Savage is using the same old tactic that the Dems always us blame the other party and accept no responsibility for your actions. She sounds like Barney Frank defending the financial meltdown.
Angelo is a great legislator and a breath of financial expertise on this horrible, do-nothing County Legislature. His proposal is a good start but does very little to cut $8 million in the record deficit. Firing 10 lobs and cutting legislators salaries is hardly enough.
The County Home must be sold. With the Baptist Nursing Home addition something should be done together. There must be a 10% across the Board County layoff, except in law enforcement. All City and Scotia library branches must be closed. Very sad to hear Angelo's minor cuts dismissed with nothing offered on the other side. Except a huge Countywide tax increase-in a recession.
I think the argument the legislature is using against Angelo's plan is absurd...Using their logic, any cost cutting measure that doesn't save hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of dollars is not "worth it," and viewed as a publicity stunt.
It appears that Angelo's plan is an attempt to shift the "mindset" of the legislature, in hopes to turn the county around financially.
And there are still some who wonder how we got into this mess...
I am not sure that the reporter got the things right in the paper. I am sure Sue Savage is interested in working with Ang. And again WHERE are the repubs they MUST BE AGAINST this and this puts Ang in a positiob to switch since Farley and the gang of 3 are conspicuolosly absent over here after years we finally get someone to propose these things for the first time and no one backs him. This shows why we need to vote the repubs all out this year and next and hope Ang switches to indepen or conserv
Sue Savages comments were condescending to Angelo and a disgrace to the entire County Legislature. I will take any kind of a cut in taxes, I don't care if it's only $5 just DO SOMETHING. From where she is sitting these reductions may appear small, perhaps she should get off her throne and realize the hardship for people that might not share her standard of living. A patronage job is a patronage job regardless of party........get rid of them.
Sue Savages comments were condescending to Angelo and a disgrace to the entire County Legislature. I will take any kind of a cut in taxes, I don't care if it's only $5 just DO SOMETHING. From where she is sitting these reductions may appear small, perhaps she should get off her throne and realize the hardship for people that might not share her standard of living. A patronage job is a patronage job regardless of party........get rid of them.
While I commend Mr Santabarbara for stepping up with this article and daring to stand against her Majesty - why do these TYPES of letters/releases always come out just before election time. Why aren't we seeing things like this REGULARLY.
Mr Santabarbara has some great ideas, so do other members of the legislature. It's like they're quiet all year (constipated if you will) and someone gives them a giant dose of X-Lax a month before election time. Granted, not much will make it to the "floor" from the minority - but that shouldn't stop them from communicating with thsir constituents and the media on a regular basis via Press Releases.
I'm NOT beating up on Mr Santabarbara - not at all, I commend the release - but cant help but wonder why only now is this coming to light. Surely we've been taxed to death for years, it's not something new.
And while I'm at it, where are Suhrada and Farley - they SHOULD be backing up Santabarbara.
Santabarbara's press release was the proverbial thumb in the wind. Republicans are waiting to see what the fallout is before taking a position. Again, the Republicans are just protecting their own seats. No leadership whatsoever. If leadership is what you are looking for, go talk to McDonalds and talk to a 20 year old shift supervisor. They have more balls than any County Republican.
Wow Cicero-you hit the nail on the head. The GOP only have 4 seats (out of 15) to protect. No wonder they are losing registrations left and right. Angelo is on the right track but did not go far enough. The reaction from the Dems shows he is on to something. Keep cutting-not taxing us to death!
The People's Gazette never accurately quotes fellow Conservatives. Rene would make a great Majority leader. Until then she is doing the Lords work in Duanesburg. When we take over she should be named County Manager. She understands the value of a taxpayer dollar.
true Cicero FArley and Surhada spouted off nonsense last week to get the jump on Ang and they didnt put it out in a law like Ang did so I say they should go to hell for not backing him. How come they werent in the paper? Hmm Mr Farly where ARE YOU over there???????? Where oh where did the irish - man go? Where is the bald one? I tell you where NO WHERE!!!!! Angelo is the ONLY one who ever had any ideas to cut and ever went against any of this, and I predict that the demos will be coming in behind him indeed you just wait, he is impossible not to work with
In defense of Angelo this is his first budget season and budget season always precedes the election process. Coincidence? Probably not but I'm not knowledgeble enough to arrive at a determination in either direction. I'm also not knowledgeble enough to be County manager. Kathy is good, I'm sure she knows exactly where the cuts should, need, and can be made. She is appointed by the county leg and if she wants to keep her job she will do as she is told.
You're right Rene, and that's exactly what's wrong with the way things are done in this county. It doesn't matter what's right or what's best for the tax payers only what those in control tell them to do.
I agree with many of the points that have been made here. MT, you state that "why is this coming out just before the election, it seems like an election ploy." Exact quote:
Quoted Text
why do these TYPES of letters/releases always come out just before election time. Why aren't we seeing things like this REGULARLY.
Well, first of all, this is the only time of the year that we talk about the budget. It conveniently comes at the same time as elections. Yes, this is Mr. Santabarbara's first budget season. Also, this can't really be looked at as an election-time ploy for one reason...He's not up for re-election at this time.
If he had waited the time of his entire term then turned around and started asking questions like this, I would agree, but he's not. This is his first budget that he has to deal with as a member of the Legislature. This is EXACTLY what we should hear from EACH of our representatives, EACH AND EVERY YEAR!
I applaud Mr. Santabarbara for this fight and hope that he holds to his guns. And we as residents need to realize that the budget time is just the beginning of the process. Yes, this is the time when it is decided how much of a check that we need to send to the county for the sheer priveledge of living in this wonderful county.
The thing that we need to remember is that this is not the only time of year that we need to hold our legislators responsible due to the fact that every single month they are making decisions on how they are spending that money that we send in, as well as the amounts of money that they collect from us in the many other ways as taxes / fees throughout the year.
Angelo has some ideas on how to start making a difference, but this is all coming from a "rookie." We need some of the "veterans" in office, no matter which "team" they're for, to be looking to try to win the "game" for the entire "team," including all the other "players (residents)."