I'm sure I'm missing plenty of political news while I'm off in Rochester for job training every other week. If I miss anything vital, I'd like to ask my reader to notify me.
One thing I did catch is that Senator Defrancisco came up with a new school funding plan. If a democrat had put up such a plan, I would comment, so I'll play fair. School funding in New York state is definitely something that needs to be looked at, but it's hard for me to grasp what this bill means without some more raw numbers. So I emailed his office asking what the difference would be in state money for Syracuse city schools, New York City schools, and the total difference statewide. I'll post any response I happen to get.
The last young dems' event got some good coverage, with a nice newspaper article before and after, and some TV coverage even. More great things to come.
January 22, 2008
January 11, 2008
Quick update...
New job, new training, less time for posting. Sorry. Also local politics has been largely overshadowed by national politics as of late, but the one major event is the YOUNG DEMS FUNDRAISER TOMORROW. Again, Palace Theater, 6-9:30. $35 for food, carving station and open bar. The mayor's going to be there, we got some news stations (without even contacting them ourselves, work smarter, not harder... or just get lucky), got around 90 yes RSVP's. Should be a good event. Come on down.
There's been some news about new jobs local, and more news about less jobs local. I noticed Nancy Cantor in the picture regarding the new jobs, apparently she attended the announcement. Again, SU's one of the best things we got going.
Speaking of opening jobs, State Supreme Court Judge Robert Julian's spot is now open. Apparently he's quiting because his $136,700 plus salary needed a raise. My favorite quote is "On a personal level I am unwilling to further deplete my savings and reduce my lifestyle to continue in this office." The man's a supreme court justice and therefore should be addressed as your Honor, and therefore I will not say what I think of his lack of a raise. I'd gladly take his job, but they'd probably want me to have like a law degree or something.
On the humorous front, I seem to be getting emails from some NY state assembly Republicans committee. I know I said I'm open to the idea of supporting a progressive Republican, but in general I think these will not be productive emails for those assembly members.
That's all I got. See some of you folks tomorrow.
There's been some news about new jobs local, and more news about less jobs local. I noticed Nancy Cantor in the picture regarding the new jobs, apparently she attended the announcement. Again, SU's one of the best things we got going.
Speaking of opening jobs, State Supreme Court Judge Robert Julian's spot is now open. Apparently he's quiting because his $136,700 plus salary needed a raise. My favorite quote is "On a personal level I am unwilling to further deplete my savings and reduce my lifestyle to continue in this office." The man's a supreme court justice and therefore should be addressed as your Honor, and therefore I will not say what I think of his lack of a raise. I'd gladly take his job, but they'd probably want me to have like a law degree or something.
On the humorous front, I seem to be getting emails from some NY state assembly Republicans committee. I know I said I'm open to the idea of supporting a progressive Republican, but in general I think these will not be productive emails for those assembly members.
That's all I got. See some of you folks tomorrow.
January 2, 2008
Happy New Year!
Venturing into national discussion for just a bit, I find myself excited that it's Iowa Caucus Eve. Yeah, it's that whole political geek thing again. Go Obama!
The Post-standard reports the city is not backing up its Tomorrow's Neighborhoods Today program. An audit by city Auditor Phil LaTessa found that the full slate of representatives that should be at the meetings, 1 from each city department, was only at 16% of the meetings. Apparently the law states that they should have the full slate at all the meetings. So the good news is we're only 84% illegal.
The audit also showed that the plans the groups formed were often outdated and incomplete, the city was slow to implement those plans that were submitted, and staff members were being overpaid. So this sounds like another thing that needs some managing.
A new year brings a new County Exec, and I for one am looking at my job with a fresh perspective. Or at least I got an email asking me to do so. Really.
The Post-standard reports the city is not backing up its Tomorrow's Neighborhoods Today program. An audit by city Auditor Phil LaTessa found that the full slate of representatives that should be at the meetings, 1 from each city department, was only at 16% of the meetings. Apparently the law states that they should have the full slate at all the meetings. So the good news is we're only 84% illegal.
The audit also showed that the plans the groups formed were often outdated and incomplete, the city was slow to implement those plans that were submitted, and staff members were being overpaid. So this sounds like another thing that needs some managing.
A new year brings a new County Exec, and I for one am looking at my job with a fresh perspective. Or at least I got an email asking me to do so. Really.
December 30, 2007
Happy Holidays
Happy holidays to all. My own gifts received included the books "Life's a Campaign" by Chris Mathews and "How to Win a Local Election" by Judge Grey. Yeah, I'm a political geek.
The post-standard features an article on how a Manlius contractor has classified his new houses as condominiums and saved his buyers plenty in property tax for what is essentially still a house. Personally if I were doing this I wouldn't be talking about it to the Post-Standard, but it seems to me like this is something that should be looked at for possible fixing.
I am once again trying to get coverage for a Young Dems event, this one a beginning of the year kickoff party at the Palace Theater on Saturday 1/12. We're inviting Democratic candidates and community motivated folks of all types. $30 to the Young Dems if you RSVP by the 9th includes a carving station, food, and open bar. $35 at the door. Anyone interested in going or any media contacts please contact me.
The post-standard features an article on how a Manlius contractor has classified his new houses as condominiums and saved his buyers plenty in property tax for what is essentially still a house. Personally if I were doing this I wouldn't be talking about it to the Post-Standard, but it seems to me like this is something that should be looked at for possible fixing.
I am once again trying to get coverage for a Young Dems event, this one a beginning of the year kickoff party at the Palace Theater on Saturday 1/12. We're inviting Democratic candidates and community motivated folks of all types. $30 to the Young Dems if you RSVP by the 9th includes a carving station, food, and open bar. $35 at the door. Anyone interested in going or any media contacts please contact me.
December 19, 2007
How not to run a job creation program...
First off, young Dems meeting tomorrow. 7 pm, 248 E Water St. We've switched to the 2nd Thursday of every other month, in the hopes less committment to meetings will make things easier on current and future members. And now for something completely different...
The Post Standard reports that two good-government groups are lashing out against empire zones. Join the club. The PS reports that the program, which gives tax benefits with few promises of new jobs, has swelled from a $30 million project in 2000 to a projected $558 million fiasco this year. Meanwhile, the state can't say how many jobs have been created, and a 2004 audit by the comptroller found that 23 percent of Empire Zone businesses cut jobs rather than create new ones. Yeah, okay, somebody should fix that. Once again I implore people to sign my online petition. The only reason it asks for email is so that I can try and have some guarantee that it's different people signing the petition, one per email. I'm not going to give the emails out or anything.
Additionally, Sean Kirst hypothesizes on what might happen if we took down route 81, which currently forms a nice ugly dividing line through the middle of Syracuse. Part of the difficulty is that it's already there and has already been built around. If we were to do it, I'm not sure how long and complicated it would be to mend the wound if you will. However, I'm willing to consider it, but an alternative has to be built before the dismantling. 690 being under construction for the next two years is enough traffic problems for one city.
A former coworker of our county exec's has been named our new county attorney. Gordon Cuffy has moved from the District Attorney's office to the mostly civil law County Attorney's office. I'm not sure I'm completely opposed to this change of pace, but I do question how reassuring it is that both Joanie and Gordy stated that he will inherit a staff of experienced and competent lawyers. If he's going to lead them, should he also be describing himself as experienced and competent?
Finally, I get a huge kick out of the fact that google reports at least one person found my site and clicked on it after doing a search for Emerald 5 ShowTel.
(raspberry noise)
The Post Standard reports that two good-government groups are lashing out against empire zones. Join the club. The PS reports that the program, which gives tax benefits with few promises of new jobs, has swelled from a $30 million project in 2000 to a projected $558 million fiasco this year. Meanwhile, the state can't say how many jobs have been created, and a 2004 audit by the comptroller found that 23 percent of Empire Zone businesses cut jobs rather than create new ones. Yeah, okay, somebody should fix that. Once again I implore people to sign my online petition. The only reason it asks for email is so that I can try and have some guarantee that it's different people signing the petition, one per email. I'm not going to give the emails out or anything.
Additionally, Sean Kirst hypothesizes on what might happen if we took down route 81, which currently forms a nice ugly dividing line through the middle of Syracuse. Part of the difficulty is that it's already there and has already been built around. If we were to do it, I'm not sure how long and complicated it would be to mend the wound if you will. However, I'm willing to consider it, but an alternative has to be built before the dismantling. 690 being under construction for the next two years is enough traffic problems for one city.
A former coworker of our county exec's has been named our new county attorney. Gordon Cuffy has moved from the District Attorney's office to the mostly civil law County Attorney's office. I'm not sure I'm completely opposed to this change of pace, but I do question how reassuring it is that both Joanie and Gordy stated that he will inherit a staff of experienced and competent lawyers. If he's going to lead them, should he also be describing himself as experienced and competent?
Finally, I get a huge kick out of the fact that google reports at least one person found my site and clicked on it after doing a search for Emerald 5 ShowTel.
(raspberry noise)
December 18, 2007
Toll hike, other news
Assemblyman Al Stirpe is urging people to talk to Thruway authority board members and voice their opinions on the proposed toll hike, and I am completely with him on that. Of course, unfortunately in New York State we can add it to the list of taxes and fees that people should complain about, but that doesn't make this one any less important. Visit www.nysthruway.gov or call 518-436-2700. The problem with this state is that we keep raising fees or taxes to solve our problems when we should be looking at how we've spent the money we do have. The original plan called for the thruway to make itself eventually toll free, but clearly that was a pipe dream. Last time the problem was too many people were using the thruway so it needed repair, and now the problem is supposed to be not enough people using the road? Lets take another look. I'm headed to the site.
Meanwhile our Salina justice race heads to the appellate court.
Congressman Walsh voted against a ban on waterboarding. Boo, hiss. These United States should be above those kind of actions, and just how reliable is an answer given after waterboarding anyway?
That's all I got. Please discuss.
Meanwhile our Salina justice race heads to the appellate court.
Congressman Walsh voted against a ban on waterboarding. Boo, hiss. These United States should be above those kind of actions, and just how reliable is an answer given after waterboarding anyway?
That's all I got. Please discuss.
December 9, 2007
I return to the digital age...
My internet had problems earlier in the week, but that seems to be ok because most of the local political news seems to have appeared on the weekend.
Note that I do say most. The Salina Town Justice race has now become as close as possible without a tie. A judge has now allowed 3 more ballots to be counted, all of them for Judge Alessio, putting him up by one. Paul Carey plans to appeal.
The front page of todays local section (sorry, can't find link, go buy a paper) announces all the development projects going on in Syracuse. Development is of course good news, but I can't help but notice that almost all the projects require parking, and a good number elminate parking spaces, while very few actually build any spaces. We need to start getting new development plans to include parking for their facilities. Still, it's mostly positive. In particular, I'm happy for the use of Central Tech as a vocational school, even if it means some of my fellow county employees may lose their parking spots. Job and skills training is one of the biggest things we need in this area to jump start our economy.
Governor Spitzer says "The Upstate economy... is perhaps the most important issue confronting me as governor." To which I say, good.
The convention center is now officially named for Nick Pirro. Speaking of names, the Destiny hotel has a name. And that name is the "Emerald 5 ShowTel." If anyone can tell me what the F that means, or what exactly Emeralds 1-4 were already reserved for, please, please send me an email or comment.
Note that I do say most. The Salina Town Justice race has now become as close as possible without a tie. A judge has now allowed 3 more ballots to be counted, all of them for Judge Alessio, putting him up by one. Paul Carey plans to appeal.
The front page of todays local section (sorry, can't find link, go buy a paper) announces all the development projects going on in Syracuse. Development is of course good news, but I can't help but notice that almost all the projects require parking, and a good number elminate parking spaces, while very few actually build any spaces. We need to start getting new development plans to include parking for their facilities. Still, it's mostly positive. In particular, I'm happy for the use of Central Tech as a vocational school, even if it means some of my fellow county employees may lose their parking spots. Job and skills training is one of the biggest things we need in this area to jump start our economy.
Governor Spitzer says "The Upstate economy... is perhaps the most important issue confronting me as governor." To which I say, good.
The convention center is now officially named for Nick Pirro. Speaking of names, the Destiny hotel has a name. And that name is the "Emerald 5 ShowTel." If anyone can tell me what the F that means, or what exactly Emeralds 1-4 were already reserved for, please, please send me an email or comment.
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