our thoughts.
The link was posted because a photographer won an award for photos involving Troy. Of course, those scenes could have been played out in any city in the United States. One person asked: "How are these photos supposed to make me feel?" They are supposed to make you feel any way they make you feel. A viewer has no control over how or what they feel upon first glance. Not only can one viewer feel sadness while another viewer feels disgust, it is possible that the same viewer can feel an entire spectrum of emotions simultaneously, each one justified. That, in many ways, is more powerful than evoking a single emotion. Such is art. One the one hand, it's hard not to feel for the subjects. It must be a hard life, without any hope in the future. On the other hand, who doesn't feel disgusted by some of what's depicted? One photo shows two young ones with nebulizers. In another, the "adults" smoke in the presence of the children, despite one child having been hospitalized for asthma.
The photographs were powerful and the accompanying prose was blunt and disturbing.The photographs truly captured the cycle of poverty. We found ourselves frustrated that people live in such a way. There is also frustration that many of the subjects seem incapable or unwilling to make choices that, while not ending the cycle, could certainly lead to a better existence.
Despite what many may feel towards the adults depicted, the children are the great tragedy here. By the time those children can make independent decisions, the game is lost. How can years of such an existence be overcome? A few exceptions may escape the cycle, but not many. Imagine growing up in a world were many of the fathers are not only in prison, but such circumstances are nothing more than part of the everyday landscape.
Ironically, today we feel pity for the children in those photographs. Yet, in less than a decade we will feel other, less charitable emotions. There will come a point in time where we throw up our hands and say, "sorry you had a rough childhood but you are now an adult. Make better decisions. Contribute to society." We hope that even when we feel that way, some small part will remember what little chance they had when still young.
We offer no realistic ideas on how to fight poverty because we have none. We'll leave that to the experts. There have always been poor people and there always will. Perhaps we can reduce their number. Perhaps not. We do know that treating the poor with a modicum of respect and dignity, showing kindness and compassion, elevates us all. Treating them as somehow apart from humanity diminishes us.
Posting may be light over the next few weeks. We're trying to finish a novel. It's called Moby Dick, but the the print is really small and it's tough to read.
Here's some of our thoughts.
The link was posted because a photographer won an award for photos involving Troy. Of course, those scenes could have been played out in any city in the United States. One person asked: "How are these photos supposed to make me feel?" They are supposed to make you feel any way they make you feel. A viewer has no control over how or what they feel upon first glance. Not only can one viewer feel sadness while another viewer feels disgust, it is possible that the same viewer can feel an entire spectrum of emotions simultaneously, each one justified. That, in many ways, is more powerful than evoking a single emotion. Such is art. One the one hand, it's hard not to feel for the subjects. It must be a hard life, without any hope in the future. On the other hand, who doesn't feel disgusted by some of what's depicted? One photo shows two young ones with nebulizers. In another, the "adults" smoke in the presence of the children, despite one child having been hospitalized for asthma.
The photographs were powerful and the accompanying prose was blunt and disturbing.The photographs truly captured the cycle of poverty. We found ourselves frustrated that people live in such a way. There is also frustration that many of the subjects seem incapable or unwilling to make choices that, while not ending the cycle, could certainly lead to a better existence.
Despite what many may feel towards the adults depicted, the children are the great tragedy here. By the time those children can make independent decisions, the game is lost. How can years of such an existence be overcome? A few exceptions may escape the cycle, but not many. Imagine growing up in a world were many of the fathers are not only in prison, but such circumstances are nothing more than part of the everyday landscape.
Ironically, today we feel pity for the children in those photographs. Yet, in less than a decade we will feel other, less charitable emotions. There will come a point in time where we throw up our hands and say, "sorry you had a rough childhood but you are now an adult. Make better decisions. Contribute to society." We hope that even when we feel that way, some small part will remember what little chance they had when still young.
We offer no realistic ideas on how to fight poverty because we have none. We'll leave that to the experts. There have always been poor people and there always will. Perhaps we can reduce their number. Perhaps not. We do know that treating the poor with a modicum of respect and dignity, showing kindness and compassion, elevates us all. Treating them as somehow apart from humanity diminishes us.
Posting may be light over the next few weeks. We're trying to finish a novel. It's called Moby Dick, but the the print is really small and it's tough to read.
Monday, March 20, 2006
UPSTATE GIRLS
Found via Albany Eye. An award-winning series of photographs by Brenda Ann Kenneally depicting the life of some Trojan women. It isn't pretty but it is powerful and depressing. It makes you wonder: is this how many people see Troy? Unfortunately, we think so.
Not much else going on. See you Wednesday or Thursday.
Not much else going on. See you Wednesday or Thursday.
Friday, March 17, 2006
CDBG $
Franco does a good job of summing up our own thoughts on this issue. We did have a good time at the meeting. It was very entertaining.
Despite our support, the numbers that are thrown around does give it the whiff of a "shell-game." Only time will tell.
One thing to watch: who becomes the program monitor. Will it be someone who has experience working with complicated government grants and programs? Or at least someone with some management and executive experience? After all, the area does have many people who worked at mid-level and high-level state jobs. People who were responsible for big budgets and overseeing complex programs. Maybe someone from the private sector. It should at leats be someone who doesn't think of high-school as post-graduate work.
Or will the job go to the son, daughter, nephew or niece of a Troy Republican or Conservative. Someone with no experience in such matters. A younger person who will be no more than a yes-person.
POOR JEANINE
Vandenburgh did nothing but serve up softballs to the hapless Pirro. The guy is shameless. Once again, Pirro called the Attorney General the "state's highest law enforcement official." She's wrong. It's the State's Legal Department, it's not a super-DA's office. Jeanine, please read the statute that created the office. It's in The Executive Law.
Pirro also claimed to have "vast experience in rooting out fraud and corruption." Unfortunately, she couldn't root out her own husband's fraud and corruption.
Have a safe Saint Patrick's Day.
Despite our support, the numbers that are thrown around does give it the whiff of a "shell-game." Only time will tell.
One thing to watch: who becomes the program monitor. Will it be someone who has experience working with complicated government grants and programs? Or at least someone with some management and executive experience? After all, the area does have many people who worked at mid-level and high-level state jobs. People who were responsible for big budgets and overseeing complex programs. Maybe someone from the private sector. It should at leats be someone who doesn't think of high-school as post-graduate work.
Or will the job go to the son, daughter, nephew or niece of a Troy Republican or Conservative. Someone with no experience in such matters. A younger person who will be no more than a yes-person.
POOR JEANINE
PIRRO VEERS OFF THE MAP
By FREDRIC U. DICKER
March 16, 2006 -- ALBANY - Gaffe-prone Republican attorney-general candidate Jeanine Pirro has done it again - bragging about her knowledge of upstate areas while erroneously claiming New York has a border with Ohio.
Pirro's bumble occurred during an interview on Albany's WROW-AM, as she bragged about her upstate credentials: born in Elmira and educated at SUNY Buffalo and Albany Law School. "I've been to Chautauqua County, which is all the way on the west coast, I should say the west end, of New York, bordering Ohio," the ex-Westchester DA said.
In fact, Chautauqua borders Pennsylvania. New York has no border with Ohio. Pirro later offered up another malapropism after acknowledging her geography mistake: "Am I better than that? Absolutely not."
Vandenburgh did nothing but serve up softballs to the hapless Pirro. The guy is shameless. Once again, Pirro called the Attorney General the "state's highest law enforcement official." She's wrong. It's the State's Legal Department, it's not a super-DA's office. Jeanine, please read the statute that created the office. It's in The Executive Law.
Pirro also claimed to have "vast experience in rooting out fraud and corruption." Unfortunately, she couldn't root out her own husband's fraud and corruption.
Have a safe Saint Patrick's Day.
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
NOT-FOR-PROFITS - II
Apparently, many of our MENSA readers missed the point of Monday's post.
MAPTAF can buy or sell whatever property they want for as much profit as possible. We wish them well. We wish they had received $263,000 on that sale. This is America after all.
But, for those who have expressed such disdain for Not-For-Profits, your enthusiasm for this random act of capitalism is perplexing. Many of you have expressed the opinion that NFP's are destroying Troy. Now, Mirch's righthand man, is selling property to those same NFP's that are destroying Troy.
Simultaneously, Joseph's House wants to use property it owns to shelter the homeless. Well, heaven forbid, that will bring ruin upon the city: fire, brimstone, a plague of locust (cats and dogs living together). So, it is fine to sell to the NFP's but when the NFP's want to use their property the end of the world is at hand?
Mirch, MAPTAF, our County Legislators, all of them, are laughing their way to the bank on your dime (where do you think Vesta gets its funding). More and more NFP's come in to Troy while your taxes go up. We're happy for them and we hope they milk dry all of their loyal supporters. Someone once said, "It's a sin to let a sucker keep his money." We're very much opposed to sin.
Now, if a house on Douw goes for $163,000, imagine what a house on Woodrow Court goes for. Nice neighborhood, School 18 for the kiddies. Hell, Deputy Dan lives right around the block.
That house, 8 Woodrow Court, is listed at $163,900. At first we thought we'd use it for a comparison. Then we thought, what the hell. Great neighborhood, a decent price, in the best school district. Hopefully, one of you are looking for a place and this might suit your needs. It ain't Douw but it ain't half bad. Call a broker.
There's another nice looking home on Rankin at #53. They're asking under $155,000. If you're interested, call a broker.
Why does God hate our water mains?
MAPTAF can buy or sell whatever property they want for as much profit as possible. We wish them well. We wish they had received $263,000 on that sale. This is America after all.
But, for those who have expressed such disdain for Not-For-Profits, your enthusiasm for this random act of capitalism is perplexing. Many of you have expressed the opinion that NFP's are destroying Troy. Now, Mirch's righthand man, is selling property to those same NFP's that are destroying Troy.
Simultaneously, Joseph's House wants to use property it owns to shelter the homeless. Well, heaven forbid, that will bring ruin upon the city: fire, brimstone, a plague of locust (cats and dogs living together). So, it is fine to sell to the NFP's but when the NFP's want to use their property the end of the world is at hand?
Mirch, MAPTAF, our County Legislators, all of them, are laughing their way to the bank on your dime (where do you think Vesta gets its funding). More and more NFP's come in to Troy while your taxes go up. We're happy for them and we hope they milk dry all of their loyal supporters. Someone once said, "It's a sin to let a sucker keep his money." We're very much opposed to sin.
Now, if a house on Douw goes for $163,000, imagine what a house on Woodrow Court goes for. Nice neighborhood, School 18 for the kiddies. Hell, Deputy Dan lives right around the block.
That house, 8 Woodrow Court, is listed at $163,900. At first we thought we'd use it for a comparison. Then we thought, what the hell. Great neighborhood, a decent price, in the best school district. Hopefully, one of you are looking for a place and this might suit your needs. It ain't Douw but it ain't half bad. Call a broker.
There's another nice looking home on Rankin at #53. They're asking under $155,000. If you're interested, call a broker.
Why does God hate our water mains?
Monday, March 13, 2006
NOT FOR PROFITS
The current administration has made it a point to attack not-for-profits and things such as public housing. The common thread throughout this hostility is the cry, "we don't need property taken off the tax rolls." In fact, many people that read the Troy Polloi echo that same sentiment. Without passing judgment on why it's poor form to attack the weakest in our society, lets look at what members of the administration are doing to keep property on the tax rolls.
For some background, check out this post.
MAPTAF Properties LLC, is a limited liability company with offices at 466 Sixth Avenue, Troy , NY. It was founded in April of 2002.
In November of 2003 MAPTAF properties, LLC purchased 80 Douw Street (near the DPW compound) for $63,000. The sellers were allowed a life estate in the property, rent free! Good deal that.
Approximately 3 months ago, MAPTAF sold the Douw Street property to Vesta Community Housing Development Board (Father Young's outfit) for $160,000. Vesta is the same outfit that owned 3215 Sixth Avenue, where the sex offenders were living. Remember how so many cheered when 3215 was closed. Anyway, the sellers made one hell of a profit. The fella's at MAPTAF must be quite the gamblers. Imagine, a nearly $100,000 profit in two years! Or perhaps it was just the luck of the draw. You know, buy a property in such a great neighborhood and then suddenly....a not-for-profit with juice wants to purchase the same building.
All of the principles of MAPTAF remain, at this date, unknown. However, the LLC's offices share a 466 6th Avenue address with a Michael A Picarillo (the MAP in MAPTAF?). We believe a Michael Picarillo works for the DPW. In fact, we've heard that Mr. Picarillo is Mirch's right-hand man (again, not sure what that means, but that's what we've heard). Rumor has it that Mirch is grooming Picarillo for bigger and better things in Rensselaer politics (passing on the Mirch knee-pads, as it were). We've also heard that Mirch is close to Father Young and, in fact, may wish to work for Father Young after he retires from his public sector jobs.
The principle at MAPTAF that signed the deed was Thomas Fucci, another DPW employee (perhaps the TAF in MAPTAF?).
It's all so interesting, isn't it? Getting a nice return on a run-down Douw Street property? Your boss knowing the boss at Vesta? It all makes you wonder.
The other irony is that this administration and it's mouthpieces constantly bemoan not-for-profits. Now, their own employees are making a tidy profit selling to not-for-profits. Do as we say, not as we do might be their new motto.
Note also that someone must have wanted the property pretty bad to offer the elderly lady that lived there a life-estate. Why would someone consider the property so valuable? Valuable enough to let someone live there for free?
In any event, if you want some real estate investment tips, feel free to call Mr. Picarillo. He's in the book. We hope all Trojans can make such profits in such a short space of time.
Remember when parents used to hope that their children became physicians, lawyers, businessman etc? Now it looks like public employment is the road to financial success. "My dream is that little Johnny and little Janey can one day work for the DPW."
Maybe the administration can explain why their own people are selling Troy to the not-for-profits. Hell, now we're thinking of selling our properties to VESTA.
For some background, check out this post.
MAPTAF Properties LLC, is a limited liability company with offices at 466 Sixth Avenue, Troy , NY. It was founded in April of 2002.
In November of 2003 MAPTAF properties, LLC purchased 80 Douw Street (near the DPW compound) for $63,000. The sellers were allowed a life estate in the property, rent free! Good deal that.
Approximately 3 months ago, MAPTAF sold the Douw Street property to Vesta Community Housing Development Board (Father Young's outfit) for $160,000. Vesta is the same outfit that owned 3215 Sixth Avenue, where the sex offenders were living. Remember how so many cheered when 3215 was closed. Anyway, the sellers made one hell of a profit. The fella's at MAPTAF must be quite the gamblers. Imagine, a nearly $100,000 profit in two years! Or perhaps it was just the luck of the draw. You know, buy a property in such a great neighborhood and then suddenly....a not-for-profit with juice wants to purchase the same building.
All of the principles of MAPTAF remain, at this date, unknown. However, the LLC's offices share a 466 6th Avenue address with a Michael A Picarillo (the MAP in MAPTAF?). We believe a Michael Picarillo works for the DPW. In fact, we've heard that Mr. Picarillo is Mirch's right-hand man (again, not sure what that means, but that's what we've heard). Rumor has it that Mirch is grooming Picarillo for bigger and better things in Rensselaer politics (passing on the Mirch knee-pads, as it were). We've also heard that Mirch is close to Father Young and, in fact, may wish to work for Father Young after he retires from his public sector jobs.
The principle at MAPTAF that signed the deed was Thomas Fucci, another DPW employee (perhaps the TAF in MAPTAF?).
It's all so interesting, isn't it? Getting a nice return on a run-down Douw Street property? Your boss knowing the boss at Vesta? It all makes you wonder.
The other irony is that this administration and it's mouthpieces constantly bemoan not-for-profits. Now, their own employees are making a tidy profit selling to not-for-profits. Do as we say, not as we do might be their new motto.
Note also that someone must have wanted the property pretty bad to offer the elderly lady that lived there a life-estate. Why would someone consider the property so valuable? Valuable enough to let someone live there for free?
In any event, if you want some real estate investment tips, feel free to call Mr. Picarillo. He's in the book. We hope all Trojans can make such profits in such a short space of time.
Remember when parents used to hope that their children became physicians, lawyers, businessman etc? Now it looks like public employment is the road to financial success. "My dream is that little Johnny and little Janey can one day work for the DPW."
Maybe the administration can explain why their own people are selling Troy to the not-for-profits. Hell, now we're thinking of selling our properties to VESTA.
Sunday, March 12, 2006
RENSSELAER COUNTY SECURITY
In an effort to aid Renssealer County, we've added a Homeland Security Terror Alert Code over on the right. Now, you can tune in to the Troy Polloi in case of an emergency. Just doing our part to help keep America safe.
Saturday, March 11, 2006
GO SEE A PLAY
Actually, it's a staged reading of a screenplay written by Jack Casey.
Hey, it's free, entertaining, you'll be supporting a local author and there's beer. With Troy's theater closed you want have anything else to do anyway.
The event, open to the public free of charge, will be held at 5 p.m. Sunday at Revolution Hall, 425 River St. A $5 donation is requested, with the money being split among the cast and stage director. Gary Brown, owner of Brown's Brewing Co. and Revolution Hall, has produced a special red ale for the occasion.
Hey, it's free, entertaining, you'll be supporting a local author and there's beer. With Troy's theater closed you want have anything else to do anyway.
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