kingston progressive

REALITY CHECK FOR THE WEEK

2012-01-16T16:22:00.000-05:00

C A S: THE STORY OF RAMBO

2012-01-16T13:27:00.000-05:00

Martin Luther King Jr

2012-01-15T12:19:00.000-05:00

History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people.

VETERAN OF THE YEAR 2011

2012-01-15T12:10:00.000-05:00

Veteran of the year

Many people may have forgot about his time in the U.S. Army. He is the son of an Air Force General, and a accomplished Golden Gloves boxer, and he graduated from Pomona College with a B.S. degree, and then became a Rhodes Scholar from Oxford University.

He joined the U.S. Army at the prompting of his father. After graduating from Officer Candidate School he attended and graduated from both Army Airborne and Ranger training in the very top of each class. He was selected for U.S. Army Special Forces Training but refused so that he could attend pilot training where he earned his wings, and became an accomplished U.S. Army helicopter (gun ship) pilot, and achieved the rank of Captain.

He was about to be promoted to the rank of Major, and appointed to teach at West Point when he resigned his commission from the Army to go into music and acting. You can tell in this video that his time in the military means a lot to him.

RENDEZVOUS LOUNGE @ 346 BROADWAY

2012-01-12T09:42:00.002-05:00

Reprinted from Daily Freeman article Jan 11th:
By ANN GIBBONS

Equal parts eatery to equal parts spirits, at 100 proof kitsch, @346 Broadway brings a casual Left Coast sensibility to Midtown Kingston.

The two business partners, one from the Pacific Northwest, the other from L.A., were first attracted online to the Hudson Valley, but specifically to Kingston by a visit here in 2008.

“The realtor drove us by property in Esopus, Woodstock, Phoenicia. Nothing grabbed us,” said Lynn Turner. “Then, we came to Kingston,” chimed in business partner JoAnne Spencer, a recently retired Army lieutenant colonel.
“It was political season and the ‘for sale’ sign on the lawn was hard to spot.”

Ultimately, Turner and Spencer bought the large, federal-style Victorian in the Albany Avenue area and began to restore it. “It’s a labor of love,” Spencer admitted, noting the two were able to do quite a bit of the work themselves. “We see ourselves as guardians of an historic building,” she said.

One of the curious elements the two women found on the property was a small monument with the lettering “1863.” After some research, they determined its significance was the year of the Emancipation Proclamation that freed slaves. “The house has a certain history,” Turner said.
---------------------
Around the same time, they found the building at 346 Broadway was available, but the partners did not open for business until May 2011. They opened first for coffee and café, then later added the bar area, and later still the Rendezvous Lounge on the second floor.

Spencer and Turner’s most recent addition is the patio area in back that will be available come spring for barbecues and other spring-summer-fall activities.

Complicating the opening was Spencer’s second deployment as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. She also served as staff officer at NATO headquarters in her 30 years of military service.

When asked, “Why Midtown?” Turner said they thought other areas of the city were just too expensive.

Turner said they looked at elderly buildings with “bad plumbing and worse electric” with prices as high as $600,000. “Owners were asking prices for rundown buildings as if they had been completely restored,” Turner said.

Turner said the section of Broadway they ultimately chose always has lots of foot traffic and the businesses there have stayed and kept the area looking attractive. She said Kingston Hospital, Kingston High School and some small businesses define the block.

“The Kingston police have done a really good job of keeping the ‘sketchy’ element out and the area cleaned up, Turner said. “It’s quiet and peaceful here and after 4 p.m. there’s plenty of parking.”

“It’s a little, professional hub in the Kingston Hospital corridor,” Spencer said.

Turner said the partners discovered there are eight places to eat in the area. “We decided to open later to catch a more adult clientele,” she said.

In terms of food, Turner said they serve “American standards – meatloaf or grilled cheese sandwiches.” There is one dinner special every day, starting at 5 p.m. “Whatever the chef is cooking,” Turner said. “Homemade, delicious and inexpensive.”

Spencer said the menu features simple fare. “People like eating here because the food is so good; and they won’t go broke,” she said. Breakfast is served all day.

The venue also features specialty cocktails, Spencer said. “They’re reminiscent of vintage cocktails from the Golden Age of Hollywood,” she said.

The vintage cocktails are named after some glamorous stars: Jane Mansfield, Carmen Miranda, and Eartha Kitt. In development are specialty cocktails named for Betty Davis and Joan Crawford. Former Kingston City Alderman and Ulster County Legislator Mike Madsen serves as bartender and discjockey.

Chatting upstairs in the Rendezvous Lounge with its comfortable seating, the trendy black walls seemed blank and in need of attention.

“We are looking for local talent,” Turner said. Artists and musicians, as well as stand-up comics, are invited to come by, she said.
Spencer observed that since its opening, @346 Broadway, which she described as an alternative, but welcoming environment, has attracted a diverse clientèle. “I never knew there were so many different kinds of people in the world,” she said.

“Rendezvous@346 Broadway is the most fun place in Kingston for adults,” Turner said. “We’re attracting a creative, artistic clientèle who like to relax in the company of like-minded folks,” she said.

MITT ROMNEY

2012-01-11T03:06:00.001-05:00

Congrats to Mitt Romney on his win in New Hampshire. Now Mitt, Ron Paul and the others head down to South Carolina and Florida to push their vision on unsuspecting folks down there until those primaries.

Best of luck to who ever ends up facing Obama this November. Oh, a word of advise? Don't put your current place on the market just yet.

POLYESTER MEMORIES

2012-01-11T02:56:00.000-05:00

ARKANSAS CLOSURE NOTICE

2012-01-10T08:39:00.000-05:00

It's official. Racism is now dead.
You may now go about your business in a post-racial Amerika. That is all.

All sarcasm aside, this was actually posted in all state buildings in Arkansas. Makes you realize that we are truly sheltered here in the North East.

VILE BATHROOMS

2012-01-09T10:29:00.000-05:00

This would be the public toilet at Staples in Ulster, N.Y. I actually had to tighten the seat bolts to navigate this device without risking injury.

Is this the level of health concern we should expect in the commercial stores across America? Is this where we've come?

Here's your homework assignment... Go out and get pictures of the worst public bathrooms you can find. Send them to my email address with the locations and I'll post the vile discoveries here. This should be interesting.

BERNARDO TAKES THE CHAIR

2012-01-04T10:40:00.000-05:00

Ulster County is making serious changes again. Where the Charter Reform of 2005 provided separate branches of government and last year's election gave us 23 districts, we now have our first female Chairperson.

With a near unanimous vote, Terry Bernardo leads the 23rd Legislature with an agenda: to get the policy making branch of county government back to business. "We are here to provide excellent service to the public." she said.

Her inaugural address was anything but boring. There were so many serious points to be made as she set the agenda for the Legislature during this first year. Many issues that went unresolved or ignored during our time together on this body may actually be addressed in 2012. I'm excited.

As an indicator, Chairwoman Bernardo said “I’d like to say a few words about our body’s partners in government and the Charter. The Charter set up a balance of power between this body, the executive and the comptroller, the vast overhaul proposed by some to make this legislature less effective is not welcomed from this chair today.”

Terry and I worked together in the Government Efficiency Committee where we began an aggressive mission to better distinguish the blurred policy and operations rolls in the new Charter. We suspect we were getting too close to issues that others thought should remain in darkness. That committee was dissolved in 2011. Terry now has the ability to give strength to that same cause heading into the new year.

As with all governing bodies with new leadership, Ulster County will be watched by neighboring counties, state officials and all the residents within her borders. The press will do their best to keep officials honest and us bloggers will have our fun as well. Best of luck to everyone on this historic journey.

A NEW BEGINNING IN KINGSTON

2012-01-02T11:09:00.001-05:00

A momentous day for the City of Kingston. The ceremonial swearing in of our elected and appointed proved to be a crowd pleaser. All who attended shared the sense of optimism that comes with a new year coupled with a new administration.

With a new Mayor comes a new Common Council and several new department appointments in City Hall. The theme in Shayne's address continued the urgency and possibility of renewal. Renewal in not just the economic and social aspect of our struggling city but also the way government runs.

Love him or not, we all join in writing this next chapter in Kingston's history. We must shed the negativity, contribute our energy and look for ways to better our city where we can. I hope to continue just as many of you will.

For those who couldn't attend, here are some pictures of Sunday's event.

TEASING THE DOG

2011-12-31T13:16:00.000-05:00

DARK DAYS WE LIVE IN

2011-12-28T18:02:00.000-05:00

UKRAINIAN LIGHT SHOW

2011-12-27T18:00:00.000-05:00

CARBON EMISSIONS UP 6% IN 2010

2011-12-27T17:19:00.000-05:00

Now that 2011 has come to a close, lets look at a small issue that since the reports came out, the main stream media have chosen to ignore.
During 2010, our planet saw the largest increase in carbon emissions since the Industrial Revolution.

There. I said it. According to the Global Carbon Project, an international group of scientists tracking these numbers, emissions during that one year jumped about 6%. This is scary stuff. Question is, why haven't the news outlets pounced on this?

Nature Geoscience Journal published a report detailing the evidence that confirms just how much humans contribute to this disaster since 1950. That would be three quarters in case you're interested. Let it be known that 10 of the hottest years ever recorded have occurred in the last 15 years.

What are world leaders going to do about it? They're going to jump right on this issue, right?
Ha! Fooled you. These turds are going to wait another eight years to cut emissions. And not a minute before dammit!
In all fairness, they do intend to have some resemblance of a plan by 2015, but don't hold your breath. These folks only serve themselves and those who contribute the most money to their campaigns. Coincidently, the worst polluters are usually those same financial supporters.

Although the EPA has finally accepted CO2 as a contributing pollutant, it seems the US will participate in the "kicking the can" mentality while the Durbin agreement, which contains plenty of loopholes, states emissions won’t be cut until 2020. (Long after the current knuckleheads in Congress have made their fortunes and moved on)

Is this the year that we eventually look back and say, Yeah, that's when us humans took the path of no return, the inevitable ruination of our planet? I certainly hope not.

TOTIE FIELDS: I'M PERFECT

2011-12-27T11:38:00.000-05:00

CHRISTOPHER HITCHENS

2011-12-16T00:19:00.000-05:00

Another brilliant mind lost. Such a shame.

DYLAN RATIGAN NAILS IT

2011-12-09T11:21:00.000-05:00

I say move Dylan's show to 7pm so more people see his no-nonsense program.

ORIGINAL REPUBLICANS

2011-12-08T18:18:00.000-05:00

The essence of any struggle for healthy liberty has always been, and must always be, to take from some one man or class of men the right to enjoy power, or wealth, or position, or immunity, which has not been earned by service to his or their fellows. That is what you fought for in the Civil War, and that is what we strive for now... We grudge no man a fortune in civil life if it is honorably obtained and well used. It is not even enough that it should have been gained without doing damage to the community. We should permit it to be gained only so long as the gaining represents benefit to the community.

This, I know, implies a policy of a far more active governmental interference with social and economic conditions in this country than we have yet had, but I think we have got to face the fact that such an increase in governmental control is now necessary.

- Teddy Roosevelt

SECRETARY CLINTON'S SPEECH

2011-12-07T11:56:00.000-05:00

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's truly remarkable speech... "Gay rights are human rights, and human rights are gay rights." It's worth your time.

FOOD INSECURITY

2011-12-05T10:42:00.000-05:00

WiThePeople recently posted this video of Diane Reeder. She is the Executive Director of The Queens Galley, a food insecurity resource center she founded in 2006.
The website pointed out that when the Queens Galley first opened, they served about 1,200 meals per month. Now, in 2011, they serve between 9,000 and 9,500 meals per month.

Queens Galley is located on Washington Avenue in Kingston NY.
For more information on The Queens Galley, visit http://www.queensgalley.org/.

GOTTA SEE THIS GINGRICH HIT PIECE

2011-12-01T23:35:00.000-05:00

You've just got to see this commercial put out by Ron Paul.

VISIT ULSTER COUNTY

2011-11-30T23:52:00.000-05:00

UC DOMESTIC ANIMAL ABUSE

2011-11-30T10:09:00.000-05:00

The Ulster County Legislature had a public hearing on the Animal Abuse Registry this Tuesday evening. People convicted of animal abuse through the court process would be required to register with the Sheriffs department just as if they were on the sexual predator list.

Through decades of study, several organizations have found that there is a strong link between people who abuse animals and those who would do the same to other people. Usually leading to unspeakable crimes. This only moved members of the Legislature to act with more determination.

Anyone on such a list would be restricted from buying or even adopting domestic animals from dealers, shops, breeders or even through the shelters. Those who would be caught selling domestic animals without the proper background check could be fined up to $2,500 for each occurrence.

There is one note of resistance. PETCO is concerned with their staff being persecuted for selling feeder mice, gold fish and crickets because of this law and is asking that it be struck down.
For a company that has no intention of ever coming to Ulster County, they are simply worried that if this passes, other counties will follow suit and their staff will have to actually know how to run a computer when selling one of their mill puppies.

I want to thank the team: Supervisor Carl Chipman, Legislators Kevin Roberts and Terry Bernardo for making this happen. I appreciate the passionate support from the public speakers and I'm thrilled that the Legislature is ready to make this a reality.

TAX PLAN OF THE 99%

2011-11-29T11:39:00.000-05:00

While most of America was either feasting or shopping over the late November weekend, middle class people continued to occupy strategic parks in major cities across the country. The 99%, who represent all households making less than $300K/year, have finally manifested a tax plan for public consumption.

   This is a simple concept of tax fairness. Just the idea makes certain media moguls quiver. Its central component is that it is based on current US income distribution. These are the figures from 2011 as of September.

This plan will increase U.S. Federal Government annual revenue from $3.4 trillion to $4.7 trillion for a net gain of $1.3 trillion per year. Depending on what our leadership decides to do with this additional revenue, it could be used for deficit reduction or economic stimulus. Either way, it would help jump start this country's economy. But then you'd have to want that to happen.

Anyone making less than $125K/year as an individual or $250K as a couple would see a tax rate drop from the current 36% cap to 33% but no lower than 1%. This may strike anyone paying attention as odd since all we hear about from the advocates for the wealthy is that they pay more than their share of taxes. That rate shown here has them shifting from as high as 51% to about 33% with us 99% paying 66% of the tax burden.

If you study the graphic above you'll see the tax plan is designed to run the Fed on one-third of all American income to include income made from estates and personal investment. It would also be useful in enforcing social responsibility upon multinational corporations whom would then be forced to compete with smaller firms. As the new tax structure matured, you'd see increased hiring in the American small business world. Our small business community provides most of the jobs in this country.

In one WaPo article they mention that the bottom tax rate for the Top 1% of all earners is 42%. Taxation does not approach 50% until individual AGI is $500,000 and remains at 51% until $312M Individual AGI.

Another issue that would be addressed is that the Federal government offers well over $1 Trillion every year in tax breaks, subsidies for individuals and companies that are often substitutes for direct government spending. The bank bailouts fostered by the previous administration because they were "Too Big To Fail" is a prime example. They got their assets saved through public funds while the middle class saw drastic cuts to vital services and those in most need are left to the curb. The little graph on the right shows green for current rates, blue for what would be added if those subsidies were to go away.

Again, the graphic at the top shows how income distribution consists of exactly the middle-third of current American income distribution and provides a wide and deep tax net. It was pointed out in the NYTimes how the lower-third of the Tax Revenue Diamond consists of the lower middle class and the poor. Persons living in poverty, or less than $22K/year are exempt from taxation in this model. Essentially leaving them to offer government revenue in the form of sales and property taxes.

For a nomadic herd of individuals seeking economic justice, they have come up with a fair and sustainable tax structure that may actually address what ails this country. Income and wealth disparity in this country has never been this extreme and the fact that so many people in position of power are shifting the tax burden even further to the middle class has prompted this public outcry. Not that you'd hear this on the GOP channel, but it's grown none the less.
Lets see this tax plan implemented and get our country going again. Lets live up to the American Exceptionalism we hear about in all those speeches, shall we?

BLACK FRIDAY MADNESS & OWS

2011-11-25T11:30:00.000-05:00

Once we were done giving thanks for all that we had and the feeding frenzy came to a close, our families across America parted, drove home and got much needed sleep. Well, most of them did.

People actually camped out last night in front of big box stores and malls for the annual midnight opening of their Black Friday sales bonanza. Walmart, the most egregious of foreign goods proliferation, actually started their holiday sales Thursday evening at 9pm. One incident in California around 10:30 struck me. A woman used pepper-spray on a group of women around an electronics table where she wanted a few items. The security guard called it combat shopping. The women continued shopping refusing to let their impaired sight slow them down.

Meanwhile, the Target located in Ulster, had people camped out for the midnight opening.
I had friends there texting the whole evening while I was feasting with family. (Priorities my friend)
Anyway, she texted me this picture of OWS protesters in the parking lot. They were chanting "Read The Labels, Buy American, Save American Jobs"
I guess they could have added "Shop at locally owned stores" too.

Those of us who harp on the bleeding of manufacturing jobs here in the US usually feel comfort in knowing the big anti-American companies that ship those jobs to third world countries, can't do the same when it comes to municipal repairs throughout the country. Well, guess again.

There are examples cropping up where County Executives are awarding bids to repair bridges and roads to private companies with imported employees. Imported from... China.
That's right, Chinese firms winning bids, bringing in their own workforce while locals are holding their asses trying to keep their homes.
Who here thinks, (with Chinese steel already prohibited because it's below standard quality) that the bridges will meet DOT standards when completed?

The protesters at Target are right. You've seen my rants here about American Made products, American manufacturing jobs and the tax incentives given to large firms who send jobs to Indonesia. There's something very wrong here. Did the folks going into Target look at one label? Sure, the one with the lowest price. What no one realizes is the high cost at home for the low prices on the shelf.

NEWT SOUNDED DIFFERENT IN 2002

2011-11-24T15:31:00.000-05:00

One of the many thing we should be thankful for in this country is the freedom of the press. Especially when it comes to keeping records of where candidates stood on major issues in the past.

Newt Gingrich is in the spotlight this week now that he has emerged as the leading non-Romney for the Republican nomination. So of course he gets a deeper look for the next few days. As recent as 2002, Newt was a different animal when it came to those who should have control and where leadership should come from.

While debating with Ralph Nader, Speaker Gingrich said: "You had better be siding with the people enough that the people don't get so angry they take you apart, because in the end in this country, if you are deviant enough from the people... they will." Now I could easily send that out as the mission statement for Occupy Wall Street couldn't I?

Newt is also on the record saying the wealthiest Americans cannot be plutocrats because ultimately, the sentiments of the majority of Americans will win out.He also said he thinks corporations have too much power. I think the old Newt was right on target, don't you think?

During one such debate back in the "Other Newt" days, he said "I'd be very happy to get corporations out of politics. I think it'd be better for America if you had no union and corporate donations, but individuals could donate of their own after-tax income."

It seems all the GOP candidates have had a turn switching their core values during the last decade. Freedom of the press allows us to review what was said and where.

Whether Republican primary voters care about where their candidates stood earlier is up to them. I guess the next question is, who will be the next non-Romney challenger to the nomination?

RAISING FARES: NOT THE ANSWER

2011-11-22T17:29:00.000-05:00

Does anyone else have concerns with the City of Kingston Bus service? Well, the city's finance committee is considering raising the fee from $1 to $1.25 starting in January. As far as getting through Kingston a great distance, either fare is cheap, however, the taxpayer is really paying for the service through employee costs, maintenance and fuel. Our tax dollars.

Federal dollars subsidize most of our city bus system through transportation grants. The operation continues so long as we comply with the stipulations associated with those federal dollars. Problem is, Kingston taxpayers are merely adding money to an underutilized service. Count the passengers when they drive by.

The dilemma: How much do we spend annually? Could we give the routes over to UCAT? What would we have to give back in penalties? and Where would we shift the employees? These questions have always been asked during the frantic budget season. No-one wants to address this issue earlier in the year for fear of actually changing the status quo. Perhaps it's time to at least consider ordering smaller buses when the next purchase cycle comes around.

Don't get me wrong. I have ridden on our CityBus. They are clean, easily accessible, fairly on time and still the cheapest ride across town. Our drivers are courteous and helpful as well. However, more times than not, it's a lonely ride.
It may be time to look at smaller buses in the future if only for the fuel savings. With the mandate that municipalities must have bus service and the resistance of the County willing to take the routes, we may as well change the expense dynamic.
WhaddaYaSay?

THE YOUNG TURKS ON CURRENT

2011-11-22T09:00:00.000-05:00

Followed by Keith Olbermann at 8pm, this little News Channel is about to make some news of it's own.
Channel 118 on your Time/Warner service.

GILLIBRAND GIVES SEC TEETH

2011-11-17T22:35:00.000-05:00

New York's very own Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has submitted a bill that would address the issue of insider trading. Insider trading by members of Congress anyway. The act is already illegal for everyone else though we rarely hear about the frequent cases that occur everyday.

This bill, should it survive the process and become law, would enable the SEC, Securities Exchange Commission, to prosecute our state and federal elected and appointed officials for insider-trading cases as well as make insider trading against the rules of the House and the Senate.

Who, if any of us, have faith in Congress to police itself? Yeah, I didn't think so. As you can watch in the video above, Kirsten told Chris Wagge from the CBS Early Show that “it’s incumbent upon us to make the kinds of changes that the American people would expect we would make so that we live by the exact same exact rules that everyone else does. While there is disclosure now, it has to be illegal, just like it’s illegal for everyone else.”

REICH DEBUNKS AGAIN

2011-11-16T16:44:00.000-05:00

Robert Reich never skips the chance to debunk the brainwashing talking points from the GOP. He doesn't mince words.

VETS PROTECT THE 99%

2011-11-12T15:42:00.001-05:00

I think we have reached yet another turning point for the Occupy movement. In recent weeks the call for veterans to join the encampments has drawn a few members here & there, but in the last few days, the turnout has been impressive. Most notably at Occupy Oakland the 100+ vets of all ages and divisions formed a barrier between the occupants and the police force.

Essentially making their stake in the demand to make banksters, politicians and corporations accountable for the ruination of our financial system and to establish the fact that at 30% unemployment (well above the national average) that they too are part of the 99%.

Pundits on one GOP PAC news channel have labelled these fine men and women of the armed forces as just another group of violent Marxist hippies. I just know they'll all be tuning in to watch O'Reilly, Hanitty and the rest of the FoxNews propaganda machine when they get the chance. Oh Yeah!

HAVE WETSAW WILL TRAVEL

2011-11-11T20:35:00.000-05:00

I just wanted to show off a little project I've been working on this week up in West Saugerties.
A newly renovated bathroom with a stone & glass shower. It may take a great deal of time to assemble, but damn it's worth it.

I'm working on this project with my brother. He has the new wet saw that has been the dream tool that makes all the difference. You can follow a pattern all you want but anyone who's done slate knows deviations in the product can cause "creep" or an unexpected growth in the pattern.

Coupled with the bluestone floor, the glass shower walls will make this bathroom the envy of the neighborhood. Want one?

NOT QUITE RIGHT FRIDAY

2011-11-11T11:02:00.000-05:00

The only difference in this instance is one has hair. Now the question is, who makes more sense and which one does more damage?

PUPPY MILL DILEMMA

2011-11-10T22:33:00.000-05:00

When a small group of us locals either rescue or breed dogs in our homes, you get to see the living conditions and meet the people helping/whelping the dogs.
I recall almost 50 dogs going through my home in the years I've been here. They get happy homes when they leave. Pet store puppies don't begin their lives the same way.
Make the effort to find a local breeder, animal shelter or municipal pound if you intend to add a member of your family this holiday season.

GALLO WINS!

2011-11-09T01:50:00.001-05:00

The votes have been cast and counted. Shayne Gallo and Jim Noble win the race for Mayor and Alderman-at-large in the City of Kingston. In the short month plus, he must assemble a fresh cabinet and prepare a strategy to lead this city in a prosperous new direction.

Ron Polacco did a damn good job as the opposition candidate. I give him credit considering he had little help from his party. The fact that he kept it clean earns him the respect of the Gallo campaign.

Facing a contentious primary while earning a living was daunting but Shayne still eked out a narrow win in September. I was not so lucky.

While the team doubled down for the General, I all but abandoned my campaign for the Legislature. That is until this past Friday when I put up my lawn signs. I figured, hey, why not? With no literature and avoiding doors throughout the district, I still got 400+ votes. For those who did so, I sincerely thank you for your faith in me.

While Gallo and company are set to advance our city starting January, I expect to get back to what I do best; Building homes in Ulster County. As someone who lost his seat on the County Legislature, I somehow feel free. Free from all that comes with county government and the malarkey that goes on at the 6th floor. Will we settle the fate of Golden Hill before my exodus, I dont know. To think we are trying to save it from the Death Panels that Sarah Palin warned us about is ironic since the Tea Party is now pushing to privatize it.

I will continue this Blog long after I am out of office so that I may bring you info and internal insight that the local press may miss, or the far out articles that catch my interest. I'm not going away.

ELECTION DAY 2011

2011-11-08T09:20:00.001-05:00

Well it's finally here. Election Day 2011. What will the the electorate chose as we head into a new era in Kingston?

With five open seats on the Common Council, there is a guarantee of a majority of new faces. But what of the other four? Senor in Ward 8 is unopposed. The others face tough challengers. Will voters put up with Hoffay, Landi and Whitlock for another term, or will they go with the alternative? Just imagine Bob as the lone incumbent sitting there holding the title of Majority Leader. Funny.

Then there's the Kingston contingent of the Legislature. Congrats to Jeanette and Peter on their triumphant return. District 6 is a little more sketchy. With the four of us bananas running on different lines, no-one knows what the effect of my or Lenny's influence will have on the outcome. All I know is I had fun going to my faithful and placing signs this weekend.

Regardless of your political affiliation, get out there and vote today. Too many of our service men and women have bravely fought here and abroad so that we would have the rights we have today. Civic duty is a privilege. Don't waste the chance to exercise it.

BTW You can find me on either Row D or E.

MATT DUNN TO THE RESCUE

2011-11-05T14:53:00.000-04:00

Ward One is about to make history. Faced with the choice between someone from council's past and the freshest face in Kingston politics, this district is poised to elect a Democratic Alderman. Endorsed by the Working Families and Independence Party, Matt could find himself in the new majority of the Common Council come January.

Taken right from his website:

I am a proven advocate. I am a labor law attorney who represents workers across the country and helps them recover their unpaid overtime and claims for minimum wage. I am also a former Ulster County Assistant Public Defender. I am the vice-chairman of the City of Kingston's Complete Streets Committee and the Chair of the Ulster County Periodic Compensation Review Committee. I successfully campaigned for stop signs at a dangerous intersection in Kingston. In so doing, I protected pedestrians, dog walkers and children who play and ride their bikes in the neighborhood.

Matt says he decided to run for Ward One Alderman to help make the Ward, community, and city a better place to live. Below are some points how:

Address flooding issues throughout the Ward. Develop a city plan to do so.

Protect city services and address the overall appearance of our city streets & parks.

Advocate for law enforcement and preventative actions that reduce crime and speeding.

Support Businesses Growth: We need more jobs. Kingston businesses pay a higher tax rate than non-businesses, which could be reducing the number of businesses in our City.

Availability: In order to be the best advocate and representative that I can be, I will be available to you via email and telephone. And I will host periodic Ward meetings.

His emergence as a candidate took me by surprize. Once I got to know what he could bring to the Council, I have no doubt that Matt Dunn will be in the forefront of the effort to revitalize the City of Kingston. Bringing his personal experience and desire to make this community safe to raise his and everyone else's family, makes Matt the right choice for Ward One.

REALITY CHECK FOR THE WEEK

2011-11-04T17:39:00.000-04:00

SENNETT SPEAKS IN MIDTOWN KINGSTON

2011-11-04T08:08:00.000-04:00

Intelligence collection and analysis concerning gangs is critical to determine the relationship between the different gang members, the different gangs and specifically the relationship between the older and younger members.

Resources to be used in this critical step involve Ulster County Department of Probation, NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. Also includes the Kingston and Ellenville Police Departments, and the Ulster Regional Gang Enforcement and Narcotics Team.

Sounds like Jon will be be on the same page as Mayor Shayne Gallo come January 1st.

TROOPER ARRESTS COP

2011-11-03T10:03:00.000-04:00

Although the arresting officer did have to match the speed of the other cop, she deserves a medal for following through with the arrest.
The final sentence is worth the wait. She explains that they finally caught him. Caught him? This was a regular occurrence?

JOHN SIMEK: WARD NINE ALDERMAN

2011-11-02T01:00:00.001-04:00

November 8th is finally upon us, so let me make a final push for my friend John Simek. John is running for Alderman in Ward Nine here in Kingston. My old council district.

There has been a need for new faces on the Common Council for quite a while. After eight years, I also felt like I had exhausted my abilities as Alderman. How the electorate put up with those who serve longer, I dont know.

I think it's imperative to get fresh blood in positions of lawmaking, if only to see the issues with a fresh perspective. Our city needs a fresh perspective. Personally, I'd change every current occupant, but alas, Senor is unopposed.

Getting back to John, I have to say, the folks in Ward Nine have no doubt met the candidates by now and have probably come to the same conclusion as I. His goals are simple...

Increase transparency by airing committee meetings on TV and/or live stream
Partner with the Mayor on Quality-of-Life issues
Bolster tourism
Cut waste in the city budget
Increase the City's taxbase through aggressive property marketing

Serving on the City's Board of assessment review, chair of the Public Access Commission and a realtor in his own profession, I think John has a good grasp of where Kingston could develop further. With a little faith, I think the voters in Ward Nine will think so too.

DINOSOURS OF LEGISLATURE PAST

2011-11-02T00:21:00.001-04:00

Can any of you remember way back in the mid 90's when a small group of entrepreneurs re-opened that nightclub at the old Tropical in Port Ewen? Yeah, those were fun times.

They had plenty of obstacles thrown in the way during the process. The Esopus town board, the local minister, and building inspector all leading the charge against. Well The place did open and run without much incident for about four years before business dropped off.

The fiscal drain on the partners at the onset made success a struggle. Eventually, a church bought the property, thus eliminating a much needed source of property taxes. That's a big chunk of commercial property too!

I bring this up in these last days before we head to the voting booth once more, because one of the lowest points in our County Legislature's history was also about this time.

Remember 1993? Yeah, It was only two years earlier when gay residents petitioned for a bill outlawing discrimination in employment and housing and the Ulster County Legislature refused even to debate it. One legislator, Attilio Contini, told his colleagues that homosexuality was "an illness and handicap." He added, "We don't pass laws giving special privileges to people who are retarded, criminally insane or demented."
It's not really that long ago folks.

This Contini is running for the same position once again. His views on equality are no different today than they were back in those "Good ol Days". Ironically, he is running in District 19 (consisting of Rosendale and part of Marbletown) against incumbent Robert Parete, one of the Legislature's hardest working Democrats.

Let me say, in the short time I've been on the sixth floor, Rob has impressed me the most. As issues come up for review in committee, successful programs and past reforms have Rob's fingerprints all over them. The more I research, the more I appreciate the amount of work he and a select few accomplished in the 4 short years the Democrats held the majority.

The idea that someone like his opponent, who still harbours such regressive ideals, would feel his place is back on the Legislature is somewhat surprizing. However, after watching those GOP debates in recent months, maybe not.

PEOPLE & POWER: KOCH BROTHERS

2011-10-30T17:13:00.000-04:00

ORIGINS OF AIDS

2011-10-30T11:24:00.000-04:00

Since the first accounts of diagnosing the Immune Deficiency virus now called AIDS, we heard about the possible origins of the syndrome. Well, now the spread of HIV can be traced back to about 80 chimpanzees.

The chimps in Africa, infected about three bush-meat hunters circa 1921. This origin is according to a new book titled The Origins of AIDS reviewed by The New York Times.
Jacques Pépin, MD, an infectious disease specialist, is the author.

Scientists have determined that the M group—one of HIV-1’s four genetic groups, which accounts for 99 percent of all HIV cases—reached humans around 1921. Using data from that era, Pépin was able to make his calculations. He argues that since sex alone was not enough to spread the virus widely, there were several “amplifiers” along the way, including blood-borne routes such as unsterile equipment at immunization clinics and plasma centers.

Most of this post: POZ.COM

UC CHAMBER SAYS "CUT & RUN"

2011-10-28T09:35:00.000-04:00

Leaders of Ulster County’s business community have come out in favor of County Executive Michael Hein’s plan to privatize the Golden Hill Health Care Center.

Yup., that's all we needed to hear. The Chamber, just like the League of Women Voters, were well aware that the Executive had his LDC plan in place for over a year, finally comes out with a high-five in favor of privatization. Surprize there!

Ironically, when I pulled this article up on the Freeman website, I was first confronted with a push bubble asking which of the Republican candidates for President I would chose. I was like, I have to see these faces this early in the morning?
How would I know that I was going to read about another one in just a few seconds.

For people who actually think that government and especially healthcare, should be run like a business, it comes as no shock to anyone that the Chamber would go this route. In this aspect, they are no different than the National Chamber in their pursuit of "Cut and Run" budget management.

The press release said the chamber’s Government Affairs Committee has been meeting for the past several months with the Hein administration, county Legislature representatives and residents and employees of Golden Hill to understand the benefits of privatizing the nursing home.

The benefits of privatizing would be limited to whom ever owns the facility and/or the stock holders. Understandably, Hein welcomed the chamber board’s vote.

Exec Hein said: “I am pleased to see the growing support within the community for this plan that both keeps Golden Hill open and moves it into private ownership, there is no question these decisions are difficult, but my commitment is to both protect taxpayers and make sure services get delivered.” At this point, I half expected to hear him say he found WMDs in Iraq as well.

Hein has appointed three members of his administration to sit on the corporation’s board. Those three members will draft bylaws detailing the final composition of the board and the rules under which it will operate. If this LDC is to happen, the Legislature should hold a majority of seats on that board. I don't see how the needs of the facility's clients will be addressed otherwise. It's bad enough that we are disturbing an entity that works, let alone hand it over to an unaffiliated private operator who's sole directive is profit. Sounds right for the Chamber.

One factor that escapes most people is that the $8Million that the LDC is poised to borrow isn't for the upkeep or past debt of Golden Hill. It's for the general revenue shortcomings in the 2012 budget. With a million dollars in annual pay-checks coming out of the Executive's office, we can't reform departments like DSS, and trimming upper management? Sheesh!
And you wonder why the middle class has taken to the streets across America.

HUFF POST REPOERT ON SOCIAL JUSTICE

2011-10-27T23:40:00.000-04:00

Here is the Huffington Post report:

WASHINGTON -- A central concern for those in the Occupy movement -- that the economic system in the U.S. is rigged in favor of the well-off -- has been corroborated by a major new survey of developed nations.

When it comes to social justice -- defined here as the ability each individual has to participate in the market society, regardless of their social status -- the United States ranks near the bottom of 31 developed countries, the Thursday report from Bertelsmann Foundation found.

It's one thing if you live in a market economy where everyone has the same shot at success. It's quite another if fortune favors the fortunate. And the new survey found that when it comes to "equal opportunities for self-realization," the U.S. ranks 27 out of 31 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development member states, well behind not just Northern European countries like Norway and Denmark, but even countries like Hungary, Poland, Italy and France. The only countries whose citizens fare even worse are Greece, Chile, Mexico and Turkey.

The new report comes just a day after the Congressional Budget Office validated another key precept of Occupy protesters: The income gap between the rich and poor in the U.S. grew precipitously from 1979 to 2007, the report found, with the top 1 percent of earners seeing their incomes spike by 275 percent.

The new survey on the developed countries also echoes the findings of OECD's own 2010 report on social mobility, which found that, contrary to America's reputation as the "land of opportunity," it is now much harder to climb the socioeconomic ladder between generations in the U.S. than in many other developed countries.

LOOK to see where the U.S. ranks on social justice, and read more about the report below:

The social justice index measured six indicators of "socially responsible" capitalism. In all of them, the U.S. was ranked in the lower half of the countries examined. It fared particularly poorly in four.
The U.S. was third to last in poverty prevention, trailed only by Chile and Mexico, due to its "alarming" poverty levels. Whereas in Denmark, only 1 in 27 children lives in poverty, for instance, in the United States that rate is above 1 in 5. And as the report puts it: "Under conditions of poverty, social participation and a self-determined life are possible only with great difficulty."

On the health index, the U.S. was ranked 23 out of 31 countries -- other countries did much better when it came to providing access to quality health care not simply based on socioeconomic status. And the U.S. infant mortality rate is unusually high, the report found.
When it comes to "intergenerational justice" -- a measure of how well or poorly the current generation is doing at passing along problems to the next generation -- the U.S. ranked 20 out of 31.

Nineteen of the 31 countries were also ranked higher than the U.S. when it comes to equal access to good-quality education -- "another essential factor in providing equitable capabilities and opportunities for advancement," the report said.
The U.S ranked slightly higher on indicators of "social cohesion" and "labor participation."

All in all, the U.S. ranked near Mexico in several indicators. By contrast, Canada was the top performer among the non-European OECD states. "Its high ranking can be attributed to strong results in the areas of education, labor market justice and social cohesion," the report concluded.
Northern European countries led the study in overall rankings, with the report concluding that the "universalist" welfare states there are "most capable of providing equal opportunities for self-realization within their respective societies."

CHICAGO DECRIMINALIZES MARIJUANA

2011-10-27T21:08:00.000-04:00

AP: Chicago may decriminalize marijuana to free up police to focus on real crime.

~Chicago police make about 23,000 arrests each year for possession of the drug, a misdemeanor which nevertheless carries stiff punishment of up to six months in jail, a $1,500 fine and a criminal record.

~Under the new law set to be introduced next week, people caught with less than 10 grams of marijuana would instead face a $200 fine and up to 10 hours of community service.

~Marijuana has already been downgraded to a lesser offence in several Chicago suburbs and areas of Cook County patrolled by the sheriff’s department.

I AM NOT MOVING: OWS

2011-10-16T19:00:00.000-04:00

RENDEZVOUS IN KINGSTON

2011-10-15T19:40:00.000-04:00

In the forgotten Midtown East stretch of Broadway, still lined with those dreadful locust trees, a number of new business owners are clawing their way toward success. One business that has opened recently is the Cafe' and Lounge at 346 Broadway, aka Rendezvous Lounge for those who have ventured upstairs.

With a limited lunch/dinner menu, deserts and partially stocked bar, the lonely strip is poised to gain new nightlife. Much of the focus on revitalizing business in the city has been limited to uptown and the waterfront, but those who have invested east of the tracks; Monkey Joes, Joey D's, Top Nosh and now Rendezvous Lounge have made their way without much help from city agencies.

With their recently approved liquor license and cabaret permit, the girls are ready to score a new crowd. Catering to the alternative crowd, new faces are likely to show up. The upper lounge is rentable for small parties and if just skipping by, take advantage of the window service at the sidewalk.

END THE DRUG PROHIBITION

2011-10-14T12:03:00.000-04:00

There is a growing consensus in this country that the continued prohibition on some or all drugs should come to an end. Since we spend about $42 Billion annually related to law enforcement for this prohibition, I would have to agree something must change.

If you break it down, states tax and spend an average of $26 Billion and the Fed tax and spends $16 Billion on the war on drugs annually. I dont know about you, but I know a few bridges in New York State that could use some upgrades.

Keep in mind, that's for ALL drugs. Many have suggested starting with just Marijuana to test the shift in enforcement while advancing the rehabilitation efforts throughout the country. That would be a Federal savings of $9Billion annually. But there's more.

Either by state or federally, Marijuana could then be sold openly and taxed. It could also face purity standards since many sources reveal traces of deadly additives. Imagine the pot industry selling a safer product than tobacco?

So, couple the savings from a reduced enforcement perspective and add the estimated tax revenue of around $10 Billion from Marijuana alone, and we start to see property taxes level off or even go down. If we saw a decrease in incarceration because the lack of drug prohibition arrests, we'd really be mad about what we spent on the Ulster County jail.
Marijuana is already believed to be the nation's number one cash crop, exceeding the combined value of wheat and corn. Pot is also the leading cash crop in at least a dozen states, including California and North Carolina.

There is a group of police officers who call themselves Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP). Their mission has the following statement:

We believe that drug prohibition is the true cause of much of the social and personal damage that has historically been attributed to drug use. It is prohibition that makes marijuana worth more than gold, and heroin worth more than uranium – while giving criminals a monopoly over their supply. Driven by the huge profits from this monopoly, criminal gangs bribe and kill each other, law enforcers, and children. Their trade is unregulated and they are, therefore, beyond our control.

History has shown that drug prohibition reduces neither use nor abuse. After a rapist is arrested, there are fewer rapes. After a drug dealer is arrested, however, neither the supply nor the demand for drugs is seriously changed. The arrest merely creates a job opening for an endless stream of drug entrepreneurs who will take huge risks for the sake of the enormous profits created by prohibition. Prohibition costs taxpayers tens of billions of dollars every year, yet 40 years and some 40 million arrests later, drugs are cheaper, more potent and far more widely used than at the beginning of this futile crusade.

LEAP is asking Americans to take such a leap and end this failed war. When asked about the legalization of drugs during an interview in Mexico, Sec Hillary Clinton said: “there is just too much money in it.” What may have been a Freudian Slip, has become the focus of the whole drug trade issue. She holds on to the dismissed notion that legalizing drugs, even just pot, will cause more people to join the party, become addicted and wards of the state. As a non-user and advocate for the end of this prohibition, I have no intention of starting something just because it's legal. Americans who want to smoke, already do. Those who don't want to, wont start. It's too easy to understand that if you already wanted to, you already are.

In 2001, Portuguese leaders took an unlikely gamble: they passed a law that made Portugal the first country to fully decriminalize personal drug use.

For people caught with no more than a ten-day supply of marijuana, heroin, ecstasy, cocaine or anything, there would be no arrests, no prosecutions, no prison sentences. Dealers are still sent to prison, or fined, or both, but, for the past decade, Portugal has treated drug abuse solely as a public-health issue.

That doesn’t mean drugs are legal in Portugal. When caught, people are summoned before an administrative body called the Commission for the Dissuasion of Drug Addiction. Each panel consists of three members—usually a lawyer or a judge, a doctor, and a psychologist or a social worker. The commissioners have three options: recommend treatment, levy a small fine, or do nothing.

In most respects, the law seems to have worked: serious drug use is down significantly, particularly among young people; the burden on the criminal-justice system has eased; the number of people seeking treatment has grown; and the rates of drug-related deaths and cases of infectious diseases have fallen.

So why the resistance here? HEMP

Prohibition of Marijuana is closely related to the fact that hemp is the core of the crop. What industries are afraid of increased utilization of hemp?

Paper Industry
Cotton Industry
Pharmaceutical Industry
Oil Industry
Prison Industry
Corn & Wheat Industry
Tobacco Industry

All of these well established commodities would see drastic change if Marijuana was legalized. Hemp would no-longer be the taboo crop associated with the THC content and the ability to grow, harvest and provide a stronger, cheaper, more efficient product than the current industries scares the hell out of those who control the system.

The advocates for keeping the prohibition on drugs, especially marijuana, are embedded in the list above. Those who would suffer the most are those invested in less efficient manufacturing of products that American's are addicted to. It's that simple. When Sec Clinton slips and mentions there's too much money in it, it's more than just the drug cartels that stand to lose, it's the corporations that donate tons of cash into the political system. Keeping the prohibition is JOB ONE for these industries. American citizens have to step up and make the changes that our national leaders wont.

WHO INCREASED THE DEBT?

2011-10-13T15:46:00.000-04:00

Never let the facts get in the way of a good narrative.

FREE TRADE MY ASS

2011-10-13T00:58:00.000-04:00

That great sucking sound you will hear if NAFTA is passed is the sound of the middle class in America going away! -Ross Perot

This is no time for repeating mistakes from the past. It's been 19 years since the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was enacted. Jobs in the US did exactly as Perot said. Hell, a big percentage of the jobs that were sent out of country actually bypassed the Americas completely. Now we want to make it easier for the corporations to export jobs to Columbia, South Korea and Panama?

The experts back in 92 said NAFTA would create over 100K US jobs and 600K in Mexico annually. Guess what, It didn't work. Where is the "If I am elected we will revisit NAFTA" remember that slogan from all the candidates running in '08?
The only voice of reason I hear from Congress these days is Bernie Sanders.
Turns out the "revisit" was actually to use it as a template to do more damage.

If you google this issue, you will stumble upon the Economic Policy Institute and their recently released study stating: between 93 and 04, the US trade deficit with Mexico ballooned by over $100B, which cost over a million US jobs. With numbers like that, you can be sure the Republican controlled house will surely reject any such plan, right? Stop kidding yourself. The Koch Brothers want this, the Republican leadership and half the Dems will bend over backward to give it to them.

According to Truthout, Mexico lost a million jobs just in the first year the treaty took effect. Why? because the treaty allowed US grain companies to dump corn in Mexico, 1.3 million farmers lost their livelihood as well. Pork dumping cost another 120K jobs. Eliminating its domestic content laws cost the jobs of thousands of auto parts workers. The result? Six million people from Mexico came to live and work in the US.

Thank you Bill Clinton.

If any of these congressional knuckleheads had any sense, they would have rejected this agreement and focused on the "Jobs Bill". Again, they didn't disappoint.

For those visiting Hinchey's Kingston office Today, ask his personnel to pass along the desire to both pass the jobs bill and reject the proposed new trade deal. Maurice has usually been one to listen and act accordingly. Maybe he can ask Obama to VETO this disastrous bill.

AMISH GANG WARS

2011-10-12T02:40:00.001-04:00

OK, this hit the wonderful world of twitter last week. I had to share it with you. It seems there has been a sudden rash of Amish against Amish crime in a remote area of Ohio. Yes, just like a gang hit.
It seems there is a splinter group of Amish who have taken to the quiet streets of Jefferson County, raiding helpless families homes and cutting the beards of the men. Oh the humanity!

At this point you're saying, Mike, tell me this is from the Onion! But I tell you it's true. The sheering bandits are a small group of offspring of the ostracised Bishop Sam Mullet. Yes, you read that right. Mullet. Go ahead, laugh.
I love irony.
What's wild about this 'drive by grooming' is that these guys aren't rebellious youngsters. Mullet's sons Lester and Johnny are 26 and 38. Their friend Levi is 53. All three are in custody.
I am so writing a screenplay with this as the back story.

You could say one mans bizarre crime spree is another mans fetish.

GRAYSON EXPLAINS OWS

2011-10-09T19:01:00.000-04:00

While on Real Time with Bill Maher former and future congressman Alan Grayson explained to the panel what Occupy Wall Street is all about in less than a minute.

Some people will no doubt still have a problem understanding. Feel free to play the clip over again.

DELAROSE: DOUBLE-DIPPING IN ALBANY

2011-10-08T17:01:00.000-04:00

Below is a Letter to the Editor by Larry Delarose sent to the Times-Herald Record regarding our State Elected Officials and their double pay for their one job:

In the past nine months I have personally sent five letters to Governor Cuomo, letters to members of both houses of the legislature including the leaders and letters to the editor in several newspapers on the subject of "double dipping" by state legislators. In addition, dozens of New Yorkers around the state have voiced their anger and disgust over this practice in the same way. In March of this year, I appeared in a news special on FoxNews in New York on the same subject. The response to all these activities has been the same, silence.

I think everyone understands that the Governor and the legislature have many issues to deal with and that this subject obviously is not on the top of their priority list. Having said that, it is hard for everyday working folks to swallow the reality that we currently have 15 members of the legislature using taxpayers money to pay themselves twice for the same job. There are an additional five dozen or more legislators who also qualify to do the same thing. In the face of our current economic climate and the struggles of our fellow New Yorker's to find work and support themselves and their families this onerous practice must be stopped. It would require changing the existing law which makes it "legal". But compared to what our fellow citizens around the state are dealing with I don't exactly call that heavy lifting.

This whole situation begs the question why when so many have asked for action on this display of hubris and greed by elected public officials has their been no response? Didn't Abraham Lincoln say that we want "government of the people, by the people and for the people"?

Lawrence M. Delarose

6 Woodcock Mtn Rd

Washingtonville, NY 10992

JEWS, GAYS, MORMONS & MUSLIMS

2011-10-08T10:43:00.000-04:00

So this is the Pastor at the core of Rick Perry's Presidential campaign. He's on TV having a great time blasting anyone different than his congregation. Jews, Gays, Mormons and Muslims are all going to HELL. Now that we know this, we may as well have a party.
Have a listen...

I know you cant lump all people of any faith into the same mold as one of their rebel leaders, but Jeffress isn't doing Perry any favors.

GOLDEN HILL IN THE CROSS HAIRS

2011-10-07T09:51:00.001-04:00

It's almost like watching an accident in slow motion. You see where something is going but you haven't the power to change the course of the inevitable. Well, I'd like to challenge that premiss.

There are those of us on the Legislature who still believe the Legislative branch of the county government controls policy. Yes, that's what I said. Determining what future lies ahead for our county run nursing facility is strictly up to the law making body of Ulster County and a number of us continue to make that point clear at every opportunity.

Regardless of the decree that Executive Hein has offered the citizens of Ulster this week, we still have legislation pending that formally directs the administrative branch to designate funds toward renovation that was allocated in previous budgets. That's right. there is 45Million dollars through Capital Upgrade held specifically for Golden Hill. Coupled with the resolution reaffirming our dedication to providing quality health care to our most vulnerable, the Legislature is poised to circumvent the slash & burn actions of the Executive.

Never passing an opportunity to tout his all-star team of deputies and advisers, you'd think the 2012 budget would reveal some brilliant innovations to modify expenses and inject new revenue, but tapping the fund balance and unfunding Golden Hill is the best that they've come up with? Michael, I am stunned. And this capital bond for 8Million managed through your new LDC, with an advisory board made up of Beckman, Sudlow and Smith, all currently camped out in your office? Strikes me a peculiar. That collateral bond through a private issuer, will be at a higher rate than if you go through the Legislature, but then you'll never get it through the Legislature, will you?
Does your 2012 budget account for the inflated negotiated rate? There's too much at stake for politics as usual.

This body has just a few months to really fix this. The tax cap aside, we are faced with collapsing infrastructure, inflated healthcare costs and the ever increasing wave of crime. Should the Legislature decide to over-ride the Governor's cap and increase taxes beyond his limit, it would be for the right reasons.

Shoulda had a 2% hike last year folks!

OWS

2011-10-06T19:02:00.000-04:00

In the last few weeks, what started out as a small group of frustrated protesters who've taken the task of highlighting the injustice of the financial system, has become the talk of the Internet, Facebook and especially Twitter. I leave out our TV news stations because until there was disruptive interaction between the docile protesters and authorities, they refused to mention the occupation on Wall Street at the request of their corporate owners.

The lack of a clear message has never bothered me, any more than the lack of a clear message in the early days of the tea party bothered conservatives. But now that the original gathering and the copycat protests in other cities has grown to uncomfortable numbers, the press and those in DC are taking note. Likewise the message is being shaped to appeal to what's called The Other 99%.

Mainstream issues like repeal of the Bush tax cuts for the rich, stricter financial regulations, more stimulus spending and so on. Changing our trade & tariff deals with China, closing loopholes in corporate tax structure coupled with investing in our nation's infrastructure and lowering the cost of higher education all provide the drive to journey to lower Manhattan and sit in a park.

You'll remember that Initially, the Tea Party started out as a grass roots effort, but was absconded very quickly by Fox News, the Koch Brothers and Dick Armey who provided funding and message to beat down anything remotely progressive coming out of the White House. They even wanted to repeal the 17th amendment. Lower taxes and reduced spending are noble ideas when you have a prosperous economy, but when you've been given a sluggish economy that's saddled with the abominable "Bush Tax Cuts", it's going to take almost the same 10 years it took to get us here to get us out.

Thankfully, Keith on Current, Dan on RT and Rachel on MSNBC have brought us the earliest reports on Occupy Wall Street and America is starting to listen. As you'd expect, Fox News is painting the middleclass outcry against the corruption in the financial sector as childish hippies, communists and tantrum prone bed-wetters. Projection is what Freud would call that.

Watch this movement as the numbers grow, message shapes and our elected leaders take notice. You may find that more of us have harbored just as much frustration with the same institutions as those sitting in Liberty Park.

BODY AND SOUL

2011-10-06T17:42:00.002-04:00

PRIMARY DAY 2011

2011-09-13T10:22:00.000-04:00

So what are the chances that today's primary elections will be close enough to require the nerve-racking week long count of absentee ballots? Anyone have a guess?
I think enough time and effort has been spent this year in Kingston and towns across Ulster County that voters will come out in higher numbers than previously expected. Is that good or bad for any of the candidates, myself included, or does it just simply mean more people are coming out to vote?

Either way, this city, surrounding towns and the county will continue to function
(or disfunction) as it has before.
Below is a picture of all of us running for office today.
Make the best choice.

AMERICAN JOBS BILL

2011-09-08T22:24:00.000-04:00

SMALL BUSINESS & REGULATION

2011-09-08T11:15:00.002-04:00

I have reposted an interesting article I found below.
Links to sources included.

How Small Business Doesn't Hate Regulation
by Stuart Shapiro

Last week Andy Bolin posted an article with several small businesses quoted as saying that regulation wasn’t a major cost for them.
(link at bottom) While that anecdotal data was interesting, it turns out that the sentiment is much broader. The National Association for Business Economics did a broader survey. The results were the same.

Regulatory activity has gained a lot of attention, with many groups suggesting that American businesses are overregulated by the current administration. With that said, 80 percent of survey respondents felt that the current regulatory environment was “good” for American businesses and the overall economy.

I’ve said it before and I will say it again, when the Chamber of Commerce or a Washington politician voices concern for small businesses, you should automatically substitute the word “big” for the word “small.”

Heath care, banking and labor laws affect big corporations, not small businesses

MOVE THE UCCC BUSINESS CENTRE

2011-09-06T09:53:00.000-04:00

As I touched on previously, Ulster County's DSS is very good at getting clients and running programs that help locals and new people who need help the most. I understand that as a result, they need more space.

The obvious choice for the county would be to allow DSS to grow into what is now the UCCC Business Resource Center. It is part of the same plaza as the rest of the Department and would only seem natural to keep all of their operation at one location.

But what to do with the College Business Center?

Might I suggest using some of the vacant buildings at TechCity?
Imagine having a secure, designated parking area at a location closer to Rt 209 in a space that's easily modified to accommodate such a learning facility.
Students might even be inspired to study solar technology in a business application through one of their programs.

Perhaps the best reason to move the resource Center would be to separate the two very different operations that the County and College manage. It always seemed odd to me to have an annex to UCCC who's mission is to get people working, right next to the Department that specializes in issuing checks to landlords across the county.

90 DAY RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT

2011-09-02T15:57:00.002-04:00

Because we are in such a financial dilemma in Ulster County, I felt the need to address something that many of you may not think about on a daily basis. The county's Safety Net program.

Since this past April, there have been two important bills lingering in the Judiciary Committees of the Assembly and state Senate. Bills that would have a direct effect on the amount of tax dollars we set aside for all the programs that shelter, feed and medicate those who are in most need.

New Yorkers are notorious for making the best effort to help those in need. Ulster County residents are among the most noble. But there is a shift toward the dark side heading our way as of this January.

Of the States that actually have any form of Safety Net service, New York and California have the most to offer. Clients come to Ulster County from across the country because we are the best at giving away Federal, State and local tax dollars. If you were in a desperate situation, wouldn't you come to where they treat you the best? Of course. Problem is, we cant afford it anymore.

So rather than just close the doors on the rising tide of new New Yorkers in such need, I am asking the following:
That the County Legislature and Executive pass MY resolution, urging the state Judiciary Committee to revive the tabled Bills and allow the counties across the state to dictate a residency requirement of their liking to stem the tide of nomadic tribes of clients that criss-cross the eastern seaboard.

Senate Bill No: S2494
Sponsors: Ranzenhofer, Alesi, Johnson, Larkin, Libous
Assembly Bill No: A2281
Sponsor: Schimminger (MS)

The concurrent resolution in the Senate and Assembly proposes an amendment to the Constitution in relation to a residency period prior to receipt of certain social services. New York has one of the most generous Medicare and social services programs in the U.S.

Current New York laws hold no requirement regarding length of residency for benefit recipients. Applicants must only reside in New York and show intent to remain in the state for the foreseeable future. This is proven through documents such as a driver’s license.

The proposed legislation would protect "true" New York residents who need these services by authorizing the NYS Legislature to enact a period of residency as a requirement for social services applicants.

The paragraph above is attached to the legislation and merely reiterates what I am looking for from the Legislature. A unanimous vote in favor of this resolution may help our state leadership realize their delay in action is costing New Yorkers precious tax dollars as well as added burden on our infrastructure.

When I talk about the shift in January, I mean when the state arbitrarily decreases their share of Safety Net funding from 50% to 23%. That's right, we will be responsible for 77% here in Ulster County. For those who don't know, we are the only county in the country where the municipality that's housing the client pays the County's share. The City of Kingston better get ready for a significant increase in taxes/cuts this budget season because my fellow Legislators are still showing no signs of accepting their fiscal responsibility on this issue.

BRONX BLOODS

2011-09-02T10:42:00.000-04:00

City Police in Kingston Wednesday evening arrested a Bronx man who was standing in the middle of Broadway disrupting traffic.

Officers took Paul Smith-Weeks, 24, a member of the Bloods street gang, into custody on a charge of disorderly conduct and a search later found him in possession of two plastic bags, one with powder cocaine and the other with 16 individual knotted twists.

He was also in possession of a quantity of cash that police suspect was drug money.

Smith-Weeks was charged with felony drug possession, loitering and disorderly conduct.

Police said he was visiting Kingston at the time of his arrest.

Lifted from the police blotter.

SNOPES TO THE RESCUE AGAIN

2011-08-29T13:44:00.000-04:00

I received one of those chain Emails yesterday that focused on Congressional pay rates for retirees and their staff.

Turns out most of the assumptions were false. I actually visited Snopes.com to check up on it.

1. Congressmen collect full pay until death. False.

Their pension is determined by length of time served, when they got to congress, age of retirement and what program they participated in while serving. Their retiring income cannot exceed 80% of their working pay.

2. Congressmen don't pay into Soc Security. False.

Since 1984, they have been paying into Social Security just like everyone else. Prior to that they were in a separate program for Civil Servants. (CSRS) which was closed to government employees after 1983.

3. Congressional members are exempt from prosecution for sexual harassment. False.

The Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 placed all government employees and elected into the same category. It was included with the protections against discrimination based on race, color, religion, gender and national origin. Which has since been updated to include sexual orientation.

4. Members and staff are exempt from the Healthcare Act. False.

Members, their family and staff only have access to plans that are created by the bill and required to have the same minimum standard of coverage dictated by the legislation.

5. 35 Governors have filed suit against the Fed for unlawful burden on states. False.

The Email has been going around for years now. The insertion of this comment happened about a year ago since the passing of Healthcare Reform. It takes 38 state legislatures (two thirds) to call for a Constitutional Convention but it takes three quarters to actually amend it. No such group of Governors have made efforts to bring the "28th Amendment" forward or pushed for a convention for that matter.

Below is the basic point of the Email:

"Congress shall make no law that applies to the citizens of the United States that does not apply equally to the Senators and/or Representatives; and, Congress shall make no law that applies to the Senators and/or Representatives that does not apply equally to the citizens of the United States."

I think there are words like this somewhere already.

BOXERS OR BRIEFS?

2011-08-26T15:34:00.000-04:00

At some point this fad of wearing your pants under your butt cheeks has got to pass. Does anyone else feel this contributes to the negative perception of Broadway?

Didn't a few towns and cities address this through legislation a few months back?

Is it worth the discussion locally?

MIDDLE CLASS SHOULD BE PISSED

2011-08-23T00:34:00.000-04:00

MOBILE PHONE CREDIT CARD

2011-08-22T22:36:00.000-04:00

Mobile phones are just about everywhere in America. About 90% of us have one or more. We are a little slow in the transition from binary to smart phones, but we're getting there. Where we are really lacking is the ability to pay for small and large purchases through our mobile like a credit card. But that's about to change.

A growing number of service providers are developing safe payment options through some of the major credit card companies while others are heading for direct mobile credit billing. Skipping the credit cards all together.

South America and Asia have been paying for soda and candy with mobile phones at vending machines for years. The technology isn't new. The reluctance of Americans to trust their financial safety holds us back. With millions of people in other countries already comfortable with such daily purchases with little record of abuse, is it time for us to leave the wallets at home and trust our phones?

In a recent article in Forbes, Beth Robertson of Javelin Strategy said: "The rest of the world is kind of ahead of us in this area. There are a number of global markets where you can essentially hold your phone near a device and authorize payment from your bank account or cellular bill or do person-to-person payment by texting someone. Most of the options take the credit card out of the equation."

You need only experience the Speed Pass at the Thruway entrance or the Speedy Pay at the gas pump to see how this would work. Have we gotten comfortable with those options yet? I'm kinda thinking yes.

A recent piece in the NY Times highlighted some independent non-credit-card options coming out. One example is Xipwire, a new mobile payment system which lets people make retail purchases or do peer-to-peer transfers via texting.

You've seen the new square barcode on select advertisements and websites by now. Well the same individual code could be used to purchase merchandise by displaying your own barcode on your screen facing a screen reader. That technology is coming from FaceCash. You just hold up your mobile screen, which displays a barcode and a photo ID, up to a barcode reader. Once authenticated, the purchase is debited directly from a bank account.
But that's not all. Think FaceBook couldn't get more into your personal business?Along comes ZONG. Through a FaceBook credit system, you could use your phone to pay for goods on websites and have the bill merged with your mobile bill.

In one edition of Parking Today, they did a piece on mobile phone scanning strategies for parking lot kiosks. That was of course back when we were researching meters for the city. By now, someone should have advanced that technology somewhere. If we ever build a parking garage in Kingston, we'll have to pursue a market testing grant for the installation.

But getting back to the current topic, the general sense is that if it were to catch on in the States, it would be on the east coast first. Are we close enough to NYC to think we'll get to see it by 2015? I really don't know what's taking us so long.

GALLO FUNDRAISER RIVER CRUISE

2011-08-15T15:20:00.002-04:00

This past Thursday night was the Shayne Gallo fundraiser dinner cruise on the Rip VanWinkle. I'll say it was a good party for the 100+ who embarked on the journey. As we discovered, having events outside is a gamble when weather plays a part, so we were pleased with the attendees who took advantage of the terrific evening.

Thanks to DJ Styles for his party mix, the long list of local restaurants that offered food and Van Loans for the abundance of beer. Finally, thanks to Sandy and her crew for their steady hand at the wheel as we got to enjoy the two hours of fun on the Hudson.

The next event is at Casa Villa on Albany Avenue.

Wednesday September 7th at 5pm

Tickets are $25 Again with plenty of food. Cash Bar.

Space is limited so email:

GalloForMayor@gmail.com

or call 331-2202 for more info.

OLBERMANN & SPITZER

2011-08-10T10:11:00.000-04:00

SAVE GOLDEN HILL

2011-08-10T05:12:00.001-04:00

Throughout my term as an Ulster County Legislator, I have been a visible and vocal advocate for keeping the county nursing home, Golden Hill Health Care Center, under county control. Of the representatives from the City of Kingston, I join the chorus of Jeanette Provenzano and Peter Loughran who have been just as vocal for over a decade. My good friend Dave Donaldson is now jumping on board and stating that he is in support of keeping Golden Hill county owned as well. Three cheers for Dave for finally coming to the correct conclusion.

However, prior to and during his time as Chairman of the Legislature, Jeanette continually addressed the mounting repairs needed at the facility. Only to fall on deaf ears. If the repairs had been made at that time, we wouldn’t be hearing about “systems at risk of catastrophic failure” now, would we? Anyone who follows the political landscape here in Kingston knows Dave and I are in a Primary this September so I get to point out that of course, now, during these special election circumstances, he sees an opportunity to put words before actions to gain support. Four of those years Dave was the Legislative Chair, One of them as Executive Chair. With a sizeable majority at the time, the opportunity to address Jeanette's issues were missed. How sad is that?

The Legislature and specifically, the Health and Human Services Committee, chaired by Walter Frey, has spent far too long debating whether to sell, renovate, rebuild or build a new, state-of-the-art nursing home. The option of selling the facility needs to be taken off the table, once and for all. Privatization of nursing homes amounts to more money in the pockets of private investors, and results in lower wages, higher turnover rates and drastically lowers quality of care for residents. Meaning, if a shortsighted legislature votes to sell the facility, Ulster County’s seniors will ultimately pay the price. And for what? To save a subsidy that in 2010 amounted to just a 1/4 of 1% of the total tax burden? Isn’t it better for us to keep the employees making a living wage, so they can continue to own homes, shop and support our local economy? Isn’t it better to know that we have a safe, quality nursing facility available to anyone, regardless of their medical condition or ability to pay?

Unlike other county departments, Golden Hill Health Care Center is set up as an enterprise fund, meaning that its $30M budget operates completely independent from the county budget. Golden Hill’s income from Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements, intergovernmental transfers, and private resident payments, covers all expenses, including employee salaries and benefits without any support from the County. In some years, Golden Hill has required a subsidy from the county to cover shortfalls in their revenues, mostly due to New York State’s failure to increase the Medicaid bed rates. In 2011, the County Executive’s office estimated that Golden Hill Health Care Center would require a subsidy of $4.2M. However, due to overdue Medicaid reimbursements received from the state, the amount required from the county to support the nursing home will be closer to $1M. This means, out of a $30M budget, just $1M will come out of the county budget.

Let’s make a commitment to our community to keep Golden Hill Health Care county owned and then continue to investigate the best options in terms of rebuilding, renovating or simply fixing the existing problems, and updating as needed. Let’s look at ways to increase revenues and lower expenses without compromising the integrity of this fine facility or the welfare of its residents. Let’s look at benefits of green technology and grants available for such. There are many options that I don’t feel have been explored because too many have their own agendas at play. If we take the option of privatization off the table, it will force everyone to focus on the challenge of making the County nursing home profitable for the County, instead of some private investors.

ULSTER COUNTY STOP DWI

2011-08-06T09:38:00.000-04:00

Last month, the Programs & Education Committee had the opportunity to ask the “Stop DWI” program coordinator, John Miller, about the current status of their operation. We got a pretty detailed snapshot of how things work.

First, the program is controlled by an Advisory Board which is responsible for the allocation of funds. The funds are limited, so the success of each task are measured against the greater good of the whole program. When we say success, it doesn't apply just to how many people are caught driving impaired but also how many people did we reach through the deterrent portion of the program.

One program outside of road patrols, would be the installation and monitoring of the Interlock Ignition System. Stop DWI and Probation share the effort to keep track of those who have been released and permitted to drive after a court directed enrolment. The “client” is responsible for the cost of both the apparatus and the installation, but in some cases, when they cant afford it, the county does invest. There are several vendors who supply the device and until recently, only a few had the camera. Now they all do.

When considering the budget of Stop DWI, you should know that most of the funds required come from fines. The breathalyzers are actually supplied by the Federal government, so now you know some of your tax dollars are being used on the street.

On the management end, the Stop DWI program used to be funded solely through the county. The formation of the commission allows the funnelling of the money from fines to be rerouted back into the system. Statistics for 2010 show that the Task Force logged in more than 2800 hours of patrol including sobriety checkpoints. Most of the arrests were made in the southern third of the county. Is that because more officers were assigned in that area or do people use the highways & Midhudson Bridge more when consuming alcohol?

If funding were to be cut, the preventative portion of the program is the first to go. Efforts to visit and engage students in school, the after-prom courses and possibly the elimination of the designated assistant DA. Sure, some grants come in to help with the costs derived from Stop DWI, but maintaining the program is imperative.

If you combine the Task Force and the State Police records, 2010 yielded:

117 DWAI
22 Zero Tolerance
234 Aggravated DWI
1035 DWI
176 DWI/Drugs
18 Refusals
413 Aggravated Unlicensed

I don't have to remind anyone that this is just a small sample of those who got caught driving impaired or illegally through this program. I hesitate to estimate just how many people are on the streets and highway driving like this that don't get caught. I will estimate that just about every family out there has been affected by a drunk driving incident where someone either got hurt, or lost a loved one because someone got behind the wheel after a “good time” with friends.

As for the the future of the Stop DWI program, the subject of recent veterans and the advent of higher occurrence of DWI type violations came up. Legislator Hayes informed the committee that there are discussions between VA representatives, the UCCC program directors and some of the area judges to create a “Veteran's Court” which would dive deeper into the causes of alcohol/drug use. How much of a factor PTSD is in the use of alcohol and other drugs is a matter that may require different services. If something comes from these discussions, Miller and Hayes would both revisit and address the committee.

TECH CITY INSTALLS SOLAR PANELS

2011-08-03T12:35:00.000-04:00

ULSTER COUNTY MEALS-ON-WHEELS: STATUS

2011-08-02T10:41:00.002-04:00

So what is going on with the Ulster County Meals-On-Wheels program? Well, a few weeks ago, the Programs Education & Services Committee met and we reviewed the status of the contract bid process. The Meals-On-Wheels subcommittee, chaired by Cathy Terrizzi, offered the continuing report showing that the bid process for potential food service companies is expected to go out mid-August.

To what level the Legislature can influence the requirements in the contract bid is a continual debate not just in this instance, but just about any time a contract is offered for a service through the county. This was one of the complex issues we faced in the former Operations & Efficiency Committee last year.

As the weeks pass, the time to deliberate on our ability to shape the proposal is wasted and the window to offer and collect bids diminished. Terrizzi echoes the rest of us when she says we want to see what is in the contract and don’t want to be left out of the loop but thought we should let the process begin and at least review the contract before it goes out.

My buddy Dave Donaldson said the obvious in that we, as a legislature, direct policy and it is up to the departments to carry out that policy. So he joins the rest of the 32 of us in that statement. A number of us acknowledge that this is a stumbling block and always has been and as pointed out by Don Gregorius, we should review the contract before it is signed because we have had problems with other contracts in the past, this way everyone is on the same page and we don’t have to start the process all over again. As you can tell, the Opps & Efficiency Committee really had it's hands full.

At this point, the Meals Sub-Committee is scheduled to meet once again and have asked Deputy Sudlow to join us so that we can better evaluate the amount of input that the Legislature can have on this bid. We understand there are limitations for both policy and operations when it comes to this program because there is Federal money injected into the process but, I would agree that we need to flesh out what the county desires when it comes to delivering hot meals to our home-bound seniors.

When it comes to Ulster County using vendors of any kind, it is preferable to engage local companies. Hopefully within our county. To help smaller outfits compete with some of the larger conglomerates, the issue of localized credits was discussed. One avenue was to modify our purchasing laws through resolution where the Legislature can actually do some good within the county. Terrizzi closed the conversation by verbalizing what we all agree on in that the Legislature would have to come together on this and inject it into county policy.

So will the bid include the option for frozen meals? Will it allow diminished home visits by the delivery service? Will seniors be once again, be the way out of a financial crisis? This is what we want to discuss at that next meeting. Keep in mind; this is one way in which the county reaches out through personal contact with many of the seniors. They aren't just clients.

Chairman Harris said they have been delivering meals five days a week and there should be some kind of compromise. That will be one of the opinions at the July 12^th Meals Sub-Committee meeting. It is with great hope that Mr Sudlow is able to attend to help us through this process.

INSULATION ALTERNATIVE

2011-07-31T10:02:00.000-04:00

Over the years, I have added additional layers of insulation in attics for clients all around Ulster County. This is one job that keeps me and anyone who cares to handle insulation, busy through the winter. Anyone paying heating bills soon find out that the initial cost of additional insulation is easily off-set by lower heating bills over the next three to four years.

I'm writing on the Blog today about the product I just discovered through a friend involved with Sustainable Home Building. The subject of insulation came up because of the old torn-up jeans I was wearing on the job. It's the outfit I would wear whenever I had to insulate a crawl space with pink fiberglass. Well, actually, I just love my old beat up jeans.

The joke was "I could insulate the floor with my old jeans" which was only partially funny. He went on to tell me about this new Blue-Jean cellulose batts of insulation that has the same R rating as the stuff I was fighting with. So here I am researching the stuff.

Through my search, I found many examples of the product. But I jumped on Bonded Logic UltraTouch to make the point. They claim you can rub your face with it and it feels like your oldest pair of worn jeans. There's even kids pictured playing with it on several sites; like below. I'm guessing anyone promoting this non-formaldehyde non-fiberglass insulation will use kids in the ad to make their point. But the cost is just under three times to cost of the pink stuff.

For us home-builders, we have to ask the client if they are willing to spend extra for the insulation to lower their interior toxin levels at home. Some of them may have the money to do so, others not so much. However, there are grants out there aimed to help people with renovations by bridging the difference in cost from conventional to cotton cellulose.

Bonded Logic claims their product is 90% recycled Blue-Jeans. You may ask, where would they get the material. Well, last year, Levi Strauss initiated a Blue-Jean trade at selected stores. I don't know how successful that was because I didn't see evidence of the program locally. Besides, I've always used them until they were destroyed then threw them out. Factory scraps is the main source for the industry.

Keep in mind, the pink fiberglass I'm installing currently, has a cancer warning on the wrapper. Required under OSHA for those installing it. The denim insulation sources I saw, claim to contain no chemical irritants and requires no warning labels compared to other traditional products. There are no VOC concerns it is safe for you and the environment. These companies state this is a Class-A Building Product and meets the highest ASTM testing standards for fire and smoke ratings, fungi resistance and corrosiveness.

Will people jump on a more expensive product? If you have health concerns or already allergic to traditional pink...maybe. If you insist on building environmentally friendly...Possibly. If you can find another not-for-profit wiling to offset the cost...definitely.

Perhaps my friends in the Legislature can discuss this in the Environment Committee.

TRAIN VS TORNADO

2011-07-29T07:18:00.000-04:00

And now for some curious video: Here is a rear camera perspective of a train that crossed paths with a tornado. It's amazing that the tanker didn't explode.

MIDTOWN; AN ASSET FOR KINGSTON'S FUTURE

2011-07-27T09:21:00.001-04:00

Shayne Gallo Press Release July 26, 2011

Once again, all roads lead back to the Kings Inn. I hope that as the months pass, my reasons for starting my campaign in front of the Kings Inn have become more and more clear to the community. I hope that our efforts to lead the dialogue to the center of our city have refocused this election on the critical issues that we face.

This election must be about public safety, code enforcement and holding not-for-profit organizations, government agencies and landlords who receive rental income from these organizations and agencies, accountable for services provided to those in need.

The current debate regarding the Kings Inn shows how addressing these “Quality of Life” issues will put this city on the road towards recovery. By addressing these issues, we will take the first necessary steps towards creating an active, safe and vibrant midtown corridor where our businesses can thrive and grow.

The citizens of Kingston own a valuable piece of real estate which is perfectly positioned on the main thoroughfare in the center of a potentially lucrative business district. Over the course of the last decade, the city has incurred significant expense combating the former owners of the property and we have lost significant tax revenue.

Now that we own the property, we cannot afford to simply give it away. We must take steps to sell the Kings Inn property to recoup the tax dollars that we have lost. We need to return the property to the private sector where it can once again become a viable business property that generates needed tax revenue and employment opportunities in our city.

In order to sell our valuable piece of real estate, we need to prepare a shovel ready site in an attractive, safe and well maintained neighborhood. We must create a better “Quality of Life” environment that potential developers will find attractive.

Just like a homeowner who is placing a property on the market, we have to invest capital to increase the market value of our property. Any expenses that we incur in improving the site and the surrounding neighborhood will improve the marketability of the property and will result in an increased value of our asset and an overall improvement to the business climate in midtown.

I commend the work of the Kings Inn commission for moving towards clearing the site and preparing the site for development. Nevertheless, any solicitation of interest in the property must wait until the parcel is shovel ready. Figuratively speaking, the property must be staged. There is no way to know the true value of our asset until this basic work has been done.

NORWAY

2011-07-24T10:31:00.003-04:00

The recent bombings and massacre in Oslo, Norway has everyone thinking about their own safety. At first I was in awe that a bomb went off in the Capital, but coupled with the horror that followed at the island youth camp, I found myself weeping, wondering how can someone actually do such a thing?

We have since heard about the suspect and what his motives were. What's frightening is how many incidents we've had here and in other countries of similar nature. Fundamentalism of any kind always ends up hurting crowds of innocent people.

What prompts someone to actually act on these beliefs is truly unknown to us.

We can only lend our support to the victims and continue our vigilance of providing safety in our own neighborhoods to the best of our ability. Below is a video from a coffee shop surveillance cam,era during the blast at the Capital.

My opinion; this Breivik monster cant suffer enough to bring back all he has taken. My Norwegian brothers & sisters across America have a heavy heart as we learn of the extent of this tragedy. All of our thoughts are with them.

AMERICAN FINANCIAL PROTECTION

2011-07-24T07:39:00.000-04:00

KINGS INN

2011-07-21T13:12:00.000-04:00

Almost as important as the "News Of The World" scandal is the recent discussion regarding the lone Kings Inn proposal here in Kingston. An eyesore that everyone loves to point to when looking for a reason we have problems in Midtown.

During the search process this last six months, only one developer has made the effort to present something. Unfortunately the proposal lends itself to adding to the problem we are trying to solve. Subsidized Housing.

I have to thank Safe Harbor for spending the time creating the plans and offering themselves to our needs, but Broadway, especially in midtown west, doesn't need four or five floors of financially stressed families where there is no work to support any additional residents.

In the Freeman, Rich Cahill wins the quote of the day: "I would rather see a hole in the ground than see a low-income housing project." He is right.
Kingston has already surpassed what would be a comfortable margin of government subsidized housing within our borders. With the County still refusing to consume their rightful responsibility on the Safety Net issue, Kingston would be poised to handle just that many more clients of DSS.

Safe Harbors of the Hudson is calling for up to 50 affordable apartments in two buildings at the corner. Could I suggest they look at the NOAH Hotel site on Abeel Street and give us a price? Now there's the "Hole in the ground" that could be filled with a structure of this kind.

Here's another question: Im reading that there also would be 24-hour security and such support services as job training at this facility. Are we keeping an eye on the evening street crowd or the residents who are to be placed in the new structure? I mean 24-hour security isn't doing very well at Spring Brook and Yosman Tower, so why would it work here?

All the Mayoral candidates are right to reject the proposal, but very few people have expressed interest in the crooked lot in question. Shayne mentioned condominiums at one point, but his quote summed it up stating: “Midtown has a disproportionate number of poor and low-income people. We need to have development at that site to diversify and create and foster an environment for all classes of people to live and work in Midtown.” Can anyone disagree with that?

When it comes to building condos and commercial space, the former parking garage site was the perfect location, but tradition would have it, we screwed up a great idea that would have really served the city best. Are we so stupid?

Andi, Hayes, Ron and even Jean have opined that Kingston has had enough of subsidized housing. I bet the Aldermanic and Legislative candidates would agree as well. This is where a Comprehensive Plan would have helped in that developers would know what the citizens and government officials are looking for and where. This outfit may not have bothered with their proposal had they been provided with such a plan.

Some of us have spoken to developers who are actually waiting to see who survives the election process before jumping in. Depending on the outcome, some feel certain candidates would not be agreeable to work with from either lack of experience or inability to play well with others. It will be interesting to see who makes contact after November's election.

I'll leave you with one last quote from Andi: “We have a golden opportunity to recapture a valuable location along our Broadway business corridor. That’s right — business corridor, not another housing project. The lack of vision (by city officials), and taking the easy way out instead of solid economic growth can no longer continue." She's right!

NOT AS SLY AS A FOX AFTERALL

2011-07-18T22:57:00.000-04:00

It's hard to imagine that this large blob of a man, Roger Ailes, may actually be closer to total control of Faux News. James Murdoch is of course embroiled in the scandal in the UK, so it would seem likely that if the criminality of phone tapping is kept to the shoreline, Roger has to deal with one less hurtle as he manages the slander channel.

Rupert, James' father is of course the granddaddy of the empire. He is expected to claim he had nothing to do with the activities that have rocked the network, but how can he be perceived distant when it's his own son giving the orders?

Face it, we are all going to have allot of fun this year as the details of just how deep the tappings go and to what lengths they'll go to divert America's attention during primetime.
Pass me the popcorn.

ANNUAL IMMACULATE CONCEPTION BAZAAR

2011-07-18T13:44:00.002-04:00

As tradition would have it, I found myself at the Immaculate Conception Church on Delaware Avenue this past weekend as they were celebrating their annual Bazaar. The combination of karaoke, gaming, beer and food makes for a good time for all who attend, but throw in us politicos and the party takes on a new vibe.

As you can see, we all have plenty of fun during the two day event since most candidates actually get along quite well. The attendees also like that we are all behaving like adults. Rich sang, what has become a staple of his repertoire, Johnny B Goode. He was the only Mayoral candidate brave enough to take the stage.

Like the others, Shayne met most of the attendees as they fully expect us candidates to reintroduce ourselves. I got to see a few folks that hardly get out as well. They come to expect to see many of us in person during events like this, so it was odd that a large number chose to skip it this year.

One thing is for sure, I never leave the bazaar hungry. There's no escaping the delicious Golabki, home-made deserts, and fried dough.
(all low calorie of course)

There are plenty of social events ahead of us and I look forward to seeing many new faces and many old friends as the summer campaign continues. Stay cool!

CELENTE: THE 1st GREAT WAR of 21st CENTURY

2011-07-17T12:38:00.000-04:00

Yet another interview with Kingston's own Gerald Celente on RTtv speaking about the possible "China Spring" and the corporate global war on the people.

PETITIONS ACCEPTED

2011-07-16T17:14:00.000-04:00

Shayne Gallo and I deposited our petitions Thursday morning to secure our place on the Ballot for this September's primary races. Reviewing the documents carefully is key to the process. Simple mistakes can throw you off with little recourse and from what I've heard, many of the other candidates for several positions are facing just that challenge.

My friends find it curious that I like the petition process. I find it to be not only a fun contest of sorts, but another excuse to get out there and engage the voters. If you collect most of the signatures yourself, you achieve additional facetime with neighbors who actually do want to meet you.

Having said that, it is a comfort to have them in and secure in the hands of the BOE. Now you'll see the seven Mayoral candidates and the dozens of county and city candidates out there on the streets.

Don't miss this opportunity to ask questions of us at your own doorstep. It's a rare chance to nail us down on where we stand on issues. Well, for those who don't have a Blog that is.

NEW YORK'S SOLAR IVY

2011-07-13T07:31:00.000-04:00

It's hard to believe, but there's a Solar development company in New York. This Brooklyn company has developed a new form of solar panels. It's a new twist on a current material. In smaller portions, the individual panels are shaped like artistically fashioned ivy leaves. Like the picture above, they decorate the wall's surface.

This product called Solar Ivy, was in the news a few years ago as the miniaturized plates were developed. I only recently discovered they were located in Brooklyn from a friend of mine in NYC. So I figured I would post about them as they set of to install a significant application at the University of Utah. The company is (SMIT) Sustainably Minded Interactive Technologies.

The developers are Sam (pictured right) and his sister Teresita Cochran, and fellow Pratt alumnus Ben Howes. Testing their prototypes in a Navy Yard, They've been contracted to install this system through funds derived right from student contributions. What remains in raising funds is expected to come from local green awareness events.

As you can see by the pictures I found online, Solar Ivy is a composition of small photovoltaic panels shaped so that they can be installed in an attractive arrangement, much like ivy growing over a building's surface. The panels generate electricity that is used by the building, offsetting the amount of power the building buys from the utility company.

I guess the reason I'm compelled to post this terrific news is that we have another solar success story in New York State. It may not be here in our Hudson Valley Solar Consortium region, but it's here. I guess the next question would be why aren't WE utilizing this company for solar initiatives at SUNY or other New York colleges? Why Utah? Did it ever occur to anyone to seek New York companies before purchasing foreign solar panels? Could we get a special deal from SMIT in the future? Can we pursue this?

MORE HARM THAN NAFTA?

2011-07-09T15:49:00.000-04:00

Get ready for another stab in the heart of what's left of manufacturing in America. Just as more Americans are warming up to the "job saving" campaign of Buy American, the White House and Congress are preparing another Free Trade agreement with Columbia, Korea and Panama.

It's well known that millions of our citizens who are ready, willing and able to work are unemployed and underemployed. It doesn't help he recently graduated workforce coming out of our schools to face such a diminished work option in the real world. But if you watch TV news, you'll see instead of creating jobs, our representatives in DC are busy trying to ram through another three ridiculous trade deals guaranteed to send even more jobs off shore.

I'm reading several reports that President Obama has met with Juan Santos, (pictured above) president of Columbia with the intent to conjure up this agreement. How many people think this is going to help the American workforce? Given the opportunity, what would stop US corporations from establishing more cheap manufacturing facilities there at the expense of our already underemployed Americans?

Sure, the President will get a pat on the back from those who stand to make a fortune on this deal, but the average worker will bare the brunt as more jobs emigrate to foreign lands. You might hear how President Santos has pledged to make working conditions equal to that of US standards, but who here believes that really?

It's exasperating to watch our national leaders squander our human resource when we desperately need to promote job growth here at home, these trade deals must stop. What has happened since NAFTA and the China trade status needs little study. We all agree that the slave labor in other countries is more preferable to the corporations, but how is it we would pursue yet another group of not only untrustworthy, but downright treacherous regimes to do business with? Look no further than Libya.

We need to be creating jobs here. There are more than enough bridges in the US that are far below the safety standard that we could set out to repair our nation's infrastructure instead of sending able bodies to the unemployment lines. Does no-one see this?
Below are some points found on the Labor sites that aim to highlight he issues of this pending deal:

In Colombia, one trade unionist is murdered almost every week and almost none of the murderers are brought to justice.

The Korea agreement is the largest off-shoring deal of its kind since NAFTA. If enacted, it likely will displace 159,000 U.S. jobs, mostly in manufacturing. And its glaring loopholes would allow unscrupulous businesses to import illegally labelled goods from China and possible even from sweatshops in North Korea—potentially without any tariffs at all.

The Panama agreement has many of the problems of the other two deals, like deregulating big banks and letting foreign investors bypass U.S. health, safety labor and environmental laws. Panama is also a tax haven: a place where tax-dodging, money-laundering millionaires and billionaires hide their money.

I expect people to ask why at the county level, I or anyone else in local government would be concerned about the Federal trade issues like this one. Well, I feel we are all affected by what kind of employment landscape we must face after spending as much as we do on educating our kids, only to find our government working against us.

On a final note: Regarding the Made In America campaign, I will continue to ask that we all read the labels and invest in products made in the US. In a recent trip to Lowes, I found tools and supplies that were made here. For about the same price, I left happier knowing my purchase helped secure American jobs. With the impending trade agreements noted above... I'm no longer sure.

GENERAL FRIEDRICH VON STEUBEN

2011-07-04T11:43:00.000-04:00

Born 1730 in Magdeburg, Germany, Friedrich Von Steuben eventually found himself serving General Washington during our Revolutionary beginnings. As a teenager, emigrating to Prussia, he served in Infantry then Captain at the pleasure of Friedrich the Great. He was one of the 13 members of the Elite Class of War, where after the Seven Years War, found himself unemployed. Perfect timing for a chance meeting with Benjamin Franklin in Paris.

By 1777, with his embellished credentials in hand, he had been recruited to train our cadets at Valley Forge. Training in the art of combat that had not happened before. From what I gather, our military leaders were just sending volunteers to regiments with little fighting experience. Sources indicate, Steuben was instructed to train an elite force that would then train other brigades.

He has also been given the title of encampment designer in that he was the first to separate quarters from kitchen and latrines. Before that, these guys were doing everything everywhere. Imagine that.

Steuben forced the advanced use of the bayonet during combat, which later proved a determining factor when ammunition was depleted. His troops still went on to win numerous battles as a result. None of these accomplishments went unnoticed. So when the season of Independence celebration comes around every year, people take note of Friedrich Von Steuben's influence in our early military history. The fact that he was gay altered nothing regarding his ability to serve as one of Washington's best Generals.

Of course there are countless examples in history of great military leaders who also happen to be gay. Alexander springs immediately to mind. It's just that much more special during these evolved times in New York, that one of the most celebrated generals from the Revolutionary War, General Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben also happened to be gay. His service to America is celebrated in festivals and parades all across the country, most fervently by the German-American community. There have been Ships, Submarines, and towns named after him as well as buildings, statues, national monuments and even a US Stamp published in his honor.

Once retired, Steuben settled near Utica, NY and was appointed a Regent for what evolved into the State University of New York. He never married and had no children. He left his estate to two younger men who had served as his aides-de-camp during the war. He is buried at what is now the Steuben Memorial State Historic Site in Oneida County, NY.

With all that's changed in the minds of New Yorkers regarding equal rights and the eminent retirement of DADT, the celebration of such a prominent figure in early American military history should not be forgotten. Steuben's personal history shapes the historical context which only helps us as we we evolve today.

Happy Independence Day everyone!

GALLO PRESS RELEASE:

2011-07-02T18:12:00.000-04:00

I started my campaign for Mayor standing before the Kings Inn Hotel on Broadway speaking about the need to address quality of life issues in our city. It is my goal to create a positive climate where our residents can feel safe and secure and our businesses can thrive and grow. We all need to understand that the children in midtown and throughout the city must be able to play safely in their front yards and in their neighborhood parks.

Today, I release details of my plan to restore safety to the streets of our city by utilizing existing city services to their fullest while creating a cooperative relationship between city, county, state and school district officials.

The Mayor and Police Chief have taken positive steps to address public safety issues by using operation impact grants to assign police officers to walk the streets of midtown Kingston. As Mayor I will continue these programs and seek additional grant funding to support a visible police presence on the streets of Kingston. I will also seek federal grant funding for after school programs and community groups to ensure that our children have a safe place to go after school. Our Fire Chief has diligently enforced code violations throughout midtown. As Mayor, I will support and expand these efforts.

We also need to focus our attention on those juveniles who commit crimes.

Many of these juveniles come from homes that lack adequate supervision and structure. When our juveniles are properly supervised and attending school as required by the Education Law, they are not roaming the streets of the city committing crimes and creating nuisance in our neighborhoods.

Our police officers are mandated by law to report suspicions of neglect or abuse. The failure to provide adequate guardianship and supervision or the failure to ensure regular school attendance constitutes neglect. When our officers have reason to believe that a child is not being adequately supervised or is not attending school regularly, that officer must file a report with Child Protective Services.

As Mayor, I will develop and enforce procedures to ensure that every suspected case of inadequate guardianship or educational neglect is reported by our police officers and investigated by Child Protective Services.

As Mayor I will develop and enforce procedures where every incident of truancy is documented and reported to the Kingston School District and the County Attorney.

As Mayor I will develop and enforce procedures whereby our officers know which of our juveniles are subject to probation supervision. When our officers learn of violations of probation by juveniles, those violations will be documented and promptly reported to the Department of Probation and the County Attorney.

Our dedicated police officers face safety issues every day in our community related to juvenile crime and truancy. They report frustration with the lack of cooperation and communication between various county agencies. These agencies each have an important role in resolving the issues facing our city. As Mayor I will ensure that our officers know that when they report conduct to the School District, Social Services or Probation, that those reports will be properly investigated and action will be taken.

As Mayor I will create a joint task force with representatives from the Kingston Police Department, Social Services, County Attorney, Kingston School District, Probation and Mental Health to address public safety issues which arise when our juveniles are unsupervised, truant and beyond the control of lawful authority.

These agencies have overlapping responsibilities regarding issues of truancy, inadequate supervision and guardianship and juvenile behavioral issues. All too often, these agencies are operating on parallel paths regarding individual families and children. The lack of communication results in the duplication of services and unnecessary expense. When information is not shared between agencies, opportunity for productive action is lost.

Representatives from these agencies must be encouraged to share information about individuals in the community. Often our police officers are unaware that a child who is causing trouble on the street is already subject to an order of probation supervision, a social services order of supervision or a school district behavior contract. When responding to a complaint regarding an individual, our police officers need to know if that individual is already before a Judge for similar or related conduct. Currently there is no formal system for exchanging this type of information.

As Mayor, I will put such a system in place and insure that through communication of necessary information between agencies, we are fully prepared to address incidents in our community.

Other candidates are speaking of quality of life issues such as fixing our sidewalks, banning smoking in our parks, and moving our fireworks festivities to July 4^th. Still other candidates are being photographed trimming hedges in midtown.

Sure these are all important quality of life issues, but it is my position that these issues cannot be addressed until we restore a sense of safety in our community. Restoring safety to our streets will be my primary goal if elected Mayor. My years of legal experience in Family Court and as Assistant Corporation Council have given me a working knowledge of the various involved agencies and the scope of their duties and responsibilities. With this knowledge, I will be able to develop and enforce a comprehensive plan to share government services to ensure that our citizens feel safe in their homes and in the community and that their children can safely play in our neighborhoods and our parks. Without this basic sense of safety, there can be no quality of life.

SAMARITAN VILLAGE ELLENVILLE

2011-06-29T08:50:00.001-04:00

A few days ago, while driving through Ulster, I passed the local franchise of Five Guys Burgers. There were a few women along 9W holding signs indicating that purchases today would help Women Veterans. We stopped in.

These women are tough as nails, but they had fallen on tough emotional times since coming back to civilian life. Everyone who serves, experiences something different. When faced with different circumstances, they take different paths. Samaritan Village is there to help.
It was a joy to speak with the group. They spoke about the program and where they served as well as touching on issues facing the county like Golden Hill and Mental health. People dont realize just how related many of these facilities and programs are.

The first NYS licensed residential treatment facility designed exclusively for women veterans began operations on January 31, 2011.

A small group of pioneering women veterans moved in to the newly-built facility located on the grounds of the Samaritan Village Ellenville campus.

In recognition of their special treatment needs, and with gratitude for their service to our country, New York State awarded funding to Samaritan Village to develop a program specifically for women veterans. Building upon 15 years of proven expertise in veteran-specific treatment services, Samaritan’s new program will provide trauma-informed care, individual and group counselling, gender-specific counselling, vocational/educational rehabilitation and family reunification services.

The veterans described their difficulty adjusting to civilian life after experiencing war; of using alcohol and drugs to medicate their feelings; of not knowing where to get help; of the importance of long-term recovery programs that recognize veterans’ special needs; and of their relief in finding Samaritan Village.

If you or anyone you know could use the services offered here, or if you'd like a tour of the facility, contact:

Samaritan Village

(845) 647-8006

751 Briggs Highway,

Ellenville, NY 12428

Cross Streets: Between Birchall Rd and Frog Hollow Rd/Badner Ln

www.samaritanvillage.org

ULSTER SALES TAX EXTENSION

2011-06-28T12:15:00.000-04:00

Knowing the financial dilemma facing the county as we approach 2012, I join my fellow Legislators in a sigh of relief. Last Friday while we were all watching the high profile votes like the Big Ugly and Same-Sex Marriage, the Senate also permitted the extension of the 1% sales tax here at the County level.

Let me extend a big thanks to both Assemblyman Tom Kirwin and Senator Bill Larkin for sponsoring the bill this year.

As reported in the press, we legislators were a little concerned that the State bodies hadn't voted on it until the last minute.Faced with the diminished projected funds heading into the next budget session, we would have scrambled like madmen to find additional revenue. Including increased taxes.

As noted: The legislation allows the county to continue collecting an additional 1 percent sales tax that generates about $25 million for the county and local municipalities. With the increase, the county sales-tax rate is 4 percent. Placing additional taxes on our property rather than sales tax, means people who visit Ulster County help offset the financial burden of upkeep here in the tourism Mecca of the Hudson Valley. Roads, bridges and infrastructure are all part of the responsibility of the county and keeping Ulster County "open" is economic priority one.

County Exec Hein told the Record: Without the sales-tax extension, the costs would be passed along to the property tax. He added: There was no increase in the tax levy last year; meanwhile, the county payroll declined.

"The reason that you need these things is to be able to offset ever-declining state aid."

The 2011 budget was painful enough without having to contend with the sales tax issue. Mind you, there are other sales tax issues we have to deal with regarding the transfer of the safety net costs to the County where they should be. That will be a nut to crack of epic proportion. But that's another post.

LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA

2011-06-26T21:17:00.000-04:00

It's been well over 40 years since America's favorite President, Richard Nixon declared his "War On Drugs". As you can see outside your window, the decades long struggle to penalize the masses for using illegal substances has been a success.
OK so you know I'm kidding.

We, the American taxpayer, have spent over a Trillion dollars and have incarcerated millions of people for drug infractions. Money and energy that could have been better spent on recovery programs from coast to coast with most of the allotted funds available for domestic infrastructure and healthcare.

Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) and Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) introduced legislation last Thursday to end the federal ban on marijuana and let the states decide how to manage it.

“The legislation would limit the federal government’s role in marijuana enforcement to cross-border or inter-state smuggling, allowing people to legally grow, use or sell marijuana in states where it is legal,” according to the Marijuana Policy Project, which advocates for pot legalization.

Congressman Frank said the goal of the bill, HR 2306, is not to legalize marijuana but to remove it from the list of federally controlled substances while allowing states to decide how they will regulate it.
Quoted in the LA Times, he said: "I do not advocate urging people to smoke marijuana. Neither do I urge them to drink alcoholic beverages or smoke tobacco. But in none of these cases do I think prohibition enforced by criminal sanctions is good public policy."

He then added: "Criminally prosecuting adults for making the choice to smoke marijuana is a waste of law enforcement resources and an intrusion on personal freedom." I guess it would be hard to tell Barney Frank from Ron Paul on this subject, so it's not such a shock to see both sponsoring this bill.

Other than our own Maurice Hinchey calling for the complete legalization of Marijuana and getting little support, this is the first time the effort has been bi-partisan and achieved any publicity.

More than a dozen states allow the sale of medical marijuana, but the practice is not legal under federal law so there are messy clashes within divisions of law enforcement. In the middle of all of this is a coalition of officers called LEAP. Law Enforcement Against Prohibition. You can find more on them by going to www.leap.cc

Several months ago, President Obama was asked in an interview about this same subject. That video is below:

Last week, to commemorate the anniversary, a group of former law enforcement officials unveiled a new report detailing the failures of the government's long battle against illegal drugs and denounces the Obama administration's current drug policies.

When we consider the amount of money American taxpayers spend to continue this failed policy, our ability to complain about many of the other expenditures diminishes greatly. Our own county corrections employees admit putting our resources to better use would change the quality of life throughout the Hudson Valley region. Might even change the gang landscape in the Newburgh area. But until something happens on the federal level and the state of New York follows with drastic changes to drug policy, we stand no chance.

SAME GENDER MARRIAGE IN NY

2011-06-25T00:35:00.001-04:00

Yes, it really happened. the New York State Senate has finally finally stepped away from a long history of passive discrimination. (the Marriage Equality Bill passed by a vote of 33-29) What we just witnessed through television, twitter or whatever method you chose, is nothing short of revolutionary.

Because of it's population, New York's leap into the light will actually double the number of people eligible to marry their long time partner. Partners who were prohibited through legally supported discrimination.

To my friends who still harbor the damaging ill will toward equality, I forgive you. Your religious and family upbringing are what shape you and for most, there is no shaking what has been instilled in your psyche. However, those of us who challenge those notions are gaining in strength and numbers.

Four Republican State Senators joined the Civil Rights Movement this Friday evening. Roy McDonald, Steve Saland, Mark Grisanti and Jim Ales, But let me tell you this was no easy victory.

In 2009, right-wing groups helped derail marriage equality at the last minute. And just a few weeks ago, the extremist National Organization for Marriage (NOM) committed $1.5 million to stop us from passing this law. As you can see, their efforts fell short.

Currently, the District of Columbia and five states -- Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont and New Hampshire -- grant same-sex marriage licenses.

Governor Andrew Cuomo was anxious to sign what he has long championed, into law. He noted during his comments following the vote that once the bill was printed in it's long form, he would sign it so there would be less of a delay in implementation. The first scheduled nuptials begin 30 days after the Governor signs the bill.

What is curious about the new law, is the lack of residential restriction. Other states require that you live there for a year or so. New York will welcome couples from across the country. Considering the influx of new weddings and the financial impact we will experience, should we label this act as a step toward job growth in New York? Hmmm

WASHINGTON AVE TRAFFIC PATTERN

2011-06-16T17:04:00.000-04:00

Everyone in the greater Kingston area knows this Washington Avenue intersection with Schwenk and Hurley Ave. The traffic volume during rush hour is almost at capacity.

The resurfacing, however, has provided the opportunity to alter the lane and storage pattern in each direction. You may find that navigation in both directions is much easier to understand and less dangerous.

That's because the new striping actually copies the plan that Charlie Schaller and I offered the Traffic & Public Safety Committee back in 2007. The plan that my colleagues wouldn't entertain because no-one saw the benefit in cleaning up what I thought was a storage nightmare.

This shot above brings the lane division out to where Ulster Savings exits. I may still have drawings that depict the same pattern!

The west bound lanes are wider than before and the east bound single is cut down to 14 feet wide from 20. I'm going to have to commend my friends on the county and state traffic boards for following through with the modifications from so long ago. Job well done!

EXEC HEIN: SHARED SERVICES AWARD

2011-06-16T14:44:00.001-04:00

BELOW IS A PRESS RELEASE REGARDING THE AWARD:

UC Exec Mike Hein was awarded a 2011 National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Award for his work on Intergovernmental Collaboration/Shared Services in Ulster County. NACo acknowledged the County Executive’s “hard work to promote quality, efficient, and responsive management and administration.”

Hein said, “This award is the recognition of a strong group effort and I want to commend the many towns that have participated in this program. I believe shared services are the wave of the future and I look forward to growing this program. Simply put, it works and saves taxpayers money. We all serve the same taxpayers and it is critical that governments expand collaboration to protect them. Taxpayers cannot afford escalating property taxes and as government leaders, we must continually find more creative ways to provide essential services while reducing costs. Collaborating with Ulster County’s towns on projects, like the highway shared services, is an effective way to keep taxes low and make sure the job gets done. I also want to recognize the amazing efforts of the County and town highway workers for making this program a reality.”

This innovative “shared services” program decentralizes various highway services including snow and summer maintenance, from the County to the towns for a fee. This provides cost savings to the County and additional revenue to the towns. This program reduced duplication, and provided better services and safer roads, and is better for the environment, all while saving our collective taxpayers money.
According to Town of Saugerties Supervisor Greg Helsmoortel, “Mike saw a problem with a solution that was simple on the surface, yet complex because of the need to involve different governments and agencies that usually work best because of their independence. The concept was to create greater efficiencies in snow and ice removal and general maintenance throughout the year by changing the traditional hierarchy of who plows what roads. Patiently, slowly, he built the coalition needed to get the job done.”
Despite the fact that the 2010-11 winter season ranked as one of the worst winters in the past 100 years, Ulster County received a total of 71 inches of snow, in 2011, Ulster County Executive Mike Hein was able to implement a package of reforms in the Department of Public Works, including this Intergovernmental Collaboration/Shared Services Initiative. These reforms save an estimated $2.3 million from the prior year’s budget.

There are currently six towns involved in the Intergovernmental Collaboration/Shared Services program. Shandaken, Gardiner, Woodstock, Saugerties, New Paltz and Hardenburgh.

At least two of these towns are interested in expanding their mileage participation in 2012 and two additional towns have expressed interest in entering the program.
County Executive Hein added, “It is my great hope that this is just the beginning. Collectively, we have created a strong foundation to build upon.”

DELAROSE WRITES TO CUOMO: AGAIN

2011-06-14T21:37:00.000-04:00

Below is a letter sent by Lawrence Delarose to our Governor Andrew Cuomo sent only a few days ago. I thought I would publish the letter on behalf of Larry to increase the odds of a response from the Governor and our State Legislators.

Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo June 9, 2011

Governor of New York State

New York State Capitol Building

Albany, New York 12224

Honorable Governor Cuomo:

This is my fourth attempt to get a response from your office on the issue of double dipping by sitting state legislators.

While I commend your efforts to bring reform to Albany with your legislation on ethics reform and pension reform it is alarming to note that neither effort addresses the issue of double dipping.

You currently have 15 members of the “club” sitting in the state legislature being paid twice with taxpayers dollars to do the same job. How to you explain this situation to the thousands of New Yorkers struggling to make ends meet in the current economic recession? The simple answer is you don’t.

I once again urge you to use the influence of your office to put an end to this “gaming” of the retirement system at taxpayers expense.

Respectfully,

Lawrence M. Delarose

ELECTRIC CARS

2011-06-14T20:57:00.000-04:00

Electric cars are coming. But how much do you really know about them? How much money will you save on gas? Where and when can you charge them? What happens if you want to charge your car at a friend's house? GOOD's latest video answers all these questions and more.

KINGSTON FIREWORKS 2011

2011-06-10T22:58:00.000-04:00

Ok, I am having a problem understanding this whole June 26th thing. Did something significant happen in Kingston in our vast history on June 26?
Sure, I'm being snarky, but how is we are celebrating our Independence a full nine days early?

If it's an issue of event competition between municipalities, what's wrong with Sunday July 3rd? Saugerties will be on the 4th! Don't get me wrong, I like a party like everyone else, but this tradition of "Last weekend in June" has it's limits.

This would be a good time to also say thanks to the brave souls at Mainetti, Mainetti & O’Connor for financing the event, as odd as it is. The big news, other than the date, is the lack of vendors and live music. Gone are the days when Starship and Scorpions take center stage at a free event in Kingston.

Granted, all the events in the past cost a heap of money, compounded by the task of trash collection and cost of law enforcement. It did seem to entice a gathering of folks we don't regularly see at Council meetings.

The business owners have chipped in for the $4,000 estimated overtime costs for the police department. That's as much of a donation for the community as a safety precaution for their commercial property. Very smart!
Kate Cook, the city's event planner said in the Freeman, the vendor fees once covered those costs. She added: “The business owners want to bring back the waterfront to a different environment and not so much a carnival atmosphere.”

In regards to the scaled back expense of the once infamous three day celebration, Alderman Bob Senor is right... Our city just cant afford to spend precious funds on such events when we are painfully short on DPW and REC employees. His quote in the paper: “I too am disappointed, but this just comes back to a sign of the times, there is no money.”

But one thing we can control Bob, is the date. Lets push our Independence celebration to Sunday July 3rd... OK?

I LOVE MY NEW YORK WATER!

2011-06-08T23:08:00.002-04:00