Such was the "mantra" of the current Town administration, delivered to persons labeled as "reformers" soon after Mr. Langley took office. The message was delivered in various locations by various persons - Ed Gilbert's back yard, DeFruscio's basement, the Gateway Diner (so we wouldn't be seen).
Well, with the delivery of the slick "The Casino at East Greenbush" piece to our homes yesterday, we've seen the very worst that this kind of paternalism can bring to a community. It's sickening. And the Board - the entire Board - should be ashamed of itself. It looks like they have no clue as to what they fell for. The gambling/casino industry makes its money off of selling the get-rich-quick illusion. Well, the Board and Kathy Jimino and her henchmen fell for the illusion.
There may have been other factors at work too. The usual ones around here. Looks like some of the insiders may have made some quick bucks on the transactions. I have heard that the Planning Board was in on some of it. That would explain the continued lack of intervention by those responsible for the continued construction on Thompson Hill even in the face of no Plat approval. And who are the "principals" of those corporations who passed the land to the casino corporation? That one could be very revealing.
As Jack Conway has stated elsewhere, the Board failed in its responsibility of due diligence. I'll go further, this is a case of active breach of faith. No member is qualified to hold office because they actively excluded the public from the most important decision to EVER hit this community. Their moral compasses have no magnets. Fools.
For your reading pleasure:
ReplyDeletehttp://gaming.ny.gov/pdf/ApplicantConferenceQuestionandAnswersMay22014.pdf
Correct me if I am wrong but this document seems to say that local zoning laws and SEQR will not be overridden by the state act, which I read as very good news. I find it hard to believe that the proposed EG site could possibly have an easy peasy EIR process, and the the zoning variance process will be a good entry point for the public to get their opposition pants on.
DeleteChristine.....East Greenbush does not have a good record in enforcing its own zoning laws. Sometimes it's a "wink and a nod" at others it just "look away." One of the most recent episodes is taking place right now up there on Thompson Hill. Read this from Dwight:
Deletehttp://eastgreenbushdreams.wordpress.com/2014/04/24/a-thorny-little-project/
Christine: I watched a super well connected town judge do all manner of projects on her house over the years with NEVER the display of a building permit. No joke.
DeleteGadfly:
ReplyDeleteI was a part of the group in Ed Gilbert's backyard. I drove home stunned at the very notion that in America, in this day and time, Mr. Gilbert was suggesting that the voice of the people be suppressed. Our democracy operates best when the exact opposite is the case. When the people pay attention, listen, ask questions and stay involved in their government.
I was also asked by Langley to be an appointee to the CFAC. But it came with conditions. The conditions he described were no comments, no writing - in other words no free speech within his administration. I declined. A decision I remain to this day proud that I made.
I am not sure how to best characterize the Langley administration. But open, honest, forthcoming, responsive and intelligent would not be any of the terms I would ever use to describe the work he has done thus far.
Dear Readers and Citizens of East Greenbush.....This is the "prime" member of the "trusted local team" that wants to bring a casino to East Greenbush:
ReplyDeletehttp://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2010/11/the_heavyweight.php
Here's another you should be reading about "the trusted local team:"
ReplyDeletehttp://www.hinmanstraub.com/blog/2012/06/12/nypirg-report-focuses-on-bundling-of-campaign-contributions-by-lobbyists/
Got to love it. Where have people's moral and ethical values gone? The funny part is, people are buying into their B.S.
ReplyDeleteThis might help short term but could have lasting long term effects the likes of which EG will never come back from.
Yeah I'm already labeled too.......So Be It!!!
You have probably read these already, but worth repeating if they are new to someone else:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.commoncause.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&b=5287775&ct=13347463¬oc=1
http://www.commoncause.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&b=5287775&ct=13183607
http://www.commoncause.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&b=5287775&ct=12188661
http://www.commoncause.org/atf/cf/%7BFB3C17E2-CDD1-4DF6-92BE-BD4429893665%7D/Gambling%20Report%20-%20Final.pdf
Gadfly & Readers:
ReplyDeleteEvery, single East Greenbush resident, citizen, voter and taxpayer needs to read Alysia Santo's article in today's Albany Times-Union.
The Albany Common Council wants the promises, rosy predictions and claims made by the casino lobbyists in writing. Now there's a forward thinking, novel and responsible approach.
East Greenbush's so called political leaders are seriously questioned in the article for how they make decisions.
At the risk of saying "I told you so" the Gadflies (all of them) have been making this exact point for years.
Read the article, please. Information is power. Langley and crew know this and their efforts to deceive are facilitated by people not knowing, failing to question things, taking stupid claims by lobbyists at face value and by simply not being involved.
Here's the link to Alysia's article. It's from April 24th.
Deletehttp://blog.timesunion.com/albany/common-council-wants-casino-promises-in-writing/9529/
Dear Anony submitting the Feathers brochure quotes.....I'm not going to reprint claims from that piece. They had a chance to make a pitch up front and make the sale. Instead, they went in the back door and rolled over very weak and kinda "dim" officials. In other words, they should have knocked on the door in the daylight. No quarter asked, none given.
ReplyDeleteJust one more point (to make sure you get it)....This "trusted local team" of casino developers revealed the content of their character in the manner in which they "introduced" themselves to the East Greenbush community. It was duplicitous and manipulative and shady. Any subsequent claim made by people who do such things to get what they want should be highly suspect. The Albany Common Council at least has shown some brains in being a bit circumspect.
DeleteYet another FaceBook page in opposition to capital district casinos:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.facebook.com/NoCasinosCapitalDistrict
Please let me be the first to say this the next group to be visited by this casino group will be our school district and they will promise anything to get support and again let me be the first to say they will take any money offer chew that up and say they need more .They are the ones in this town who should tighten there belts there budget got cut 3 million and they cant make it
ReplyDeleteCity of Rensselaer Mayor Dan Dwyer is on Paul Vandenburgh's radio show right now talking about their casino proposal. Paul Vandenburgh just told his listeners that he has placed a number of calls to East Greenbush Town Supervisor, Keith Langley to discuss the East Greenbush Casino proposal but that Supervisor Langley hasn't bothered to return any of his calls.
ReplyDeleteWelcome to our world Mr. Vandenburgh ...
Why won't Mr. Langley go on the radio show? Is he hiding something? Or is Mr. Langley just afraid he's not smart enough to answer the questions he might be asked? Remember, Langley won't let any questions be asked at Town Board meetings either.
ReplyDeleteI just tuned in to the radio show. Paul Van seems to be really focused on Keith Langley's unwillingness to answer questions, this could be great news for the people of EG. Paul was asking why Keith wasn't returning any of his phone calls.
ReplyDeletethat's our Sup
ReplyDeleteno comment to anyone but DefCon
Kinda like......
ReplyDelete"And this is good old Boston,: The home of the bean and the cod,: Where the Lowells talk only to Cabots,: And the Cabots talk only to God." ...
The Rensselaer site is only site previously zoned for commercial property that could include a hotel and casino. Reality is the Rensselaer site is the perfect site for everyone. It can draw people to downtown Albany and to Hudson Valley itself. Imagine cruise ships from NYC docking in Rensselaer bringing all those tourists' dollars. Imagine taking a weekend cruise to NYC thru the beautiful Hudson Valley. You can't do that in East Greenbush or Albany. But Rensselaer you can.
ReplyDeleteIt won't be long now before Brendan J. Lyons of the Times-Union writes a Town of Halfmoon Article (see today's front page of the Times-Union) on East Greenbush Town Supervisor Keith Langley and the proposed East Greenbush Casino siting process.
ReplyDeleteWhat did Supervisor Langley know and when did he know it??
@ 2:39 PM, And the City of Rensselaer has already completed the required SEQR Environmental Impact Assessment as well as the traffic assessment. The City of Rensselaer Site is shovel ready, unlike the proposed East Greenbush location. If indeed the East Greenbush location was selected over the Rensselaer location it might raise a number of questions Supervisor Langley would be very hard pressed to answer.
ReplyDeleteWord on the street is detailed Information regarding the Rensselaer location and the development group behind it will be forthcoming within the next two weeks. Plans are being finalized for a press conference to be held featuring the developer and elected City of Rensselaer Governmental Officials, including the Mayor.
ReplyDeleteEast Greenbush isn't the only "game" in Rensselaer County.
Seems like Rensselaer City Mayor Dryer is stepping up while East Greenbush Town Supervisor Langley may be laying down on the Casino issue. Wouldn't be surprised if the Saratoga Racing Group decided to scrap the Eash Greenbush Casino idea and instead pivot to expand the previously proposed Thompson Hill housing development project to include the land bought from Mr. Lynd. That would more than recoup the seed money the Saratoga Group borrowed while still keeping them in play for the Newburgh Casino location.
ReplyDeleteStay tuned ...
That's interesting speculation. Now if we could just get the Planning Board and Building Department to follow the Town's laws and procedures related to real estate development, we might have some good things going. When things are done as Dwight has described with the current Thompson Hill development, sound growth is stifled. Wouldn't it be ironic if Feathers put a stop to some local mischief? He really can't afford to be caught up in the way some local games are played.
DeleteThings must be coming to a head. Supervisor Langley has been at another "marathon meeting" at Wrangler's on 9 and 20 for most of this afternoon. I'm sure he'll tell us all about it in his next Supervisor's Report.
ReplyDelete2nd glossy print propaganda arrived today....Did you see this?!? http://casinoateastgreenbush.com/
ReplyDeleteCheck out the "Show your support" tab. This is unbelievable...how can our town board even pretend to have an unbiased conversation now that this propaganda has been sent out to residents twice? No Ethics in EG.
I got my second one today too........Got to love it......I guess they think that they can change are minds by sending out this propaganda
ReplyDeleteWe got ours yesterday. I noticed the Kathy Jimino quote was the same one that was quoted twice in the first mailer. I found it interesting that there was no quote from Supervisor Langley. Maybe the casino people have figured out how unpopular Mr. Langley is among East Greenbush voters.What will Kathy Jimino say when the City of Rensselaer comes out with their gaming proposal?
ReplyDeleteTo Gadfly,
ReplyDeleteWhich community gets Kathy Jimino's support if Rensselaer develops a viable proposal with strong community support in the City of Rensselaer, in contrast to the Town of East Greenbush, where the community support is at best mixed? This could get very interesting very quickly.
Dear Gadfly,
ReplyDeleteThere's a very informative article by Kenneth Crowe in today's Times-Union providing some information regarding the City of Rensselaer's proposed casino site.
All the best,
Tom
Thanks Tom. Here's the link:
Deletehttp://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Talks-taking-place-for-Hudson-River-casino-site-5458424.php
I just finished reading the TU story. Who would have thought Rensselaer City Government would be way ahead of East Greenbush in terms of leadership. I like Mayor Dan Dwyer's up front position and his clear comments about the proposal. As opposed to the secrecy and vague comments from East Greenbush Supervisor Keith "the resolution is the resolution" Langley.
ReplyDeleteI believe the more East Greenbush residents learn about the Rensselaer Casino the more they will support it instead of the East Greenbush Thompson Hill location. My neighbors and I are still puzzled about why Supervisor Langley felt the need to have his Town Council quickly approve it without a public hearing. I'd like to hear what Mr. Langley has to say about this.
ReplyDeleteHere's a take on the issue from Alan Chartock:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.dailyfreeman.com/opinion/20140329/alan-chartock-ny-casinos-could-be-win-win-or-lose-lose
Don't Forget!!!
ReplyDeleteRensselaer County Public Forum THIS WED. at 6pm.
Legislative Chambers, Third Floor
Majority Office
Rensselaer County Government Center
1600 7th Avenue
Troy, New York
There are two separate issues in play with the possible siting of a casino in East Greenbush. One, of course, is whether a casino is coming or not and how people feel about that. But there's another issue that needs to be underlined regardless of the outcome of the first issue and that's the way our town board acted to put us in this position. Even if you favor a casino you have to admit that our town board should have been transparent and in doing so might have squeezed a better deal out of what seemed to be desperate developers. Instead they rolled over without a fight (some would say without even knowing what they were doing) and without even a patronizing nod towards the right of people in town to have their say on an issue that would change this town forever.
ReplyDeleteFirst they snuck an entire Board of Ethics past us in an 8:45 a.m. special meeting at which no public comment was allowed. Now they've snuck a casino - a casino, for Christ's sake - past us. Go back and look at Matters and DiMartino's campaign literature and count how many times they promised open, transparent, responsive and accountable government. In just four months they've snuck - and that is the right word for it - an entire Board of Ethics and a casino by us.
Whatever your thoughts about a casino, you have to acknowledge that our town board has abused our trust and is pretty much unfit to govern. Listen to the radio, watch TV, read the local papers, they (and us with them) are the laughingstock of the Capital region.
Jack....excellent comment. The Town Board could correct their breach of faith and violation of the "social contract" by rescinding the Resolution which they passed which is now being touted by the Casino corporation as THE reflection of the sentiments of the people of East Greenbush. That's the way they will use it in their presentation to the Gaming Commission. They should be profoundly ashamed of themselves. We deserve an apology, not more attempted justification of an ill conceived action.
DeleteThe Supervisor and the Republican Chair were at the Legislative meeting tonight just in time to hear Dwight's comments invoking Locke and Hobbes and the concept of the "social contract." I have no doubt that "dey neva hoid of dos guys." And "dey neva hoid" of the concept of the social contract in government. They're too busy doing the good 'ol boy political deals and the Party competition "blood sport" stuff instead of governing - along with Matters, DiMartino, Malone and Mangold.
ReplyDeleteIt's becoming clear as to the genesis of the EG casino resolution, and it isn't pretty. Lots of back channel connection stuff and deals. As Dwight pointed out tonight, when the LLC changes its name to "loose" the "gaming" ID, somebody had to know that something was going on. And then we have word that the Planning Board was sworn to secrecy about some activities. Keith, I think some cats are out of the bag.
Why don't we all protest at all of any upcoming board meetings until we get truthful and honest answers from our elected and appointed people(TB & PB)? Remember, there is strength in numbers! I'll be there.,
ReplyDeleteI agree with Fed up. People with concerns about the no public notice Langley casino proposal should go to the town board meetings and speak their concerns to the town board at the public comment portion of the meeting. If twelve people used their allotted five minutes comment time that would be an HOUR's worth of opinions the Town board would hear. If 24 people each spoke for their five minutes, that would be TWO HOUR's worth. Let's make our voices heard at the town board meeting. I'm sure any media present would appreciate hearing the residents comments as well.
ReplyDeleteMaybe Supervisor Keith "the resolution is the resolution" Langley might explain some of the reasons behind his refusal to call for a public hearing on the casino. Let's turn every single town board meeting into a mini public hearing on the casino process.
God bless America!!!
Dear Gadfly,
ReplyDeleteThere is yet another informative article, written by Kenneth C. Crowe II, in today's edition of the Times-Union regarding the proposed East Greenbush Casino.
All the best,
Tom
There's an excellent article in today's TU by Sean Raleigh who is a member of the Town of Bethlehem Democratic Committee. He addresses the tyranny of the "top-down" government permitted by the wording of Prop. 1 on casino gambling.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.timesunion.com/opinion/article/Electorate-needs-a-say-in-casinos-5460757.php
And here's the link to the Ken Crowe article referred to by Tom Grant:
http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Casino-foes-fear-loss-of-town-s-character-5461650.php
Here are some links to important research which should have been read by the Town Board before they sold us down the river. However, they could read the material and rescind the resolution pending a referrendum.
ReplyDeleteDWI increase studied:
http://www.researchgate.net/publication/46109897_The_impact_of_casinos_on_fatal_alcohol-related_traffic_accidents_in_the_United_States
Casino market saturation, addictive design of slot machines, social costs:
http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2013/10/09/are-casinos-too-much-of-a-gamble
Long term revenue unsustainable, revenue theories are not guarantees:
http://www.itep.org/pdf/pb19gamb.pdf
http://www.ctj.org/taxjusticedigest/archive/2012/06/from_atlantic_city_to_cincinna.php#.U2acRqIf2EU
http://mobile.businessweek.com/articles/2014-04-03/casinos-close-as-revenue-falls-in-gambling-saturated-u-dot-s
Some information on Ohio revenue (I am sure there are better sources that can be found on this topic):
http://www.cantonrep.com/article/20140303/News/140309849
Excellent points on why government should not be supporting casinos as sources of revenue, sources are included:
http://www.getgovernmentoutofgambling.org/21-reasons/
Prop 1 was influential (research conducted by Siena proves that):
http://ballotpedia.org/New_York,_Proposal_1_%282013%29,_Measure_Language_Controversy_and_Lawsuit
Economic theories exposed, social costs of gambling:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/gamble/procon/kindt.html
Social costs of gambling:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2013/09/25/as-native-american-casinos-proliferate-the-social-costs-of-the-gambling-boom-are-ignored/
A report on the gambling industry and the money spent to influence:
http://www.commoncause.org/site/pp.asp?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&b=8340363
APP article series on Atlantic City, the casino bailouts, the term "Walmart" casinos:
http://www.app.com/section/SPECIAL17
Check out the latest post on Talks. Might be worthwhile to leave a comment or two for Supervisor Langley to see.
ReplyDeleteCarrying water for the "behind the scenes boys" on this one has made the entire Board unelectable - unless they do something in the public interest to redeem themselves. I don't expect that, however. I'm told that Mr. Langley has even had the notion of a cross-endorsement dangled in front of his nose. It would make sense that that may just be a part of this casino resolution debacle. If that's the case, it would just mean that the Dems are as deep in the woods as the "Smart Way Forward."
ReplyDeletecross-endorsement is not going to happen
ReplyDeletebank on it
My guess is that he fell for it just long enough to do that casino resolution. I heard he was "coached" by one of the "boys."
DeleteDear Gadfly,
ReplyDeleteI like the idea offered by The Patriot at 9:31 AM.
Concerned citizens should always feel free to utilize their five minute public comment privilege at Town Board meetings to speak on issues of importance to them. There is no topical restriction to these individual comments, as long as they don't exceed five minutes each. Supervisor Langley has also graciously invited everyone to make their comments from the podium, in order for their views to be better heard by all members of the Town Board.
All the best,
Tom
@ Tom Grant,
ReplyDeleteIt also makes it very easy for Television News Cameras and News Radio Microphones to be set up to capture video and audio of the citizen speakers. Paul Vandenburgh and Bill Lambdin, are going to love this!!!
Well boys and girls......Rita Cox of Saratoga Gaming (GAMBLING) and Raceway is now promising celebrity poker tournaments and player rewards programs for the community. She needs to be answering the question of what happens to the residential housing market when a casino comes to town. You think you're having a hard time selling your house now because of high taxes, who do you know who wants to buy in proximity to a gambling casino? Good grief!!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.timesunion.com/default/article/Planned-East-Greenbush-casino-touts-economic-5464417.php
I would like to recommend Michael Conners, Comptroller of Albany County, blog.
ReplyDeleteIt is titled, Casino is no panecea.
Thanks Mary!! Here's the link:
Deletehttp://blog.timesunion.com/conners/casino-is-no-panecea/2538/
The more research reading I do, the more I am convinced that the Town Board and those associated with the current situation did absolutely NO reading whatsoever on the subject.
ReplyDeletehttp://listverse.com/2010/02/09/10-tricks-casinos-use-on-you/
I don't mean to be a simpleton but I see the casino vote this way:
ReplyDeleteWhen I am asked if I like ice cream, the answer is YES, I LOVE ICE CREAM!!
But if someone hands me chocolate ice cream, well...I don't like chocolate ice cream.
Just because we like a general idea...you can't transfer that like to a specific.
The interesting thing about my conversations with neighbors and friends about having a casino in EG is that everyone thinks they already know what impact it will have on our town. Yesterday I had two neighbors tell me they love the idea because our property values will skyrocket. When I offered that the National Association of Realtors believes just the opposite they laughed it off. One said "That can't possibly be true." Can't it? How would anyone know unless they researched the subject in depth and with some objectivity. The Gadfly is right that our Town Board didn't do it and I don't believe the county did either. For some reason people think the question is intuitive and they already know the answer.
ReplyDeletePeople are starting to organize in opposition to the casino proposal and the information they (we) are starting to amass is troubling. Several studies conclude that problem gambling doubles within a fifty mile radius of a new casino. The "trusted local team" that is threatening to destroy our town promises an "aggressive campaign against problem gambling." Do you believe they think people who spend too much time and money in a casino are a problem?
Let's not be naïve about the motives of these people. The profit margin is all that matters so why are their fliers filled with love and concern for you and me and the schoolchildren of East Greenbush? Because they know most people will not think this through carefully and if they toss us a few bones we'll lap it up like the ignorant local yokels they believe us to be.
Don't give them the satisfaction of playing us like they played our town board and county legislature. Join the fight. Learn what you can. Reach out to other people who agree with you. Attend the protest before the May 21st town board meeting. Demand that our elected officials either represent us or get out of our way. They've already rolled over but we don't have to make the same mistake.
Jack.....Please refer your neighbors who think real estate values will "skyrocket" to this study from our neighbor Massachusetts:
Deletehttp://uss-mass.org/property_values.html
Once again I invite all the people who think property values will skyrocket to visit Salamanca, NY.
DeleteSalamanca, NY, at the risk of being impolite, is a rural ghetto. Atlantic City one block off of Atlantic Avenue is, again at the risk of being impolite, a dump. None of all that casino money spilled over into any local businesses. Those predictions are as phony as the idea that casinos are built off the winners. Get real folks.
There are fact based analysis available to anyone interested and willing to look and listen beyond the lobbyist's hype.
I remember like it was yesterday the statements that Fed Ex would make an economic impact on the local economy to the exact tune of $32 million.
Jack, ask those same neighbors if they know where a dime of that $32 million might happen to be as it impacts the local East Grenbush economy.
Lobbyists lobby. They represent their clients and no on else. They will say and do anything to advance their client's interests. Remember all those people showing up at the FedEx public hearings? They made all kinds of super positive statements and none of us had the slightest idea who they were in terms of being town residents. Folks, that's because they were paid lobbyists. Bought and sold to sell their brand of snake oil to the good people of East Greenbush.
Unfortunately, the government being involved in gambling is very troubling for so many reasons including language in the Upstate New York Gaming Economic Development Act of 2013: "Title 7 Problem Gambling: Each Gaming Facility Licensee, Management Company, and Holding Company involved in the application and ownership or management of a gamin facility shall provide to the commission, as applicable, an applicant's problem gambling plan." Our state knows there will be gambling addiction, but they still endorsed this as a source of revenue.
ReplyDeleteThe Saratoga group is doing nothing that they do not NEED to do. This includes the info in the Times Union today..."Saratoga Gaming and Raceway said it plans to boost the surrounding economy through its proposed casino on Thompson Hill Road." Guess what....they do not have our interest in mind-- it is part of the application evaluation and will score points towards being awarded a license: Local Impact and Siting Factors - 20 percent: "Operating in partnership with and promoting local hotels, restaurants and retail facilities so that patrons experience the full diversified regional tourism industry".
Like Jack, I am also talking to my neighbors and other parents. They put their trust in the elected officials to make ethical, principled decisions but they are not fully aware of complex and shady this process has been....they want shops, restaurants, and development on 9 & 20. Out of the dozens of casual conversations I have had, I have only heard from 2 people that they want to gamble. Most residents do not understand that the casino is going to hurt the existing businesses by drawing residents away from them. It is designed to be an all inclusive destination, why would anyone from out of town go anywhere else?
Also, on those glossy brochures there are photos of children playing! Where are the watch dogs who should be protecting children from marketing towards children? There are rumors that the developers will have PLAYING FIELDS for children behind the casino! What will our government allow next in the name of revenue?
I myself like to gamble once in awhile, but don't want this any where me or my family.
DeleteWe have been sold up the river by are elected politicians. I have talked to people too, and most of the people are against this.
You are right Tina if anything this will hurt local business, the only local business it might help are the gas stations.