January Update - The stories


By DIA, Section News
Posted on Sun Jan 15, 2006 at 08:11:26 AM EST

Until I get back into more regular updates I'm using these monthly updates as a bit of notebook to let us all remember what the big stories for each month were. I'll keep the witty commentary to a minimum.

Hold For Jamie Gilkey

Jamie Gilkey was indicted on voter fraud charges. He claims he's innocent. We'll let the courts decide that one. But the better part of this story is how our leaders are handling this. Gilkey was a democratic ward leader (and probably still is). So how did Betty Barnette, head of the Albany County Democratic Party respond to this indictment? Did she make a bold statement saying she welcomes any investigation into voter fraud as the integrity of the democratic process is the most important thing to maintain? Nah, she got all pissy about it.
"I, just like others in the county, will be watching the merits of this case unfold," Barnette said, scoffing at the thought she knew anything about the alleged scam: "No one has called me from Mr. Soares' office. Unless Mr. Mair has some proof, I would ask him to leave me alone."
Sounds like Abramoff or Delay or Cunningham or Ney...you get the point. Her response to this case was to say she hadn't heard from the DA yet. Inspires confidence in the Albany Democratic Party, eh?

Spot Planning No word from new Director of Planning Joe Rabito on what he thinks of spot rezoning. But the common council voted to go ahead with the rezoning despite serious opposition by the residents in the neighborhood. But who cares what the residents think, they don't donate money to campaigns. Ironic that the same month this happens we have Mayor Jennings talking about creating a "master plan" for the city. Better late than never. It was good to see Craig Waltz, former candidate in the 8th ward and current involved citizen fighting for the rights of the citizens. There is talk of the citizens suing to reverse the decision. Might want to check with the people over in Center Square about that. The judges in Albany have a habit of being a bit activist when it comes to zoning issues.

Charter Commission The Mayor's charter commission wrapped up and basically proposed the same things the Albany Civic Agenda did minus the bit about the Board of Estimate and Apportionment. Kudos to the ACA. Too bad the Mayor and the common council had to screw with the democratic process and not let the people get to express their rights. Ah well, at least the Mayor still gets to maintain control over the Board of E&A. That way he can keep voting to spend millions on property for landfills that we can't use. A strong executive is important. If we didn't have such a strong executive to propertly handle the landfill situation imagine what sort of trouble we would be in. But you give a strong executive 12 years to deal with a problem and you can be damn sure he will take care of it, right?

Mayor Jennings' Eye for Talent Now the verdict is still out on some of the Mayor's recent hires and appointees. Mr. Rabito has his work cut out for him. You can be damn sure he never put together a master plan before. However, we do have good news so far with Chief Tuffy. There is a long road ahead but so far it sound encouraging. However, the Mayor's pick for the school board didn't get off to the best start. If you can't teach your children to behave in a manner in the classroom that allows them to avoid being arrested for unlawful imprisonment and harassment, I don't think you have the proper skills to be on the school board. But I'm picky that way. Good thing only one of Mayor Jennings 3 candidates got elected. Perhaps people might think twice about voting for the mayor's candidates in the future. Especially since these candidates refused to be interviewed, attended no debates and didn't campaign.

< Water For A City | January Update - The Big Picture >

Menu

+ create account
+ faq
+ search

Login

Make a new account

Username:
Password:

Related Links

+ indicted on voter fraud
+ voted to go ahead
+ over in Center Square
+ wrapped up
+ keep voting to spend millions
+ good news so far
+ unlawful imprisonment and harassment
+ Also by DIA
Display: Sort:
January Update - The stories | 3 comments (3 topical, 0 hidden)
January update (none / 0) (#1)
by nitevision on Mon Jan 16, 2006 at 07:26:00 AM EST
  What a great way to spend the holiday. It's good to have DIA provoking some thought.
  Jamie Gilkey, about as pure as the driven slush, may be the fall guy.  David Soares may just want to shut us up on the voter fraud issue. Soares two young Public Integrity attorneys couldn't find anyone else involved stealing our right to vote?   Mmmmm, how hard did they look?  This is just one of a string of cases which makes me say that David has become a major disappointment.
  The cops seem more visible and more motivated.  If that's because of James Tuffey's appointment as chief, I say good.  I viewed him as part of the ole boy's network but am willing to give him a chance to make positive changes.
  Betty Barnett is very much a female member of the ole boy's network.  She is knee deep in the problems of the Democratic power structure.  She needs to be bounced out of the leadership.  She along with every committee member should be primaried next September. Bring in free thinking people with new ideas to nominate candidates and judges to the Supreme Court.  Show the bosses the door and open up the party.
   The school system is a mess and we actually pay for it with our taxes.  Unbelievable - a survey for the kids to tell us what the problem is?  Or the nutty idea to pay parents to get involved in their kid's lives? How about cops with tasers in every classroom?  Instead, The BofE can form a committee to study the problem and issue a report in 12 - 18 months. They call themselves educational professionals but can't ever quickly solve a problem.  Holding a teacher hostage doesn't require a study to figure out it's a crime.
   Well now I'll pour another cup of coffee.  Some things never change.

Jamie, Soares and the schools (none / 0) (#2)
by alfrednewman on Mon Jan 16, 2006 at 10:21:00 AM EST
So, six months to get Jamie for writing 'hold for me' on an absentee ballot and 20 hours for Armstead, the mad hatter, who stabed a kid 9 times over a baseball cap. Read the election law for yourself.

http://www.elections.state.ny.us/download/law/NYElection2005CD.pdf

No where does it say that a party official, a campaign manger or anyone else, is prohibited from personally delivering and picking up ballots.  

I think that Soares is engaging in politically motivated prosecution of Gilkey.  Why else would he spend six months investigating this?  Again, read the law for yourself.

As for the school system, if you look at the total budget and divide it by the number of little scholars that Albany Public Schools claim to have you will discover that it would be cheaper to close the whole district down and send them all to Albany Academy or any other prep school.  Again, find the numbers and do the math.
"What? Me worry? " "whatmeworry.alfred@gmail.com"
[ Parent ]

Schools (none / 0) (#3)
by Citizen McLain on Tue Jan 17, 2006 at 06:44:57 AM EST
While a proponent of family support principles and practices, I totally oppose the idea of paying parents to attend PTA meetings.  Taking a check to guarantee that parents come to meetings does not ensure that they do the follow up work at home, where it really happens.

I wonder if charter schools pay parents to attend PTA meetings.

Regarding the assault on the English teacher - who I have read has decided to pack it in after 30 years - the school board member whose child was suspended should consider resigning so she can spend more time with her child.  Any board member whose child misbehaves ought to reconsider prioritizing his or her time.

January Update - The stories | 3 comments (3 topical, 0 hidden)
Display: Sort:
create account | faq | search