So the Feds/State/Local yokals cant even come to an agreement and honestly really dont give a rat's butt about the future after they drop their sh!t(literally)
...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
The Government is exempt from local zoning laws. It is eminent domain. Once they leave, whomever purchases the property purchases it "As Is, Where Is" the purchaser MUST follow local zoning/building codes. Sync did not. They felt that since the government had housing there that they should be able to enjoy the same exemption. According to State Supreme Court - NOT SO, The Zang brothers knew this, but chose to ignore it. They completely lied (as did their attorney AB) at the hearings. It is pathetic that this town board ignored negative recommendations from Schdy County, Rotterdam Planning Board, and the Comp Plan Advisory Council (all of these groups did their homework on this too). OH, we will be getting that halfway house, these people are too dumb to see the forest thru the trees. They are completely changing the character of our Town and we will NEVER be able to fix this mess. We might as well be labeled the City of Rotterdam. EEEWWWW!!!!
This will end up being a very expensive law suit. And like I have stated before.....the stupid merry band of idiots allowed themselves to be dupped by sync and it's representatives and will be costing the taxpayers for a very long time! This stuff is a scam that is happening all over!
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
Listen...think what you will but if poeple have lived there for the last 60 years then it is reasonable to assume that people can live there into the future. As for the technicality of the law, whatever. Isn't the point of the TB to identify issues that might need to be considered just like this one?
Let's go over the points of the planning commision:
1- The property didn't look pretty. Well folks, they are brick buildings and in case you don't know brick looks old...from the moment you put it up you are going for a different look then siding. You can acid wash it (which Sync just tested the acid wash on one of the buildings last week) but you can't really paint it unless you want it to look stupid.
2- Police calls. What no one brought up is the difference of police calls in Sync vs roughly the same per capital population as any other area in Rotterdam. And yes, police stop a lot of people speeding on Duanesburg Rd. And lets not discuss across from Sync property where the police have been there 4-5 times in 6 months, and the last one last week required 3 units to respond.
Now lets address the other side-
1- On N. Wescott 2 other buildings were given rezoning from being milltary housing and was not opposed by Galesi or the town. Why? Well the DEC library prevents Galesi from being able to use that property for anything substantial.
2- Galesi has 6 homes on the Industrial complex now in use (plus a playground)...why are we listening to their attorneys at all on this issue?
Any other issue on this people wish to address? I am willing to debate this one openly but keep it to facts and no nonsense about criminal owners or anything else.
This Press release was just sent to me. Not sure how old it is though, pretty interesting stuff....
REFORM TO ROTTERDAM REZONE PROCESS NEEDED
Councilman proposes “Rotterdam Rezone Reform Act of 2010” Will Require Disclosure and Transparency in Rezone Process.
Too often influence and/or certain close relationships between town officials and rezone applicants (or their attorneys and other professional representatives) have an improper affect upon the outcome of change of zone applications. These influences and relationships must be fully disclosed to the public at the time an application for a rezone is submitted according to current Councilman Gerard Parisi. Parisi, in referencing certain provisos in the Rotterdam ethics law, has proposed a new law to be known as the “Rotterdam Rezone Reform Act of 2010”. The new proposed law would incorporate, and now require, similar ethical disclosures with regard to the rezoning process.
Although these disclosures could reasonably be required on any business presented for Town Board action, Parisi notes that, in connection with rezones in particular, there is an undisputed perception, if not fact, that zoning requests in Rotterdam are decided not by the merit of the application but by the strength of the individuals personal, political or business relationship with town officials.
“While the degree of relationship does not necessarily create a conflict of interest on the part of the deciding official, it is sometimes a factor and can be an inappropriate influence. Frequently, these relationships are not fully known or disclosed to the affected public at large, and they need to be.”, said Parisi.
Parisi asserts that requiring full transparency and disclosure in the rezone process will serve to inform the residents and voters of all the relationships involved. Former Supervisor Steven Tommasone, who supports Parisi’s initiative, says that there is a culture of the use of influence in rezone applications which is particularly engrained in Rotterdam. “The town of Rotterdam has a long and frustrating history of what appears to be spot zoning. A review of past Rotterdam zoning decisions reveals a hodge-podge of different zoning classifications and uses of property. This haphazard approach to zoning not only created disorganization but also impairs the quality of life of the individuals affected by the consequences of spot zoning.”, said Tommasone.
The pressure to grant rezones to well-connected individual’s was evident when developer and Assemblyman George Amedore publicly stated this February that he refused to support Tommasone and the other republicans running for election in 2009 because they “didn’t give me my zone change and it cost me a lot of money”. Tommasone said it’s these types of statements, by well-connected and influential individuals, that create a perception, and sometimes an unfortunate reality, that zoning decisions are based on who you know rather than what serves the best interests of the town.
Parisi believes that the new law must require full consideration and disclosure of any and all relationships involved. Any familial, political, business or social relationships between the applicant and any town employee or official (as well as those of the hired professionals representing either side) will need to be disclosed. For example, current and past business relationships, political contributions, campaign participation or support, and political positions such as committeeman will now need to be disclosed up front.
The new law, if moved forward by the current Town Board majority, would require the creation of a zoning application disclosure form to be submitted with all rezone applications. Failure to fully complete and submit the form would prohibit the application from being considered. Parisi states, “The passage of this Zoning Reform Act will the help combat the perception of influence in our town, alert the public of potential conflicts and possibly curb the practice and negative impacts of spot zoning.”
Parisi says that these new disclosure requirements will not of itself demand a recusal on any particular vote but will serve to inform the public of the significant relationships that may exist between rezone applicants and town officials.
The pressure to grant rezones to well-connected individual’s was evident when developer and Assemblyman George Amedore publicly stated this February that he refused to support Tommasone and the other republicans running for election in 2009 because they “didn’t give me my zone change and it cost me a lot of money”.
Are you kidding me? Where the hell is the press on this? Is this even legal? Sounds really, really bad. This guy wants to be out Assemblyman and expects to get projects handed to him that are bad for the town, solely because he is an ASSemblyman!? It's time we take our government back!
“The town of Rotterdam has a long and frustrating history of what appears to be spot zoning. A review of past Rotterdam zoning decisions reveals a hodge-podge of different zoning classifications and uses of property. This haphazard approach to zoning not only created disorganization but also impairs the quality of life of the individuals affected by the consequences of spot zoning.”, said Tommasone.
What does this have to do with amedore? I thought the rezone reform would be for transparency? That applicants had to disclose exactly who or what in rotterdam they are associated with....no?
This just sounds like greeny has a personal axe to grind with GA....yes?
Git ready for the mud to fly folks! Watch rotterdam politics at it's best! Take a seat and git the popcorn!
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
If in fact Amedore did say - they “didn’t give me my zone change and it cost me a lot of money” that is unfortunate. But seeing as there is no official person or organization credited with this so called press release besides an anonymous poster, I must question the facts and motives behind the anonymous release.
But let's assume that everything in the press release is true. It is just another loss for the residents of Rotterdam and the 105th. It looks like our possible choices are between Amedore - a politician looking for favorable treatment to benefit his contracting business ~ Santabarbara - an opportunistic turncoat Republican turned Democrat looking to become a career politician climbing the political ladder ~ Parisi - a ex-party boss, tax district creating, and architect of the trouncing of the town Republican ticket(the amazing loss to DelGallo ), also looking to climb the political ladder. Personally, I believe Parisi will get lamb basted in a Republican primary and make Rotterdam(specifically Republicans) look like a bunch of morons.
Where is the NNTP? This circus like political climate in Schenectady County cannot continue. Looking for a little sanity.
I also wouldn't vote for someone who screwed me and it cost me a lot of money...does that make him different from anyone else? Am I missing something here? We all vote for people who we think we do what will benefit us somehow, directly or indirectly.
The pressure to grant rezones to well-connected individual’s was evident when developer and Assemblyman George Amedore publicly stated this February that he refused to support Tommasone and the other republicans running for election in 2009 because they “didn’t give me my zone change and it cost me a lot of money”. Tommasone said it’s these types of statements, by well-connected and influential individuals, that create a perception, and sometimes an unfortunate reality, that zoning decisions are based on who you know rather than what serves the best interests of the town.
This is yet an added discredit to the rotterdam reps. I don't recall amedore EVER putting out a press release against ST or any other local rep. Perhaps I missed it. I certainly hope the rotterdam reps don't continue with this bull crap. Rotterdamians clearly want this present town board OUT! But today they are too smart to vote for someone just because they have an 'R' after their name. They may give birth to another independent candidate/s!
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
If in fact Amedore did say - they “didn’t give me my zone change and it cost me a lot of money” that is unfortunate. But seeing as there is no official person or organization credited with this so called press release besides an anonymous poster, I must question the facts and motives behind the anonymous release.
But let's assume that everything in the press release is true. It is just another loss for the residents of Rotterdam and the 105th. It looks like our possible choices are between Amedore - a politician looking for favorable treatment to benefit his contracting business ~ Santabarbara - an opportunistic turncoat Republican turned Democrat looking to become a career politician climbing the political ladder ~ Parisi - a ex-party boss, tax district creating, and architect of the trouncing of the town Republican ticket(the amazing loss to DelGallo ), also looking to climb the political ladder. Personally, I believe Parisi will get lamb basted in a Republican primary and make Rotterdam(specifically Republicans) look like a bunch of morons.
Where is the NNTP? This circus like political climate in Schenectady County cannot continue. Looking for a little sanity.
Here are the amended minutes from the Rotterdam Republican Committee Meeting:
AMENDED MINUTES: Town of Rotterdam Republican Committee Meeting
January 27, 2010
Chairman Tom Buchanan opened up the meeting at 6:12pm. He began by making an endorsement to have Jim Longo be Chairman of the Town of Rotterdam. He went on to discuss the past election and he asked everyone to re-group in spite of all of the internal strife and chaos within the party. Amendment: Chairman Buchanan spoke about a flyer that went out for Nicky DiLeva (endorsed by democrats) shaking hands with Assemblyman Amedore. He said that the Assemblyman did not support Rotterdam in the past election cycle.
Gerard Parisi stood up and asked how the party can truly move forward without re-visiting some of the things that have happened in the past election. Some of those things being --Mertz--the primary--committee people not supporting the ticket, ect.
There was some discussion on whether or not to continue votes by proxy, but realize that by-laws must be changed to do so.
Assemblyman Amedore got up to speak. There was a lot of open dialogue with fellow committeeman regarding the past election. Amendment: Committeewoman Tracy Donovan asked Assemblyman George Amedore if he agreed or disagreed with Chairman Buchanan’s assessment that he did nothing to help the Republicans in Rotterdam during the past election cycle. The Assemblyman agreed that he did not help. Chairman Buchanan asked Tracy to repeat the question about supporting the Rotterdam ticket and Amedore continued to say that he didn’t help, and tried to make excuses for his absence. He said that he was not asked to do anything until the day before the election and that he never knew about the DiLeva literature until it came out. Amedore was asked if he did anything to distance himself from the literature or in anyone publically denounced it. He said he did not. Tracy explained to him that he is our leader, one in which we look up to and Rotterdam needed his help. She asked if he realized that we (the committee people) go around and get signatures to enable him to run. Assemblyman Amedore said “Do you think I like wearing these suits? I work for the people!” Tracy asked him why he never was around during the whole campaign until the night we lost and stood alone in the corner with a big smile on his face. Assemblyman Amedore shouted back, "I didn't support the republican ticket because Steve Tommasone didn't give me my zone change in Rotterdam and it cost my family a lot of money!". Then he said that he went to all the town gatherings in the county that night.
Next: the reading of the minutes from the last meeting and the treasurer’s report. A motion to accept by Joe Suhrada and seconded by Dick Karp.
Joe Suhrada made a motion from the floor to nominate Jim Longo for Town Chairman of Rotterdam. Stanley seconded that motion. Holly V made a motion to cast one ballot A motion to accept by Dick Karp and seconded by Stanley M
Chairman Jim Longo got up and made an acceptance speech. He announced the date for the Reagan Day Dinner for April 22, 2010.
He made a motion to nominate Bob Hemsworth as a committee person. Dick Karp made a motion to cast one ballot Stan seconded
Chairman Jim Longo then made a motion to adjourn….Dick Karp accepted--Stanley Marchinkowski seconded.
Logged
