When I go away on an extended business trip like the one I
just returned from I never read the local papers while I am not here so I can
be surprised what things changed. The
problem is it’s always the same cast of characters doing crazy things.
Let’s take NYRA for example. Tom Noonan who is one of the best bloggers
around keeps his hand on the pulse of NYRA and informs the public with
information we would never really know.
Chris Kay the CEO of NYRA who is really totally blank about
the Corporation and industry he is supposed to be the leader of has started
another domino effect to change Saratoga Race Course from the most historic,
beautiful, fan friendly track in the nation to just another race track. The list to start according to Mr. Noonan and
the NYRA webpage is:
- · A permanent structure built on the other side of the horse path that runs next to the end of the current club house. It would replace the tent and the temporary modular boxes that have been used in recent years.
- · A new picnic table area along Union Avenue, replacing the parking area now used by owners and trainers.
- · A "Top of the Stretch Club" to be built at the end of the grandstand, intended "to attract a younger crowd to the Race Course."
- · Moving the jockey quarters from the administration building to the Paddock.
- · Eliminating the Open House held on the Sunday before opening day (which was always a fan favorite and a fan experience).
- · The continuation started last year of charging admission on Labor Day which was always ‘Fan Appreciation Day’
- · Turning the lower Carousal into a Sports arena which would eliminate the free seating and replace it with a high end sports bar with a $40.00 admission fee.
Kay is also said to be looking into charging fans for
taking water from the water fountains around the track and installing paid
toilets. If Cuomo who started this mess
2 years ago and extended the current board with Kay at its head for another
year doesn’t make the change to privatize the track, Saratoga will be changed
forever and its appeal will slowly dwindle.
This picture of Chris Kay was sent in by a racing fan, I cannot verify its authenticity as I have never met Mr. Kay.
I also see that the ‘Spirit of Life’ restoration is
completed and the company that did all the work did a fine job. However, this being an election I also see
that Commissioner Scirocco is taking all the praise for his Department doing a
great job, what about all the money paid to the firm that did the job?
The words ‘City in the Country’ keeps being thrown around
and our feeling is that it is just a nostalgic notion that citizens want to
keep in their minds. I am sorry but that
term does not apply to Saratoga Springs anymore. We are just a concrete & brick City with
big City problems. A big problem we have
that some areas I was in do not have is the washboards we call streets. This would be just one problem I would be embarrassed
about if I were Scirocco or Buckley.
This City’s streets are deplorable.
Come on Skip, do something about this.
A funny story in the news was the Commissioners getting
into racing (harness) gear and sharing a sulky with a professional driver and
running a race, everything was going fine I heard until Madigan put on the
brakes and Skip, who was behind her stopped so suddenly he flew out of his seat
and up Madigan’s 'wazoo' where it usually is during Council meetings. The story, as related to me was that the 'wazoo' intake propelled Madigan into first place and the track’s vet separated the two
with little problem.
As we all know or we all should know is that confessed
child porn star John Tighe will be shipping out to prison in the Boston area at
the end of July to a hospital that fits his health needs.
The story floating around is that John won the lead part
when he visited the slammer as Curly in the show ‘Men in Tights’.
I want to wish everyone a Happy 4th of July, we should all take time out of our celebrations to remember those who fought and those who died to make this great Republic and if you see Skip Scirocco, thank him for screwing our all American 4th of July celebration by selling our Congress Park out for the day (the first such screwing ever on this Holiday).
This town is getting to be a joke. I noticed that there is no traffic light by the Route 50 and Lincoln Ave. Intersection.
ReplyDeleteWe need 3 new Commissioners to replace the ones that can't get the job done, Madigan, Matheisen & especially Scirocco, they need to be booted out.
DeleteIn discussing NYRA, the one thing that will affect attendance is the price of admission. The way to get reserve tickets is confusing. You are allowed to make reservation online on certain dates if you are buying a certain number of tickets. If you are buying just tickets for one day, you have to go through ticket master and pay their fee in ADDITION to the increased ticket price, I bought a group rate tickets for the Whitney. Last year, the 20 tickets cost $220. This year, they were $610!!!!!
ReplyDeleteWell don't forget to throw parking in. The lot that was free parking for handicapped persons and the public accross from the main gate is now known as preferred parking and cars will be charged at a rate of $30.00 each. I would think that would mean that the homes around the track that use their lawns for parking will increase their prices dramatically. The Saratoga Race Course that we once knew is gone and a NY City track will take its place. Remember Kay is all for fan experience and with all the up charges it will be quite the experience.
DeleteI see in the paper that the Police Dept. has brought back the Police dog program. This was one of Ms. Burger's plans, it looks like Commissioner Mathiesen is taking a page out of her play book.
ReplyDeleteSince Mathiesen announced long ago and before she was asked to leave her City Attorney's position by ALL City Council members or her announcement to run for Public Safety that the K9 program was going to be re-instituted show's how out of touch she is. But then again..it's pretty obvious how out of touch she is.
DeleteAnon 9:26, the message from a City Hall Commissioner or Deputy (Anon.8:47) shows how much of a click the 3 (Madigan, Matheisen & Scirocco) are. I found no evidence that Burger was asked to leave her job nor did I find out any information that the K9 program was going to be re-introduced. We will see how much these 3 will back peddle going forth as the election draws near. If they want to run on their records, they will be out of office come Jan. 1st. Again, if you see the 3 amigos thank them from stealing the 4th of July's celebration from us by renting the Casino out for the day. Scirocco has control over this and Madigan needed the money she lost on the hookup fees and for the lawsuits that the 3 created with the Collimer lot fiasco.
ReplyDeleteYou should look at the budget. The funding was requested in 2014 and put in the adopted budget in October 2014. Burger just announced she would bring it back. It's back!!! So anon 8:47 is correct. She as well as you don't have a clue. Madigan, Mathiesen and Scirocco will be just fine. Yepsen on the other hand is in trouble. Her staff is jumping ship and her connection with the Mctygues and her constant lies are going to take her down.
DeleteIt was her that said it should be reinstated. It is convenient that Matheisen announces now with the primary coming up. You must be out of touch with the residents, the three you mentioned Madigan, Matheisen & Scirocco are in trouble. The shows they put on during Council meetings are getting more embarrassing by the month. It doesn't take a brain surgeon to realize the political games these 3 are playing and it is being commented on by the voting population. If I were you I would get my head out of the sand and act respectable at the Council table.
DeleteThe Fireworks were great, much more room with parking lot used for dancing. I also think that you could see the fireworks better. Great job, to bad it rained during the day though. And the last I knew the commissioner did do the booking for weddings.
ReplyDeleteToo bad it rained, but I'm glad everyone had a great time. Thanks for the info.
Deletehow much did it cost?
ReplyDelete??, if you mean the 4th celebration you should contact the committee and see if they will supply the numbers. They are not part of the City so I don't know if they make their figures public or not.
DeleteAbove should have said the commissioner does not book the wedding. Is done by the office people.
ReplyDeleteOK, but in that case the Commissioner as head of that area should block out those 2 days (First Night which was also booked for an event and cannot be used) on the calendar has has been the case for years. The fact that this wasn't the case is not an excuse for the Commissioner, when the papers had a story about the fact he did this he was quoted as saying at least the City was making $3,000.00 per event. This rational of this when he eliminated a great revenue source of the water hookup fees shows he shouldn't be handling the DPW. He should be in charge of the Carousal and be happy about it.
DeleteThe 4th was thrown out of the park because Kelly Clark, (the person in charge of renting the Casino after Betty French was sent to the city garage)booked the venue without considering the 4th event. That's the one and ONLY reason!
ReplyDeleteAlso have to comment on Scirocco thanking of all people Gerri Loyla for the work done on the Spirit of Life!!! WTF!!! If that doesn't tell you he's out of touch nothing will. I also understand his big fundraiser had to be cancelled due to lack of interest! Maybe, just maybe the citizens of this city are finally sick of the way he's screwed up the DPW dept. The workers of this dept. deserve so much more. Can't wait for the AG's report on this Clown!
It appears we are inching closer to a decision on the Algonquin parking lot swap for wetlands fiasco. This can only end one way, and one way only. Mathieson intentionally configured a deal that would benefit one person, the Aronson dude. We really don't need another sleeping facility for firemen, and the choice of location could have been a lot better than the one the good dentist chose.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the Commissioner also thank Lou Flanders, not just Gerri Loyla. The did a lot of the plantings and the flowers at the front gate. They did a beautiful job. Skip didn't cancel a fund raiser, Worth and Safford are having one in the same week as him so he made another date for his. The 4th of July people never ask to have the date put in the book until it was already booked. If Betty French did her job, she most likely still be there. Making 55,000 and she would sit in her office where as every other supervisior had to work with their crew. Remember most of the people that were hired were hired by the Mctyuge"s.
ReplyDeleteLet me comment on a few of your points. The 4th of July and First Night have been marked off the calendar since the McTyghe days until this year. Betty French was removed from her casino job and put in the inventory garage numbering equipment as punishment by Skip. Skip hired 3 people to take her place and added another cleaner at the Casino. When you say that most of the people were hired by McThyge what do expect? He was in office for 30 years, what were these employees supposed to do, quit when Skippy came into office? Skip has hired more of his family and friends in the few years he has been in the job. Remember, McTyghe has been out of office since 2007. I am not saying he is the reason that Saratoga was awarded so many distinctions when he was in office but since Skip took over you can certainly tell he can't manage a sandwich in a paper bag let alone a City Department, the City looks like hell.
DeleteLet me comment on a few of your points. The 4th of July and First Night have been marked off the calendar since the McTyghe days until this year. Betty French was removed from her casino job and put in the inventory garage numbering equipment as punishment by Skip. Skip hired 3 people to take her place and added another cleaner at the Casino. When you say that most of the people were hired by McThyge what do expect? He was in office for 30 years, what were these employees supposed to do, quit when Skippy came into office? Skip has hired more of his family and friends in the few years he has been in the job. Remember, McTyghe has been out of office since 2007. I am not saying he is the reason that Saratoga was awarded so many distinctions when he was in office but since Skip took over you can certainly tell he can't manage a sandwich in a paper bag let alone a City Department, the City looks like hell.
DeleteScrewrocco has distinctions too,first dpw commissioner to be investigated by two state agencies....The Comptollers Office and the Attorney Generals' Office...probably because he's doing such a good job!
ReplyDeleteMadigan thinks she is the head of the Council, her actions are REPREHENSIBLE, If she acts this way in public, how does she act at home? I hope when she has a bottle of wine in her at home she doesn't act as looney (extremely foolish or silly for those of you in the Madigan household) as she does when she is hopefully sober at the Council meetings.
ReplyDeleteI kinda like her ballsy attitude. She doesn't take crape from anyone and she calls out the Mayor and Franck. It was OK when McTygue and Franck did the same. But for Madigan it's REPREHENSIBLE. You go girl!!
DeleteMcTygue, McTygue, McTygue, you Commissioners can't let go. He has not been in office for years. If the mayor acted as REPREHENSIBLE as Madigan I'd love to see what you would say. Madigan does not run Council meetings although she thinks she does. Madigan calls fellow Commissioners names and makes very rude comments about them at the Council table. Employees in City Hall say she has a mouth like a sailor and screams out profanities during meetings. You say she doesn't take crap from anyone but if it wasn't for the other 2 Democrats (Scirocco & Matheisen) she bullies into voting with her she would be nothing, nada, zip. However, you got one thing right, in November we will be saying, You Go Girl and don't let the door smack you in the behind, which would be hard for the door not to do. She has really turned into Mrs. Wiggins.
DeleteTo anon. 3:21, I just want you to know I am not printing your last post. Attacking is what Madigan does best and since the 3 you mentioned don't have the ideal situation you say they do and 1 is not even going with the person you say, which is a fact that can be proven you're the dummy. In fact it is said around the City that Madigan's relationship is in trouble because of the love for the grape. So if you are Madigan writing these posts (you sound just like you do at the Council table) peddle your fodder somewhere else.
Deleteof course your not...the truth hurts.
DeleteNo, the truth will set you free, but the junk you were peddling was just a get back of what Madigan is like and you won't get that forum here.
DeleteNo, the truth will set you free, but the junk you were peddling was just a get back of what Madigan is like and you won't get that forum here.
DeleteYou might not like Madigan but to imply she has a problem with alcohol is just bad form and something that males level against women they don't like. Reminds me of another blog of yesterday and we all know what happened to the guy who wrote it. Keep it clean please.
ReplyDeletekeep it clean???? she does have problem you know it and we know it.
DeleteYou misunderstand my meaning by your first line. I do not dislike Madigan in her private life, however she is a very very bad politician. I still maintain my implication (in your words). Her actions at the Council table and in meetings define her as a person which is not very good. Her actions out at events and stories told by friends lend credence to the 'implications'.
ReplyDeleteMSM are bring our City back. They are hard working, honest. They will get my vote in Nov.
ReplyDeleteYou are a sadist and a Republican who will be voting for 3 Democrats.
Delete10:14
DeleteKeep putting that BS out there. If you say it enough maybe some will believe it, but it doesn't make it true.
Let's call them "The 3 Clowns" because that's how they are acting.
They are costing us a lot of money in this city and they must GO.
Madigan,Screwroco and Mathesien are backed by Bonancio and this Saratoga Pac. This pac of people are hurting this city.
DeleteJust an observation by me. I don't think that PAC has endorsed or is backing anyone yet. I am still waiting how it plays out after August.
DeleteI don't think that is any way to talk to some one. How about some respect, does every one have to think like you do.
ReplyDeleteOh no, everyone doesn't have to think the way I do, but he must be a sadist for wanting the 3 amigos in power for another 3 years and I think you will see the majority of citizens will agree in November.
DeleteSee the problem is that the mctyuge"s really didn't have a plan for water or sewer. Every thing is old. A least Scirocco has done some of that, Geysers Water Plant, the water treatment plant, Bog Meadows. And look at what he has done for the Casino, west wall, new handicap ramp, which is beautiful. Front Steps. City hall. He has done a lot, more than the Mctyuges.
ReplyDeleteHe has given away over 1 million dollars to his special contractor friends, then changes the law with the help of his two amigos to eliminate a revenue source in the water hookup fees and after cutting out over $500,000.00 a year in income from these fees increases the water rates for homeowners. He is a special guy.
DeleteHe has given away over 1 million dollars to his special contractor friends, then changes the law with the help of his two amigos to eliminate a revenue source in the water hookup fees and after cutting out over $500,000.00 a year in income from these fees increases the water rates for homeowners. He is a special guy.
DeleteThat isn't true the plan wasn't a good one. If they didn't pay there wasn't any to collect . You call that a great plan.
ReplyDeleteSorry, I have no clue what you are talking about. Facts are facts, meetings between Scirocco, and 4 other City employees took place to make sure the fees disappeared.
ReplyDeleteSkip is going down in the history books for Saratoga as the WORST Commissioner in a LONG time. He's done very little good and a LOT of bad. Cost us a LOT of $$$$$
ReplyDeleteHe's going to go by by!!!
I do believe that those 5 City Commissioners can make policy. They have put another policy in place. They aren't giving any thing away. You should take up story telling.
ReplyDeleteThey have given away millions, why do you think the State is still in City Hall sifting through paperwork and keep interviewing the same people whose stories change every time? This is story telling, something people are fed up with and they have to keep paying for, trucks are not being replaced, more jobs given to outside companies instead of using DPW workers who are riding around all day. This is why Madigan's surplus is shrinking. What policy's are you talking about? The ones the 3 amigos have made lately have been self serving and have been against the wishes of the majority of Saratogians, review public hearings.
ReplyDeleteWhy would the Controllers office be going back to 1998. Scirooco wasn't there then.
ReplyDeleteThey will go back and look at years past since they are there, but the fact that they have interviewed Scirocco, his staff and employees along with Finance multiple times shows where the focus is and that they are still there indicates that they have found things with this current administration especially the land swap, the Bonaccio deal and other water deals Scirocco made. To my knowledge no McTygue staff has been interviewed so as I said the focus is with the 3 amigos.
DeleteI hope Cap and his team will won, but i also hope friendship not be brokenhttps
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIjGqwx-WsM