Democracy In Albany

In an interview Friday, Jennings initially said he was "not that close to the group or Mr. (Sam) Fresina."

When pressed, Jennings, who was briefly a member of Local 190 as a younger man, then said: "I've been friends with the Fresinas for a long time."

Fresina has been a close political ally of Jennings, who said he stood behind Fresina and was unaware of the ethics charges. Jennings said he doesn't believe the allegations.

``Absolutely no way,'' Jennings said. ``I've known him too long. I wish I had more labor leaders like him that I could work with.''

Fresina's union topped the mayor's list of contributors in his first mayoral bid in 1993. In Jennings' 1997 re-election campaign, Laborers' groups allied with Fresina donated more than $15,000 to the mayor's coffers.

Fresina and Jennings have worked together on a $6 million federal lead-abatement grant. The city and the union teamed up to hire and train workers to clean up lead in an estimated 500 homes in low-income neighborhoods. Jennings on Thursday cut the ribbon on the program's first house on Orange Street. Fresina, who Dolcimascolo said is vacationing in Florida, was not present.

Fresina and several relatives have also served in the Jennings administration. Fresina was a member of the mayor's transition team in 1993.

The mayor's executive assistant, Nicholas D'Antonio, is Fresina's cousin, as is Nicholas' brother, John D'Antonio, who runs the city's recreation programs and was recently tapped to be assistant commissioner. Fresina's son, Samuel A. Fresina, is the president of the Albany firefighters union.