I've read some really dumb stuff in my day, but our Deputy Supervisor's Post today in the Times Union is really over the top. So I decided to post it here so our loyal readers could have at it. Here's the first question Eddie.....do you know what due diligence is? You and your buddies haven't tested the numbers on the slick brochures from the developers, have you? You don't even know whether the proposed land can make it through the environmental reviews. There's an aquifer up there, and federal wetlands. It's zoned R-B. There are traffic issues, sewer, water, storm water, police, fire, EMT questions which haven't been asked or answered yet. That's the content of due diligence Mr. Deputy Supervisor. And you have not gotten one commitment from the developer except perhaps election campaign support.
So here it is from Ed Gilbert is all his legendary glory:
"I am for the East Greenbush casino and I’ll tell you why. Regardless
of what you read on some of the other blogs, the fact remains this is a
$300 million economic improvement to East Greenbush. Even if the
estimates are half of what they are right now East Greenbush stands to
benefit tremendously.
There are those who say that East Greenbush leadership hasn’t done
its due diligence. What they fail to comprehend is that commercial
development is part of the everyday activity of municipal government.
When you have dealt with commercial developers day in and day out there
are certain givens that you understand right away. One of which is a 300
million dollar development is a good thing. It brings jobs, it brings revenue and it brings ancillary benefits as well.
I am more than a little sick and tired of the blogs on East Greenbush
intimating that the leadership has no idea what it’s doing when it
comes to planning for a casino in the town. Those who understand the
process know perfectly well that things are going exactly as they should
be. I am talking specifically about the East Greenbush Gadfly blog and
East Greenbush Talks blog.
These two blogs have made it their mission take cheap shots at the
leadership of East Greenbush. The Gadfly blog is strictly against the
casino and the Talks blog is strictly against Keith Langley and the
Republican majority. Both of them have their own individual axes to
grind and in my humble opinion neither of them should be taken
seriously. There is a small third blog that is gaining traction in East
Greenbush. Egknows has squared off against both blogs, and while their
first post seems antagonistic we hope for better stuff from them in the
future.
But back to my original theme. The casino in East Greenbush is a
great thing for our town. It’s been argued that “thousands” are against
this casino (it’s actually closer to hundreds-low hundreds). I’ve been
to every hearing, every Town meeting and I’ve knocked on doors
throughout the town. While those against the casino have been the vocal
minority they seem to think that their ratio of for and against at
hearings stands for the whole town.
Most of those that I have heard against the casino at East Greenbush
are either from Best Road, Mannix Road, Thompson Hill or have children
that attend the Montessori school or the Girl Scout camp. These are what
are commonly referred to as Not In My Backyard. While I sympathize with
their plight I think it’s irresponsible for any municipality to allow
the tail to wag the dog. The leadership must do what’s in the best
interest of all of East Greenbush and that’s what they’re doing.
Show me how 1700 construction jobs, 1700 permanent full-time jobs, and
the revenue from property taxes and the gate are bad thing and I will
reconsider – but I doubt you can."
I respect Ed's right to his opinion but to pretend that he has his finger on the pulse of the town is silly. He only talks to people who agree with him and then comes to the earthshaking conclusion that people agree with him. In the study of logic, t's called tautology and is expressed mathematically as 0=0. Which isn't a bad mathematical formula to describe Ed's knowledge of the impacts of a casino on a town like ours.
ReplyDeleteWhich member of town government deals with commercial development every day? The Town Planner. Oh that's right, the Smart Way Forward eliminated the position. The Town Engineer? Gone too. But if the town is dealing with commercial development every day then why do we need a casino? If Ed did his research he would learn that the "revenue" he thinks we're going to get is money sucked out of our pockets. Let's say we got a tax break - and even my cat started laughing when I typed that - it isn't money the developers are giving us, it's a small percentage of our money that was lost in the sinkhole they want to build. The rest of our money will go as massive profits to the owners and, trust me Ed, they're laughing at you and your buddies right now. They can't believe there exists a town that was so easy to rob. Pretend you're running with the big dogs but to them you're just a convenient fire hydrant to ... well you know the rest.
The 'low hundreds?' We handed in 2,035 signatures to the Gaming Commission and have gotten another 35 since yesterday. A large majority of the town opposes a casino and an even greater number is outraged by the failure of our Supervisor and Town Board to protect the public interest. I love the language: we're the 'vocal minority' while your crowd is the 'silent majority.' No, Ed, we're the vocal majority and you're the silent minority. Silent when answers should have been demanded from the developers, silent on the devastating impacts a casino will bring, silent on why you folded the second these shysters and snake oil salesmen winked at you. Denial is great. Doing your job is even better.
Where do I begin? Why is it that anytime Ed Gilbert speaks or writes about East Greenbush I feel a need to respond?
ReplyDeleteFirst off, Ed, you should disclose that you are a Town employee, the Deputy Supervisor in fact, and that you get paid a stipend by the Town. Why do I think that the very fact that you are writing your post without such disclosure somehow violates ethical standards? Oh yes I forgot you are the Chair of the Town’s ethics board. So you must know that.
Second – much of your post is conjecture and not fact based. The opposition to the Casino is not a few hundred people as you like to believe, but numbers well over a thousand. Obviously you have never checked the on-line petition sponsored by Save East Greenbush or you would have known that. Paper petitions are filed as well.
Third, many of us have walked through different neighborhoods comprising East Greenbush from Hampton Manor to Huntswood and beyond. I don’t know where you have been. You and the Board talk about the “silent majority” but if you practiced “due diligence” you would know no silent majority exists.
Ed, first it is utterly unseemingly for the chair of the Ethics Board to be speaking and especially to be speaking in such a partisan way on such a hot bed issue.
ReplyDeleteNext, you failed in your article to describe your partisan interest in the casino project. That's two unseeminglys in one article. Nice going.
Do you remember the Fed Ex project? Do you remember the public being told that Fed Ex would bring a whopping $32 million economic impact? Can you help all of us locate that $32 million. The reality is it is a made up number - just like all of yours.
Why can't you commit to a tax reduction number? You write and speak with such eloquence and yet you, and your bosses, cannot or will not commit themselves to the numbers that would really and truly benefit people in our town. Hedging your bets perhaps? Not sure perhaps? Didn't do your homework perhaps? Afraid to put your word out there perhaps?
Why can't you tell us about the downside of a casino? Are you so blind that you cannot see? Are you that lacking in objectivity?
Ed, you lack credibility. You have, sadly, become the public shill for Langley's incompetence as a speaker. Nice try. Really nice try but your 15 minutes of fame ended just about with the adjornement of the 2014 organizational meeting.
Ed, the only thing you, and your minions have achieved is uniting the Gadfly and Talks bloggers. That's one heck of a political legacy. Congratulations.
ReplyDeleteNow, how about something a bit more balanced, more open and honest, more turthful and more respecting the people in our town's fundamental intelligence.
Ed, has the thought ever occured to you that it was the complete lack of transparency and the complete lack of information supplied to taxpayers that is at the root of your problem. Can you see that your problems are of your own making?
ReplyDeleteAnd by what magic do you criticize any blog after what you and Defruscio put out there? Your blogs were disgusting, vile, evil even.
A great leader once told me that there is nothing wrong with bullshit; everyone does it. The problem becomes when you begin to believe your own bullshit. You're there man. You're really, really there.
Bonnie Lester says:
ReplyDeleteYour comment is awaiting moderation.
June 30, 2014 at 4:13 pm
Ed, those are estimated numbers you are throwing out there. The question really is who gets what and there are no specific answers. Just like FedEx was vague in who gets what. I think if you were not the Town’s Deputy Supervisor, your post would be totally different. I would like to know the financial peril our town is in, as you say, needing a casino for a financial recovery plan. Tens of thousands of dollars spend on audits and we the taxpayers have yet to see anything on paper. Will the sky fall if we don’t get a casino? It’s time that the information that you and others are privy to be released, as far as the town’s financials are concerned. Just tell us as much as you know to date. We are Not a slum community, lots of money in our town. Development is taking place, Ed.
Casinos are promise brakes, did you do your homework and google casino aftermaths? Lots of stories out there Ed, about casino bailouts and folding. Yes, EG could use more jobs, but why settle for casino jobs? Why are you saying we need in effect, a casino to rescue us? Are you in touch with people on the planning board? Do they say we have no future unless a casino comes to town?
All I am hearing from Town Hall is, we must have a casino, and frankly Ed, I’m getting sick of hearing it. I’ve been saying for two months, do what you were elected to do (TB). I’m not going to spell it out, because it already was spelled out in last year’s Advertiser. Work with what you already have. You know Ed, I’m being honest here with you. It disgusts me to even think, that our town leadership wants us to prosper on the backs of thousands of people who will lose hundreds of millions of dollars on the proposed casino. Now that is my personal feelings I’m sharing with you and others here. Hey, many will disagree, but will they print their name? If not, I’ll not expect any personal attacks.
Also, I do disagree with you on the tail wagging thing. Why not respect and care about our neighbors on Thompson Hill? Why should we throw their neighborhood, private school and the Girl Scout Camp under the bus? My gosh Ed, you sound so cold hearted. You are suggesting that it is good to sacrifice all of them, when the sacrifices that are of the greater value here, lies in Town Hall.
When ED says he has "knocked on doors" in our community remember that it is petition time. It strengthens Jack's point that Ed only speaks to those who agree with him because when you carry petitions you are knocking on the doors of like minded individuals of a particular political party who are likely to be inclined to sign a petition for the candidates you are carrying petitions for.
ReplyDeleteIs Ed Gilbert still the Chairperson of the Town Ethics Board? If so, is his partisan blog posting appropriate for an Ethics Board Chairperson?
DeleteThere is NO leadership in Town, Ed. None, nada, zip, zilch!
ReplyDeleteThere will not be ANY leadership in town until November 2015 when we wipe out SWF and the frauds they have placed in positions of power.
DeleteWe are ALL being openly screwed over by MAM and Gilbert, Langley and Dimartino.
The level of incompetence of these SWF people is without a doubt the worst we've ever experienced in East Greenbush politics - ever !
The question that needs to be asked of Mr. Gilbert is this, Why are you still promoting what the casino people themselves seem to have abandoned? They have stopped their tv ads, no more promotional news on what is to be included in their proposal and even Rita Cox did not speak with reporters today when the proposals were submitted. Why, if someone was so supportive or confident in their proposal, would you not promote it right to the submission date? Could it be that they have their sights set elsewhere? This isn't a pot of gold, it's a mirage!
ReplyDeleteMaryann Matters asked Featherstonough if he'd be gone if they didn't get selected and he said, he never left before... and yet, he seems to be MIA these days. When the opposition to a proposal gets more media time than the proposal itself, you'd think the municipality would read the same handwriting on the wall that the investors do. Do you truly believe you are in the right when both you and Maryann Matters spend more of your time defending your actions than promoting the development. Here's an important point, if there is truly a silent majority and this is truly the very best thing for the Town's future, why would the majority remain silent? Why are they not standing behind you and fighting for the future of our Town WITH you as you would suggest the casino promises to ensure?
Finally, simply put, good bad or indifferent, the proposals, side by side are not equal. East Greenbush is never going to be seen as more needy than Rensselaer. If you had done your due diligence, you would know from your casino friends that major casino players, (of which the Saratoga people are not), know that casinos are not typically located in affluent communities. They prefer to go where things are already bad so they can't be accused of bringing things down. By their logic, there is only an upside, which would be the case in Rensselaer. Over 50% of the people in Rensselaer are on some form of public assistance. Not a slight, it's a fact. By the Mayor's own admission, 60% of the property in the City is not on the tax rolls. How does the EG proposal compare to that? The simple answer is Ed, that it doesn't. Feathers seems to have accepted that fact. It's time to let the chips fall where they may and focus on the rest of the Town's business. If you're hanging your hat for your administrative record on a casino coming in... maybe you should have a back up plan. Seems like Feathers does!
Ed.... I hope you are reading and communicating to Mary Ann and Deb and Sue and Phil and KEITH and CHRIS what is being written on this and the TU blog. You people really screwed up. Following the lead of the money boys trying to make a killing on the property was not the thing to do.
ReplyDeleteYou folks have a lot to learn about politics, but the first lesson is that we don't want any more "machine" crapola around here anymore.
just came from Ed's post on the TU blog he posted are views.....I will put mine here too, though
ReplyDeleteEd,
Since you and I live in the same neighborhood, you must have went door to door in a different neighborhood then the one we live in? I know I have been door to door, and the majority of the people I talked to were against it, all be it hard to judge on such a small sample.
Either way no matter what happens, you and anyone else on or associated with the town board will NOT get a vote from this house, and it doesn't matter party affiliation
Ed, you are a political hack. That's not necessarily a bad thing - all politicians have a hack. But that is what you have become and what you are.
ReplyDeleteYour approach to being a hack has cost you the respect of others and your credibility. You lost your integrity with that ill advised effort to silence Johnson, Jenkins and Mooney.
Get over yourself will you please?
To Jim_CJune 30, 2014 at 11:54 PM--
ReplyDeleteI second that motion! No votes from this house either or from any of the houses whose doors I knocked on. Shame really--they squandered an opportunity and now it is lost.
To Jack Conway.. Many are saying that you are being hypocritical. Please explain how you can be against the siting of a casino on Thompson Hill Road and yet the potential siting in Rensselaer doesn't even raise your eyebrow. Jack I would suggest that the Rensselar site is closer to your home than the East Greenbush site.
ReplyDeleteIf the residents of Amsterdam want a Casino so bad they should get it. We don't want it here. Say no to a casino in Renseelaer county.
ReplyDeleteHampton Manor Resident:
ReplyDeleteI am 100% against the casino in Rensselaer and have said so in no uncertain terms. But just as I don't like these people from Saratoga telling the people of East Greenbush what to do, I don't believe I have the right to tell the people of Rensselaer what to do. When we were delivering our submission to the Gaming Commission I was asked about the Rensselaer casino by Channel 13 and I told them what I just told you. Bill Lambdin responded: "So you want it far away. How far away?" I said "Wyoming."
Within the Save East Greenbush group there was a small sentiment that we should push the Rensselaer alternative. I fought that every step of the way. A casino in Rensselaer raises more than my eyebrows, it raises my ire. But my fight is in East Greenbush and I'm not done fighting.
Jack, You are acting irrational. What is the difference between an imaginary line dividing E.G. and Renss.. Both sites will have the same negative impact on the residents of both municipalities. The Mayor in Rensselaer is attempting to rob the economically challenged residents he represents and he is without regard attempting to do the same to the residents of E.G.. Jack I'm disappointed in you. Thought you were capable of more.
DeleteI have known Jack Conway for a few years now. In all that time he and I have discussed many, many things. We often agree; we sometimes disagree. But in all those many discussions I have NEVER, not for a single second, known Jack Conway to be irrational.
DeleteInstead I have found Jack to be a pillar of rational thinking, of careful analysis, of decent behavior - even in the face of insults and other chaos around him.
Jack is a fairly rare breed. He and Don Johnson and Dwight Jenkins have the simplest of objectives and that is nothing more complicated than what is best for the people of East Greenbush.
Jack Conway is a good and decent man. He looks for the good in others. He takes great care with what he says and what he writes. Am I biased? I guess. I am biased toward people who care and whatever else you might think of Jack Conway don't ever forget for a single second that he cares passionately about the town.
Dear Manor Resident Also:
DeleteI understand your frustration with the casino process and I agree that any casino in the Capital District will have devastating effects on all surrounding communities. However, I completely disagree with your criticism of Jack who has worked very hard on proving that casinos in any community are detrimental.
Please become involved in the efforts to stop any casino. There is a Facebook page No Casinos in the Capital District. Please join the Save East Greenbush group, and please call Mayor Dwyer (518) 462-9511 to let him know how you feel. We are all in this together and more members will help the group become stronger.
Tina, FYI I called the Rensselaer Mayors office today and was told that the Mayor is not taking Anti Casino calls and that he wants the Casino. She was to the point of being rude. I guess we lose either way if Rens. or EG is granted the license.
DeleteThis is a failed policy initiative from the get-go, "funded" through the legislature by Feathers and his friends. Government sponsored gambling has run out of steam, and our locals fell for the hype from some desperate people.
DeleteAdmittedly, I was the one in the group unopposed to a casino in Rensselaer yet opposed to an EG casino and the reasons had not a wit to do with "not in my backyard". Rensselaer's site is zoned for such an entertainment venue, I attended the Rensselaer presentation and at the end of the presentation there was a warm applause and everyone (with the exception of two gentlemen) expressed satisfaction with the proposal in their city with Hard Rock, and Rensselaer meets the economic criteria set by the State and EG does not, I do not pay Rensselaer taxes, reside in Rensselaer, work in Rensselaer or participate in anyway in Rensselaer therefore, I do not have the right to tell Rensselaer they should or should not have a casino, that is up to Rensselaer's taxpayers and residents. It wasn't a case of "not in my backyard" as much as it was a case of "none of my business". Those are some of the reasons I am unopposed to Rensselaer's plan. I truly believe if people had attended the presentation in Rensselaer they would have walked away with a feeling that the vast majority of the people in Rensselaer welcome Hard Rock and Capital Region OTB which is not the case in EG.
ReplyDeleteIt is up to the people and the governing body of Rensselaer to oppose the casino. There are no imaginary lines; there are real lines that are divided by who pays what municipality's taxes. We don't pay Rensselaer's taxes, we don't live in Rensselaer and Rensselaer's governing body approved a site that is zoned for such an entertainment venue; EG governing body did not. If the people of Rensselaer want to fight it then by all means they have the same rights that the people of EG have but if the Rensselaer residents are in favor of the casino and Hard Rock's proposal, EG residents have no right and, quite frankly Rensselaer wouldn't listen to EG residents because EG residents don't vote in Rensselaer elections.
ReplyDeleteThe lines dividing EG and Rensselaer are not imaginary; they are real lines divided by voting districts and taxes as well as maps.
Jack--is vehemently opposed to a casino anywhere as was the rest of the group. I believe I was the one small sentiment that was not opposed to Rensselaer. Jack is not a hypocrite; he knows the boundaries and the influence EG residents do NOT have on Rensselaer's governing body. That is for the people of Rensselaer to decide.
A word about casino jobs...
ReplyDeleteThe majority of the jobs in any casino are low paying, just above minimum wage jobs. The majority of the employees in a casino works as housekeepers, cocktail waitresses, bartenders and dealers. Most of these jobs are part time so the casino can avoid paying for things like health benefits.
The housekeeping jobs are often temporary jobs because room occupancy varies.
The cocktail waitress jobs feature tight, uncomfortable uniforms that demean women - as does the work.
I know, I know a job is a job and any job is better than no job. But somewhere along the way maybe someone should ask Keith Langley if he would want his very nice daughter working as a cocktail waitress in the East Greenbush casino.
Dear Gadfly,
ReplyDeleteFormer NYC Mayor Ed Koch famously said: "If you agree with me on 9 out of 12 issues you should probably support me .If you agree with me on 12 out of 12 issues you should probably see a psychiatrist."
I don't agree with Jack Conway on every single issue and I strongly support him.
We need more people like Jack Conway involved in our government.
All the best,
Tom
Manor Resident Also:
ReplyDeleteI think we agree on the casino in Rensselaer and I understand the implications for Hampton Manor. The line between Rensselaer and East Greenbush is imaginary in one sense but they are different jurisdictions and I don't have a vote there. Ann Taylor is right about this. Me and a hundred other people have put in thousands of hours fighting the casino on Thompson Hill and there's only so much effort you can expend. Until a few weeks ago Rensselaer wasn't even in the running. If anyone down there wanted to talk or needed some research that we've already done I would give them everything we have in the blink of an eye.
It's okay if you're disappointed in me. I'm often disappointed in myself. I've always tried to do the right thing but I'm willing to accept the consequences. Someone on the Talks blog said I was polarizing people who used to like me. All I can say is if you take a strong stand, some number of people are going to disagree with you and some will start to dislike you. That's okay too. If you told me we could defeat the casino but every single person in town would despise me I'd say bring on the rancor. The joy of watching Feathers high tail it out of town would be enough for me.
Manor Resident, why is it all or nothing to you? I'm thankful for Jack's contribution to the SAVE EAST GREENBUSH group. I would love to see a casino as far away from my home as possible, too. I suggest you contact Jack personally and talk over a good cup of coffee.
ReplyDeleteBonnie Lester says:
ReplyDeleteYour comment is awaiting moderation.
July 2, 2014 at 3:46 pm
Ed, as Chair of the Ethics Board you should have followed Jack’s example of behavior. He did not become a blog host, spitting out all manner of things. He did not receive an appointed position with a title and salary at Town Hall. You have to separate yourself to do the job ethically. I agree with Jack, that you are a walking conflict of interest. I truly believe that if someone else was doing what you are now, that you would have called them out on the matter. Ed, you did so much better advocating for the good citizens of EG when you posed the hard questions toward the TB.
You accepted the job as Deputy Supervisor so go at it and do what your told to do. That’s to be expected. I strongly feel you should not be on the Ethics board. You are not neutral, you can’t be because you are strongly connected to the power players in town. The fact that you get a salary, no matter how small should eliminate you. Again, I’m just sharing my perspectives here. Ed, I would feel the same if anyone else held these two positions. Tell me how you justify holding these two positions? Btw, who appointed you to the Ethics Committee?
Ed, there is so much good you can do for our town, but quite frankly you have me really puzzled. As well the whole TB has me puzzled. Turning our little community. Into a freaking gambling town. Casinos are like parasites, they may go undecided for a while, but given time they ravish their host and those who come in close contact with them. Ed, what changed you?
Holy cow ! I just caught up with the T-U blog. Where are all of Ed's supporters? I did not do a formal poll but I would say the comments are running 100% against !
ReplyDeleteSilent majority? Ed, to quote John McEnroe: "You can't be serious."
I kind of get Ed's drinking the Langley Kool-Aide. I guess that's the price of admission to the current town board good old boys and girls club.
But 100% against? Gee whiz Ed. Time to fold you tent and work a whole, whole lot harder at running the town properly and putting together a real fiscal turn around plan - don't you think ?
I have always believed that Langley is kind of lazy. I know that's not so nice. But I now think that his basic lazziness led him to think he could run the town without trying too much and working too hard if he could pull off this casino scam. But the work required to make that happen has also eluded him and his team. So, now Ed is reduced to whinning about the blogs.
You are going to have to come up with a whole lot more substantive game plan at this time, Ed. Whining about the blogs is not the greatest selling tool.
If you want continued support of No casino in East Greenbush, you have to let the people of Rensselaer go. They made their choice. You do not pay their taxes. Your kids do not go to their schools. You do not need to worry about their problems. If you want to get continued support from the media and everyone else you have to let Rensselaer go. Does it suck for you, perhaps. But mark my words, fight Rensselaer and you fight yourselves. Fight Thompson Hill and you save yourselves. Fight Rensselaer and you ruin everything you fought for. Instead of being concerned citizens you look like Nosy neighbors who don't like anyone.
ReplyDeleteThe lack of leadership among the current majority is, very sadly, stunning.
ReplyDeleteEd Gilbert is not an elected official. He cannot vote. He is a discredited chair of the so called Ethics Board. And now he is the spokesperson for the biggest, most complicated, more serious issue facting this town in decades.
...and all he's got is the blogs are taking what appears to be very legitimate cheap shots at the multiple leadership failures of the current majority.
Not good Ed and Keith. Not good; not good at all.
This issue has absolutely nothing to do where you pay taxes. This has to do with the NEGATIVE IMPACT these casino sites will have on our communities. Both sites whether East Greenbush or Rensselaer are selected will have a negative impact on our town. In fact that sleazy proposal that Dwyer is trying to sell in Rensselaer will produce an outcome consistent with Atlantic city or worse. We in East Greenbush are going to pay an awful price if we don't pay attention to Rensselaer. That Rensselaer site will cost East Greenbush taxpayers certain tax increases to manage the negative affects if it's allowed to be built there.
ReplyDeleteTo NO CASINOJuly 3, 2014 at 7:42 AM---It has everything to do with where you pay taxes because if you don't pay taxes and/or have voting rights in a municipality the elected officials don't quite care much about what you think. If you do not pay taxes to Rensselaer and/or vote in Rensselaer, the Rensselaer Mayor and City Council are not compelled to listen to you.
ReplyDeleteIt is not to say the negative impacts stop at the Rens/EG border but the residents' effectiveness stops at the border because the elected officials have no need to do the bidding for the EG residents that have a disdain for casinos. If the majority of the Rens residents are against a casino they can fight it just as we are but if the majority of the Rens residents welcome the casino then THOSE are the people the Rens City Council will listen to and rightfully so...THOSE are the people that pay their salaries and vote in the Rens elections.
I just re-read Ed's T-U blog post. This is not scientific because I did not actually count anything. I think I found exactly 1 "FOR" comment about a casino but even that comment spoke negatively abvout how the town board has handled the issue.
ReplyDeleteEd, dude, give it up man. You, and your friends have met the enemy - and they is y'all - no kidding around. You may have been able to screw this up worse but I don't see how. You made a terrible decision, based on way too little fact based information and you proceeded to implement that decision very, very badly.
There's an old saying...when you have dug yourself into a hole stop shoveling. Ed, stop shoveling. Honestly, we have all had enough of your bullshit.
Have there been any comments, supportive or otherwise, from Deputy Supervisor Ed Gilbert's boss, Supervisor Keith Langley, regarding Mr. Gilbert's most recent blog post? I did read something about Mr. Langley announcing the location of a Starbucks in the old KFC location on 9 and 20.
ReplyDeleteToday is the anniversary of the beginning of the end of the Tyranny of George the Third. And I just read Dwight's summary of the individual meetings that Feathers had with Mary Ann Matters, Sue Mangold, Phil Malone and Deb DiMartino on the No Casino FaceBook page. It's absolutely outrageous. What could they have been "thinking?" To subvert the intention of the Open Meetings Law on the most important decision ever to face a governing body in this Town is malfeasance in my view - and just as "tyrannical" in its own way as that of George the Third. And it seems that the developer was asking them to do it. I think Jack Conway is right in suggesting that in this matter the Board has made itself irrelevant. And they want to call it "due diligence." Good grief.
ReplyDeleteIt looks more and more like the whole bunch was carrying water for the developer and some real estate "speculation" on Thompson Hill. That's the only thing that explains the "choice" of the most illogical and inappropriate piece of property in the region as the site for a casino.
The McCabe administration and the democratic party majority was bad; the Langley administration and the republican party majority is worse.
ReplyDeleteWho would have thought such a thing were possible? Can't there be alimit in all these politicians continuing race to the bottom? Apparently not.
That's not to suggest for a single second that McCabe should consider a comeback. He is deeply yesterday's news.
But Langley is presiding over the period of greatest strife, deepest division, least support for the biggest town project in history. And he is handling that responsibility is the worst way possible. Completing incompetent, completely divorced from reality, completely ignorant of the right thing to do, completely out of touch with the people and completely lacking in leadership, communication and empathy.
Sorry Keith that's just the way you have chosen to do things. Own it. Go away, go far, far away and as soon as possible.
I agree with Anon, 4:41 PM. I would like to add, "and take DiMartino, Malone, Mangold and Matters with you". Hate to see you go, hate to see you go, hope to heck you NEVER COME BACK, hate to see you go.
ReplyDeleteTo Jack Conway, Could you please share with us, of the 2000 signatures that signed the no casino petition, how many were East Greenbush residents old enough to vote. Thank You
ReplyDeleteHampton manor resident ;Is 55 old enough for you ??? Yes, I signed the petition ! And Yes I still vote!!!
DeleteMr. Buell Jr, You may be old enough to vote, all you need to do is learn how to read. You are being very arrogant, when all I'm trying to do is understand, and process the information being presented by Jack Conway.
DeleteHampton Manor Resident,
ReplyDeleteGive us your name and we will give you the world!!!
Ok well not the world, but the info you so inquire about!!!
Hampton Manor Resident
ReplyDeleteWith a lot of help from a lot of people I put together the 360+ page submission made by Save East Greenbush to the NYS Gaming Commission on June 30. I did some small edits on the petition tabulation sheet, gathered, selected and edited a section called 'Representative Comments from the Online Petition' and oversaw the production of the final copies of the petitions themselves. I'd have to ask the person who coordinated the petition for any specific breakdown. By the way we've gotten nearly 100 more signatures since we submitted to the Gaming Commission.
But before I do that I must tell you that I have a two response limit with anonymous bloggers. So if you really want the answer to your questions you need to tell me your real name. 'Hampton Manor Resident' doesn't cut it. My cat is a Hampton Manor Resident. I put myself out here and am willing to answer any question you ask but I feel no obligation to deliver facts to someone who won't even establish the fact of their identity.
Today's Times Union Editorial is right on point. The Moodys report on the viability of casinos means slow down and re-examine the policy represented by Prop 1. Like we've been saying, the casino expansion initiative is a last gasp of a dying revenue source. The Governor made a big mistake in trying to take care of his friend Feathers and company.
ReplyDeletehttp://blog.timesunion.com/opinion/wait-on-casino-licenses/29856/
Paul Vandenburgh just made and excellent point on 1300....surprise surprise!! He said that in view of the fact that only one of the four casino projects in this region is going to be chosen, when the choice is made there will be four very unhappy applicants. In the light of that, there had better not be any "political wiring" going on in the choosing of the winner. If there is any appearance of that, there will be some big bucks lined up to examine the choice process.
ReplyDeleteI personally like the point he's making because it calls some attention to the EG proposal and how in the world somebody could think the property chosen by Feathers and company could be thought of as appropriate for a casino operation. It's the most illogical and inappropriate piece of land in the region for a casino. How could that have happened????
Question: while you and others are all keeping an eye on whether or not Langley and Gilbert are selling the farm out from under us, who's watching Corellis and the Fiacco boy while they get absolutely nothing accomplished this summer? No black topping, no potholes filled and clearly no parks and rec. clean-ups. This town is falling apart under the Defruscio influenced SWF reign of terror.
ReplyDeleteWho do we hold accountable? Where's the tax dollars going if nothings getting done?
I said it before and I'll say it again...regardless of the politics Dave Van Wormer was the best DPW Commissioner of the last four - by far.
DeleteDave was always responsive - even on weekends. His answers to questions and problems were always first rate and completely professional. Town Park never looked so good under Dave and his team's leadership and efforts.
I received a call from my daughter, yesterday, when she returned home from a town on the outskirts of Buffalo. She was surprised to see so many NO CASINO signs all over the area. It was nice to hear that we are not alone.
ReplyDeleteRESIDENT GROUP CALLS FOR TRANSPARENCY IN CASINO SITING PROCESS; CONCERNS OVER UNDUE INFLUENCE OF LOBBYING DOLLARS
ReplyDeleteEast Greenbush, NY (July 7, 2014). Residents of East Greenbush opposed to a casino are calling on Governor Cuomo and his appointees at the Gaming Facility Location Board to respond to concerns over undue influence of casino lobbying contributions. A NYPIRG report released today states that over $11 million has been spent on lobbying politicians in the push to legalize casino gambling and influence the siting process.
“What’s most troubling about this report is that many of the players are not even named,” said East Greenbush resident Tina Tierney. “Feathersonhaugh was President of the Gaming Association until just this past April - two months before bids were due. During Feathers’ official reign, the Association has donated $2 million to Cuomo already. How else could his bid for a casino next to a girl scout camp, two schools, and facing strong resident opposition still be in the running?”
“We know how Feathers works,” said Elizabeth Wade. “We have the FOIL’d notes from his one on one meetings with the EG Town Board to prove it. He does back room deals to get what he wants. We have good reason to believe he is at work in the same way right now in the location process. We want to know how a town with a median household income of over $78,000 is even being considered. To put a casino here, in fact, would be in direct violation of the intent of the Upstate Gaming Act.”
Only 42% of registered voters in East Greenbush responded to the controversially worded Proposition 1 in 2013. The proposition, which asked if voters would support casinos in upstate NY without specifying location, passed by only 183 votes in the town. Of registered voters in East Greenbush, less than one quarter support casino gambling generally and even less a casino at Thompson Hill Road. There has been no referendum on the East Greenbush site.
The resident group Save East Greenbush has filed suit in Rensselaer County Supreme Court over the Town Board resolution that “bypassed public opinion.” (Times Union, 6/5/14) The legal petition states that the EG resolution was adopted at a public meeting held in violation of the NYS Open Meetings Law; was adopted without having undergone any environmental review as required under the NY State Environmental Quality Review Act; and was arbitrary and capricious, an abuse of discretion, and an error of law.
Jeff Meyer, of Meyer and Fuller Law Firm, said his group will continue to challenge other actions of the town, including zoning and land use approvals needed for the project. "We will show that a casino isn't even permitted to be in this area period," said Meyer, who specializes in municipal and land-use law.
June 7, 2014 USA Today:
ReplyDelete"gaming wealth never spilled very far into the shabby neighborhoods in the casinos shadows." In other words Columbia Turnpike will get no better because of a casino.
"Gaming tax revenues only bolstered the bankrupt local politics." Could local politics in East Greenbush be any more bankrupt?
"the contrast between the casinos and the rest of the city was stark." This point has been made about other towns in New York as well - Salamanca has been used as an example in the past.
"Each casino was an entity unto itself focused on luring people into the casino and keeping them there." Jack Conway advanced this argument - and Jack was, and is, 100% right on.
"As tax revenues declined so did city services." East Greenbush needs a fiscal re-structuring plan and the town needs it right now.
Folks, I am almost positive everyone who questions or is opposed to the idea of a casino in East Greenbush has made one, or more, of these points. These quotes are NOT from any other source than the independent reporting of USA Today for June 7, 2014.
Some more important reading related to the Press Release:
ReplyDeletehttp://wamc.org/post/new-york-casino-process-edges-forward?utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=WAMCNews+to+Twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed
What is funny is with DeLaet's landing being empty in Rensselaer for more then six years no casinos had to pour money into politics to get them to offer up themselves. The property was agreed to be the best choice for a casino or hotel. So the only thing needed was a willing casino backer. No money exchanged hands. In fact the Mayor had to call up casinos and offer the property to them since the hotel fell thru before.
ReplyDeleteWell here's the Executive Summary of Feather's application to the Gaming Commission. Read it and then tell us if the Board did its job in due diligence. Couple of neighborhood insults in there though. We got screwed by our own people who were to defend our interests. They lied.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.gaming.ny.gov/pdf/Capital%20View%20Casino%20&%20Resort%20Executive%20Summary.pdf
The residents of Hampton Manor and Prospect Heights should be furious at Supervisor Langley for agreeing to let the Casino operators run down their neighborhoods in the Executive summary. I guess Supervisor Langley doesn't believe he needs their votes in the 2015 election.
ReplyDeleteDon't be silly. Langley must be able to understand that he can't run. He will be abandoned by both of his friends by 2015. SWF will try to save themselves and only Langley and Gilbert will still be fostering their goofy "ask me no questions" form of government.
DeleteHampton Manor, pockets of distress??! That summery is insulting. Now I'm ticked off. Jack, we were just talking about how nice our little community is. More stinking lies. Bonnie L.
ReplyDeleteI hope Ed wasn't too afraid for his life when he was knocking on the doors in the areas of town that SG&R referred to as "pockets of distress" to get a supposed tally of who was for or against the casino in East Greenbush. This could be the only valid explanation as to why he didn't knock on my door either considering I reside in "the Manor."
ReplyDeleteSince most of the unemployed and those below the poverty line in the ghetto areas of Troy and Albany probably can't afford or have access to a computer on a regular basis to apply for jobs or have knowledge about casino job fairs, I think it would be a great idea for Ed & SG&R's "town board" to go knocking on the doors through our lower income neighboring cities with applications for jobs so we can get them back to work since we are really doing this for them because EG doesn't have the unemployment numbers or a poverty line worth mentioning to justify why it needs to build a casino here. We can place bets to see who makes it back in one piece and then maybe they'll get an idea about crime or certain local demographics coming into our town since we'll be opening the floodgates for them. Listen up Arbor Hill and South Troy, who wants jobs? Under the surface of prosperity in East Greenbush, Feathers doesn't really care if you have a job or not, he only wants your money.
For decades politicians counted on the ignorance and apathy of voters to pull off all kinds of stupid, expensive things.
ReplyDeleteRemember closing town hall on Fridays to save energy? The then supervisor lied like a rug about that little caper.
There are lots of other examples from the early retirement option to FedEx.
But then along comes the Gadflies. Smart people who care. People not easy to fool with vague, faked information. People willing to ask tough questions. People willing to dig for information.
Most politicians like McCabe, Langley and a whole lot of others have yet to catch up to the reality of smart people who care - like Don Johnson, Dwight Jenkins, Bonnie Lester, Jack Conway AND...a steadily growing list of other just plain good folks.
In the end East Greenbush will be a better place because the power of smart people who care will blow away bad people like those presently in positions of power.
Both of the proposals by Featherstone insult the towns they are in. I read thru both the proposals from up river and down river. East Greenbush is insulting to its own people. It is disgusting. How could they get away with this. None of the others insulted their towns. I will say this, of all the proposals the Grand Hudson has lots of Moxie. Everyone's is bland except for the Grand Hudson.
ReplyDeleteI woke up this morning in my cardboard box, checked out the weather through the holes in my roof, stretched, and thanked God Feathers cares about me. I haven't eaten in a few days and the cat's worried I'll toss some ketchup on him and get to work. But soon I'll be able to head up to Keith's Castle, bake some morning muffins and take my one in a thousand chance to win enough money to buy some more ketchup.
ReplyDeleteYes, the poverty down here in Hampton Manor is dragging me under but if those hippie agitators from Save East Greenbush would just stuff it, I could find salvation because Feathers cares. He doesn't want more money, Big Jim really cares about me and my cat. Hampton Manor could be born again in his loving embrace.
The Town Board insulted its constituency by buying the Snake Oil Feathers was selling in the first place, and then Feathers turns right around and insults this community in his Executive Summary of the casino proposal. It's time for the Town Board to correct its gigantic mistake and "un-invite" these clowns. They are not welcome here.
DeleteWrite or e-mail the Governor and the Gaming Commission.
Who would ever think Starbucks and Peebles Dept store would open in a small community that has "pockets of distress". Who would ever think a 24 square mile Town that has "pockets of distress" would have 9 banks quite comfortably nestled in it. Apparently the banks did not see the same economic condition and outlook that Feathers and Co. saw. Apparently Peebles Dept Store and Starbucks did not see the same economic picture Feathers saw.
ReplyDeleteIn 1777 the British Army devised a plan to split the colonies and end the American War for Independence. In 2014 the East Greenbush Town Board conspired with a casino developer to split the citizens and end the peaceful existence of a small, residential community for projected revenue collected at the expense of local citizens losing their savings through gambling.
ReplyDeleteWith our team, you get hometown knowledge and national expertise. We certainly did our research and found the most easily purchased Town Board that a few glossy flyers could buy.
Strategically located just off I-90 between the Girl Scout Camp, the Montessori School, and Columbia High School, Capital View offers the best location to entice future gamblers to ensure the viability of our profits from a new generation. The proposed site for the casino, which is zoned residential, provides breathtaking views of residential homes and the tax-paying citizens who were abandoned by their Town Board by the lure of easy money to hide fiscal incompetence and delay future fiscal responsibility.
Our site is a true green field development that includes federally protected wetlands that will be minimally impacted by the development of a parking lot with tasteful signs directing gamblers to the "Shuttle for Drunks".
The project will include a 100-room 3-star hotel which will provide absolutely no enticement for the site to become a destination resort, but rather will provide complementary overnight accommodations for those individuals who gamble the greatest share of their retirement funds, or those who simply need a place to sleep from closing time at 4 am until awakening for the morning bells chiming from the 1,506 slot machines.
The site, the architecture and the character of the entire property are artfully designed to celebrate a regressive tax on the citizens of the community. The design will celebrate the familiar forms and images recalled by the Dutch heritage of problem gamblers pan-handling for money or thieving their neighbors. Those same images will be unexpectedly fresh and contemporary to speak to the optimism of our future of foreclosures and reduced property values.
Some may argue that the Capital District is doing well, and by some standards it is. But the casino has been designed to reduce the disposable income of the residents. One need look no further than the cities of Albany and Troy to see the heartbreaking poverty that a project such as our own can help to increase. Even our host community of East Greenbush, which on the surface appears prosperous, has many citizens who have savings accounts and college funds that could be lost at Capital View. The pockets of distress in Prospect Heights and Hampton Manor will be our most heavily recruited gamblers, enticed by our marketing department with promises of VIP status.
East Greenbush, Albany and the head of the Hudson are gateways to our casino and we will relentlessly campaign to entice all citizens. One could go on endlessly about the attractions available in the Capital Region of New York and it is our intention to shamelessly promote our casino to divert attendance from those attractions.
With a unanimous 5-0 vote from OUR Town Board, Capital View is poised to become the next great regressive tax collector in the Capital Region. We have every intention of building a destination resort for local residents that will weaken the area economy and be the catalyst that drives economic activity down throughout the region. The benefits derived from Capital View will extend well beyond lining our pockets to the pockets of those elected officials who supported our false advertisements of tax revenue and job growth. Our mind-set of forging meaningful partnerships only includes supportive politicians will re-define corruption for the entire region.
Correction--11 banks are nestled in this 24 square mile Town that houses "pockets of distress". 11 banks, and 1 credit union.
ReplyDeleteYou know I wonder if the members of the board saw this before it was sent to NYS. I bet they will not be happy. I hope the Times Union and the TV reporters comes to Hampton Manor and interview everyone. Everyone that was for the casino in that area might just turn around after being insulted.
ReplyDeleteAny comment from Keith "pockets of distress" Langley, regarding the insulting executive summary.
ReplyDeleteJack, I heard you have a stockpile of Advertisers. Could I please have some of your inserts? My outhouse is currently depleted of all paper products. My pump broke again, so I'll be doing midnight bathing at Manor Lake with the kids. Shhhh, let's keep this between us. You know how our wealthy neighbors talk.
ReplyDeleteBonnie, you were right great piece. Be careful bathing in unswimable swimming holes it is my understanding that some have e-coli in them.
DeleteBonnie L.,
ReplyDeleteI've always enjoyed your sense of humor.
All the best,
Tom
The pockets of distress in Hampton Manor is our taxes. Still we have a lake that cannot be used for recreational purposes for our children. I see beautiful neighborhoods here. That statement is ridiculous. Good laugh, Jack.
ReplyDelete