Crime Watch


By DIA, Section News
Posted on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 06:22:30 AM EST

Hey, look! In other cities when the workers are stealing money by trading scrap for crash, they get suspended and arrested. Here in Albany, Nick D'Antonio got promoted for doing that.
The Conflicts of Interest Board, in the largest complaint it has ever issued against city employees, is suspending more than 50 sanitation department workers for using department trucks to collect and sell scrap metal for their own profit. An additional six workers were arrested in June of 2007 on charges of official misconduct and violating state environmental laws, according to a release put out by the city's Department of Investigation.
And look at Colonie. Seems they were filling up there landfill a little fast by stealing $15 million from the taxpayers.
State investigators launched an early-morning raid Thursday on the Capital Region's largest trash hauler amid a whistleblower's allegations that the company cheated Colonie out of at least $15 million.
Gee, a thinking person might put two and two together and say, "Albany's landfill has filled up a couple of years faster than it was supposed to and we didn't get all the extra money in fees we should've gotten for that trash...I wonder if the State should audit the Albany Landfill?"

But then one would remember, "Nothing to worry about, "Honest Nicky" is in charge over there. We can trust him.

Update [2008-7-18 8:0:45 by DIA]: In these articles on Colonie they mention that some trucks were too big to weigh. It appears that they just then took the truck drivers word for how much tonnage was on the truck. I'm wondering how the truck driver would be able to come up with that number other than just making it up.

And if this was a private business where you were trying to operate for a profit don't you think there would be a sign at your entrance saying, "No truck/trailer combos more than 50 feet long"? If your scales couldn't handle bigger trucks, don't you think you might not accept them? If it were your own money? Perhaps?

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Crime Watch | 2 comments (2 topical, 0 hidden)
County Waste is a major political contributor (none / 0) (#1)
by FrankieB on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 07:23:57 AM EST
County Waste, like many other angelic, ethical, waste haulers run by former choir-boys has been a major political contributor over the years -- especially to candidates from Saratoga County and Colonie.

No that it means they were trying to buy influence, perish the thought, but has anyone checked to see how much money they've given to Mayor Jerry "Buttafuco" Jennings over the years? It would also be interesting to see how much money they've given Colonie Chair/County Legislator Phil Steck and everybody's favorite Schen basketball star Tracey Brooks.

Bet the results would be interesting reading, maybe then some nice DA, State Attorney General, or US Attorney could introduce the Mayor to his new friend....RICO.

Mandatory Recycling or up to $1,000 fine (none / 0) (#2)
by A Muse on Sat Aug 16, 2008 at 06:54:08 AM EST
Influence buying used to be a crime.  Does ABSCAM or Abdul Enterprises, Ltd.  ring your bell.  I would not compare Jennings to some Wiseguy.  The Italians might be insulted.  They take care of their own.  There is a cast system in Albany and it is not run by the DPW.  People down on their luck and to proud to live on the dole pick up bottles and cans, scrap metal, and things they think they can sell.  It is not a perfect system.  Dumpster diving for your dinner is a difficult way of life and death.  These people are performing a public service.  They clear the highways that DPW can or will not.  An ad on television shows a couple of college kids scrounging a couch from the side of the road.  Recycling is not just what is picked up from a blue bin.  It must begin at the source with the product itself and its packaging.  

Except for the United Arab Emiterate that is creating land where only water existed before, new land is not being created.  We need to take care of what land we have.  The land itself that homeowners pay taxes on is only lent to them to use and care for.  Eminent domain legislation, which allows the government to steal land from property holders, has made that point even clearer.  The land grab by the government to build the "wall and virtual wall" between Mexico and the United States is an example.  Dumps and landfills are big business.  Everything we consume or use eventually ends up there. Towns down on their luck, like Albany, take waste from other towns to supplement their income.  The sad fact is that this land cannot be replaced.  If Jennings is reelected it will be four more years for him to grab more land in what is left of the Pine Bush.  Our governments are saddling our children and grandchildren with waste disposal costs.  It is very likely that some cemeteries as they fill up will stack bodies 4 deep.  This was done in the past and is still done in some places such as Mt. Royal Cemetery in Canada.

A careful accounting of what goes into the dump should be kept, as well as financial records.  Additionally, fees need to be adjusted for items that do not biodegrade.  Someone should check Jennings' backyard and see what is buried there.  There should also be an investigation of DWP and the actions of its employees.  If DPW employees want to quit working for the City and go dumpster diving full time, no one would stop them.  The City needs to back off the hand to mouth people in the City and clean up its own act before Spitzer comes back to clean it up.  

Crime Watch | 2 comments (2 topical, 0 hidden)
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