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.
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• ·         A new picnic table area along Union Avenue, replacing the parking area now used by owners and trainers.
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• ·         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."
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• ·         Moving the jockey quarters from the administration building to the Paddock.
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• ·         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’
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• ·         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). 

WHAT'S GOING ON?

The new Mayor has set an agenda for her term of hard work for all citizens, for getting things done and for breaking down the barriers that the previous administration had put up as a barrier between themselves and the everyday citizens.  It looks like the ‘good old boy network’ here in Saratoga has been put in moth balls for a while.  The best move so far has been the code blue she helped install in the City and the second was the removal of Clifford Van Wagner as head of the Planning Board.

Also, I am glad that she and the Council haven’t and hopefully won’t take a vote on the sitting of the Casino in Saratoga Springs, let the State Committee do their work.

Saratogian’s hear all the time from the Save Saratoga group about the 58%.  I will tell you now that if a vote were taken today it would be 50-50 or less than 50% for those against casino in Saratoga.  I have heard from many people that voted against Proposition 1 and have changed their mind since it passed, that they would rather have the Casino here than in another community close by.  The worries of Save Saratoga (a) HIGHER HOMELESSNESS is happening at an alarming rate without the Casino, (b) INCREASED GAMBLING ADDICTION, (most of the players will be bussed in and those who visit and stay in hotels will certainly take advantage of our downtown and restaurants), and the problem gambling issue can be addressed by the fine agency we have now in The Prevention Council.  (c) HIGHER CRIME – take a look in the papers, it is accelerating already. There is no worse gambling addiction than horse betting and I have never heard a peep about helping to control this affliction here.  Downtown merchants shouldn’t worry because if at least 20% of the people drawn to Saratoga by the Casino shop or eat downtown, that would be 20% more than now.

The water issue is another issue that seems to be going back and forth in Council meeting discussions.  The Commissioner said we have enough water for emergency conditions and that the back up sources are able to pump enough water to make up the difference in case we need it.  The other side has said that according to a DEC study the Bog Meadow wells cannot pump enough water to fill a water truck daily.  The Geyser wells are going bad as residents say the water pressure is quite bad.  The study done a few years back should be updated if only to give us the number of g/p/h can our existing wells and lake can pump.

A fact that all Saratogian’s should be worried about was discussed on a radio show I listen to.  Carrie Woemer lost a bid for our Assembly seat in November against Tony Jordan, who was also running for Washington County DA and gave up his Assembly seat on 12/31/13 leaving our District without representation.  Special elections have been called for by the 11 Districts without representation but have fallen on the deaf ears of Andrew Cuomo.  The reason could be because some of the elections (of Senate seats) if won by Republicans could give the GOP the majority, which our Democratic Governor won’t allow.  It should stir us up to let the Governor know we want representation as very important issues will be decided this term.  Save Saratoga and Destination Saratoga should come together on this issue of representation for Saratoga as well as the communities in our District.