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!

UNBELIEVABLE, YOU COULD WRITE A BOOK

Well, the saga continues.  Madigan, Mathiesen & Scirocco keep the circus going at Council meetings and embarrass the City even more.  Along with listening to meetings on TV, watching on the internet and watching it on TV’s Look station more and more people are seeing what a joke these 3 are.

This past Tuesday the PBA contract came up for a vote.  The new City Attorney who was chosen by the Council had explained that the PBA deal before them (whose last contract expired in 2012) was negotiated with both sides giving and taking, which is considered good negotiating.  At the last Council meeting in Executive session the Commissioners were told that the negotiations were done and the deal hammered out.  However, since the Mayor was involved in the negotiations as were representatives from the PBA, the three Amigos would not have voted for it even if the Police worked for free.  Scirocco was heard mumbling that he might support the deal if they would renegotiate which will not happen and this stalemate caused by the three would send the negotiations into binding arbitration.  This is not only a very large expense for the City $100,000.00 for an outside attorney to go before an arbiter but also cost the PBA the same amount and if the arbiter sides with the PBA it could cost even more for the binding contract.  So, everything you heard about how past City Attorney Sarah Berger would not work with the Council is bull coming from the mouths of the 3 amigos, they are not even taking the advice of the current City Attorney.  We need to replace these 3 or hope the Attorney General’s report along with the State Comptroller’s report take them out sooner.

Saratoga Springs is considering charging street performers $20.00 to play songs, sing songs or drum along Broadway.  This ‘concern’ after years of performers doing their thing is a lousy idea.  The impetus of this law comes from the Chamber of Commerce and the merchants on Broadway, although the owner of Lillian’s asked some performers to play in front of his establishment.  The Commission on the Arts does not have 1 performer on the board although many asked at the public hearing Tuesday night.  It is funny that every speaker and there were many that spoke on this issue was against the City passing the new law but not 1 business owner or an officer from the Chamber showed up to complain.  The people have spoken, don’t pass the law.  There should be a patrolman walking the Broadway beat anyway and he/she could weed out the druggies and drunk players that may be causing any problems.  Remember when a policeman walked a beat?  They all don’t need to be in cars, do they?

I was driving down Broadway the other day and noticed a building in Congress Park and said ‘what the hell’?  It was the Casino.  The City on Sirocco’s orders cut down some older non diseased beautiful trees only to hire an outside firm and pay them $240,000.00 to re-landscape that area.  Why not save the taxpayers money ?  Commissioner Scirocco and have the City do the work?  It seems that you cry that you don’t have enough work force to keep up with the work now but for years we only had 1 cleaner for the Casino and you added 2 more, why?  I don’t think the facility has had an increase of 3X what it was.

Before I get to the Republican candidate who announced his intention for the Mayor’s post just a few more comments on info from previous Council meetings.

At the last Council meeting we listened to the Public Works report given by mumbles Scirocco.  He mentioned the many water line breaks and I can understand that.  He mentioned one specifically that I picked up on and that was a break on Washington Street.  Now if he is going to make us believe that that was a normal break and the citizens have to pay for the labor and money incurred (we did pay City workers overtime to repair the break) he must think Saratogians are stupid.  A section of the road was dug up by B & B Plumbing work on a house off of the main.  B & B (Bonacio & Benton) did not cover the pipe back up overnight and in the below zero weather the pipe burst.  I hope B&B paid the City back all the expense but that would be foolish to think that after Skip gave Bonacio a $1,000,000.00 gift.

The transfer station on Weibel Ave has 2 busy days, Saturday & Monday.  After I don’t know how many years our brilliant DPW Commissioner decided to close the place on Monday’s.  Smart move Skip.

Also, from a City Hall source, on the County’s operation of recycled trash, the County receives 80% of the generated income, the hauler gets 20% and the City $0.00.  Why does this matter you ask?  Well even if you didn’t ask I am going to tell you.  Remember I said it was the County’s part, the County gets the income but the City has to provide a worker to run that part of the facility, fill out the required County & State forms all while we Saratoga taxpayers pay the employee’s salary & benefits.  This is another sign of gross mismanagement by Commissioner Scirocco

Let’s just touch a little on John Safford, the Republican nominee for Mayor in the Nov. election.  I think it’s great that people make a run for office but we have seen what a mess people that will not learn or work together like a Skip Scirocco who was a former dog catcher (**there is nothing wrong with dog catchers, so don’t think I am trying to denigrate him for that), or a Dentist, especially a good Dentist (see ** above) however when you are in office you cannot play the games that Madigan, Mathiesen and Scirocco play and think the City can move in a forward motion.

Safford by all accounts is a nice guy whose only interest in City government (in his own words) “began when he needed to discuss a concern he had regarding his work with chaplains as a trustee at Pine Grove Camp.”  He also said he realized that he would be able to work with these boards and that his current work with homeowners associations has given him the insight on how to run a City.  Good luck with that.

WHEN PIGS FLY!

As the Saratogian wrote, the weather finally cooperated for a while so the Mayor could deliver her State of the City address.  The address did not contain many surprises but did give a recap of her first year in office despite all the shenanigans that Scirocco, Madigan & Methiesen pulled to make her look the fool in 2014.  The only thing these 3 did was to show how incompetent and disrespectful they how bad they looked in a public setting.  Scirocco should have been out of office 4 years ago and Madigan and Metheisen after their first term.  In Madigan’s case if not for her Deputy and the permanent staff in her Department she would not be able to add 1+1, but shame on us for reelecting them.

The investigation that is going on now at City Hall regarding the improper absolving and handling of the water hookup fees is kicking into another gear, employees are still being called out of City Hall to be interviewed (some for the second & third time)  and it looks like more individuals are involved than before.  Also, the investigation into the possible incorrect legal notice on the Collamer lot bidding process is still ongoing.  One source in City Hall has said that the investigation could be moving into other areas that may have potential problems rearing their heads soon.  The State Comptroller’s and the State Attorney General’s offices are doing the investigations.

Where oh! where is Marilyn Rivers?   Marilyn, are you still working in City Hall?  Instead of promoting yourself to Scirocco for the soon to be filled Director of Public Works you should be doing your job as Risk and Safety Manager.  The trucks that are not city vehicles are still being parked on City property (you may need one of them when moving your office out of its current location), have you checked to make sure that these vans, small trucks and box trucks are not leaking any fluids that we the taxpayers will have to pay for clean up?  Marilyn & Skip, there are also quite a few old trucks that are awaiting auction parked at the ice rink, the same question here - have you checked to make sure that any of these vehicles are not leaking any fluids that we the taxpayers will have to pay for clean up?  Will you look into this?  WHEN PIGS FLY!

Marilyn, I also think that all City vehicles are supposed to be identified with a logo that they are Saratoga Springs.  The Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner’s vehicles (no, not Donna Buckley’s) are not marked, come on get with it, please.  If this is how you operate Risk & Safety how will you do as Director of PW, or for that matter, if not you then current Commissioner mouth piece and acting Deputy Commissioner Donna Buckley?

 Marilyn, another problem you have ignored for years.  The pickup trucks that have trailers hooked up to them to pick up leaves, grass clippings etc. are over the legal weight limit for the driver not to have a CDL driver’s license and I was informed that they don’t have such silences.  Also, I was made aware that the employee who drives the large loader that removes snow etc. has no driver’s license.  What is the Risk to us and is that Safe?  Will you look into this?  WHEN PIGS FLY!
  

Commissioner Scirocco, I have noticed that there are tractor trailers that are going in empty into the compost facility and leaving fully loaded with branches, leaves etc. that we use to make our own compost, are you letting another outfit take our materials to process and make money or are you doing this so our citizens in Saratoga can get free compost this year?  Are you going to save our citizens money?  WHEN PIGS FLY!

Commissioner Scirocco, another question.  Why are there 2 City employee at the landfill Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday’s but only 1 employee on Saturday & Monday when they are the busiest days?  Nobody likes to work weekends but you should put 2 employees there on the busiest days.  Will the situation change this year?  WHEN PIGS FLY!

As I said,  as I was listening to the Mayor’s speech yesterday I felt it was sad that a person tries to do good for the City and is flanked at the Council table by those who would like to see her fail and thereby taking us down with them.  Will this year be different?  WHEN PIGS FLY!

We won’t get into Commissioner Mathiesen’s views which seem personal, regarding bar closing times, we’ll wait to see if he was wishing on a star or continues to want to deprive local businesses of making income.  Will he change his mind?  WHEN PIGS FLY!

If you missed a Council meeting or want to watch any part of it, you can catch the rerun of the meetings by departments by going to   http://saratogaspringsny.swagit.com/city-council/

Below is a picture from the Saratogian of the Commissioners listening intently to the Mayor’s speech.  Look at the captivating looks Madigan & Mathiesen have as the Mayor gives her remarks, they do look interested don’t they?  WHEN PIGS FLY!

JUST SOME SHORT NEWS

I read Commissioner Madigan’s Readers View and her grandiose plans in Sunday’s paper.  First of all she wants to appoint a Revenue committee to look for current and potential revenue sources.  Ms. Madigan, it is because of your votes against revenue sources that may put the City in a perilous position.  The ‘new majority’ of yourself, Scirocco and Mathiesen keep putting the City in embarrassing positions where Council meetings have become a three ring circus.  I think the three of you will be facing strong opposition come this Fall and deservedly so.  You were a very vocal proponent of getting rid of a major revenue source which were the water hookup fees.  Did your comrade in arms ever tell the citizens at a Council meeting that a developer pays $3,000.00 for the first water hookup then $1,000.00 for every unit after that (not $3,000.00 each), did you or your other 2 partners ever tell the citizens at a Council meeting that most of the work Bonacio did to offset that $880,000.00 was part of the approval process to get his project off the ground?  You, most of all could have saved that revenue source and voted to table Siroccos’ plan to push the motion through and ask that the language be changed so the REVENUE could be used in an area that DPW is lacking in water upgrades.  I’m sure that there is an enormous amount of work that could be done using that money for water & sewer improvements along with the ‘new’ revenue source you and your buddy set up.  Remember this, Commissioner Scirocco is already raping homeowners with a special tax that went from $12.00 to $48.00 on their water & sewer bill and a large increase in water taxes during his 6 year reign.

Another of Ms. Madigan’s beauties is the Spa Solar Park that you envision, which undoubtedly will be given to none other than your Deputies husband who just happens to be in the solar business.  Also, it seems that the ‘other department’ was smarter than you as some of these allegations you refer to seem to be gaining steam with the State.  I do hope you ‘3 Jalapeños’ will still be around at election time.

What’s with the City trucks plowing private driveways?  I drove by Roohan’s apartments on East Ave. yesterday (Monday) and saw a City Truck coming down the driveway with its plow down and also clean up the scraper bank at the bottom.  I wish Commissioner Scirocco would tell us how we can put an order in to have our driveways done.

Does anyone think that at $300.00 per year for the daily paper that the Saratogian is a good deal?   Almost all the daily papers start out with State and National news, why not Saratoga news the State & National inside?

Just an FYI, John Tighe’s sentencing on computer hacking charges was postponed.  The report in November said he could face up to 1 year in jail for those charges when sentenced on Jan. 7^th.  He still faces a trial or a plea deal on child porn charges.  We’ll see what happens.

More to come in time.

SCIROCCO THROWING THE CITY UNDER THE BUS?

Is Skip Scirocco throwing Saratoga Springs and the taxpayers under the bus?  The granting of a million dollar waiver of water hookup fees is and will continue to burden taxpayers with higher water and sewer bills.  Since Scirocco has been in office one of the water charges has risen from $12 to $48 and will continue to escalate until these developers who gained Sirocco’s favor pays the City the money they owe.

The matter of how Scirocco runs the waiver of fees and his lame brain excuses for doing so is now in the hands of the NY State Attorney General’s hands.  The AG’s department was in City Hall weeks ago removing all relevant materials and Scirocco was warned by the AG and in a City Hall memo not to shred or remove any documents that are the property of the City’s.  It is alleged that after this warning Sirocco’s son was seen carrying out a box of materials from his father’s office,  again this was alleged to have been seen by a City Hall employee who has reported the action.

A few Friday’s ago Commissioners Madigan & Mathiesen drove down together to Albany to be interviewed by someone in the AG’s office.  Remember that Madigan last year had said that she audited the ‘supposed’ hookup fee waivers and found nothing wrong but recently has admitted that maybe she didn’t go deep enough in her audit.  This sounds like a great Commissioner of Finance.  Hopefully sometime soon we will find out what happened and why Scirocco gave these waivers when the developers didn’t even pass the 1^st requirement of having to install 12” water mains.

The trio of Madigan, Mathiesen and Scirocco are starting to sound like a bunch of out of control puppets at Council meetings.  Obviously these three have formed an alliance to make the Mayor look bad and they give her a hard time as often as they can.  Commissioner Madigan, thank God you have Christine Gilmet-Brown in your office or you would not be half the successful Commissioner you think you are.

The reason I mention the three Commissioners forming a ban is because since early last year they have decided that 1. They do not like the Mayor and 2. They want to shift any control of the Mayor’s office into their own. 

I was at this past Tuesday’s Council meeting and what a circus it was, well the second circus after the Sustainable Saratoga clan rallied against PUD’s and the desperate need to ban plastic bags in the City.  The group is slowly becoming the minority voice of the majority and we better turn out and speak up or they will get their way on every issue they dream up.  Politicians vote on issues depending on how many people show up and exert pressure at meetings.  Anyway, the second circus was during the Mayor’s portion of the meeting.  Through a technicality 3 Housing Authority Board members seats were deemed vacant by State law because the appointing Commissioner at the time (Mayor Johnson) did not inform the appointees that they had to sign an oath of office form which next to tying your shoes is the easiest thing to do.  So, Mayor Yepsen has the right as every other previous Mayor had, to fill these positions.  Yepsen being the most transparent Mayor in Saratoga’s history now advertises commission & committee seats up for appointment and chooses the appointments from the list, which by the way any citizen of Saratoga Springs can be a part of.  Well, that did not sit right with the 3 Musketeers and they argued why they were not informed of the replacements.  Scirocco went as far as saying he hoped ‘this isn’t a power grab’ and that the Charter should be changed so that all appointments have to be passed by the Council.  Again the asinine thinking of Scirocco even when Johnson made his 11^th hour mass appointments which usually goes to the incoming Mayor, his lips were sealed as they are 99% of the time unless he in stammering at Council meetings.  He was joined at the lip (yes lip) with Scott Johnson for 6 years and as Johnson systematically never reappointed a Democrat to a seat, he filled the seats with friends and Party members and did we ever and I mean ever hear 1 word out of Sirocco’s mouth admonishing Johnson, or Madigan & Mathiesen for that matter?  At the meeting Madigan and Mathiesen uttered the words that they want to be informed on who the Mayor is going to appoint, I say why?  It seems to me that the three horseman of death want to be the ones to grab power and by banding together they feel they will become 3 larger kings of their domains.  Tuesday night’s meeting was one of the most embarrassing meetings for Scirocco, Mathiesen and Madigan that I ever witnessed and by the way the Mayor did reappoint one of the SSHA board members that were removed and he just happened to be a Republican.

A very big circus atmosphere in the old chamber Tuesday night and 3 clowns highlighted the evening.

Next up, a look at the increasing number of working supervisors Scirocco has appointed at inflated salaries and how many DPW workers these new supervisors oversee.