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?