THE NIGHTLIFE IN WILBUR

The nightlife in Wilbur is hoppin.

I went on one of my evening drives through town to check on some Ward issues and decided to check on the Feeney boat yard to see if there was any Friday night action. There was nothing, not a peep.

However, the Juke Box at Stan’s Brook Room was cranked and I discovered about 20 people crammed in the place singing along to Billy Joel’s Piano Man. What a sight!

Here it is 8:30 on a Friday, with all the fancy bars and restaurants uptown and down, and I stumble on the party in Wilbur. About half of the crowd was from the immediate area while the rest were from the Rondout and Eddyville.

As I walked in, a few people recognized me and asked questions about the council workings, but mostly focused on the New York State economy. Which lead to the expansion of the Feeney boat yard and the new structure across the street.

Stan jumped right in and praised the Feeney Brothers for finally getting the crew out of the winter weather, while others pointed out that not all industry is slowing down, with Feeney’s serving as an example.

Most of the locals got a letter from Planning asking if they had reservations regarding the new structure. They offered none.

The crew was working on the roof structure when I saw them this Saturday morning and the other yard employees were all over the big tug boat.

Operating through 114 years of good and bad times, the Feeney’s have adapted to the needs of the times, and although their work load has picked up a bit lately, they still provide a good indication that not all of our local industry is heading to China.

Stan’s Brook Room is the only Bar in Ward Nine and its located right next to Riverside Pizza[pictured right] the only pizzeria in the ward as well a next to Fire House Studio, the only Gallery in the ward.

If you can find parking, have a visit.

CLIENT NUMBER NINE

For those of us who would like the saga of Gov Spitzer and the expensive hookers to go away, this might be the non-event that helps.

It was announced Thursday that the Fed will not prosecute Mr. Spitzer on the grounds that there is no evidence that the funds to pay the hookers was pulled from campaign or public funds and thus, although unbecoming for an elected official, was not enough of hard evidence of the exchange to warrant a full prosecution.

U.S. Attorney Michael Garcia said in a statement that Spitzer admitted that he was a client of the Emperor’s Club VIP prostitution business.

Considering the enormous support and stellar success our current Governor Paterson is experiencing, we were almost completely past the Spitzer issue. It seems the economic stress on the state and the Wall Street meltdown coupled with the longest Presidential primary and general election that anyone can remember, our focus has been off Eliot for quite some time.

I don’t know what will come of the “Trooper Gate” issue that Joe Bruno is still grumbling over, but whatever the outcome, I wish Eliot’s family well.

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA

Say hello to our new President.

With a mandate like we haven't seen since 92, this country is set for a course correction.

Americans from coast to coast recognized the tremendous need for serious change in the way this country runs and nowhere did we see that materialize better than this wonderful evening.

This has been a rewarding election season but i'm glad it's over.

Time to get back to the business of running the city.

Thanks to everyone who worked on ALL the campaigns. Noone works for a candidate unless they believe in the message and expect it to better serve the public. That goes for both parties.

Now on to the budget.

ENDORSEMENT OF A LIFETIME

IT'S ALMOST OVER

I just had to post this funny lawn sign from Ohio.

Do you know how many we could have sold at Democratic HQ this fall?

The weather channel says Election Day will be in the 60s and sunny.

Any questions regarding where you may vote, call the Board of Election on Wall St in Kingston @ 845 334-5470

DELAROSE CAMPAIGN MESSAGE 08

First, I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to the literally hundreds of residents of the 39th district who have spoken with me personally on the campaign trail, e-mailed me or called me on the phone to express their views.

It has been an honor and a privilege for me to talk with you.

As we approach Election Day, let me ask each voter in the 39th State Senate district to take a moment of your time to think about what you want to see changed for the better in New York State.

Whether it is lower property taxes, more affordable health care for everyone, or equal rights for all our citizens, you have the power on November 4th to make changes happen.

If you give me the opportunity to represent you in Albany for the next two years, I can promise you that I will work tirelessly to help you achieve a better lifestyle for you and your families.

Together we can accomplish anything and no goal is out of reach. I need your help and your vote on Election Day to begin our journey together toward a brighter future for all of us and for our children and grandchildren. Thank you.

LARRY M. DELAROSE

Lawrence Delarose to New York State Senate - 39th District

MY VOTE DOESNT MATTER!

Several weeks after each general election, I go to the Board of Elections office on Wall Street and get a copy of those who voted that last Election Day.

The list is prepared as a walking list, so I can see who, at each address, actually bothered to vote.

Each year, I am shocked when I see the names of some of our most vocal, missing from that list.

What am I, or anyone in public service, to think when some of our "squeeky wheels" dont have the drive to perform their civic duty?

So, in photoshop, we created pictures of what we see when we meet one of these non-voters.

I hope to see your names on the list this year.

LARKIN: FOLLOW THE MONEY

Oh yeah, just what the Larkin campaign needs now is a finance scandal swirling around Federal Campaign finance laws.
You would think, with all we learned about handling campaign contributions after that now famous Tom Delay fiasco that “Good Ol Boy” Bill would know better.

For those who don’t know about campaign financing, there are limitations as to the amount of money a single person can give to a PAC, or Political Action Committee.

In this case, the Larkin Campaign has been accepting donations from corporate interests such as AIG [yes the one that WE just bailed out] and other banking and Insurance companies and then funneling the contributions to Congressional Candidate Kieran Lalor and Judge Robert Onofry as well as Assemblywoman Annie Rabbitt presumably for the purpose of funneling even more to Lalor.

The limit for donating funds from a campaign like Larkin's to all federal races, even for a sitting Senator is $1,000.
This past October 22nd, Larkin cut a check for $2,300 for Lalor’s federal congressional campaign through a corporate fund.

This is a double negative. Larkin's donation is a direct federal violation for both Larkin and Lalor and should be investigated further.

Even if the funds were presumed personal, Lalor should be instructed to return $1,300 to Larkin, however, the mere suggestion that the funds were of corporate sources, passed through his campaign coffers, puts Larkin, even if he didn’t know about it, in the hot seat, much that same way of Tom Delay.

To see these numbers on display, simply look up the FEC website and search the Congressional candidates. You won’t see this transfer on Larkin’s latest financials because he hasn’t posted it…yet.

Campaign Finance Disclosure Data Search

Contributions Received for Report FEC-378434

Federal and State Campaign Finance Laws Brochure

I will end this just the way I started. You would think that with 12 years in the Assembly and 18 in the Senate, Larkin would know better. I’m guessing this isn’t the type of scandal that any of these candidates wants in the press a week before election, but hey…If it’ corporate money handled illegally by public officials, then it’s our right to know.

Special Note: Fliers for Larkin’s re-election are arriving in mail boxes all over Town of Ulster. It seems his staff doesn’t know where the district lines are.

TENNESSEE SKINHEADS

Tennessee is lovely this time of year, so they tell me. So what should I wear when I visit? A white hood perhaps?

Oh yes, Bells, Tennessee is now infamous. Finally a reason to spruce up tourism. And yes the press has gone wild over the neo-nazi white Supremist plot to kill Obama and supporters. Just what we need in the last throws of a 18 month long presidential campaign.

Trouble is, there are so many people across this nation that harbor these hateful thoughts privately and some not so privately. What the electorate in all these battle ground states will reveal themselves on November 4th because the curtain will provide privacy in its most sacred civic action we can perform. Our private vote.

So some 18 and 20 year old skin-heads with half their teeth missing decide to shoot Barack Obama at some rally. Didn’t either of their moms notice the guns in his room and “bulls eye” Obama posters on the wall? [kidding]

The fact that neighbors never thought of these young men as a hateful beings, shows that we don’t always know who is harboring thoughts of harm toward others. We see it occasionally even in our blue, more enlightened state of New York, but never suspect in our own neighborhood.

The two campaigns haven’t really addressed this “assassination plot” in any great detail because it is a distraction from their message in the last week, but we, as caring citizens should be cautious, even as we reach out to help one another.

And inspect your children’s candy at home before feasting on the evening’s collection.

JOHN HALL VISITS HOME TURF FOR DELAROSE

With only a week before Election Day, I can tell you, the masses have awakened. There is a buzz throughout the Hudson Valley that something just short of a movement is about to sweep through every level of government.

Do I dare say a progressive movement?

I had the pleasure of spending time with both Congressmen John Hall and Maurice Hinchey this Sunday.

Hall was the guest speaker at the Monroe Committee fundraiser for Larry Delarose. He spoke at great lengths about the financial crisis they are dealing with in DC as well as the need to have a more responsive advocate for the well being of the 39th district when he calls for help in Orange County.

He reminded everyone just how much of a hassle it is to connect with our incumbent when immediate issues arise. He expects to work much better with Delarose.

Maurice was the guest speaker at the Stoutridge Winery in Marlboro, raising funds for Frank Skartados for his race for Assembly.

Marlborough has closed the registration gap between the two parties. No longer the republican stronghold that it once was, this town is now back in play for either campaign.

The recent surge in voter registration in both Kingston and Newburgh, have the opposition scared enough to drive through a number of towns and steal Obama, Delarose and Hinchey signs from roadsides and even some front lawns. We’ve never seen this at such a rate before. Someone is truly nervous.

I rounded out the evening clearing out blocked storm drains in the neighborhood. It really was a well rounded day.

AAUW CANDIDATES FORUM: 2008

The American Association of University Women had a candidates Forum this past Friday evening in Saugerties.

The district covered by this chapter covers Greene, Ulster, Dutchess, Putnam and Orange Counties.

Of the long list of candidates for state offices, the seven who showed up were:

Kevin Cahill – Assembly (D)
Anne Rubin – Assembly (D)
Larry Delarose – Senate (D)
Peter Lopez – Senate (R)
Don Barber – Senate (D)
Jonathan Smith – Assembly (D)
Tim Gordon – Assembly (D)

AAUW offered this forum as they have every year, to provide the public and media an opportunity to define the candidate’s opinions on women’s issues.

Equal Pay, Health Care, School Taxes and Education, the list went on.
After three hours of grilling the candidates on all these issues, I have to say, we have a level headed & progressive selection of choices throughout the Hudson Valley region.

Although Saugerties is a bit north for some, since the AAUW district includes Orange and Putnam, but word from Greg Ball, Tom Kirwin and Bill Larkin that they weren’t coming would have been nice.

Portions of the forum will be broadcast on Channel 23 in the Kingston Area TWC district this Friday, compliments of Colin Evans of the KAPA Commission.

Larry Delarose will be my guest this Tuesday, October 28th at 9pm.

ILLEGAL ALIEN SHOOTS COPS: QUEENS

GOOD OL BOYS ENDORSEMENT

Once again, the Poughkeepsie Journal endorses the Good Ol Boys in the State Senate.

First, It was Larkin over Delarose for some misleading reasons pertaining to vagueness.

From what I understand, Larry went into great detail on some of the issues they focused on and yet, the Editorial Board sites that Delarose was vague. Whatever.

Now it’s Frank’s turn. Assemblyman Tommy Kirwin, has been weaseling through election cycles with the same tactics as if the formula will always work. Not this time. Just as with Delarose, Skartados has some sharp points for serious change in the Assembly, and his private sector success story? Untouched. What a paper!

The Editorial Board thinks Tommy’s “lack of” is reason enough to let him continue to “Fight on” for another term. Everyone knew going in, that the paper was going to do this…but why so brazen?

Tom's claim to fame? Voting against the budget! I also voted against the City budget twice. I was out voted and it passed, but I voted against it…should I tout that and run for Assembly?

Puh-Leez !

I read the papers editorial with dismay as they showed a second time who they serve…themselves. Albany needs an enema and the Poughkeepsie Journal isnt interested. Delarose and Skartados will be the ones who usher economic change to their two districts and will surely pay attention to their constituency in a different fashion than what you’ve seen of late.

What happens when one or both of these fine candidates of change wins and the board has to face them for the next term? Will they be shunned by the office holder like Kevin Cahill has done to the Kingston Freeman? Hmm, maybe there’s something to that!

100th Assembly District that includes the cities of Beacon and Poughkeepsie in Dutchess County and the towns of Marlboro, Shawangunk and Lloyd in Ulster County.

Lawrence Delarose to New York State Senate - 39th District

Frank Skartados for NY State Assembly - 100th AD

FIRST 2009 BUDGET HUDDLE

Wow. We had our first informal budget discussion Wednesday night. Let me tell you, we’ve got some real work ahead.

The Mayor’s budget offering raises the tax levy for residential properties about 8%. Compounded with the Tax Shift we implemented last month, you are looking at a 14% increase if we don’t do something.

This Council is not known for shrugging our duties so you will surely hear all the gory details through the month of November as we gut the services, dismiss personnel and skip a year of new toys.

Our Comptroller, John Tuey, gave us a power point review of how the budget numbers came to be. Our civilian audience of about 20 got a crash course on revenues, bond rates, contract provisions and the restrictions we Aldermen must contend with as we chew on these numbers.

Its just the wrong year to be Alderman.

The Mayor, like every other municipal executive across the country, is faced with a terrible economy, diminished revenues and accelerated debt. I don’t place undue blame on Sottile for these numbers. What I am upset about is the perfect storm of budget increase, inflated assessment and the tax shift all in one cycle.

Our intent is to slice all non-essentials and strip the expenses to their bare minimum operation ability. Leaving some departments thinking of bake sales as a means to bridge any additional expenses.

This isn’t going to be quick and easy. So hold onto your hats!

COLIN POWELL ENDORSES

To the surprise of both the Obama and McCain campaigns, Colin Powell appeared on Meet the Press and offered his support for Barack Obama. Did anyone else see that coming? I thought he would just stay out of the fray of this one and wait for the winner, fully expecting Obama to pull it off.

But the wait is over and the resounding endorsement is out there, having a serious effect on the few undecided that must have been hiding in a cave. Who doesn’t know who they are voting for at this tail end of an 18 month election cycle?

Persons close to Powell say he’s been paying attention all along and waiting for the right time to make a serious impact on the race. Well this would be the right time. It’s been two days and the buzz is still out there. Of course here in New York, none of this matters, so the question is, how will it affect the battleground military states?

It has taken a long time for some of us to get past the misleading role he played in the case for going to war where we didn’t need to, especially after years of proof otherwise and the tremendous cost in blood and treasure for America.

But getting past that, Powell has always had the respect of the military commanders and those who accepted the fact that he acted for the Bush Administration at gun point while in office. I have certainly gotten over it.

Powell made it clear that that he doesn’t think McCain/Palin is the team prepared to lead this country. He used the term “transformational” to describe Obama and pressed the need to show a fresh face to the rest of the world.

Like so many other centrist Republicans, they see McCain becoming less that what they first “signed on” for as the campaign season comes to a close. To send this idea home in a more local example, we have Republicans working the phone banks and stuffing envelopes in Democratic HQ here in Kingston.

I guess Colin and like minded centrists have seen what McCain and his friends at Fox News and Newsmax have been doing and decided its just not Kosher. What do you think?

KPFF ANNUAL AWARDS DINNER

The Kingston Professional Firefighters had their annual awards banquet this past Friday. Celebrating their 100 years of service as the premier firefighting team established in Kingston.

The theme of the evening was focused on the family lineage and the tradition within those families since its inception. With a brief video/slide show following the early years on up to today, the proud service of many local families beamed from the faces around the room.

With most of the Council, a few County Legislators and candidates Delarose and Hein, in attendance, the banquet room at Wiltwyck was filled to capacity with current and retired firefighters. Many of whom had received awards in the past.

This night was different. While we did have high regard for the men and women who put in 20 & 30 years, as we had experienced before, we did have the privilege of meeting and honoring Seamus Reily, a young man who, while in route to school last January, discovered an older gentleman who had fallen, broken something and couldnt get off the icy street.

Seamus quickly notified a neighbor and had our rescue team there in minutes. Without Seamus’ quick thinking, this could have had a sadder ending. Seamus received the “Berardi Humanitarian Award” for this thoughtful act and will probably join the KFD in the future.

Congrats to the firefighters who reached the goals of service that brought us to this happy gathering:

Vince Hart – Retiring
Mike Lefevre – 30 years
Maryanne Misasi-White – 20 years
Tom Chase – 20 years
Mike Glotzl – 20 years
Wayne Platte Jr – 20 years.

To our friends in the Local 461, we thank you for your years of service. Providing Kingston and the surrounding area with competent and passionate safety. We sometimes we forget what we have invested in as taxpayers, but when the smoke rises and the sirens wail, we see you in action and we are proud.

JOE THE PLUMBER

Ok, so Wednesday night’s debate proved to be quite a show. I have to say the volley of hard hitting jabs between McCain and Obama were worth my cable bill this month.

I have to say, from my partisan perspective, I half expected John to lose his temper at some frustrating points during the 90 minute exchange. That would have made for better television as well.

I had the pleasure of watching the event in a like minded crowd of 90 who attended the Debate Party sponsored by fellow Alderman Hoffay, future State Senator Larry Delarose and myself.

Back Stage Productions was the place to be. The space is very accommodating for a list of uses. I must plug BSP for their hospitality and ability to throw a good party on a short notice. I would also be short sighted if I didnt say thanks to Beth and Stephen for the HudsonValley4Obama backing for this event.

You can imagine the funny comments shouted from the crowd everytime McCain said something odd, but the repetitive use of “Joe the Plumber” as his new mascot talking point got the crowd in a fit of laughter. Like; “Where is he going with this?”

Oh, and then the “Palin as VP” question. Did you have your seat belt on for that one?

A friend came up to me today and asked; “Mike, of the 360 million people in this country, how did we end up with these two?” I said, first…you’ve got to want to do something to make change rather than just complain about it. Then you have to have the nerve to run for a local office and open your life to the electorate. Then you have to be willing to listen, learn from those who know more than you, and sometimes make unpopular decisions for the good of the community and have the drive to aspire to higher office. It’s not easy.

To see both McCain and Obama as our choices for president not only galvanizes our polarized views in this country but also shows us that not all of us are up to the challenge both personally and financially to be full of ourselves enough to think we are worthy of such a title.

So, to wrap this up and from my partisan perspective, I have to say Barack Obama is by far the better choice and considerably less dangerous than the alternative.

There…I said it.
Isn’t this where I say “Vote Row A – All the way!”

Lawrence Delarose to New York State Senate - 39th District

LERW: WHERES THE MONEY?

The Ulster County Legislature, at the urging of Administrator Mike Hein, voted almost unanimously to formally request a full investigation into the workings of Lower Esopus River Watch, back in 2006. So who voted against?

The office of Attorney General Andrew Cuomo finally filed the lawsuit they asked for, this past Friday.

According to a report by Paul Brooks from the Record, The state attorney general is suing former Ulster County official Rick Fritschler, saying he made more than $800,000 in "unsubstantiated" purchases, including $48,000 on meals for himself and others. You would think the former Chairman of the UC Legislature would notice right? Well the LERW dissolved shortly after the 2006 elections.

So, why Fritscher? He was the chairman of the UC Environmental Management Council at the time in question.

The Record reports: The county Legislature contacted Cuomo's office in January 2007, after a general audit of county finances raised questions about Fritschler and the environmental council. County Administrator Mike Hein directed the audit when he took the job in 2006. Two years later, like Government, AG Cuomo and staff finally announce the investigation.

These “Good Ol Boys” knew what they were doing, or so they thought. They concealed their dual board posts and quietly transferred assets from the taxpayers to the LERW. Our Money!

My question, with the Legislature dominated by the Republican Party for so long, and the close ties to our Republican State Senators, what level of involvement or complacency did Bonacic and Larkin have? These guys have been around enough to know where untraceable money is hiding and with a willing county leadership playing along, the access would be too easy.

IF A COMET HIT THE EARTH

PENNSYLVANIA PUPPY MILLS

For those of us who have been on the front lines of dog rescue and fighting Puppy Mills, we have great news.

Governor Ed Rendell just signed HB 2525 into law. This is the proposal that could radically change the way the dogs are treated as they are inhumanely breed in captivity.


Why Ed Rendell? Pennsylvania is known as the Puppy Mill capitol of the east. Most of the puppies you find in pet shops in malls and Main Street are from there.


The regulations regarding the handling of “your” puppy’s mother, were extremely lax, and millions of exhausted, over bread dogs were just beaten to death when they stopped producing.

HB 2525 doubles the cage space required for dogs in commercial breeding facilities, prohibits wire flooring and the stacking of cages, mandates exercise and twice-yearly veterinary exams for all dogs, and requires that animals be humanely euthanized by licensed veterinarians. Current law does not require dogs to ever be taken out of cages, much less given access to exercise areas.


For some of us, this law represents years of lobbying several local states to change their laws.

Here is a Puppy Mill body storage area for the bitches that slow down in production. [pictured right]


Joining the ASPCA in their organized efforts, we finally have victory in Pennsylvania. Three years of effort and thousands of Emails and petition signatures sent to the Department of Agriculture will force an increase in enforcement and upgrade the standards of care for dogs in the state’s commercial kennels.

While so many people are focused on the GOTV in Pennsylvania, Many others were spending much of the past several months in Harrisburg, the state capital, promoting the bill to legislators. I didn’t have the free time, but of the few I knew that went down…thank you.

Dog Law Action