Save East Greenbush
filed
another lawsuit on Thursday, October 30th related to
the bizarre
decision of the Zoning Board of Appeals to ignore the specific
guidance from
the NYS Gaming Commission on the matter of “amenities” still
being subject to
local zoning codes. They
fell for a
tortured interpretation advanced by the casino developers. The legal community in the
Capital District
is getting a real chuckle out of the mischief going on in East Greenbush, but it’s costing the
citizens of our Town some hard
cash to oppose this monstrosity.
Fortunately, the Governor’s little vote
getting gift to
taxpayers in the “Property Tax Freeze Credit” can be turned
against his casino
developer friend Featherstonhaugh and used to help fund the
legal efforts of
Save East Greenbush to stop the casino on Thompson Hill. The check that came to our
house has been
donated to the Save East Greenbush legal fund.
If everybody who signed the anti-casino petition who gets
this check would
do the same, we’d be just about home free with the legal costs
in saving our
community. And the best
thing about it
is the delicious irony of using the Governor’s “vote bait” money
to stop his
friend Feathers from getting his casino in our Town.
You can donate through the SEG website at: https://saveeastgreenbush.nationbuilder.com/donate
or you can send your check to Save East Greenbush, P. O. Box 115, East
Greenbush, NY 12061.
Be sure to watch Channel 13 (WNYT) tonight (Thursday) for the story on the results of the exit poll done on Election Day related to casino support. Dan Bazile did the story and interviewed Jack Conway and Elizabeth Wade in front of Town Hall this afternoon.
ReplyDeleteResults are: Over 2 to 1 opposition to the casino on Thompson Hill among voters in East Greenbush!
Doc Scanlon will be doing the live music at the Save East Greenbush fundraiser at the Community Gospel Church on Saturday from 4 to 7. Come on out for some food and fun. That exit poll released today has Morgan Hook's shorts in a big knot, and he's trying to say that the opposition to the Thompson Hill casino is run by Occupy Albany. Well, I'm retired and the last demonstrating I did was in the '60's for the Civil Rights bill in 1964. Morgan, take a look at the Assembly results in the 107th. Big backlash to a Town Board member who voted lockstep for your boss.
ReplyDeleteMorgan Hook is a fool, his greatest claim to fame is working with Governor Patterson. We can easily figure out that he is most likely the "PaleandPasty" commenter on Capitol Confidential.
ReplyDeleteThe NYT has another article about the fool's gold:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/07/nyregion/casino-bust-in-poconos-could-be-a-lesson-for-the-catskills.html
Hooks a crook like the rest of the goons he represented. Given his close ties to Cuomo, one has to question who hired him on this project. Yet, this man questions where SEG received it's funds.
DeleteIf it weren't apparent enough that this casino crisis nationwide is a big political scheme, one has to question why is a huge political PR firm on this project in the first place?
DeleteSave East Greenbush says poll shows town voters oppose casino
ReplyDeletehttp://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Save-East-Greenbush-says-poll-shows-town-voters-5877111.php
I can't get enough of Morgan Hook!!! He thinks Save East Greenbush is being run from a tent in Albany. Previously he's claimed we're being manipulated by people from Saratoga and funded by the Rensselaer developers!!! Considering the patronizing approach he's taken it must be painful for him to confront the fact that this bunch of local yokels has outsmarted him and his cronies at every turn. Here's what happened this week: in a moment of true inspiration Elizabeth Wade devised an exit poll and a strategy for conducting it. She worked quickly and quietly, and this being Save East Greenbush, was able to recruit all of the people she needed. In less than 48 hours we had an objective poll, a formal analysis, a press conference to announce the results and a classic Morgan Hook temper tantrum. I love it when Occupy Saratoga claims that WE are being run by outsiders. Here's a tip, Morgan: you're the outsider, this is our home and we're going to fight you down to your last temper tantrum. Then you can take an exit poll on your way out of town.
ReplyDeleteWell said (as always) Jack! This is the same man who spent the morning on his phone tweeting lies instead of paying attention at the NYS Gaming Commissions public comment session to the selection board. This is the same man who said we were all wearing pro-casino shirts for other proposed sites. This is the same man and group who pretended they didn't know where the opposition was coming from. This is also the same man who questioned where the SEG's funds came from, which is just downright comical given he is paid to lie.
DeleteJack,
DeleteAs Bonnie stated that was well said. And as history has shown when someone is defending their home turf they tend to fight a little harder for it. Yes he is the outsider not us, so Mr. Hook, put that damn casino in your back yard not ours!!!
The last time I slept in a tent was in 2000 and when I went to get up I broke a tendon in my finger. Anyone who knows our group of supporters (SEG) can figure out that all of us come from diverse backgrounds and cross all age groups. Most have families with or without kids, or are retirees from good-paying jobs who maybe held a picket sign during the Viet Nam war. Some are young professionals. Some of us may even work for the Town. Maybe some of us have never protested before but feel compelled to do it now. Nobody is telling us what to do or paying our way. Morgan Hook has tried to discredit the group many times in an effort to turn the spotlight away from the truth.
ReplyDeleteGive it up Morgan. We gotcha!
This morning's Press Release from Save East Greenbush:
ReplyDelete"The latest statement by Capital View Casino, attempting to discredit citizens of our community who form “Save East Greenbush” by characterizing them as “made up of Occupy Albany members” is yet another blatant example of the lies and unethical behavior exhibited by Capital View Casino and Saratoga Casino and Raceway for the past seven months.
Save East Greenbush is a true grassroots group of community residents who have come together to oppose a dangerous and destructive project which was foisted upon us with no democratic process. There is no basis in fact for Capital View spokesman Morgan Hook’s statement and we hope that his attempt to mischaracterize our residents - our citizens who are concerned about the future of our community and our parents who are concerned about the safety of our children - is recognized for the desperate and pathetic reaching that it is.
Yesterday Save East Greenbush announced the results of an exit poll showing that East Greenbush residents oppose the casino by a margin of over two to one. This poll was conducted using recognized methodology and provides evidence that the overwhelming majority of citizens oppose the Capital View project.
Spokesperson Don Johnson: “From the first meetings with Jim Feathstonhaugh and Supervisor Langley where they discussed how to limit public input, to misrepresentations about jobs and revenue, to vast downsizing of the project without disclosure to the Town Board, to this latest lie about the resident opposition, all show that Capital View Casino has no integrity and no respect for the citizens of East Greenbush who overwhelmingly oppose the casino project.”
We hope that the Gaming Facility Location Board will take note of Saratoga Casino and Raceway and Capital View’s utter and complete disregard for the citizens of their proposed host community and disqualify their application for a casino license."
Mr. Hook's elegant client list, in addition to Feathers, includes the likes of "Client #9 (Eliot Spitzer). He's right a home as the "spin meister" to some of the least respected characters in the State. His performance at the Siting Board hearing in Albany limits his credibility. He's just not believable.
DeleteSadly, we're all dreaming if we think for one second that anyone associated with this government-sponsored casino nightmare cares primarily about the residents of EG. The fact that they weighted public opposition only 20% in the RFA bears this out. A casino's ability to rake in the revenues was weighted 70% of the criteria. So, it's clear that ALL our Governor, our County Executive, and our town Supervisor care about is money, not people. Our only hope is that SEG's legal team can sufficiently enough tie this project up in court so as to dissuade the state from choosing EG for a license. This is why it's absolutely CRUCIAL to contribute to the SEG legal fund. The longer we can tie this thing up in court, the better the chance that EG will be passed over for a license. For more information about how you can make a donation, please see Don's letter on the last page of yesterday's Advertiser.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
Let's face it, anyone associated with the casino underworld is only interested in making money. They don't care about the negative side-effects of a casino on the community as long as they get their$. Well, they'll get theirs all right on election day (or is it rejection day) when they lose their jobs on the town board because they only worship themselves and the almighty buck. Phil Malone was the first casualty of the casino wars in EG. Others will follow.
ReplyDeleteI made a donation to the SEG legal fund. When this hideous casino project is defeated, I want to go to sleep with a smile on my face knowing that I helped to bring it down.
ReplyDeleteAn active member, or two, or so members were involved with Occupy Albany. Who cares? I am a strict fiscal conservative...the more to the right the better. I was an officer at a bank during the Occupy Albany effort--obviously I was on an opposite side of the fence. The casino however, has united people in the community from all parties, and all political ideologies I now have a good friend who was involved with Occupy Albany and she now has a friend who voted for George W. Bush--twice. The casino has united many in the Town who, any other time, would not engage with one another. The casino, which is a COMMUNITY issue and NOT a political issue, has united many to achieve a common goal---see the Capital View casino go away. My Occupy Albany friend is very left and I am very right and for this---we have the same target--no casino on Thompson Hill. Our reasons for opposing the casino may differ but we agree that we oppose it.
ReplyDeleteDoes it matter who was involved in Occupy Albany? The exit poll has not a thing to do with SEG. The exit poll registered numbers.....and let's be honest.....the exit poll is the exit poll.....and the numbers are the numbers........
Having been one of the pollsters on election night at Holy Spirit...I would like to thank you (if you were one of the people I accosted for the poll) for participating in our exit poll!
If you have any notion that Morgan Hook is credible, read these FOIL'ed notes again:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.scribd.com/doc/230268389/East-Greenbush-FOIL-Request-on-Casino-Meetings
Who is Morgan Hook
ReplyDeletePR guy for Capital View and Feathers. Google him. He used to work for Eliot Spitzer and David Patterson.
DeleteSKDKnickerbocker, the PR firm for which Mr. Hook works, features a quote from Maya Angelou on one of its web pages. I guess it's supposed to be a guiding motto of how they operate. Here it is....what do you think?
Delete"People may not remember exactly what you did or what you said, but they will always remember how you made them feel."
I'd say that Feathers and the Supervisor and crew, under the guidance of SKDKnickerbocker have not made the people of East Greenbush feel very good at all. In fact they've made quite a mess that has to be cleaned up.
But this Supervisor won't be the one to clean it up, Gadfly, because he's only capable of muddying the waters, not of making them fit to drink. This Supervisor is a master of deception, of making errors of fact and errors of omission at every turn. In other words, he always has a secret agenda. Unfortunately, even if what he is saying sounds good or makes you "feel" good, you can't believe a word out of his mouth. He is not to be trusted or believed. He turned the special meeting on 11/6 to review the preliminary budget into a PR event for his own benefit. "I'm not going to use the word mismanagement," he said, as he brazenly spoke the word. This is a prime example of how he operates, being charming to your face while he's putting a knife in your back. He's very smug right now for a Supe without a majority but that's just more of the deception. Don't believe it. He hasn't just alienated CP Matters without a speck of remorse or regret, he has actually perpetuated the alienation by going out of his way to act like she's irrelevant. This is the psychological warfare of politics in which he excels. He's in a huge bind though whether he admits it to himself or not and future town meetings will bear that out. As rock star George Phillips likes to say, "stay tuned."
DeleteThe Supervisor is clearly in re-election mode. I was disappointed that more people weren't at the meeting on Thursday because the future of the town's finances were at stake and it seemed like no one cared. I regret giving the Supervisor an opening for his campaign speech but if you listened to our exchange closely you realize he was basically saying nothing can be done to contain consulting costs or overtime. George Phillips explained that Moody's won't even consider letting us out of junk bond status until we show two or three consecutive years of revenue exceeding expenditures. If we can't contain consulting costs or OT I don't see how that can be done.
DeleteBut the most distressing aspect of the meeting was the disappearing act of Phil Malone. I know he's probably burned out by the campaign but he took an oath of office and to disappear during budget season is inexcusable especially since without him there is no way to make any changes to the budget. Sue Mangold and Mary Ann Matters have done a good job of challenging this budget but with Phil out of the picture there's nothing more they can do. It takes three votes and one of them is missing in action. Phil Malone once said that Rick Matters should be cited for an ethics violation every time he abstains from a vote because the voters elected him to make decisions and there's no excuse for failing to do that. I wonder what he thinks about bailing on a budget.
The 800 pound gorilla in the room, of course, was the casino. Other than hoping for the Hail Mary pass of casino revenue, this budget makes no sense because there's massive trouble in our finances even though we don't know the particulars, and there are profound cost increases coming in the near future. This budget proves something we already suspected: the Supervisor has no Plan B. Either we get the casino and by some miracle it generates significant revenue or the town is permanently screwed. Of course, if we do get the casino, the town is permanently screwed as well so all I can conclude is that someone needs to come up with a Plan C and they need to do it quickly.
Jack, what I got out of the overtime/consultant discussion was vintage Langley. It boiled down to his same old 'trust me, I'm saving money and doing the right thing' . Well, as stated at every board meeting this year, the residents of East Greenbush deserve the opportunity to trust but verify. Mr. Langley, you will only be believable when you reveal the financials publicly. The empty promises and paternalistic attitude are not good enough for the residents, not good enough for Moody's and not good enough for reelection.
DeleteIf you want a recap, here's a good one of the notes: http://leftatthegate.blogspot.com/2014/06/east-greenbush-town-board-casino.html?m=1
ReplyDeleteThe nothing can be done about overtime was first stated at the very first CFAC meeting.
ReplyDeleteControlling overtime is a responsibility of every manager. The problem, of course, is we have no managers only political appointees.
Town employees have enormous control over their own overtime. Town employees do what they want and no politician will ever take them on.
Langley believes to this very day that it was his nice guy image with town employees that was a major contributor to his election.
Does the snow need to be plowed? Of course. Do broken water mains need to be repaired? Of course. But the single largest component of overtime is from the police department and that overtime is largely controllable.
The hiring of several additional officers a few years was justified by Ginny O'Brien as reducing police overtime. The hiring at a staggering salary of political insider Mike Condo as deputy chief was also justified as reducing overtime. And, despite all those false promises, police overtime continues without interruption or control.
Spending is 100% out of control within every fire district, Bruen and the PD. But those departments have the public safety angle to frighten people so, like everything else in East Greenbush, NOTHING ever gets done.
I went to my first Save East Greenbush meeting and was pleasantly surprised. What a great group of positive, friendly and determined people! Save East Greenbush is a perfect name for the group because that's what they're trying to do.
ReplyDeleteI found it impressive that such a diversified group of people could work together so effectively for what is an extremely important issue.
The casino issue has united a large group of residents who previously were busy leading their lives....like most of us. The casino people have tried to portray the Save EG group as troublemakers and malcontents, when, in reality, they are anything but. Save EG is a group of dedicated residents who are willing to fight for their town, giving time, money and their unending determination to help keep the character of the town they love intact.
I applaud their efforts and as I said, this was my first meeting...but not my last.
Joe LaMountain
Phil Malone is not going to be very happy with you when he hears this. Not good for your political future Joe. Not good at all.
DeleteSeems to me that successful politicians are those capable of reading their constituencies before making crucial decisions. Langley didn't, and his future is determined. Phil didn't, and look what happened to him in the East Greenbush vote in the 107th Assembly race. The old "machines" are OVER, and those who think they aren't are OVER too.
DeleteEhy should Joe be ashamed of being honest? Because he went against yhe silent majority? We need more people like Joe and MAM for having the courage to speak their feelings instead of going along with the EG way. Why in the world would he worry about Malone? The man who is MIA or at a poty break most meetings? The same man who just got his @$$ kicked this past week in the elections.
DeleteGot to start looking at DeFruscio's activities in the Court. The Judges won't act because they are worried about election challenges. So much for court honesty. Starting to look more like worries about having to pay for a campaign than running an honest court.
ReplyDeleteFrom Alan Mann on "Left at the Gate" on Nov. 4th:
ReplyDelete"Save East Greenbush filed another lawsuit against the Saratoga harness/Churchill Downs proposal; this one is in regard to the October 14 meeting of the zoning board in which the zoning laws were changed to permit this commercial project in the residential area on Thompson Hill. I skimmed through the lawsuit papers; it's quite a well-researched effort with a lot of citations. I'd go into it in more detail, but with the decisions presumably just a few days or weeks ahead, I'd like to think that it's all soon going to be moot. If this location board has the nerve to give Feathers this casino over such vociferous opposition, and considering that the revenue projections do not at all outweigh the other Capitol District contenders to the extent which would make up for that lack of community support, then this process will surely be exposed as a fraud."
Is the list of names of those that supposedly signed a petition against the casino a public document, or is it as big of a fraud as Jack Conway?
ReplyDeleteGilbert and Co have been at it this week, eh?
DeleteLike many other people on that petition I have made my name public regarding my opposition, unlike your post. It's easy to hide behind a computer screen and attack's someones character. To remain anonymous in doing so is just cowardly.
DeleteDear Anonymous 10:33 AM:
DeleteThe signed petitions were submitted to the Gaming Commission over three months ago. Is your unsuccessful anonymous attempt to slander Jack Conway and the many, many other Save East Greenbush Petition carriers and signers the best you've got on November 9th?
Be well,
Tom
They are literally scared to death that when it's announced that EG is out of the running for a license, they will look as dadblame foolish as they've been purported to be since this obscene railroading of the residents started back in April. The preliminary budget meetings have revealed that the town is in worse shape than we thought. With deficits in the hundreds of thousands of dollars in the General, Highway, Sewer, Water, Retirement, and Ambulance District funds, the remedies for which the budget can't hope to address, the Supervisor is surely praying every night to whatever god he worships that the casino bail-out funds are coming. Of course, none of this fiscal insolvency is HIS fault. After all, he's only been Supervisor for three years! So the "mismanagement" he speaks of, of course, has nothing to do with him. Wrong! If we are passed over for the casino siting, we can only hope HE bails out and resigns.
ReplyDeleteNO LANGLEY/GILBERT 2015
Anonymous November 9, 2014 11:03AM
ReplyDeleteLet me tell you a little about me. I make my decisions based on what I think is right. If you or anyone else doesn't like it....too bad!
I do my best to get along with everyone regardless of their political affiliations. That being said, you will find that I can't be controlled and forced to support something or someone that I know is wrong.
As far as a political future, it's not important to me one way or the other. You, however, seem very concerned!
Know this.....if I feel there are good candidates running, I will help them regardless of their political affiliation.
Be well,
Joe
Anonymous 10:33: The signed petitions were submitted to the Gaming Commission and we have copies as well. If you'd like a copy submit a FOIL request to the Gaming Commission. In the interest of showing some class, though, you might sign your real name on a post that questions the legitimacy of more than 3,000 people who signed their real names because they weren't afraid to stand up and be counted.
ReplyDeleteFear IS their middle name, Jack. Like scared rats backed into a corner they attack first. Then, when they see you face to face, they present themselves as officious and respectable, even innocent, like they're the victims! It's truly laughable.
ReplyDeleteMust be getting ready for election time. I am hearing no substance and only threats and comments about people who are honest and put a name on their opinion. But today I am optimistic because last night proved that everyday people can come together for a cause - to return good and honest government to this Town. Once and for all.
ReplyDeleteWho wants to live in a Town which refuses to accommodate hearing impaired citizens? Latest numbskull move - you heard it here. Just the latest attempt by our illustrious supervisor to squelch discussion. I agree with East Greenbush Talks - no Langley in 2015.
According to his bio, Morgan Hook worked in the press offices of Governors Spitzer and Paterson, before opening an Albany branch of SKD Knickerbocker, a Washington based communications firm that specializes in political campaigns. With that background, it's not surprising that he treats the casino project the same as an election for office. This involves using a simple message, "an economic game changer", based on projected jobs and bags full of money-that are rapidly dwindling. You also avoid any negative information (hence the delay of SEQR) and try to control the media coverage. That may work when you are press secretary for the Governor, but fails miserably with the casino project, thanks in large part to the Times Union. Finally, you insult your opposition. In a political campaign, where you only have one opponent, that's easy. However, in the case of Save East Greenbush, with a diverse cross-section of people from all ages, political affiliations and backgrounds, Morgan Hook is lost and increasingly desperate. His "occupy Albany" label is absurd. Calling the Article 78 suit "silly", reflects his total lack of legal understanding. Questioning the research work done on the exit pool by Jack Conway makes him look foolish. Morgan Hook may be qualified for many communications jobs, but when he tries to take on Save East Greenbush he is way over his head.
ReplyDelete