I think this really deserved a separate thread even though it's part of the issue with the city's repeated failure to properly plow streets.

So, how many called the mayor's office?


A co-worker called the "service" bureau this morning before work, got a Teresa Smith who said the city does not have snow emergencies because it's "very" expensive.   BS in our opinion.  And when she asked why they don't have the cars towed, the response was "the police department does that."   (well, of course)    But see, the woman responded that  the "service" bureau does not contact the police department, not that it should need to, but, isn't it the believe of everyone on these boards that the "service" bureau should call the police department and tell them something like they are plowing such and such (priority) street and there are cars illegally parked?    (of course, one poster to these boards will answer "no" to that question).    

One half of this team called the police department, the traffic division.  When it was explained, clearly....that the city has priority streets which the rules are clear "over 3 inches snow, no parking" and that the cars should be towed to facilitate plowing, the response from them was that they only ticket the cars, they don't have them towed.  When clarified again, what the city rules are, they said they would ONLY tow a car 48 hours AFTER it was ticketed!!!!!  

Called the mayor's office too, mentioned it's the mayor that declares the snow emergency, the young lady (I THINK her name was Linda but can't remember, definitely a young voice) said she would transfer the call to the service bureau.  Explained that was the starting point of someone we know who called, and explained that the plows won't go out anymore and what happens when the cars get damaged when slush and stuff turns to ice.


Come on, the mayor will NOT take a phone call, will NOT respond to the taxpayers who pay his salary.  Just pass the buck to the "service" bureau which does NOT provide any service.

So look at this.  The service bureau doesn't contact the PD about cars that are illegally parked, and the PD ignores the rules and doesn't have cars towed, they only tag them and then they MIGHT tow 48 hours AFTER ticketing.  

So people here are phone numbers you can call too.    mayor 382-5000, "service" bureau 382-5116, and PD traffic division 382-5211      

And while you're out and about, take your camera, take photos of how bad the streets are.   I had to laugh, the car I mentioned last week (yes, I still have to do a photo something that someone mentioned the stie).  Well, I saw it today, it's parked like almost across from the parking lot of that auto store on the corner of McClellan and State, sort of in front of a house just passed the vacuum cleaner business.   The city once again ignored the laws, the "service" bureau plowed around the car and man, I'll tell you, that plow must have been booking really fast because the splash reached all the way up the windows of the car to the roof.  So, the car has a snow bank half way up the tires.  Hey,  But here's the best..... ANYONE who exits that car would have a sign starting them in the face that reads "tow away zone, priority street, no parking after 3 inches snow fall."  The pole or tree on which that sign is posted is right next to the front of the car.  I mean NO ONE can miss the sign.  Hey I don't care about the owner of the car, it's his or her problem if the car is iced up and stuff.  I'm just illustrating how the city fails to provide service and ignores it's own rules.  

What is wrong with the employees and the leadership in this city?  

Yeah, allegedly no money for a snow emergency, but funny, there is money for tax exemptions for the millonaires downtown

the money for exemptions comes from a different bucket

but on the subject -  YOU ARE SOOOOOOOO RIGHT!!!

No money for snow emergencies but $1 MILLION in CITY TAXPAYER money to narrow and put unneeded bike paths on Erie Blvd.

No money to knock down abandoned fire traps but money for Mayor SOS' JEEP and dozens of City vehicles.

No money for City Pools but $25 MILLION wasted on a new City Garage that was built in a recession.

     I called too. "The Mayor was not in?" ROTFLMAO!! Keep the calls and emails coming-it's about time someone put his feet to the fire.

I called. They referred me to the Mayor, who was not in.

I suspect he had a plow put on his taxpaid Jeep and was out helping plow the roads!

Quoted from TippyCanoe

the money for exemptions comes from a different bucket

The city may show a different bucket on paper, but ya know, it doesn't matter whether it comes from Mike's right side pocket, Mike's left side pocket, Mike's wallet, Chris' right side pocket, Chris' left side pocket, Chris' wallet, our checking acount, our savings account, our mortgage escrow account, our Christmas club account, our vacation club acccount, our children's college savings, our retirement funds.....doesn't matter!   It comes from the money we go out every day and earn!  

The Mayor was off today, consulting with the "advance team" for Obummers visit.

Quoted from 147

The Mayor was off today, consulting with the "advance team" for Obummers visit.

OMG, what a thought!   Now, I'm positive that any motorcade will avoid driving the streets of the city, they'll go 890 right into GE and right out of there after.  Too bad.  It would be interesting to see some stretch limo try to get into some city streets with all the snow.

Wait, IF, some motorcade was going to travel city streets, GUARANTEED there would not be a car parked in any line of sight.   And you can bet that the city would spend the taxpayers money to not only plow back to the curbs, but IF the zero temps did freeze everything on the roads by Friday, you can bet the city would have graders along the route working all night Thursday into Friday to scrape the snow and ice down to the pavement.  Any mountains of snow would be plowed back to the curb, I mean, you'd be able to actually see the curb.  And mounds probably cut down.  The streets would be made to look super pristine and clean, nothing like reality.

Now, there is a 2 to 5 inch snow storm I heard coming, Thursday into Friday, we can only hope it "moves" in a direction to really slam the city, let the president see how his party in the city takes care of the city streets.  

Coming up at 11, FOX 23 is supposed to say what route the mayor hopes he takes.   My guess is State St to Erie Blvd so that he get's that classic image of GE that is one of the most recognizable.  And to hope he sees the physical changes to downtown.   Lets see how good my guess is.  

Wanna bet most of the city plowing crews will be on STate St and ERie Blvd to the exclusion of the taxpayers???? OF COURSE!

I'm saying they take route 7 to the crosstown to 890.

Or the Thruway to 890.

No way they are driving down route 5.

(I'm actually surprised they are not coming into the Schenectady airport)

They just had something on Fox or YNN, they were interviewing at Mikes on Erie Blvd.

Now see, if he was to stop and get something to eat, Mike's would be appropriate (although a little spicy on the hot dog saucse), Newest Lunch (for hot dogs there) would be good, and Morrettes would be good.  

These are long time solid businesses, lunch places that served GE in it's hey day.  And these are businesses that are not raping the taxpayers.  No way should the pres EVER be taken to the eating places that are causing taxpayers to lose their homes.

But rumor had it that he's going to Five Guys

Look, you know he would be sent only to dmocrapic favored sons! All of the above are unlikely!

Acutally I should have went the president's visit thread to make some comments.

But anyway, I hope everyone, when you're out and about in Schenectady CITY, take a camera and take photos of all those snowbanks weaving in and out and get the posted.   Then let's compile them and send them to the LOL (Lack Of Leadership) team, all three of them and ask them what taxes are going for.

I like this   I like that "Lack of Leaderhip" in Schenectady, and using the acronym of LOL given the common understanding of LOL.  fits well with them

You are all delusional if you think for one minute that obama will even care what schenectady looks like. Schenectady is  exactly how obama envisions this entire nation. Dumbed down, government dependent morons!!

Schenectady is the blue print of what obama and the liberal socialists wish what the nation and it's citizens looks like in the future. Oh sure....the liberal socialists need some form of capitalism to keep the machine running....but it will be only the chosen few elitists that will be chosen for the job.

Obama may just give stratton, savage and gillen an appointed position at the white house after this visit.

actually you have a point there bumble.  Maybe we'll be lucky, the three of them will be placed in the fed gov and they'll be little peons in the big govt getting bigger.

Well, back on the topic, the weather report says no melting anytime soon.

I thought about some pictures on my way to work this morning but I was way too busy with both hands on the wheel pray that something didnt hit me.  People were nuts out there.  The usual route was as bad as usual.  And the thing is, its a major street.  Parts of Albany street were ok but not the part I was on.  Especially where they have barracades out in the middle of the road that you have to drive around.  Another road that I have to travel on was a mess.  Ruts and chunks all over and the parked cars were still covered in snow from that last blast.  They havent moved.  The ones that were moved now have huge piles in the front and the back of where they were parked.  When you have to pull to the side to let another car through, you get stuck because its all icy mush.  

My guess that the route the Prez will take is Schenectady Airport to Erie Boulevard.  A straight through shot.  Of course, I wont be anywhere near that chaos.  

Instead of sending the pictures of how bad things are here to the mayors office, send them to the Prez.  LOL

Correcting the misstatements or lies in the previous posts

1) The grant tor rebuild Erie Blvd can NOT be spent on snow plowing or anything other than rebuilding
     Erie Blvd.

2) I was driving in the city on Wednesday, January 19 .. 3 different times .. and the main roads were in
     very good shape and the side roads were ok

3) Mayor Stratton was at City Hall at least part of the day.  I know because I saw him in the building and spoke
    with him.