Independent Ulster

Czars to oversee Czars

2009-09-27T14:57:00.004-04:00

The problem with talking about things is that sometimes you give people ideas that they may never have thought of. Like when you are talking to kids about sex, you may be afraid to tell them certain things because it may encourage them to do so.

I'm a little nervous to share this information, but think that the greater good will be served by sharing, rather than not sharing. My concern is that our County Executive who is CRAZY about creating Deputy and Asst. Deputy Executive positions to oversee everything under the sun might get some ideas.

Apparently, our President has the same problem as Mike Hein, but only with Czars. He can't get enough of them.

As the people footing the bill for all of this - we need to stand up and say NO MORE. Enough is enough with the Czars and the Deputy County Executives and the Assistant Deputy County Executives. Let's try and do more with less. I've cut back in my household - it's time for our politicians to do the same thing.

List of Obama’s Czars

List Compiled by Glenn Beck

August 14, 2009 – 12:50 ET

As of July 20, 2009:

• The Brainroom counts 32 czars in the Obama administration, based on media reports from reputable sources that have identified the official in question as a czar.
• In addition, President Obama has said that he will create the position of cyber czar, and there have been media reports that there could be a health insurance czar and a copyright czar. When and if those positions are filled, that would bring the total to 35.
• Since czar isn’t an official job title, the number is somewhat in the eye of the beholder.

NOTE: positions that also existed under previous administrations are indicated with an *.

1. Afghanistan Czar – Richard Holbrooke

2. AIDS Czar * – Jeffrey Crowley

3. Auto Recovery Czar – Ed Montgomery

4. Border Czar * – Alan Bersin

5. California Water Czar – David J. Hayes

6. Car Czar – Ron Bloom

NOTE: on July 13, 2009, Bloom took over as head of the Presidential Task Force on the Auto Industry, replacing Steven Rattner

7. Central Region Czar – Dennis Ross

8. Climate Czar – Todd Stern

9. Domestic Violence Czar – Lynn Rosenthal

10. Drug Czar * – Gil Kerlikowske

11. Economic Czar * – Paul Volcker

12. Energy and Environment Czar – Carol Browner

13. Faith-Based Czar * – Joshua DuBois

14. Government Performance Czar – Jeffrey Zients

15. Great Lakes Czar – Cameron Davis

16. Green Jobs Czar – Van Jones ~ Resigned, 9/5/09

17. Guantanamo Closure Czar – Daniel Fried

18. Health Czar * – Nancy-Ann DeParle

19. Information Czar – Vivek Kundra

20. Intelligence Czar * – Dennis Blair

21. Mideast Peace Czar – George Mitchell

22. Pay Czar – Kenneth R. Feinberg

23. Regulatory Czar – Cass R. Sunstein *

24. Science Czar – John Holdren

25. Stimulus Accountability Czar – Earl Devaney

26. Sudan Czar – J. Scott Gration

27. TARP Czar – Herb Allison

28. Technology Czar – Aneesh Chopra

29. Terrorism Czar – John Brennan

30. Urban Affairs Czar – Adolfo Carrion Jr.

31. Weapons Czar – Ashton Carter

32. WMD Policy Czar – Gary Samore

33. FCC Diversity Czar (Chief Diversity Officer) – Mark Lloyd

The ACORN Slimy 7

2009-09-14T23:10:00.002-04:00

What were these people thinking?

Click HERE to see the official United States Senate vote tally

Paterson must be smoking crack

2009-08-21T15:25:00.003-04:00

Gov. David Paterson blames calls for him to step aside on race

By Kenneth Lovett
Daily News Albany Bureau Chief

Friday, August 21st 2009, 11:08 AM

Hermann for News

New York Governor David Paterson

ALBANY - Gov. Paterson said Friday he knows the reason behind the "crescendo" of calls for him not to seek re-election next year: it's because he's black.

Speaking on a morning radio show hosted by Daily News columnist Errol Louis, an angry Paterson blamed the white-dominated media for pushing him to step aside next year.

"The whole idea is to get me not to run in the primary," he said. Paterson complained there are not enough "black" media outlets to counteract the push.

And he suggested that Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, the country's only other African-American governor, also is under fire because of his race.

"We're not in the post-racial period," Paterson said.

"The reality is the next victim on the list, and you can see it coming, is President Barack Obama, who did nothing more than trying to reform a health care system."

"My feeling is it's being orchestrated, it's a game, and people who pay attention know that," he said.

"We have a media that doesn't report the news. We have a media that wants to make the news."

Paterson insisted he's made tough decisions to deal with the state's budget ballooning budget deficits while at the same time increasing welfare benefits and softening the harsh Rockefeller drug laws.

He noted the state, despite its fiscal crisis, has not had to write IOUs or have its bond ratings drastically reduced like California and is not in as bad straits as Pennsylvania, Michigan and Massachusetts.

Paterson has been heavily criticized by key Democrat allies in the Legislature, labor community and elsewhere in recent months.

"What did I do that I should not run for reelection?" he asked.

Despite enjoying high approval ratings in his first several months in office last year, his popularity plummeted to as low as 18% after a series of mishaps in the late spring.

The latest polls show about 30% approving of the job Paterson is doing.

He also seemed to take a shot at Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, a possible primary competitor, Polls show Cuomo would trounce the governor in a match-up.

"If I run in the primary, the same people who are sitting in beach chairs while I'm in the oceans with the sharks will have to come in to the ocean - and they will be eaten alive."

He said there would be no shame in running for a full term and losing. "It will be my highest honor to have served as governor of this state, to make the tough decisions," he said.

Judge Issues Restraining Order Blocking Ravitch from Serving as Lietuenant Governor

2009-07-22T00:03:00.001-04:00

7/21/09 By The Associated Press

MINEOLA — A judge has issued a restraining order blocking Richard Ravitch from serving as New York Gov. David Paterson's lieutenant governor

State Supreme Court Justice William LaMarca issued his ruling in Nassau County late Tuesday afternoon.

Paterson appointed Ravitch, a former head of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, earlier this month as a way of breaking a monthlong leadership deadlock in the state Senate — a deadlock that was resolved anyway when a Democratic senator who had defected to the Republican caucus switched back.

Attorneys for the state Senate argued the state Constitution does not allow for the appointment of a lieutenant governor when a vacancy occurs.

The governor's attorney says a state law allows him to fill some vacant posts until the next election.

Petition Signing Season is Over

2009-07-17T02:08:00.000-04:00

Petition signing season is over. The Board of Elections gives EVERYONE 6 weeks to get this done. Like everything in life, there are those who get up and out early and get their work done and others procrastinate and wait until the last minute.

Hey procrastinator candidates: Did you file your acceptance for parties other than your own? Those petitions won't be any good without your acceptance.

The next season is a short season: Petition Challenge Season.

It's always interesting to see who understands the rules and follows them on their petitions, and who doesn't and gets their petitions challenged. Also who carried the petitions? FOIL FOIL FOIL FOIL FOIL FOIL FOIL FOIL

All of this will starting dripping out in dribs and drabs from the Board of Elections.

Feel free to post your Petition Challenge Season and Other Petition News here.

If he's gay, we're cool with that

2009-07-05T15:02:00.000-04:00

If he's gay, we're cool with that. There are some other blogs and comments out there that are alleging that Andy Zweben is the person who originally found the Craigslist Man to Man personal of Mike Madsen and that Zweben himself is gay. Who else looks at Man to Man ads, but gay men? If Mr. Zweben is gay, we are OK with that and so should everyone else. You can say whatever you want about him, but to attack him because he is gay is every bit as wrong as attacking Mike Madsen because he is gay.

Zatz and Bartels are in

2009-07-02T08:15:00.001-04:00

Carl Zatz (D) and Tracey Bartels (D) are in. Both have announced that they will be running for Ulster County Legislator in District 8.

Zatz has previously beaten the Conservative Party candidate Jack Hayes in the race for Supervisor.

The Republican Party has backed Hayes (C), Ken Rock (R-incumbent) and Cathy Terrizzi (R-incumbent).

Republicans did not back Republican Minority Leader Glenn Noonan at their convention. Noonan is carrying petitions and will force a primary in September in his bid to try and reclaim his spot on the Republican ballot line in November.

Schools get it, why can't Ulster County Legislator Frank Dart?

2009-06-24T23:34:00.000-04:00

Ulster County Legislator Frank Dart is circulating a personal ad of his opponent, current Kingston City Alderman (and candidate for the UC Legislature) Mike Madsen.

We teach our children in schools that Homophobic bullying is unacceptable. Why is it OK for an Ulster County Legislator to use a man-to-man personal ad during campaigning? The answer is that it is not OK.

There is no reason for Frank Dart to be showing this type of information to people - other than to try and find homophobic voters who would be influenced not to vote for Mike Madsen because of this. This is homophobic bulling at its worst. Frank Dart should be ashamed of himself.

Happy Father's Day

2009-06-20T23:19:00.000-04:00

Races to Watch

2009-06-19T11:02:00.000-04:00

The balance of the Ulster County Legislature is at stake this November.

Until the endorsements of the Conservative and Independence Parties are made official, it is premature to weigh in on specific candidates.

However, the battlegrounds can be easily narrowed down to specific Legislative districts.

District One
Deal or no deal down there, this district would have been Dems 3, Republicans 1. OR 4 Dems. It is a heavily Democratic District. Sue Cummings has been a Legislator down there for over 25 years and was able to hold on to her seat because of that. Any new comer or old comer Republican would have been hard pressed to retain Cummings' seat much less pick up 2 seats.

District Two
Same deal as District One.... heavily Democratic District, two incumbents Monserate stands no chance.

District Three
Typically this district is the same deal as District Two, heavily Democratic and 3 incumbents. No one will beat the Paretes, but since the former incumbent Kraft left and Hochberg was appointed, the Conservative and Independence endorsements could affect this race. One seat in District Three remains in play.

District Four
This entire District is up for grabs. Roberti, like Sue Cummings is a long time incumbent and he is leaving due to the hatch act. Aiello is a town favorite, but his failure to show up for his job as a Legislator may have worn thin on the voters this year. This is a race to watch.

District Five
This is entire Town and District will be a bloodbath. Anything can happen. Let the games begin.

District Six
District Six will remain Democrat, but the real story here is incumbent Alderman Mike Madsen who was snubbed by his own party is out carrying petitions to primary against Jeanette and Frank. Let the Democratic games begin in this District.

District Seven
This District may prove to be one of the key battle grounds (in addition to four and eight). This is one district that definitely needs to be watched, and the 3rd party endorsements will play a big part in this District. Let the games begin.

District Eight
Drama Drama Drama Drama and more Drama. No official word if the Democrats are even putting anyone up. The only thing to say about this District is that it is in competition with District Five for the District for the biggest bloodbath of the election season. This is definitely a race to watch, but not because of the 3rd party lines. This is going to be a war of campaigning.

District Nine
The Democrats have Districts Two, Six, Ten and Twelve sewn up by enrollment advantage and lack of opposition. The Republicans have had this District locked up by enrollment advantage for years. Nothing will change here. Four Rs will all win easily.

District Ten
New Paltz, two Dems, no Republicans, no race.

District Eleven
Even without the third party endorsements announced yet, Maio has a shot at taking out Decker. Hansut is safe. Watch this race, but it will be not be anywhere as exciting as Eight or Five.

District Twelve
Kingston, two Dems, two Republicans. It would be really great if this were a race. Maybe the Democrats in Kingston have had ENOUGH of the Kingston crew. Antics by Democrats like Ann Marie DiBella and Mayor Sottile may have worn thin on the voters. Maybe it's time for a change? When is the last time that Dave Donaldson or Pete Loughran had to WORK for their Legislative seats? Maybe this is the year.

All being said, the race to watch from most exciting to least exciting are:

1. Tie for District Five and Eight - WOW
2. Tie for District Four and Seven
3. District Six
4. Tie for District Three Eleven and Twelve
5. District One and Two
6. District Nine, and Ten

Overconfidence

2009-06-06T19:24:00.000-04:00

This past week at the Republican convention, an overconfident Glenn Noonan was rejected by the Republicans as their candidate for Ulster County Legislator in District 8. District 8 is made up of the Town of Gardiner, a small part of the Town of New Paltz and most of the Town of Shawangunk. There are three Legislators from this District - Glenn Noonan (R), Cathy Terrizzi (R) and Ken Ronk (R). Noonan is the senior member of the team and is also the Minority Leader in the Ulster County Legislature.

Noonan is widely know for enjoying stirring up things. He is a real thorn in Ulster County Executive Mike Hein's side, and is known for sometimes taking things too far. Independent Ulster did a post in December of 2008 titled "Noonan Blows It" where we wrote that Independent Ulster was very disappointed to see Republican Legislative “leader” Glenn Noonan promise “gridlock” if two more Republicans are elected to the County Legislature. We concluded that we hope Noonan was just caught up in the moment, because if he truly is seeking gridlock, his fellow GOP legislators need to replace him – now - or they will not win the seats they are otherwise capable of winning.

It seems that our prediction came true. Noonan has been working extra hard lately at alienating people. Either the GOP or the Conservatives decided that they want to replace him. They received help from a long time Non-Noonan fan, Conservative Party member, and former Town Supervisor, Jack Hayes. The three incumbents (Noonan, Terrizzi and Ronk) and Jack Hayes were nominated at the Republican Convention. There was a vote by the District 8 Committee Members and Ronk, Terrizzi and Hayes were the top vote getters. Noonan received only 6 votes (and one of those votes was his own for himself).

Noonan is now threatening a primary and trying to get support from the Democrats to run on their line. He is continuing to alienate people and has been rumored to have conducted himself very unprofessionally in his interaction with Legislator Ronk and Legislator Terrizzi.

We think that the GOP and Conservatives did the right thing. We saw the handwriting on the wall in December 2008. Overconfidence makes people cocky and Noonan has no one to blame but himself.

A fax put into a file and forgotton about?

2009-06-05T09:30:00.000-04:00

Yesterday's Daily Freeman reported that the Ulster County Attorney's Office failed to inform county lawmaker's about a federal agency's findings that female officers at the county jail may have been subjected to sexual harassment, discrimination and a hostile work environment, according to County Attorney Beatrice (formerly Mike Hein's Deputy County Executive - this stinks to high heaven) Havranek.

Bea goes on to say that it was an oversight. That's convenient Bea. Blame it on the County Attorney who was just disciplined for unethical behavior.
She says that they got a fax. It was place in a file and "it just stayed there". Of course it did. Only to Bea - who went on to be a Deputy Executive and guardian of Mike Hein and now protects Hein from the County Attorney's office - would somehow think that makes sense. It just stayed there???? Are you serious???? You want us to belive that Mike had nooooooo idea about it. Mike and Josh never ever ever every talked about it. Oh that's right PATRICIA DOXSEY reports that Mike Hein who was County Administrator in November said that he was not told of the EEOC findings when they were issued because the county attorney didn't answer to him at the time. Yea right Mike. The Church Lady on Saturday Night Live would say......"well Mike isn't that CONVENIENT for you"!

The taxpayers and employees of Ulster County government deserve more than faxes from the EEOC that are filed and forgotten about, and a County Administrator that had "no idea" what was going on. This needs to be investigated more. This is not the whole story.

Uncle Sam Inc.

2009-05-28T20:58:00.000-04:00

A good money manager might call it a diversified investment portfolio.

Some banks.

An insurance company (AIG).

And automaker General Motors!

Uncle Sam must be feeling good.

For that's what he's holdings as a result of President Obama's shopping spree of the last few months -- actual businesses in which the US federal government has taken controlling interest.

The feds look to be holding some 70 percent of a restructured General Motors once an anticipated bankruptcy petition is filed -- this coming not 60 days after Obama canned CEO Rick Wagoner.

Meanwhile, Edward Liddy of government-supervised AIG recently announced that he was quitting.

No surprise: Why take a salary of $1 a year -- which Liddy was doing -- when his every decision is subject to governmental second-guessing?

Now even a columnist for the Russian newspaper Pravda is happily mocking the United States.

"It must be said that, like the breaking of a great dam, the American descent into Marxism is happening with breathtaking speed, against the backdrop of a passive, hapless sheeple, excuse me dear reader, I meant people," writes Stanislav Mishin.

He adds: "[Obama's] spending and money-printing has been record-setting, not just in America's short history but in the world. If this keeps up for more than another year . . . America at best will resemble the Weimar Republic and at worst Zimbabwe."

That's over the top, but not by much.

And the further the US goes down this path -- owning private companies, if not entire industries -- the harder it becomes to return to the entrepreneurial system that has kept the nation prosperous for more than two centuries.

Time to turn about, Mr. President.

From today's New York Post.

2009-05-04T11:15:00.000-04:00

I had no illusions that much would change after Democrats recently took total control of Albany. There is not much difference between the parties when it comes to spending our money in rage-inducing ways. Still, I am not happy that my exceedingly low expectations again have been met.

The latest backhand across taxpayers’ faces came with the $90,000 patronage job handed to ex-Amherst supervisor Susan Grelick. She started Monday as counsel to the State Senate’s Local Government Committee.

If you were not aware that the State Senate had a Local Government Committee, you are not alone. Like other legislative committees, it does little, meets seldom and exists mainly as a way to pad legislators’ paychecks.

Grelick’s early Christmas gift comes on the heels of the $70,000 plum handed to “Baby Joe” Mesi. The ex-boxer will run the field office that Senate Democrats soon will open in Buffalo, the creation of which I know was high on everyone’s wish list.

The stated purpose of the office is to convey the party’s message, as if we did not get the gist of it with the $8 billion of new budget-filling taxes and fees we just got slammed with. The actual purpose of the office is to reward Mesi for his recent, failed State Senate run—and to keep him rested and well-fed for his next go-round.

Patronage is nothing new. But this is different in one way: It obliterates any speck of hope that anyone in Albany is interested in reform. Newly empowered Democrats had a chance to show us they could be different. They had an opportunity to, in a show of taxpayer empathy, turn away from the dessert tray. Instead, they helped themselves to more.

Democrats—who hold the governor’s office and run the Assembly—last November completed the trifecta by capturing the Senate by a one-seat majority. With victory comes the spoils of extra jobs and newly sprouted “field offices.”

Democrats say they are not—by handing out jobs to Mesi, Grelick and other loyal soldiers—doing anything that Republicans did not do when they held power. The rationale underlines the depth of their disdain and the scope of their cluelessness.

No one in the real world believes it is OK to waste our money just because somebody else did. We are desperate for someone in Albany to, just once, put our plight ahead of their perks.

For Democrats to hand out patronage jobs, weeks after adding an $8 billion brick to upstate’s load, borders on the criminal. These people—starting with new Senate boss Malcolm Smith (masmith@senate.state.ny.us)—should be ashamed of themselves. But shame is not a detectable emotion in the State Capitol. Albany’s control by the notorious “three men in a room”—the governor and the Senate and Assembly majority leaders—makes the 212-member State Legislature about as useful as an extra pinky finger. Yet the care and feeding of state lawmakers—18 of them from Western New York—annually costs us $228 million in salaries, staff and perks. The bill runs from each part-time legislator’s $79,500 base salary, to paychecks padded by “work” on useless committees, to a legion of gratuitous staff jobs— cases in point, Mesi and Grelick.

Jobs are disappearing, people are fleeing upstate as if it were on fire and the national recession is tightening the screws. These people in Albany act like nothing is wrong.

A reporter recently questioned Smith, the Senate majority leader, about plans by Democratic Senators for international trips at a time “when Rome is burning.”

“First of all, who says Rome is burning?” Smith cluelessly replied.

Perhaps Mr. Smith should come to Buffalo.

By Donn Esmonde

News Columnist, The Buffalo News double click on picture to enlarge

Tedisco leads by 97 votes as of April 6

2009-04-06T18:53:00.001-04:00

The New York State Bard of Elections' vote tally as of the end of business on April 6 is Jim Tedisco up by 97 votes. Given the number of military absentee ballots and the heavy Republican enrollment in the district, it is unlikely that Scott Murphy will prevail.

Murphy Wins Indy Line Battle

2009-03-01T22:42:00.000-05:00

From the New York Daily News

Murphy Wins Indy Line Battle (Updated)

March 1, 2009

In a setback to Assembly Minority Leader Jim Tedisco's congressional bid, Democratic newcomer Scott Murphy has landed the Independence Party line in the 20th CD battle after furious lobbying by both sides, Indy insiders said.

Both Murphy and Tedisco interviewed for the line (Row C), but state party officials, who control the endorsement because the district crosses multiple county lines, voted unanimously to back Murphy.

UPDATE: Adding to the significance of this decision: It's the first time the line has gone to a Democrat in the 20th CD.

State Independence Party Chairman Frank MacKay said what swayed things for Murphy was the fact that he is "really from outside the political landscape," adding: "He's an entrepreneur, and someone who I think will bring a lot to Washington if he gets there."

"It's certainly not a slight to Jim Tedisco," MacKay said. "We like him. He's a friend. But we're really excited and proud to be supporting Scott Murphy."

Tedisco has run with the Independence Party line in every assembly election since the party's creation (it received official ballot status after Tom Golisano's first gubernatorial bid in 1994).

The endorsement decision, which was made yesterday, is the culmination of a fiercely fought lobbying battle that took place largely behind the scenes.

Gov. David Paterson and Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith pushed hard for Murphy, party insiders said, while the Republican case was made by everyone from RNC Chairman Michael Steele to former Rep. Tom Reynolds, who used to head the NRCC.

The Independence line could be a make-or-break factor in the district, where there are 196,118 enrolled Republicans, 125,486 Democrats and 118,364 "blanks."

In 2006, Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand and then-GOP Rep. John Sweeney fought in court over the Indy line, with Sweeney coming out the victor. Even with Row C, he still lost in the general election.

In 2008, the Indy line went to Gillibrand's GOP challenger, Sandy Treadwell, who received 8,024 votes on it. Despite the fact that Treadwell had three lines (GOP, Indy and Conservative) to Gillibrand's two (Democrat and WFP), she won handily - 193,651 to 118,013. Barack Obama carried the district, too. (This paragraph is corrected).

The full court press by both the Democrats and Republicans for the Independence line this year is yet another sign of the importance of the 20th CD race.

National GOP leaders view the March 31 special election as a must-win that will signal a turnaround for their beleaguered party.

On the other side of the aisle, it's in Paterson's best interest to help Murphy after angering House Democratic leaders by plucking former Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand from relative obscurity to fill Hillary Clinton's US Senate seat and creating a vacancy in a difficult-to-defend GOP-dominated district.

Last week, the Siena NY poll showed Tedisco leading Murphy, 46-34, with 45 percent of independent voters saying they would be willing to vote for Tedisco on the GOP line.

Clawback political contributions

2009-03-01T00:06:00.000-05:00

There has been a lot of talk about clawbacks for people who received money from Bernard Madoff. I think that we should clawback some of his political contributions. Specifically the $25,000 contribution to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. Scroll through his list of contributions.... you'll see Chuckie Schumer's name A LOT. About 90% of Madoff's political buddies are Dems. This guy was handing out political contributions like Mike Hein hands out $100,000 Deputy County Executive positions. Must be nice to be a Dem.

Contributor	Candidate or PAC	Amount	Date	FEC Filing
MADOFF, BERNARD L NEW YORK, NY 10022 BERNARD L. MADOFF INVEST.-SEC./CHAI	DEMOCRATIC SENATORIAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE (D)	$25,000 primary	09/12/08
Madoff, Bernard L. Mr. New York, NY 10021 Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securi	SECURITIES INDUSTRY AND FINANCIAL MARKETS ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE	$5,000 primary	08/20/08
MADOFF, BERNARD NEW YORK, NY 10022 SELF EMPLOYED/INVESTOR	MERKLEY, JEFFREY ALAN (D) Senate - OR JEFF MERKLEY FOR OREGON	$2,300 primary	04/24/08
Madoff, Bernard L. New York, NY 10021	SAUL, ANDREW MARSHALL (R) House (NY 19) SAUL FOR CONGRESS INC	$-2,300 primary	12/05/07
Madoff, Bernard L New York, NY 10021 Bernard Madoff Investment/Chairman	LAUTENBERG, FRANK R (D) Senate - NJ LAUTENBERG NJ VICTORY COMMITTEE	$5,000 primary	07/20/07
Madoff, Bernard L New York, NY 10021 Bernard Madoff Investment/Chairman	LAUTENBERG, FRANK R (D) Senate - NJ LAUTENBERG NJ VICTORY COMMITTEE	$2,300 primary	07/20/07
Madoff, Bernard L New York, NY 10021 Bernard Madoff Investment/Chairman	LAUTENBERG, FRANK R (D) Senate - NJ LAUTENBERG NJ VICTORY COMMITTEE	$300 primary	07/20/07
Madoff, Bernard L. New York, NY 10021 Bernard L. Madoff Investment/Chairm	SAUL, ANDREW MARSHALL (R) House (NY 19) SAUL FOR CONGRESS INC	$2,300 primary	07/10/07
Madoff, Bernard L Mr. New York, NY 10021 Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securi	SECURITIES INDUSTRY AND FINANCIAL MARKETS ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE	$5,000 primary	05/24/07
MADOFF, BERNARD L NEW YORK, NY 10022 BERNARD L. MADOFF INVEST.-SEC./CHAI	DEMOCRATIC SENATORIAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE (D)	$25,000 primary	05/04/07
Madoff, Bernard L Mr. New York, NY 10021 Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securi	SECURITIES INDUSTRY AND FINANCIAL MARKETS ASSOCIATION FUND A	$5,000 primary	10/17/06
MADOFF, BERNARD L NEW YORK, NY 10022 BERNARD L. MADOFF INVEST. SEC./CHAI	DEMOCRATIC SENATORIAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE (D)	$25,000 primary	09/30/06
Madoff, Bernard L Mr. New York, NY 10021 Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securi	SECURITIES INDUSTRY AND FINANCIAL MARKETS ASSOCIATION FUND A	$5,000 primary	09/22/05
MADOFF, BERNARD L NEW YORK, NY 10021 BERNARD L MADOFF INVEST SEC	DEMOCRATIC SENATORIAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE (D)	$25,000 primary	05/09/05
Madoff, Bernard New York, NY 10021 Madoff Investments/Chairman	MATHESON, JAMES (D) House (UT 02) MATHESON FOR CONGRESS	$250 general	10/18/04
Madoff, Bernard New York, NY 10021 Self-employed/Banker	HOOLEY, DARLENE (D) House (OR 05) HOOLEY FOR CONGRESS	$250 general	10/15/04
Madoff, Bernard L New York, NY 10021	FROST, MARTIN (D) House (TX 32) MARTIN FROST CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE	$250 general	10/15/04
MADOFF, BERNARD L NEW YORK, NY 10021 BERNARD L MADOFF INVESTMENTS	SCHUMER, CHARLES E (D) Senate - NY FRIENDS OF SCHUMER	$1,000 general	08/18/04
MADOFF, BERNARD L NEW YORK, NY 10021 BERNARD L MADOFF INVESTMENTS	SCHUMER, CHARLES E (D) Senate - NY FRIENDS OF SCHUMER	$1,000 primary	08/18/04
Madoff, Bernard L Mr. New York, NY 10021 Madoff (Bernard L.) Investment Secu	SECURITIES INDUSTRY AND FINANCIAL MARKETS ASSOCIATION FUND A	$5,000 primary	07/08/04
Madoff, Bernard L New York, NY 10021 Madoff Investments/Chairman	MARKEY, EDWARD J MR. (D) House (MA 07) MARKEY COMMITTEE, THE	$2,000 primary	06/17/04
Madoff, Bernard L New York, NY 10021 Madoff Investments/Chairman	MARKEY, EDWARD J MR. (D) House (MA 07) MARKEY COMMITTEE, THE	$2,000 general	06/17/04
MADOFF, BERNARD NEW YORK, NY 10021 BERNARD MADOFF INVESTMENTS	LAUTENBERG, FRANK R (D) Senate - NJ LAUTENBERG FOR SENATE	$1,000	02/18/04
Madoff, Bernard L New York, NY 10021 Bernard L Madoff/Chairman	GEPHARDT, RICHARD A (D) President GEPHARDT FOR PRESIDENT INC.	$2,000 primary	09/23/03
MADOFF, BERNARD NEW YORK, NY 10021 BERNARD MADOFF INVESTMENTS	WYDEN, RONALD LEE (D) Senate - OR WYDEN FOR SENATE	$2,000 primary	03/25/03
MADOFF, BERNARD NEW YORK, NY 10021 BERNARD MADOFF INVESTMENTS	WYDEN, RONALD LEE (D) Senate - OR WYDEN FOR SENATE	$2,000 general	03/25/03
MADOFF, BERNARD L NEW YORK, NY 10021 BERNARD L MADOFF INVESTMENTS	SCHUMER, CHARLES E (D) Senate - NY FRIENDS OF SCHUMER	$1,000 general	04/08/02
MADOFF, BERNARD L NEW YORK, NY 10021 BERNARD L MADOFF INVESTMENTS	SCHUMER, CHARLES E (D) Senate - NY FRIENDS OF SCHUMER	$1,000 primary	04/08/02
Madoff, Bernard L. New York, NY 10022 Bernard L. Madoff P.C./Chairman	RANGEL, CHARLES B (D) House (NY 15) RANGEL FOR CONGRESS	$1,000 primary	08/30/01
MADOFF, BERNARD NEW YORK, NY 10022 BERNARD L MADOFF INVESTMENT SECURIT	SECURITIES INDUSTRY AND FINANCIAL MARKETS ASSOCIATION FUND A	$2,000 primary	11/03/00
MADOFF, BERNARD L NEW YORK, NY 10021 BERNARD MADOFF INVESTMENT SEC	FOSSELLA, VITO (R) House (NY 13) COMMITTEE TO RE-ELECT VITO FOSSELLA	$1,000 primary	04/20/00
MADOFF, BERNARD L NEW YORK, NY 10021 BERNARD MADOFF INC	OBEY, DAVID R (D) House (WI 07) A LOT OF PEOPLE FOR DAVE OBEY	$1,000 primary	03/10/00
MADOFF, BERNARD NEW YORK, NY 10022 CHAIRMAN	CLINTON, HILLARY RODHAM (D) Senate - NY HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON FOR US SENATE COMMITTEE INC	$1,000 primary	01/13/00
MADOFF, BERNARD NEW YORK, NY 10022 BERNARD L MADOFF INVESTMENT SECURIT	SECURITIES INDUSTRY AND FINANCIAL MARKETS ASSOCIATION FUND A	$2,000 primary	12/20/99
MADOFF, BERNARD NEW YORK, NY 10022 BERNARD L MADOFF INVESTMENT SECURIT	SECURITIES INDUSTRY AND FINANCIAL MARKETS ASSOCIATION FUND A	$2,000 primary	12/20/99
MADOFF, BERNARD NEW YORK, NY 10021 MADOFF SECURITIES	CORZINE, JON S (D) Senate - NJ CORZINE 2000 INC	$1,000 primary	08/24/99
Madoff, Bernard Mr. New York, NY 10021 Bernard Madoff Investment Securitie	BRADLEY, BILL (D) President BILL BRADLEY FOR PRESIDENT INC	$1,000 primary	04/26/99
MADOFF, BERNARD L NEW YORK, NY 10021 BERNARD L MADOFF INVESTMENT SECURIT	SCHUMER, CHARLES E (D) Senate - NY VICTORY IN NEW YORK	$1,000 primary	10/30/98
MADOFF, BERNARD L NEW YORK, NY 10022 BERNARD L MADOFF PC	RANGEL, CHARLES B (D) House (NY 15) RANGEL FOR CONGRESS	$1,000 general	10/23/98
MADOFF, BERNARD L NEW YORK, NY 10021 SELF-EMPLOYED	D'AMATO, ALFONSE M (R) Senate - NY FRIENDS OF SENATOR D'AMATO (1998 COMMITTEE)	$1,000 general	09/21/98
MADOFF, BERNARD NEW YORK, NY 10022	CROWLEY, JOSEPH (D) House (NY 07) CROWLEY FOR CONGRESS	$-500 primary	08/26/98
MADOFF, BERNARD NEW YORK, NY 10022 BOND BROKER	CROWLEY, JOSEPH (D) House (NY 07) CROWLEY FOR CONGRESS	$500 primary	08/04/98
MADOFF, BERNARD NEW YORK, NY 10021	SCHUMER, CHARLES E (D) Senate - NY SCHUMER '98	$-300 primary	06/29/98
MADOFF, BERNARD L NEW YORK, NY 10022 BERNARD L MADOFF INVESTMENT SECURIT	SCHUMER, CHARLES E (D) Senate - NY SCHUMER '98	$1,000 primary	05/22/98
MADOFF, BERNARD L NEW YORK, NY 10022 BERNARD L MADOFF INVESTMENT SECURIT	SCHUMER, CHARLES E (D) Senate - NY SCHUMER '98	$1,000 general	05/22/98
MADOFF, BERNARD L NEW YORK, NY 10021 MADOFF INVESTMENTS	MARKEY, EDWARD J MR. (D) House (MA 07) MARKEY COMMITTEE, THE	$1,000 primary	05/15/98
MADOFF, BERNARD L NEW YORK, NY 10022 BERNARD L MADOFF INVESTMENT	TAUZIN, WILBERT J II (R) House (LA 03) BILLY TAUZIN CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE THE	$1,000 primary	05/05/98
MADOFF, BERNARD NEW YORK, NY 10022 BERNARD L MADOFF INVESTMENT SECURIT	SCHUMER, CHARLES E (D) Senate - NY SCHUMER '98	$300 primary	03/31/98
MADOFF, BERNARD L NEW YORK, NY 10021 BERNARD L MADOFF CO	FRISA, DANIEL (R) House (NY 04) DAN FRISA FOR CONGRESS	$1,000 general	09/17/96
MADOFF, BERNARD L NEW YORK, NY 10021 MADOFF SECURITIES	MARKEY, EDWARD J MR. (D) House (MA 07) MARKEY COMMITTEE, THE	$1,000 primary	08/04/96

Governor Patterson, WTF are you doing?

2009-02-16T21:35:00.000-05:00

click on the picture to ENLARGE it

I don't get Governor Patterson. He acts like he's serious about changing the ways of Albany. He even said that if NYS does not change they way it does business that the State could go bankrupt. He says all the right things, but then he does the exact opposite of what he is preaching, things like buying expensive carpets. Now this. The article below is by Fred Dicker of the New York Post. What is Governor Patterson thinking? Did he think that we wouldn't find out?

ALBANY - Gov. Paterson has secretly granted raises of as much as 46 percent to more than a dozen staffers at a time when he has asked 130,000 state workers to give up 3 percent pay hikes because of the state's fiscal crisis, The Post has learned.

The startling pay hikes, costing about $250,000 annually, were granted after the governor's "emergency" declaration in August of a looming fiscal crisis that required the state to cut spending and impose a "hard" hiring freeze.

One raise was approved as recently as last month - when Paterson claimed the budget deficit had reached an unprecedented $15.5 billion.

The raises, which have stunned the few state workers who know about them, are outlined in data obtained from the office of state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, prepared at The Post's request.

Two of the raises were tied to publicly proclaimed promotions - granted despite the supposed hiring freeze - of some of Paterson's most important appointees, although the announcements didn't include disclosure of the pay hikes.

The remaining 14 raises appear to have gone to individuals who remained in their same positions, despite claims by a spokesman for Paterson that they had been promoted.

"These are not raises for old positions, rather new salaries for new positions," Paterson spokesman Errol Cockfield insisted.

But a DiNapoli spokesman, Dennis Thompkins, said flatly, "These are individuals who stayed in their same position and received a salary increase."

Paterson's top aide, William Cunningham, a one-time law partner of the governor's father, Basil, saw his pay jump 5 percent to $178,500 - just $500 less than Paterson himself - from $170,000 on Nov. 7, after he was promoted from a temporary "acting" secretary to permanent.

Charlotte Hitchcock, one of Cunningham's deputies and a personal friend of the governor's, received an $18,000, or 11.25 percent, raise on Dec. 22. While a press release said she was promoted from deputy secretary to "chief of staff" and "director of financial regulation," it made no mention of a higher salary.

Cassie Prugh, a confidential assistant, was given a 46 percent pay hike in late November, raising her annual salary to $125,000 from $85,721, while Gaurav Vasisht, an assistant counsel, received a 6 percent, $7,427 increase in December, bringing his salary to $130,279.

Brendan Fitzgerald, a special office assistant, received a 21 percent, or $15,737, pay hike only last month, bringing his salary to $90,000, while Michael Deloach, another confidential assistant, saw his pay leap 29 percent, or $18,200, to $80,000 in August.

Lauren Passalacqua, a confidential secretary, saw her salary jump $12,000, or 31.5 percent, to $50,000, while the salary of another confidential aide, Chardee Mendoza, was hiked $10,000, or 28.5 percent, to $45,000.

Disclosure of the secret pay hikes comes as Paterson is under attack for spending well over $20,000 in state funds on a four-day stay for himself and several aides during President Obama's inaugural last month, and for planning a state-funded junket to Davos, Switzerland, which he canceled only after his plans became public.

Paterson, in his budget proposal outlined in December, demanded that state workers who belong to the Civil Service Employees Association and the Public Employee Federation forgo negotiated, 3 percent pay hikes that would kick in April 1 or face massive layoffs.

The Stick and the Carrot

2009-02-01T11:35:00.000-05:00

The stick - Tell businesses that if they want Federal Bailout money that they need to hire American workers - not foreigners.

The carrot - Let's lower the federal payroll tax that employers pay to try to stimulate the employers to hire more workers and add labor hours. They always talk about lowering the taxes for workers. Trying cutting the employer's contribution and maybe the employers will be motivated to add some labor.

AP Investigation: Banks sought foreign workers
By FRANK BASS and RITA BEAMISH, Associated Press Writers Frank Bass And Rita Beamish, Associated Press Writers Sun Feb 1, 8:10 am ET

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Banks collecting billions of dollars in federal bailout money sought government permission to bring thousands of foreign workers to the U.S. for high-paying jobs, according to an Associated Press review of visa applications.

The dozen banks receiving the biggest rescue packages, totaling more than $150 billion, requested visas for more than 21,800 foreign workers over the past six years for positions that included senior vice presidents, corporate lawyers, junior investment analysts and human resources specialists. The average annual salary for those jobs was $90,721, nearly twice the median income for all American households.

The figures are significant because they show that the bailed-out banks, being kept afloat with U.S. taxpayer money, actively sought to hire foreign workers instead of American workers. As the economic collapse worsened last year — with huge numbers of bank employees laid off — the numbers of visas sought by the dozen banks in AP's analysis increased by nearly one-third, from 3,258 in fiscal 2007 to 4,163 in fiscal 2008.

The AP reviewed visa applications the banks filed with the Labor Department under the H-1B visa program, which allows temporary employment of foreign workers in specialized-skill and advanced-degree positions.

It is unclear how many foreign workers the banks actually hired; the government does not release those details. The actual number is likely a fraction of the 21,800 foreign workers the banks sought to hire because the government limits the number of visas it grants to 85,000 each year among all U.S. employers.

During the last three months of 2008, the largest banks that received taxpayer loans announced more than 100,000 layoffs. The number of foreign workers included among those laid off is unknown.

Foreigners are attractive hires because companies have found ways to pay them less than American workers.

___

Don't Look A Gift Horse in the Mouth

2009-01-28T22:15:00.000-05:00

I don't think that anyone would disagree that the economy is in pretty bad shape and that Ulster County needs economic development to bring jobs for the residents of the county. People have been laid off from their jobs, people have lost their homes. Yet - there is still a developer trying to build a wonderful resort here.

Are we grateful? No - of course not. God forbid anyone in this county embraces someone trying to build a business here.

The Williams Lake property is trying to be developed and the support for the project from our elected officials has been underwhelming. Where is our new Executive? Why isn't he beating the bushes to get this project done. How about his new Economic Development guru, March Gallagher? Certainly she wants economic development - why isn't she speaking out in support of the project?

How about the Freeman. Could they possibly write a positive article about someone putting money into our economy for a project that would create jobs? No, they write an article titled "Resort/housing developer may seek tax relief", which is code for "let's give everyone something to complain about" !!! When Canopy started the project, they weren't looking for tax relief. After all the headache and expense that we are putting them through, who could blame them to look for some tax relief.

Shame on you Daily Freeman for not putting a positive spin on this story. If they build this resort, they would most likely advertise in your newspaper, and that just may save some jobs at your company one day.

Ahhh.... but we can't see the forest for the trees. Literally - thanks to the environmentalists.

This developer is hanging out there all by himself while the environmental Save the Lakes crowd and others intimidate everyone into silence.

From the Daily Freeman "The project has drawn criticism from some groups seeking to have the longtime recreational site remain accessible to county residents, while direct opposition has come from people asking that environmental reviews be done stringently."

Excuse my language, but that is such BULL. Williams Lake has never been open the public. Not when it was operating, and certainly NOT NOW. If you aren't sure, all you have to do is ask Antia Peck and she will tell you so.

Rosendale Councilwoman Ms. Manna Jo Greene has a lot to say, but does not represent a lot of Rosendale residents that need jobs.

One reader of The Freeman commented "Just how many vacant store fronts does she [Manna Jo Greene] want to see downtown? 100%? Because with foot dragging such as hers that is the ONLY way we're headed.

We're not talking nuclear power plant, or filthy cement plant, or strip mall or prison - we're talking 4-Star hotel and responsible home owners!!! Good grief - hers is not leadership with vision, it's more like naive pie in the sky denial.

Stop whining. Start doing!!! Enough! MAKE THIS HAPPEN, NOW. "

In tough economic times like these, we should be thankful that Canopy has not picked up and left town. I drive through Rosendale all the time. It's such sad site to see businesses shut down. I think most people want a thriving Main Street - not Orange County sprawl - but not Sullivan County either.

We can only hope that the new blood at the IDA can help push this project along. It doesn't seem like our elected officials in Rosendale or the new County Executive Team have the inclination to lend their assistance.

Best of luck Anita and Canopy!

Click below to read the entire story in the Freeman

http://dailyfreeman.com/articles/2009/01/28/news/doc497fe65ca6032490652680.txt

Taxpayers funding "nice to haves" in Ulster County

2009-01-21T21:54:00.000-05:00

The other day I was sitting around thinking.... "Damn It! I really wish that our politicians would spend some taxpayer money and upgrade the Ulster County website".

Well not really.

First, I can't believe that the papers even printed this story. An orangutan could have executed this move. I guess that's why Hein gets paid the big ($133,000) bucks. News must really be slow when an upgrade to a website is newsworthy.

Maybe Mike Hein didn't get the word from Governor Patterson that New York State is facing the worst economic crisis in it's history and that we are trying to cut spending.

Maybe Mike missed the endless lines of people pleading their cases to the Legislators in Albany for the budget hearings not to cut their line item in the budget. And these were for important things like the arts, education, the environment, etc.

But we don't have those issues in Ulster County! We've got money to play with and do things like make our website cooler so that our County Executive can add that to his "resume" of things he accomplished. Sounds like he's getting ready for his next campaign already.

I can hear Mike now...."and among my many accomplishments, I made the Ulster County website better for the taxpayers of Ulster County"

Anyone can spend money. Anyone. It takes real balls to cut things. That's what we need right now.

So! Instead of sitting around trying to figure out ways to spend more taxpayer money, how about putting your collective brains together and trying to find ways of cutting expenses.

Anyone who has a website knows that they can be a bottomless pit of time and money.

Web designers can spend hours and hours and hours making things fancy. And that all costs money.

This project sounds like it's a nice to have, not a must have.

Really Mike, in this economy, we need to stick to the must haves.

Stop spending money like a girl, grow a pair and trim the spending of taxpayer dollars.

Hein's plan to make more plans

2009-01-12T11:01:00.000-05:00

Mike Hein has released his task force report for Economic Development.

It seems to be a plan to make more plans, mostly likely with more task forces.

1) Create a PLAN to take advantage of federal funds.
Wasn't that the whole idea of the last task force... to write the damn plan? Not to recommend to write another plan? I wonder if we'll need a plan to appoint a new task force to write this plan.

2) Create a Council of Economic Advisors to help restructure economic development? Really? What kind of BS is this? Doesn't Mike have enough "advisors" already? Really.... what are all of these Deputy Executives, Assistant Deputy Executives and March Gallagher doing? Now we need another task force for this? More advisors to surround Mike to deflect any blame for anything not done.

3) Analyze the Operations of the IDA? Really? What could possibly be wrong with the IDA? Newly appointed 6th floor Planning Goddess and former IDA Chairman March Gallager, most certainly left that Agency in top shape when she left. Why else would she get such a plum job in Planning on the 6th floor (that's an oxymoron isn't it? the planning dept on the 6th floor?) reporting to Mike Hein? There couldn't possibly be anything wrong there.

4) Direct the planning department to make a guide for municipalities. Really? Now that's a disaster in the making. Our anti-development planning department is going to make a guide for our anti-development town planning boards. Now that's a winner Mike. I'd move that one up to #1 on your list and put March "I got no applications at the IDA when I was chair" Gallagher in charge of that plan. That will be a winner. Put the lady (and I use that term lightly) who failed miserably at attracting any jobs to our county when she was the IDA Chair in charge of telling our towns how to fail miserably at attracting business. Here's a clue. The Town Planning Boards do a great job all by themselves of discouraging any businesses of relocating to Ulster County. Ask anyone who has been in front of a Planning Board. They don't need any help from the County. If you want to attract business to this county - throw out the UCDC, IDA, Planning Department and Town Planning Boards and then contract out all planning and economic development work to Greene County.

5) And the best one of all.... focus on redeveloping Tech City. Really. All of those really smart people in one room, and that's the plan? Really? No one had thought of that one before? Develop Tech City? Really Mike, that's your plan? Boy, I'm really glad we elected you. NOT

Read the article from the Times Herald Record Here

Unions stay Neutral in Senate Fight

2009-01-05T22:35:00.000-05:00

The New York State Senate will decide on Wednesday who their leader will be. We don't know who the Majority Leader will be until the vote, but what we do know is that neither side will be getting any help from the unions.

While the Democrats technically won a majority of the seats in November, the so called "Gang of Three" Democrats, Senator Pedro Espada, Jr, Carl Kruger, and Senator Ruben Diaz, Sr. have threatened to side with the Republicans after some very public disputes over gay marriage and general disagreements with the Senate Minority Leader Malcolm "You should get in early because then it doesn't cost as much. The longer you wait to get in, the more it will cost you and if you don't get in at all, then it will be painful after November" Smith.

With obnoxious comments like that from Smith, it is easy to see why the gang of three has a problem with Smith. At the time, everyone seemed to give Smith a pass on his comments, but after the problem that the Governor in Illinois has had, one can only wonder in retrospect if Smith should have been given a free pass for those comments.

It's too late to investigate his comments now, but it's not to late to make sure that Smith is NOT elected Majority Leader of the Senate.

Elizabeth Benjamin, NY Daily News

AFL-CIO Stays Neutral In Senate Fight

January 5, 2009

The AFL-CIO is staying out of the state Senate leadership battle and will work with "whomever ends up running" the chamber, according to Mario Cilento, spokesman for the 2.5 million-member umbrella labor organization.

"The AFL has said from the very beginning that we would never get involved in the internal politics of the Senate," Cilento said.

Republican Leader Dean Skelos had been hoping to set up a meeting or conference call today with leaders of the erstwhile majority's longstanding organized labor allies, including the AFL-CIO and 1199 SEIU, and the Gang of Three in hopes of convincing the renegade trio to side with him against Democratic Leader Malcolm Smith.

But Cilento insisted AFL-CIO President Denis Hughes had not been asked to participate in that effort, although he did confirm that Skelos had called the union big to inquire whether members of the Gang of Three would be penalized if they turned their backs on the Democratic Party when it comes time for 2010 endorsements.

The response?

"The answer was 'No,'" Cilento said. "Our endorsements are made based solely on members' voting records."

As you'll recall, the AFL-CIO delayed its endorsements in the fall elections due to its upset over legislators' support of a property tax cap, which was vehemently opposed by a number of labor unions.

After that brief upset, the AFL-CIO relented and awarded its support to a number of lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. All of its endorsements went to incumbents, which means it sided with the GOP in key contested Senate races.

Two members of the Gang of Three - Sen. Carl Kruger and Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr. - ran with AFL-CIO support.

The third, Sen. Pedro Espada Jr., did not. In fact, the AFL-CIO endorsed the incumbent Democrat Espada successfully sought to unseat in the September primary, ex-Sen. Efrain Gonzalez, and declined to endorse Espada in the general election.

The Senate Democrats are getting some help in the leadership fight from their own labor allies, including the Working Families Party, 32BJ, RWDSU, the Hotel Trades Council, and the CWA, along with others with a vested interest in seeing the Senate pushed into Democratic hands for the first time since 1962 such as the Empire State Pride Agenda.

The outcome of the Senate battle will be interesting for the labor community, as it has clearly already split unions into Democrat and GOP camps.

A number of labor heavyweights - even 1199, which was long allied to the Republicans while they were led by ex-Majority Leader Joe Bruno - have been hedging their bets with campaign contributions for some time. But the public employees unions have largely remained loyal to the GOP, which could prove troublesome at a time when Gov. David Paterson is calling for them to re-open their contracts and forgo raises.

Noonan gets it RIGHT

2008-12-31T09:54:00.000-05:00

Independent Ulster was very pleased to see Glenn Noonan front and center this morning making the effort to rid Ulster County of a Rockland County Sex Offender.

As reported in the Times Herald Record today, Noonan is leading the effort and boy is he right. Keep the perves out of Ulster. http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081231/NEWS/812310328

Noonan is also dead right that the County Legislature should propose legislation to prohibit out of county sex offenders from being put into Ulster County. Noonan’s sponsorship of such a law would be a great thing and we hope he moves on it quickly as it sounds like he is planning on doing.

We also hope that the Majority Democrats (we’re looking at you Susan Zimet) do not co-opt this into one of their own proposals as they are famous for doing.

We urge the legislators to move quickly to adopt Noonan’s proposal.

Noonan Blows It

2008-12-27T15:16:00.000-05:00

photo credit: Clark Richters

Left: Jeremy Blaber ---------- Right: Glenn Noonan

NOONAN BLOWS IT:

"ALL I’LL NEED IS TWO DEMOCRATS TO SIDE WITH US,
AND THEN – GRIDLOCK.”

Independent Ulster was very disappointed to see Republican Legislative “leader” Glenn Noonan promise “gridlock” if two more Republicans are elected to the County Legislature. Noonan’s comments were printed in today’s Times Herald Record: http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081227/NEWS/812270326/-1/NEWS

Independent Ulster hardly backed Mike Hein. Hein is everything that is wrong with politics in Ulster County: a party switching political insider owned lock, stock, and barrel by the good old boys. But look, the guy won and deserves a chance to be the County Executive he promised he could be – “leading the way” to a better Ulster County.

So far, the results are not promising – in fact another “p” word – pathetic comes to mind. Hein had formed a secret economic development task force, essentially repudiating the work of Ulster Tomorrow. That task force is led by an out of county resident and is meeting in secret.

Amateur mistakes by an amateur but Hein can only get better.

Noonan on the other hand is a seasoned politician and should know better than to promise “gridlock.” Ulster County has a lot of problems. Taxes are out of control, jobs are not being created, the county IDA is a complete joke and the far left has taken over the Democratic Party. BUT, gridlock is not needed.

Independent Ulster calls upon Noonan to work in a nonpartisan fashion to bring people the results taxpayers want: lower taxes, better jobs, and a government that serves the people not the special interests.

We hope Noonan was just caught up in the moment, because if he truly is seeking gridlock, his fellow GOP legislators need to replace him – now or they will not win the seats they are otherwise capable of winning.

Ulster County Should Sue Peter Kraft

2008-12-21T19:40:00.000-05:00

OK, Legislator Peter Kraft has resigned at the end of this year. Who cares. The reality is if the County Legislature had any of those spherical objects that one bounces in the game of basketball, they would be suing Peter Kraft in Kingston Small Claims Court for his $10,000 County Legislature salary for 2008 (or for the last 6 – 8 months he hasn’t been around). We don’t know if he gets health insurance, but add the value of that to the lawsuit.

It is NOT ok that government officials get elected to a term of office, don’t bother showing up, but continue to take our hard earned dollars.

Where is Josh Koplovitz, the erstwhile County Attorney? How come David Donaldson or Michael Hein have not demanded that Mr. Koplovitz seek to recover the money paid to Kraft in salary and benefits that he has not earned by his prolonged absence.

Once again, taxpayers get fleeced and our government officials do nothing. By the way, and not for nothing, where are the Republican minority members? Come on folks, we know Mr. Kraft is one of your own – that special part of the insiders club that is the County Legislature, but if a Republican walked away months ago, you can bet the Democrats, who are much better politicians than the GOP, would have the political brain power to be calling for his immediate resignation . . . and if that did not work trying to recover the salary wrongfully paid to him.

Independent Ulster has hired people before. You wouldn’t pay an employee not to show up, so why should we the people pay a public official not to show up. One more taxpayer outrage in Ulster County.

PS - INDEPENDENT ULSTER PROPOSES THAT MARCH GALLAGHER INVESTIGATE THIS . . . oh yeah, sorry, we forgot, she only investigates allegations of wrongdoing when it comes to Republicans, not her fellow Democrats.

What would Ulster County do?

2008-12-09T22:47:00.000-05:00

What would Ulster County do if they found this sort of evidence?

According to Federal Prosceutor Patrick Fitzgerald, Governor Blagojevich had put a "for sale" sign on his administration.

“The breadth of corruption laid out in these charges is staggering,” Patrick Fitzgerald said. Blagojevich “involved himself personally in pay-to-play schemes with the urgency of a salesman meeting his annual sales target; and corruptly used his office in an effort to trample editorial voices of criticism.”

As I watch this story develop, I can't help but ask myself, what would we do in Ulster County if we found this sort of evidence? It's never convenient to investigate and proscute politicians or government employees, particularly when the ones doing the investigating and prosceuting are politicians themselves.

Do our leaders in this County and State possess the fortitude necessary to deal with a problem like this if it confronted them. In my opinion, no, they don't.

Consider the "evidence" that Fitzgerald must have had to trigger this investigation. In the beginning it is usually word of mouth. You have to be able to put politics aside and purse the investigation. I believe that it's easier to overlook issues such as this, rather than investigate and confront issues.

I give Patrick Fitzgerald kudos for putting politics aside and prosceuting both Republicans and Democrats. There are bad guys on both sides - EVERYWHERE.

I wish Mr. Fitzgerald would come to New York State, I think we could keep him busy for a while.

Devastating and Severe Budget Cuts

2008-12-06T10:12:00.000-05:00

Our Ulster County budget has been released.

$346 million budgeted for next year, along with a 2.7 percent tax levy increase.

Governor Paterson's budget for New York State that is getting ready to be released was described in broad terms as "devastating" and "severe" to state services.

How is it that our County finds it OK to increase our taxes and not change the way we do business now, when we know what is coming down the road?

Governor Paterson knows that we need to make some cuts.

Where are the the "devastating" and "severe" cuts in Ulster County?

It's time to change. Isn't that what we voted for with the charter?

So far it looks like more of the same old same to me.

Quigley Loses - Catalano Failed

2008-11-30T11:35:00.000-05:00

Independent voters looking for the return of the two party system in Ulster County counted on Mario Catalano to get the job done for us this year.

He failed.

Ok, Hinchey was not a viable target and realistically, the guy does a pretty darn good job as Congressman. Like him or hate him, Maurice Hinchey lets you know where he stands and you’ve got to appreciate that.

Bonacic and Larkin – ok, no problem, both swept without Catalano doing anything (were they even opposed???).

We had four local races where Catalano failed miserably.

Tom Kirwan – lost.

Robin Yess – she was certainly not the favorite, but she got CREAMED. It wasn’t even close. After Catalano convinced the powers that be to give her the Independence line over our home picked candidate of Kevin Cahill, he did nothing to raise money to get her any traction. Yess apparently angered many people and was not a good team player. As a result, she lost the support of the Assembly Republicans in Albany, and the money people she needed here to knock off Cahill – an Assemblyman with a lousy record.

Len Bernardo – he was also not the favorite but he had the money, so the GOP sucked him in and in fairness he was a respectable candidate. Obviously Bernardo was too independent from the powers that be and they never fully embraced him as the GOP nominee. Moreover, some of the party insiders were making side deals with Hein in an all too obvious manner. Bernardo, a complete neophyte bought his way to 43% of the vote by putting in real money and also by putting up a real hustle - all while Catalano did nothing to help and some of the good old boys and girls (Nina, we remember you), supported Hein.

Jim Quigley – Quigley’s loss is the saddest of all. Here is a guy who is much more qualified, much more capable, and someone who would be completely independent of any special interests (Bernardo and Yess would have been too we believe). Catalano held Quigley’s hand, Bernardo delivered the Independence line by pushing Dietrich Werner (the TRUE leader of the Ulster County Independence Party) to give him the line (only to have Bernardo’s handlers dump Werner in an incredible act of treachery which should have taught Bernardo what he was dealing with); and still Quigley could not pull through. All the unions, all the endorsements, all the special interests hustling for Jim Quigley, all the money he burned, and no victory. Appalling.

We hear that the GOP was united going into this thing. A big pow wow in Kingston led to Bernardo, Quigley, and Yess all signing on with the same campaign team, but then Dr. Doom – a/k/a Mario Catalano got involved and blew up the whole “running as a team” thing.

All of a sudden Bernardo was doing his thing, Quigley was doing his thing, and Yess was doing her thing (or should I say no-thing). Catalano, he was up in Greene County drilling teeth while Bernardo and Quigley were turning on each other, and Robin Yess was sitting by her pool.

These three losses are an embarrassment to candidates that collectively spent more than $1/2 million. We hear that the powers that be have lost all faith in Catalano and are now angling to put in someone who will actually go out and campaign, not lecture in a condescending way how to win campaigns.

The disunity wrought by Catalano by a team of people who 2 of them had a pretty good shot speaks volumes to his leadership capacity. A new Ulster County Republican Chairman is needed – now.

Happy Thanksgiving

2008-11-27T10:06:00.000-05:00

I'll be back after the Thanksgiving holiday weekend with my analysis of the election.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family

Bernardo and Quigley, they'll be "A Good Thing" for Ulster

2008-10-28T13:54:00.001-04:00

My picks for Executive and Comptroller are Bernardo and Quigley.

We need change in Ulster County. Neither of these men has been an elected or appointed official in our County Government before. Like Martha Stewart says, "That's A Good Thing".

The dysfunction in Ulster County government and political cronyism (partiality to long-standing friends, especially by appointing them to positions of authority, regardless of their qualifications) has got to stop.

I believe that it will stop by electing Mr. Bernardo and Mr. Quigley.

I am not happy with how our County Government is currently being run. Electing Mr. Hein will be more of the same. While Mr. Auerbach seems like a nice guy, Mr. Quigley's credentials are what I think Ulster County needs: a professional and certified Auditor.

When we voted for the Charter, we voted for change. We now need to back it up with the real candidates of change: Bernardo and Quigley.

20 million? Grow a pair and cut something

2008-10-21T10:46:00.000-04:00

Twenty million dollars. That's a lot of money. Divided among all of the taxpayers in Ulster County, it turns about to be about a 3% increase to our taxes.

Now our politicians would have us believe that 3% is a reasonable, modest increase. Now you can do the math, if a $20 million increase gives us a 3% increase, IMAGE how much spending money was added to our budget when our taxes went up by 39%, then by 8% then by 7% - and now by 3%.

I am sick and tired of excuses from our elected officials as to why they can't stop spending money. I control my expenses in my household. When the price of gas and home heating oil goes up, I have to reduce another expense somewhere else in my household because I -- unlike the politicans spending OUR money -- I am on a fixed income.

We keep hearing.... but the jail..... the jail.... the jail... the jail.....
I thought the 39% PERMANENT tax increase kept in place once levied on us was supposed to take care of that.... now we keep having to go back to it?

OK, the jail has to be to Ulster County elected official what gasoline for our cars and home heating oil is to every day people. If it is such a burden - cut SOMETHING else.

Grow a pair and cut something. I don't have any other choice but to cut something else because my income is fixed.

Where's the beef..... I mean 2008 Budget?

2008-10-09T00:46:00.000-04:00

It is now October 9. On October 1..... over a week ago..... I posted that Orange County's budget was already in the hands of the Orange County Legislators. When are the Ulster County Legislators going to get our budget?

Is this a delay tactic because it is an election year? Maybe I'm misinformed, maybe Ulster County is on some sort of different fiscal calendar than the counties that surround us.

I have heard that the Supervisor in the Town of Ulster has presented his budget and I think the Mayor of Kingston has as well. Where is Administrator Hein's budget? We have known since last year when the budget should be done. Proper planning would have ensured that the budget was completed in a timely manner and that no extensions be necessary.

It is time to present the Ulster County taxpayers their budget.

And, we do not want a tax increase, and we do not want our general savings fund robbed either.

Sorry, but Common Sense got me hooked on this topic, and I can't get off it.

Mike Hein, LATE AGIN, CAN'T GET THE JOB DONE

2008-10-04T10:53:00.000-04:00

When I started this blog and started watching County Politics, I didn't have a "favorite team", but I'm quickly becoming un- impressed by candidate Mike Hein.

Just 3 days again, I called for Mike Hein to stop spending so much time campaigning and trying to smear his opponent and demanded that he get this years budget into the hands of our Ulster County Legislators. This is important taxpayer business that needs to be attended to and will affect everyone who lives in Ulster County.

Apparently, in addition to not being able to do the people's work for which he is paid to do by the taxpayers of Ulster County, he is also not able to do his own campaign work that is required by the NYS Board of Elections.

Yesterday, Friday, October 3, campaign financial disclosures were required to be filed by candidates. Mike Hein's are still not posted as of today. Need proof? I saved you the time of going to the Board of Elections website and took a screen shot for you, next to my calendar page.

If Mr. Hein had filed, you would see the 32 day pre general election report. It's not there.

Mike Hein has already requested the Legislators to let him be late with our County Budget. He is paid...... every week by the way...... with our taxpayer dollars in his appointed position as County Administrator to do this.

Imagine if you had a job where you were paid to get something done (like a budget), and you spent all your time running a political campaign and couldn't finish your work at your regular job. Your boss would fire you.

Mr. Hein needs to stop the campaigning (like just last night) and the smearing his opponent until he gets his work done, that he is paid to do by the Ulster County Taxpayers.

We need to see our Ulster County Budget AND his financial disclosures.

A friend of mine told me that last night, instead of staying at home and working on both of these, that Mike Hein was out schmoozing with his Kingston good-ole-boy friends at the Ulster County Community College Gala at the Hillside. Does this guy want to work and serve the taxpayers of Ulster County, or does he want to party with the good-old-boys?

Ulster Common Sense Has it Right!

2008-10-02T22:36:00.000-04:00

UlsterCommonSense.blogspot.com could not have said it better when he warned the politicians that we are watching how much they increase our taxes this year. Simply put, he said that if taxes increase more than his pay increases at work, he is not voting for anyone that had anything to do with it. That includes, legislators, supervisors, town council people, etc.

I could not agree more. We also need to let our politicans know that we can not be fooled by them stealing our Town, Village or County's savings to make it appear that they are not "increasing taxes". Those savings are there for a reason, and it's not to pay for the day to day operations of government.

We can not afford to increase taxes at a percentage rate higher than our pay increases any longer.

Thanks Ulster Common Sense for bringing some Common Sense to the blog-o-sphere!

Orange County versus Ulster County

2008-10-01T18:31:00.000-04:00

Ed Diana, Orange County Executive

Orange County's budget is more than twice as much as Ulster County's.

The Orange County budget is already in the hands of their Legislators.

Why don't Ulster County's Legislators have their budget in hand yet? In my opinion it's because our Administrator, Mike Hein, is too busy worrying about campaigning and trying to smear his opponent. We should be trying to help our local small businesses during these tough economic times, not accusing them of lying because they are not meeting "job creation" goals. This is not the time to be pushing more employees on struggling employers. It's time to bring other businesses to our County so that our residents can get good jobs to have a little spending money.

Can we get our finances in order, and get our budget done on time.... please?

And, we would like no property tax hike too.

Orange executive proposes 2009 budget with no property tax hike

Mid-Hudson News Network

GOSHEN - Orange County Executive Edward Diana has proposed a 2009 county budget that would not raise county property taxes.

The $674.5 million plan would authorize spending 3.76 percent more than the 2008 budget of $650 million.

Diana said, "We understand that the people of our county, state and nation are in the throes of serious economic uncertainty and every dollar is precious. We have seen our friends, neighbors and even members of our families struggling in this crisis. This government is committed to doing all in our power to lessen the burdens on our residents by controlling taxes and reducing spending."

To help offset the added expenses of the budget, Diana will seek to advance a county hotel/motel room tax, which he said would pull in an additional $2 million per year and not impact local residents.

The spending plan would also see 67 vacant positions eliminated.

"Thankfully, in past budgets we made preparations for these difficult times by maintaining reserve contingencies while adopting conservative budget practices," Diana said in his budget message. "Orange County will utilize a portion of our reserves to help balance this budget without burdening our taxpayers."

Early legislative reaction to the budget was favorable. Lawmakers will spend the next four weeks looking at the budget looking for ways to save money or shift it to be sure services are preserved.

Our next Vice President?

2008-09-29T17:02:00.000-04:00

Yes, I know the picture was photoshopped... but it is pretty good!!

Ulster County Chamber of Commerce Debate

2008-09-23T21:32:00.000-04:00

Today, I watched the Ulster County Chamber of Commerce debate online. It was sold out, and I couldn't be late for work anyway. For the Comptroller candidate, I thought that Elliott Auerbach was much more appealing than Jim Quigley. Mr. Auerbach was warm, well informed and humorous. Mr. Quigley seemed arrogant. I didn't understand at the end, he said something about donating his salary to charity. I guess that's nice, but his personality seemed too abrasive for me. For Executive, I thought that Len Bernardo was much more appealing than Mike Hein. I really liked it when Mr. Bernardo said that the taxpayers are not ATM machines. I also liked Mr. Bernardo's background. I think a businesman would be good. Mr. Hein just seemed angry and overly prepared and coached. Also, I don't think that Mr. Hein has the experience to move from Administrator to Executive. If he had impressive credentials, like Mr. Bernardo, I'm sure he would have brought them up. I think that Mr. Hein has reached his level of competenece and I don't want him to reach his level of incompetence (Peter Principle) by being elected Executive on my taxpayer dime.

I think that a Bernardo / Auerbach team would work well. They both seem like pleasant businessmen who would be able to get along well with our legislators.

The Independent Ulster Platform

2008-09-22T09:47:00.001-04:00

I HAVE DECIDED TO BECOME A WRITE-IN CANDIDATE.

HERE IS MY PLATFORM:

(1) 'Press 1 for English' is immediately banned. English is the official language; speak it or wait at the border until you can.

(2) We will immediately go into a two year isolationist posture to straighten out the country's attitude. NO imports, no exports.
We will use the 'Wal-Mart 's policy, 'If we ain't got it, you don't need it.'

(3) When imports are allowed, there will be a 100% import tax on it.

(4) All retired military personnel will be required to man one of our many observation towers on the southern border. (six month tour) They will be under strict orders not to fire on SOUTHBOUND aliens.

(5) Social security will immediately return to its original state. If you didn't put nuttin in, you ain't gettin nuttin out. The president nor any other politician will not be able to touch it.

(6) Welfare - Checks will be handed out on Fridays at the end of the 40 hour school week and the successful completion of urinalysis and a passing grade.

(7) Professional Athletes --Steroids - The FIRST time you check positive you're banned for life.

(8) Crime - We will adopt the Turkish method, the first time you steal, you lose your right hand. There is no more life sentences. If convicted, you will be put to death by the same method you chose for your victim; gun, knife, strangulation, etc.

(9) One export will be allowed; Wheat, The world needs to eat. A bushel of wheat will be the exact price of a barrel of oil.

(10) All foreign aid using American taxpayer money will immediately cease, and the saved money will pay off the national debt and ultimately lower taxes. When disasters occur around the world, we'll ask the American people if they want to donate to a disaster fund , and each citizen can make the decision whether it's a worthy cause.

(11) The Pledge of Allegiance will be said every day at school and every day in Congress.

(12) The National Anthem will be played at all appropriate ceremonies, sporting events, outings, etc.

OBAMA V. NEW YORK

2008-09-19T11:53:00.000-04:00

OBAMA V. NEW YORK

September 19, 2008 --

A good rule of thumb: Whenever a Democrat starts talking patriotism, reach for your wallet.

Case in point: Joe Biden.

The Democratic vice presidential nominee went into a flag-waving fury yesterday when asked how upper-income earners should react to his ticket's soak-the-rich tax plan.

"It's time to be patriotic," he said. "It's time to jump in; it's time to be part of the deal; it's time to get America out of the rut."

That's pure nonsense, of course - and not just because it comes from a pol who has "jumped in" by donating less than $400 a year (little more than one-tenth of one percent of his family income) to charity over the past decade.

After all, reasonable Americans can disagree about marginal tax rates without impugning each other's love of country.

Or, one wonders, will Americans be free to question the patriotism of President Barack Obama and Vice President Biden when their tax plan throws the country even deeper into economic crisis?

Sad to say, that's no idle speculation.

Just look at New York.

Obama's tax plan would impose new dividend and capital-gains taxes and repeal the Bush-era income-tax cuts on all Americans earning more than $250,000 a year. The local effect of those tax hikes is the subject of a study released this week by the Manhattan Institute's Empire Center.

It's not a pretty picture.

Obama's tax plan, the study found, would cost New Yorkers fully $16 billion a year - billions more than residents would get back through expanded tax credits.

It's not hard to see why. Obama's plan takes direct aim at Wall Street - the one section of the economy that can least afford it right now.

And the pain doesn't just fall on high-paid brokers (and the jobs they support), either. The dividend and capital-gains hikes are sure to send investment dollars fleeing into tax shelters, further choking the sputtering engines of finance.

Meanwhile, the study estimates, lost income from Obama's tax hikes would sap $1 billion a year from state tax coffers - and up to $285 million from the city.

Which means higher taxes for everyone.

What's so patriotic about that?

Obama and Biden, of course, are free to discuss their tax plan on its (dubious) merits.

But they'd do well to end the scolding game about its supposedly All-American virtue. It'd be offensive if it weren't so ridiculous.

No, wait: It's offensive anyway.

"Ulster County makes it happen......" NOT!

2008-09-17T20:02:00.000-04:00

NOT!

Ulster County is NOT making things happen these days. When I went to school a 50% grade was a F. 50% meant failing. Apparently not anymore. Didn't we learn anything from the jail? What the heck are our Legislators doing? We had a panel that made some pretty intelligent recommendations, but we've only implemented 50% of them?

What is this guy Donaldson doing? Let's do everything that the panel recommended. This jail thing was a disaster with our money. Taxpayer deserve some results.

It's always the same old story in Ulster County with the same old same old politicians. We need new young blood in the Legislature. I hope that young people in this County will step up to the plate next year and run for the County Legislature. These old farts need to go.

Ulster County slow to make changes

Half of recommendations met

By Paul Brooks

Times Herald-Record

September 17, 2008 6:00 AM

KINGSTON — Ulster County has implemented about half of the recommendations two panels have made to prevent another runaway building project like the county jail.

The county jail, or Ulster County Law Enforcement Center, opened in February 2007, nearly three years late and $30 million over budget. The total cost, with interest, will hit $145 million when all is said and done.

The debacle triggered the county Legislature's first formal investigation. The special committee-issued report came out last September. A special grand jury spent six months after that investigating construction of the jail. In March, the grand jury indicted one former county official, Harvey Sleight. Monday, the public learned that County Judge J. Michael Bruhn had dismissed the sole charge — official misconduct — against Sleight.

The public also got its first look Monday at the grand jury's recommendations to prevent further massive construction problems.

Of 15 recommendations from the two panels, the county has taken steps on seven. Overall, County Legislature Chairman Dave Donaldson, a Kingston Democrat, said the county has adopted a capital projects policy, improved record keeping, started training on bidding regulations, and moved more departments to office space at the jail facility. It has shifted to line-item budgeting on capital projects and hired a person to review and manage all the county's contracts.

"Every calamity has a silver lining," Donaldson said. "Sometimes it just forces you to get more efficient."

But the county has not adopted some major recommendations.

The Legislative committee said voters should approve capital projects of $10 million or more. That has gone nowhere. "It would be awfully cumbersome," Donaldson said.

Rich Parete, an Accord Democrat, was on the Legislature committee. He supported the public vote. "Schools can do it. Fire departments can do it. Westchester County can do it," he said. "It has never even been discussed here."

The grand jury recommended an independent oversight authority to review projects, in addition to the new county comptroller. Donaldson opposed it. "Having a comptroller, isn't that the purpose of it?" he said.

Parete said all the recommendations need a review in light of the seven or eight new members on the Legislature. "We just got to roll up our sleeves and do them," he said.

pbrooks@th-record.com

County construction-change scorecard

DONE

New contract manager

Tighter procurement

Better record-keeping

Stronger construction policies

NOT DONE

No public vote on big projects

No independent oversight authority

No lower bidding threshold

No criminal justice analysis

Who's advertising?

2008-09-13T00:13:00.000-04:00

Like it or not, we do live in an advertising driven society.

There is no better way to get a message to people than to speak to them on TV. I'm very surprised that the only political TV ads that I've seen so far have been from Len Bernardo. Mike Hein... nope. Elliott Auerbach, nope, Jim Quigley, nope Robin Yess, nope Kevin Cahill, nope.

As far as websites go, Len Bernado has a website and it seems to be updated regularly. Mike Hein has a website and it hasn't changed much. Elliott Auerbach has a website and it hasn't changed much either. I can't find a website for Jim Quigley. Robin Yess has a website that seems to be updated occasionally, and the only website I can find for Kevin Cahill is from the NYS Assembly. He doesn't seem to have a campaign website that would tell me where I could meet him or how to contribute to his campaign.

Campaign websites are important. If you want to donate to a campaign, this may be the only way for people to do so. If people want to meet candidates, this is a place where people look.
If there is not accurate and up to date information on a candidate's website, candidates may be losing opportunities to meet voters.

In a perfect world, every person would be able to personally meet every candidate. When people can't meet candidates, and they don't have any friends who know the candidates, and they aren't associated with a political party, they must rely on things like TV ads, websites, and radio ads.

I'm going to post links on my blog to each of the candidates websites.
If there is a website for Jim Quigley or a "campaign" website for Kevin Cahill, please let me know because I have been unable to find them.

I look forward to each of the candidates updating their websites. It's a real shame when the blogs have more up date information than the candidates themselves.

Push Polling, Big in Value, Little in Cost????

2008-09-08T01:14:00.000-04:00

Someone in the Ulster County Democratic world must think that push polling is big in value and little in cost, because I think I was just push polled. I got a call tonight which started pretty benign. They asked me if I was aware that the Ulster County form of government was changing, then they asked me what I thought about candidates, who I liked for president, executive and comptroller. Then it turned weird, it was like an ad for Mike Hein, telling me about his wizardry and what a great guy he is. They then told me that Len Bernardo was a Republican and was part of the problem with the jail. Then some personal questions.

I found the whole experience to be intrusive and it reeeeked of dirty politics.

I'd like to know if anyone else got the same phone call and how you felt.

Kingston School Board, $40,000 for meetings?

2008-09-07T11:31:00.000-04:00

I have read on other blogs that members of the Kingston School Board may have spent $40,000 on meetings at the Mohonk Mountain House this summer. These meetings could have been held in their school cafeteria and catered locally.

That's a lot of money. That's more than some people make in a year. That's money that could have been used for the children.

If this is true, it needs to be exposed and that's why I'm writing about it.

People need to stand up and shine the light on things. John Stossel from 20/20 is not going to come up here and do any investigative reporting. The local newpapers all rip and read from press releases, they don't do any actual investigative reporting.

School Boards are really only accountable to the people, and if people don't stand up and say THAT'S WRONG, they will continue to do whatever they want.

If I'm wrong about this, and this was just an internet rumor that I fell pray to, then as Emily Latilla would say on SNL.... nevermind

Please stand up and ask questions about this!

Welcome to My New Blog

2008-09-06T21:15:00.000-04:00

Welcome to my blog born on 9-6-08. I'm a non enrolled voter in Ulster County. I'm pretty fed up with both parties and old politicians. I hope to be a neutral place free of partisan politics. I chose green for the color of the blog as an alternative to the blue Democrats and red Republicans.

I am for lowering our taxes, not by just eliminating waste in government, but also by increasing jobs in our area. I support any politicians who agree with that premise.

I have still not made up my mind who I am voting for in any of the elections, as I am sure a lot of other voters have not as well. This is a place for those voters.