The Water Buffalo is moving to WordPress. Everyone here would greatly appreciate if links could be redirected to the new site: waterbuffalopress.wordpress.com.
The blogspot site should automatically redirect but we have noticed a few problems in the initial days of the changeover.
Thank you for your patience and understanding -
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Thursday, April 12, 2007
D&C Hopes Fear = Readers (Pt. 2)
Neither Shock Nor Awe
First the editor and publisher of the D&C tried to scare you into reading with the ominous tagline: "A neighborhood in our community is contaminated and homeowners have been unaware of the potential danger."
The Fox News fear approach may have worked for the Gannett publication had the WBP not completely debunked the aforementioned claims in our post on the matter back in March.
As we reported, records regarding the contamination which was the subject of the piece had existed for over a decade in multiple forms available to the public.
But the D&C did not yield and proceeded to report on a "groundwater contamination plume" that supposedly threatened water supplies and homes throughout Victor, NY. The articles prompted public forums where citizens voiced their anger that state and local officials would put them in harm's way. Some residents thought they might have to move. Air and water samples were taken and the D&C braced for the worst and called for more "Watchdog" tips from readers.
What was the result of Rochester's self-proclaimed watchdog's actions? Do we have to wipe out Victor Jericho-style and completely start the cycle of life over?
From the D&C -
(Key ominous music) >Bum, bum, bum<
First the editor and publisher of the D&C tried to scare you into reading with the ominous tagline: "A neighborhood in our community is contaminated and homeowners have been unaware of the potential danger."
The Fox News fear approach may have worked for the Gannett publication had the WBP not completely debunked the aforementioned claims in our post on the matter back in March.
As we reported, records regarding the contamination which was the subject of the piece had existed for over a decade in multiple forms available to the public.
But the D&C did not yield and proceeded to report on a "groundwater contamination plume" that supposedly threatened water supplies and homes throughout Victor, NY. The articles prompted public forums where citizens voiced their anger that state and local officials would put them in harm's way. Some residents thought they might have to move. Air and water samples were taken and the D&C braced for the worst and called for more "Watchdog" tips from readers.
What was the result of Rochester's self-proclaimed watchdog's actions? Do we have to wipe out Victor Jericho-style and completely start the cycle of life over?
From the D&C -
State officials say they’ve found only one Victor home in need of ventilation to combat solvent vapors suspected to originate from contaminated groundwater in a western section of the town.
(Key ominous music) >Bum, bum, bum<
Local Pork
. . . And This Little Piggy
Here are some initial highlights of local/regional member item spending from the 2007-08 Enacted NYS Budget -
Genesee Regional Homecare Association, Inc. received a grant of $15,000. The group also received another grant under the name Genesee Region Homecare Association.
Greater Rochester Area Partnership for the Elderly, Inc. received funding in the amount of $11,000.
The Town of Henrietta received $30,000 in funding compared with the Town of Irondequoit which received $65,000. The Town of Dansville received $70,000.
Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association - Rochester Chapter, Inc. received $5,000.
Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley received two separate grants for $50,000 and $25,000.
The University of Rochester Medical Center was the recipient of five grants totaling $135,000.
The Greater Rochester Visitors Association received $20,000. The Greater Rochester Visitor (notice the s is dropped) received two more grants totaling $125,000.
$200,000 was granted to the Rochester Tooling and Machining Association.
The Town of Leroy received $15,000, the Village will get $23,000.
Ontario County will receive $30,000.
$30,000 was set aside for the Rochester Museum and Science Center.
Arts for Greater Rochester received $25,000 while Artwalk of Rochester was the recipient of two separate grants totaling $30,000.
Garth Fagan Dance received one grant for $50,000 and Garth Fagan Dance, Inc. received $25,000.
Grants for $10,000 and $5,000 went to the George Eastman House.
Geva Theatre was the recipient of $50,000.
The Greece Chamber of Commerce Foundation will receive $20,000.
The Henrietta Foundation, Inc. (never heard of it) received $50,000.
$35,000 will go to the Village of Livonia in Livingston County.
$15,000 was set aside for Monroe County.
The Ontario County Historical Society is the recipient of $45,000.
Rochester's Philharmonic Orchestra received $100,000 while the City of Rochester was the recipient of $70,000.
$5,000 will go to this year's Lilac Festival.
The Brighton Fire District and Volunteer Ambulance, Inc. each received $20,000.
$500,000 will go to the Geneva Community Center.
The Livingston County Clerks' Office received two grants totaling $51,000 while the County Government Center received $16,000.
The Village of Penn Yan is the recipient of $80,000.
The Rochester Regional Community Design Center will receive $35,000.
RIT Interpreters for the Deaf will receive funding in the amount of $100,000.
$125,000 will go to the Finger Lakes Institute.
Friends of the Community Charter School of Rochester, Inc received $10,000.
$35,000 will go to the WXXI Public Broadcasting Council.
The Rochester Regional Library Council is the recipient of $30,000.
Prisoners' Legal Services (yes, legal services for individuals already convicted of a crime) received one of the largest grants: $2,285,000.
The Ontario County Sheriff Department will receive $10,000.
This is by no means a complete list. A full listing of all member item monies distributed (all 162 pages) is available here.
Here are some initial highlights of local/regional member item spending from the 2007-08 Enacted NYS Budget -
Genesee Regional Homecare Association, Inc. received a grant of $15,000. The group also received another grant under the name Genesee Region Homecare Association.
Greater Rochester Area Partnership for the Elderly, Inc. received funding in the amount of $11,000.
The Town of Henrietta received $30,000 in funding compared with the Town of Irondequoit which received $65,000. The Town of Dansville received $70,000.
Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association - Rochester Chapter, Inc. received $5,000.
Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley received two separate grants for $50,000 and $25,000.
The University of Rochester Medical Center was the recipient of five grants totaling $135,000.
The Greater Rochester Visitors Association received $20,000. The Greater Rochester Visitor (notice the s is dropped) received two more grants totaling $125,000.
$200,000 was granted to the Rochester Tooling and Machining Association.
The Town of Leroy received $15,000, the Village will get $23,000.
Ontario County will receive $30,000.
$30,000 was set aside for the Rochester Museum and Science Center.
Arts for Greater Rochester received $25,000 while Artwalk of Rochester was the recipient of two separate grants totaling $30,000.
Garth Fagan Dance received one grant for $50,000 and Garth Fagan Dance, Inc. received $25,000.
Grants for $10,000 and $5,000 went to the George Eastman House.
Geva Theatre was the recipient of $50,000.
The Greece Chamber of Commerce Foundation will receive $20,000.
The Henrietta Foundation, Inc. (never heard of it) received $50,000.
$35,000 will go to the Village of Livonia in Livingston County.
$15,000 was set aside for Monroe County.
The Ontario County Historical Society is the recipient of $45,000.
Rochester's Philharmonic Orchestra received $100,000 while the City of Rochester was the recipient of $70,000.
$5,000 will go to this year's Lilac Festival.
The Brighton Fire District and Volunteer Ambulance, Inc. each received $20,000.
$500,000 will go to the Geneva Community Center.
The Livingston County Clerks' Office received two grants totaling $51,000 while the County Government Center received $16,000.
The Village of Penn Yan is the recipient of $80,000.
The Rochester Regional Community Design Center will receive $35,000.
RIT Interpreters for the Deaf will receive funding in the amount of $100,000.
$125,000 will go to the Finger Lakes Institute.
Friends of the Community Charter School of Rochester, Inc received $10,000.
$35,000 will go to the WXXI Public Broadcasting Council.
The Rochester Regional Library Council is the recipient of $30,000.
Prisoners' Legal Services (yes, legal services for individuals already convicted of a crime) received one of the largest grants: $2,285,000.
The Ontario County Sheriff Department will receive $10,000.
This is by no means a complete list. A full listing of all member item monies distributed (all 162 pages) is available here.
Kurt Vonnegut: 1922-2007
If I should ever die, God forbid, let this be my epitaph:
THE ONLY PROOF HE NEEDED
FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD
WAS MUSIC
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Boooooooo!
Anyone Know a Good Connect?
From the D&C -
Who the hell is a stoner going to hurt with brassknuckles?
From the D&C -
A Rochester man accused of growing dozens of marijuana plants in his home was this morning remanded to Monroe County Jail without bail.
Brian H. Collyer, 37, of 188 Sanford St., was charged with second-degree criminal possession of marijuana and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, both felonies, and growing cannabis, a misdemeanor, according to City Court records. He was arrested last night after Rochester police officers executed a search warrant at his residence.
Officers found 42 live cannabis plants of various sizes and several drying plants on the second-floor of the house, according to court records. The drying marijuana plants weighed approximately 30 ounces, according to police.
Officers also found metal knuckles on a shelf in a first-floor bedroom, according to court records.
Who the hell is a stoner going to hurt with brassknuckles?
Where's The Pork?
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
I smell bacon. It is Christmas time again for all of New York state's political cronies.
The Empire Center has released its report on Member Item monies, or pork, in the 2007-08 NYS Enacted Budget. All you lefties who click on the embedded link, be careful, the Empire Center is a conservative think tank and I know some of you have an aversion to such groups.
Staffers here at the WBP are reviewing the 162 pages of member items and we will provide you with a more regionally specific analysis later this evening.
In the meantime, here are some highlights:
Although it has been widely reported that the budget included a total of $170 million in new legislative pork, our analysis of budget bills turned up only $101 million in individual appropriations listed under various subtotals for the "Community Projects 007" account, which traditionally is the funding source for legislative member items. Moreover, while the two houses traditionally divide the member-item grants into equal amounts, our totals (as summarized below) are unevenly distributed between the Senate and Assembly.
-snip-
. . . as of ten days after the budget was passed, neither the Senate nor the Assembly had made good on a promise to release an authoritative list of member items. The Legislature also has not identified individual sponsors of member items (although Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno released his personal list). Also still missing from the public record is any information on the purpose of, or justification for, any of the member-item expenditures.
- The Senate majority's 2,427 member items totaled $56.5 million.
- Senate Democrats issued 982 member items totaling $6.5 million.
- Prisoner's Legal Services received the largest member item from Assembly Democrats, with a $2.3 million grant. There were 1,682 member items lined out in the new budget bills from the Assembly Majority totaling $31.4 million.
- Assembly Republicans issued 730 member items totaling $4.2 million. The two largest grants; both totaling $50,000 -- went to the Williamsville Junior Football program and the Town of Greenwood.
- At least 666 grants totaling $6.5 million were awarded to senior-citizen organizations statewide. Veterans groups, including American Legion posts, accounted for at least 151 member items totaling $1.5 million.
- At least 599 grants totaling $6.8 million went to public, private and charter schools, and to public libraries across the state.
More analysis of local impact to come -
I smell bacon. It is Christmas time again for all of New York state's political cronies.
The Empire Center has released its report on Member Item monies, or pork, in the 2007-08 NYS Enacted Budget. All you lefties who click on the embedded link, be careful, the Empire Center is a conservative think tank and I know some of you have an aversion to such groups.
Staffers here at the WBP are reviewing the 162 pages of member items and we will provide you with a more regionally specific analysis later this evening.
In the meantime, here are some highlights:
Although it has been widely reported that the budget included a total of $170 million in new legislative pork, our analysis of budget bills turned up only $101 million in individual appropriations listed under various subtotals for the "Community Projects 007" account, which traditionally is the funding source for legislative member items. Moreover, while the two houses traditionally divide the member-item grants into equal amounts, our totals (as summarized below) are unevenly distributed between the Senate and Assembly.
-snip-
. . . as of ten days after the budget was passed, neither the Senate nor the Assembly had made good on a promise to release an authoritative list of member items. The Legislature also has not identified individual sponsors of member items (although Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno released his personal list). Also still missing from the public record is any information on the purpose of, or justification for, any of the member-item expenditures.
- The Senate majority's 2,427 member items totaled $56.5 million.
- Senate Democrats issued 982 member items totaling $6.5 million.
- Prisoner's Legal Services received the largest member item from Assembly Democrats, with a $2.3 million grant. There were 1,682 member items lined out in the new budget bills from the Assembly Majority totaling $31.4 million.
- Assembly Republicans issued 730 member items totaling $4.2 million. The two largest grants; both totaling $50,000 -- went to the Williamsville Junior Football program and the Town of Greenwood.
- At least 666 grants totaling $6.5 million were awarded to senior-citizen organizations statewide. Veterans groups, including American Legion posts, accounted for at least 151 member items totaling $1.5 million.
- At least 599 grants totaling $6.8 million went to public, private and charter schools, and to public libraries across the state.
More analysis of local impact to come -
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
COMIDA & Public Pollution
Getinge Sourcing LLC May Receive Benefits
A public hearing is scheduled for 6:00pm tomorrow night regarding the possible receipt of COMIDA benefits by Getinge Sourcing LLC. The hearing will be held at the Henrietta Town Hall at 475 Calkins Road.
Getinge is asking COMIDA to assist in the renovation and equipping of a land parcel on East Henrietta Rd. including the reconfiguration of the manufacturing floor, building office space and constructing a new showroom. COMIDA will apply its standard set of mortgage and property tax exemptions.
Getinge Sourcing LLC has also drawn the attention of another organization.
PlanetHazard.com allows visitors to "learn about the unknown hazards around you - the toxins you may be breathing. PlanetHazard uses information from the EPA to map over 86,000 companies throughout the United States that emit hazardous air pollutants."
Getinge Sourcing LLC is listed in the Rochester area as an emitter of chromium, nickel and manganese.
PlanetHazard also displays a searchable map that allows users to pinpoint locations like schools, populated areas and parks in relation to the respective company.
A public hearing is scheduled for 6:00pm tomorrow night regarding the possible receipt of COMIDA benefits by Getinge Sourcing LLC. The hearing will be held at the Henrietta Town Hall at 475 Calkins Road.
Getinge is asking COMIDA to assist in the renovation and equipping of a land parcel on East Henrietta Rd. including the reconfiguration of the manufacturing floor, building office space and constructing a new showroom. COMIDA will apply its standard set of mortgage and property tax exemptions.
Getinge Sourcing LLC has also drawn the attention of another organization.
PlanetHazard.com allows visitors to "learn about the unknown hazards around you - the toxins you may be breathing. PlanetHazard uses information from the EPA to map over 86,000 companies throughout the United States that emit hazardous air pollutants."
Getinge Sourcing LLC is listed in the Rochester area as an emitter of chromium, nickel and manganese.
PlanetHazard also displays a searchable map that allows users to pinpoint locations like schools, populated areas and parks in relation to the respective company.
Play Nice
Blogosphere is the New Sandbox
The New York Times ran a story yesterday regarding efforts by some within the blogging community to establish a blogosphere code of conduct.
The voluntary system would be tiered with different levels of enforcements depending on what would or would not be allowed on the respective blog.
One of the big pushers behind this effort is Wikipedia creator Jimmy Wales, the other is Tim O'Reilly who apparently came up with the term Web 2.0.
Just so readers are aware: anything goes here at the Water Buffalo Press.
Examples of the proposed codes of conduct are available here.
The New York Times ran a story yesterday regarding efforts by some within the blogging community to establish a blogosphere code of conduct.
The voluntary system would be tiered with different levels of enforcements depending on what would or would not be allowed on the respective blog.
One of the big pushers behind this effort is Wikipedia creator Jimmy Wales, the other is Tim O'Reilly who apparently came up with the term Web 2.0.
Just so readers are aware: anything goes here at the Water Buffalo Press.
Examples of the proposed codes of conduct are available here.
Monday, April 9, 2007
NY Part of New Super Tuesday
Reports are coming out that NYS Governor Eliot Spitzer has signed off on the final legislation, effectively moving the date of the 2008 New York presidential primary to Tuesday, February 5th.
Many other states are considering, or have enacted, similar legislation and New York could eventually be one of nearly two dozen states holding primaries on the new day. The move could help presidential hopefuls from New York, namely Clinton and Giuliani, and other pols who are able to head into early contests with large cash reserves. Read more on the issue here -
Many other states are considering, or have enacted, similar legislation and New York could eventually be one of nearly two dozen states holding primaries on the new day. The move could help presidential hopefuls from New York, namely Clinton and Giuliani, and other pols who are able to head into early contests with large cash reserves. Read more on the issue here -
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
The Gitmo Circus
US Gov't Places Unenforceable Gag Order on Former Prisoner
The Gitmo circus rages on with antics rivaled only by Barnum & Bailey and intricate choreography ala Cirque de Soleil.
From a story in yesterday's Sydney Morning Herald -
Just one problem, as reported in today's edition of the Morning Herald -
Read more in our previous post on Gitmo that highlights the efforts of Amnesty International to shut down the shining example of American hypocrisy and human rights infringement.
The Gitmo circus rages on with antics rivaled only by Barnum & Bailey and intricate choreography ala Cirque de Soleil.
From a story in yesterday's Sydney Morning Herald -
David Hicks could be sent back to Guantanamo Bay to serve the rest of his seven years term if he breaches his pre-trial agreement by speaking to the media, his military lawyer says.
Major Michael Mori today said Hicks was focused on returning to Australia and could not have asked for a better sentence than going home within 60 days.
Hicks, who has spent five years in the US' military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, after being captured in Afghanistan in late 2001, last week pleaded guilty to a charge of giving material support to terrorists.
Under a plea deal negotiated between Hicks' lawyers and the US military commission, he will be returned to Australia to serve nine months in an Adelaide prison before being set free.
He also agreed not to speak to the media for a year or allege he was mistreated while in detention.
Major Mori today said that if Hicks breached any of the conditions in the plea bargain - such as by speaking to the media - he could be forced to serve out the entire seven-year sentence, that is to be suspended after the nine months.
"Violating many of the provisions of pre-trial agreement actually could require him to serve the remainder of the sentence hanging over his head," Major Mori told the ABC's 7.30 Report. "He could potentially be brought back to Guantanamo to serve it."
Just one problem, as reported in today's edition of the Morning Herald -
THE gag on David Hicks speaking to the media for 12 months would not be enforceable in Australia, the Attorney-General, Philip Ruddock, admitted last night.
Mr Ruddock said Australia had no law making it a crime for Hicks to talk, and the United States would be able to act on a breach only if Hicks came "within their reach".
-snip-
. . . later, speaking on the ABC's Lateline he said that for Australia to agree to an extradition, a charge similar to the one laid overseas must exist under Australian law. "In Australia, we have a position about freedom of speech."Asked if the gag order meant nothing, and Hicks would be able to speak to the media, Mr Ruddock responded: "I suspect you are probably right."
Mr Ruddock said the US included the clause in the plea bargain and it was a matter for the US, Hicks, his prosecutors and his counsel. "I don't think it's a matter for us to enforce," he said.
-snip-
Hicks's father, Terry, has expressed his outrage that the gag order extends to him, and constitutional law experts have said that it breaches Australia's fundamental guarantees of free political discussion.
Read more in our previous post on Gitmo that highlights the efforts of Amnesty International to shut down the shining example of American hypocrisy and human rights infringement.
Who Gets What
Aid to Community Colleges
The NYS Assembly website has a listing of aid for community colleges in the 2007-08 Enacted Budget. How did our region fare?
Finger Lakes
Estimated Funded Enrollment: 3,528
Executive Proposed $100 Base Aid Increase: $352,818
Enacted $50 Base Aid Increase: $176,409
Total 07-08 Base Aid Increase: $529,227
Monroe
Estimated Funded Enrollment: 14,220
Executive Proposed $100 Base Aid Increase: $1,421,976
Enacted $50 Base Aid Increase: $710,988
Total 07-08 Base Aid Increase: $2,132,964
The NYS Assembly website has a listing of aid for community colleges in the 2007-08 Enacted Budget. How did our region fare?
Finger Lakes
Estimated Funded Enrollment: 3,528
Executive Proposed $100 Base Aid Increase: $352,818
Enacted $50 Base Aid Increase: $176,409
Total 07-08 Base Aid Increase: $529,227
Monroe
Estimated Funded Enrollment: 14,220
Executive Proposed $100 Base Aid Increase: $1,421,976
Enacted $50 Base Aid Increase: $710,988
Total 07-08 Base Aid Increase: $2,132,964
Checking Up on Congress
The newest addition to our Links section: OpenCongress.org.
Thanks to RochesterTurning for the heads up on this site which is a joint project between the Participatory Politics Foundation and and the Sunlight Foundation.
RochesterTurning has a great breakdown of the site's features, which includes a link to recent buzz on respective representatives from blogs like the WBP, the aforementioned RochesterTurning and the Fighting 29th.
Thanks to RochesterTurning for the heads up on this site which is a joint project between the Participatory Politics Foundation and and the Sunlight Foundation.
RochesterTurning has a great breakdown of the site's features, which includes a link to recent buzz on respective representatives from blogs like the WBP, the aforementioned RochesterTurning and the Fighting 29th.
NORMLization
New Mexico Approves Med Marijuana
Bill Richardson, New Mexico Governor and Presidential hopeful, getting some press on this issue.
From a Reuters story -
Bill Richardson, New Mexico Governor and Presidential hopeful, getting some press on this issue.
From a Reuters story -
New Mexico doctors are allowed to prescribe marijuana to help some seriously ill patients manage symptoms including pain and nausea under a bill signed into law by Gov. Bill Richardson on Monday.
"This law will provide much-needed relief for New Mexicans suffering from debilitating diseases," Richardson said at the signing ceremony. "It is the right thing to do."
The southwestern state is the 12th in the United States to endorse the use of marijuana for medical uses. New Mexico's state legislature is the fourth in the country to enact such a measure.
-snip-
The law creates a panel of eight expert physicians and other health care workers to supervise the program. Qualified patients must be under a doctor's care and supervision, the news release said.
"I would like to thank the governor for ... giving me another shot at life," said Essie DeBone, who suffers from advanced complications from HIV/AIDS.
Rochester Int'l Jazz Fest
The final artist line-up and schedule for the 2007 Jazz Fest is now available. Artist picks from the WBP in the weeks to come -
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Where's the Accountability?
Local Leaders Question Rivera's Role
Continuing down the slippery education funding slope, which saw its grade steepened by initiatives that set hazardous precedents like the Campaign for Fiscal Equity, the 2007-08 Enacted Budget works further to take the issue out of the hands of localities and centralize the power to disburse funding in Albany - not a recipe for success in my book.
The passing of Maintenance of Effort legislation in the state budget requires the City of Rochester to give the City School District the same amount of aid as last year with no ties to accountability or performance standards.
Puzzling for a district which, despite receiving considerably more in aid than districts in other Upstate cities, has produced one of the most dismal graduation rates in the nation. According to statements from Monroe County District Attorney Mike Green on the Brother Wease program last week, he possesses data which indicates that only 25%-35% of RCSD students eventually graduate.
Why, in the midst of a conversational storm about reform and accountability standards, would this Maintenance of Effort legislation be passed? Some local leaders are questioning the role Manny Rivera, currently in a dual role as Superintendent and gubernatorial Education chief, played in its passage:
Continuing down the slippery education funding slope, which saw its grade steepened by initiatives that set hazardous precedents like the Campaign for Fiscal Equity, the 2007-08 Enacted Budget works further to take the issue out of the hands of localities and centralize the power to disburse funding in Albany - not a recipe for success in my book.
The passing of Maintenance of Effort legislation in the state budget requires the City of Rochester to give the City School District the same amount of aid as last year with no ties to accountability or performance standards.
Puzzling for a district which, despite receiving considerably more in aid than districts in other Upstate cities, has produced one of the most dismal graduation rates in the nation. According to statements from Monroe County District Attorney Mike Green on the Brother Wease program last week, he possesses data which indicates that only 25%-35% of RCSD students eventually graduate.
Why, in the midst of a conversational storm about reform and accountability standards, would this Maintenance of Effort legislation be passed? Some local leaders are questioning the role Manny Rivera, currently in a dual role as Superintendent and gubernatorial Education chief, played in its passage:
“I question why it was put in place with absolutely no language for accountability whatsoever,” [Rochester Mayor Bob] Duffy said.
Duffy has been highly critical of the district’s dismal four-year graduation rate, and wanted the option to pull funding. The city is facing a $17 million budget gap.
A month ago, the mayor sent a letter to the school district demanding information relating to spending and academic performance. In his State of the City address last week, he proposed tying school aid to results. He has not received a response from school officials.
Morelle says he was the only lawmaker to take the floor to oppose the maintenance of effort legislation. He said the law is unprecedented, and has the effect of taking away local control and accountability of school funds.
Morelle suspects Rochester’s superintendent, Dr. Manuel Rivera, played a role in getting the bill passed. Rivera has been serving as the governor’s deputy education secretary, a job he will assume full time next month.
“I certainly think there may have been undue influence by Manny as a superintendent, and while there is disclosure about that, I just think it's something we need to think about,” Morelle said. “I think he needs to question whether or not he can serve both masters at the same time.” 13WHAM asked Mayor Duffy if he believed Rivera played any role in getting the legislation passed.
“In terms of the role of the superintendent, I would say this, that's a very good ethical question and I'm going to decline comment at this time,” Duffy said.
Rivera had already counted the full $119 million in the budget he submitted to the school board last month.
Reservist Objector to be Discharged
Federal Judge Rules
From an AP story -
SAN JOSE, Calif. — A Marine lance corporal who said he had an aversion to killing and participating in war must be released from the military as a conscientious objector, a federal judge ruled.
The Marine Corps Reserve must discharge Robert Zabala, 23, by mid-April, under the ruling.
Zabala said he was troubled during boot camp in 2003 when a fellow recruit committed suicide and a superior used profanities to belittle the recruit. Zabala said he was "abhorred by the blood lust [the superior] seemed to possess," according to a 2006 court petition for conscientious-objector status.
Another boot camp instructor showed recruits a "motivational clip" showing Iraqi corpses, explosions, gunfights and rockets set to a heavy metal song that included the lyrics, "Let the bodies hit the floor," the petition said. Zabala said he cried, while other recruits nodded their heads in time with the beat.
"The sanctity of life that formed the moral center of petitioner's life was being challenged," his attorney, Stephen Collier, wrote in a court filing.
U.S. District Judge James Ware, who served 13 years in the Army Reserve, said he was convinced of Zabala's sincerity about his struggles to "reconcile the demands of duty with the demands of conscience."
From an AP story -
SAN JOSE, Calif. — A Marine lance corporal who said he had an aversion to killing and participating in war must be released from the military as a conscientious objector, a federal judge ruled.
The Marine Corps Reserve must discharge Robert Zabala, 23, by mid-April, under the ruling.
Zabala said he was troubled during boot camp in 2003 when a fellow recruit committed suicide and a superior used profanities to belittle the recruit. Zabala said he was "abhorred by the blood lust [the superior] seemed to possess," according to a 2006 court petition for conscientious-objector status.
Another boot camp instructor showed recruits a "motivational clip" showing Iraqi corpses, explosions, gunfights and rockets set to a heavy metal song that included the lyrics, "Let the bodies hit the floor," the petition said. Zabala said he cried, while other recruits nodded their heads in time with the beat.
"The sanctity of life that formed the moral center of petitioner's life was being challenged," his attorney, Stephen Collier, wrote in a court filing.
U.S. District Judge James Ware, who served 13 years in the Army Reserve, said he was convinced of Zabala's sincerity about his struggles to "reconcile the demands of duty with the demands of conscience."
Who Gets What
Budget Numbers for Your Area
The NYS Budget Division has numbers posted for the Aid and Incentives for Municipalities (AIM) portion of the recently Enacted Budget.
The 2007-08 Enacted Budget restructures AIM to target additional State aid primarily to fiscally distressed municipalities. An AIM increase of $50 million is authorized in 2007-08, and in each of the three following years, for a four-year total of $200 million. These increases are tied to enhanced accountability requirements that encourage local fiscal improvement. Finally, the 2007-08 AIM program continues to provide incentive grants to local governments that consolidate or share services under a $25 million Shared Municipal Services Incentive (SMSI) grant program.
DOB allows users to search by zip code or name for their own county, city, town or village and its respective allotment of AIM funding.
The NYS Budget Division has numbers posted for the Aid and Incentives for Municipalities (AIM) portion of the recently Enacted Budget.
The 2007-08 Enacted Budget restructures AIM to target additional State aid primarily to fiscally distressed municipalities. An AIM increase of $50 million is authorized in 2007-08, and in each of the three following years, for a four-year total of $200 million. These increases are tied to enhanced accountability requirements that encourage local fiscal improvement. Finally, the 2007-08 AIM program continues to provide incentive grants to local governments that consolidate or share services under a $25 million Shared Municipal Services Incentive (SMSI) grant program.
DOB allows users to search by zip code or name for their own county, city, town or village and its respective allotment of AIM funding.
Albany Preserves Adirondacks
From an AP story -
State officials have completed agreements to protect almost 260,000 acres of Adirondack wilderness and open much of it to public recreation. The deal, struck in 2004 with the International Paper Company, involved conservation easements on 257,000 acres in nine counties. Under the contracts, the Lyme Timber Company, which has since bought most of International Paper’s Adirondack land, will not sell the land for development, and the state will pay local taxes.
State officials have completed agreements to protect almost 260,000 acres of Adirondack wilderness and open much of it to public recreation. The deal, struck in 2004 with the International Paper Company, involved conservation easements on 257,000 acres in nine counties. Under the contracts, the Lyme Timber Company, which has since bought most of International Paper’s Adirondack land, will not sell the land for development, and the state will pay local taxes.
Monday, April 2, 2007
Think This Budget is Done?
Not Hardly
“The governor may at any time within thirty days thereafter and, with the consent of the legislature, at any time before the adjournment thereof, amend or supplement the budget and submit amendments to any bills submitted by him or her or submit supplemental bills.”
That is from the New York state constitution and that means this budget is far from over and patting anyone on the back for passing it "on-time" is misguided and undeserved. Sorry Steamroller.
Of the many special interest additions we will likely see over the next few weeks, one of the items at the top of the legislature's to-do list in the coming days is a nice little pay raise for themselves. I challenge any reader to give me a logical reason why they actually deserve a raise.
One more thing, has anyone been able to find a breakdown of individual legislator's votes on the budget? The Assembly page search tool is useful if you know the individual bill numbers but most of the Senate and Assembly members did not even see those.
Johnson's Ferry: SOLD!
An End to a Very Long, Very Strange Trip
Rochester City officials announced the sale today of the Spirit of Ontario fast ferry.
Mayor Bob Duffy said the vessel has been sold to Germany-based FRS for $30 million. According to reports the company has already paid a 10% deposit.
The purchase will leave the City with roughly $20 million in debt on the boat.
Rochester City officials announced the sale today of the Spirit of Ontario fast ferry.
Mayor Bob Duffy said the vessel has been sold to Germany-based FRS for $30 million. According to reports the company has already paid a 10% deposit.
The purchase will leave the City with roughly $20 million in debt on the boat.
Sunday, April 1, 2007
Rosie, Loose Change & the BBC
Conspiracy Lives On
Noam Chomsky has publicly stated that he does not believe there is any way that the attacks of 9/11 were organized or undertaken by our own government.
Hunter S. Thompson stated on international radio before his death that he had every reason to believe that the American public did not know all the details of the attacks.
The 9/11 conspiracy debate is very much alive and well and in the news.
All the hub-bub started when Bill O'Reilly and other right wingers launched a good old fashioned offensive against those "Hollywood liberal types."
First up was Dallas Mavericks owner and media mogul Mark Cuban who has announced that he will fund distribution for an updated version of the notorious Loose Change 9/11 conspiracy film. The film gained immense popularity during its time as a freely shared Google video, but has been mostly unavailable in its finished form since last year when it was taken down for copyright issues.
The next target was Rosie O'Donnell who, at the close of heated political debate with hottie conservative View co-host Elizabeth Hasselbeck, said the public did not everything about the 9/11 attacks. O'Donnell cited the collapse of WTC Building 7, which she called the "first steel building in history to collapse from fire," as being in defiance of the laws of physics. She went on to say that the building could only have collapsed with the assistance of explosive charges.
WTC Building 7 has also had increased internet buzz over the last half of March with the materialization of an apparently damning YouTube video.
The video is made up of BBC News footage from 9/11. The segment in questions highlights the coverage of the collapse of the Solamon Building, WTC Building 7, nearly half an hour before the building actually collapsed.
I cannot say whether conspiracy theorists are right or wrong. However, these events highlight the mis-, dis- and incorrect information circulating around the happenings of 9/11.
What I can confirm is, in the end, it appears !egad! that Rosie was right.
The following clip is from a PBS documentary segment with the leaseholder of the World Trade Center and his decision on WTC Building 7 -
Noam Chomsky has publicly stated that he does not believe there is any way that the attacks of 9/11 were organized or undertaken by our own government.
Hunter S. Thompson stated on international radio before his death that he had every reason to believe that the American public did not know all the details of the attacks.
The 9/11 conspiracy debate is very much alive and well and in the news.
All the hub-bub started when Bill O'Reilly and other right wingers launched a good old fashioned offensive against those "Hollywood liberal types."
First up was Dallas Mavericks owner and media mogul Mark Cuban who has announced that he will fund distribution for an updated version of the notorious Loose Change 9/11 conspiracy film. The film gained immense popularity during its time as a freely shared Google video, but has been mostly unavailable in its finished form since last year when it was taken down for copyright issues.
The next target was Rosie O'Donnell who, at the close of heated political debate with hottie conservative View co-host Elizabeth Hasselbeck, said the public did not everything about the 9/11 attacks. O'Donnell cited the collapse of WTC Building 7, which she called the "first steel building in history to collapse from fire," as being in defiance of the laws of physics. She went on to say that the building could only have collapsed with the assistance of explosive charges.
WTC Building 7 has also had increased internet buzz over the last half of March with the materialization of an apparently damning YouTube video.
The video is made up of BBC News footage from 9/11. The segment in questions highlights the coverage of the collapse of the Solamon Building, WTC Building 7, nearly half an hour before the building actually collapsed.
I cannot say whether conspiracy theorists are right or wrong. However, these events highlight the mis-, dis- and incorrect information circulating around the happenings of 9/11.
What I can confirm is, in the end, it appears !egad! that Rosie was right.
The following clip is from a PBS documentary segment with the leaseholder of the World Trade Center and his decision on WTC Building 7 -
This is Government?
Why no April Fools' Day fake news post? Well, because we think they are lame and what is happening at the state capitol is amusing and disturbing enough -
Like a high school freshman rushing through his homework that he left until last minute even though it was assigned to him a month ago, cutting and pasting from Wikipedia without actually reading any of it and hoping his teacher won't notice; the NYS Leg blew through a flurry of bills last night - only pausing for the delays it took to print them.
So much for reform and the inclusion of rank-and-file legislators, the ones you and I elected, in the decision making process. Our representatives are not even allowed the opportunity to read the bills, much less consider the impact of the legislation on his or her respective district.
"How am I voting Mr. Leader? Ok, thank you Mr. Leader, may I have some more money now?"
What did all the backroom dealing, cronyism and influence peddling get us? A budget that increases spending at THREE TIMES the rate of inflation. The new Governor considers the budget a "success." Whatever you say Spitz . . .
Diana Fortuna of the Citizens Budget Commission sums it up:
Like a high school freshman rushing through his homework that he left until last minute even though it was assigned to him a month ago, cutting and pasting from Wikipedia without actually reading any of it and hoping his teacher won't notice; the NYS Leg blew through a flurry of bills last night - only pausing for the delays it took to print them.
So much for reform and the inclusion of rank-and-file legislators, the ones you and I elected, in the decision making process. Our representatives are not even allowed the opportunity to read the bills, much less consider the impact of the legislation on his or her respective district.
"How am I voting Mr. Leader? Ok, thank you Mr. Leader, may I have some more money now?"
What did all the backroom dealing, cronyism and influence peddling get us? A budget that increases spending at THREE TIMES the rate of inflation. The new Governor considers the budget a "success." Whatever you say Spitz . . .
Diana Fortuna of the Citizens Budget Commission sums it up:
"The rush to pass legislation before the public or even lawmakers have a chance to consider it is a continuation of business as usual," Fortuna said. "The budget process is still a mess."
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Working for the Weekend
Our state legislature is actually working on a Saturday. Why not, they take off the other 364 days of the year.
As midnight approaches the latest budget news:
- No tax credits for private school tuition;
- Rochester will not receive any additional funding beyond the 33% increase from last year's level;
- Current total looks to be around $121 billion.
As midnight approaches the latest budget news:
- No tax credits for private school tuition;
- Rochester will not receive any additional funding beyond the 33% increase from last year's level;
- Current total looks to be around $121 billion.
militarytimes.comFriday, March 30, 2007
Mo' Money, Mo' Problems
New Yorkers Pay More But Just Not Happy
The Center for Governmental Research compared local governments in New York and Virginia, here is what it found:
The Center for Governmental Research compared local governments in New York and Virginia, here is what it found:
CGR prepared a study for the Long Island Index that compared local governments in the two counties on Long Island with two comparable counties in northern Virginia. Including school districts and special districts, Long Island has 439 local government entities compared with 17 in northern Virginia. Long Island governments spend 45% more, per capita, than their northern Virginia counterparts, and local property taxes are 55% higher on Long Island. Despite that, a comprehensive survey of both regions found that citizens in northern Virginia rate the level of service provided by local governments and schools higher, and say they have better access to government officials.
100th Post: Your 5Linx Story
Takin' it to the Streets
Just over two months ago we relaunched the current version of the Water Buffalo Press. It is now 100 posts later and we would like to thank everyone who visited, read, commented and linked.
Our first post examined the company 5Linx, located in Henrietta, NY, and its worthiness of millions of dollars in funding and incentives given its employment of the suspect MLM business model. Today, this is still our most visited thread with the most recent comments coming just two weeks ago:
On that note, with assistance from PyramidSchemeAlert.org, we have begun building a file for review on 5Linx and its business operations. We invite anyone who has had a 5Linx experience, positive or negative, to either post his or her story in the comments section below or email your story to waterbuffalopress@gmail.com.
Once the information is complied it will be submitted to the Federal Trade Commission and Office of the NYS Attorney General for review.
All of our 5Linx stories can be found in the COMIDA section of our archives. We thank you for your input, more to come -
Just over two months ago we relaunched the current version of the Water Buffalo Press. It is now 100 posts later and we would like to thank everyone who visited, read, commented and linked.
Our first post examined the company 5Linx, located in Henrietta, NY, and its worthiness of millions of dollars in funding and incentives given its employment of the suspect MLM business model. Today, this is still our most visited thread with the most recent comments coming just two weeks ago:
dj_paige said...
PyramidSchemeAlert.org? Why didn’t I think of that? This whole thread should be made widely available somehow -- perhaps by putting it on its own page with a catchy title so that Google can search for it, and people can find it.
On that note, with assistance from PyramidSchemeAlert.org, we have begun building a file for review on 5Linx and its business operations. We invite anyone who has had a 5Linx experience, positive or negative, to either post his or her story in the comments section below or email your story to waterbuffalopress@gmail.com.
Once the information is complied it will be submitted to the Federal Trade Commission and Office of the NYS Attorney General for review.
All of our 5Linx stories can be found in the COMIDA section of our archives. We thank you for your input, more to come -
What's Good For the Goose is Not Neccesarily Good for the Dems
Federal Pork Oversight Weakened
From a Washington Times story -
Just because the joke of an administration currently occupying the White House is Republican does not mean that we should be blind to Democratic shenanigans.
The CRS said it is cutting back because of redundancy, yet no other governmental organization is designed to digest and compile such information and present it to the Congressional body.
As indicated in the article, third party oversight of such issues gives the public an accurate picture of the economic implications of legislation, rather than the doctored numbers that communicate the message which the party in power wants to be heard.
From a Washington Times story -
The federal agency that tracked pork-barrel spending during the 12 years of the Republican congressional majority has discontinued the practice since Democrats took power . . .
CRS, a nonpartisan agency of the Library of Congress created to conduct research for members of Congress on legislative issues, changed its policy in February -- a month after Democrats took control of the Congress and vowed to curb the number of special-interest projects inserted into spending bills or even reports that don't require a vote. CRS Director Daniel P. Mulhollan developed the policy after consulting with "internal CRS appropriations experts" and deciding the service was redundant with what other agencies do, CRS spokeswoman Janine D'Addario said.
"His decision was strictly an internal decision," said Miss D'Addario, whose agency began providing Congress members with information on earmarks in 1994, when Mr. Mulhollan took over as director.
-snip-
Several lawmakers, particularly those who had come to rely on the agency to identify the dollar value of earmarks in appropriations and other laws, were caught off guard by the change.
"It's troubling -- I can't think of any justification for that," said Rep. Jeff Flake, Arizona Republican. "They've done good research in the past ... That's what they're here for -- the benefit of the members" of Congress.
-snip-
Republicans said they want an independent observer because pork is often in the eye of the beholder and estimates of the amount vary widely.
Citizens Against Government Waste put the figure for 2006 at $29 billion, while Republicans on the House Appropriations Committee said it was $17 billion. Mr. DeMint, citing a CRS report, said the amount totaled more than $67 billion.
Mr. DeMint said no other agency or group has the resources, expertise and access to provide Congress with data on earmarks. "This is really baffling that CRS would do this," he said.
-snip-
When Democrats took control of the 110th Congress in January, they promised to limit the long-standing and bipartisan practice of slipping pork spending into bills. But when the House last week passed a $124 billion emergency war-funding provision, the bill included as much as $20 billion in nonmilitary and pork-barrel spending, a move widely criticized . . .
-snip-
The emergency war-funding provision included $74 million for the peanut industry, $124 million for the shrimp industry and $25 million for spinach producers. The war-funding bill is proof an independent third-party observer like the Congressional Research Service is needed to keep track of earmarks, many in Congress say.
"I can tell you it's very difficult to get this type of information from the [House] Appropriations Committee -- very difficult," Mr. Flake said.
Just because the joke of an administration currently occupying the White House is Republican does not mean that we should be blind to Democratic shenanigans.
The CRS said it is cutting back because of redundancy, yet no other governmental organization is designed to digest and compile such information and present it to the Congressional body.
As indicated in the article, third party oversight of such issues gives the public an accurate picture of the economic implications of legislation, rather than the doctored numbers that communicate the message which the party in power wants to be heard.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Spitz Makes Concessions
Steamroller Compromises With Senate GOP
NYS Governor Eliot Spitzer announced a tentative budget agreement between legislative leaders. The unnerving part of the announcement was the absence of any of those other leaders.
How did it (maybe) get done? Spitzer, Bruno and Silver ignored the warnings of Comptroller Tom DiNapoli and decided to spend more tax dollars:
- More than $350 million added to offset proposed cuts in healthcare.
- Approximately $500 million added to education spending to reduce the number of save-harmless districts and provide increased operating aid for districts throughout the state.
- The property tax relief program will provide savings via rebate checks.
- Certain provisions of the proposed corporate tax loophole package will be offset by business tax reductions.
It will be amazing if this agreement actually holds together, but it is obvious that Steamroller Spitzer is all too aware of how to play the Albany Deal Game. Did Spitz cave in the face of falling poll approval numbers? Why concede to the Senate GOP that, given party dynamics and leg majorities, is really the only Republican game in town?
Unfortunately, we will likely never know the answers to these and other questions as the negotiations have taken place in private via the classic "Three Men in a Room" style of politics. So much for reform -
NYS Governor Eliot Spitzer announced a tentative budget agreement between legislative leaders. The unnerving part of the announcement was the absence of any of those other leaders.
How did it (maybe) get done? Spitzer, Bruno and Silver ignored the warnings of Comptroller Tom DiNapoli and decided to spend more tax dollars:
- More than $350 million added to offset proposed cuts in healthcare.
- Approximately $500 million added to education spending to reduce the number of save-harmless districts and provide increased operating aid for districts throughout the state.
- The property tax relief program will provide savings via rebate checks.
- Certain provisions of the proposed corporate tax loophole package will be offset by business tax reductions.
It will be amazing if this agreement actually holds together, but it is obvious that Steamroller Spitzer is all too aware of how to play the Albany Deal Game. Did Spitz cave in the face of falling poll approval numbers? Why concede to the Senate GOP that, given party dynamics and leg majorities, is really the only Republican game in town?
Unfortunately, we will likely never know the answers to these and other questions as the negotiations have taken place in private via the classic "Three Men in a Room" style of politics. So much for reform -
Monday, March 26, 2007
Blogrollcall
Another Centrist! Not a knee jerk liberal, not an out of touch conservative - it's our newest addition to the blogroll: Mustard Street.
Welcome to the middle; it is a lonely, lonely place.
The WBP came across Mustard Street via their analysis of our posting regarding County Executive Brooks' bill eliminating health insurance benefits for future Water Board members:
Thank you. We find your insight on our insight to be insightful.
Actually, given NYS AG Andrew Cuomo's numerous actions indicating the illegality of such benefits, Brooks would have likely been forced to take action had she not done so voluntarily.
Thank you, keep up the good fight.
Welcome to the middle; it is a lonely, lonely place.
The WBP came across Mustard Street via their analysis of our posting regarding County Executive Brooks' bill eliminating health insurance benefits for future Water Board members:
Over at the Water Buffalo Press there's a pretty insightful take on last night's action by the Monroe County Legislature to approve a Maggie Brooks proposal to freeze -- as the D&C styled it -- benefits for Water Authority Board members.
Thank you. We find your insight on our insight to be insightful.
This observer thinks Water Buffalo is too harsh on Brooks. After all, she didn't have to propose anything.
Actually, given NYS AG Andrew Cuomo's numerous actions indicating the illegality of such benefits, Brooks would have likely been forced to take action had she not done so voluntarily.
However, that doesn't detract from the overall thoughtfulness of the Water Buffalo piece. Its analysis is much more subtle than its title; so read on.
Thank you, keep up the good fight.
NYS Assembly Highlights: 3/19 - 3/23
Ah spring, when a young man's fancies turn to thoughts of budget negotiations - a budget that is supposed to be passed one week from today. We are not holding our breath.
Speaker Sheldon Silver has released his list of action items from last week's Assembly sessions. Highlights include:
This is really just a political money-grab. By moving the Primary date up the scales are tipped in favor of the candidate who heads into the early primaries with the largest war chest. For example, a Hillary Clinton will have a much better chance of winning the party nomination than a Dennis Kucinich who would more likely gain momentum and votes through communicating ideas and establishing himself as an alternative candidate, rather than coming out of the gates as a favorite. In the middle of it all will be the state party leaders, bleeding media and personnel funds out of the massive campaign accounts with the promise of delegates.
Undoubtedly we have a responsibility to help relief workers and the families of victims, but to expand coverage to those whom "personally witnessed" the attacks? The entire nation was, in a way, witnesses on that day and what of those who saw the Pentagon attack or the "crash" of Flight 85? Were their experiences any less chilling and upsetting?
As far as the arbitrary "10-block radius," I would have loved to been in on the conversation where they came up with that one. No caps on these reimbursements either - yikes.
They may discuss it in public, but we will never see any deal made in public. As far as the additional $575 million is state revenue, more can be found on that fallacy here.
Speaker Sheldon Silver has released his list of action items from last week's Assembly sessions. Highlights include:
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver announced that the Assembly gave final passage to legislation to change New York State's presidential primary date from March 4 to February 5, 2008.
"The earlier primary date will give our state the edge we need to lock in a candidate's commitment to New York and enhance our ability to select the best presidential candidate for the state and nation," said Silver. He noted that by passing this legislation, New York will now be linked with other influential states that have demographic as well as public-policy issues and needs similar to New York State's.
This is really just a political money-grab. By moving the Primary date up the scales are tipped in favor of the candidate who heads into the early primaries with the largest war chest. For example, a Hillary Clinton will have a much better chance of winning the party nomination than a Dennis Kucinich who would more likely gain momentum and votes through communicating ideas and establishing himself as an alternative candidate, rather than coming out of the gates as a favorite. In the middle of it all will be the state party leaders, bleeding media and personnel funds out of the massive campaign accounts with the promise of delegates.
Silver announced the passage of legislation to continue the reimbursement of counseling expenses for relief workers or individuals who personally witnessed the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center.
-snip-
Under the bill (A.6621, Silver / S.3039, Maltese), traumatized bystanders who were within a 10-block radius of the WTC site when the attack occurred and relief workers would continue to have their counseling services reimbursed until December 31, 2007. This benefit is available without regard to the residence or financial difficulty of a claimant. The rate of reimbursement is determined by a claimant's treating counselor or independent medical examiner and is based on a percentage of the counseling service that is related to the claimant's injury that is a direct result of the 9/11 attack. There is no cap on the reimbursement expense.
Undoubtedly we have a responsibility to help relief workers and the families of victims, but to expand coverage to those whom "personally witnessed" the attacks? The entire nation was, in a way, witnesses on that day and what of those who saw the Pentagon attack or the "crash" of Flight 85? Were their experiences any less chilling and upsetting?
As far as the arbitrary "10-block radius," I would have loved to been in on the conversation where they came up with that one. No caps on these reimbursements either - yikes.
Silver joined Gov. Eliot Spitzer, Lt. Gov. David Paterson and Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno as well as the minority leaders from each house for a meeting in the Capitol to discuss, in public, a budget for the state's fiscal year 2007-08. Silver and Spitzer urged Senator Bruno and Senate Republicans to
reduce their excessive spending proposal to a level that is closer to the additional state revenue amount of $575 million that all parties agreed to earlier this month.
They may discuss it in public, but we will never see any deal made in public. As far as the additional $575 million is state revenue, more can be found on that fallacy here.
Open Thread: State of the City
Everyone does open threads on Fridays. I do not know about you but I like Fridays - I am in prime bitching mode on Mondays. In that spirit here is our Monday Open Thread: what is the State of the City of Rochester in your opinion? Mayor Duffy will give his tonight at 7:00pm, we want to hear yours -
Thursday, March 22, 2007
D&C Hopes Fear = Readers
Breaking News That Is Not So Breaking
The headline is ominous: "A neighborhood in our community is contaminated and homeowners have been unaware of the potential danger." Oooooooo, freaky . . .
So begins the multimedia slide show when the D&C website link for a Sunday Special Report is clicked. At the center of the story is the former site of Dinaburg Distributing Inc., a laundry chemical seller that closed nearly 15 years ago. The D&C tag line says area residents were shocked to learn of possible groundwater and air contamination at the site. Breaking news shrouded in secrecy finally exposed to the light by the efforts of the great and powerful D&C? Not so much.
The D&C is about six years late to the game on this story. The New York state Department of Environmental Conservation actually held a public meeting regarding remediation at this site in August of 2001:
The DEC used Superfund monies to install soil vapor extraction systems in 2000.
According to this information at least two homeowners were aware of the vapors and those homes, according to this report, were the only two residences that were effected.
Additional contamination was discovered in the years that followed but just because no one paid attention does not mean that no one knew. Copies of site reports are available at the regional DEC office and the Rochester Public Library (next to the porn). A Dem & Chron 2006 article even highlighted Dinaburg and its disposal of drycleaning chemicals. The D&C would like you to believe the contrary, however, as they hope that the shock and awe tactics will get you to buy a paper on Sunday.
In fact, there are numerous companies still in operation which continue to contaminate. In addition, thanks to a list from the Environmental Protection Agency, who these businesses are and what toxins they deal in are very public and very available. Where is the D&C outrage over these businesses?
The EPA Envirofacts Warehouse identifies 43 entities as polluters and classifies their type into what they are allowed to release into the environment, for example:
Domine Builders
Permitted Discharges to Water? No
Toxic Releases Reported? Yes
Hazardous Waste Handler? Yes
Active or Archived Superfund Report? No
Air Releases Reported? Yes
To compare, Dinaburg had an affirmative in only one category.
Why did the D&C chose to highlight Dinaburg? Easy - no backlash from executives of a company no longer in operation.
Granted, why it took 17 years for this site to receive full remediation is a valid one, but perhaps more pressing is why this contamination is accepted and allowed.
The headline is ominous: "A neighborhood in our community is contaminated and homeowners have been unaware of the potential danger." Oooooooo, freaky . . .
So begins the multimedia slide show when the D&C website link for a Sunday Special Report is clicked. At the center of the story is the former site of Dinaburg Distributing Inc., a laundry chemical seller that closed nearly 15 years ago. The D&C tag line says area residents were shocked to learn of possible groundwater and air contamination at the site. Breaking news shrouded in secrecy finally exposed to the light by the efforts of the great and powerful D&C? Not so much.
The D&C is about six years late to the game on this story. The New York state Department of Environmental Conservation actually held a public meeting regarding remediation at this site in August of 2001:
The New York State DEC and Department of Health invite you to a public meeting to discuss the former Dinaburg Distributing, Inc. property in the City of Rochester.
-snip-
The . . . site . . . has been vacant since 1995 and no dry cleaning chemicals remain in the building. The results of previous environmental investigations revealed soil and groundwater beneath the site are contaminated with trichloroethene (TCE) and tetrachloroethene (PCE) . . .
In April 1999, the basement air in two homes adjacent to the site was sampled by the owner. PCE and TCE were detected in the air . . .
The DEC used Superfund monies to install soil vapor extraction systems in 2000.
According to this information at least two homeowners were aware of the vapors and those homes, according to this report, were the only two residences that were effected.
Additional contamination was discovered in the years that followed but just because no one paid attention does not mean that no one knew. Copies of site reports are available at the regional DEC office and the Rochester Public Library (next to the porn). A Dem & Chron 2006 article even highlighted Dinaburg and its disposal of drycleaning chemicals. The D&C would like you to believe the contrary, however, as they hope that the shock and awe tactics will get you to buy a paper on Sunday.
In fact, there are numerous companies still in operation which continue to contaminate. In addition, thanks to a list from the Environmental Protection Agency, who these businesses are and what toxins they deal in are very public and very available. Where is the D&C outrage over these businesses?
The EPA Envirofacts Warehouse identifies 43 entities as polluters and classifies their type into what they are allowed to release into the environment, for example:
Domine Builders
Permitted Discharges to Water? No
Toxic Releases Reported? Yes
Hazardous Waste Handler? Yes
Active or Archived Superfund Report? No
Air Releases Reported? Yes
To compare, Dinaburg had an affirmative in only one category.
Why did the D&C chose to highlight Dinaburg? Easy - no backlash from executives of a company no longer in operation.
Granted, why it took 17 years for this site to receive full remediation is a valid one, but perhaps more pressing is why this contamination is accepted and allowed.
...And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Pork
Cuomo Increases Member Item Oversight
Obviously aware of where one can go after the state Attorney General's office, ala Spitz, AG Andrew Cuomo has been extremely active since taking the reins - and extremely effective.
Cuomo's name has been in the news but, rather than grandstanding, his headlines have come for undertaking much needed government reforms such as the incentives received by public authority boards and dishonest college loan practices.
Today, the AG took aim at another of New York's bureaucratic travesties: member item funding, or pork.
Under the terms of the reform, the two main goals of disclosure and accountability will be assured by adding Disclosure and Accountability Certifications to member item contracts for not-for-profit and for-profit corporations. Governmental bodies, such as cities, school districts and fire districts, will not be required to file the certifications.
The Disclosure and Accountability Certifications will have the organizations receiving grants attest to any conflicts of interest, the public purpose of the taxpayer funds, and the bona fides of the organization’s good standing.
“Member items have been a source of increasing public concern,” said Attorney General Cuomo. “While my Office continues its review of member item contracts, it is important that the public be assured that, going forward, such spending will be transparent and accountable. I applaud the legislative leaders’ cooperation in maintaining the pace of reform.”
Examples of the disclosure forms can be found here and here.
This much-needed reform is welcome but the exemption of governmental bodies seems puzzling given the attention to conflicts of interest. Municipalities and school districts would appear, to me at least, as two sections lending themselves to cronyism and in need of greater oversight.
While Cuomo's actions up to this point have been far-reaching, drastic reforms; the initiative put forth today stops just short ("You stole my move!") of the changes that New Yorkers deserve.
Obviously aware of where one can go after the state Attorney General's office, ala Spitz, AG Andrew Cuomo has been extremely active since taking the reins - and extremely effective.
Cuomo's name has been in the news but, rather than grandstanding, his headlines have come for undertaking much needed government reforms such as the incentives received by public authority boards and dishonest college loan practices.
Today, the AG took aim at another of New York's bureaucratic travesties: member item funding, or pork.
Under the terms of the reform, the two main goals of disclosure and accountability will be assured by adding Disclosure and Accountability Certifications to member item contracts for not-for-profit and for-profit corporations. Governmental bodies, such as cities, school districts and fire districts, will not be required to file the certifications.
The Disclosure and Accountability Certifications will have the organizations receiving grants attest to any conflicts of interest, the public purpose of the taxpayer funds, and the bona fides of the organization’s good standing.
“Member items have been a source of increasing public concern,” said Attorney General Cuomo. “While my Office continues its review of member item contracts, it is important that the public be assured that, going forward, such spending will be transparent and accountable. I applaud the legislative leaders’ cooperation in maintaining the pace of reform.”
Examples of the disclosure forms can be found here and here.
This much-needed reform is welcome but the exemption of governmental bodies seems puzzling given the attention to conflicts of interest. Municipalities and school districts would appear, to me at least, as two sections lending themselves to cronyism and in need of greater oversight.
While Cuomo's actions up to this point have been far-reaching, drastic reforms; the initiative put forth today stops just short ("You stole my move!") of the changes that New Yorkers deserve.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Destroyer Named for Marine
From the Military Times -
The Military Times is not run by any government entity, it is a Gannett News Company service. Each branch of the military actually has its own respective publication. With a built-in, captive audience and access not necessarily afforded general media the Military Times would certainly have the opportunity to examine issues about which many Americans are concerned. What was the lead story when I visited the website?
The name of a Marine who gave his life to save his comrades in Iraq will grace a new destroyer, the Navy announced Tuesday.
Cpl. Jason Dunham received the Medal of Honor on Jan. 11 for his actions April 14, 2004, when he grappled with an insurgent after his unit was ambushed in Karabilah, Iraq. Dunham threw himself on a live grenade to shield fellow Marines and, although he survived the initial explosion, died of his injuries after 10 days.
Navy Secretary Donald Winter plans to officially announce the ship’s name Friday in Dunham’s hometown of Scio, N.Y.
-snip-
Dunham is the first Marine to receive the Medal of Honor since the advent of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
A machine gunner for Company K, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Dunham was 22 years old when he died. The Navy provided an account of Dunham’s heroic actions:
“On April 14, 2004, Dunham’s squad was conducting a reconnaissance mission in Karabilah when his Battalion Commander’s convoy was ambushed. When Dunham’s squad approached to provide fire support, an Iraqi insurgent leapt out of a vehicle and attacked Dunham. As Dunham wrestled the insurgent to the ground, he noticed that the enemy fighter had a grenade in his hand. Dunham immediately alerted his fellow Marines, and when the enemy dropped the live grenade, Dunham took off his Kevlar helmet, covered the grenade, and threw himself on top to smother the blast. In an ultimate selfless act of courage, in which he was mortally wounded, he saved the lives of two fellow Marines.”
The Military Times is not run by any government entity, it is a Gannett News Company service. Each branch of the military actually has its own respective publication. With a built-in, captive audience and access not necessarily afforded general media the Military Times would certainly have the opportunity to examine issues about which many Americans are concerned. What was the lead story when I visited the website?
Airman to vie for Miss USA crown this Friday
Staff report
Posted : Wednesday Mar 21, 2007 18:21:08 EDT
As an airman, 2nd Lt. Kelly George is used to representing her country. In March, she’ll take a turn representing her state.
George, deputy chief of public affairs for the 314th Airlift Wing at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., will take the stage as Miss Arkansas on March 23 in the Miss USA pageant, to be broadcast on NBC. If she takes the tiara, George will represent America in the 2007 Miss Universe pageant.
“Kelly represents the Air Force and Arkansas well,” said Brig. Gen. Kip Self, 314th Airlift Wing commander. “She takes to heart the spirit of service in dedicating herself to civic duty and service to the country.”
The lieutenant hit the runway on Monday in Hollywood, Calif., for the pageant’s preliminary rounds wearing a sparkling black-and-white dress. Fans can vote for George to be Miss Photogenic at http://www.nbc.com/Miss_USA_2007/.
Monday, March 19, 2007
RCSD Cool With Dem Ebonix
Diversity Dialogue Newsletter Supports BEV in School
Rochester City School District officials have voiced their support for the use of Ebonics, or Black English vernacular (BEV), as a classroom learning tool in the Winter '07 issue of the Diversity Dialogue newsletter distributed to staff.
The newsletter was authored by Michelle Hancock, RCSD Chief of Diversity and Leadership, and Tyra Webb-Johnson, Director of Coaching and Leadership.
According to the letter, to implement BEV in the classroom teachers can:
- Model standard English as part of formal speech in the class (shouldn't this be common practice anyway?)
- Switch into BEV during informal discussion
- Discuss features that differ in BEV and Standard English
Now, on top of the dozens of other responsibilities piled on our educators, teachers must be "bilingual" and proficient in a language that does not even exist. The newsletter frequently refers to BEV as a second language, I was unaware that there is a land of Ebonia where everyone speaks Ebonics.
Spanish is a second language, French is a second language, Ebonics is a joke and a travesty. Languages are based on form and structure with rules that apply based on situation and context, not which Chingy song is in the Top 40 this week.
By validating these so-called speech patterns the RCSD does nothing to assimilate the section of society that uses BEV. Rather than working to motivate individuals to develop skill sets that will make them successful in the predominant culture, such policies only enforce the status quo which has created the rift that produced these differences in socio-economic standing resulting in something like Ebonics.
How can a middle-class white guy with a private college English and Lib Arts degree formulate such an opinion? Well, I didn't really. I had always been on the fence on this issue until I read Richard Rodriquez's novel Hunger of Learning. As the child of immigrant parents Mr. Rodriguez lived this issue and his views on bilingual education are illustrated in a Time magazine article:
Rochester City School District officials have voiced their support for the use of Ebonics, or Black English vernacular (BEV), as a classroom learning tool in the Winter '07 issue of the Diversity Dialogue newsletter distributed to staff.
The newsletter was authored by Michelle Hancock, RCSD Chief of Diversity and Leadership, and Tyra Webb-Johnson, Director of Coaching and Leadership.
According to the letter, to implement BEV in the classroom teachers can:
- Model standard English as part of formal speech in the class (shouldn't this be common practice anyway?)
- Switch into BEV during informal discussion
- Discuss features that differ in BEV and Standard English
Now, on top of the dozens of other responsibilities piled on our educators, teachers must be "bilingual" and proficient in a language that does not even exist. The newsletter frequently refers to BEV as a second language, I was unaware that there is a land of Ebonia where everyone speaks Ebonics.
Spanish is a second language, French is a second language, Ebonics is a joke and a travesty. Languages are based on form and structure with rules that apply based on situation and context, not which Chingy song is in the Top 40 this week.
By validating these so-called speech patterns the RCSD does nothing to assimilate the section of society that uses BEV. Rather than working to motivate individuals to develop skill sets that will make them successful in the predominant culture, such policies only enforce the status quo which has created the rift that produced these differences in socio-economic standing resulting in something like Ebonics.
How can a middle-class white guy with a private college English and Lib Arts degree formulate such an opinion? Well, I didn't really. I had always been on the fence on this issue until I read Richard Rodriquez's novel Hunger of Learning. As the child of immigrant parents Mr. Rodriguez lived this issue and his views on bilingual education are illustrated in a Time magazine article:
In the book, Rodriguez bears knowledgeable and compelling witness against America's recent methods of educating the underprivileged, and especially against bilingual education.
Rodriguez, in fact, is his own best case history. "I have been haunted by how my education has made me different," he says. As a "socially disadvantaged" son of Spanish-speaking parents, he entered a Roman Catholic grammar school in Sacramento, Calif., when he was six, speaking barely 50 words of English. By day, in class, he sat silent and unlearning. At night he luxuriated in the warmth and intimacy of his family's Spanish language and the separate, private world of his home. It was only when his teachers finally prevailed on Rodriguez's parents to try speaking English at home that his education began.
-snip-
Rodriguez has scant patience with middle-class ethnics, "filled with decadent self-pity," who resist entering the mainstream of American life. Today's bilingual classes, he maintains, keep children "poised at the edge of language too long." Using black English or Spanish in school is crippling because it reduces learning and delays assimilation; hence it reinforces a public form of separateness, a distinction that ultimately keeps minorities in their ghettos. "What I needed to learn in school was that I had the right—and the obligation—to speak the public language of los gringos," writes Rodriguez. "Only when I was able to think of myself as an American, no longer an alien in gringo society, could I seek the rights and opportunities necessary for full public individuality."
-snip-
"I've always been in favor of affirmative action, but only if class was the criterion rather than race."
What can students do, according to the newsletter, to help this program:
- Analyze the way black characters (their words not mine) deliberately alter speech patterns in media
- Create a list of BEV expressions and translate them into Standard English
Oh, oh . . . I have one. Whack, as in stupid, pointless or f-ed up.
Friday, March 16, 2007
NYS February Cash Report
Comptroller Update on Coffers
NYS Comptroller Tom Dinapoli issued his February cash report yesterday. What is seen are the same outrageous spending trends that will ultimately bankrupt our state.
With eleven months of the State’s 2006-07 fiscal year complete General Fund receipts were $3.9 billion or 9.3 percent ahead of last year, All Funds receipts were $4.0 billion or 4.2 percent ahead of last year.
General Fund spending was $40.9 billion in the first eleven months of the fiscal year. This is $4.1 billion or 11.1 percent higher than during the first eleven months of the 2005-06 fiscal year. All Funds spending of $95.3 billion was $7.8 billion or 8.9 percent higher than last year.
Also, this so-called "surplus" we have been hearing so much about from better than expected tax collections does not exist.
The increased revenues currently in the closing balance can be attributed to slower than anticipated refunds issued to date. Also, spending is below the Financial Plan primarily due to the timing of Local Assistance payments planned for February, but will have been paid in March in four areas, including education aid, welfare, special education and children and family service spending.
While $500 million in personal income tax refunds were accelerated at the end of the 2005-06 fiscal year, which would have the effect of increasing year to year variance, planned refunds expected to be paid in February 2007 did not accumulate as anticipated in the Financial Plan. As a result, to date, collections after refunds are currently higher than projected. It is expected that refunds in March 2007 will accelerate and therefore be on target with Financial Plan projections.
Total General Fund disbursements increased $4.1 billion or 11.1 percent as compared with the first eleven months of 2005-06 fiscal year. The growth in General Fund disbursements is driven by increases in education, health, and social services spending, along with additional payroll disbursements associated with retroactive collective bargaining agreements during this year compared to the same period last year.
Yes, that's right; union employees were paid for the year, decided they weren't paid enough and then used their stranglehold applied on the legislature by their lobbies to bargain for additional compensation. Try going to your boss and asking for a little extra on top of your paycheck from last month and see how what kind of reaction your receive.
Then there is what I call the "section the SEIU/1099 does not want you to see." New York not spending enough on health care? Not so much.
Spending in the Health and Environment category nearly tripled from $398.9 million to $1.1 billion, due primarily to the State’s obligation to pay prescription drug costs for New Yorkers who are eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare and who have temporarily lost prescription drug coverage because of complications with the Federal government’s implementation of its Medicare Part D prescription drug program.
Social Services spending increased 5.3 percent, from $9.7 billion to $10.2 billion, due to several factors including:
- increasing cost of the Medicaid program providing health care services and prescription drugs
- rising number of recipients of publicly financed health care
- increasing medical service utilization in hospitals, nursing homes, and managed care programs
- an additional Medicaid cycle payment through February 2007
Granted, unfunded federal mandates factor into this equation, but New York state's Medicaid payments are well above the national average for many programs and that cannot be blamed on the Feds. Nor can New York use this point in defense as the state government passes plenty unfunded mandates of their own along to localities.
As for the "pork" that New York state voters and taxpayers love so much: spending on capital projects increased $420.5 million, or 10.7 percent.
NYS Comptroller Tom Dinapoli issued his February cash report yesterday. What is seen are the same outrageous spending trends that will ultimately bankrupt our state.
With eleven months of the State’s 2006-07 fiscal year complete General Fund receipts were $3.9 billion or 9.3 percent ahead of last year, All Funds receipts were $4.0 billion or 4.2 percent ahead of last year.
General Fund spending was $40.9 billion in the first eleven months of the fiscal year. This is $4.1 billion or 11.1 percent higher than during the first eleven months of the 2005-06 fiscal year. All Funds spending of $95.3 billion was $7.8 billion or 8.9 percent higher than last year.
Also, this so-called "surplus" we have been hearing so much about from better than expected tax collections does not exist.
The increased revenues currently in the closing balance can be attributed to slower than anticipated refunds issued to date. Also, spending is below the Financial Plan primarily due to the timing of Local Assistance payments planned for February, but will have been paid in March in four areas, including education aid, welfare, special education and children and family service spending.
While $500 million in personal income tax refunds were accelerated at the end of the 2005-06 fiscal year, which would have the effect of increasing year to year variance, planned refunds expected to be paid in February 2007 did not accumulate as anticipated in the Financial Plan. As a result, to date, collections after refunds are currently higher than projected. It is expected that refunds in March 2007 will accelerate and therefore be on target with Financial Plan projections.
Total General Fund disbursements increased $4.1 billion or 11.1 percent as compared with the first eleven months of 2005-06 fiscal year. The growth in General Fund disbursements is driven by increases in education, health, and social services spending, along with additional payroll disbursements associated with retroactive collective bargaining agreements during this year compared to the same period last year.
Yes, that's right; union employees were paid for the year, decided they weren't paid enough and then used their stranglehold applied on the legislature by their lobbies to bargain for additional compensation. Try going to your boss and asking for a little extra on top of your paycheck from last month and see how what kind of reaction your receive.
Then there is what I call the "section the SEIU/1099 does not want you to see." New York not spending enough on health care? Not so much.
Spending in the Health and Environment category nearly tripled from $398.9 million to $1.1 billion, due primarily to the State’s obligation to pay prescription drug costs for New Yorkers who are eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare and who have temporarily lost prescription drug coverage because of complications with the Federal government’s implementation of its Medicare Part D prescription drug program.
Social Services spending increased 5.3 percent, from $9.7 billion to $10.2 billion, due to several factors including:
- increasing cost of the Medicaid program providing health care services and prescription drugs
- rising number of recipients of publicly financed health care
- increasing medical service utilization in hospitals, nursing homes, and managed care programs
- an additional Medicaid cycle payment through February 2007
Granted, unfunded federal mandates factor into this equation, but New York state's Medicaid payments are well above the national average for many programs and that cannot be blamed on the Feds. Nor can New York use this point in defense as the state government passes plenty unfunded mandates of their own along to localities.
As for the "pork" that New York state voters and taxpayers love so much: spending on capital projects increased $420.5 million, or 10.7 percent.
Rochester Nurse Guilty of Medicaid Fraud
Example of Why State System is Bloated
Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo announced that a Rochester-area nurse pled guilty to receiving over $70,000 in Medicaid funds for private nursing services that she never provided. On March 12, Adrian Clements, 39, of Rochester, a Licensed Practical Nurse, pleaded guilty to one count of Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree (a felony) in Monroe County Court before Judge Thomas R. Morse. As part of her guilty plea, Clements admitted that on numerous occasions between October 1, 2003 and April 30, 2006, she submitted reimbursement claims that falsely represented that she provided nursing services to seven children and three young adults – all Medicaid recipients – when, in fact, nursing care was either not provided or it was provided by another nurse. Based upon the false claims, Clements stole $70,785 from the Medicaid program.
“My office remains committed to aggressively prosecuting those individuals who cheat and steal from the Medicaid program – and from taxpayers – for personal gain," said Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. “Those who abuse their professions as caretakers to take advantage of New Yorkers will face justice.”
Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo announced that a Rochester-area nurse pled guilty to receiving over $70,000 in Medicaid funds for private nursing services that she never provided. On March 12, Adrian Clements, 39, of Rochester, a Licensed Practical Nurse, pleaded guilty to one count of Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree (a felony) in Monroe County Court before Judge Thomas R. Morse. As part of her guilty plea, Clements admitted that on numerous occasions between October 1, 2003 and April 30, 2006, she submitted reimbursement claims that falsely represented that she provided nursing services to seven children and three young adults – all Medicaid recipients – when, in fact, nursing care was either not provided or it was provided by another nurse. Based upon the false claims, Clements stole $70,785 from the Medicaid program.
“My office remains committed to aggressively prosecuting those individuals who cheat and steal from the Medicaid program – and from taxpayers – for personal gain," said Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. “Those who abuse their professions as caretakers to take advantage of New Yorkers will face justice.”
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Pictures From the Front
A new WBP feature, pictures from the Iraq front, the first photo comes from Baghdad -
Poll Sitters Sentenced
Ohio Election Workers Rigged Recount
Sadly, this is probably more common than anyone realizes. From an AP story -
A judge suspicious of more corruption pressed two former election board workers to tell what they know and then sentenced them Tuesday to the maximum 18 months in prison for rigging the 2004 presidential election recount to make their job easier.
"I can't help but feel there's more to this story," said Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge Peter Corrigan, who allowed the women to remain free on bond pending appeal.
-snip-
The judge repeatedly asked Jacqueline Maiden, 60, an election coordinator who was the Cuyahoga County board's third-highest ranking employee, and ballot manager Kathleen Dreamer, 40, if higher-ups in the board had directed the recount rigging. "It seems unlikely your supervisors wouldn't know," the judge prodded.
The women, standing side by side, said they had cooperated with a state investigation of the elections board in Ohio's most populous county. The board has been a lightning rod for critics wary since Ohio gave the 2004 election to President Bush.
-snip-
Erie County Prosecutor Kevin Baxter, appointed as an outside investigator to look into the election board in Cleveland, told that judge that the women had been uncooperative in the investigation and appealed for prison time for both.
"The defendants have never come clean," he said.
Prosecutors said the employees broke the law when they worked behind closed doors three days before the Dec. 16, 2004, recount to pick ballots they knew would not cause discrepancies when checked by hand so they could avoid a lengthier, more expensive hand recount of all votes.
Baxter criticized the outspoken support for the women from Robert Bennett, the election board chairman and head of the Republican Party in Ohio. Endorsing such criminal behavior is "amazing, it's astounding," according to Baxter, who didn't indicate if the investigation might lead to more charges.
-snip-
Each defendant was convicted of a felony count of negligent misconduct of an elections employee.
Maiden and Dreamer also were convicted of one misdemeanor count each of failure of elections employees to perform their duty. Both were acquitted of five other charges and a co-defendant who was an assistant manager of the ballot department was acquitted of all seven counts.
Ohio gave Bush the electoral votes he needed to defeat Democratic Sen. John Kerry in the election and hold on to the White House in 2004. Kerry beat Bush in Democratic Cuyahoga County 448,486 to 221,606.
The prosecutor did not claim the rigged recount affected the outcome of the election - Kerry gained 17 votes and Bush lost six in the county recount.
Sadly, this is probably more common than anyone realizes. From an AP story -
A judge suspicious of more corruption pressed two former election board workers to tell what they know and then sentenced them Tuesday to the maximum 18 months in prison for rigging the 2004 presidential election recount to make their job easier.
"I can't help but feel there's more to this story," said Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge Peter Corrigan, who allowed the women to remain free on bond pending appeal.
-snip-
The judge repeatedly asked Jacqueline Maiden, 60, an election coordinator who was the Cuyahoga County board's third-highest ranking employee, and ballot manager Kathleen Dreamer, 40, if higher-ups in the board had directed the recount rigging. "It seems unlikely your supervisors wouldn't know," the judge prodded.
The women, standing side by side, said they had cooperated with a state investigation of the elections board in Ohio's most populous county. The board has been a lightning rod for critics wary since Ohio gave the 2004 election to President Bush.
-snip-
Erie County Prosecutor Kevin Baxter, appointed as an outside investigator to look into the election board in Cleveland, told that judge that the women had been uncooperative in the investigation and appealed for prison time for both.
"The defendants have never come clean," he said.
Prosecutors said the employees broke the law when they worked behind closed doors three days before the Dec. 16, 2004, recount to pick ballots they knew would not cause discrepancies when checked by hand so they could avoid a lengthier, more expensive hand recount of all votes.
Baxter criticized the outspoken support for the women from Robert Bennett, the election board chairman and head of the Republican Party in Ohio. Endorsing such criminal behavior is "amazing, it's astounding," according to Baxter, who didn't indicate if the investigation might lead to more charges.
-snip-
Each defendant was convicted of a felony count of negligent misconduct of an elections employee.
Maiden and Dreamer also were convicted of one misdemeanor count each of failure of elections employees to perform their duty. Both were acquitted of five other charges and a co-defendant who was an assistant manager of the ballot department was acquitted of all seven counts.
Ohio gave Bush the electoral votes he needed to defeat Democratic Sen. John Kerry in the election and hold on to the White House in 2004. Kerry beat Bush in Democratic Cuyahoga County 448,486 to 221,606.
The prosecutor did not claim the rigged recount affected the outcome of the election - Kerry gained 17 votes and Bush lost six in the county recount.
SEIU: We're Not Fans
Voters Love Gov, Health Unions Don't
In response to a letter by state Conservative Party Chairman Mike Long to Governor Spitzer, Jennifer Cunningham of SEIU/1199 issued the following statement:
Spitzer did not really stand with Long, Long stood with Spitzer. Long did so because of the three legislative budgets presented thus far the Executive spends the least, while still increasing spending by twice the rate of inflation. While New Yorkers recognize that these trends cannot continue our representatives do not and that is why Long placed his support behind the Gov.
No one wants to see schools and hospitals close but spending more does not always get you more.
In response to a letter by state Conservative Party Chairman Mike Long to Governor Spitzer, Jennifer Cunningham of SEIU/1199 issued the following statement:
“When New Yorkers elected Eliot Spitzer, we voted for a Democrat who we thought held firmly Democratic principles like supporting healthcare and public schools.”
“Now, as he’s accepting the kudos of the New York State Conservative Party, we have to wonder: Who will the governor stand with next in order to pass his wrongheaded budget?”
Spitzer did not really stand with Long, Long stood with Spitzer. Long did so because of the three legislative budgets presented thus far the Executive spends the least, while still increasing spending by twice the rate of inflation. While New Yorkers recognize that these trends cannot continue our representatives do not and that is why Long placed his support behind the Gov.
No one wants to see schools and hospitals close but spending more does not always get you more.
NYS Senate Alienating Base
GOP Party Politics Incur Wrath of Conservatives
Republicans in the NYS Assembly have been criticizing budget proposals by their Dem colleagues and Governor Spitzer. The Assembly GOP has noted that out-year budget gaps will grow and spending increases at double the rate of inflation. This is a common complaint by the GOP which traditionally, in theory, supports decreases in governmental spending.
Given their minority, however, Assembly Republicans have little recourse in their house. Who has come to their aid in this grand battle? The GOP majority in the Senate, right?
Not so much.
The Senate budget plan actually calls for spending beyond that proposed by Democrats and Spitzer. The reasoning? There is none. This is nothing but a disgusting example of petty party politics. I can imagine Bruno's thought process:
"Taxes are bad, spending is bad and Democrats like both of those things so they are really bad, decrease spending, pray to Reagan. Wait . . . the Dems want to cut spending? Spending is good! Increase spending!"
Now, though, the GOP base is starting to take notice of the Senate's disregard for party ideals; so much so that the State Conservative Party Chairman is reaching out to support Governor Spitzer:
Fiscal Conservatives getting in bed with Democrats because the Republican party is so out of touch with society that it has lost complete sight of GOP ideals? Sounds like the staff here at the WBP.
Republicans in the NYS Assembly have been criticizing budget proposals by their Dem colleagues and Governor Spitzer. The Assembly GOP has noted that out-year budget gaps will grow and spending increases at double the rate of inflation. This is a common complaint by the GOP which traditionally, in theory, supports decreases in governmental spending.
Given their minority, however, Assembly Republicans have little recourse in their house. Who has come to their aid in this grand battle? The GOP majority in the Senate, right?
Not so much.
The Senate budget plan actually calls for spending beyond that proposed by Democrats and Spitzer. The reasoning? There is none. This is nothing but a disgusting example of petty party politics. I can imagine Bruno's thought process:
"Taxes are bad, spending is bad and Democrats like both of those things so they are really bad, decrease spending, pray to Reagan. Wait . . . the Dems want to cut spending? Spending is good! Increase spending!"
Now, though, the GOP base is starting to take notice of the Senate's disregard for party ideals; so much so that the State Conservative Party Chairman is reaching out to support Governor Spitzer:
Conservative Party State Chairman, Michael R. Long, acknowledged that he and Governor Eliot Spitzer would be considered “strange bedfellows” regarding this years proposed state budget. However, with the additions made by the Republican controlled State Senate, Chairman Long told the Governor, in a letter sent yesterday, that he would have to re-evaluate his proposals.
-snip-
"As difficult as your budget is, what the Republican controlled Senate is proposing, forces me to re-evaluate your proposals.
We support your efforts to cut health-care. And we support your efforts to increase the number of Charter Schools in New York State. Both these areas of spending comprise the largest portions of New York’s budget. We must get them under control and end the massive amounts poured into health-care and education each year with very little positive results.
Hopefully we can work together, this year.
-snip-
We may find that “strange bedfellows” will help bring New York back to being the economic engine of the United States."
Fiscal Conservatives getting in bed with Democrats because the Republican party is so out of touch with society that it has lost complete sight of GOP ideals? Sounds like the staff here at the WBP.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Vegetable Oil Vigilante
From an AP story -
(Adams, N.Y.) -- A northern New York man using vegetable oil to heat his home and run his cars has been found guilty of violating zoning codes.
A village of Adams judge has ruled that Mike Leeder was in violating of zoning codes while filtering the oil to make it usable. The judge says Leeder lives in a commercial zone, and filtering is only allowed as an industrial use.
Leeder says he . . . cannot afford to pay the $2,000 fine by March 27 as the judge ordered.
(Adams, N.Y.) -- A northern New York man using vegetable oil to heat his home and run his cars has been found guilty of violating zoning codes.
A village of Adams judge has ruled that Mike Leeder was in violating of zoning codes while filtering the oil to make it usable. The judge says Leeder lives in a commercial zone, and filtering is only allowed as an industrial use.
Leeder says he . . . cannot afford to pay the $2,000 fine by March 27 as the judge ordered.
Signifying Nothing
No Perks for Water Board, Someday
The WBP is officially labeling Maggie Brooks reelection campaign the Sound and Fury Tour 2007.
After grandstanding on the library porn non issue, a ruling by the Supreme Court has already dealt with that, Brooks and Bill "Gosh, I hope Mr. Minarik lets me run for Congress again someday" Smith last night saw the approval of their bill to end health benefits for future Water Board members.
The legislation has no effect unless one of the current members leave, this aspect drew obvious criticism from Democrats during debate yet only one voted in opposition.
According to the Democrat & Chronicle Bill Smith said stopping benefits for current members was not an option:
Costly litigation? This seems ludicrous until the statement from the Authority spokesman is read:
The people did not elect you Mr. Benoy. You did not earn anything, you were likely awarded your position out of cronyism and this legislation does nothing but further support that view. If you believe your pursuits are so noble open your entity up to public elections and allow the taxpayers to decide your fate, not the Republican party.
The Democrats also disappointed last night. Certainly some reform is better than none, but this bill is essentially nothing. Rather than allow Maggie to pass it through and take credit for changing an unjust system, make efforts to stall the bill and point out the hypocrisy as the 2008 election closes. Given the dynamics of the legislature much more may not have been accomplished but the only real opposition was voiced last night in a forum not necessarily conducive to public awareness.
The WBP is officially labeling Maggie Brooks reelection campaign the Sound and Fury Tour 2007.
After grandstanding on the library porn non issue, a ruling by the Supreme Court has already dealt with that, Brooks and Bill "Gosh, I hope Mr. Minarik lets me run for Congress again someday" Smith last night saw the approval of their bill to end health benefits for future Water Board members.
The legislation has no effect unless one of the current members leave, this aspect drew obvious criticism from Democrats during debate yet only one voted in opposition.
According to the Democrat & Chronicle Bill Smith said stopping benefits for current members was not an option:
County officials said they didn't believe they could legally strip the benefits from current Water Authority members. Doing so could lead to costly litigation, warned Majority Leader Bill Smith, R-Pittsford.
"That's a fight I don't think we could win, and even if we did, it would be a joyless victory for the taxpayers who had to pay for it," he said.
Costly litigation? This seems ludicrous until the statement from the Authority spokesman is read:
Clyde Benoy, the authority's vice chairman, said before the vote that he understands the County Legislature's reason for its actions. But he, like the other board members, defended the benefits.
"We earn them," he said. "We run a $60 million corporation, the seven of us."
The people did not elect you Mr. Benoy. You did not earn anything, you were likely awarded your position out of cronyism and this legislation does nothing but further support that view. If you believe your pursuits are so noble open your entity up to public elections and allow the taxpayers to decide your fate, not the Republican party.
The Democrats also disappointed last night. Certainly some reform is better than none, but this bill is essentially nothing. Rather than allow Maggie to pass it through and take credit for changing an unjust system, make efforts to stall the bill and point out the hypocrisy as the 2008 election closes. Given the dynamics of the legislature much more may not have been accomplished but the only real opposition was voiced last night in a forum not necessarily conducive to public awareness.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Praise for Susan John
Silver Notes Efforts on Workers' Comp
Local Assemblywoman Susan John (D-131) received recognition today from NYS Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver for her efforts on the Workers' Comp reform legislation which was signed into law today by Governor Spitzer:
Let me once again acknowledge the work of our Labor Committee Chair,
Assembly Member Susan John, who invested days, nights and weekends in helping to secure this agreement.
Some of the legislation will take effect immediately, notable changes include to the Comp system include:
-The maximum weekly benefit will increase to $500 immediately, then to 2/3 of the state average weekly wage by 2010 and will be indexed and adjusted automatically in the future;
-Increases the minimum weekly benefit to $100;
-Increases the dollar amount for pre-approval of medical services to $1000;
-Provides lifetime medical coverage for workers with permanent partial disabilities;
-Mandates lump sum settlement (Section 32) offers for permanent partial disabilities;
-Provides workers with meaningful vocational rehabilitation and light duty programs;
-Creates a "Rocket Docket" program to speed resolution of claims;
-Abolishes the New York Compensation Rating Board
WBP Poll: Benefits for Water Board
The Monroe County Legislature will vote tonight on legislation, sponsored by County Exec Brooks and Legislator Bill Smith, that would end the payment of health insurance benefits to future members of the Monroe County Water Authority Board.
In our most recent WBP Poll, posted before the introduction of this bill, we asked readers whether they thought the payments should stop. 88% of readers responded that this practice should end while 12% had no problem with the payments.
There are no plans at this point to do away with the salaries board members receive which range from $7,000 - $10,500, despite the fact that other area authorities receive no compensation.
In our most recent WBP Poll, posted before the introduction of this bill, we asked readers whether they thought the payments should stop. 88% of readers responded that this practice should end while 12% had no problem with the payments.
There are no plans at this point to do away with the salaries board members receive which range from $7,000 - $10,500, despite the fact that other area authorities receive no compensation.
Monday, March 12, 2007
Shufflin' Off to Livingston County
The Swede Stays, I Go
"The times are changing, and the people need rearranging"
The Swede chose to remain in Monroe County. I had enough this time around, which is not to say a return is out of the question; rather, a stay in the country every now and then is good for my humours so to Livingston I retreated.
I settled down with Visions of Cody, the Black Keys Magic Potion and the State of Livingston County as delivered by James C. Merrick, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors. A superfluous title indeed and I ached for my county executive:
Cannot wait to see how he pulls this one off.
Sweet merciful crap. The first two statements contradict each other, he says fewer committees=bad but more Supervisors=good, more people complicate the decision making process in one case while benefiting it in another; but the last sentence took me by surprise. I am not accustomed to seeing those words used together in that order.
The next five pages go on to list government programs and initiatives the County has undertaken in the past with costs, grants received, how those grants were applied and the impact of the program.
Detailed, fleshed out ideas undertaken in an organized manner and then promptly reported on to the public? Something must be wrong, budget numbers -
Funding for highway and bridge projects is increased by 14%. The budget has a $3.5 million surplus which will be applied to capital projects "thus avoiding future debt service payments."
The County's Constitutional Tax margin dropped from 52% to 45% and Medicaid savings of $880,000 are expected. Livingston actually made money through the sale of fifteen parcels of land.
The remaining pages detail economic development initiatives, a bullet-point list of objectives for 2007 and graphs detailing budget numbers.
I can get used to this, my Leinenkugels is in short supply but there is plenty of the High Life until I can replenish.
With that the Water Buffalo Press stretches two counties, anyone interested in covering his or her own county feel free to contact the WBP.
"The times are changing, and the people need rearranging"
The Swede chose to remain in Monroe County. I had enough this time around, which is not to say a return is out of the question; rather, a stay in the country every now and then is good for my humours so to Livingston I retreated.
I settled down with Visions of Cody, the Black Keys Magic Potion and the State of Livingston County as delivered by James C. Merrick, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors. A superfluous title indeed and I ached for my county executive:
. . . we have created a smaller, smarter more efficient government.
Cannot wait to see how he pulls this one off.
. . . smaller because of the downsizing . . . from 13 committees to three. Smarter because more Supervisors are involved in our . . . decision making process and more efficient because our fund balances are strong and have grown without any reduction in services.
Sweet merciful crap. The first two statements contradict each other, he says fewer committees=bad but more Supervisors=good, more people complicate the decision making process in one case while benefiting it in another; but the last sentence took me by surprise. I am not accustomed to seeing those words used together in that order.
The next five pages go on to list government programs and initiatives the County has undertaken in the past with costs, grants received, how those grants were applied and the impact of the program.
Detailed, fleshed out ideas undertaken in an organized manner and then promptly reported on to the public? Something must be wrong, budget numbers -
. . . the 2007 budget was approved with a property tax rate of $7.07 per thousand, a decrease of 16% [from 2006].
Funding for highway and bridge projects is increased by 14%. The budget has a $3.5 million surplus which will be applied to capital projects "thus avoiding future debt service payments."
The County's Constitutional Tax margin dropped from 52% to 45% and Medicaid savings of $880,000 are expected. Livingston actually made money through the sale of fifteen parcels of land.
The remaining pages detail economic development initiatives, a bullet-point list of objectives for 2007 and graphs detailing budget numbers.
I can get used to this, my Leinenkugels is in short supply but there is plenty of the High Life until I can replenish.
With that the Water Buffalo Press stretches two counties, anyone interested in covering his or her own county feel free to contact the WBP.
He saw that all the struggles of life were incessant, laborious, painful, that nothing was done quickly, without labor, that it had to undergo a thousand fondlings, revisings, moldings, addings, removings, graftings, tearings, correctings, smoothings, rebuildings, reconsiderings, nailings, tackings, chippings, hammerings, hoistings, connectings — all the poor fumbling uncertain incompletions of human endeavor. They went on forever and were forever incomplete, far from perfect, refined, or smooth, full of terrible memories of failure and fears of failure, yet, in the way of things, somehow noble, complete, and shining in the end. This he could sense even from the old house they lived in, with its solidly built walls and floors that held together like rock: some man, possibly an angry pessimistic man, had built the house long ago, but the house stood, and his anger and pessimism and irritable labourious sweats were forgotten; the house stood, and other men lived in it and were sheltered well in it.
-Jack Kerouac, The Town and the City 1950
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Let's Get Together
Unions: Good or Bad?
Local blogosphere abuzz lately with talk about the Congressional vote on the Employee Free Choice bill. Randy Kuhl's vote, specifically, has received plenty of attention. He voted no despite originally co-sponsoring the bill. If we are scoring correctly Rochester Turning says that's bad and the Fighting 29th (a Colbert voice always says this blog title in my head) says it's not such a big deal.
The Fighting 29th examines the benefits of unionization in a post today. The WBP decided to take a look as well.
According to a January 25th, 2007 US Department of Labor report:
In plain numbers, being a member of a union will earn you more money. Numbers can be misleading, though, and perhaps the trend is more closely linked to what industries see widest union membership, rather than membership itself:
At the least this data tells us how the legislation was pushed through as these sectors are represented by very powerful lobbies, but does it tell us why? The majority of "average American workers" who belong to unions are not benefiting from union membership because "average Americans" are not public sector employees.
What if the focus is pared down to state level? Not many would say that the Upstate New York economy is booming. Does union membership play a role?
Alaska and Hawaii can essentially be thrown out since their economies are anomalies given geography; left are New York and New Jersey, economies on the grow or on the decline?
The southern United States, particularly the southeast, have experienced considerable economic growth over the past decade. How do unions factor?
Union membership across the country is declining, but unions are big money and this legislation is a response to those declining numbers. The law may benefit the membership rolls but I have trouble believing it will benefit our economy.
Local blogosphere abuzz lately with talk about the Congressional vote on the Employee Free Choice bill. Randy Kuhl's vote, specifically, has received plenty of attention. He voted no despite originally co-sponsoring the bill. If we are scoring correctly Rochester Turning says that's bad and the Fighting 29th (a Colbert voice always says this blog title in my head) says it's not such a big deal.
The Fighting 29th examines the benefits of unionization in a post today. The WBP decided to take a look as well.
According to a January 25th, 2007 US Department of Labor report:
In 2006, full-time wage and salary workers who were union members had median usual weekly earnings of $833, compared with a median of $642 for wage and salary workers who were not represented by unions.
In plain numbers, being a member of a union will earn you more money. Numbers can be misleading, though, and perhaps the trend is more closely linked to what industries see widest union membership, rather than membership itself:
Workers in the public sector had a union membership rate nearly five times that of private sector employees . . . The union membership rate for government workers (36.2 percent) was substantially higher than for private industry workers (7.4 percent). Within the public sector, local government workers had the highest union membership rate, 41.9 percent. This group includes several heavily unionized occupations, such as teachers, police officers, and fire fighters. Among major private industries, transportation and utilities had the highest union membership rate, at 23.2 percent, followed by construction (13.0 percent) . . . Among occupational groups, education, training, and library occupations (37.3 percent) and protective service occupations (34.7 percent) had the highest unionization rates
At the least this data tells us how the legislation was pushed through as these sectors are represented by very powerful lobbies, but does it tell us why? The majority of "average American workers" who belong to unions are not benefiting from union membership because "average Americans" are not public sector employees.
What if the focus is pared down to state level? Not many would say that the Upstate New York economy is booming. Does union membership play a role?
Four states had union membership rates over 20.0 percent in 2006--Hawaii (24.7 percent), New York (24.4 percent), Alaska (22.2 percent), and New Jersey (20.1 percent). Hawaii and New York have recorded the highest union membership rates among all states for 10 of the past 11 years.
Alaska and Hawaii can essentially be thrown out since their economies are anomalies given geography; left are New York and New Jersey, economies on the grow or on the decline?
The southern United States, particularly the southeast, have experienced considerable economic growth over the past decade. How do unions factor?
Among the five states reporting union membership rates below 5.0 percent in 2006, North Carolina and South Carolina continued to post the lowest rates (3.3 percent each). The next lowest rates were recorded in Virginia (4.0 percent), Georgia (4.4 percent), and Texas (4.9 percent).
Union membership across the country is declining, but unions are big money and this legislation is a response to those declining numbers. The law may benefit the membership rolls but I have trouble believing it will benefit our economy.
Saturday, March 10, 2007
NY Consumer Confidence Up
State Bucks February National Trend
According to a poll from the Siena Research Institute, consumer confidence rose 0.4 of a point last month. However, this was due to increased consumer confidence in New York City; Upstate confidence actually dropped 4.9 points.
Buying plans were up for automobiles but the poll continued to show a slump in the housing market.
“We have a strange set of numbers for February: New York State inched up due to the New York City area, while upstate and the rest of the nation took a hit,” said Dr. Douglas Lonnstrom, professor of statistics and finance at Siena College and SRI Director. "These figures do not reflect the stock market drop last week. New York City now has its highest confidence since before 9/11. On the other hand, buying plans for homes, home improvements and furniture are all down, mirroring the decline in the housing market.”
At 89.9, New York State’s overall consumer confidence is only 1.4 points below the nation’s 91.3 confidence level.
According to a poll from the Siena Research Institute, consumer confidence rose 0.4 of a point last month. However, this was due to increased consumer confidence in New York City; Upstate confidence actually dropped 4.9 points.
Buying plans were up for automobiles but the poll continued to show a slump in the housing market.
“We have a strange set of numbers for February: New York State inched up due to the New York City area, while upstate and the rest of the nation took a hit,” said Dr. Douglas Lonnstrom, professor of statistics and finance at Siena College and SRI Director. "These figures do not reflect the stock market drop last week. New York City now has its highest confidence since before 9/11. On the other hand, buying plans for homes, home improvements and furniture are all down, mirroring the decline in the housing market.”
At 89.9, New York State’s overall consumer confidence is only 1.4 points below the nation’s 91.3 confidence level.
He felt intensely literary, sitting there in his underwear, all alone in the middle of Greenwich Village. How many others had trod the same path? Wolfe? O’Neill? Who else? Well, there was Bodenheim. Jesus. Anything but that.
He forced Bodenheim out of his mind, trying to concentrate on a plot, even a subject. The army? He’d always wanted to write a story about the army, really blast the bastards. Maybe satire; he had a flair for satire. Yeah, that was it – pit an oddball against the system, and rip the army to bits.
Now he could see himself in Andre’s. Casually mentioning the story he’d just finished. They probably wouldn’t believe him – he never paid any attention to those bums who were always talking about the great novels they were writing, the fabulous paintings they had in the works – but when he came in flashing the check, huge and beautiful from one of the slick magazines, they’d fall all over him. He could see it now: discussions of his work in the quarterlies, himself back home on vacation, parties in his honor, soft lips spilling secrets into his ear – he’d have it made.
The page was still blank, as he forced himself to concentrate…
--Hunter S. Thompson, Fire In The Nuts
Friday, March 9, 2007
Hurry Up and Wait
No Deal Yet on Fast Ferry
Earlier this week Rochester Mayor Bob Duffy told Euroferries to finalize its purchase of the Fast Ferry or the City was going elsewhere. He was just kidding I guess?
No deal so far as Duffy has now said maybe sometime next week. Maybe.
City of Rochester legal eagle Thomas Richards will apparently travel to Europe to make sure the deal gets done.
Duffy has said there are other potential buyers, multiple, but given the ultimatum earlier that turned out to not be an ultimatum one has to wonder if these buyers actually exist.
There are rumored reports of a company that toured the vessel while it was in Nova Scotia but Duffy has said he cannot comment on these reports.
With the Ferry, and now the troubles with the tenants of the Blue Cross Arena, the Mayor has a very full plate.
It's Caption Time!
This photo is from the announcement of the St. Patty's parade but we just couldn't resist. Here are a couple of ours, let's hear some of yours -
* Leprechauns LLC announces expansion at Culver-Ridge Office Park. The company will sell VoIPotsofGold through a network of independent "little" representatives and expects to create 4,563 jobs overs the next two years and will receive COMIDA tax incentives
* Brooks announces new Lucky Charms fee to help close budget gap
* Brooks announces the Monroe County Rainbow Authority Board Members will no longer receive health benefits
Maggie Says No More Perks
Water Authority Board Members May Lose Health Insurance
Following two rulings by state AG Andrew Cuomo, Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks has introduced legislation to end the payment of health insurance benefits to future members of the Monroe County Water Authority Board. However, board members will still receive salaries ranging from $7,000 -$10,500.
Additionally, current board members, many of whom have made campaign contributions to Brooks and the County Republican Party, will still receive the health benefits.
Here at the WBP we would like to think that Maggie has been reading our demands to end the perks for authorities and keeping an eye on our most recent poll regarding said benefits and that is why she introduced this bill. More likely, though, this is a calculated political move meant to position Brooks as a reformer in the upcoming election while doing nothing to disturb her political cronies already in place.
Following two rulings by state AG Andrew Cuomo, Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks has introduced legislation to end the payment of health insurance benefits to future members of the Monroe County Water Authority Board. However, board members will still receive salaries ranging from $7,000 -$10,500.
Additionally, current board members, many of whom have made campaign contributions to Brooks and the County Republican Party, will still receive the health benefits.
Here at the WBP we would like to think that Maggie has been reading our demands to end the perks for authorities and keeping an eye on our most recent poll regarding said benefits and that is why she introduced this bill. More likely, though, this is a calculated political move meant to position Brooks as a reformer in the upcoming election while doing nothing to disturb her political cronies already in place.
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