As promised, here's a link to an on-line Petition addressed to the casino siting board. Here's a chance to tell that Board AND the Town Board that you don't appreciate the shady business associated with the way that the dubious "invitation" was extended to casino developers. There's a comment section on the petition too, so have at it.
http://chn.ge/1v4SAei
There's a "hot" link to the Petition on the right. Just click on "Petition against The Casino at East Greenbush"
Dear Gadfly,
ReplyDeleteThere's an article on the Times-Union Website, written by James Odato, entitled "Joint Venture on East Greenbush Casino Project includes Churchill Downs."
Here's a direct quote from the last paragraph of the article.
"Town Supervisor Keith A. Langley did not return a call for comment."
Not very good Mr. Langley, not very good at all...
Let's get enough signatures so Mr. "the resolution is the resolution" Langley is compelled to comment!!
One of the things I'm most gratified and excited about is that this issue of siting a casino in East Greenbush has surfaced a whole new "constituency" in the Town. Some of us who have been labeled "reformers" and "gadflys" have joined with a whole bunch of new folks. And the political "hacks" in town still think they are just dealing with the same group of us who they label as the people who sit in the back row at Board meetings. Big surprise. You really screwed this one up this time. That research by Tina on property values on the previous thread is just one example of the additional fire power you're up against from now on. They're committed and they're smart and they don't like to be jerked around. Bye, bye!!
ReplyDeleteIf Rensselaer gets the casino I just wonder how agreeable the council will be after everyone getting their collective asses shot off for this. Of course they will all play the blame game and who knows you might see all of them try to rat each other out.
ReplyDeleteI was just wondering, when can I get to ride in the hot air balloon that the casino is bringing to East Greenbush?
ReplyDeleteSince they keep showing these balloons in their pictures. Does every resident get a free ride in the hot air balloons?
Somebody needs to make some signs and put them out in different neighborhoods?
ReplyDeleteSigns are made. If you want one, e-mail me at eggadfly@yahoo.com and I'll get you one.
DeleteThe Rensselaer County Legislature is in favor of the casino in EG. That being said, shouldn't our 4 Legislatures be held responsible as well? Not one of them has spoken out for the PEOPLES' voices to be heard, NOT ONE. They are:
ReplyDeletePhil Danaher (also the EG Planning Brd attorney)
Leon Fiacco (NG resident and also owns commercial property on Rt. 4)
Kelly Hoffman (NG resident and btw Kelly---there are NG residents working with EG residents that are opposed. They don't want it either.)
Phil Bayley (Poestenkill resident and involved in commercial contracting)
EACH of THOSE 4 should be held as accountable as the EG TOwn Board because they County is shoving this down our throats and our 4 Leg Reps are nowhere to be found. Pretty lousy! They should be voted out when their terms expire as well.
@ 10:50 PM,
ReplyDeleteYou make some excellent points. However the County Legislators aren't up for re-election until 2017.
Our focus should be on those who are running in 2015 particularly Supervisor Keith "the resolution is the resolution" Langley. Mr. Langley is the only full time member of the Town Board and serves as the Town's Chief Financial Officer.
As such, Mr. Langley should be well aware of the many negative financial impacts of a Casino in East Greenbush. Why won't he comment?
Dear Don,
ReplyDeleteI commend to your readers' attentions the very well done letter to the Editor, written by Pete Stenson, appearing on page 28 of today's Advertiser. Pete raises a number of serious questions regarding the process behind the siting of the proposed East Greenbush Casino. Whether people are for, against, or just not sure about the casino, Pete's comments are right on point.
Kudos to Pete for putting it together.
All the best,
Tom
Tom sent me a correction....it's page 30 in the Advertiser.
DeleteTo AnonymousMay 15, 2014 at 11:03 AM;
ReplyDeleteTrue, they are not up for re-election until 2017 but removing Phil Danaher as EG Planning Brd attorney can happen now and will help whomever opposes him in 2017.
Lest we forget---Leon Fiacco owns the building next to SEFCU that is currently under construction and if the rumor is true...as Leon, himself, has told people....that is going to be a liquor store which will be down the road from a CASINO....that would mean a dirty County Legislator is cashing in on the alcholism which seems to follow casinos,...nice. IF that is true, if that construction becomes a wholesale liquor distributor...FOR SHAME LEGISLATOR FIACCO!
Phil Danaher--his law practice is now conveniently located down the road from the casino. Doesn't Philip Danaher, esq, practice bankruptcy law?
Well done to our 4 County Legislators. You're giving a hand to your opposition. Whomever runs against those 4--there are alot of votes you just earned.
The town board members have two key areas of responsibility:
ReplyDelete1.) Is to do the right things. That means to represent the will of the people. This crap about "we're the majority" was nonsense when Phil Malone first spoke it and it got no better when uttered by Mary Ann Matters. That's a political reality but that is NOT why the town board members hold office.
2.) To do what they do the right way. That means legally, exercising due diligence, providing for public participation and comment. Both the McCabe and the Langley administrations are tragically notorious for doing things in every way except the right way.
As to why Langley does not comment...he is almost never on top of the facts and the details. He is almost never prepared. He almost never has command of any situation. He speaks poorly and has trouble organizing his thoughts.
If he cared more about being a really good speaker he would have addressed all those job performance issues. But, sadly, he is also pretty lazy.
I voted for the guy. I supported him in other ways. My mistake. I was looking for an alternative to the deeply corrupt, deeply lazy, not so bright Rick McCabe. Langley is so much like McCabe it is sad. Really, really sad.
Now all we need is bail bondsman on Rt 4 and the EG part of Rt 4 will be good to go.
ReplyDeleteWhat the heck, let's add some more tattoo places and a closer "Adult World."
ReplyDeleteI just attended the Pre-Board Meeting ...
ReplyDeleteThere may be a Casino Presentation Monday Night at Columbia High ... Saratoga Gaming & Racing is attempting to schedule
Wednesday's Town Board Mtg. may be moved to the Legion or Phillips Road Fire Station ... Casino engineer may present to Town Board and Planning Board for a possible future PDD.
Keep your eyes and ears open and check the Town's web site for both.
Pete Stenson
Houston….we have a problem. The Casino developer’s flack (Rita Cox) is running around saying that she has a 5-0 welcome mat from the Town of East Greenbush to build on Thompson Hill. I got the e-mail from Sue Mangold this afternoon. It says that there are no approvals for a casino at this point. Juxtapose that to the e-mail from Mary Ann Matters which states the contrary. “If the state siting board chooses EG, Saratoga Casino and Raceway (i.e. the developer) will build on the (Thompson Hill) property they have already purchased.”
ReplyDeleteSo which is it, Town Board? All 5 of you voted for a resolution which you interpret differently.
“Don,
I just wanted to thank you for your input. As I stated at our board meeting last month, the resolution supported a presentation. I am unaware of any approvals for a casino at this point.
I am very interested in the public input on this decision. I am hearing both sides of the agruments many tax-payers (not businesses) want the casino, as they feel their taxes will be lower. I am waiting to get more information on that. I understand the potential social impacts of gambling and property value concerns.
Respectfully,
Councilperson Sue Mangold”
“Good afternoon, (EG Resident).
I found the quote by the Depty. Secty for Gaming and Racing to be interesting. I don't think it's true so I'll check into it further. The Town Board expressed their position on a casino when we voted unanimously (5-0) to support the siting of a casino in EG and to allow for the presentation of proposals. If the state siting board chooses EG, Saratoga Casino and Raceway (i.e. the developer) will build on the (Thompson Hill) property they have already purchased. While there are many differences of opinion about the effect of a casino on a community, it would seem by the wide-spread polling that at least as many people are for it as an entertainment venue as there are against it, and considering the shape of the town, why not have EG benefit from the revenues if a casino could sited as close to us as Albany? There are practical considerations that can't be ignored. The developer will be making presentations to all who are interested. The dates and times will be posted on the website. However, your opposition to the casino has been duly noted.
Mary Ann”
"Widespread polling"? On a personal level I like Mary Ann Matters but she's lost the plot. Widespread polling is exactly what's needed, preferably in the form of a referendum so town residents can decide this issue on a democratic basis. There hasn't even been "narrowspread polling" unless being told what to do by the county executive counts as a poll.
ReplyDeleteIt's driving me crazy that our supervisor and majority seem to believe that a presentation from the developers constitutes public input on the part of the residents of East Greenbush. Rita Cox and her crew are paid handsomely to present a glitzy expensive presentation based entirely on industry-generated "facts.' Our town board is treating us like morons. Or are they lost that deep in the haze? I want to hear from my elected representatives not paid mercenaries for the gaming industry.
The Town of Grafton is in favor of a casino in East Greenbush. If the county and our town board have decided it's none of our business, how is it any of Grafton's business? Hunter S. Thompson said "when the going gets tough the weird turn pro." Thanks Grafton for your non sequitur of a resolution. How about a casino in Grafton State Park? You guys up for that?
I hope people will take the developer's presentation for what it is - pure spin.
ReplyDeleteFacts matter and facts agreed to and committed to in writing matter even more.
Lobbyists (and that is all Rita Cox is) will say all kinds of things. Those things do not matter because they are not commitments and they will never, ever be put in writing.
So? Economic impact? Say anything; it will never count for anything. Jobs? Say anything. No one will ever know. It will go on and on and 98% of what the presentation will cover will, at the risk of being indelicate, be pure baloney.
I remind every reader to keep searching for that $32 million in economic impact to the community provided by FedEx.
From today’s Times Union:
ReplyDeleteInformational meeting Monday on East Greenbush casino proposal
http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Informational-meeting-Monday-on-East-Greenbush-5482491.php
The event is set to run from 7-9 p.m., Monday at Columbia High School, 962 Luther Road, East Greenbush. The meeting was announced on the company' Facebook page.
Pete Stenson
While we are waiting, and waiting for a response from our town board... I encourage all to review the report written by Spectrum Gaming Group. This independent evaluator was commissioned by the state of Connecticut to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the social and economic impacts of all forms of legal
ReplyDeletegambling in Connecticut. It is lengthy, but is extremely thorough in exploring the effects of the casinos on the local communities and the associated costs to towns. If the link does not work, the report is called "Gambling in Connecticut: Analyzing the Social and Economic Impacts" by Spectrum Gaming Group, 2009.
http://www.ct.gov/dosr/lib/dosr/june_24_2009_spectrum_final_final_report_to_the_state_of_connecticut.pdf
I sent the link to our town board, and also to our board of education (there is information on the effects on student performance and costs to school districts starting on page 210).
It is lengthy, but worth the read.
Great comment from Frank Rizzo on Capitol Confidential-Grafton Town Board supports East Greenbush casino. I liked hearing from someone who will be effected by a casino.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Frank, since Grafton Town Board thinks it is such a great idea, SEND THE CASINO TO GRAFTON!!
Here’s what we’re dealing with in Town Government, Ladies and Gentlemen. I sent an e-mail a couple of days ago to the Town Board and also included the Republican Chairman and Deputy Supervisor. The e-mail contained a two page list of links which address the issues of social impact and revenue projections related to casinos. My comment was that the Board should have read and studied this an related material before passing that casino resolution on April 16th.
ReplyDeleteI got a respectful response from Sue Mangold, which is printed in a comment above. The note below is from the Republican Chair this morning. This is the level of what we are dealing with. This is who is driving the decisions of the Board’s majority. God help us.
“Donny , Donny ,Donny , how do you expect any one person take you serious . You do not a thing to help. Do your self a favor keep me off your email list . Harassment is what I call this my next call won't be To your foolish friends . And if you wanted to help the town there is better ways , you lost my respect for you when I found out you tried to sue the tax payers , anybody who takes that path is as bad the EG Dems pass that on to you friend . (Ask what she received ,then ask what it cost the tax payers ) I have no respect for any one of you . You two hit an all time low .”
Is Chris DeFruscio the "Republican Chair?"
DeleteYes. And I'd make the argument that the Committee who put him there is just as responsible for the resulting problems.
DeleteWe need government leadership capable of reasoned thought and communication. Seems to me that the Grafton Supe is not asleep at the switch.
Gadfly:
ReplyDeleteI guess, when it comes to being dumb the best defense is a good offense.
I assume The Republican Chairman is referring to Eileen Grant's age discrimination complaint that the town settled for some $65,000. Generally speaking organizations settle because they have it on advice of counsel that they will lose so settling becomes the better of bad choices.
To blame Mrs. Grant for the sheer managerial ignorance of the supervisor in making the stupid, stupid remark that Langley made is the height of arrogance and, quite frankly, almost as bad as Chris DeFruscio's Martha letter in the previous campaign.
It is tragic that the good people of East Greenbush are saddled with Langley, DeFruscio, Gilbert, Matters and DiMartino. And, before anyone gets their shorts in a knot I supported all of them and voted for them.
I just spoke with Frank Higgins, the Town Supervisor in Grafton. The town board received a presentation by the casino developer at their board meeting. Mr. Higgins did not, and has not had any contact with any of the town board members from East Greenbush. Mr. Higgins said that they voted to support the casino because Grafton needs money, and New York State has offered them no other solutions. I asked him if he would support the casino in his town, and he said "No. We would have fought it." Why did he support it in East Greenbush? Did he take into consideration residents who will be affected? "I have to look out for my people."
ReplyDeleteHere's another great link with information that our Town Board should have considered before its ill-advised resolution on April 16th:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.citizensagainstcasinogaming.com/downloads/casino.spfld.flyer.3-20.pdf
Read it and weep....
Does anyone else find it odd that Grafton gets a presentation about an EG Casino before EG?
ReplyDeleteLangley's not only asleep at the switch but sitting on it!
Do you think it might be possible that some EG insiders got a presentation kinda on the "QT?" I do.
DeleteYes. they met with featherstonehaough.
DeleteThat Resolution which was passed on April 16th was not on the pre-Board agenda on the previous Wednesday. It had to come from somewhere. I doubt if it was Langley doing the Vulcan mind-meld with Mr. Spock. We need to know where that Resolution came from and how it materialized. The Board needs to start answering that question.
DeleteTo the EG residents who are in favor of the casino, what goes around comes around. If a casino can be built in a residential neighborhood, what is to prevent a bar (grill) from being your next door neighbor. Think twice before you agree to anything.
ReplyDeleteIt's becoming clear that EG has been run for a very long time by some very "limited" people. The previous administration put the Town in the hole, but the new bunch won't submit the financial matters to audit, claiming that the Comptroller needs to get his mind around the numbers. Very limited people, certainly not attending to the rights of the people. I'd be betting on a "secret" presentation from the casino people. It would, of course, be a violation of the Open Meetings Law. But that never bothered anybody around here.
ReplyDeleteIve read a lot of information about how much this venue will make I just have to say this I would like to know what one of our town board members or the supervisor spoke with this group about outside people coming to this place there will be at least two other spots other than this one and who ever sold this to the Saratoga team really are leading them down a wild ride this county is and always will be a joke and east greenbush has two real venues that make money walmart and target who is coming to east greenbush and to do what golf at evergreen those people from Saratoga racing must be pretty slow we cant support a kmart maybe when its all said and done it would be a nice town hall we really need one bring in the cash im glad my money is in a mutual fund
ReplyDeleteThe casino staff has met with several of the towns unions and have been a town hall at least twice
ReplyDeleteWell, well, well. If they met with a quorum of the Town Board without an opportunity for the public to be present, I do believe that it is a violation of the open meetings law. Unless Pete wants to weigh in and argue that it's a caucus.
Deleteit only takes two to tango but three to have a quorum
Deletemeetings with no more than two board members aren't official meetings or open to the public
they could tango through meetings
And if that course were to be followed, sure would look to me like an attempt to conceal the activity from the public......
DeleteSo the people who OWN this town, and pay the taxes in this town have not been consulted. But the people we employ have been consulted and lobbied. Again, God help us.....
ReplyDeleteDid they promise more fire trucks and Chief's cars and police cars? East Greenbush already has more fire equipment vehicles than Albany and Troy combined. And 7 fire chief's cars. Wonder why taxes are so high that we need a casino to mitigate the cost?
DeleteThis is important news which just came in via an e-mail from the Girl Scout Council. Here it is in part:
ReplyDelete"Several calls have come in to Council wondering if we are going to sell Camp Is-Sho-Da because the planned location for the casino is near the camp.
To state very simply, we have no intention of selling Camp Is-Sho-Da.
A proposal of this magnitude can foster a lot of speculation and miscommunication, so we ask that you share the Council's position that Camp Is-Sho-Da is not being sold."
One of the myths of casinos is that they bring business traffic into a community. Holding aside the truism that many people come on bus tours that only make one stop, even people in cars don't come to a casino to spend money in the surrounding town. Think about it. You're going to a casino and you're bringing 'x' amount of money to gamble. Are you going to stop off before hitting the gaming tables to spend your money in shops or restaurants? You can get free drinks and a $9 all-you-can-eat buffet at the casino without taking time or money away from the one thing you really came to do.
ReplyDeleteNow project yourself to the end of your visit. How many people are broke when they walk out of a casino? Far more than the Saratoga Casino and Raceway people will have you believe. Will you leave the casino early to do some shopping in town? Ignore the endorphins and false hopes and forgo that last chance to win back your money to buy yourself a new shirt? Even if you want to go for a meal or do some shopping you'll probably be too tired to look for a place, a fact well known to the people who are designing the self-contained Casino at East Greenbush.
People go to casinos to gamble. Plain and simple. Full stop. The positive and negative aspects of casinos are found in the ancillary benefits and problems created by the reality of big-time gambling. Tax revenue will be generated. That's a good thing. Some of it will be offset by the increased costs of managing a town with a casino in it - infrastructure costs, policing, dealing with social problems. Half of the local revenue will go to the county. Then there are the problems: massive traffic, rise in crime, dip in property values, doubling of problem gambling and drunk driving, a radical change in the character of our town and generations of children raised in the shadow of a casino and the negative values associated with gambling. Do you want your children to understand the value of achievement through application and hard work or do you want them to hear the stories of the one guy in a million who staked everything on the next roll of the dice and won?
It comes down to how you weigh the risks and rewards. But make no mistake: the presentation by Saratoga Casino and Raceway on Monday will be pure unadulterated bullshit. Every "fact" they will provide has been generated by gaming industry funded "studies." They're not going to tell you that poor people spend a much larger percentage of their money on gambling than rich people. Or that senior citizens on fixed incomes are their number one customer. The image of the throbbing, exciting casino floor is often betrayed by the sadness and humiliation of people who've lost their mortgage payment or the grocery money. Don't be blinded by the bright lights because while you're being mesmerized Saratoga Casino and Raceway will have both hands in your pockets.
Jack, my very dear friend the old adage is the owners do not build these edifices to the worst in human nature off the winners! They build these palaces off the losers. Plain and simple.
DeleteAnd if the corrupt public officials from every level of NY government get their way the good people of East Greenbush will fall into that great big hell hole of losers.
Anony at 4:51 says that they met with Feathers. He should know better than that, since he's been the lawyer for Mario and Andrew and Joe and Vacco and Shelly. So our "in crowd" got the scoop before the owners of the town got the scoop? I think Andrew has his fingerprints all over this caper more than anyone would want to believe. The Gov wants NYS solvent to prepare for a presidential run and will spare nothing to keep that from happening. Feathers is there to help.
ReplyDeleteGot some interesting "push back" that I don't know that I'm talking about - signed "Andrew." Make no mistake. Cuomo wants gambling in NYS to help the State be "solvent." That's that the constitutional amendment was all about last November. Now they're running around looking for those they can con into hosting the cash vacuum cleaners for the sake of the Governor's agenda. EG got picked because we have an administration incapable of asking questions. Dumb as a box of rocks, and incapable of acting in the interests of the people who employ them.
DeleteWhen did the property get rezoned it is supposed to be residential open space
ReplyDeleteI was wrong its residential buffer when were the letters sent out for a possible variance I didn't receive one
ReplyDeletesee Pete Stenson's May 15, 2014 at 6:14 PM coment
ReplyDeleteGift to the Casino from East Greenbush-tax free for four years.
ReplyDeleteThis is NOT a joke.
Sorry, I cannot sign my name.
Well the Town Board just doesn't understand how offensive they can be on this casino issue. Today the Town website and an announcement of the "sales pitch" tonight by the developer. Along with the announcement are links to the "sales pitch" websites of the developer. NOT ONE THING is listed which would serve to objectively educate the community as to the impact of this thing on our Town. Not one thing. I personally know that three pages worth of links to research and scholarship was sent to the Town Board. Stuff they should have read and understood before they voted on their ill-planned "invitation" resolution. That list of links should be on the Town website too. But the bunch is in the pockets of the developers.
ReplyDeleteIn this connection, it has become clear from conversations some of us have had as we have begun to canvass some neighborhoods that this "thing" was known about by "some" early on, but the lid was kept on. Our "employees" can know, but the taxpayers can't. My guess is that this was the modality so that the local real estate "moguls" could get their ducks in a row.
We've been "had" ladies and gents. And the term "public servant" has been forever cheapened in this Town. Eighth Grade diplomas must be for sale on Craig's List.
Even the President of Saratoga Gaming and Raceway wouldn't want one next door......Good grief, Keith.
Deletehttp://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Highest-of-stakes-5341399.php#page-4
The problem we have illustrated in the way the Board handled the casino issue is that they are simply incapable of engaging on any public policy matter of any complexity whatsoever. They bought the hype and no doubt thought they were doing a "neat" thing. No curiosity whatsoever about impact or downsides. And no sense of responsibility to ask if there might be either. Really tragic for our Town.
DeleteWell I'd say that there was a HUGE win tonight for the people who deserve to have a say on whether there is to be a casino in East Greenbush. After all, we really only heard about the possibility on April 16th when the Board passed the late starter Resolution. My take was that even people who might favor a casino are really pissed that they weren't afforded an opportunity to be consulted.
ReplyDeleteThe East Greenbush "hayseeds" put the slick snake-oil sales people on their butts. Big surprise to them, I'd say. What the Board needs to do is rescind that Resolution they're using to shove that thing down our throats and schedule a referendum on the question.
Well here's the head count. Sue Mangold was there and Malone was a late arrival. Don't know if he stayed. Langley, Matters and DiMartino did not appear to be there. Gilbert was there, and I think I saw DeFruscio hiding around the corner. I talked to a lobbyist for the casino people and he told me that the Gaming Commission considers the Town Board vote sufficient to be the Town's invitation to build on Thompson Hill.
DeleteSue Mangold also did a nice job on NewsChannel 13 tonight. She said her vote was for a presentation by casino operators, not for an approval without citizen imput. Good for her!! Of course Keith "the resolution is the resolution" Langley was nowhere to be found at perhaps the most important public presentation in the history of East Greenbush.
DeleteNot good Mr. "the resolution is the resolution" Langley, not good at all.
I was there tonight and I think that the casino people thought that the community was going to be as dumb as the Town Board. That glitzy stuff from Churchill Downs at the beginning was a real turn off. The stuff they put up on the screen is NOT our community.
ReplyDeleteSue said that she didn't think she was voting on an approval when she voted. channel 10
ReplyDeleteThe town board, in sad concert with the various town attorneys, has a long history of voting on poorly worded, easily misunderstood or miss interpreted resolutions.
DeleteImagine that?
All that experience, all that knowledge and critical issues are voted on without knowing EXACTLY what a town board member is voting on?
I believe the term is "INCOMPETENCE" - applied to the town board members and the town attorney.
But the solution, if Ms. Mangold is being truthful, is simple...
Out forward a revised, clear, easily understood, straightforward resolution - and get public input while the town board is at it.
Hey Keith Langley,
ReplyDeleteThe Gaming Commission says that Local Government Casino Resolutions must now be project specific.
Looks like your "resolution (WASN'T) the resolution" after all!!!!
Why not take Sue Mangold's advice and bring in a professional negotiator who will look after the Town's interest?
Or better yet, why not have someone other than Chris DeFruscio try to explain to you the many negative impacts a casino would bring to our Town?
Time for you to start governing Mr. Langley. Your sneaky ways have caught up to you in a BIG WAY!
See you Wednesday night, unless you feel a bit of inclement weather coming on!!
where can we find this?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.gaming.ny.gov/pdf/GuidanceResolutionsofSupport.pdf
DeleteConsidering the inability of Saratoga Casino and Raceway to intelligently defend its proposal and the amount of negative feelings about a casino in this town it is time for our Town Board to stand up for us and vote 5-0 to refuse to lend its support to this project. If they do so I will be the first to humble myself before them and extoll their vision and leadership. I will have been wrong about each and every one of them.
ReplyDeleteJack, the single most fundamental problem with this, and the previous town board, is a lack of vision.
ReplyDeleteThe old saying is that if you don't know where you are going any road will get you there. That fits the last several town boards to a perfect T.
Vision, goals, objectives, plans are all simple parts of basic, sound management practices. Instead our town boards, quite literally, fiddle fart their way along never knowing if what they are doing supports some grander vision or plan.
Just for shits and giggles pull out the East Greenbush Master Plan. That little gem, required by the state, cost taxpayers huge bucks. I heard, but cannot prove, that creation of the Master Plan hurt taxpayers to the tune of some $500,000 but that information is a few years old - as is the so called master plan.
No where in what purports to be East Greenbush's plan for its own future was selling taxpayers down the river via tax breaks for FedEx and most certainly there is NO mention of a casino in this alleged master plan.
The town board acts foolishly. They make ill advised decisions. But here's to hoping your suggestion, for a change, gets listened to.
If you take a look at the casino siting criteria which the Gaming Commission siting board will use in deciding location, East Greenbush is probably out of the running already. Just consider economic need - up against Rensselaer and Schenectady. East Greenbush is a relatively affluent community. It's municipal financial problems are the result of long term mismanagement, not some structural problem. The Board should quit chasing rainbows and do the hard work and make the hard choices involved in developing a Financial Recovery Plan based in the real world. Cut the patronage, cronyism and machine politics and get some competent management advice and you won't need the "all you need is a dollar and a dream" mentality.
ReplyDeleteSo, if what you say is true, and the board continues its present course of action, only to get shot down by the Gaming Commission, all they will have accomplished is to dig themselves deeper into a hole. We are witnesses to how incompetent and corrupt the town board really is. Good luck getting re-elected after the Great Casino Debacle of 2014. It is my hope that they will continually be under the microscope. I never paid attention to town politics before but the Casino proposal got my attention. What I discovered is truly unsettling. East Greenbush deserves better.
DeleteI just called the Renns County Rep Committee-272-2111. I let them know, in no uncertain terms, that if Mary Ann votes for the Casino, the Rep have lost my vote.
ReplyDeleteI explained that I have voted Rep since my first vote (Dwight Eisenhower), if Mary Ann votes for this Casino the Rep have seen my last vote.
I am asking more people to call the Renns County Rep Committee 272-2111, and let your feelings be known.
Thank you.
Mary
Please, will more people call the Renss County Rep Committee-272-111 and let them know how we feel about the vote tonight. Thank you. Mary
I will call them tomorrow and thanks. BTW great turnout tonight people!!!
DeletePete, you, and everyone else already knows the answer to your question.
ReplyDeleteSadly, tragically Keith Langley is incompetent. I don't write that to be mean. He just is. He is not all that smart. He is certainly not all that hard working. He most definitely listens to only a few people who suffer from the same shortcomings he has.
He lacks basic managerial skills and competencies.
It is exactly and precisely that simple.
He is trying to save face. He's crooked and they are all trying to save face. It was only after the back lash and the real threat of losing their jobs did they turn around.
ReplyDeleteKeith Langley you are a liar!!! You stated on news channel 13 that it seems to have more for it than against it. Where did you come up with that conclusion from? You wont even answer a simple e-mail from residents.
ReplyDeleteNow I better be careful too just like Jack, I might get pushed and shoved by someone.
Langley, the ultimate poll reader, says on Channel 13 that he's hearing more "for" than against. DeFruscio pulling the chin string.
ReplyDeleteSo is the "Goon" agenda being implemented on this issue? If so, we'll see a perp walk for sure. Certainly fits with the issue context. Feathers and Andrew would just love to see the local "machines" shoving people around to make sure that their wishes are brought to fruition.
ReplyDeleteBoth machines - Rep and Dem - have to go. We don't need this anymore. They have been so removed from good government for so long that they couldn't recognize it if they saw it. Mary Ann, we thought you would bring the light, but you drank the Kool Aid. DeFruscio and Langley are not bright lights. They're machine functionaries. Remember the Gran Torino....."It's my turn now."
ReplyDeleteYou just MUST read Chris Churchill's column in the TU this morning:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.timesunion.com/default/article/Churchill-Yes-Girl-Scouts-should-seize-casino-5496809.php
So, last night the Town Board adopted a resolution 'scheduling' a Public Hearing on the Casino question - date and location to be announced. Unbelievable!
ReplyDeleteReminds me of the time they were going to vote on a resolution with no "RESOLVED"!
See Anonymous May 20, 2014 at 3:46 PM above.
Pete Stenson
Last night was a waste of time. You could not hear a thing. Very poor set up no thought put into how to handle so many people. I think they did it for a reason, so people would not know what was going on. They had enough time to plan for this.
ReplyDeleteTime to tell Assemblyman Steve McLaughlin what you think:
ReplyDeleteThursday, May 29
East Greenbush Library
2:30PM-7:00PM
Meeting Room
Assemblyman Steve McLaughlin Mobile Office Hours
Anti-casino groups will hold a No Casinos Town Hall meeting Thursday about how to oppose casino-development in the Capital Region.
ReplyDeleteTimes Union page C4 Thurs May 24.
Meeting begins at 6:45 pm at First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany, 405 Washington Ave.
I was surprised and happy to see we are not alone.
One now has to question the judgement of our new Deputy DPW Commish, after he sent his 16 year old daughter up in front of the crowd to support the casino. Who would do that, I know I would want to keep my kids as far away as possible. On top of that, the statement that she knows many kids in her school that are in favor, speaks volumes doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteSo here is the list of speakers who spoke in favor;
Paul Dimascio; Best friend of Langley
John Tirino; Well....nuff said
Erika Fiacco; Daughter of DPW D/Commish
Ed Gilbert; Another pawn
Did I miss any?
Actually I thought it said a lot about the anti casino crowd that they saw fit to heckle a student for expressing her opinion. You claim to be concerned about the high school students until one disagrees with you. You guys are a class act. You made a young woman cry. Give yourselves a cigar.
ReplyDeleteActually Ed, you and your ham-handed handlers in EG and Troy set the tone for this fiasco by trying a "dead of night" ramming of the thing down the throats of the people of this Town. Those days are over, and your bunch hasn't figured it out yet. The patronizing, paternalistic arrogance of you people is amazing. I smell collusion all over the place.
DeleteWell~well~well...Ed what about all your worthless trash you post in the Advertiser when you completely make a fool of yourself ! The words that you clearly chose to use show how much of a hypocrite YOU are !
DeleteYou and the bogus SWF crowd have been exposed and now suffer because of your arrogance and ignorance.
Dear Gadfly,
DeleteWas Ed Gilbert speaking last night in his capacity as the Keith Langley appointed Chairperson of the Town Ethics Board?
Mr. Gilbert, I was not at the meeting during that time but I asked several people what happened to gain perspective. I was told that other attendees questioned this young because a). she is NOT old enough to vote; b). she is NOT old enough to go into the casino; and c). she is NOT a property owner and does NOT pay taxes.
DeleteThe actions of people in the crowd may have upset this young woman because she was ill-prepared. As a minor, isn't it her parent's responsibility to advise her in advance of potential repercussions? Was there no consideration by this young woman or her family regarding the nature of the discussion, as well as the potential mood of the crowd? To speak in front of a group certainly takes courage, but it must be done with consideration of a person's ability to receive criticism, not just their desire to deliver criticism.
Ed may have a problem here - called conflict of interest. The Chair of the Ethics Board got up and declared that what the Board did in the 5-0 first resolution was "right." The lack of brains in putting him where he is is going to come back and bite them. You can be a hack or a chairman, not both. Can you read that Keith and Chris and Mary Ann and Deb? There was such a good chance of a new way of doing things around here, and you've blown it.
DeleteWow, Ed Gilbert....I do not know you, I have never spoken to you but your comment here tells me everything I need to know about you. You are sarcastic, you are angry, you are desperate to mock others, you exploit a child who was not ready to be in front of that crowd, and you provide no information on why you support a casino. You tried to take a low blow but it backfired. You are the person who comes across as not really caring about that young woman, you used her reaction as a reason to be nasty. This is our Deputy Supervisor? No thank you.
DeleteWhile I agree Ed, it was wrong for the young lady to be heckled, why would you send a young lady up to the podium to begin with? What does she know about a casino? Does she pay taxes in this community? Is she able to vote?
DeleteI agree with the person that said you exploited her.
The girl scout camp will be ruined and they know this. The parents of the kids should get together with us and volunteer their time to get more signatures and help drum up support. The girls can learn about running a grass roots campaign and how to help your fellow neighbor.
ReplyDeleteThat was Ed Gilbert's daughter? That is so disgusting. Ed Gilbert used his daughter is such a horrendous manner. To use your own child to push your agenda is the lowest thing I have seen in this Town. This Town stoops to new political lows everyday.
ReplyDeleteWhen the teenagers can't wait for the casino to open---that should be enough reason for it to never open.
I don't believe it was Ed Gilbert's daughter. I believe it was Mr. Fiacco's daughter. He's the Dep DPW Commissioner.
DeleteEd;
ReplyDeleteWhere in my post did you see that I am against the casino? It's actually quite the contrary. What I am against is Langley using this little girl to carry his water. Using you, McClean and Tirino is one thing, but having her go up there to further the agenda is dispicable. As I said earlier, I now have to question the judgement of our Dep.Commish.. I thought Fiacco actually had some integrity, but selling his family out like that changed my mind. Did you notice either of Langley's kids there last night? No way he would allow them to do that.
Then I apologize to Ed Gilbert; if it was not his daughter my sincerest apologies. Whomever would use their child at that setting, in that tension filled setting is just so low. To put someone under 18 in that pressure cooker with those emotions so high is horrendous.
ReplyDeleteThe Rainbow Chasers - Jimino, Crist, Andrew, Feathers, Cox, Langley, Gilbert, Matters, DiMartino, Mangold, Malone, Hart, Maney, etc. should read this:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.businessinsider.com/saddest-tourist-destination-just-got-worse-2014-5
If anyone has the courage to contact Gov Cuomo and inform him -the casino in East Greenbush would be next to a Girl Scout Camp, here are his addresses.
ReplyDeleteTelephone number...474-8390
email...gov.cuomo@chamber.state.ny.us
FAX....518-474-1513.
I googled telephone number for Gov Cuomo and this is what came up.
I really think this might make a difference, but I do not have the courage to inform him. I hope someone will.
Governor Cuomo has a great deal of connection with what's wrong with what has going on in EG. When he was Attorney General a package of complaints about local corruption was sent to his Public Integrity Office. It disappeared. Let's not forget that this casino initiative was designed in the Executive Chamber to help produce a solvent NY State for a Cuomo run for higher office. Too bad it turns into a local community splitter in service of a political goon.
DeleteAnd Jimino and Langley are in "service" to a Dem?
DeleteI told you that DeF didn't know what he was doing.......
DeleteLangley would take the Democratic endorsement in a heartbeat. That's what DeFruscio and Tirino have been shooting their mouths about.
DeleteWasn't it great hearing Supervisor Langley's confidant, John "the muffin man" Tirino, last night saying "senior citizens" should support the casino so we could apply for jobs at the casino making muffins? Seems like Langley and company have a very prejudicial view of people of a certain age. I'll tell you Mr. Langley, two things you will find out about us "muffin making senior citizens." A very large number of us vote and most of us have very long memories.
ReplyDeleteThe Girl Scouts are gonna have to build a twenty foot high security fence to keep the pimps and the perverts out.
ReplyDeleteThis is for Ed Gilbert - You have the nerve to get on your high horse and complain about the treatment of a young naive girl who couldn't put 2 words together to make a sentence. That poor teen was used by someone, and I hope it wasn't her parents, to support Casinos and she didn't have a clue what she was saying. The typical "I'm bored so let's have a party at a place I'm not old enough to enter" --- I guess whoever put her up to it didn't have the guts to speak himself. So sad. She isn't even old enough to work there.
ReplyDeleteAs for you -- your nasty blog - which is no longer active- is evidence of the kind of class you have. I'm sorry that this is personal - but you have trashed my family long enough.
I heard Sue on the Paul Vandenburg show, and she inferred that East Greenbush does not have a park. Liar, liar, pants on fire. We have two that I know. In fact, when Ginny O,Brien was on the Board, every week she would have local bands (mostly young people) come to play once a week. I think it was called Music In The Park. Maybe Sue was Too rich to attend the Free music.
ReplyDeleteSecond, Sue Mangold should excuse herself from voting-this is definitely a conflict of interest. Since her family gets most of the construction business in EG, this will be a bonanza for her family. Would she even entertain the thought of voting against the casino? Let's see, more money for the family versus what might harm others (girl scouts ages five through ten). We saw what she chose.
Phil Malone, enough said. We always knew what he is. He has to be getting something out of this. In time we will find out.
Mary Ann is a puppet. Someone pulls the strings and she jumps. Nothing but a big disappointment. No more Matters for me. It really does matter!
Then there is Langley. We can't complain, we were warned about him before we voted for him. Even the news media has caught on to him.
When it comes time for US to vote, the Casino vote will be remembered. I will make sure of that. This will be my promise to you.,
Guess why I am not posting my name. Do you really trust any one of them. If they are willing to harm little girls, what chance do I have?
Does anyone know the location of the dog park in East Greenbush?
ReplyDeleteIt's in the Town Park.
DeleteWhen is Kathy JimiNO running again?
ReplyDeleteMaybe at about the same time as Langley and the Old Dem Machine people. They'll all be leaving at about the same time.
ReplyDeleteMay 24 7:14 PM
ReplyDeleteFrom your lips to God's ears.
How could our Reps be so thoughtless to put a Casino next to a Brownie Camp (ages 5-12 years old)? In my mind this is despicable.
ReplyDeleteI hope all parents in EG remember this.
Henceforth, these people should be known as Judas.,