The Right Side of History

This last few years with reform efforts, Save East Greenbush and the victory of East Greenbush First has brought back some great feelings and memories from a long time ago. In 1958 I was a High School Junior in Patterson, California. I attended a leadership conference with students from all over the State at Asilomar Conference Center on the Coast. Speakers were Andrew Cordier from the United Nation who addressed the issues of the French Algerian conflict.  (Some of that fallout might have been in Paris last week.)  Martin Luther King, Jr. was there to talk about his experience in the Montgomery Bus boycott. I ran into King in the Recreation Hall and he asked me to shoot a game of pool. He cleaned my clock. In five years he'd be delivering the “I have a dream” speech, and in ten years he'd be killed by an assassin. That brief conversation with MLK was my first real encounter with a “mover of events.” He struck me as an ordinary guy with a vision and a commitment to it.

Six years later, the US Senate was debating the Civil Rights Bill which was introduced when JFK was still alive and in a major conflict with George Wallace. In the Spring of 1964 the debate in the Senate was long. The religious communities in the United States joined to support the passage of the Bill. Protestant, Catholic and Jewish theological students from all over the United States organized an around the clock 27/7 vigil at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington in support of the passage of the Civil Rights Bill. I was there with 5 of my Seminary classmates from Chicago for our “shift” from May 7 to May 9, 1964.

Don Johnson, Alden Johnson, Dave Norling, Dennis Glad, Wes Swanson and Dennis Erickson.  (The Blues Brothers take Washington)

We were also “monitored” by this member of the American Nazi Party. George Lincoln Rockwell also paid an uncomfortable visit during our time on duty. 

The New York times on its front page on April 29, 1964 credited the efforts of the churches and synagogues and the united theological students as influential in the passage of the Bill. When Lyndon Johnson signed it, it was a time of great joy and satisfaction.

The victory of EG 1^st and the efforts of all of those who made that possible brought back some of the joyful feelings that I felt over 50 years ago. I'm proud to have been a part of it.  Ordinary people can do the right thing and be on the right side of history.

Yes Ed, We're not in Kansas

Went to a party tonight - a thank you party for East Greenbush First volunteers.  Met some folks I've never met before.  A house full in a very big house.  What an experience!!  We made some history in this Town.  What was it......49% in a three-way Supe race?  The Reps said that EG1st was "not a factor."  The Dems cannot be quoted.  The machines never saw the people coming.  They believed their own press releases. 

From A Good Friend of the "Fly"

Someone once noted that there are few things in history that had a more improbable outcome than the birth of this nation.  Against insurmountable odds, a small band of revolutionaries gave birth to a new form of government, of, by and for the people… and we have never looked back.

Last night, while on a much smaller scale, the residents of the Town of East Greenbush experienced a similar fate with the victory of the EG 1^st team and Jack Conway, Tom Grant and Tina Tierney deserve congratulations.  Not just for winning, but doing so in a fashion that was respectful of the voters intelligence and for valuing the rights and needs of this community.

Leadership does not begin after the election or even after the swearing in ceremony.  It begins the day a team of people decides to pursue a course of action that would grant them the opportunity to make a substantive contribution to their community.  On that day, that team begins to surround themselves with like-minded people who help craft a message, formulate a plan and follow that plan.  The EG 1^st team built just such a team and should be commended for it.

That said, the work that began months ago, goes into overdrive now and there is too much work to be done to take extended bows or victory laps.  Gloating is for suckers.  True leaders identify the work ahead and get right to it.  That’s what the EG 1^st team promised and it is a reasonable expectation since, to their credit, they won an election free of the stigma of a major party.  They do not own any of the failed policies of the past decades, nor the contracts nor the budgets or a myriad of other facets of government that need to be corrected here.  Perhaps in this new, somewhat unexpected government, the real winners are disenfranchised residents in this town, who have something meaningful to contribute, but have been shut out because they had the wrong last name, belonged to the wrong party or just didn’t know the right guy.

There really isn’t a right guy anymore.  If you have a way to contribute that can help rebuild this town, this is a team that is as welcoming as lady liberty herself.  Your credentials matter more than your Facebook friends page, because here’s the thing… the EG 1^st team isn’t Jack, Tom and Tina… it’s all of us and they didn’t get here on their own and they are very gracious to note that.  Residents gave them this opportunity and it is reasonable to assume that residents want to see them succeed.

So folks, be prepared to participate.  Introduce yourselves to your new government and get ready to get your hands dirty.  Attend a board meeting and show up with your input for improvements and your resume.  We now have the government that everyone always wanted, but no one thought we would ever get.

The work doesn’t start January 1^st, it starts now.  We have an opportunity to be a part of building a new East Greenbush.  One where the successes are shared by many, not the few and to be part of that is something that will be rewarding and special.  So take a bow EG 1^st… and get to work.  Like someone once noted… to whom much is granted, much is expected, but don’t worry, we don’t expect you to do it alone.

We Need A Clean Break -- Two

"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result."

                                                                                       ----- Albert Einstein      

 “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” 

                                                                                       ----- George Santayana, 1905

                                                                                    

If you’ve been watching East Greenbush Town government for any length of time, it should be clear to you that the two major political “machines” are pretty much interchangeable.  One got us in a financial mess, and the other one didn’t do anything about it.  The main reason for that is that what passes for “policy” is primarily driven by the politics involved – taking care of the insiders who call the shots from behind the curtain.  That’s how all the mischief took place on Thompson Hill -  the illegal Plat approval, the “duplex” with 4 front doors, the road paved with transferred amenities money by the Supervisors former employer without a bid, and finally the casino stuff complete with zoning manipulations. 

Before that series of episodes, the interfund debt was created by non-management and internal controls that permitted illegal stipends, unlawful longevity and incentive payments and even ineligible persons being put on the Town’s medical benefit plan. 

The last three reports by the Office of State Comptroller are repleat with long lists of findings and recommendations addressing the problems facing the Town.  There’s another report in preparation which I’m sure will have the same messages.  Neither administration backed by its respective machine has made any effort to address and implement these recommendations.  It’s just not in their “interest.” 

So to expect any different outcome from either Republicans or Democrats by electing either on November 3^rd is simply – Insanity. 

We need a clean break from the past, and a future delivered by a Supervisor and Board who chose to be free of the “strings”  held by the old insiders.  Vote East Greenbush First!!!  Jack Conway, Tina Tierney and Tom Grant. 

A Comment that deserves to be a Post

This is an atypical year politically and the EG 1st candidates have highlighted the absolute NEED for sincere leadership. The Langley camp has sent out a cartoon card bashing Dave Van Wormer for conduct that, from any other source, would likely disqualify him for the job. The problem is that it came from Langley, leaving the average voter disgusted with BOTH major parties.

If you are a thinking individual, it's hard to look at Van Wormer's qualifications, or lack thereof, and still consider voting for him. Even if you dislike the negative ad Langley issued, it's hard to willingly revolt by voting for the guy he attacked, because to a certain degree, Langley is right, Van Wormer is unqualified... but that does not inspire a vote for Langley.

In a normal year, we would have to suffer the indignity of having to vote for one of these two... candidates for lack of a better word, and feel bad about ourselves for doing so, knowing full well neither one of them bring dignity to the office nor do they have the best interests of the residents at heart.

The EG 1st candidates have held themselves to a higher standard and promoted the needs of the community over their own personal ambitions. They are also, each in their own right, supremely qualified to serve.

In any other election year, one would look a the two major party candidates and vote for one or against one. However, this year, as the two major parties parade their selected nominee around like Mrs. Astor's horse, people should be continually reminded that there is in fact an alternative. Candidates who are prepared to do exactly what this town needs.

Meanwhile the two major parties, who are forever stuck in the their ways find themselves with democrats NOT supporting the democratic candidate and instead pushing their people to vote for the republican, a guy who has demonstrated the past that they can't trust him. And democrats are holding their nose to support a guy that was encouraged to NOT run at all. Republicans are hard pressed to support their guy because he not only insulted them but assaulted them with his hard line support of the casino initiative without giving residents the courtesy of weighing in on the decision. A decision which fell very predictably flat.

If ever there was a time to be disgusted with major parties this is the year. If ever there was a time for partisan politicians to show their true colors and their own manipulative tendencies, this is the year.

All the while, there is an alternative that makes sense for voters. Jack Conway, Tina Tierney and Tom Grant have stayed above the fray and focused on solutions for this town. If voters do not recognize this as the true opportunity this is to rebuild this town... this town is destined to violated by corrupt political hacks who will never put the needs of the town ahead of their own. That said... no one, including this piece and it's author, should ever tell anyone how to vote, for whom to vote and insist on it. Your vote is your own. This article was simply to point out an opportunity and an option to deviate from the past. One would be remiss to not point it out.

Let's Put an End to the Irresponsible Fiscal Oversight

The Post below is from East Greenbush Truth.  It's too good not to be a "guest editorial" on the Gadfly.  Read Away!!


We are 11 days away from one of the most contentious elections in East Greenbush and our East Greenbush Republican Committee has failed to file 5 of the last required financial disclosure reports to the Board of Elections.  This is the same committee that has helped run our town further into the ground over the last 4 years.  This is the same committee who is supporting a CFO who has also played a hand the deteriorating condition of our town’s financial records. Our town’s credit ratings have fallen below junk bond status, with 3 of our general obligation ratings now completely withdrawn because our CFO, under the leadership of our EG Republican party, has failed to provide an audit of our town much like the committee backing him has failed to file their required financial reports.  Our Supervisor has failed to provide a verified audit in his tenure as our town’s CFO.  We not only became the laughing stock of the Capital District when our town was put under a microscope during the casino fiasco, but we were embarrassed to find out that we paid two respectable accounting firms nearly $70,000 to attempt to complete an audit but were unsuccessfull because our financial records are too much in disarray.
The committee is requred to file a 32 Pre Primary Report, an 11 Day Pre Primary Report, a 10 Day Post Primary Report, a 32 Day Pre General Report, and an 11 Day Pre General Report – none of which has been filed.  New York Election Law requires that any candidate or committee raising or spending, or expecting to raise more that $1,000 must file.  Candidates and committees must disclose all financial activity made in connection to their own campaign or in support of a candidate.  Candidates who do not exceed the $1,000 threshold may file an “In-Lieu-Of-Statement,” however NY Election Law prohibits constituted and party committees from filing such statement.  NY Election Law 14-124(4) states:  “The only committee that can file In-Lieu-Of-Statements are authorized committees supporting one candidate or a committee solely supporting or opposing a ballot proposal/proposition.”
If there is no financial activity, then such candidate or committee must file a “No Financial Activity” report.  It is factual that the East Greenbush Republican Committee has incurred financial activity.  In the July 30th Advertiser, Ed Gilbert wrote an ad supporting Keith Langley that was explicitly paid by the East Greenbush Republican Committee.  Ironically, this piece was to call out former candidate Michael Poorman for failing to file his required financial disclosures.  (https://eastgreenbushtruth.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/ed-gilbert.png)  On September 3rd The East Greenbush Republican Committee paid for two ads in The Advertiser, “A Message from East Greenbush Republican Town Chairman Dan Fiacco ‘Supervisor Keith Langley Deserves Re-Election'” (https://eastgreenbushtruth.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/republican-committee.png) and the infamous “Turnaround” ad (https://eastgreenbushtruth.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/langley1.png).
The East Greenbush Republican Committee has hosted at least two fundraisers since the July Financial Disclosure Report, one on August 11th when they hosted the “Fundraising Reception in Support of Larry Lenartz and Trent Tibbitts” and the other on October 13th for their “Celebration Event.”  Both events requested that checks be made payable to the East Greenbush Republican Committee.
In 2011, before our Supervisor took office Moody’s had actually upgraded our credit rating from “negative” to “stable.”  Two years later when our Supervisor was in office for a year and a half we were put on a list of cities/towns facing bankruptcy.  Almost 4 years into our Supervisors role as CFO Moody’s downgraded us and withdrew our credit ratings.  Is this the person or committee you trust?  The pattern of our CFO and his respective Republican Committee failing to provide the necessary financial disclosures (for our town, a verifiable audit) needs to end.  We the residents can make that happen on November 3rd, 2015, our town has suffered enough!

Mr. Langley is "Stone Walling"

Supervisor Langley is making the claim that he has reduced the millions of dollars interfund debt in East Greenbush to $300,000.  He is supposedly doing this with the “support” of the Annual Update Documents (AUDs) submitted to the Office of the State Comptroller.  A couple of weeks ago, Moodys Investor Service moved East Greenbush from “Junk Bond” status to its watch list and then to no rating at all based on the fact that East Greenbush has failed to produce certified audits of its submitted AUDs.  There is a simple solution.  As the Chief Financial Officer of East Greenbush, Mr. Langley could certify his submitted AUDs upon which he is basing his campaign claims and submit them for audit by a competent CPA firm. 

I believe that the reason East Greenbush doesn’t have certified audits for the recent years is that the administration doesn’t want to get a “qualified” opinion from the CPA on the financial statements.  The Independent Auditors Report, Management Letter and the Notes to the Financials would be a real help in getting financial matters in order, but these elements of the audit report would also list the failures of management.  That’s why we don’t have the audits.  The probable “qualified” opinions from the CPA firm would also expose the claim of the Supervisor that he has reduced the inter fund debt.  Moodys called his hand, and he has no cards to play. 

By refusing to aggressively resolve the Town’s financial condition issues, Mr. Langley is also preventing the other Board members from having the information necessary to exercise their fiduciary responsibilities in the management of the Town.  Ms. Matters and Ms. DiMartino should be pointing that out to the Attorney General and the State Comptroller.  If they are being prevented from performing the oversight provided for by law, the Attorney General and State Comptroller should be intervening.  Mr. Langley could be getting dangerously close to a Financial Control Board.