Friday, October 31, 2014

Time for a New Deal -- Jack Conway

Jack Conway's comment at the end of the previous Post deserves to be a Post of its own on a new thread.  Here it is:

Anonymous 10:15:  (on the previous thread)

Unfortunately the things you refer to are just business as usual in East Greenbush politics. They do them when they're scared but they also do them when they're confident which may be even more disturbing. The culture of politics has to change. Local politics here is a blood sport and it's run by people who are better at keeping control of the process than they are at governing. One of the reasons we're looking down the barrel of a casino is because a small group of local 'players' assured Feathers and Company that they controlled this town and could get them any approvals they needed. Both political machines better hope we don't get selected because their only chance of survival next year is for people to forget what they tried to do and how they tried to do it.

The political machines in this town are both working from an obsolete playbook that is unable to solve the problems of local government in the 21st century. They depend on apathy and intimidation to maintain control but the apathy is gone now and the intimidation factor was always overrated. These people aren't anywhere near as tough as they like to believe and they only have power over you if you let them. Next year will be the best chance we have of taking this town away from them and giving it back to the residents and taxpayers. The casino grab was a huge misstep because it proved there's no difference between the two factions. They fight for the right of their friends and families to feed at the public trough, and if we get the casino that trough will only get longer and deeper.

We need not only a new type of candidate but a new kind of politics. It must be civil and it must be substantive. The name calling and character assassination have to stop and the public debate has to be about important things. We now have vast experience of how not to govern a town like this, but we need to develop a common vision of what we want for this community. Our current town board has proven itself unfit to govern and they must be replaced. If we can harness the same spirit and talent that energized the Save East Greenbush movement we can end this lowest common denominator politics and demand great things of ourselves. We may not get this chance again.

78 comments:

  1. The milestone flew by so fast I didn't even notice when it happened. The first Post on this Blog was March 27, 2012. We're almost to 3000 hits over a quarter million hits since that first Post.

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  2. Here's another March 27, 2012 milestone-- on March 27, 2012, Keith Langley was just about to wrap up his third month as our Town Supervisor.
    Are we better off now than we were then??

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  3. 4:51 p.m. since Keith Langley replaced Rick McCabe, I believe the town is not better off but unfortunately exactly the same.

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  4. You could fit in a thimble what Keith Langley knows about government and governing. He doesn't know and he doesn't want to know the many and sometimes complicated laws, rules, and regulations involved with running a town. An excellent case in point is the total lack of regard for the zoning laws vis-a-vis the siting of Capital View Casino on Thompson Hill. The bogus and highly improper "interpretation" assignment that the Supervisor GAVE to members of the ZBA, and the unethical and shameless way in which the attorney for the applicant took advantage of the situation and lobbied the ZB members to disregard their true purpose and the town's zoning laws, and find in his client's favor, should NEVER have been allowed to happen. But not only did it happen, the Supervisor and the attorney for the ZBA watched it happen as if it was pro forma. This was a disturbing travesty of administrative justice and a deliberate refusal to uphold the crystal clear zoning laws associated with this project for political power and big monetary gain, and it cannot be ignored. We need leadership that is of the people, for the people, and by the people not of the Supervisor, for the Supervisor, and by the Supervisor. As it stands right now, Keith Langley could be a "D" or an "R" for they are now one and the same. He has lost his way and he has lost his majority because of it. He will pay the price for this next November and he will pay dearly.

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    1. Yes 9:04 p.m. we voted Rick McCabe out and voted Keith McLangley IN. Of all the rotten luck! I thought Mr. Langley was a safe bet because the Matters were with him. Notice I said "were." I wouldn't vote for him again because the Matters, including Rick, split from him. This, in my opinion, does not speak or bode well for Mr. Langley.

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  5. WE may never know who approached Ketih with the casino deal, but he approached the opportunity with greater zeal than objectivity, never considering the impact of an organized opposition. He underestimated the public whom he was elected to serve, which was likely a fatal flaw for him.

    They say when something seems too good to be true, it probably is and that is often times how development works in this town. The notion of tremendous revenue and lower taxes and the potential to do great things clouds the judgement of elected officials and they think they will be heroes.

    At the same time, they typically fail to consider the true impact of their decisions on both residents and financially. For this project, there needed to be a more open discussion from the outset, because the social ills that follow a casino have a dramatic impact on our police department and emergency services and the millions promised tend to be squandered faster than anyone anticipates.

    Back room deals got us into this mess and it will likely make our mess even worse. It's time our elected officials start running our town and negotiating deals with the same business acumen of the developers who come here with a hand full of magic beans. They expect push back and a negotiation and never get it because politics always gets in the way. Keith is a prime example. He has been more concerned about getting re-elected than doing the job he was elected to do.

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    1. But how did he expect to get re-elected without actually DOING the job he was elected to do? It makes no sense. Keith Langley makes no sense.

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    2. We can guess who approached our town with casino deal. All our County Republicans,including Steve McLaughlin voted for the casino in New York.
      Don't forget Larry "Gentlemen's CLub" Davis the "biggest taxpayer" in East Greenbush who is going to get a parking lot and probably will make much more money for selling his mansion eventually to Feathers as well. He is not a RESIDENT of East Greenbush so selling us out is nothing to him.

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  6. From Twitter:
    No_EG_Casino:
    Join Trishna Begam for her special report, Betting on Casinos, at 10 p.m. November 3, 2014 on FOX23. @TrishnaWTEN http://www.news10.com/story/27171166



    Trishna Begam ‏@TrishnaWTEN :
    @NO_EG_CASINO You'll be interested to find out which local city leaders talked to me...and which local Mayor refused.


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  7. Anony @ 10:29....I think we have a pretty good idea who the "players" were in this drama. Just look at those LLC's and the name changes and transfers and loans last February, and the Plat approval in January, and the sewer line, and the paving of Thompson Hill Road. The usual suspects. And on the matter of material to consider in making decisions like this in government, even with the late start given the citizens of this Town, government officials were actually inundated with factual material which they needed to internalize. With the exception of one, they ACTIVELY refused. It was a classic "don't confuse me with facts, my mind's already made up." People like that should be kept as far away from governmental and financial decisions as possible.

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    1. And one took it a step further and deliberately ignored her ethical obligation to recuse herself until she was called on it and forced to recuse. That takes this conspiracy to prevail to a whole new level.

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  8. Dear AnonymousNovember 1, 2014 at 10:29 AM---We have Board members with business acumen. A couple of Keith Langley's supporters extolled his business acumen and experience when he ran. Sue Mangold has the business acumen you refer to. We have had Board members in the past 10 years that have been business owners and had a business acumen. That is not the quality we are missing in Board members. We we lack in every one of those Board members is the courage and strength to do what is RIGHT and TRUST that they will do it.
    The Boards for the past decade have proven trust and courage are the most important characteristics. We don't seem to elect candidates with both of those qualities.
    Trust is the most precious asset. As I have written before, once it is lost it cannot be gained. That is the same in personal relationships and very much applies to the relationship constituents have with those governing. EG has proven to be a political cesspool for the past decade. The TB's we have elected have consisted of self-serving politicians who seem to believe their egos are more important than the EG residents.
    We need candidates we can trust and that have the courage and strength to make the right decisions for residents. Candidates who don't have a hungry ego. We have had business acumen now and that is certainly not enough.

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  9. 11:41 a.m. I don't believe that trust can't be restored. Sometimes, for various reasons, including inexperience, people make mistakes that they later regret but that doesn't mean that they can't redeem themselves.

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  10. 12:56--The people of this Town have learned they cannot trust either party. That leaves the people of this town with no options. Redemption is great as long as it's sincere. The people of this Town have been fooled in the past by previous politicians from both factions and the ones who pay are always the people.
    They all definitely need to go because none of them can be trusted. When the people have to pay an attorney to try and fix what the Board has done AND we pay the Board and Town's attorneys too, the people have been screwed, blued and tattooed too many times in EG. It's time for a new group that is sincere and absent of egos and arrogance.

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  11. The beginning of the restoration of trust might be the rectifying of the gigantic mistake. All it takes is a Resolution. But we won't see that. We'll see Langley and company blindly pursuing SEQR and the zoning fiasco while the rest of the Capital District laughs. The "players" must have offered some deal.

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  12. 1:56 p.m. "They all definitely need to go because none of them can be trusted." So, CP Matters definitely needs to go, too. We should paint her with the same brush as the rest of them because there's nothing for the next three years that she, as a board member, can do for us anyway. She publicly withdrew her support for the casino, brought widespread media attention to the deceptive business practices of the town and the developer, voted no to advance the PDD application to the Planning Board, may quite possibly be facing more voting on this project, and is now performing independently of the board "majority," but, in your opinion, she can't be trusted? Talk about throwing the baby out with the bath water. This casino project is unprecedented in the history of our town. Having just one board member who has come around to being opposed to this project could make all the difference in the long run. To say "they all definitely need to go" is neither accurate, wise, nor prudent unless you're pro-casino. If you're not pro-casino, you may find out over time that one person can make a difference after all. Hopefully, though, it won't come to that.

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    1. Might help to pay attention to the courage that Ms. Matters showed in bucking the bullying of DeFruscio and Langley and company. They are hamhanded politicos not very well educated in governing. They're gone, as are there hanger's on. Would be nice if the Supe would fess up as to who brought him that April 16th resolution. I think we all know.

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  13. 9:07PM--CP Matters has changed her casino position and that is noted as it should be. As long as CP Matters does not condone and approve acts of nepotism and allow friends and family members blindly appointed to positions I concur, CP Matters is an exception for now. Her husband is another exception. In the past decade her husband was a bright light that did not appoint a friend and did not give a friend a job.
    CP Matters has shown a change of heart and so far it seems she can be trusted since that change. The Org Mtg in January will be the true test. Also, has CP Matters taken steps to recoup any of the stipend money? Supposedly she was working on that because Keith would not.
    My apologies regarding CP Matters.

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    1. CP Matters has insisted on payroll certification by the Rensselaer County Civil Service Commission (RCCSC) before she will support appointments to town jobs; this includes voting at the org mtg in January to support appts. Payroll Certification by the RCCSC establishes that the people who are appointed to town jobs are at least qualified to be appointed pursuant to the minimum qualifications established by civil service, which is extremely important. However, it is up to individual board members to remain on the front line to guard vigilantly against appointments that constitute blatant nepotism or cronyism. Thus far, this board seems to be doing a pretty fair job at making appointments. Realistically speaking, in a highly charged political environment, this is really the most we can hope for.

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  14. If you're following the rezoning of the Thompson Hill site closely, you now realize why it is so extremely important that at least four of five town board members support the casino project and why Langley and company have leaned on Matters so hard given another board member's recusal. That's why I agree with Anony @ 9:07 p.m. when s/he states that "one person can make a difference." Trust that 1:56 p.m.

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  15. 10:30 p.m. Thanks for the question about stipends. This issue has not been forgotten. Steps have been taken by formidable residents and CP Matters, but thus far ignored, to address the recoupment of the stipend money. The problem is that key democrats/officials at the state and county levels who need to take action to recoup the money and press charges, have not thus far demonstrated a willingness to take action against fellow Democrats who improperly took money. So, what is the solution? If Joel Abelove wins on Tuesday, we may well have a powerful ally in the RC district attorney's office to help with righting a wrong that no one thus far at the state or county levels has been willing to look at. Therefore, on Tuesday, November 4, please strongly consider voting for Joel Abelove for District Attorney.

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  16. From today's Times Union endorsement page:

    "107th Assembly District

    As one of the Assembly's most outspoken minority voices, especially on official corruption and allowing communities a voice in the siting of casinos, Republican Steve McLaughlin earns our endorsement. His opponent, Democrat Phil Malone, has some positive ideas, but we cannot condone his role as an East Greenbush Town Board member in trying to silence public debate on a casino."

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  17. Look it up--- Steve McLaughlin is VERY Very pro business. He VOTED YES on the Casino in 2013 and should not get one EAST GREEBUSH vote either.

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    1. He's running against Malone....for that reason alone he gets my vote.

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    2. I did look it up a few weeks ago. I got the vote tally sheets from the Bill Jacket of the Governor's Program Bill #33 (A8101, S5883) which enacted the upstate NY gaming and development act of 2013. It's the bill which enabled the siting of the casinos. In the Assembly the vote was 89 yes and 48 no on 6/21/13. McLaughlin voted NO.

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    3. Wow, Gadfly, good work.
      I agree with 9:15 a.m. but your post seals it. I'm voting for Steve.
      9:05 a.m. it's important to be sure before you speak, especially on the internet.

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    4. Well
      Mr. Gadfly and 9:56, why the attitude? I am talking about Bill#A08068-6/21/13 that authorizes the casino and unless I'm reading it incorrectly, it has McLaughlin voting yes--110yea/30nay-
      A few months back I read somewhere else-votesmart.org? that he had voted yes and I am simply trying to know the truth about his voting record.
      I even looked at his website and there was no voting record that I could find like some other politicians.
      I looked up A8101 and he did vote no as you pointed out.
      Can you explain his yes and no vote on the casino issue in June 2013 much before it went before NY voters in November?-

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    5. I believe that the Governor's Program Bill I cited is the bill related to the siting of casinos and outlining the process. It's this one that has caused the interpretation controversy. The TU states that McLaughlin wanted more community involvement.

      In the case of East Greenbush, it seems pretty clear that, as Jack says, we had some players who were used to just doing what they wanted, getting surprised by an opposition they didn't expect. McLaughlin is no saint on the issue, but our government officials who should have been doing their due diligence to protect the community turned into co-conspirators in keeping the project from the public. Just read those meeting notes I FOIL'd. They're all about keeping the public out of the loop and lining up the ducks. They did this for the "players" on the Hill. And they should be ashamed of themselves.

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  18. Jack, what can possibly be so hard about governing so small a town as East Greenbush that we have to have so much drama, intrigue and, sadly stupidity?

    Seriously, what is so darn hard that the last several town boards have so deeply screwed things up?

    On the bookkeeping issue...even Quicken would be an improvement other nothing. What is so hard about basic double entry bookkeeping that East Greenbush's book remain unauditable? Think about that. Think of the potential for fraud.

    Great post. You remain a true gentleman and scholar.

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  19. Politically speaking, Phil Malone will have the distinction of being East Greenbush's first casino casualty on Tuesday. The town board has been looking down their noses at those in opposition to the casino for months now and steadfastly refusing to believe that their stealth determination to saddle our town with a big box gambling emporium will come back to haunt them. So cold they were as they begrudgingly listened to impassioned pleas with closed ears. So bizzare it was as they literally forced something upon us as if we don't pay sky-high taxes to live here and don't have a say in how our town is run. The TU cites Phil Malone's "role as an East Greenbush Town Board member in trying to silence public debate on a casino." The same thing will happen next year to Langley, Malone, and Mangold if they attempt to seek re-election. The gross arrogance and mishandling of this project from the start will follow them until they are drummed out of politics for good, and this will happen whether or not we get the casino license for nothing is more offensive to Americans than autocratic rule. And where will Mr. Feathers be as the poor dolts who believed him are losing re-election all around him? Will he be waiting in the wings with open arms to catch them and make sure that they are not casualties of the casino war in EG? Unlikely. He'll be busy not taking their calls and continuing on as the fox who is looking for the next batch of chickens to pluck in the coming new year.

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  20. Gadfly... Do you know how our county Legislators ( Fiacco, Danaher, Hoffman, & Baily) voted on the resolution permitting a Casino to be built in Rensselaer county in the first place.

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    1. They all voted "Yes"

      Rensselaer County Legislature supports casino in county
      Legislators say sites outside city of Rensselaer should be considered for gambling
      By Kenneth C. Crowe II
      Updated 12:23 am, Thursday, January 16, 2014

      http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Rensselaer-County-Legislature-supports-casino-in-5141023.php

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  21. Anon 11/3 @6:48--Legislator Martin Reid did the same thing Mary Ann Matters did. He has since withdrawn his support. View this, http://jbiztechvalley.com/view/martin-reid-chairman-rensselaer-county-legislature-r-sand-lake/. Copy and paste it to your browser. It is an interview with Legislator Martin Reid and he discusses why he withdrew his support for the casino.

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  22. Just a reminder. Tomorrow is election day. Don't let Cuomo's so-called tax relief for property owners and families have any sway over your vote. Let's all remember that next year we will have to claim the few dollars we received as income on our tax return. One hand gives and the other hand takes. Thanks a bunch Andy. Do you really think we are that dumb? Can't wait to see your book selling for 99 cents on Amazon.

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  23. Anony @ 4:49..... What's really outrageous in all this is that a group of taxpayers in this Town are having to "pass the hat" to protect the Town's land use plan and zoning code from being ravished by the Board and the ZBA. The "administration," such as it is, has absolutely no concept of the unintended consequences of doing the favor for the "players on the Hill." So much for "due diligence" in this area too.

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    1. Dear Don,
      Re: Capital View Casino
      The county Exec disagrees with you.
      The county Legislature disagrees with you.
      The Town Board disagrees with you.
      The Zoning board disagrees with you.
      The Planning board disagrees with you.
      Over 3/4 of the town residents disagree with you.

      It's no wonder you sound so angry.

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    2. Ed Gilbert's back carrying political water. Have at it boys and girls.

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    3. And Ed....where did you get that 3/4 number? Another fiction from the DeFruscio playbook. Getting desperate aren't you?

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    4. Dear Gadfly: When the members of the Legislature and the Town Board are turned away from office next year will the folks who are victorious be free to ask the members of Planning and Zoning to resign? I know their appointments extend beyond the election, but maybe if asked, they will resign.
      @ 6:15 PM - 4/4 of the interested town residents will be speaking up tomorrow. My bet is that they will send a message to Phil Malone that will be sent to all incumbent candidates involved in this casino mess next year.

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  24. PLEASE WATCH FOX 23 TONIGHT AT 10 PM.....DEBATE ABOUT CASINOS AND MONEY TO BE GIVEN TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT!!!!!

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  25. I love that 3/4 stat. I haven't laughed that hard in a long time. Things aren't true just because you want them to be. I have researched every indicator of community opinion developed by anyone in the last six months and your "numbers" are laughable. Since you're probably a political operative I urge you to continue to misread community opinion to that degree. This way you'll think you have a chance to win next year's election. You may find that delusions sometimes have consequences in the real world.

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  26. Hey, Ed (6:15 p.m.) You better get some supper because your low blood sugar is affecting your judgement. Not everyone on the town, zoning, and planning boards disagree with us. One member of the TB definitely disagrees with you, so much so that you took it upon yourself to threaten her and her husband with political repercussions if she didn't play ball. Another TB member should not have been voting at all, so who cares if she agrees with you or not. Other members of the ZBA both disagree with you AND recused themselves because of the rampant propensity in our town to allow residents to be on boards AND invest in businesses in the town as well. Members of the PB also had to recuse. So, it looks like you don't have the "support" you think you have, well, anywhere. When you find out in another couple of weeks that EG has been passed over for consideration because we're more damn trouble than we're worth, you're going to find yourselves besieged with people who just want you and your kind gone...period! And no amount of blogging will help you, Ed. Enjoy the next 14 mos. You are now on political death row!

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  27. What's in it for you, Ed Gilbert? You keep making a damn fool of yourself in person and in cyberspace for DeFruscio and Langley but what's the payoff? Do you think your suit and tie gives you credibility? Not even your bosses wear a suit and tie. Are you hoping for a job? You have a good job. We'd all like to know...why are you always front and center speaking for losers who won't even speak for themselves, and doing it badly to boot? It can't be for the $3K a year? What is the reason, Ed, or are you just a glutton for punishment?

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  28. Gilbert would be better off writing a new Supervisor's Report. Most recent is 9-24-14!

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  29. To Anon 6:15, it is interesting that your list if casino "supporters" includes individuals at the county level who did not vote on a site-specific proposal.

    I would like to draw your attention to reputable casino opposition from Bloomberg Businessweek, Moody's Investor Services, Crain's NY, The NYT editorial board and many other publications who have studied economic forecasts and have determined that local casinos are a losing bet. It is a shame that our Town Board did not research the industry trends before voting on an unsustainable source of revenue.

    Today polls are open from 6 am - 9 pm. Please vote. We know how we got into this casino mess. It all started with the influential ballot language last year. Every vote counts, send a message by voting today.

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  30. 11/3 @ 6:15 p.m. Do you know who else shares your belief that three-quarters of the town, nay the entire county, is pro-casino? Yup, you guessed it, PHIL MALONE. Let's see how he fairs in today's election. We'll use that as a barometer of things to come.

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  31. Happy "Rejection" Day, Mr. Malone. It's time to pay the casino piper. We've heard YES! from you since April. Now you will hear NO! from us today.

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  32. Please take some time to READ the language and details of the propositions, let's not make the same mistake NY made last November:

    http://www.elections.ny.gov/ProposedConsAmendments2.html

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  33. Here's a good summary of the three measures on todays ballot by Karen Dewitt:

    There are three amendments on Tuesday’s ballot, for New Yorkers to decide, including changing redistricting and whether to borrow $2 billion dollars for school technology.

    The number one ballot amendment changes the way redistricting is conducted in New York, and reform groups are split over whether it’s a good idea or not.

    The amendment would require the legislature to pick a ten member commission to draw the new district lines the next time they are required by the census, in 2020. Majority and Minority party legislative leaders would each get to choose two commission members. The eight commissioners would then choose the final two members. The panel would then draw the lines, based on several principles of fairness.

    Dick Dadey, with Citizens Union, which supports the measure, along with the League of Women Voters, says it’s the best opportunity in decades to help fix a broken system that allows nearly unlimited gerrymandering by legislative leaders to benefit parties in power.

    “It’s rare in politics when voters are given the opportunity to take power away from the legislature,” Dadey said. “We believe that this is an important step forward.”

    Blair Horner, with the New York Public Interest Research Group, is urging a no vote, as is Common Cause, saying it’s “fake” reform and would enshrine in the state constitution lawmakers’ ability to gerrymander the districts.

    “Is this independent panel? We argue no. They’re puppets,” Horner said. “And the legislature is still the puppeteer”.

    Horner says there are other loopholes in the amendment , including allowing the legislature in two consecutive votes to override the commission’s recommendations and draw its own lines.

    The second item is far less controversial. It would allow the legislature to go paperless, and no longer print thousands of pages of bills each year. Lawmakers would access the legislation digitally. The measure, championed by Schenectady Assemblyman Jim Tedisco, has no known opposition.

    The third ballot amendment would permit New York State to borrow $2 billion dollars to pay for computer tablets and better internet access for school children. Governor Cuomo proposed the idea, and says voters should approve it.

    “We jumpstart the technology revolution in education,” said Cuomo of the bond act. “Which is long, long overdue.”

    Cuomo has already appointed a commission to distribute the money. Education groups are lukewarm, and fiscal watchdog groups say it doesn’t make good economic sense to issue long term bonds to for items like I-Pads, which will be outdated long before the debt is repaid.

    EJ McMahon is with the Empire Center.

    “They’re assuming a box full of I-Pads that some school buys next year are still going to be useful and not obsolete in 2022,” McMahon said. “Nobody believes that.”

    All of the amendments will be appear on the back of the ballot, voters will need to remember to turn the sheet over in order to vote on the items.

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    1. Ironically when I read this years Proposition One, I think of last years Proposition One and the "independent" appointees. This just sounds like another panel of hand picked corrupt imbeciles, it also reminds me of the appointed boards in our town. Until the entire State's players are wiped out, I will not vote fore them to appoint more of their friends.

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    2. "Voters will need to remember to turn the sheet over in order to vote on the items." Hmmm. I hope the ballot sheets have big arrows and large bold print that says TURN SHEET OVER! Otherwise, many voters won't realize that the amendments are there. I always wonder if that's deliberate.

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  34. This is going backwards a little, but I was rereading some sections of the application and came across the distressed areas of East Greenbush and how the casino will help the residents of East Greenbush. I don't know how I missed this the first time, I wish I missed it this time. Page 16 of the pdf "Helping East Greenbush Residents" has an offensive take on our community.

    “East Greenbush itself illustrates the benefits of an approach that targets existing residents. The Hampton Manor and Prospect Heights are areas in need of an economic boost, according to various interviews with police and other officials in East Greenbush. Such areas, quite typically, are often home to crimes often associated with poverty and a lack of economic opportunities. Representatives of the East Greenbush Police Department spoke positively about the prospect of a casino but expressed concern whether it might impose additional costs on the department.”

    Is this the same police department that says they will not hire more staff because they are used to doing a lot with a little and that they'll handle it on an "as needed basis"? Is this the same police department whose Chief of Police is also a part-time bus driver? Will he drive the bus for the drunks at the casino?

    http://www.gaming.ny.gov/pdf/Redacted%20RFA%20Applications/Capital%20View/Sub-Binder%201%20-%20Economic%20Summary/04%20Finance%20and%20Capital%20Structure/Exhibit%20VIII.A.3.pdf

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  35. What part of the Town does Supervisor Langley live in? Does he have anything to say about this?

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    1. Ironically, the Supervisor lives in one of the areas the applicant identified as "depressed." Prospect Heights. The problem is that he's so far up Feathers backside where the casino is concerned that he won't complain about anything, even what amounts to a personal insult.The Supervisor is really in deep this time and he's gotta just ride this coaster until the location board hopefully stops it dead in its tracks.

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  36. One down sorry phil

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  37. So much for the majority of people support the casino.

    The people have spoken.

    NY Assembly 107th District Votes (95 of 113) Steven McLaughlin  (R,C,I,SC) 23,093
    Philip Malone  (D,WF)
    10,858
    Last Updated: 11/4/2014 11:38 pm Source Board of Elections

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  38. Now maybe we can make some headway with the stipends:
    Rensselaer County District Attorney Votes (118 of 118) Joel Abelove  (R,C,I)
    21,857
    Carmelo Laquidara  (D,G,WF) 21,518
    Last Updated: 11/5/2014 12:01 am

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  39. As chair of the town democratic party committee Phil ran a terrible campaign for Mike and Cheryl. Terrible.

    Phil's huge loss is telling as well.

    But, most seriously, is Phil complete lack of a single accomplishment in his current job and the job that the people of East Greennush entrusted to him and pay him for.

    Next year voters need to send Malone, Mangold and Langley packing to political never never land. The town needs a new vision, a plan, goals and fiscal discipline. The three of them have, and are, failures at that.

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  40. Here's a due diligence issue the Town Board never engaged:

    https://www.baltimorebrew.com/2014/11/04/police-are-donating-officers-on-overtime-to-watch-over-new-casino/

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    Replies
    1. Frightening article, GF, but casino advocates will tell you it's not apples-to-apples. What's happened at Horseshoe in Baltimore won't happen here in EG. How can we make a case that hasn't happened yet? It's brutal.

      Delete
    2. My point in posting the link is to raise the question about where the money is going to come from when EG needs to beef up its police force. The Chief is quoted in the developer's application that he's used to doing more with less and won't need to hire. Does anybody really believe that? Did the Board engage in any research on this question as it sat there dazzled by the promises from Feathers? Those who did introduce such materials on this and other questions were totally ignored.

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  41. more with less and yet overtime is still through the roof. Here's a question, how good is the response from an officer who is overtired from working more hours than is practical. They should hire more and learn to operate within a reasonable budget without overtime.

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    1. He should have been told to replace the officers who left, but his boss don't care, all he is concerned about is the casino .As in the past this decision will come back to haunt him then all will say why is there so much OT. And lets be very clear the officers don't care they will work as much ot as they can who doesn't want to make $100,000 .

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  42. Trying to give credit where credit is due, I'm happy to see Ed Gilbert spending his time trying to promote the good things "his guy" has done rather than beat down everyone else, even if he won't acknowledge his authorship.

    What doesn't really make sense is the notation to ask for permission to reprint. If the blog is anonymous, with whom is one to make this request and if denied, how do we know it is the blog administrator? If one were to violate this request, how do they enforce it without making their identity known?

    On behalf of everyone who posts on the gadfly and everyone the former blog hit with great malice, I'd like to ask Ed/EGMatterss if it's ok if we reprint all of their content here on a special post. In fact, why not just do it and let them bring a lawsuit?

    I seriously doubt that Ed or anyone else is going to try to enforce that and open themselves to a number of suits and repercussions from the former blog, which a number of people apparently printed out before they took it down. I have my copy still!

    Every now and then Ed, it's best to embrace silence as a friend and leave well enough alone. Trying to build false platitudes for your candidate after a year of complete disregard for the people he represents is a little late. It might be best to let Keith Langley do his own talking and put his name to it in a venue where more people will see it.

    Take a position and accept the consequences or praise accordingly. You were wrong about how the casino would be accepted and even if you get it, it's still not a win now. It's time to govern better!

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    Replies
    1. They don't know how to govern better. You can't fix stupid.

      Delete
  43. Ed Gilbert deserves zero credit for any attempt at redemption after threatening a public official in a failed attempt to extort her vote from her, followed by his grotesquely sophmoric handiwork day in and day out for months as headmaster of the EGMatters blog, after she withdrew her support for the casino. Since the summer, he has been working hard to cancel out his credibility as an "official" of the town by offending literally scores of residents wherever he goes in a so-called official capacity, including his embarrassing performance in front of the state location board. Many calls for his resignation have gone ignored and the Supervisor continues to disrespect and offend Ms. Matters by keeping him on staff as his deputy. Our only consolation is that when Langley hits the skids this time next year, he will take his mean-spirited, flunky lackeys with him. Then, they'll have all day to sit around, much like they do now, and count the error of their ways in 2014.

    ReplyDelete
  44. In EG Malone got 2,254 votes --1,934 Dem line, 320 WF line

    McLaughlin got 3,233 votes--2,395 Rep line, 479 Con line, 359 Indy line.

    That result coupled with the exit poll which showed that residents oppose the casino by a margin of 2 to 1 should silence both (used to be) major political machines in East Greenbush. Time for a New Deal.

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  45. Oddly enough, Obama is making the same ridiculous argument that Keith Langley makes. That this election wasn't about him, he still represents the two thirds of the people who didn't vote. What neither of them get is that they haven't inspired the people to support their position and it is a mindset that is not exclusive to East Greenbush. Politicians on both sides just don't seem to get it. If they were doing a great job, people would make sure they didn't lose them and keep them in. Yesterday wasn't an anti-incumbent election, it was an anti-democrat election, much like it was an anti McCabe election. You can't alter the reality of how or why things happen. The whole idea is to get things done and Langley and crew has refused to be open minded and embrace any good idea that wasn't his. Harry Reed was the same way and if a bill didn't meet with the President's approval, he didn't bring it to the floor. It's a political mindset and Keith should prepare for the reality that he ignored the people who elected him and they will vote him out just as fast. If he doesn't believe it he can ask seven different incumbent senators or senators and governors who held long standing democratic seats. When Illinois, the President's "home state", elects a republican governor, it isn't because they were happy with the way things were going. So learn the lesson Keith, if people aren't voting for you or speaking out in favor of your proposal, it's not because they are a silent majority, it's because they don't agree with you. Either way it doesn't matter. It's the voting public that gives you your position and oddly enough, they are the ones who take it away. Obama, Reed, Langley, McCabe just don't get it.

    ReplyDelete
  46. Why did Phil Malone lose by 1000 votes against someone who doesn't even live in East Greenbush. Wasn't he the high vote getter when he ran last time out. There must be an error in the totals being posted here.

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    Replies
    1. No error 10 p.m. Mr. Malone very smugly voted "yes" twice for the casino. He has, therefore, simply joined Mr. Langley on political death row. The political carnage has started. Where are you, Mr. Feathers? Can't you save them?

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    2. @Anony 8:12....he voted three times! Some comments in this article made matters worse: http://www.registerstar.com/news/article_8255642a-54af-11e4-8f0e-b70dc3c35c9f.html

      Feather's couldn't buy EG's votes for him. Oh how I wish Langley was up for re-election this year! Did anyone notice the 1 year terms for other town board members in other towns?

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    3. 1 year terms? Who could afford to run for reelection every year? Makes no sense.

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    4. Other towns feel otherwise. Maybe people can spend less time seeing who can get this biggest campaign fund pool and do their jobs. Cost shouldnt matter because money shouldn't get people to vote. Look what big money campaigns have done, record breaking all time low numbers of those going to the polls

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  47. 11/5 @ 9:16 p.m.
    Excellent post.
    Remember, Supervisor Langley that
    "Every election is determined by the people who show up."
    Larry J. Sabato, Pendulum Swing

    ReplyDelete
  48. What Keith Langley fails to understand is that it only matters what people think, if they vote.

    ReplyDelete
  49. "I never voted for anybody.
    I always voted against."
    comedian W. C. Feilds

    ReplyDelete
  50. Whether the town needs additional police officers should be subject to a serious workforce analysis done independently of the politics and reviewed/recommended by the CFAF.

    Workforce analysis looks at everything from scheduling to productivity. Overtime or retirements should NEVER be the single determining factor in adding or replacing people.

    I once FOILed for a simple analysis of the police department vehicles. The record keeping was horrible. Nothing made sense, records were shoddy, poorly maintained and impossible to figure out. Given that do not have a whole lot of confidence in any claims until an objective, fact based business case is made for additional staffing.

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    Replies
    1. 3:23 - FOIL them again. Be prepared for what your going to get from Chief Bus Driver. He's the king of b~s and hates answering to the public he serves.
      I would 2nd your request for a "real" workload analysis. I listen and these few that are working are forever spending alot of time at Walmarts and the apartment complexes. The evening shift alone never sits still.
      So I would recommend a definitive workload analysis to quell the b~s and give us all a "real world" look into the Bus drivers responsibilities and how effective he actually is as a leader

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