TIS’ THE SEASON-LET THE GAMES BEGIN

This year we will have a new DPS Commissioner, sadly only one has any law enforcement experience.  I guess this is what’s wrong with our government, a person that has no experience has the legislative side of the job along with running,  budgeting for the department and then voting to pass the budget.

Take DPW, another shining example of someone who is not qualified to run DPW and if you look around the City you can tell that this Commissioner has no clue about the job and it is scary that he runs the department and legislate (well at least he doesn’t do the budget for his department, he lets Madigan do it for him so he doesn’t look like a complete dolt).  The question I would like to know is will the Democrats run anyone against him?  The person they run doesn’t have to know a thing about DPW as long as he wasn’t a dog catcher.  He or she should be a native Saratogian and have a lot of friends and be likable.  This seems to be the job description.

I cannot see Mark Baker winning an election, to run for office to get the ‘Baker Garage’ built isn’t a good reason to run and if people think Yepsen should be removed from office for the Hospital issue then Scirocco should be removed for all the side deals he has done.  Baker as of now doesn’t even live in the City, he does own a house here and is trying to get rid of his tenants so he can move back into town.

The other decision that will have to be made by the rag tag Republican Committee and the Skipster is, ‘do they run someone against Madigan’?  Remember 2 years ago Skip promised to work against Republican candidates if they ran the qualified person that wanted the Republican slot, will they cave into Scirocco’s demands this year?

The Commissioner of Accounts now in office is probably the only candidate that can’t be beat.  He’ll only be out of office when he decides he wants out of politics.

The Charter vote will be interesting because there is so much good information out there people should be able to read the documents and understand what change will mean, this is why people were crying not to have a May vote but wait until November to become ‘educated’ about the process.  However, the ones that were yelling the most didn’t want these next 7 months to become ‘educated’ they only wanted to have time to make up more insane stories based not on fear not on facts.

The gang of Remiga 'who needs ya' Foy, Bonnie and Dick Sellers, Carol Joyce, Jane We or Wie and her husband John Kaufman and the rest of the sorry bunch have no real factual argument against change other than they want to live in the past.  I wonder if they still use a rotary phone, they still work, do they still use a horse and buggy?  They will still get you to where you want to go, by the way, I did see Remiga going by Uncommon Grounds in a buggy.  There is no problem if you are against changing this form of government but after reading the draft Charter and looking at the financials you should have questions and then base an opinion on facts.  The crazy adage ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ doesn’t even make sense because we would still be using months of searching for one piece of information instead of using a computer.

Also, if as they say, look at our City it is the envy of the country.  There are a few things wrong with this statement, if this form of government is so good (1) why did it take 60 years to be ‘the envy’ of the country as a City?  Saratoga Springs while a nice town and mobsters ran most of the casino’s and the 50’s through the 70’s you could shoot a canon down Broadway and not hit anyone except in August.  Saratoga was “The August place to be”, remember?  The year round place to be didn’t happen until the late 70’s onward. (2) If the Commission form of government is so good and is what built up Saratoga Springs to what it is today why isn’t every City using it to transform themselves to a Saratoga like city?  We need to move on, but use facts not fear, granted this City may have been fine using the Commission form in the 20’ & 30’s but government has changed and can we really have a dog catcher or librarian running very complicated departments going into the future or professionals who can get the most out of what we have and can get? However, I have to say honestly those who held Commissioner seats had the City’s well being in mind when they  served but the days of running a complex ‘business’ with people who don’t understand the complex situations of today and have to hire outside professionals and a very large amount of money should stop.  

Now, did you really want 6 months to understand the differences between the current form and the possible new form or did you just want to use the 6 months for fear and confusion tactics?

I get my information from watching the committee meetings and interviews with past and current City Officials and a poll that 80% of City Hall employees see the Commission form dysfunctional and not getting much done as far as business goes because of the 5 separate departments, that is the first place to get ‘educated’.

THE FLAPPER AND THE SLEEPING DUTCHMAN (ITALIAN)

First of all I’d like to start the article stating that the Republican Party has to be a little off.  Announcing that Mark Baker is running for Mayor has signaled the death knoll already.  First of all Baker has been the ire of most of Saratoga with his cockamamie plan for what should be a multi-use parking garage but this plan he doesn’t like.  He wants the old cement type that you will have to pay for and does not tie in Broadway with any off Broadway businesses.  He’s not very forward thinking and that adds to his detractors statements.  As said before candidate Baker should immediately cut his ties with the City Center and not receive any further money from them.

I remember growing up in Saratoga and if you wanted to sneeze, or work (even at the track like my brother did) your parents or yourself if over 18 HAD to be a registered Republican and you had to go before the City Republican Chairman or the County Republican Chairman to get an ok or given a job.  Today it isn’t the same, the decisions are being questioned as in the case of John Herrick’s unsuccessful try to place a large donor to the Republican Party’s  daughter  to the job of director of the animal shelter but was soundly defeated after citizens took Herrick to task.

However the old guard still lives in the past and either can’t realize times have changed or are in denial because of dementia.  There are many young people who want to get into politics and are not given a chance even when the Republican’s can’t do their job or don’t even know what their job entails like our own Skippy Scirocco.

An  reader of this blog sent a piece that they agreed to let me use in this post .

The Butcher, the Baker, The Candlestick Maker

“Welcome to Saratoga Springs, New York, where no one can just fracking retire. No, no. That’s not how the game is played here. We just keep reanimating the same old, crusty 19th Century bullshit, dust it off,   and repurpose it so it can run for Mayor. Mark Baker for Mayor? No wonder I declined to join the GOP. You people cannot be serious. This is the best you can do? There is no young blood in this town of blue bloods?

This city is falling apart behind the scenes but the focus continues to be not on the issues of the city but of the personalities and the clashing of egos. Enough  already. We need a new government. Saratoga is a wonderful city but if we do not adapt we will certainly be left behind. No one is really in charge and it shows. Citizens of Saratoga Springs must take an active interest in city council meetings.  The cast of characters is tiresome. It’s childish and silly like a nursery-rhyme.

Rub a dub-dub

Three men in a tub, the butcher, the baker and candlestick maker, they all sailed out to sea,

‘twas enough to make a man stare.”

Come on Saratoga, you can do better than this.”

Saratoga is on the top of the mountain and nowhere to go but down, it isn't even the Saratoga I knew growing up in. Yes, it had its bad times and decades when you could shoot a cannon off down Broadway and no one would hear you.  This is not a beautiful quaint city anymore like the renaissance of the late 70’s & 80’s , it is a City trying to stay in step with bigger cities and in doing so its losing its charm. 

Politics are funny everywhere but in Saratoga it is just sad.  Councils over the years were a little screwy but in the last 10 years especially the last 5, politics has degraded to a side show and the Council doesn't seem to notice other areas are laughing and making fun of them, sad indeed.

Now on to the most embarrassing Commissioner the City has ever had, well 1 of 2.  Michele Madigan.  She is just a down right ornery person.  What makes her this way?  Well she seems to be like this at every Council meeting, that this is just the way she is.  She insults the citizens who get up to speak and argues until she is red in the face with certain fellow Commissioners.  Now, one other Commissioner, the Skipster is like her in many ways, he laughs at citizens speaking at the microphone (yes, honestly), he falls asleep during meetings and even drools.  He isn’t ornery because he doesn’t know how to be, he is just plain blank, he can’t speak on a subject off the cuff, he has to have Madigan or her husband write his script.  Skippy would be better off keeping his mouth shut.

This Sunday 2/26, Madigan had a Speak Out in the Saratogian.   There are many topics that Madigan uses as based in fantasy. I attended many Charter meetings and heard from many ex Mayors and former Commissioners and I was very surprised that many of them stated that City hall is broke and it needs fixing.  They also went on to say contrary to Ms. Madigan or her husband (whoever wrote this article) that the form doesn’t work, no one knows who is in charge, many people that do business with the City have to deal with 3 Commissioners instead of one person.  There are three levels of government and in Saratoga there is no separation of 2 levels which is bad.  Ms. Madigan and her husband are so wrapped up in their power position that they are blind to voters needs and wishes.  The City has had stable financials for the last 15 years except when the State pulled the Racino money and this looks like it will be lowered considerably for good.  We need more police, more firemen, new equipment, especially in DPW (we’ll get into that later).  Madigan will not release the funds necessary to get these things, why you ask?  The reason is clear, she won’t look that good by spending money.  She could be considered a fake.  Lynn Bachner, come back.  Lynn & Christine G Brown keep this department on track.

Skippy has no clue about what happened regarding the City Garage fire.  He stated at the Council meeting that Marilyn Rivers knew more than him about the details.  This is so sad coming out of the mouth of the supposed head of the department.  The garage should be moved immediately.  As Scirocco said that as long as he has been around (70) years, the garage was there and there were no problems ever.  Well Skippy pal, there are new housing developments, a City playground and an elementary school in close proximity to a potential disaster waiting to happen.  Stop the crap about the income you make on the Weibel Ave site, Michele said we are flush with money and move the garage there, that area of the City will be much safer or is it you don’t care about making that area safer?

HELP WANTED

There will be a new post soon about the moves Skippy and his counterpart Madigan have pulled in City Hall lately i.e. the hiring of  'Hot Dog' Eddie Miller a Political Party leader who endorsed the two and worked on both campaigns.  Also below is a Help Wanted poster that Skippy has put up inviting any of his family and friends to use his connections to get a job.  More in the next installment of 'why isn't he in jail?'  stay tuned, 'Same Bat Time, Same Bat Channel'

Skippy's Help Wanted Poster

KRAMER vs. KRAMER

Here is the scenario:  Madigan & Scirocco are against open government and are against bringing any change to Saratoga that will affect their little kingdom.  What is the relation?  Madigan who is worried that her name goes on all the checks might not have a job this fall and not because the form of government may change.  This election cycle operates the same way and a new form would not have elections until when we vote again in 2019 and take effect until 2020.  She is short changing citizens from voting on the issue in a special election that the State says is legal.  Secondly, the two of these shortsighted ‘leaders of our City’ are neck deep in two separate NYS Attorney General Investigation inside City Hall. Additionally, We will be losing most of our VLT funding because of the pending opening of the casino in Schenectady and neither one have proposed any solutions to the decline in revenues.

This is all happening at a time Madigan is signing checks to build a $750,000.00 bathroom for her finance people, for that price it will have golden toilets, sinks with golden handles and an extra size personal stall with an extra wide toilet for her royal highness the Princess Madigan.

Expenses for a referendum vote on May 30th

I have it on a reliable source that this topic has already been discussed in a small group meeting. In the meeting with Finance, the staff agreed that said money would be available from the existing Fund Balance. True, it has not been ‘budgeted’, but there are ample funds available in the fund balance carried over from 2016, according to Finance staff.”

I also did research on the last 15 years of our city budget. We have consistently received high marks and compliments based on our budget practices. Once again Madigan takes all credit (naughty girl).

 I will have a follow up post on the budgetary outlook for that past 15 years

The Charter Review Commission has had many large group and sub-committee meetings, all of them open to the public since June 2016 and I don’t know how many Commissioners if any attended the invited Mayors, City Managers and Mayor/City Managers from cities around New York State who gave insightful information.  I know Madigan isn’t one of them nor has she even looked at any meetings on the City’s website as her erroneous comment below from the Daily Gazette:

“If approved by the voters during a special election set for May 30, take effect in 2019 — halfway through the two-year terms to which council members will seek reelection in November.

Ms. Madigan, if you were truly a representative of the people you would know the facts before opening your mouth.  There is a city election this year (11/17) for a normal 2 year term of the existing Commission Form of Government.  The election for 2019 again a regular timed city election would be to elect the new Council which would be sworn in on January 1, 2020.  This would be a normal transfer.  GET IT THROUGH YOUR HEAD.  Pay attention instead of being afraid of losing the power you use demeaning the citizens. 

Here is some information from the Daily Gazette:

“Public Safety Commissioner Chris Mathiesen argued that a council-manager form would make city government more efficient, more democratic and more representative of the people.

He called the commission form outdated and “inherently contradictory.”  “You can’t be a legislator and an executive at the same time,” he said. “This is the United States of America — this is not a dictatorship — so you have separate bodies, and you have a balance of power.

Well that’s missing in Saratoga Springs, and the ability for people to participate directly in city government is very limited.”

He added, “These five people all have too much power — each of them, including me.”

Mathiesen, who is joined by Mayor Joanne Yepsen in supporting a special election, said the other councilors appear to be blocking the review group’s efforts to create a charter that would eliminate their positions.

“There’s a real problem here in terms of conflict of interest,” he said.

He also said putting the charter on the ballot in November would be a “very bad idea.”

“I think it would mix up the issues regarding the referendum with the politics of the candidates who are running at that time,” he said.

More from Madigan in The Gazette article

“Madigan also took issue with the commission’s decision to have the changes, if approved by the voters during a special election set for May 30, take effect in 2019 — halfway through the two-year terms to which council members will seek reelection in November.”  WRONG

“I don’t even know if I would run for commissioner of finance if the form of government is going to change,” she said. “Maybe I would run for mayor.”

 ‘Madigan said she doesn’t expect the group’s request for $37,000 in special election funding to be approved by the Council, refuting Turner's position that Municipal Home Rule Law 36 gives the commission authority to call for an election and have it be funded by the city.”

“I believe the Council has to take a stand on that,” Madigan said. “There’s not really a lot of case law in terms of municipal home rule law.”

And there is good reason that there have not many challenges. So, will the City sue itself?

Here is a copy of a recent legal opinion, look it up yourself.

The relevant provision regarding the scheduling of the election is Municipal Home Rule Law § 36(5)(b), which provides in relevant part:

(b) Such new charter or amendments shall be completed and filed in the office of the city clerk in time for submission to the electors not later than the second general election after the charter commission is created and organized. The local law or certificate establishing the commission or, in the absence of such provision therein, the charter commission shall provide for such publication or other publicity in respect to the provisions of the proposed charter or amendments as it may deem proper, and for submission thereof to the electors of the city at a general or special election held not earlier than sixty days after the filing thereof in the office of the city clerk and not later than the next general election which does not occur within the said sixty days, provided, however, that if such general election occurs within ninety days after the said filing, the proposed charter or amendments shall be submitted at such general election. [emphasis mine]

In an opinion from the Office of the Attorney General which concludes

We conclude that the local law or certificate establishing a charter commission may determine whether a proposed charter or amendments to an existing charter are to be submitted at a general or special election. In the absence of such a determination, the charter commission may determine the election at which the proposals are submitted to the voters for approval.   

The City of Saratoga Springs City Council did not place any restriction on the charter commission when it was formed in 2016, pursuant to MHRL § 36, it is the charter commission which determines whether to put the charter amendment to a vote at a general or special election.

Sounds like another law suit Kramer vs Kramer

“They are expending funds without the authority to do so right now, and that’s a problem for me,” she said. “My name goes on all the checks that go out from the city.”

So, she would be signing the checks for her new $750,000.00 ‘bathroom’’.

 Museum vs Toilet $750,000.00

Musee du Louvre vs Madigan du Loo

Now Skip & Michelle, huddle over a bottle of French wine and come up with some other blank ideas on how to stop a transparent and open government for the people from happening.

Now there is a movie Kramer vs. Kramer but I rather think the picture above is how Madigan & Scirocco look since they seem joined at the hip and Madigan has to write all of Sciroco's scripts (um).

SOME NOTES ON THE CITY FRONT

We have several projects going on by Public Works that are questionable by City residents.  The residents are not concerned about the projects but how they are being carried out.  The City is paying (1) City Engineer a salary of $109,039.00 + benefits (health ins., retirement, etc.) also (1) Assistant City Engineer a salary of $109,039.00 + benefits (health ins., retirement, etc.).

Keeping the above figures in mind the DPW Director; yes Skip Scirocco hired an outside engineering firm to plan a water & sewer job on Woodlawn Ave. for a figure of $60,000.00.  Remember we have 2 City Engineers who could have done this job and it wouldn’t cost the City a penny.  Well the code says that a water line must be at least 5 feet underground and 10 feet away from the sewer line. I can see our 2 engineers not knowing the rules but an outside firm?  they should have known this when they submitted the plans ($60,000.00) for the project.  However, the water line sits 3 feet underground and is only 5 feet away from the sewer line which is one of the old clay sewer lines.  This is incompetence at its best and another one of Skippy’s not understanding or the City Engineers understanding of the codes.

The next best thing about this project is that the job must be overseen by one of the City’s 2 engineers, so if this is fact are they as blank as most think or is a pocket being lined?

I would also like to know what plan DPW & DPS has for car, truck or equipment replacement yearly.  I remember when a 19 year old fire truck went to put out a fire and the fire truck caught on fire.  DPW has quite a bit of trucks, cars and dump trucks that need to be replaced and I hope Scirocco does not give the money back to Madigan to make her look good and put the good of the City in jeopardy by not having enough vehicles on the road or having to replace many at one time as I have heard he might have to do.

Having been following the Charter Commission( which had to be assembled by our Charter) via the City website, citizens can learn much about our form of government if they only open their ears and listen to the pros and cons of our form vs. other forms.

In a letter to the editor today written by none other than the mummy of Bonnie Sellers, Richard Sellers, this is a person that is blank and understands nothing about the Commission form or other forms.  Richard, the partner of Bonnie Sellers who make up the Abbot & Costello team in Saratoga Springs have no clue about many things and in the Commission vs other government types.  This duo, along with their uninformed friends use scare tactics not information when discussing these topics.  They offer nothing valuable to the discussion other than ‘look at other cities using another form of government and see how bad they are as compared to Saratoga’, well my friends the form of government did not make Saratoga what it is today, the business people, volunteers, to some extent City officials and having 2 race tracks and Skidmore College in our City along with the Northway led to what Saratoga is today.  If people open their eyes and look around the State there are many good Cities and since we are not #1 in great city’s in the country, there are thousands and thousands that are doing good.  I think one thing that Saratoga Springs does have are people like Dick & Bonita Sellers who spread fear and will not even listen or educate themselves to other ideas, now that doesn’t mean they can’t have their own opinion but stop the fear mongering.


I listened to a local radio show Saturday morning as Commissioner Matheisen was the guest and he spoke on various City topics that made sense and one of the topics he spoke on was form of government, he was the first City official to call for a different form of government (back in January).  You will have to speak with him about the benefits of a possible change and his ideas of why it may be better to do so. BUT NOTE, this current Commission is looking at ways to streamline our current form as well as having guest Mayors and City Managers speak so maybe we can incorporate some of their ways into our Charter to improve it.  The Sellers and their bunch have to get out of the 1920’s and realize we are in 2016 and things change and we need to do what is best for Saratoga and its citizens.  Change it or update and streamline it either one. 

What do you think of Change the form of gov't?  Stay or Change and put a good reason why you think one way or the other.

THIS TRIO of “LEADERS” are an EMBARASSMENT to the CITIZENS of SARATOGA

The 3 Commissioner’s (Madigan, Scirocco & Matheisen) have to stop not only embarrassing themselves but also the citizens of Saratoga.  Madigan yells and screams it seems at every Council meeting, showing as some people think,  that she is becoming unglued and is imbibing too much during the day.  It is becoming such a spectacle that everyone watching these meetings are becoming frustrated at how they react not only to the Mayor but citizens as well.

Madigan expresses the fact that the Mayor can’t control the meetings but it is herself (Madigan) that argues, won’t shut up and won’t listen to the Mayor when she is trying to restore order at the table.  This is a pitiful trio.

Scirocco had zip on his agenda so he made the resolution to censure the Mayor.  The motion should have taken 10 minutes to read but the great orator took 30 minutes to get through it, a mighty reading, that’s probably why so many dogs and cats got away when he was the dog catcher,he trying to call an animal over to snare it and it probably took  him 15 minutes to say ‘come here fido’.

The Ethics Committee issued a report about a conflict with the Mayor but they didn’t issue one for Skip’s alleged  illegal multiple water deals which Madigan may be a party to by not making sure the monies were collected and the voting block of those 3 should as one brought the matter before the Council.  Also let’s not forget the Collimer lot deal which would cost the City to lose big money if Commissioner had his way dealing with the people he knew.  The City Attorney’s wife serves on the Ethics Committee and we wonder if she abstained from the discussions and the vote?

It is alleged that the reason Matheisen changed Attorney firms is because the firm that was handling the water deal & the Collimer lot deal was a not capable to handle criminal charges and it is said that the State is now pursuing criminal cases against the 3 .  Again, a nice representation by three comatose Commissioners.  We need to remember this at election time next year.

The Public Works Department is and has been up to job capacity for a while.  The problem is that Sirocco’s last bunch of hires have been to supervisory jobs or newly created supervisor jobs which total over $300,000.00+.  The baloney that if employees are blacktopping they can’t pick up grass clippings too, how many times a day have you seen City vehicles parked in a Stewart's, Shirley’s, Triangle Dinner, Cumberland Farms or Wal Mart?  The same numbered vehicles are seen at most of these places by people daily.

Also, the new hired bookkeeper and Finance fellow (Veitch) that Skip had the job title changed from Director of PW has taken to riding around the City in the Skip Mobile instead of working inside and it is said that Deputy Donna Buckley is not too happy, resorting as some say to putting a whoopee cushion on the seat of Skip’s chair.

This is really unsettling and if the criminal charges stick the 3 should be removed and a special election held to replace them.

I also read in the paper that John Herringbone has called for the Mayor to resign.  Nice try John.  John is retiring as the Chairman of the County Republican Committee because he has a loss of faith in his position.  There were many towns, the City of Saratoga included that did not support him and the list was growing.  He should have left years ago when he could have saved face.

Let’s keep the focus on Madigan, Matheisen and Scirocco and remember Sirocco put new sewer & water lines down his street and gave his street new paving, What A Guy!

CAN THIS BE REAL OR AM I IN A NIGHTMARE?

I watch the City Council meetings and the show the 3 amigos put on is getting funnier each meeting.  Commissioner Matheisen sits back in his chair with his fingers tapping against each other, Skip staring out to who knows where only waking up to say crazy things like ‘I think some of the homeless are serial killers and Madigan, well what can you say about her, she is just too out of it.  Anyone who attends the meetings or watches them knows the great martini Madigan wants to be Mayor and she is treating her constituents like dirt, unlike the current Mayor.

Now we have bull dog David Bonner at the mic again at every Council meeting berating the Mayor instead of Madigan, Skip and Matheisen for acting like dummies at the table.  Bronner is like the big bad wolf  but his bluster is not good enough to be believed.

Now, about Skippy.  The story is that a few times a week Skip, Deputy Dog Buckley and Madigan are at Jacob & Anthony’s imbibing in a (few?) adult beverages.  Why Madigan can’t even hide her straw that is in her carafe of the vino she drinks.

Those of you know I write about my funny little guy Skip quite a bit, there is nothing wrong with the little fella except he is way out of his league holding the position he occupies on the Council.  Skip was a very capable animal control officer, corralling doggies and getting cats out of trees, chasing skunks and even a raccoon or two.  Advice warning…. Skip, you should have stayed at the job you were born to do.

Anyone that wants to know what the DPW workers do during the day only has  to look anywhere that sells coffee, ding dongs (named after he who can’t be mentioned) and lottery tickets.  Also, stand on Broadway and you can see trucks with the same identifing number going round and round. 

Madigan again sucked up to Skip at the 5/3 Council meeting, saying that she congratulates Skip for the job well done and for returning some money back into the budget.  Well, the DPW fleet is in such disrepair it is an embarrassment, why didn’t you put some money into that part of the business Skip and why didn’t Madigan address that point when she was shining your ding dong?

A question for Skip, you always say how much infrastructure you have done, what is the % of what the DPW has done and what the outside firms you hire at big $ have done?  Please list the number and jobs so we can laugh at your explanations like we do when you try to make a point  at a meeting.  Skip, no one can understand what you are talking about.

Another smiling matter, all this nonsense about the hospital deal.  Madigan, Skip and Matheisen are going against the will of the residents of that area. Skippy said ‘we should get the home owners together with the hospital and maybe something can be worked out’, SKIP get this through your head, at every meeting the home owners do not want to talk to the hospital, they do not want the mammoth building with all the black top parking spaces, they do not want their property values to plunge, what in the heck don’t you get? You are blank but can’t Madigan sit you on her lap and explain it to you?  Although she doesn’t get it .   Madigan says we have so much of a fund balance then why doesn’t she talk to her fellow Council members and purchase the houses now at the current market values then let Sonny build away?  Talk about conflict of interest, Bonacio was a member of the Comp Committee and he stands to gain the big bucks for building the facility.  This could be another reason why the Skipster forgave the 1 million dollars in fees Bonacio owed the City in water hookup fees and the 3 amigos voted in favor in changing that part of the Charter in eliminating said fees.  Do you see a pattern?  Follow the money friends, follow the money.  More on Skippy & the other 2 amigos later, for now sit back and relax, watch a rerun of a Council and laugh your head off.

SKIP, THE THEATER DISTRICT BALLERINA

After many years of the citizens of Saratoga trying to tell the Council that they wanted a multi-use Parking Garage that would bring in million's to the City every year the Council of Doom (Madigan, Matheisen & Scirocco) did not listen and went ahead with the Mark Baker Garage which pays the City $50,000.00 per year.  This new move of creating a Theater District in the unused area of the lot is designed only to see that the City Center pay’s its debt down as there was no way it can do so now (it has an annual deficit, and the bedroom tax it relies on is dwindling) and Baker's figures changed faster that Skip could say huh?

Now it is to be believed that Skippy the Wonder Boy after years of not making any sense at meetings or with contract workers or developers, save for one, comes up with a grandiose design (shown in Sunday's Saratogian) and we are led to believe that this 'District' was conceived by him.

I read the article which took most of the morning because I just couldn't stop laughing at his quotes.  The one that stood out to me was the reasoning for this Theater District.  Skip is a closet theater lover “I like theater, but I don’t go very often,” he said. “Mostly I’ve seen high school plays. I’ve never actually been to a Broadway show. So this plan is just something I think would be good for the city. It’s not because I have a personal theatrical agenda.” why this alone could make him a large lover of the theater.  I have to tell you, if this was the Skipper’s idea, he has been wasting his life; he should have been a planner for the City rather than chasing dogs.

I will dare say another thought crossed my mind, guess who will be building this Theater District?  I’ll bet that it will be Sonny Bonaccio, after all he had one of his top men on the Citizen’s Committee that brought back their ideas on the RFP’s why the multi-use garage wouldn’t work and he was appointed by non-other than Skip’s femme fatale Michele Madigan, so the saying Follow The Money still has merit.

Scirocco was quoted “We want this to be new, innovative and modern,” Scirocco said. “But we want to keep the historic connection, too. The city is so well-suited to this idea, being a community of the arts.”  Yep!  This is right next to a generic, concrete & brick ugly parking garage.  He also stated “Some benefits of a High Rock theater district would include extending Broadway show business from New York City north to Saratoga Springs; providing a year-’round economic powerhouse; offering high-quality space in which local and out-of-town troupes can perform”  I am almost sure that if ‘What’s New Pussycat’ is playing in this theater there will be busloads coming to Saratoga from NYC, ’What is Marcia from SPAC going to think about this competition?  Wasn’t one of the big reasons she objected to the Racino’s small facility was because it would give SPAC (a 4 month venue) competition?  If competition is good for business, has the Skipster changed his mind about the convention building at the Racino?  Will he now support this venue because it will bring in more small conventions and music groups, helping the City’s pocket book and again he said competition is good?

I think the next logical move would be for the Siamese majority of Madigin, Matheisen & Scirocco to build a facility on the Farmer’s Market land and construct a building that could house the National Dog Pageants typically shown on the USA network, heck we already have Miss Pekinese living on North Broadway, the Miss Capital District Pageants and all sorts of other things to use the parking garage and make some more historical moments for Saratoga. 

We better watch out, Skippy is thinking outside the box, if it really is him and not the Art District we are in big trouble. 

GREENRIDGE CEMETERY

After 2 months the fence still looks like this.  Pitiful Board.

3 RATS RUNNING THE SHIP

Watching the Council meeting tonight makes one thing perfectly clear, Madigan, Scirocco & Matheisen are the looniest bunch of people in the City.  The fact that they are on our City Council makes those who voted for them even loonier.  The fact that they are supposed to be representing the citizens is embarrassing.  The fact that months ago it was reported by a Capital District newscaster that Madigan had her three votes to pass Baker's parking garage proved to be true even after she herself yelled that 'this is a lie' no one knows how anyone is voting.  Madigan, Scirocco & Matheisen can be seen laughing at the Mayor & Franck as the say they are representing we the citizens, it seems like they are the only two who are doing so.  Having a dentist, dog catcher and wine consumer make a decision like this is again an embarrassment.  The City Center will likely not be able to pay it's debt service or the City's share of $50,000.00 per month.  Remember that if the property was a multi use facility the amount the City would get using modest figures was $2 million per year and would employee local people, something that these three are against.

This is what happens when two henpecked men are led by a delirious woman who's greatest feat is sipping red water at Council meetings and by the way Madigan swore that the news of having the votes to approve Baker's garage were false, well she thanked them after the vote for standing behind her for 2 years.  Wait:  That's why you couldn't see the boys, they were standing behind her.  I saw Madigan the other day walking in front of Scirocco & Matheisen with a pinkie in each of their noses leading them into her office.  Imagine how many illegal meetings the 3 had to iron this one out.

Let's see if Franck's information is correct, the lease is set at .82 cents per sq. ft.  Where in Saratoga can you get a price like that?  Why only if the 3 Amigos are selling something.

  

THE DUMB BUNNIES

Some think I haven’t written because I am licking my wounds over the last election, nothing could be further from the truth.  After the election “You Asked For IT You Got IT” said it all.  It’s not that I don’t see what is going on here in Saratoga, it’s just I don’t care anymore.

Saratoga Springs has one of the lowest voter turnouts in the State.  Most of the so called” Native Saratogians” could care less about what is happening in their own City.  Let’s look at a few items.

The biggest political beach ball since the Casino is the City Center parking puke of a garage.  Now we won’t say who has her head up the wazoo of Mark Baker but I’ll give you a clue, she sits to the right of the Mayor.

This woman should have a blood alcohol test before entering the Council Chambers.  She not only looks buzzed at the table but totally disregards citizen rights.  I watched in horror yes horror, oh, the humanity, the meeting on 3/15  as the public hearing for the lease took place.  I even had to go back and watch the dialogue of the hearing again, Madigan had berated a citizen because she (the citizen) wanted to talk about finances and here was where the fun began for everybody except the lady at the mic.  Madigan went off yelling her that she was not to speak of finances (this was part of the lease) and Madigan also screamed ‘it is my public hearing and I’ll run it my way’, clearly she hasn’t seen the light of day between the vino and the wazoos, but it was doubly disgusting that an elected official would treat a citizen in such a way, she is publicly, an embarrassment as representative of the City.  Many of Madigan’s friends and owners of Broadway businesses paraded to the Mic decrying the benefits of a multi-use concept.  Ms. Sellers would be likely to say, ‘burn the non-conformers and all non-Native Saratogians’. 

We must look at the view of the DBA (Downtown Business Assoc.) and Chamber of Commerce as one of chicken crap.  These entities do not want anyone shopping off Broadway, period, whether it helps the economy, creates jobs or any businesses benefitting due to off Broadway business.  The DBA & Chamber should give free memberships to those businesses off Broadway or the City should take away their higher tax rate.  Today, it looks like the vote for the City Center to get its way may be a reality (thanks to wobbly Madigan & the wide eyed Scirocco, everyone is saying that Matheisen is the wild card and is still evaluating which I sincerely hope he is doing.  Commissioner, it is not a law that you have to vote with Madigan & Scirocco, keep an open mind and make the right decision to go into the RFP’s a little more (selfish me).  Also worth noting, Madigan’s appointment to the High Rock Park Technical Review Committee was none other than Larry Novick (a Bonaccio front man, Scirocco’s pick, Rod Sutton and Tom Roohan from the City Center plus the other picks.  Novick, Sutton and Roohan have nothing in common, right?  

You know you are in trouble as a citizen when a majority (hopefully not) would settle for $50,000.00 per year when with a multi-use garage you could have a business 1^st floor that could generate about $2 million dollars a year, create new jobs and tie Broadway into the High Rock area, now that is great leadership from a Council, again check the blood alcohol level.

The Skipster, what to say about him?  The citizens should chip in and purchase a new pair of glasses for him, it looks like he can’t read or see what goes on around him.  If you were at or watched the Council meeting from March 1^st Mark Lawton (a man who knows and can interpret the Charter) informed Skip that he was not following the Charter because he should be presenting his water & sewer plan at budget time instead of in March.  Scirocco admitted he didn’t know this and then corrected himself with a shaky excuse.  This is scary because by not knowing your Constitution (Charter) you are bound to fail.  

Wait, according to Skip, if you go against the Charter just change it to suit your needs.  Point in case, Donna Buckley, Deputy Commissioner and puppet master of Skip hires a Director of Public Works then fires him when a Veitch family member wants the job, only he can’t pass the exam.  So what does Donna & Skip do?  Why create a new position of Business Manager.  Who was taking care of business for the Department all these years?  Now that we have a Business Manager the department’s employees whose duties are going to this new position should have their salaries reduced.  Skip, you’re a nice guy I guess but you are way out of your league in your position as Commissioner as you were as Animal Control Officer (PC for Dog Catcher).

This is what happens when apathy sets in at election time.  Most people don’t care enough about what goes on in their City but boy can they complain about everything and a case of electing the good old boy’s choices (yes it still runs rampant in Saratoga, although the old guard are dropping away quietly)

YOU ASKED FOR IT, YOU GOT IT:

Let’s face it, elections are popularity contests and not how well the Commissioners do their jobs. 

This was evidenced by this past City election where only about 30% of registered voters cast ballots which is most embarrassing when there is so much at stake here.  OK maybe Madigan, despite her meanness and condescending attitude towards citizens at Council meetings had a record to win.  Scirocco and Matheisen should have lost by a landslide. 

Remember Matheisen was a winner by about 59 votes last election and his record and actions of not letting citizens know about crimes that affect all of us is most troubling.

Matheisen honestly doesn’t know how to oversee a Public Safety Department, despite winning the Collimer lot lawsuit that was dismissed by the judge, its fate is still in the hands of the State.  His stance on the Saratoga National project also defies public opinion of a majority of citizens, most I should say with a few opposing and the green belt people who pick and choose what stays green, he is also against the multi - use project of the City/City Center parking garage siding with Madigan & Scirocco to put up a dreary ugly building which will not enhance the area but will take away from tying in Broadway with Lake Ave. and High Rock businesses.  This shortsightedness is what has put Saratoga in a downward spiral over the last 4 years.

Scirocco’s win is also a mystery.  He gave away over one million dollars to 1 developer without letting or getting permission from the Council (it may be that the 3 amigos already knew about this and ok’d it) and after he couldn’t collect the million he had the law changed to eliminate this revenue stream with the cockamamie excuse that he was limited with the use of the money, he then holds a public hearing and then motions at the same meeting to eliminate the water hookup fee causing a large increase to every home owner’s water bill (guess who voted for his motion)? The question to ask is why not just change the usage of the fee to go into infrastructure?  Madigan said we have enough money to cover infrastructure costs and we didn’t need the hookup fees.  Ms. Madigan, why not decrease taxes if we have too much money?  

Scirocco will soon bring before the Council the need to reimburse several contractors to the tune of another million dollars for charging them hookup fees AFTER he changed the law. Grass, leaf, and snow removal have been so bad since he took over that many, many people are complaining, yet they voted him in office again. 

Why when he was the dog catcher for 30 some years it is said that he couldn’t tell the difference between a French Poodle and a German Shepard because he thought the Shepard was barking in French.

The construction projects are taking so long that they are way past the date they were supposed to be completed, he can’t use the excuse that weather was a problem and remember that the Washington St. mess was started because a plumbing outfit didn’t fill a hole overnight when they were working on a break from a house to the road during last winter’s coldest period.  This is the plumbing outfit’s fault and they should be paying the tab on this but it will never happen because too much money was already given to one of the partners.

Then there is the little item of Skip putting new water & sewer lines and a new paved road on his own street when no one complained about any problems.

Let’s not forget his work on Rt. 50 by Price Chopper, work done, new paved roads, ready to clean up and get it opened when he decides to rip it apart and install larger water lines.  This should have been thought out and done while the whole area was dug up, not after the job was completed.  How much money did we spend on this error?

However, don’t worry, all this means nothing to you, you voted him & Matheisen back into office.  City boys, born (Matheisen says he was 3 when he moved here) and raised here, that matters more than political brain power, now I am not saying that the 2 are stupid, Skip was a great dog catcher and Matheisen is a good Dentist but both make lousy legislators.

  

This is a beginning, there will be more but let’s face it, you don’t care, and our elections are like the Miss USA Pageant. A popularity contest, not one of putting knowledgeable people in office that understand how to do the job.

YOU ASKED FOR IT, YOU GOT IT

THE ANNOUNCEMENT & THE REPUBLICAN’S BIG SPENDING

Bill McTygue has announced his Deputy if he should win the DPW post.  Pat Design, Deputy Commissioner under both former Commissioner Tom McTygue & current Commissioner Skip will be the new Deputy.

For the past 2 weeks I have been getting blasted with Republican political flyers in the mail or on my door knob.  All I can say is that they are either nervous about losing or have some big money to spend (in most cases via big builders).

Although some have good information like Wirth, who we picked to defeat Matheisen for the good of Saratoga Springs, some are just laughable.

One of these jokes came in the mail today ‘A Personal Message from Four Former Mayors’, this was the headline in the return address spot.  I first thought it was restaurant coupons for 4 Guy’s Hamburgers but I opened it and lo and behold it was a letter denouncing Mayor Yepsen (what a surprise) and extolling the former Army man and who now advises homeowners associations. While it doesn’t take a degree in rocket science to run for office (we now have a librarian, dog catcher and dentist among our City’s leaders, I guess an advisor to homeowner associations is ok.  They disparage Yepsen’s accomplishments which are many (more in 2 years than Johnson had in 6) and one profound statement about secrecy ‘too many closed to the public Executive Sessions’.  This statement had to be written by someone that knows nothing about City government because all Executive Sessions are held behind closed doors.  The candidate John Safford extolls his plans if elected, JOHN, Mayor Yepsen has your plans already in operation, get your own.

The letter contains more political dribble but most of it is nonsense.  The letter is signed by 4 former Mayor’s whose terms except Mayor A.C. Riley were a joke.  The other three are Scott ‘red face’ Johnson, Mayor J. Michael ‘smiley’ O’Connell, please don’t get me started about him and Mayor Jim ‘where am I’ Murphy, who’s tenure was 1966-1969 when Saratoga was really rocking (right).    I wonder why they didn’t get one of the good Mayor’s,  Mike Lenz’s signature.

The next piece of paper was a door hanger to vote for Skip Scirocco.  His flyer is even more hysterical:

Fixed longstanding infrastructure problems

Upgraded the City water facility filters (gee, you should have done that anyway)

Fixed neighborhood flooding issues (don’t tell anyone living in Geyser Crest about this, they have been calling you for years about this problem and you ignore the pleas.)

Resolved decades long water capacity resource (this is just an outright joke, the ‘new’ holes he dug would not supply the City with enough water for a day in a drought or any new building.  As a matter of fact he had said he fixed the water supply in the Crest however anyone we talk to has water pressure so low they can pee a stronger stream.

Improved safety at dangerous intersections- where and how?

It gets better:

City Hall – restored the steps and lions (contracted out the work)

Canfield Casino is now handicap accessible (I guess he didn’t see the ramp on the side when he was first elected)

Saratoga Lake – new park & entranceway (the Park was in planning when you were still a dog catcher)

Flowers, leaf pickup & snow removal, accomplished with professionalism under Skip’s leadership.  (Seriously?  All three have deteriorated every year under your leadership.)

You left out one thing – how lousy downtown and the garages look, both have one thing in common, they look dirty.

Just a comment about this race.  A person’s last name should not disqualify them for a shot to win an election, if the person is qualified then he or she should at least be considered.

If your son shoots someone and kills that person does that mean you should be looked upon as those who look at your son?  Each of us is his own person and should be judged on their merits.

It seems in Saratoga, many City dwellers hold a grudge for life.

Please look at the previous post and see who we backed for elected office, and next time you are at Four Mayors order your burger medium with fries.