Democracy In Albany - New York Politics ||

Albany Gun Violence

By DIA, Section News
Posted on Mon Oct 09, 2006 at 04:48:49 AM EST

The 1st Ward's Dominick Calsolaro wrote a great letter to the editor today. Read it

The Mayor does a disservice to the school district and the more than 2000 students in Albany High who are not causing trouble by constantly blaming the school district for the city's problems. When there is an incident at a city school, the mayor and the police chief are front and center wtih the media to blame the school district.

When 15 people were shot over the summer (when school was not in session), where was the mayor to condemn the rash of gun violence in the city? It's a lot easier to pass the buck and not own up to one's responsibility than it is to stand up and take responsibility for the problems in one's city"

As usual Calsolaro gets it. And the mayor doesn't get it. And the mayor follows up his now classic quote of "I don't want to hear people saying i don't listen to them" with another winner saying he "doesn't have to listen to what Calsolaro says". Since the mayor doesn't listen to what people say he won't be bothered by me calling him a greedy jackass. Don't feel bad for big Jerry, the truth only hurts if you listen to it, and he doesn't. Someday, Albany, someday we will be able to move beyond this small minded little man and try to address the needs of everyone in the city, not just the upperclass and the developers. Rumors are we won't have to wait that long as the mayor may not be serving his full term. He's accomplished what he set out to do by getting the convention center and the wellington site set up to make his friends very rich. Time for him to move on. Because, you know, being mayor is hard work.

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Albany Gun Violence | 4 comments (4 topical, 0 hidden)

Our Kids Are Pawns (none / 0) (#1)
by nitevision on Mon Oct 09, 2006 at 10:32:26 AM EST

I usually agree with your criticism of the 'Tanned One'. Admittedly I am somewhat uncomfortable but need to redirect your attention to the facts.

Our kids should never be used as pawns in a political squabble. Casalaro's problems with Big Jerry should be set aside in trying to protect students in this town.

The blame goes straight to School Supt. Eva Joseph. 1. She rejected Jennings & Tuffey's offers of help early on. 2. She abruptly canceled the program at SUNY for troubled youths. Eva Joseph should trade in her rose colored glasses and face facts.

We used to only worry about our kids coming and going to school. Now because of Joseph's inaction, we worry about their safety while in school. She has proven herself as incompetent to deal realistically with the school safety issue. To his credit, it was Jennings who made the metal detectors available to the high school. Tuffey's hands were tied by Joseph. He sent resources to quell disturbances. It is up to Joseph to end the violence before more injuries occur. Instead she just wants to form more committees and hold more meeting while our kids are bleeding. She is completely out of touch with reality.

you are confusing two issues (none / 0) (#2)
by DIA on Mon Oct 09, 2006 at 11:26:15 AM EST

no one is defending joseph. some of us having been saying there is a gang and gun violence problem in albany that the mayor is not addressing. blame joseph as much as you want for what happens in the schools but lets be realistic about where most of the violence is happening in this city. it ain't the schools.

Calsolaro said his constituents are afraid to walk the streets. Jennings said that wasn't true and that he wouldn't listen to Calsolaro. And you accuse Calsolaro of being at fault for advocating for safe streets for his constituents. I recommend you do two things. Walk the steets of the 1st ward. Invite the mayor along for your stroll. Maybe a nice twilight walk would be nice for someone with nitevision.

You got a problem with joseph, fine. You want to defend the mayor's history of paying no attention to the gun violence in the city and to saying we don't have gang problems...i'm not buying it.

Reply (none / 0) (#3)
by nitevision on Tue Oct 10, 2006 at 09:35:33 AM EST

DIA,
Please don't misread my reaction. I agree that officials have obviously avoided the word "gangs" for years.

I expressed concerns about what happens INSIDE the schools and the district has not addressed it, even after help was offered. Eva Joseph is out of touch.

Safe streets is a nifty phrase. Unfortunately it doesn't apply to many parts of the city - not just the First Ward. I don't disagree with you. I focused on school safety. Isn't it great that President Bush is attending a conference on school violence today. Too little, too late?

[ Parent ]

: avoidance (none / 0) (#4)
by truthbetold on Tue Oct 10, 2006 at 02:35:42 PM EST

Officials (read mayor) has avoided talk the word gangs.
Albany has shootings, stabbings, robberies and violent assaults every day with most of it confined to two or three small neighborhoods. If the mayor and his 350 police officers can't keep the lid on it what do you honestly expect the high school to accomplish with one police officer assigned?
The buck stops with the mayor.

[ Parent ]

Albany Gun Violence | 4 comments (4 topical, 0 hidden)

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