with a burrito and a martini, then toss in a 'free' NYS lotto ticket to,,,you know,,,,help out the schools...........
lol-Senders! The first sign of any"renaissance" Downtown. Jammed parking lots, long waits for lunch. The trial of the Century in the only place it could have happened. Had enough-YET?
SCHENECTADY Carney details allegations against Raucci Pretrial hearing cites motivation behind incidents BY STEVEN COOK Gazette Reporter
In the winter of 1993, Steven Raucci believed a friend was owed money. Raucci stepped in to help out and the results were immediate. The help Raucci offered, according to Schenectady County District Attorney Robert Carney, was placing an explosive device on the home of the debtor and detonating it. “The mission succeeded, the friend got the money that was owed to him by the victim,” Carney said in a final pretrial hearing Thursday in Schenectady County Court. “That became a positive reinforcement for him in the future.” In the final hearing, as well as in related documents, Carney provided more detail into Raucci’s alleged motivations, how he got his start and the city school district administrators who allegedly looked the other way. Carney also alleges that current Superintendent Eric Ely specifically looked the other way when Athletic Director Gary DiNola’s vehicle had an explosive placed on it in November 2006. The explosive was placed on the vehicle the day after Raucci had a dispute with DiNola over school facilities, Carney wrote. “Superintendent Eric Ely, who was well aware of the dispute, was informed of the attack and never conducted any investigation nor did anything to try and determine if it was related to the defendant,” Carney wrote. Raucci, 61, of Niskayuna, is standing trial on an indictment containing 26 criminal counts ranging from criminal mischief to major felonies of arson and terrorism. He is charged with four separate bombings or attempted bombings. The alleged winter 1993 incident is not among the charges. Neither are other alleged incidents involving Raucci and explosives cited at the hearing Thursday before Acting Schenectady County Court Judge Polly Hoye. Raucci repeatedly threw explosive devices from moving vehicles, according to the allegations, with the devices exploding on the pavement in front of cars behind him. In the indictment, he is accused of planting similar bombs, vandalizing homes and cars and intimidating people he perceived as enemies over a period of years with the goal of currying favor with higher-ups and solidifying his power in the school district. Besides acting as director of facilities, he was also president of the CSEA union local representing the employees he supervised. Raucci allegedly placed incendiary devices at four homes around the Capital Region. Two of the devices exploded. No one was injured. ................>>>>..................>>>>............http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r00101&AppName=1
SCHENECTADY Raucci terror trial opens Power in union, school district outlined as issues BY STEVEN COOK Gazette Reporter
Steven Raucci struck his victims’ property under the cover of night, attacking their homes with screwdrivers, gallons of paint and explosives, Schenectady County District Attorney Robert Carney told a jury Friday. “He caused thousands of dollars in damage,” Carney said in his opening statements in the terrorism and arson trial, “but the injuries inflicted were far greater. He stole their peace of mind, their comfort, their security.” Carney opened the long-awaited case against Raucci, the former city schools facilities director, by discussing his alleged beginnings with bombs in 1993, his ties to the school district, his rise to and retention of power within the district and the union. Among those methods was ingratiating himself with the school district administration, passing them information, eliminating grievances and requiring workers under him to work on school board campaigns — all while maintaining his title as union head and making in excess of $100,000 a year. The result was that more than 100 workers under Raucci were “abandoned to the whims of a tyrannical boss,” Carney said. “These terroristic crimes were committed to intimidate those below him and others to make sure none of them challenged his authority or undermined his position of power or jeopardized his income that he obtained because of his status,” Carney told the jury. In his own opening statement, defense attorney Ronald De Angelus argued there was not one eyewitness to the events. But, De Angelus said, there will be many witnesses with a vested interested in the outcome of the case. “You’ll see that the real facts here are going to be filled with people who are jealous, they’re greedy, they deal in drugs, they’re outright crooks, they’re manipulative, they’re deceivers and otherwise desperate people trying to hold onto their position,” De Angelus said. Several of those expected to testify have sued or are trying to sue the district. “Remember,” De Angelus added, “the school district is not on trial here, Steve Raucci is on trial.” ..............>>>>...................>>>>...............http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r00101&AppName=1
Friday the prosecution of the Steven Raucci case officially dropped the bomb. It identified its star witness; Keith McKenna Before I go any further, let me clarify that I have “no horse in this race” or “dog in this fight”. I do not know Steven Raucci. I have never met him. I only know one person who went to high school with him, nearly 44 years ago. This person has not seen Raucci since graduation. Let me also add that I believe in swift and appropriate punishment, for any type of a crime. Steven Raucci should be no exception. I say that the prosecution “dropped the bomb”, because this “star witness“ is no star. He is more like a broken down meteor that fell from the sky and got buried in dirt. And if this loser is the best that Carney can muster, the prosecution is in big trouble. A defense attorney of any competence should be able to chew McKenna, a piece of human trash and then spit him in the garbage. Why do I say that? The very limited research I have done for the Schenectady Informer uncovered a very telling background on McKenna. He is a former Glenville cop. He is a self-admitted thief who aided and abated in real terrorism acts. His criminal acts, among other things, put the lives of at least six people in danger and caused the taxpayers of the town of Glenville also known as the taxpayers of Schenectady County to pay about $325,000.00. The payment was for the damages to the individuals whose lives he placed in danger; a police officer sworn to uphold the law. According to published reports and legal documents on or about 1996, a man named William Niles, of Latham, New York, at the time, an employee of Hannaford Supermarkets allegedly sustained a work-related injury and was awarded Workers Compensation Benefits. A woman named Mary Ellen Louer was assigned to administer the claim. She believed that Niles was not as disabled as he claimed. She therefore engaged the services of Compass Adjusters and Investigators. The firm conducted surveillance on Niles. Having become aware of the surveillance, Niles and Garth Russell Johnston of Glenville, believed to be his brother-in-law, obtained the license plates of the private investigators conducting the surveillance. Johnston then went to his “good buddy”, McKenna, who at that time was a Glenville cop. McKenna ran the plates , as well as other data from available databases and gave the information to Johnston. From that, Niles and Johnston began a campaign of terror against all parties involved in the investigation of Niles. They slashed tires, cut swimming pool liners, sent flowers with threatening notes, death threats, made harassing phone calls, etc. They even went as far as videotaping the young children of Mary Ellen Louer, getting off a school bus. They then left the videotape on her back porch with a note threatening the children’s lives, unless she “did the right thing”. Niles and Johnston were eventually convicted of federal extortion charges and were sent to prison. Aside from the prison term, Niles agreed to pay $125,000.00 to the victims. A monetary award against Johnston was also granted to the plaintiffs in the case. But you see, it wasn’t as “cut and dry” as it seems above. The matter was investigated by the FBI, which resulted in the conviction. Before that, this vermin called McKenna, really stuck it to the New York State Police. Before the FBI became involved, the investigation was initially conducted by the New York State Police. In its judicious thinking, rather than prosecute McKenna, they attempted to use the “brotherhood” approach to the investigation. The State Police decided to equip McKenna with a “wire” and ship him to interview Niles and McKenna in hopes to document on tape, their terror campaign on the victims. Little did the State Police know that this sleazebag would screw them as well. Yes, he did agree to wear the “wire” and talk to both. But, guess what? When he got to them , before they started to talk, McKenna slipped them a note, alerting them that he was “wired” for sound. And, you guessed it… nothing came out of that diligent effort. And, you guessed it again…the New York State Police dropped the investigation, thinking that one of their “buddies in blue” was as honest as a day is long. It wasn’t until the victims’ attorneys contacted the FBI that a real investigation was conducted. As usual, our skilled prosecutors and police interrogators were unable to crack McKenna. They granted him immunity in order to get him to testify against Niles and Johnston. It was only after he received immunity that he confessed to having warned Niles and Johnston that he was wearing a wire, when he presumably was sent to try to get them to admit the terror they were striking. We now know that he was wearing a “wire” when he reportedly talked to Steve Raucci and supposedly taped a conversation wherein Raucci reportedly admitted to some “crimes”. Just in case you may have forgotten, McKenna has been granted immunity in this case as well. This time he has been forgiven for having stolen night vision goggles from the Glenville Police Department. Do you really believe that the goggles is the only thing he stole? So, I ask: Is this the best that Carney, the FBI, the New York State Police and the dozens of other police agencies can do? Rely on a thief, double-crosser, terrorism conspirator? Steven Raucci has been charged with “terrorism”. But what about the “terrorism” to which McKenna, while being paid to uphold the law, aided in the many acts of very terrorism perpetrated by Niles and Johnston. Steven Raucci is a civilian; McKenna was a cop. Should he not have been held to a higher standard? Did he not contribute to real terrorism? Are we to believe anything that this piece of low-life has to say? It is very disturbing to me, as it should be to you that after an investigation which spanned over one year, involving Federal, State and Local law enforcement authorities, which most likely will cost the taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars if not millions, we’ve come to rely on a character like McKenna? How sad is that? The irony of it all is that despite all of the acts that Niles and Johnston perpetrated, neither was charged with “terrorism”. They were charged with extortion. Raucci, on the other hand has been charged with “terrorism”; an over-indictment, if one ever existed. As the old adage goes: “A prosecutor can indict a ham sandwich”. For now, I will not comment on the “evidence”. The DNA and the firecrackers, known to Carney as “explosives”. I will comment on the “evidence” in the near future. For your edification, I am including below, a portion of the legal proceeding of the terrorism acts to which McKenna contributed.
“II. FACTS Defendant William Niles ("Niles") was an employee for the Hannaford Brothers ("Hannaford") grocery stores. (Pl.'s Ex. BB at 5.) Niles applied for and obtained workers' compensation benefits for an injury he allegedly suffered while on the job. (Id. at 8-9.) Hannaford assigned plaintiff Mary Ellen Louer ("Louer") to administer Niles' workers' compensation case. (Pl.'s Ex. X at 6.) Louer had reason to believe that Niles was not as disabled as he had claimed, and therefore retained the services of Compass Adjusters and Investigators ("Compass") to investigate Niles. (Id. at 46.) Compass then conducted surveillance of Niles. (Def. McKenna's Ex. O at 35-36.) Plaintiffs John M. Margan, Jeffrey Margan, Paul Mahan, and Anthony Pellegrino, (collectively the "Investigators") were Compass investigators who worked on the Niles case. (Def. McKenna's Exs. Q at 9; S at 10; T at 9-10; U at 10.)
Niles and his friend, defendant Garth Russell Johnston ("Johnston"), obtained the motor vehicle license plate numbers of the Investigators. Johnston then asked his friend, Glenville Police Officer McKenna, to run the license plate numbers and obtain information from the New York Statewide Police Information Network ("NYSPIN"), to which McKenna had access through the Glenville Police Department. (See Def. Glenville's Ex. F at 61, Def. Glenville's Ex. E at 42, 43, 48, Def. Glenville's Stmnt. of Mat. Facts at PP 6, 7, 18; Def. McKenna's Stmnt. of Mat. Facts at PP 15-24, 29.) Johnston also asked McKenna to run a "name search" on Louer. (Def. McKenna's Stmnt. of Mat. Facts at P 29.) McKenna ran the license plate numbers of the Investigators. (Id. at P 17.) By running the license plates, he obtained information regarding the names of the owners of the vehicles and their addresses. (Id. at PP 18-22; Def. Glenville's Stmnt. of Mat. Facts at PP 7-11.) He then provided this information to Johnston, who, in turn, provided the information to Niles. (Def. McKenna's Stmnt of Mat. Facts at PP 23-24; Def. Glenville's Stmnt. of Mat. Facts at PP 12-13.) McKenna was unable to locate information on Louer. (Id. at P 18; Pl.'s Stmnt. of Mat. Facts at P 18.)
Niles and/or Johnston went to Louer's home; videotaped her family, including her children; delivered the videotape together with a threatening note to her home; sent her flowers with a threatening greeting card attached; and otherwise harassed or threatened her. (Def. Glenville's Stmnt. of Mat. Facts at P 20; Pl.'s Ex. H at 16-20.) Niles and/or Johnston also engaged in acts of vandalism at the home of plaintiff John M. Margan. (Pl.'s Ex. H at 16-20.) Niles and/or Johnston also engaged in harassing and/or threatening conduct towards plaintiff Anthony Pellegrino (Def. Glenville's Ex. F at 64-65.) This conduct led to criminal charges against Niles and Johnston. (See generally Pl.'s Ex. H.) Both Niles and Johnston pleaded guilty to a count of conspiracy to commit extortion. (See Pl.'s Ex. H.) The underlying criminal acts are part of the same acts at issue in this matter.”
It is really evident that at all levels of power and government, this state is a festering pile of oozing garbage, a dripping and disgusting mess. State Police Chief, local union thugs, police officers, officials, bureaucrats of every stripe. The definition of tyranny is where the people fear the government. Freedom means the government fears the people. What do we have?
"While Foreign Terrorists were plotting to murder and maim using homemade bombs in Boston, Democrap officials in Washington DC, Albany and here were busy watching ME and other law abiding American Citizens who are gun owners and taxpayers, in an effort to blame the nation's lack of security on US so that they could have a political scapegoat."
The Schenectady Blog Stories from Schenectady residents and business owners.
Glance at Schenectady school board petition list
March 4, 2010 at 2:03 pm by Teresa Buckley
The Schools blog heard Schenectady schools human resources director, whose is the defendant in some civil lawsuits accusing him of ignoring warnings about Steven Raucci’s harassment and intimidation, picked up petitions for school board. Wow, is Stricos – who will retire in a matter of weeks – thinking about trying to get on the school board?
Stricos responded to an email Wednesday evening only that he’s not running at this time. It’s unknown if he was considering it, or if he was simply picking up the petitions for someone else. But that got us to thinking – who else picked up petitions in what is going to be a very contentious race in May?
The district didn’t require a name be taken, so the list isn’t complete. Keep in mind, none, or all, of these individuals might turn in petitions before the end of April:
Maxine Brisport Ron Lindsay Mike Stricos SCOPE organization Ann Reilly Jaime Covington Kennard Singh John Motoveeran Sean Allen Catherine Lewis Barbara Metcalf A.C. Mazurek Rick Boettcher Benjamin Wallach Nancy Benz
"While Foreign Terrorists were plotting to murder and maim using homemade bombs in Boston, Democrap officials in Washington DC, Albany and here were busy watching ME and other law abiding American Citizens who are gun owners and taxpayers, in an effort to blame the nation's lack of security on US so that they could have a political scapegoat."
That's the way they do things in Schenectady County. They create, promote and appoint the 'same old same old' retread!
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
It is really evident that at all levels of power and government, this state is a festering pile of oozing garbage, a dripping and disgusting mess. State Police Chief, local union thugs, police officers, officials, bureaucrats of every stripe. The definition of tyranny is where the people fear the government. Freedom means the government fears the people. What do we have?
yup
...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 Witness: Fear led to suicide try Former school employee details disturbing encounters with Raucci BY STEVEN COOK Gazette Reporter
A now-retired city schools carpenter testified Monday that he tried to commit suicide after a 1995 work-related encounter with Steven Raucci. Greg Zannitto testified he took a handful of pills after Raucci paid an evening visit to his home following a nose-to-nose argument. “I figured that maybe if I was out of the way, if I wasn’t a problem,” Zannitto said under questioning by Schenectady County District Attorney Robert Carney before being cut off by an objection from defense attorney Ronald De Angelus. The Schenectady County Court jury was told by Judge Polly Hoye to disregard the comment on why Zannitto took the pills, which Zannitto described as Tylenol 3 with codeine. Carney had cited in papers last year one witness who was so afraid of Raucci that he attempted suicide. “At that time, I believed Steve was running the show, he’s the man to reckon with,” Zannitto said. “I didn’t want to make any waves or have any problems.” Zannitto said he couldn’t recall exactly what the argument at work was about, but he remembered Raucci spitting in his face. Raucci turned away and Zannitto spit on the back of Raucci’s head. Then, according to Zannitto, Raucci grabbed him, telling him that he could get even with him or his family at any time. That evening Raucci came to his home and, Zannitto said, let himself inside through a screen door. Raucci commented on his nice home, Zannitto said. Later, Zannitto took the pills. Raucci, 61, of Niskayuna, is on trial on 26 criminal counts ranging from criminal mischief to major felonies of arson and terrorism. He has been held in the Schenectady County Jail, denied release on bail, since his arrest more than a year ago. ............................>>>>...............>>>>...............http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r00100&AppName=1
SCHENECTADY Raucci made rapid ascent Witnesses recall drive for power in school district BY STEVEN COOK Gazette Reporter
Brian Ansari, then school board president, accepted a $3,000 loan from Steven Raucci in early 2004, a loan that Ansari has yet to pay back, he testified Tuesday at Raucci’s terrorism and arson trial. Ansari testified he was going through a divorce and in February or March of that year he went to Raucci, then the school district’s facilities director, for cash help. “He said I could give it back to him when I could,” Ansari testifi ed. Ansari testifi ed he asked Raucci for help after deciding he was leaving the board. He didn’t officially resign until August of 2004. Ansari said the loan didn’t affect his decisions on the board and that Raucci expected no favors. According to testimony Tuesday, Raucci had gone from making $41,000 in 2002 to $69,000 in 2003. By the end of 2004, Raucci, with overtime helped by the energy manager position, had made $104,000, according to other previous testimony. The figures showed a completion of Raucci’s rapid ascent to head of the building and grounds department, completed in January 2003. He also had just won the lucrative energy manager position only months earlier. Ansari’s testimony was the second time someone has testified that Raucci gave out money. Retired district carpenter Greg Zannitto testified Monday that Raucci placed an $800 envelope on his porch after Zannitto’s wife lost her job. Zannitto promptly returned it. “I told my wife I didn’t want to be obligated to Steve for anything,” Zannitto testified Monday. Ansari’s testimony came after a whirlwind day that saw Michael San Angelo, Schenectady schools assistant superintendent of business, testify he and Raucci discussed topics related to Raucci’s ascent to the energy manager post.................>>>>......................>>>>.............http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r00102&AppName=1
SCHENECTADY Family recalls blast at home Letter left outside front door led police to suspect Raucci BY STEVEN COOK Gazette Reporter
Colleen Capitummino woke to a flash early on the morning of Aug. 26, 2001. She had been sleeping on the second floor of her family’s new home on Shardon Court in Rotterdam as were her 8-year-old daughter and 4-year-old son. Her husband Steve was downstairs in the living room, having fallen asleep watching television. “I woke up to a bright flash of light and then I just heard this extraordinary bang,” Capitummino testified Thursday morning at the terrorism and arson trial of Steven Raucci. “I had no idea what it was at the time,” she said. Everyone in the house was jolted awake, as were many neighbors. Porch lights went on up and down the block. The explosion on that warm night was even louder downstairs. Wafting in through the open windows was the distinct smell of sulfur. Jolted awake early that morning, the Capitumminos checked the furnace and looked outside, but they didn’t look outside their front door. They fi - nally decided it was kids playing with firecrackers and went back to bed. Unknown to the Capitumminos, the blast was just outside their front door, where a bomb had been placed in the loop-type door handle. Defense attorney Ronald De Angelus seized on the Capitumminos’ original thought that it was children playing with firecrackers, suggesting in questioning that young people were still up. But the next morning, Colleen Capitummino found the damage when she went to water plants. There was a softball sized depression behind the door handle. A screw from the handle was later found across the street. There was cardboard or paper pieces strewn across the stoop. She also discovered a note under a rock next to the door: “Just wanted to let you know we don’t like you and your grievances,” the note read in all capital letters. “Maybe we can’t do anything about that, but we can deal with you. Your [sic] good at harassing our friend because she’s a girl, well let’s see how tough you are dealing with men.” She called her husband from the backyard. The note made no sense to either of them. The husband worked as a sales representative in the lighting business. Raucci, 61, of Niskayuna, the former facilities chief of the Schenectady City School District, is on trial in Schenectady County Court on a 23-count indictment charging him with numerous incidents of criminal mischief, as well as major felonies of arson and terrorism over a period of years. Some of Raucci’s alleged crimes were aimed at maintaining and solidifying his position in the school district where he was also president of the union local that represented the employees he supervised, the prosecution said. ....................>>>>...........................>>>>..............http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r00100&AppName=1
lol-Senders! The first sign of any"renaissance" Downtown. Jammed parking lots, long waits for lunch.
Logged
