Dwight Jenkins - our own FOIL detective and analyst has done his homework and FOIL'ed some casino material from the County, and we have it here - cut and pasted from the No East Greenbush Casino FaceBook page. We've had a lot to say about the influence of the "political machines" on both sides of the fence in this East Greenbush casino disaster. Nobody did their homework. They just glazed over and followed the snake oil hype.
Fred LeBrun has another great article in Sunday's TU, Here's the link:
http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Suddenly-casinos-look-like-a-bad-bet-5633244.php
Here's Dwight:
"Much
has been written of the Town's classic collapse in the face of casino
coercion. Much less has been written of the County's role in that
collapse. In fact, recent FOIL disclosures from the County strongly
indicate that it was the County that applied the pressure, specifically
the County Legislature, including our own Region 2 Representatives:
Robert Bayly, Leon Fiacco, and Phil Danaher (who doubles
as the Town's Planning Board attorney). What follows is a lengthy
timeline of hidden political influence at a higher level.
On
1/14/14 Legislator Mike Stammel, Rensselaer, introduced Resolution
P/56/14 supporting the location of a casino in Rensselaer County. The
4th "Whereas" of the resolution: "This Legislative Body has received
numerous calls of support for property located along the Hudson River
Waterfront in the City of Rensselaer known as DeLaet's Landing as a
suitable site for a casino."
Stop there.
This was also
the 4th "Whereas" of his 12/10/13 draft resolution, the one that
mentions ONLY DeLaet's Landing as the County's choice for a "prime
location" casino site. But other forces were at work, and Mr. Stammel's
attempt to lock DeLaet's Landing in fell short. He had to settle for an
honorable mention in the final resolution. The 5th "Whereas" of that
resolution left open the possibility of other sites as well: "This
Legislative Body has also received calls of support from other
entities... indicating other potential locations in Rensselaer County
for a casino in different municipalities..." While recognizing the
positive attributes of DeLaet's Landing, the resolution "further
recognizes the positive attributes of other locations proposed as
possible locations for a commercial casino, including proximity to other
populated communities and major transportation roads and outlets
(remember that), while noting the host municipalities have not yet
considered issuing a declaration of support for such ventures; now,
therefore, be it resolved, that this Legislative Body does hereby
declare support for the siting of a commercial casino in Rensselaer
County, based on the positive economic impact and fiscal benefits,
provide(sic) there is stated support from the host municipality in
Rensselaer County." Allegedly no one in East Greenbush Town Hall knew
anything about a possible casino as of this 1/14/14 County resolution,
even though one of our County representatives, Phil Danaher, also worked
for the Town.
So what does this mean? It means that the
County liked the idea of a Rensselaer site in December, before anyone
else had expressed interest. But one month later the County had other
options, options with proximity to major transportation roads (I-90, US
Rt.4) and outlets. So the County, including our District 2
representatives, knew about East Greenbush before we knew about
ourselves!
Conspiratorial? Consider Danielle Sanzone's (The
Troy Record) e-mail to County Legislative Liaison Rich Crist on 1/21/14,
one week after the County's 16-2 "Yes" vote on a casino in Rensselaer
County: "do you think anyone in the majority would talk with me about
casino prospects along I-90 in Rensselaer County? I heard the same folks
interested in the First Prize site were looking for a larger location
in Rensselaer County." Mr. Crist's response: "Wat is your phone
number..." That answer wasn't going on paper, where it could be
discovered on some inopportune day, like Feathers' East Greenbush notes.
Indeed, the 74 page FOIL record went dark for 3 months until 4/22/14,
when J. Strategies Inc. (Saratoga's PR firm) asked your District 2
representatives (Bayly, Fiacco, Danaher) for a 4/24/14 meeting about the
casino. Chairman Martin Reid was also specifically invited. But was the
record really dark during that period? Not really. One month after the
County's "Yes" vote an LLC was formed, Greenbush Casino Associates LLC
(later changed to Greenbush GB Associates LLC.) Rumor has it that all
kinds of money changes hands when these commercial LLC's change names
inexplicably- makes it harder to follow the money trail. Campaign
contributions to local politicians can't be far behind either.
Three days after that 4/24/14 meeting Justin Hogan, of J. Strategies,
Inc., sent a warm e-mail to Chairman Reid and the District 2
representatives: "Thank you for taking the time to meet with me
yesterday to discuss the East Greenbush casino project. It was very
informative and helpful. We look forward to working closely with you
throughout this process. Also, thank you for all your help making these
important connections..." Yes, yes, it's all about the connections.
On April 28th Saratoga Casino and Raceway issued an old-fashioned paper
thank you, signed by co-owners James Featherstonhaugh and Daniel
Gerrity. Within that letter they mentioned proximity to I-90 as being a
key to keeping casino dollars in New York. Remember Danielle Sanzone's
I-90 question to Rich Crist back in January?
Ten days later,
on 5/8/14, Rita Cox issued a major press release about the casino's
commitments to local businesses and regional attractions (Best Berry
Farm? Schakolad Chocolate Factory? Stewarts?), and within a week J.
Stategies, Inc. released the first of its weekly e-mail updates to
casino supporters in the business and political worlds, inviting them to
the Public Forum eventually held at Columbia High School, where one
could see Town Board members and key employees/politicos, at least one
County Legislator, and a State Assemblyman. The full court press was on.
"Other entities...This Legislative Body... Host Municipality
support." Reads like a science fiction screenplay, and we're just
supposed to be actors in that film. Funny though- sometimes it looks
like we're climbing into the Director's chair. Come hear Professor
Robert Goodman's dismantling of the "economic benefits of casinos"
argument, Tuesday, July 29th, at the Community Gospel Church on 3rd Ave.
Extension...."
This could explain why newly elected County Legislator Bayly has attended every East Greenbush Town Board meeting since January, 2014. Mr. Bayly's Town Board attendance record is better than Mr. Malone's and Ms. Mangold's. Has Mr. Bayly been tasked to keep watch and report back on the activities of Supervisor Langley, our Town Board and the citizen activists?
ReplyDeleteThis thing has been a train wreck from the very beginning. The perfect example of working a political agenda rather than doing good government. Even the Governor is starting to abandon his own policy initiative which he took on for his friend Feathers. And we have Tom DiNapoli weighing in, and Moody's analysis, and Fred LeBrun's incisive essays.
ReplyDeleteJack Conway's analysis of the eligibility of East Greenbush on the fiscal distress front and the developer's having to look to Troy and Albany for economic statistics to attempt to support an East Greenbush site is instructive. Couldn't the County hacks and the Town machines have done a little reading before starting this fiasco? Now they want to change the Town's master zoning plan for something that MIGHT happen. Good grief!! We were lied to. The Board, in Tom Grant's masterful phrase, was "played."
It's time to walk away from this. Fortunately, there has been a diverse group of active people who started the opposition before the additional information started to take effect. But this crazy path has cost enough already. It has split the Town for absolutely no reason - except perhaps to provide the current administration with a hoped for "easy fix" to the task of governing. Keith, it's time to get some counsel from other sources than those who led you down this path.
I hope people appreciate the contributions made by Dwight Jenkins in these troubled times. It's one thing to know what to FOIL but still another to know how to read and interpret what you get. Anyone who's looked at the notes from Don Johnson's FOIL of meetings between town and casino developers has an idea of what's involved.
ReplyDeleteThe chronology Dwight lays out makes sense. His analyses have identified the two critical missing pieces that show why our town board rolled over without a fight. Earlier he found the land deals on Thompson Hill, and here he shows the behind-the-scenes process in the County Legislature. If you follow local politics, the strangest part of the casino debacle from the start was the alliance between the two political machines. A 5-0 vote is remarkable because normally these two sides can't agree on the time of day.
What Dwight's efforts point to is something we've suspected for some time: town republicans received their marching orders from the republican leadership in the County Legislature, while town democrats are doing the bidding of the land speculators who stand to make a ton of money from the commercial development of Thompson Hill. The confluence of these two factors explains the 5-0 vote. The two sides didn't come together, it's just that different interests aligned in this matter.
One conclusion to be drawn from this is that everyone has been represented in this process except the residents of the Town of East Greenbush. As the Mary Ann Matters-Ed Gilbert dust-up demonstrated, the most pressing issue in the deliberations of our elected representatives is independence. Independence from special interests like county legislators, land speculators and casino developers, and independence from blind allegiance to local political machines. The proof of the lack of independence of our town board was that even though 60-70% of the people in town oppose the casino, not a single member saw fit to represent us with a 'No' vote on the resolution to support a casino. They were all beholden to interests other than those of the people who elected them and pay their salary.
The good news, though, is that we as a community decided to represent ourselves. People like Dwight and the Gadfly, the volunteers of Save East Greenbush, and those new folks who continue to show up at every town board meeting to voice their dissent have done us all proud and proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that this town does not want a casino. The power brokers say 'Yes' but the people say 'No.' Anyone been to Howe Caverns lately?
Dwight, as always great work!!!
ReplyDeleteJack, I wish more of the politicians in this town would think more independently, it would make for a much better town.
I recently reviewed the FOILed notes regarding the series of half hour meetings that were held with each Town Concil member. As everyone knows, one of the reasons for meeting this way was to avoid the State's open meeting laws. However, there was also a second reason for these meetings; to obtain a commitment of support from each individuals Board member.
ReplyDeleteAs I re-read the notes, I asked myself as a former Town Board member (of another Town) how I would have voted. I looked at several factors;
-As a relatively new Board member, I had spent a lot of time dealing with fiscal problems. Now, I was looking at a chance to solve those problems.
-They were talking about creating thousands of jobs.
-I was only being told one side of the proposal. Environmental issues were glossed over by Feathers and his p.r. Consultant.
-We were in competition with several other municipalities in our region.
-We had to act quickly, the State had a June 30th deadline.
-I only had 30-45 minutes to make a decision. There was no time to look at the site, read the zoning laws or talk with Town residents.
Under these circumstances I would probably have said yes and given my support for the project.
Now, thanks to the bungling incompetence of the casino people, the Town Board will be given a second chance. This time it will be different and much more painful for everybody involved. They will have to apply for a rezoning to B1 or B2. They will have to go through SEQR. There is strong and vocal opposition. The opponents have an attorney who fully understands the issues. There will be no secrecy or back-room deals. The State has established deadlines that will be almost impossible to meet. The chances of getting a casino have dropped from the 60% Feathers predicted to less than 10%. The State Comptroller and bond rating agencies are warning that casinos may be a poor bet.
I would be asking why put myself and the community through all of this? This time I would say no to a casino.
Jim, I respectfully disagree with your analysis. It more seems to me that when faced with a deadline, incomplete and missing information that the fiscally prudent things to do is to vote "No". It is the old buying a pig in a poke analogy - don't you think?
ReplyDeleteNone of those so called promises were in writing or represented legitimate commitments. Rather the so called promises were nothing more than a sales pitch. Think buying swamp land in Florida and I think you get a valid representation of the pitch.
The numbers promised from Fed Ex have never come even remotely close to materializing.
The town board blew $500,000 of OUR money on a stupid, poorly thought out and more poorly executed early retirement option.
The town's finances are too screwed up to even intelligently analyze.
No, I think until our fiscal house is in order as the number one top priority everything else, given the set of facts and circumstances connected to this 100% ill advised casino mess, dictated a prudent "No" vote.
Respectfully, I agree with Anon 7/21/14 @ 8:12 AM. When Rick Matters did not have all the traffic study data he needed to make an informed, educated decision regarding Fed Ex, he abstained. He did NOT hastily vote YES, even though the County and State were pressing on him to do so. He was prudent and obtained the traffic study information he requested, he asked questions pertaining to the project and its effects on the traffic, not re-election campaigns.
ReplyDeleteIn addition I would like to add the following which I posted on the previous thread:
The Town Board is actually being given a THIRD chance. After they approved the resolution for a casino presentation, NYS said the muni's had to approve site specific resolutions and this Town Board did that. They held a Public Hearing that overwhelmingly proved to be opposed to a casino, there was a Special Mtg that also proved overwhelmingly to be opposed to a casino, there was a Board Mtg that proved to be overwhelmingly opposed to a casino and they still forged ahead with a YES vote the second time and that was after all of the zoning and environmental factors came to light. Now they have a third chance to do the right thing. Hopefully the third time is the charm.
East Greenbush has 4 Rensselaer County representatives. Kelly Hoffman is our 4th representative and she is not mentioned in the post. She served in North Greenbush Board prior to becoming a County Legislator. Was she excluded from the "and if so why?
ReplyDeleteIn the post it states "In fact, recent FOIL disclosures from the County strongly indicate that it was the County that applied the pressure, specifically the County Legislature, including our own Region 2 Representatives: Robert Bayly, Leon Fiacco, and Phil Danaher (who doubles as the Town's Planning Board attorney). " Kelly Hoffman is noticeably absent. It would be interesting to know why Kelly Hoffman is missing in the FOIL'd documents. Was she intentionally ignored by the 3 men, Fiacco, Danaher and Bayly and if so, why? That missing puzzle piece is kind of interesting and odd. Right now, Kelly Hoffman appears to be the only clean one of our 4 County Reps. Not good boys, not good.
http://www.rensselaercounty.org/Biographies/Hoffman%20Biography.htm
ReplyDeleteLook at the biographies of the others. They play a useful part of the plan. Hoffman doesn't. She has no ties to East Greenbush.
But in all of this consorted plan one thing strikes me as odd. Rensselaer didn't have a casino operator when they approved the plan. Well they did but it dropped soon after Featherstone declared Saratoga. Dwyer had to wait till Flaum decided on Rensselaer as no one would touch it. Something smells fishy. Featherstone is smart. He knows the East Greenbush plan would be risky. Yet the Rensselaer one was guaranteed approval by the city. Featherstone didn't chose East Greenbush, someone chose it for him. Someone that being both sides agreed it was in their best interest to run roughshod and choose East Greenbush. Those five were not asked to approve the casino they were told they had to approve of it. Someone has been waiting to sell the land and this was the opportunity. But now they got everyone involved. They got approval from all the town board, they got approval from all the unions. Listen, why the hell is Saratoga town supervisors approving the casino for East Greenbush? Everyone is getting their money's worth by this deal. Everyone is getting a piece of the pie. But what about Rensselaer, no one gets anything because everyone already wants it. Every single corrupt politician that wants a piece of the action has decided that East Greenbush is the way to go. Rensselaer which has the most economic benefit, benefits the people. Not the greedy and corrupt. That is why there will be a casino in East Greenbush. Sue said we are going to get fired for this. Why because she knows this isn't a casino its a means for all the corrupt politicians to get their money. And she has to put her name on it or else. Mary Ann Matters realizes this and is taking a stand. But at what cost.
Featherstone is a Patsy. There is forces at work that sees this casino not as a casino but a money pot that all the corrupt can take a piece of. Everyone in East Greenbush that is gaining from this has their hand in this. This was sold not as a casino but a means to keep the town fathers and the unions with the ability to keep stealing from the town. I mean come on Saratoga, and why did the other towns jump on the band wagon. They all should have sat outside of this. But yet Troy is quiet on this. Quiet as a tomb. So is North Greenbush.
ReplyDeleteThose who are stealing from the town only want this casino so they can keep stealing and keep the corruption flowing. Let's face it, this is too good to be true for both sides. Instead of getting the democrats to fight it, let's give them their take. Everyone is getting paid off except for the residents.
Mary Ann has my full support, she seems sincere in bringing change and fed up with how things have been run. Seems like one big barrier to her is Langley!
ReplyDeleteLangley, as the only full time board member and the town's chief financial officer is the biggest barrier to open, transparent and responsible government in east greenbush. Malone is running for the assembly, Mangold knows she can't get re-elected. Langley is setting himself up for a landslide loss in 2015. With the expected landslide Langley loss, there is a great chance to replace him with a thoughtful and ethical person who will represent all of the people of east greenbush, not just the connected few.
ReplyDeleteHey Ho Langley must go!!
The Langley Smart Way Forward is nothing more than a government in chaos. Good for Mary Ann Matters to finally realize this after seven months. Better late than never. Please keep listening, questioning and doing your research. Keith Langley and Ed Gilbert can't or won't do the research needed to fairly lead our town and they refuse to listen to people who disagree with them.
ReplyDeletePlease be your own person Mary Ann, you are much better than Langley and Gilbert.
Since we are stuck with Langley until the end of 2015, and Mary Ann and possibly Deb are showing signs they do care about their residents, we need to continue to be a strong presence and we can not take the heat off Langley.
ReplyDelete9:43 AM,
ReplyDeleteTruer words were never written. We all need to keep the focus on Langley. He is the major impediment to good government by the people and for the people in East Greenbush. Langley should resign for the good of the people. We don't deserve to be stuck with Langley until the end of 2015.
If anyone is unsure about Supervisor Langley, please make the great effort to try to have a personal conversation with him. I made the effort and it wasn't easy. After just a few minutes with Mr. Langley, I'll wager (pun intended) you will come away with a very negative appraisal of his ability and desire to have a candid and productive discussion on any issue, especially if you are a woman. My family and I supported and voted for Keith Langley in 2011 because we had had enough of Rick McCabe. If Mr. Langley runs again, we will NOT be supporting him in 2015. We were hoodwinked by Mr. Langley into supporting his Smart Way Forward majority last election. Mr. Langley told us he needed Deb and MaryAnn in order to do great things for the people of East Greenbush. Instead, Supervisor Langley has run an incompetent and self benefiting administration without any input from Deb and MaryAnn. Mr. Langley feels that since Deb and MaryAnn are both "women", he doesn't feel the need to consult with them on any issues. He is only comfortable in talking with unelected men like DeFruscio, Gilbert and Tirino. I'm happy MaryAnn has seen through what Mr. Langley is all about and I'm hopeful it won't be long before Deb stands up as well. I believe Deb and MaryAnn want the best for East Greenbush.
ReplyDeleteKeith Langley only wants the best for himself and a few of his male cronies. I can't believe Mr. Langley has allowed Ed Gilbert to run roughshod over multiple Town Board members and staff as well as people who have had the courage to speak their minds at Town Board meetings, including the "special" meetings held at inconvenient times and locations.
Sorry for going on so long, but I am disappointed and outraged about how Supervisor Langley has chosen to renege on every single one of his campaign promises.
I agree with your previous posters. We must keep a very, very close watch on what Mr. Langley is up to. Mr. Langley is a man who seems very comfortable in breaking his promises. Let's hold him accountable for his actions.
I think the best way to answer your question,
ReplyDeleteWhat do you do with a used casino?
Is with a poem:
What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore--
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over--
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?
So will the casino explode? Or dry up? Or fester?
To 11:19 AM-
ReplyDeleteYour post is a must read for every woman voter in East Greenbush!!!
Langley's done a terrible job for voters of any gender. Supervisor Langley has been a tremendous disappointment. He just doesn't have what it takes to be a good leader. We were mislead into voting for him. What a waste of a vote he's turned out to be.
ReplyDeleteThanks to Councilperson Matters for showing us all that the Langley way is not the only way, despite what Keith Langley and Edward Gilbert might think.
To 11:19 AM---ABSOLUTELY! Supervisor Langley has a reputation for discounting women and their experience, knowledge and thoughts. It's a shame because he is afraid of some women in this Town and does what he can to quiet them if they do not agree with him yet he ignores their opinions. He contradicts himself--he is afraid of certain women that speak against him but he doesn't want to give the women any credence. He appears to want women to be quiet and silently follow him regardless of how very wrong and unethical the path is that he is taking.
ReplyDeleteThe people of East Greenbush have voted twice by large majorities to defeat Ed Gilbert in elections for Town Board and State Senator. So what does Keith Langley do? He appoints Ed Gilbert to serve as his Deputy Supervisor and as his appointee to the Ethics Board. Deb DiMartino and Mary Ann Matters were elected by large majorities to serve as members of the Town Board. So what does Keith Langley do? He keeps them in the dark about the Town's Finances and refuses to share with them the status of the Town's audits.
ReplyDeleteWhat gives Mr. Langley?????
The Republican Establishment had a chance when Mr. Langley was elected two and a half years ago to establish credible governance. Langley asked for a majority - which he appears to have abused. This casino fiasco is the direct result of the inability of the elected majority to do its job. They became ripe fruit for the picking.
ReplyDeleteIt is fortunate that Ms. Matters has begun to think for herself instead of being bullied by Mr. Langley. Perhaps we'll have a chance at implementing all those Platform Promises published in the Advertiser during the last campaign. Would be a real breath of fresh air if that happened.
You said it Gadfly,
ReplyDeleteMr. Langley is a bully, nothing more and nothing less. That's what he is all about. Decent people have no use for a bully in the corner office. Bullying is inappropriate in our schools and it is certainly inappropriate in our Town Hall. Do the right thing Mr Langley....
So far, five people voted twice (not once) for the casinos-- five adults who are responsible for their individual decisions and actions,--They all campaigned and made promises that they obviously didn't keep, not one of them.
DeleteWhen it mattered, Ms. Matters didn't vote independently, and don't forget behind closed doors she only cared about Langley, not her town. It's easy to resign from a committee that is really non-existent. This she chose to do publicly. No, each one of these town officials has to be held accountable. If one of them allows himself or herself to be bullied or bribed or whatever, then he or she does not have the skills or strengths needed to represent the people of a town. Actions (of import) still speak louder than words.
I realize the bully comments refer to the Supervisor's treatment of people he has power over, but the people who have power over him bullied the living daylights out of him on the casino issue. He handed over his lunch money without a whimper.
ReplyDeleteJack,
DeleteTerrific post (as usual)...
It's also important for East Greenbush voters to remember that the lunch money Supervisor Langley handed over without a whimper wasn't his own. It was the money paid in taxes and fees by each and every one of the hard working taxpayers and residents of East Greenbush.
Be well,
Tom
Right on Tom-
DeleteThanks to Langley's obtuseness, we don't really know how many dollars the town will eventually end up being on the hook for expenses associated with the casino: police, fire, water and sewer, roadwork etc. Even the $5.7 million figure that has been bandied about is not guaranteed and can be even further reduced by the state legislature. Langley's refusal to get anything in writing from the developers illustrates his lack of understanding of the role of a Town Supervisor. Instead of hiring a professional negotiator to represent the town at every stage of the process, Langley decided that the glossy promotional materials generated by the casino developers was all the information he needed to force a vote by the town board.
Congratulations to Mary Ann Matters, and hopefully soon Deb DiMartino, for finally realizing that Keith Langley is in way, way over his head on this and most other issues.
To carry the lunch money analogy just a little further, if Langley is the weak childlike figure having his lunch money taken then we, the electorate, must act as the good parent stepping in to seek the cooperation of the principal to make it stop. The problem we face is identifying an authority that has not been corrupted by this process.
DeleteIf, as Jack thinks, Langley was bullied and is mimicking that behavior with those he believes will buckle under, he picked the wrong person when he went after MAM.
Personally I think (back to the schoolyard) Keith represents the kid who has been picked on and just wants to be one of the guys. The guys the county and the casino offered Keith their friendship and membership in their club and he is too weak to maintain it. All he needed to do to join the club was openly support the casino interests in EG. He is even unable to step up and grab the thing he so desperately wants.
Keith Langley is a registered Independent. He was endorsed by the Republicans but he is, and has been for many years, an Independent. The Republicans endorsed the wrong guy, for sure, but they had nobody else to run that year so they looked outside their party. Now, because of the error, and the continued mistake of the Republican Chair, C.Def, the Republicans have lost substantial ground in the districts that have been Republican districts for many years. If Langley, E. Gilb, and C. Def continue on this path they will successfully lose their base and after the base is gone.....so are any election wins.
ReplyDeleteThe SWF has voted in favor of any and all resolutions put forth regarding casinos. Sadly, that is very true HOWEVER, the Dem minority has as well. Both Sue Mangold (remarking right before casting her vote, "We'll all lose our elections") and Phil Malone voted in FAVOR of all casino resolutions thus far. Phil Malone even attended the Planning Brd Mtg the evening before the Special Town Brd Mtg and heard the casino presentation which had been cut in half of their original project plans, and he still voted YES. The casino resolutions have been voted 5-0 so NO Party, not the Republicans or Democrats is unscathed. Both the Republicans and Democrats forged ahead and gave the casino resolutions a YES. At this point, any Board Member in the majority that dissents on the zoning resolution when it crops up again would be very wise because it would force Langley, the Independent, to push the Democrats to pass the casino resolution.
Bullies are just jerks if no one is afraid of them. The county pols are disappointed in him and will no longer him (or Gilbert) to have any authority. That will take the punch out of his bullying. DeFruscio is no longer able to be the muscle behind the threats and Gilbert has failed miserably at it. So even Langley should realize its over. Deb and Mary Ann who will be in office for three and a half more years can step up and show some leadership here. I hope they both do well. It's not too late for them.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking a good group to consider running for office next year would include Suzanne Aiardo, Cheryl Vallee, Ann Taylor, Dwight Jenkins, Tom Grant and Jack Conway, with Jack Conway as the candidate for Supervisor. Let's start thinking about the 2015 Town elections now.
ReplyDeleteIn order to be successful as a town political leader I believe the following traits or characteristics are required:
ReplyDeletePolitical skills
Influencing skills
Communication skills
Financial acumen
Public speaking skills
Analytical skills, problem solving skills and decision making skills
Langley, DeFruscio, Gilbert, Malone and Mangold lack just about every skill needed, again in my opinion, to properly and effectively represent the good people of East Greenbush.
This casino issue has awakened and broadened a whole new electorate in East Greenbush. The Party organizations will no longer be able to depend on "the usual" groups and techniques in elections. I think it means that they are going to have to work hard to field credible candidates who can guarantee open, transparent and accountable government. If the electorate even smells a whiff of the old "machine" operation in either Party, it won't have a chance. The people who implemented this casino fiasco over the past 6 months will be removed, absent a whole bunch of 180's in attitude and behavior. And this runs up the line beyond the boundaries of the Town.
ReplyDeleteOh yes.....there's still a lot to look at up on the Hill too.
Dear Don,
ReplyDeleteI commend to your readers attentions two very thoughtful articles published in today's Advertiser. The first is written by Mary Ann Matters regarding her evolving position on the Casino issue and the second is Pete Stenson's analysis regarding Mary Ann Matters' courageous decision to resign from her position of Town Board Liaison to the Ethics Board.
Kudos to Mary Ann and Pete for greatly adding to the public discussion of important Town issues.
It's just sad that the current occupant of the corner office at Town Hall is reluctant to follow your positive examples.