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. 

ELECTION DAY DRAWS NEAR

Well it is almost here, Election Day Tuesday November 3^rd.  How can you tell?  The land is covered with signs, so many in fact you can’t tell who the candidates are. 

The local newspaper has a subscription rate of at least 700 homes so we know that Saratogians can’t get their information from there. The candidates have to get their information out themselves, that’s why every one of them need to go door to door themselves and talk to voters themselves.

The Mayor’s race is one that gives me a chuckle.  We have a Mayor that has a good track record and a newcomer who has not gotten involved in or on any commissions but declares himself ready because of him being in the military and advising some homeowners associations.  The old lip service that he must get rid of a career politician (10 years) and bring stability back to the Council is just that lip service.  Mayor Yepsen has had to control the Council but Madigan, Matheisen and Scirocco clearly do not want harmony so 2 times a month create a circus atmosphere and even the new candidate won’t be able to handle unless he rolls over and is subject to them.  He also talks about career politicians yet I don’t hear him trying to get rid of Skip for going for his 4^th (8 year’s) and his (8 years as Supervisor) for a total of 16 years times in office, wouldn’t he be classified as a ‘career’ politician?  Stafford isn’t upset about this?  Isn’t this kind of being two faced and not being honest about his feelings and statements?

On to the DPW race.  Skip has done too many questionable things to be re-elected.  There are too many lawsuits against the City (against Skip), including but not limited to the Betty French suit, The giving away of over $1 million dollars to 1 developer concerning water hookups without getting Council approval (required), changing the Charter and eliminating the hookup fees then charging certain developers water hookup fee but not the one he gave $1 million dollars to, also during this past very cold winter a plumbing firm I will not name the outfit but I’ll give you the first letter of their name ‘B’ was repairing a water line break and had to dig up the road over to the house, however when they didn’t finish that day left the hole open causing sever water main breaks. 

The major repairs are now being done on Washington regarding this and hopefully the plumbing outfit will be paying the City for the work and not us taxpayers, also the pressure he put on his Party to not have any Republican to run against Democrat Madigan for Commissioner of Finance even when the Party had 2 qualified candidates that wanted to run for the position and well just for being Skippy who is like past President Coolidge “Silent Cal”,  we call him “Silent Skip”, although Skip does try to get into a discussion but  forgets what he is discussing 1 minute into talking and when he does discuss an item and he gets around the ooh’s and uhm’s and finally sounds like he might make a stand he reverts to voting along with Madigan & Matheisen.

Skip’s opponent is former DPW Director of Public Works and he did a good job while doing his job.  The one mark most people think Bill has is his last name, McTygue.  Bill’s brother Tom was a good Commissioner for years and the Skipper ran a successful election victory beating Tom McTygue.  However, Bill is his own man and he was involved with many popular and important projects.  The one thing noticed by City residents and tourists alike is the appearance of Downtown and how dirty and unkempt it is.  This is not good. Infrastructure was certainly updated during these years and won’t be a problem. Let’s do as John Stafford says and vote out a career politician and give a chance to someone who will probably be a better fit for the job and the City.

As for Madigan & Matheisen, their absolute disregard to the majority of citizens who have spoken on issues in the past 2 years and one who it appears wants to close businesses down and the M & M’s are the same two Commissioners who have gotten condescending and downright mean to citizens when they (citizens) are speaking, just about gives the nod for their seats to go to qualified opponents.

Of course everyone should thank all citizens who want to take their personal time to serve the City, there aren’t many and we do appreciate it.

So, here are our picks.

Mayor - Joanne Yepsen – she should continue to add to all the good projects she has done.

Commissioner of Finance – Ken Ivins, a former Commissioner who should be back in because of his knowledge and positive contact with citizens. It’s time to vote out one of two Commissioners who have gotten condescending and downright mean to citizens

Commissioner of Public Safety – Richard Wirth (it should have been Sarah Burger), it’s time to vote out one of two Commissioners who have gotten condescending and downright mean to citizens

Commissioner of Public Works – Bill McTygue – We need to get someone in that position who know what the heck is going on and one who will talk to, reply to and answer citizen’s questions directly.

Commissioner of Accounts – John Franck (running unopposed) ‘he can’t be beat even with an opponent.

Remember to vote, it is a right no one can take away from us, if you are going to be away get an absentee ballot.  

Election Day Tuesday November 3^rd, 6:00am – 9:00pm

Don’t complain about issues if you don’t vote.

DOES ANYBODY CARE?

Saratoga politics, does anybody really care?  The primary pitted a newcomer with good ideas to put in place against someone that campaigned from the Council table at meetings, saying things about his opponent while she couldn’t respond in kind at the meeting (this tactic by the Commissioner of PS is most likely illegal), but that doesn’t stop some on this Council.  The citizens of Saratoga have really no clue on what is happening to our City.  How many citizens go to meetings?  How many take the time to watch on line?  How many watch on local TV?  How many go to the site http://saratogaspringsny.swagit.com/city-council/ and watch the whole meeting or any part you want?  If you did, you would see a show worth sitting down with a bowl of popcorn and wouldn’t be able to stop laughing until after the meeting when you then become disgusted that those were the people voted in office to serve we the people.

People complain that Mayor Yepsen hasn’t gotten much done but she has and she would get more done if the 3 amigos would stop disagreeing with her just because of some idiotic personal thought placed in their heads.  Matheisen is just plain mean, the paper said Burger called to congratulate him on his primary win and his reply to that gesture was that “Miss Burger was not a good fit for the job.., this, after saying, “he would now reach out to Burger’s supporters, in keeping with Democratic Party values”.  I guess that is the response one gives when you have access to as much laughing gas you want.   Madigan is mean and is losing touch with reality and Skip, and well he is just Skip, looking like a deer in the headlights at every meeting.

One area that the City is losing income is the DPW used to have its own crew that would pour sidewalks in designated areas, the City would get grant money every year for doing this thereby making money doing the concrete work. As it stands now, Commissioner Scirocco hires out a firm to do the sidewalks not only giving up income to pay employees but to outsource work, he just doesn’t get it.  Look for yourself from past Council meetings how many times Scirocco hires outside engineers to perform jobs when the City pays big money for 2 City Engineers, I don’t think he gets it.  Skip also has his street ripped up new water & sewer lines run and then newly paved.  I asked a few neighbors if they had water or sewer problems and they said no, so what’s up Skip?

On the water front, the Bonacio water hookup fee forgiveness (over 1 million dollars) that we the citizens have to pay for as the Skipper changed the law so no fee is required so the cost falls on our backs, he just changed the Charter with the help of Madigan & Matheisen.

When the citizens were raising concerns that Bonacio was not going to pay that 1 million dollar fee, in a back room meeting attended by, Bonacio, Scirocco, Billy Benton, Donna Buckley, Sam Boardman &   Barbara Putnam it was decided that the City would not put pressure on Scirocco to pay it back, it looks like Skip had Sam Boardman sign a letter stating that Bonacio did not have to pay the City the 1 million. Only Skip or Tim Wales could sign a letter of this type and only after Council approval which Skip never brought the ‘deal’ before the Council.  The excuse from Scirocco that over ½ million dollars of improvements were done by Bonacio for the forgiveness of payment is bull skip.  These improvements were items that Bonacio HAD to do to get the permission to build.

The latest (2 weeks ago) the public received information from an Albany law firm that is being retained by some local developers because the Commissioner of Public Works has been charging certain developers a water hookup fee after he had the Charter changed not to charge these fees.   I would like to know, was the law changed to protect 1 developer and not everyone?  Also doesn’t Finance Commissioner Madigan have the responsibility to know if money is coming in for water hookup fees and inform Skip that he is breaking the law according to the Charter or is she allowing this and not performing her duties?  People, this is another potential lawsuit in the making, one which if the attorney is correct will result in the taxpayers paying out yet another bumbling by Madigan, Matheisen & Scirocco.

Why so many DPW workers working in Congress Park?  The last time I counted 5 people & 3 cleaners, this is a complete waste of man power.

Hey, good news.  It looks like the Hospital has taken a beautiful chunk of green space from the green belt on Myrtle Ave. for an Administration Bldg.  This West side property had one of the prettiest views around.  Where are the bleeding hearts that are trying to stop Saratoga National from building on their own land?  Could this be a case of double standard, Save the Greens or whatever you call yourselves?  On this topic, why does the eastern side of the Northway need a fire house and ambulance station on property in the green belt?  We have a fire Dept. that can answer calls already.  I don’t want my taxes going to pay for a minimum of 4 firemen (12 because you need 3 shifts) and ambulance people, let the Lake people pay for their own.  Wilma Koss and Nancy ‘Pitbull’ Goldberg will be glad to start a campaign for you to do so.

 Lastly, why does it take Matheisen 15 minutes to give a comeback after a person says something in the Public comment period?  Why not be like Skip and mumble out a few words and forget what you’re talking about?

REPUBLICAN PARTY IS FLUSHING ITSELF DOWN THE TOILET

So many topics, we’ll pick a few to write about.

First, if one waits long enough you can usually get to the bottom of the reasoning of someone.  Such is the case of ‘Hot Dog’ Eddie Miller, Gordon Boyd, the Independence Party and Eddie’s girlfriend.

If you remember the Independence Party with Chairman Miller and his back room buddy Gordon Boyd backed candidates Michele Madigan, Chris Matheisen & Skip Scirocco within hours of their announcing that they were running for their current Commissioner posts.  The so called political Party and its endorsements were made without one interview of the candidates or their opponents, such is the case when one wants something down the road.  Hot Dog Eddie’s girlfriend works for none other than Gordon Boyd and it is known that the Hot Dog man has his horse barn & business up for sale for some fast needed cash.  

The talk around town is that Eddie is looking to the Republican Party for a job handout and the way the Republican Party seems to be backing Madigan, Matheisen & Scirocco (remember Scirocco threatened retaliation against the Party in a Committee meeting if the Party endorsed Republican Joseph Di Geso for Commissioner of Finance) we can now see the thinking of Miller & Boyd’s decision to fast track the endorsements and the Republican Party’s backing of 3 Democrats (Scirocco is included in the quasi Democrat circle of Madigan, Matheisen).  

So, it looks like Ken Ivins will be the Republican candidate because he procured more than the number of signatures required to be on the ballot much to the disappointment of the Republican Party leadership and Skippy.  Madigan will have a formidable opponent.

Talking about Madigan, why is she making a big fuss about Yepsen using her campaign money for the Saratoga box?  It’s legal and Madigan knows it.  Madigan saying it is a political ploy is just insane.  She and Matheisen are losing credibility after each Council meeting and Madigan has become the BUTT of more jokes than any other Commissioner in Saratoga history.  She created her own political ploy by bringing the box issue to the TV news when it really is not an issue, although an issue she and Matheisen hoped to make the Mayor look bad but instead misfired in their faces, giving more good fodder to their opponents.  Poor Skip, he lost his credibility a while ago.

Just one more item, a few years ago Mayor Johnson & Deputy Sutton fired a building inspector (one could think it was because of lack of knowledge in his job).  Now, under CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS, Scirocco has hired this supposed dud as Director of Public Works, you can’t make this stuff up folks, only in Saratoga.  What are we becoming?

IT’S STILL THE SAME

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). 

THEY ARE RUINING OUR CITY!

This past Tuesday nights (June 2^nd) Council meeting shows what is wrong with the Councils majority namely the S&M’s.  S&M”s stands for Scirocco, Madigan & Matheisen.  So, what happened you ask?  If no one saw the meeting Madigan had a complete meltdown and embarrassed not only the City but herself big time.  I hope this is not the way she teaches her kids to behave when they don’t get their own way or someone calls her decision for what it is, pure bunk.  Now she is writing Letters to the Editor for Skip & Matheisen, signing their names to her letters.  Can't the boys write their own letters?

Here is the link and just click on Finance Department, sit back and watch in astonishment as Madigan melts down. 

http://saratogaspringsny.swagit.com/city-council/

Now whether you like or dislike Madigan you have to agree she acted in a bizarre and childlike way.  I don’t care who is running against her, she should lose and go away quietly (never quiet).  After her part of the meeting was over it was told to me she allegedly leaned over to Franck and whispered ‘you’re a dick’, maybe she forgot in her brain explosion his name is John.

The solar power law she wants changed is nothing more than an illusion to get the City Center parking lot built the way Baker would like it built, a Saratoga Monster.  She is going against the majority of citizen’s wishes and has behind her 2 favorite children, Skip Scirocco, Commissioner of DPW and Chris Matheisen, Commissioner of DPS.  We will now call Commissioner Madigan the Pied Piperess as she leads these two around very well and boy do they follow her.  In other words we would like her out of office.

During John Franck’s discussion he came up with a good idea.  The aforementioned property is worth at least $30 million dollars.  The City will make $20.00 (twenty dollars) over 20 years if Baker gets his votes from the S&M’s.  Franck argued why not start with a 2 story garage then have businesses on the Lake Ave. side that can generate income for the City in sales taxes etc., not to mention that it will create jobs.  But no, this wasn’t appealing to the 3 amigos.  They want big, big buildings in our inner core and want to give that piece of property away.  This will be a paid parking garage and Matheisen said that this would be the start of downtown paid parking.

Now we come to Commissioner Scirocco – He leads a protest within his own Party not to endorse any Republican to run against Democrat Madigan’s position.  This is so screwy that only a dog catcher could understand this.

Scirocco is the person that gave over 1 million dollars back to developers, yes he said they made 1 million dollars of upgrades but the upgrades were required to get the projects into development.  Then he holds a public hearing at a Council meeting on changing the law to drop water hookup fees costing the City about $250,000.00 - $400,000.00 per year, he holds a vote the same night which is very unusual and the law change is passed 3-2.  The best part of this is that because of this loss of income Skip had to raise the water fee for the citizens of Saratoga.  So, he thinks more of the builders than he does the citizens.

The next brain fart he has is the 4^th of July .  The group of citizens especially Kate Jarosh who has been heading the 4^th of July celebrations and has brought the celebration up as a showcase around the nation has been squashed by this Commissioner (Scirocco) as has our celebrated First Night.  

The 4^th of July celebration will still go on but using Congress Park was the best of the best.  Saratoga’s First Night has also gained a very great reputation but this year celebrations will not be able to use the Casino.  Scirocco, in his infinite decision making has booked 2 weddings for both the 4^th of July and New Year’s Eve.  I wonder if he was looking at a Chinese calendar when he booked these events.  These celebrations belong to the citizens of Saratoga and the multitude that come into town for each of these and blocked off every calendar the City uses.  He justifies his Karnack the Great thinking by saying ‘the City is making $3,000.00 each night’.  Well folks, he just told the citizens to f*@k off.

Flowers – N. Fox Jewelers wanted to plant their own flowers in front of their store on Broadway and received permission to do so by Comm. Scirocco but BARBERRY BUSHES?  BARBERRY BUSHES are an invasive species.  The bushes also have thorns, what will happen if a little tot falls into a bush?  The City should check this out and have the bushes removed. 

The State Attorney’s office and the Comptroller’s office are still in City Hall gathering information on these water deals. In other words we would like him out of office for a much better City and hope he follows the Pied Piperess out the door.

The Commissioner of Public Safety, Chris Matheisen is another one of the three that the clock has struck its final blow and he should also go.  He has already lost 1 lawsuit by not turning reports in regarding inspections of public buildings (17 in fact).  He also wants to close businesses down in Saratoga and may be responsible for one business owner to lose a buyer because for his penchant of limiting bar hours. 

Now owners of these establishments pay a hefty price for a license and a high price for insurance.  They also complied with his wishes to install computers and use trained security guards (bouncers).  Still he wants to cut back hours of operation and makes no bones about it, even making the looniest decision of creating a “Night Club District”. 

I now heard that in his campaign literature he is for the bar industry.  He also voted against the Police contract because of a 2 1/2 % raise instead of a 2% raise and he was joined in tossing the contract with none other than Madigan & Scirocco (who by the way has health benefits for life for being the City’s dog catcher).

What you have to understand is that most restaurants and bars or ‘Night Clubs’? close before 2 am but that is their choice.  I ask the Commissioner, why try and destroy someone’s livelihood?  Commissioner you have way too much police presence on Caroline Street, get some of them around the City, they are only a microphone call away.

All three need to go before we ask ourselves in the near future, what happened to Saratoga, it was such a nice place to live.

THE CONTINUING SAGA OF INVESTIGATION AND MORE

Where to start?  Well let’s start with the first Comptroller’s report.  Commissioner Matheisen got spanked.  He not only got spanked but did not report to the State like he was mandated to, and according to the report, the lack of his compliance put our children’s lives in potential danger.  I’ll let you read the article so you can get the particulars as it is a 15 page report.  The whole report can be found by going to this link posted by Dennis Yusko: http://blog.timesunion.com/saratogaseen/comptroller-audits-saratoga-springs-fire-safety/24114/

If this is a precursor of the many current investigations by the Comptrollers & Attorney General’s office the Commissioners being investigated, (yes still being investigated as both State offices are still in City Hall almost daily), those Commissioners could be in big trouble (most likely, Madigan, Scirocco & Matheisen, according to sources).  There is also a legal battle over the Collimer lot that is being waged.

The day that Bill McTygue announced that he was challenging Skip Scirocco for DPW Commissioner, Scirocco was endorsed by Eddie ‘hot dog’ Miller and Gordon Boyd’s club the Independence party (small p on purpose).  The Independence party line position on the ballot drops every election year due to the fact that voters are continually not voting on that line.  Yes, they may have a party enrollment number but that number is way over inflated.  Why, you ask?  Well Independence sounds a lot like Independent and the concept too many people is that they are the same.  Independent means that you are registered as a no Party affiliation while the Independence party is an organized political Party (except in Saratoga Springs, where it is a power tool of a few people like the two named above rather than organized.  I don’t think they even announce when their interview process is, if they have any.  So beware of any of Miller or Boyd’s endorsements and how they came to be.

Mayor Yepsen finally announced her endorsement.  I’ll get into some thoughts after this comment.  Commissioner Michele Madigan was seen sitting at the bar texting for the whole hour, most likely back to her cohorts at City Hall and to Eddie ‘hot dog’ Miller’s girlfriend who is her best friend and wine tasting buddy.

Yepsen listed her accomplishments which are pretty long given the fact that Madigan, Scirocco and Matheisen fought her at every turn and tried their best to keep her from accomplishing anything.  Listed accomplishments were a 1.6 million dollar in federal funding for the Geyser Road pedestrian trail (heck, Scirocco gave this much money away to contractors alone), completion of the long delayed waterfront park on Saratoga Lake (6 years delayed), the City’s success in finding housing for 18 homeless veterans, the launch of the Code Blue program which the City desperately needed as most other Cities have such a program.  While you may or may not like her, she gets things done and with one member of the Council to work with (John Franck) it is amazing she got all this done.

The same day as Yepsen announced, the hot dog & Boyd announced that their club was endorsing Yepsen’s opponent John Safford.  Safford who is quoted in the gazette as saying “.. voters will have a clear choice between the status quo politicians, or a new beginning under a longtime businessman and U.S. Army veteran”.  I guess helping homeowner associations and being in the Army qualifies one to automatically take away a sitting Mayor’s accomplishments and last time I checked the status quo in Saratoga is the Republican Party, however you have to give him credit for stepping up to the plate to run as it looked like the Republicans did not have a candidate for the post.  

I am a member of the Republican Party and I am quite frankly embarrassed by what has been going on within the inner sanctum.  The Party had a good young, qualified professional financial person ready to run against Commissioner Madigan.  The Committee held their meeting and the gentleman gave a great speech and handled himself well, then the crap started flying starting with (in her dreams, Deputy) Donna Buckley, then Scirocco states that he works well with the Democrat Madigan and why run a Republican against her who may not see eye to eye with him, huh?  It is also said that Scirocco’s wife had something to say but that’s not important.  Scirocco, was also said to comment that if the new candidate was endorsed he would not help any Republican candidate.  This last line can’t be confirmed but why the Republican Party kick Scirocco out and let him become a Democrat is beyond me.  Remember it was Scirocco who with Madigan eliminated the water hookup fee because we had many sources to get that lost income and then Skip raises our water bills, in the end he gives the deals to the builders and sticks it to us, the tax payers.

Do you want to run for office in the near future?  If you are a young professional, forget it, you would be better off running as a Democrat, Independent or the Party of Mickey Mouse. 

UNCIVIL DISOBEDIENCE

It was writer Richard Wright who famously stated that 'all literature is a form of protest.' It was his friend James Baldwin who famously replied to him by saying, 'perhaps, but not all protest is literature.'

It is James Baldwin's retort that resonates with today's dysfunctional culture.

The pithy retort of Baldwin's 'not all protest is literature' reminds me of a one Adam Rupeka.

Mr. Rupeka is the individual that most recently drove his car up from Troy to Saratoga Springs to bait a Saratoga Springs police officer by giving him the finger. Of course the officer was offended (and who wouldn't be) and pulled Mr. Rupeka over and pepper sprayed Rupeka in the face. And then Rupeka was arrested.I think he got what he asked for. I liken it to ordering a well-done steak and then complaining that the steak is too tough.

It used to be that alpha-males punched beta-males like Rupeka in the face when they behaved inappropriately. It was a perfect Darwinian arrangement. Assholes like Rupeka got a beatdown for their anti-social behavior. As a result, our law enforcement personnel could attend to more important matters and our court systems wasn't clogged with petty issues such as this.

In my humble opinion, Mr. Rupeka is a reactionary pretending to be a revolutionary. This is absurd to those who are paying attention. He is merely part of the lunatic fringe trying his hand at activism. He is no James O'Keefe. Rupeka's behavior is uncivil and is an affront to Henry David Thoreau's Civil Disobedience.

Truth be told, Saratoga Springs has always been known for having a rogue police force. The problem with having some bad apples on the police force is with their union which is one of the most powerful in the country. It is exactly why I have advocated against unions for a long time. All unions seem to do, regardless of the industry is to protect bad employees.

I do not think that officer Nathan Baker should fired for pepper-spraying Mr. Rupeka. The problem that law enforcement faces is that so many citizens (especially in the black community) not only do not respect those in law enforcement, they no longer fear those in law enforcement. Therein lies the real problem. Police officers are killed in the line of duty everyday in this country. Are they killed by people who are afraid of them? No they are not. They are killed by people who have no regard for human life and no regard for their fellow Americans.

Our culture is broken and is in need of fixing. Too many nowadays think it's okay to break the law, disrespect others and are practitioners of being insulted and outraged merely for the sake of being insulted and outraged. Gimme a break.

Giving law enforcement the finger isn't protest. It is immature and stupid. Immature male behavior has always been a component of American life. There are way too many Adam Rupeka's taking up space in the culture. They should be shunned and not celebrated. We need to bring back respect, civility, and the idea of civic duty back to American culture.

Does Mr. Rupeka have a job? What does he do? Is he yet another adult-man-child living in his mothers basement and as a result, has too much time on his hands? Does he volunteer in his community of Troy? I am guessing he doesn't. He is a fraud and an imposter in a culture that seems to idolize such idiocy. I believe his fifteen minutes of fame is mercifully over.  

THE CAPTAIN AMERICA TEAM

As stated in the past, there are at least 3 contributors or superhero's as I like to call us that post to this blog.  We hope you enjoy the diversity and the responses they provoke.

THE BEGINNING OF THE END FOR SARATOGA

Saratoga has expanded everything except its roadways. The new traffic light on South Broadway near the Hilton Garden Inn is already creating major traffic jams and racing season isn't even here yet. The light was installed as a way for truckers to turn off Route 9 and Route 50 but it is problematic at best. Will things improve when the traffic light is finally installed at the intersection of Lincoln Avenue and Route 50? Perhaps but I believe it won't be enough.

There are already too many vehicles on our roads as it is and if we have a triple crown winner this year (would be nice) this town will have even more track-goers but the question remains; can we handle it all? I think we are about to collapse under our own weight and it should be a concern for all citizens and residents of Saratoga Spring and those who live in the surrounding areas.

We need to update our infrastructure immediately and I was under the impression that's what our tax money is for. What are we waiting for? Building new hotels for conventioners and tourists is fine but we need to expand the roadways. Some streets in Saratoga like Franklin Street should be alternate side parking only and South Franklin should have no street parking as this artery is just too busy and too narrow currently.

We still are in need of left turn arrows at many of our intersections. What is the plan for our city? Does anyone know? Does anyone have any ideas? We've already waited too long. The horse has already left the barn as they say.

THE UNDERBELLY OF SARATOGA

There are certainly more positive things about Saratoga Springs than negative. It's picturesque beauty is second to none in the Capital District. However, there are issues that need to be attended to and resolved before they further spiral out of control.

In a previous post I wrote about the homeless epidemic we have here in the city that our leaders seem to not have a handle on. The other related issue to that is the heroin epidemic that is taking our storybook city by storm. The lack of affordable housing and lack of decent paying jobs are another critical issue that continue to plague the city.

Our city is generous in a variety of ways; from the soup kitchen across the street from the Batchelor Mansion and the various food pantries are certainly helpful but is it effective in the bigger scheme of things? I'm not sure what the point is if a city will provide you food but not adequate jobs or affordable housing. The ones who have become homeless have the added burden of moving in and out of various local motels like the Community Court, the Gateway and the dreaded Brentwood paid for by DSS aka you and me the taxpayer. The Brentwood and Gateway are dumps for those who live there but they are especially lucrative for those who own them. Afterall, poverty has always been big business in America, just not for those experiencing it.

Jefferson and Vanderbilt Terrace, which hasn't been a bad neighborhood since the 1980's has had an uptick of crime as of late. Drug raids and all night parties have become the norm over the past six months which is ironic since they just got rid of the mini-police station over there ostensibly because it wasn't needed.

What are our city leaders doing about this issue? What should become of Jefferson and Vanderbilt Terrace? Is it time to send it elsewhere? Certainly this area sits on a prime piece of real estate that could be better used for people that are contributing financially to the community, something it clearly isn't doing now. I have no issue with single mother's who are just trying to live and work three jobs but clearly this isn't the current demographic in this neighborhood. Just take a look at some of the cars over there. If they can afford expensive cars how is it that they qualify for low-income housing?

We need to think about where we want this city to be in five years and even ten years. Do we want our city to be comprised of extremely wealthy people and those who are living lives of abject poverty who are at the mercy of the ruling classes? That doesn't like a very nice place to live to me but that's just my humble opinion. What is your opinion and more importantly are your solutions?

A TALE OF TWO CITIES

I can't be the only person to notice an ever increasing population of homeless and transient individuals in downtown Saratoga Springs. We need to get a handle on it before it gets worse. Where are our city leaders on this issue?

Two weeks ago a couple was robbed at gunpoint on Connolly Lane. There have also been other incidents of people being harassed/ followed in our local parking garages and most recently a certain religious organization on Broadway was robbed of cash and gift cards.

The leaders of the community need to make a stand; either provide affordable housing or send the homeless packing to other municipalities.

One of the many perks of living in Saratoga is the fact that one can walk around the city and not be panhandled or threatened with violence. This reality is quickly changing here in Saratoga Springs.

Saratoga is increasing becoming a town of 'rich only'. Having a variety of people in any city makes for more culturally enriching experience for all involved. I for one am tired of the 'Manhattanization' of Saratoga Springs.

We have expanded everything except the roadways and this town has some glaring weaknesses in an otherwise near perfect family oriented city. The most glaring weaknesses are still a crappy hospital, a rogue police force and lack of affordable housing. The cause and effect is very real and has already happened in bigger cities such as Manhattan and San Francisco where it is currently a 'non-millionaires need not apply' mentality.

We have much to offer in our city in the country. The homeless situation will most certainly worsen if we continue to ignore it. The city leaders need to ask themselves two very important questions: “What is right”? And.... “What is just”? Our city leaders must come up with a definitive plan as to how this city intends on moving forward without selling out and without compromising Saratoga's integrity.

THE END OF A PARTY?

Last week the Republican Party met to interview the gentleman that intended to run against Michele Madigan.  I was told that he is well qualified for the position and gave a very good speech.  However, when he was finished, Donna Buckley jumped up and started screaming at the fellow and that was followed by some harsh words by Mrs. Scirocco.  Skip then rose and finally put more than 5 words together and pledged that if the Party endorsed this candidate he would not help in any way to get him elected saying that he has a great relationship working with Madigan, at this point the meeting was closed and everyone fled the room.  The gentleman now feels he doesn't want to challenge Madigan because of lack of support from his own Party.  It seems this is one example that  Madigan has turned to the Republican Party.  Only in Saratoga!