But it DOES matter how they treat one another. That is just the way it goes.And anyways, I love to see the majority have to kiss some butts for a change. I hope everyone realizes the impact this last state assembly race had!! IT WAS MAJOR!! We have to keep up the momentum. And it is fun watching Mr. Stratton where 'the other shoe' for a change.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
On Aug. 28 Mayor [Brian U.] Stratton showed up at my door touting his record and reminding me of all he has done for Schenectady in the hope I would support his re-election campaign. I agreed with him that the improvements downtown are great and that our street is much nicer to drive on and walk along after the new sidewalks and repaved road were installed in 2005. The literature he left me with highlighted his accomplishments, including cutting city property taxes in 2007. Then on Aug. 29 I answered the door, not to Mayor Stratton this time, but to a representative from the city assessors office — who was there to survey my property. I then remembered that numerous people in my neighborhood were cited by the city this past winter and forced to make improvements to their properties, particularly porches, or risk being fined. Amazing how all of a sudden the city is concerned with code violations in a neighborhood of homes, that for the most part are taken care of rather well, just in time for the city to reassess those houses. It is great that the mayor claims he cut taxes in 2007, even though I did not see those cuts on my bill, but it is obvious that all will be negated after this assessment, which I am sure will go into effect after the next election. According to Mayor Stratton’s literature, he has expanded the city’s tax base by bringing in $200 million in new business investment. I would like to ask him Stratton why the reassessment, which will only raise the taxes of hard-working families, who are finding it harder and harder to live in the city of Schenectady? CARRON MASTAN Schenectady
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
SCHENECTADY ‘Green’ policy takes back seat to public safety Purchase of SUV concerns officials BY KATHLEEN MOORE Gazette Reporter
Despite the Schenectady City Council’s new policy to reduce city pollution, the council approved yet another purchase of gas-guzzling vehicles on Tuesday. But, this time council members acknowledged the disconnect between policy and reality, and vowed to change their ways. “We need to work on this so we don’t repeat this again,” said Councilwoman Denise Brucker, adding that with the purchase of another two sport utility vehicles, the council is just giving “lip service” to its environmental policy, which proposes to reduce the city’s pollution by 1 percent to 2 percent every year. Councilman Frank Maurizio said the city’s employees must start looking for fuel-efficient options when they develop bid specifications for city vehicles. He said he agreed to vote for the latest gas-guzzlers only because the purchase went out to bid before the council announced its environmental focus. “I wanted to know where this came from. I was concerned we were being given lip service: ‘Good job with Green Schenectady but it’s business as usual,’” he said. Council members were so upset by the latest vehicle-purchase proposal that Councilman Gary McCarthy took the unusual step of convening Tuesday’s council committees meeting in the police department parking lot. There, council members personally inspected an SUV that police said they needed. Some council members were dubious that police really had to have a vehicle that gets mileage of only 14 miles per gallon and costs $9,000 more than a regular police car. But police Capt. Michael Wager said his officers need two Ford SUVs — and that both must be the bigger and more expensive Expedition model. Wager argued that the police must have a large SUV for three reasons: they need enough seating to bring disorderly groups back to the police station, although they also have a van for transport; they need more cargo space than cars offer, because the SUVs carry riot gear and other emergency equipment; and during blizzards, they need vehicles that have four-wheel drive. Since city officials wrote the police vehicle bid specifications without considering environmental costs, more fuel efficient alternatives such as pickup trucks were not included. Those options could only be evaluated if city officials reworked the bid specifications. To do that, the council would have to reject the bids for the SUVs — losing a deal in which the city would be able to buy each vehicle for $25,700, roughly $5,000 less than normal market price. Council President Mark Blanchfield said the situation proved the council must keep a closer eye on the entire bidding process, possibly approving all bid specifications before they are sent to bidders. “Just to tell it like it is, I think this is a symptom of a larger concern,” he said. “The council needs to get ahead of this bidding.” Dana Swalla, chairwoman of the city’s Energy Advisory Board, offered to help develop new vehicle specifications. “One of the things we have on our to-do list is to see what vehicles are up for replacement and form a plan,” she said. “We can help you plan ahead.” Only Mayor Brian U. Stratton spoke unequivocally in favor of the SUVs. “The City Council and the administration have to keep in mind this is a public safety purchase,” Stratton said. “This council should make sure we have everything we need to respond to our public safety needs. If that means we have to abandon … a greener vehicle, we have to do it. An environmental policy cannot be so rigid it encumbers our ability to respond quickly.” In the end, all seven council members voted for the SUVs, although many said they were doing so only because they had no better options. They stressed that they will create a vehicle specification policy that will ensure that they have more fuel efficient choices in the future. But Public Safety Commissioner Wayne Bennett said the council was right to set aside its environmental concerns in this case. “Common sense was applied here this evening,” he said.
Election year predictability? Columnist Marv Cermak will report in his column tomorrow that:
Even though Mayor Brian Stratton’s 2008 proposed city budget must be available by Oct. 1, there hasn’t been any speculation about new property tax rates.
Since he’s running for re-election in November, it’s a guaranteed given his budget will include at least a token tax decrease.
Sadly, politicians are uniformly predictable in an election year.
A year ago, Stratton released a budget with a 1 percent property tax decrease. Unfortunately, the savings was erased by an 8 percent water tax increase.
Stratton giveth with one hand and taketh away 8 times more with the other hand and the residents don't even seem to notice. If he lowers taxes he's going to raise or come up with a new fee that will be even higher than the tax cut. Tax and spend, tax and spend a typical Dem.
Schenectady mayor readies budget plan Stratton says spending proposal to be unveiled; councilman sees tax cut
By LAUREN STANFORTH, Staff writer First published: Wednesday, September 19, 2007
SCHENECTADY -- Mayor Brian Stratton said Tuesday he will release his proposed budget for 2008 next week, but he's giving no hints as to what will be included. Stratton did say he doesn't expect there will be a property tax increase, but whether taxes will actually be lowered is something he won't reveal until he presents his budget to the City Council on Sept. 27. The mayor's deadline for presenting the budget is Oct. 1.
The council passed a 1 percent decrease in the tax rate last year, which meant a home assessed at $86,000 would pay $1,814, or $18 less. But the decrease was largely absorbed by an average water bill increase of $16. The tax rate is $21.10 per $1,000 of assessed valuation.
Councilman Joseph Allen said he's hoping to see a 2 to 3 percent tax decrease in the budget. "That would be a help," Allen said, noting he will reveal most of his budget suggestions directly to the mayor.
Councilwoman Barbara Blanchard said she'd like to see funding for more nuisance officers, who deal with such complaints as piled up trash and unmowed lawns.
The city has one nuisance officer on duty and one on disability. Blanchard would like to see four nuisance officers on the payroll.
"Everyone wants taxes lowered, but everyone wants more services. It's always a balancing act," Blanchard said. Stratton so far is, "succeeding in balancing quite well."
Stratton, a Democrat, is up for re-election in November. His opponent, city Republican Chairman Mike Cuevas, said any budget should focus first on beefing up public safety.
Cuevas said he'd like to see six vacancies in the police department filled, as well as funding for demolition of vacant houses and creation of green space and parking in place of leveled homes.
After the mayor's budget is presented, it will be open to a public hearing later on. The City Council must adopt the budget by Oct. 31. The 2007 budget is about $68.7 million.
"Everyone wants taxes lowered, but everyone wants more services. It's always a balancing act," Blanchard said. Stratton so far is, "succeeding in balancing quite well."
And what rock does Ms.Barbie Blanchard live under? Stratton is succeeding in 'unbalancing' quite well. The working class is paying for the 'unworking' class. Ya know...the served are carring the load for the underseved. Ya know...the unbanked.
Quoted Text
Councilwoman Barbara Blanchard said she'd like to see funding for more nuisance officers, who deal with such complaints as piled up trash and unmowed lawns.
The city has one nuisance officer on duty and one on disability. Blanchard would like to see four nuisance officers on the payroll
Why don't you take some of the underserved residents on public assistance and give them the job. Barbie, more than half of your city is on some government program. Put them on the books and give them a job. Help give them some personal dignity and personal responsibility. Help to highten their self esteem. Or perhaps Barbie would prefer to keep the underseved right where they are so you can continue to baffle them with Bullsh**. Now that's a vote getter, huh?
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
How does Barbie think that employing another public employee feeding at the trough is going to lower taxes. It'll be just like last year an $18 tax cut and a $16 water tax increase. The Dems in control of this city/county will never do the right thing and give it's residents some real tax relief by cutting spending and lowering taxes.
The council passed a 1 percent decrease in the tax rate last year, which meant a home assessed at $86,000 would pay $1,814, or $18 less. But the decrease was largely absorbed by an average water bill increase of $16. The tax rate is $21.10 per $1,000 of assessed valuation.
They NEVER show a full tax bill with both school, county, fire etc.....SHOW ME THE $$ TRAIL.....then we'll talk......1/2 truth = no truth.....who's scales is he talking about.....the unjust scales of the politicians for votes......
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
SCHENECTADY Candidates for mayor agree to debate at Proctors Incumbent Stratton, Cuevas to face off BY KATHLEEN MOORE Gazette Reporter
Mayor Brian U. Stratton and Republican challenger Michael Cuevas have agreed to face off in a debate sponsored by The Daily Gazette. The public debate will be held on Oct. 24 from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the main stage at Proctors. Following the format used in 1999 and 2003, a panel of reporters will ask questions for the first half of the debate. The audience will provide questions for the second half. Gazette columnist Carl Strock will moderate, and will ask the fi rst question of the evening. Each candidate will have two minutes to answer each question, followed by a one-minute rebuttal. As recently as Monday, residents waiting outside a closed-door Schenectady City Council meeting were speculating whether Stratton, who speaks with a stutter, would agree to any debates against Cuevas. The Republican had already said that he was eager to take on Stratton. Stratton Thursday said “I’m very proud of our record and the progress we have made.... I look forward to a vigorous debate on the issues.” But when Stratton ran for mayor in 2003, he turned down Republican opponent Peter Guidarelli’s proposal to debate in every neighborhood, saying it was time-consuming and ineffective. The two eventually debated each other at an event sponsored by the Daily Gazette and met in several question-and-answer sessions, but Guidarelli suggested Stratton was avoiding debates and other unscripted events because he stutters. At the time, Stratton often began press conferences by reading from a printed statement. Stratton said his speech impediment had nothing to do with his views on debating. “Debates have a purpose in any campaign,” he said then. “But they’re also, by and large, theater and orchestration, which does not lend itself to a constructive discussion of the issues.” In the years since then, Stratton has generally run his press conferences without relying on pre-written statements. In an unusual turn of events, his stutter also vanished for nearly a year, just after he was elected. The stutter eventually returned, but it remains significantly diminished. Stratton receives annual treatment for the impediment, but steadfastly refuses to discuss it.
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