Given the fact that the previous Council passed a resolution
regarding the Casino and that over 40% of Saratogian voters cast their ballots
in favor of Casino gambling, I think the red shirts should calm down and wait
until the facts are known before they storm Council meetings. The next scenario will be the group that is
for a Saratoga Style Casino to be located in our City do the same and we will
have dueling opinions at the microphone.
I don’t think debate is bad but can’t we wait until we can debate on
known facts?
I know many voters who have expressed the opinion that they
voted against Casino’s in New York State but since the bill passed they worry that if Saratoga is not a site and we have one close by, then Saratoga will take a
negative hit on business in our downtown corridor.
The year ended on a sour note for Mayor Johnson. Johnson, who at the 11th hour on
New Year’s Eve, made over 20 appointments to land use boards and filled the expiring
positions of alternate zoning board members.
The appointments should have been made by incoming Mayor Joanne Yepsen. This game they played must be remembered if
either Johnson or Sutton ever runs for any political office again.
Speaking about Sutton, it was nice to see the job given to
her by John Herrick in the County Clerks Office for $65,000.00 & benefits,
if the budget reads right and Herrick threw Mayor Johnson’s Executive Secretary
Theresa a bone as Executive Secretary to Spencer Helwig the County Administrator,
at 47,000.00 & . What two employees
did Herrick leap frog to give jobs to these two girls?
Well, hopefully we are over the Johnson games, now maybe we
can get back to some honest 2 Party representation on Boards and Committees,
wouldn’t it be nice to work together than 1 Party be under the control of a
little Napoleon?
What two parties are you referring to? The Democrats and Republicans have pretty much merged into one. They both want more and bigger government, they just fight over who gets to hand out the goodies. In the end, neither of them really decide who hands out the goodies though, that's decided by the money behind them. You've got independent "big business" on the Republican side, and the labor unions, who are massive, overbearing corporations of their own, funding the Democrats.
ReplyDeleteLet's stop pretending either one of them are really any better then the other.
The dirty tricks of the Johnson-Sutton (J/S) administration are just starting to appear. I am surprised J/S even left computer for the Yepsen people to work on. Oh that is right they did not, they had the computers wiped.
ReplyDeleteCA
ReplyDeleteThe Red Shirts are just getting warmed up. The voters here and at the county level voted NO. So how can any elected official vote yes? Paul Sauseville is the County chair of the board by winning by 1 vote. So the voters have spoken...
It now is time to find business to replace any potential losses that may happen if Gov Cuomo selects Albany.
Like I said earlier, we need the facts to make a sound decision. Why would any elected official vote yes or no? They do not have to vote. The State will choose the site and since over 40% said yes that would be an incentive for them to place it here. There are areas in the State where the elected officials need to vote yes or no, but we are not one of them.
Delete12:58 PM
ReplyDeleteYour comment is one of the most intelligent comments about politics, and reality, that I have ever read. Seriously.
Ever consider writing a blog? You would be good at it.
I would like to know who is backing the 'Red Shirts' with the big bucks and the organizing help?
ReplyDeleteThe "Save Nuts" are some of the same gun nuts!
ReplyDeleteGlad to see more news from Captain America. Save Saratoga is a grassroots effort with many, many citizens contributing time, talent and money. The "big bucks" are with the casino expansion supporters. Nice try, but your aspersions won't fly, Anonymous Jan. 14 @ 8:50 PM.
ReplyDeleteYou should post the names and positions filled by Johnson for the 20 appointments to land use boards and filled expiring positions of alternate zoning board members.
ReplyDeleteWe will see if the appointed people do the right thing and resign allowing Yepsen to reappoint them if she wishes. Yepsen could also just rescind the appointments as they serve at her pleasure.
History has shown that when Gordon Boyd goes in one direction. Everyone else goes another! Or should!! So I am thrilled he is lined up on the GREEDY Group supporting the casino. Maybe his cut rate energy company will benefit????
ReplyDeleteOne of the things that I hope will happen in this debate is that everyone from either side can leave the name calling out. This will be a hotly contested affair and what we don't need is to add fuel to the fire by disparaging someone personally.
DeleteI am a SAVE supporter and am a gun rights advocate.
ReplyDeleteYou are right, one does not have anything to do with the other.
DeleteOK Cap
ReplyDeleteWe will leave all the name calling up to you.
Thank you, now you are a bright person.
DeleteI agree, let's not divide until we know all the facts. Then, let the 'games begin"! I do however believe we should all get "their" promises in writing.
ReplyDeleteI think both sides should put their promises in writing, then if we lose the Casino and the area that gets it does well the pro Casino people can go after the SAVE group. now that would be some games to watch.
DeleteCap
ReplyDeleteI would say that "little Napoleon" is name calling.
If you can do it, then why get upset if someone on this blog does it?
By the way, the plural of Casino is Casinos, not Casino's.
Thank you for the spelling correction, about your other concern, it's my blog, if you don't like what I do then start your own. Have a good day.
Delete"Scotch" Johnson went out finally showing his true colors! A little man with no balls, no honor, & no concern for the citizens of this city. I also hope the people he appointed in his final hour (thank God) will do the right thing & resign their appointment. If not, then "give them hell Joanne". As Scotch continued to say, they serve at the Mayor's pleasure. Open government!!!
ReplyDeleteWhen will the FACTS come out? Not in time. Go Red Shirts!!!
ReplyDeleteIf the pro casino people are out without facts ( just 4 bus load of paid supporters)
You are suggesting the Red Shirts sit on the sidelines? Come on!
I am happy to predict the outcome if that takes place.
Want some facts? Just look around at EVERY Casino town east of the Mississippi River. Name me one city that has seen a positive and sustained quality of life.
We do not need the casino to maintain our quality of life. We have a good one. Our business leaders will be able to step up and draw new revenues with out the casino, even if there is a drawdown in existing business.
Signed
The Saratoga Believer 2014
The People have spoken. Sound familiar? It is called Democracy.
ReplyDeleteFind a place that wants it and put it there! Saratoga Springs and Saratoga County said no!!! So follow Democracy
Destination Saratoga is in the house. It's time to put this Save Saratoga group to rest.
ReplyDelete11:32 AM
ReplyDeleteThe very next Anonymous comment after yours (3:36 PM) does a bit of name calling also. i.e. "Scotch" Johnson.
What kind of blog are you running here anyway?
A 10 yr old could do better.
Thank you for the post. I would be overjoyed if you started a blog today, even those who think they are mighty, fall when they start to think they are a legend in their own mind. If there were anyone who could say they lost their position being effective it was "Scotch".
DeleteI have to giggle when I read, 40% voted FOR casino gambling, and so on.
ReplyDeleteThis is about numbers, for sure. But the numbers we need to talk about now ought to include the long term prospects of casino gambling. Saratoga might want to consider the wisdom of putting so many eggs in one basket, instead of diversifying.
We have one major gambling business already - the track. Horse racing nationally is on the decline. Saratoga's in a bubble,,, for now .. but track handle is down. Tracks in other states are closing, and look at the shortened fields.
Gambling's customer base is aging. The big casino marketers haven't been able to figure out how to convince the Millennials to turn off their iPads (where they can play online poker if they wish) and follow their grandparents - the Baby Boomers - to the casinos.
The full impacts - crime, loss of property values - need to be addressed too, with good numbers. If crime follows trends in other cities, what will it cost Public Safety (ie local taxpayers) for folks with these new jobs to get to work safely .. and home again .. especially female workers?
We need to look at market saturation, forward-looking financials, competition for the same recreation dollars, tax givebacks.
We're not a struggling community. We have the luxury of planning for the 21st century.. instead of the 20th.
Within the context of gambling's future prospects, and the full impacts to community, the fear-based approach - what if Troy gets it!! - may take on a new meaning.
Great post. Thank you.
DeleteInteresting Donna Buckley, I mean Scirocco letter to the editor published today. Just goes to prove Skippy can't count, he did not win re-election by a landslid. Hardly received 54 percent of the vote. Then he has the nerve to call his opponent a liar??? That's the pot calling the kettle black. I was present at a PERB hearing were Skippy took the stand and lied under oath the whole time he was questioned. I would suggest Captain, that you request a copy of the entire hearing held in Albany regarding Skippy's favorite supervisor Betty French. Believe me, it's a very interesting read!!! Not to mention the summary submitted by her CSEA attorney Paul Bamberger, to the Law Judge presiding at the hearing. You will very easily see the TRUE Anthony "Skip" Scirocco!!
ReplyDeletecap, love your blog. I don't know where 11:32's head is. Thanks for breaking the news about Johnson's last minute bush league appointments on New Year's Eve. Times Union "broke" the story this past Wed. & the Gazette had an article about it on Thursday but no article in the Saratogian yet. Keep up the good work.
ReplyDelete