Democracy In Albany - New York Politics ||

Albany County Legislature

By DIA, Section News
Posted on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 05:10:29 AM EST

The running joke known as the Albany County Legislature continued last night. First a bunch of Albany area "democrats" voted for more war in Iraq. One of the arguments was from a guy who had served in Iraq.

During debate, an emotional plea from County Legislator Dan McCoy, who served a year in Iraq with the National Guard. ``Every time a politician stood in front of a camera and talked about bringing the troops home, we got hit harder,'' McCoy said

Now while this may be true, I think it's a bit of stretch in this case. No one in Albany County listens to what the legislature has to say, I am 100% confident that no one in Iraq is listening to what they have to say. I also highly doubt this premise is true. We are occupying their country and have bombed the shit out of it and killed several hundred thousand civilians. They don't want us there. I highly doubt that when John McCain says we should stay for 100 years they decide to lay down their weapons. In fact, I know they have not. What I'm quite certain about is that if we say we are going to leave and then leave, we will suffer a whole lot fewer casualties than if we stay there for another 10 years. Anyway, the resolution was soundly defeated. I'm sure the troops in Iraq are cheering today.

In another bold move, and I really like the sheer outright boldness of this one, the legislature told the people in the nursing home to fuck off and stop complaining about the mold issue.

A resolution to test air at the Albany County Nursing Home on Albany Shaker Road failed by a larger margin, 27-10. Legislators Christine Benedict and William Hoblock called for the testing after complaints from nursing home residents and their families about the mold in occupied areas.

If I had more time to attend comedy clubs I really would've liked to have been there last night to hear the arguments about why we should let those crazy old people keep breathing in that sweet sweet mold.

< Another Charter School Succeeds by Failing | Unfounded >

Menu

+ create account
+ faq
+ search

Login

Make a new account

Related Links

+ continued last night.
+ Also by DIA

Albany County Legislature | 14 comments (14 topical, 0 hidden)

Where's the Rolls? (none / 0) (#1)
by Soundpolitic on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 06:36:44 AM EST

DIA...where can we go to see how the individual legislators voted?

If mine voted nay to condemn the Iraq War, no matter how trivial the ACL may seem, he will have lost my support forever.

votes (none / 0) (#2)
by albany layman on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 06:42:14 AM EST

The TU Local Politics blog has the vote count.

County Legislature (none / 0) (#3)
by tmonjeau on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 07:22:26 AM EST

First, anyone interested can watch the public access broadcast of last nite's meeting, which in my day, was done on the Wednesday following the meeting, i.e. tomorrow. I'm not sure of the time since I never watched it (having been there...)

So I don't know if any of you were there to comment, as was myself and literally dozens of others who spoke, (including David Lussier). While I was actually there to pass on my thanks and congratulations to my ex-colleagues for following through on the years of efforts that we spent to make sure out elections commissioners did not pick DRE machines. It was hard to believe it was even an issue. Many of us read reams of literature, actually inspecting machines, heard from scores of concerned citizens and watched videos of some Florida DRE horror storis.

As you may or may not know, your County Legislature does not get to pick the machines, our election comissioners (Matt Clyne & John Graziano) had 100% of the power to choose. Kudo's to Frank Commisso for putting the pressure on to make sure they made the right choice.

Your County Leg also passed some legislation to begin the planning and construction of a new and separate Mental Health Unit at the Jail. The jail suicides are not acceptable and our county has decided to make sure we do better. Also, as you might note, due to the forward thinking and planning that went into our jail improvements years ago, it has consistently generated NET revenue to Albany County by boarding Federal prisoners, as well as prisoners from neighboring counties and even Suffolk County.

The mental health unit, however is about trying to deal with the real problem of arrestees and inmates with mental health issues.

As far as the Iraq resolution, I spoke in favor of it, because the operative language called for a rapid and orderly withdrawal. Not an immediate withdrawal. For those of you with a sense of responsiblity and empathy may realize, as I have, that now that we have destroyed all the infrastruture and much of Iraqi "society", what happens in the vacuum we leave in our wake. Should we not feel empathy for those of us that have served, that have been traumatized in countless ways, have seen their buddies blown to pieces and the carnage inflicted on innocent people. Can you not understand or feel their pain and sense of responsibility to their fallen friends to OUR fallen neighbors and our neighbors kids.

I support and put on the record that I want us to begin figuring out how to withdraw from Iraq, while leaving the people in a country that will have a reasonable chance to survive.

As to your comments about Dan McCoy. Dan is a great guy who has sacrificed a lot for us, whether we agree with the war or not having to leave his family and young kids twice when he was called up. He, and all of our vets, deserve a lot more respect from you.

So, my point is, while you may not like the two resolutions that you mentioned, how about the 60 or so other items that were on the agenda?

: Such as the reappointment of Larrabee? (none / 0) (#4)
by mailer daemon on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 08:18:38 AM EST

Another stupid move by the Albany County Legislators (I mean sheep). The man who padded his resume, who never stayed at a job for more than two years, (we are coming up on a record for him soon!) and had no verifiable way to check his references was voted BACK IN!!!

[ Parent ]

It was just Common Sense (none / 0) (#5)
by fineagedwine on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 08:26:26 AM EST

I was at the meeting of the Legislautre last night and was pretty impressed by the number of people that turned out for the comment period. I was also impressed that many Democratic Legislators broke with thier Leader and voted against the "Albany County wants to give Phil Steck a forum to speak about the Iraq war and Health Care" bill.
Dan McCoy is a great guy and has served his country well, but this vote was about more than Dan McCoy. This was about 22 members taking a stand that the Albany County Legislature should not be wasting time on something that they have absolutely no control over when there are so many issues that need to be addressed in Albany County. No, DIA, the people who voted against the bill did not say that they wanted "more War in Iraq". The said that the best way to bring the 6troops home is to encourage people to vote for a President who will bring the troops home.

The Good, The Bad, and then there's Scavo (none / 0) (#6)
by fineagedwine on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 08:32:18 AM EST

One thing that I can tell you about the meeting of the County Legislature last night is that Brian Scavo should be re-called.

This joker is an embarassment to the people he serves and he is an embarassment to the Albany County Legislature.
For some reason the League of Women Voters had refreshments and finger foods outside of the Chambers before the meeting, during the puvlic comment period. they began to take down the vegetables, cookies, etc when the comment period began so that they could listen to the comments.
About half-way through the emotional and impassioned speeches of about two dozen citizens, Scavo jumps up out of his seat and attacks the broccoli and cauliflower, dives into the dip and cookies and starts trying to get some of the overflow people outside the chambers to eat.
This guy is very simply...creepy!

The Good, The Bad, and then there's Scavo (none / 0) (#7)
by fineagedwine on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 08:32:20 AM EST

One thing that I can tell you about the meeting of the County Legislature last night is that Brian Scavo should be re-called.

This joker is an embarassment to the people he serves and he is an embarassment to the Albany County Legislature.
For some reason the League of Women Voters had refreshments and finger foods outside of the Chambers before the meeting, during the puvlic comment period. they began to take down the vegetables, cookies, etc when the comment period began so that they could listen to the comments.
About half-way through the emotional and impassioned speeches of about two dozen citizens, Scavo jumps up out of his seat and attacks the broccoli and cauliflower, dives into the dip and cookies and starts trying to get some of the overflow people outside the chambers to eat.
This guy is very simply...creepy!

The Good, The Bad, and then there's Scavo (none / 0) (#8)
by fineagedwine on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 08:32:22 AM EST

One thing that I can tell you about the meeting of the County Legislature last night is that Brian Scavo should be re-called.

This joker is an embarassment to the people he serves and he is an embarassment to the Albany County Legislature.
For some reason the League of Women Voters had refreshments and finger foods outside of the Chambers before the meeting, during the puvlic comment period. they began to take down the vegetables, cookies, etc when the comment period began so that they could listen to the comments.
About half-way through the emotional and impassioned speeches of about two dozen citizens, Scavo jumps up out of his seat and attacks the broccoli and cauliflower, dives into the dip and cookies and starts trying to get some of the overflow people outside the chambers to eat.
This guy is very simply...creepy!

who is this addressed to (none / 0) (#9)
by DIA on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 08:37:54 AM EST

He, and all of our vets, deserve a lot more respect from you.

Are you addressing me with that? How is disagreeing with someone disrespectful?

I rarely comment on national politics on this blog because that isn't what this blog is about. Plenty of other places to discuss that. However, I know you can find several posts of mine supporting the troops and recommending they get much better treatment when they return.

I actually tried to have a fundraiser on this blog to help out a local vet who was returning from Iraq. No one else wanted to participate.

Again, when disagreement is considered disrespectful, we've got some serious problems in this country.

Respect (none / 0) (#10)
by tmonjeau on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 09:27:10 AM EST

DIA, okay, so maybe I over-reacted, but the impression I got from your quoting him was that Dan McCoy's emotional plea was irrelevant. If that was not your point, sorry.

Now, Dan's remarks are in contrast with the remarks of Mark Williams, which convinced me immediately that the guy was a jerk. I did not realize he was the radio guy until I saw the diary. He has put nothing on the line, he has stood on the sidelines and his comments ain't worth spit.

: dan has his view of things (none / 0) (#11)
by DIA on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 10:31:12 AM EST

He certainly has earned the right to express that view.
I disagree with his position, where i'm from that doesn't mean I've disrespected him in some manner but I'm used to being told otherwise these days.
I'm very tired of being told that because I didn't support the war and don't support the ongoing occupation that I'm in some way disrespecting the troops or unpatriotic. If you look at the polling in this country, most Americans do not support the ongoing occupation. Perhaps we should stop polling the issue, too? because by releasing these poll results we are just emboldening whoever the hell it is who keeps attacking our troops in Iraq? Because if they listen to what the Albany County Legislature says they sure as hell must read the newspapers and know that the American public does not support this occupation.
If our elected officials can't speak up about the most important issue facing our country I believe that is a problem. Telling everyone to shut up and just elect a new president seems pretty silly as 2 of the 3 mostly likely candidates for president have been for the war and still are for the war. Especially in a county that voted strongly for hillary clinton.
I find it very interesting that the county legislature jumped into action to "censure" remarks made by david soares about the failed war on drugs in this country. Oh, they were up in arms on that one. And yet they tell us they shouldn't be saying a thing about the war in iraq and should instead deal with the issue at the ballot box. Interesting that they didn't feel that way with the Soares incident.
Mark Williams is simply trying to profit from the situation which to me puts him on the level of dick cheney, which is not a good place to be.

[ Parent ]

Now, Brattleboro, VT ..... (none / 0) (#12)
by hawkny on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 12:01:55 PM EST

a couragous town, for sure. The town's government voted to bring criminal charges against Bush & Cheney, for deceitefully leading America's military into the Iraq fiasco.

Their actions, in Vermont, made all the news wires and, surely, was heard by (or about by) the troops in Iraq.

Were the members of the Albany County Legislature to follow Brattleboro's lead...that would be something to talk about at this web site. There is only one word that aptly describes last night's resolution vote....nonsense!!

As previous commenters make clear...what our local legislative body did last night, to put forth a vote to express each member's sentiment for the Iraq war (four years after it started), is nothing more than a meaningless, political posturing exercise.

Doubtless, a complete waste of the tax payer's money...

Dan McCoy was on WGY (none / 0) (#13)
by rivrghi on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 06:26:50 PM EST

this morning. He had plenty of time to sit there and criticise Doug Bullock for introducing the resolution, mostly for wasting time that could be used better dealing with what he thinks are the real issues. Besides his ridiculous claim that the opposition in Iraq are sitting there, listening for all our politicians' anti-war comments, and then going out and attacking our troops, he spent a good half-hour saying Bullock was so irresponsible to waste the Legislature's good time by bringing it up. It sure seemed like he had plenty of time to waste spouting Bush and Cheney's talking points on the radio.
He said Bullock should do something real to help the vets who have returned, like he does, by taking them on a skiing trip or something. So, since all the troops are so tuned in to what our politicians are saying, I'm sure they're all happy to hear McCoy's comments that it's not important enough for us to bother trying to get them out of that hell-hole. I'd like to hear his message to the troops, saying he thinks they should have to serve a fifth tour, and by the way, their kids and grandkids should have to serve, too, if they get the chance to have any, because we're gonna be there for another hundred years. I'm sure they'll feel reassured to know that, if they ever get home, he'll be glad to take them skiing, if they still have their legs, that is.
McCoy needs to grow up, and reaize that he was lied to, manipulated, and exploited (used), by some corrupt political leaders who happened to be in control of our military. And it was all for no good reason. That is, it was a Big Lie, and a Waste. There was absolutely NO GOOD REASON for it. Just like there is NO GOOD REASON that those soldiers who are there now should be there. Everything that's been given to us (and them) as a reason for this fiasco are either lies or just plain wrong. Maybe then he can understand the difference between trying to get those guys home, and putting them in harm's way. Or between someone who points out that 90% of Iraqi casualties are civilians, and someone calling him a baby killer. Or between Franking D. Roosevelt (who won World War II) and George W. Bush (who tried to start World War III, but failed).
As for respect, I'm willing to treat the guy with the same level of respect I've heard him giving other people lately.

: A stupid resolution from a stupid Legislature (none / 0) (#14)
by mailer daemon on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 09:57:44 AM EST

I for one do not want our troops over there, but tell me what the hell a meaningless resolution put forth by Phil Steck so he can put it on his "Steck for congress" campaign literature will do except get him the anti-war vote?
Does anyone honestly think that anyone in Washington gives a shit what the Albany County Legislature does?
It was a feel good law right up there with banning trans fat in Albany County.
But by all means, lets continue to build a convention center that my children's children will be paying for, NOT built a Nursing home (It will NEVER be built, not a single dime has been budgeted for bonding for it in the 2008 budget
WE should just keep on letting the county hire a home health care agency that steals the life savings away from old people, and by all means let's ignore the fact that Albany COunty was offered FREE mold testing by 2 companies but refused them because we are afraid of the outcome!
While we are at it, lets continue to go WAY WAY over budget on the Court House because the lowest bidder was not "part of the good Ol' boys club" and they just want them out. (It's only our tax dollars)
lastly, why not keep throwing kids in motels with sex offenders! Or better yet, sick 'em in motels that are fire traps.
Gotta Love Albany County!!!

[ Parent ]

Albany County Legislature | 14 comments (14 topical, 0 hidden)

create account | faq | search