26 DAYS TO ELECTION. IS ANYBODY COUNTING?

26 DAYS TO ELECTION. IS ANYBODY COUNTING?

Halloween and November 8 are just around the corner. Trick or Treat?

Voter turnout will likely be very low. At least, that is what the Mayor and Common Council incumbents are hoping.

The people feel secure in their homes. They don't seem to mind the violence or gunfire in the streets. The unsolved arsons are forgotten.

 Disorderly, failing city schools, violence in the schools, lack of a safe environment conducive to learning, lack of K-8 neighborhood schools, and annual property tax increases to support city schools and pay the long term debt on magnet schools and the ill-conceived school facilities construction bond act, use of a lottery system to gamble with the educational futures of the children - none of this seems to matter much to the senior citizens who make up a large block of the partisan, partyline voters because they don't have any kids in school. Besides, many are glad that they are nearing departure from this life and are looking forward to the peace that will bring them. The only ones that are concerned about these issues are the families with school age children. Those, that can, move out of Albany when their kids complete grade 5. Those, who are left behind are pawns of the system.

9-11, hurricanes, floods, earthquakes -they are terrible things that happen somewhere else. Albany is safe from natural and man-made disasters and terrorist attacks. So, the Mayor and Common Council haven't bothered to prepare a City Emergency/Disaster Plan that anticipates what could happen here, and how we might survive whatever may befall us in the days ahead.

The people know that the city water supply is secure from disasters and terrorist attacks. The sewer treatment system too. An earthquake would never happen here, destroying the aging city water and sewer infrastructure rendering the city unliveable and prone to destruction by raging fires.

But, just in case, the Mayor and Common Council do have a plan - winters in Albany bring lots of rain and snow.

Sorry, you still will have to pay the 15-30 percent increase in water and sewer rates. The bills will be in the mail after November 8 -Election Day.

What are the chances that, in the dead of an Albany winter, we would suffer a disaster or terrorist attacks that would leave us without water, food, gasoline, home heating oil, electricity and all the other things we take for granted? What are the chances of the Downtown elevated highway system collapsing like a row of dominos in a quake? The bridges and highway system? Nah. Never happen. Just ask Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown.

Not to worry, you'll be ok. The Mayor and Common Council have a plan. Bags of coal and turkeys will be dropped off on your doorsteps to help you along. However, you will only get the turkeys on Election Day.

Never mind all the chaos and disorder in the streets outside your homes. No, it's not the  armed gangs and criminals, the Mayor and Common Council failed to disarm. It is not they who are running amok through the neighborhoods pillaging and plundering - it is the disenfranchised citizenry who failed to anticipate and prepare for this day. They were too dependent upon the government. But, now they have to fend for themselves.

Just double bolt your door and pile some furniture against it. Fire a few rounds, into the air, from your 30/30 or 357 magnum. They will get the idea, and leave you alone - until your ammo runs out.

Don't try to call 911 because all systems are down, including cell towers. Won't matter anyway, the police and firemen, most of whom live outside of Albany, won't be able to get into down. Besides, they will be taking care of their own families.

No free rides to the ER for medical treatment. Besides the hospitals might not even be there. Hope you know first aid.

Forget about running over to your nearby church, synagogue or school. They didn't anticipate and prepare either. Their kitchens are bare. No stored food and water. No blankets. No emergency generators and fuel to provide electricity and heat. Of course, as you know, do not underestimate the power of prayer.

You are on your own. Hopefully, you had the foresight to prepare.

Regardless of what happens, the mail will get through. You will get your city and school property tax bills . They will never go down, even if your home and property are worthess.

The revaluation/reassessment will take place sometime after the November 8 General Election. Your property values are sure to skyrocket, because they will be based on this year's outrageous comparable sales in an overinflated housing market.

Not to worry, it really isn't a huge property tax increase. Just ask the Mayor or Common Council. The Mayor will tell you to be glad that your house was once worth so much.

Just shut up and pay your city and school property taxes. Stop your whining. You know the Mayor doesn't like people who complain or run Albany down. Anyway, this is HIS city - NOT yours.

He and the Common Council hope you don't bother to go to the polls and vote on November 8. Then they, and their small band of partisan, partyline voters (about 10,000 in number) ,who benefit from the status quo, will remain in power. The rest of the 45,000 Albany voters (more than half of whom don't go to the polls anyway) can go whistle dixie -even if that is not politically correct in this day and age.

In conclusion. Don't bother to become informed or to vote. Don't demand that the local media provide you with the information to permit you to cast informed votes on November 8. They already told you that the election was decided with the September 13 Democratic Primary results.

Of course, you believe that, and you are resigned to your fate. I hope you are happy and confident that government will take care of you in any event.

On November 8 just stay home and watch Survivor on your telly's and never let it cross your minds, that one day, you and your loved ones may be in the same situation, except that it will be for real.

                                                    J P Sullivan

PS: this was not written by Mark Dunlea - I can think and   write on my own.

 

 

 

34 DAYS TO ELECTION DAY: REASONS TO ELECT A NEW MAYOR

34 DAYS TO ELECTION DAY: REASONS TO ELECT A NEW MAYOR AND NEW COMMON COUNCIL

1. OPERATION IMPACT has not been stepped up to disarm criminals and gangs, and to clear the streets of anti-social individuals and groups. Law abiding citizens are not safe in their homes or on the streets anywhere in Albany.

2. NO EFFORT BY MAYOR AND HIS COMMON COUNCIL ALLIES TO FIX THE FAILING ALBANY CITY SCHOOLS.

   A) No Home Rule Request from the Common Council to the State Legislature calling for:

     a1) disbanding the City School District/School Board and vesting authority/accountability for the city schools with the Mayor and Common Council,

     a2) shifting school budget votes to November elections, with results binding - no reruns,

     a3) shifting public school funding from the property to sales/income taxes. so that all pay their fair share of public school support.

    B) No Action Locally to:

     b1) return to a K-8 neighborhood city school system, which is best for kids, parents and neighborhoods,

    b2) require school uniforms and ban gang colors/insignia,

    b3) remove unruly, violent students from classrooms, so that serious students may enjoy a safe environment conducive to learning,

    b4)implement and enforce a strict student conduct code in schools, on streets and on buses.

3. THE MAYOR AND HIS COUNCIL ALLIES HAVE FAILED TO ENACT A LOCAL LAW PROVIDING FOR A 15 MONTH MORATORIUM ON REZONINGS, USE/AREA VARIANCES PENDING CREATION OF A COMPREHENSIVE CITYWIDE LAND USE MASTER
PLAN AND REVISED CITY ZONING CODE, with the participation, advice and consent of residents of city neighborhoods.

      Piece-meal urban renewal projects like Park South and Mid-Town only shift the blight and crime to Uptown neighborhoods.

      The proper way to redevelop the neighborhood residential integrity and quality of life in the City of Albany is to secure the Uptown neighborhoods and work back through Mid and Downtown. This approach will contain the transfer of blight and crime and assure the the property tax paying Uptown neighborhoods continue to provide the revenue needed to support city services and city schools. Eventually, all neighborhoods can be redeveloped and improved so that they pay their fair share of support for city services and city schools.

4. THREE MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR BOONDOGLES CONCEIVED BY THE JENNINGS ADMINISTATION AND BACKED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL- HAVE NOT BEEN RESCINDED:

 a) the 7 million dollar plus amphitheater for the Corning Preserve,

 b) the 235 million dollar plus Downtown Convention Center,

 c) privatizing the Harriman State Office Campus and relocating state workers to an already congested downtown where adequate parking and housing are not available.

5. THE MAYOR AND COMMON COUNCIL HAVE FAILED TO STRICTLY ENFORCE SPEED LIMITS IN CITY RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS AND TO PROCLAIM THIS TO BE CITY POLICY.

6. THE MAYOR AND COMMON COUNCIL HAVE NOT REASSURED CITY RESIDENTS THAT THE CITY OF ALBANY HAS AN EMERGENCY/DISASTER PLAN THAT ANTICIPATES AND ADDRESSES THE KINDS OF NATURAL AND MAN-MADE DISASTERS AND TERRORIST ATTACKS THAT MAY BEFALL ALBANY IN THE DAYS AHEAD.

7. IN UPTOWN ALBANY - THE STRIPING OF THE NEWLY PAVED NEW SCOTLAND AVE, KRUM KILL ROAD, BUCKINGHAM DRIVE, HACKETT BLVD AND WHITEHALL ROAD IS NOTHING MORE THAN DECALS WHICH WILL BE SCRAPED AWAY BY CITY SNOW
PLOWS WHEN THE FIRST SNOWS COME.

8. IN UPTOWN ALBANY- NO ACTION BY THE MAYOR AND COMMON COUNCIL ON A NUMBER OF PROJECTS TO IMPROVE THE RESIDENTIAL INTEGRITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE:

 a) The derelict former gas station at Whitehall and New Scotland has not been razed and replaced with the Dan O'Connell Memorial Pocket Park,

 b) The Dan O'Connell Senior Housing/Neighborhood CommunityCenter has not been built on the adjacent 8-10 acres.

 c)  The 23 acre Neighborhood Green Belt bordered by New Scotland Ave/Krum Kill Rd/Crescent Dr/NYSTW and Rte85 has not happened. The  City already owns the western 10 acre parcel. The 5 acre landlocked parcel is for sale by the owner who favors a green belt. This 5 acre parcel could be acquired by a NYS Parks Dept matching grant (With support of Gov Pataki). The remaining 7 acres could be acquired by means of a Transfer of Development Rights arrangement between the city and the owners.

 d) The 7.5 wooded, steep-sloped ravine, containing a tributary of the Normans Kill, two small wetlands, Indian camp sites/artifacts, and a natural habitat for wildlife and birds , could be set aside as a natural area and rezoned as such/ The city could compensate the owner through a Transfer of Development Right arrangement, whereby, the owner (also a developer) could build needed high rise housing Downtown. The woodlands should not be removed from the steep slopes because this will generate flooding in the ravine and downstream residential areas of North Bethlehem. The trees also serve as a buffer to adjacent Thruway traffic noise as well as combatting air pollution to protect neighboring residential areas of the 14th and 15th wards. This is more important because of plans to add a third lane to the Thruway.

 e) Buckingham Pond Park is in great need of improvement. The pond and park are in dismal shape. The holding pond at Davis and Berkshire is a hazard as well as polluted with lawn chemicals, fertilizers, and road salt which drain into the main pond. The main pond is dying as a result. Flocks of ducks and geese, fed by unwitting individuals who feed them (in summer only) are polluting the shore area with excrement, and disease organisms. This is very serious for pets and humans with the likely arrival of a bird flu epidemic from Asia.

9. UPTOWN ALBANY NEEDS AND INCREASED POLICE PRESENCE. INCLUDING BEAT/BIKE PATROLS

THE MAYOR AND COMMON COUNCIL HAVE HAD 12 YEAR TO
ADDRESS THESE AND OTHER ISSUES VITAL TO THE FUTURE OF THE CITY OF ALBANY, AND ALL WHO CALL ALBANY HOME.

THE MAYOR AND COMMOM COUNCIL HAVE NOT.

GIVE ME FOUR YEARS AS MAYOR AND I  WILL!

THANK YOU                                              Joseph Patrick Sullivan

 

NOVEMBER 8  6 am- 9 pm  VOTE SULLIVAN  MAYOR    ROW A

No one will call. It is your duty to get to the polls and cast informed votes.

PASS THE WORD TO FAMILY, NEIGHBORS, FRIENDS -

YOU WIN IF I WIN!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

POLITICAL PARTIES: SOME THOUGHTS

POLITICAL PARTIES: SOME THOUGHTS

Thomas Jefferson was one of the Founding Fathers of our nation, and Third President.

Jefferson was an aristocratic, slave owning  Southern Planter who envisioned an agrarian society of small farmers as the basis for a representative democracy.

Ironically, Jefferson was leader of the Democratic-Republican Party and his appeal was to small farmers, working men, and small shop keepers.

His greatest legacy , as President, is  the Lousiana Purchase of 1803 , when hundreds of thousands of square miles West of the Mississippi River were added to the new nation including the prairies which are now America's grain breadbasket. Again, as an irony, Jefferson and Congress both acted unconstitutionally in purchasing Louisiana. But, the public, hungry for land, supported it.

Jefferson advocated a landed society of educated voters and was a  staunch supporter of free speech and newspapers as ways of educating the electorate.

As the years passed the Democratic-Republican Party split to become the two major parties of U.S. politics. Democrats became the party of  blue collar workers , ethnics and Southerners. Republicans became the party of the wealthy and business interests. Each party had a recognizable philosophy.

In Albany, in the early 1900's the Republican Machine of Billy Barnes firmly controlled local politics. It was a party run by Yankee aristocrats.

Dan O'Connell's father and grandfather were Republicans. They were farmers and saloon keepers. To be a saloon keeper, then, as now, required playing ball with the party in power.

Dan O'Connell and his brothers became Democrats because there was little opportunity for them to rise in politics in an aristocratic Republican Party. Dan built a viable political base from among the Irish and German ethnics of Albany's South End. Dan was a great leader and looked out for the ordinary people. This is the basis of the undying loyalty of so many Albany Democrats today.

However, what these partyline voters are unable, or unwilling, to admit, is that the Democratic Party of Dan O'Connell is no more.

When we look at the Democratic and Republican Parties, today, the inescapable conclusion is that there is very little difference between them. Both are far removed from the ordinary people.

There are no Democrats or Republicans at the upper levels of our society. They mingle together, make their deals of mutual benefit , while the most partisan adherehents to party labels are those lowest on the food chain.

Today, what we have is a two party system; those in power and those who seek to be in power. They call themselves by different names, at different times and in different places. There are some minor parties but they are only adjuncts of the party in power, in a particular place and time.

On a national level we have a "Republican" President who has failed to secure our borders and sea ports leaving the country open for future devestating terrorist attacks. He is unwilling or unable to halt a wave of illegal immigration into the U.S. which threatens to swamp Lifeboat America in a sea Third World poverty.

On a local level, we have a "Democratic" Mayor who can not , or will not,  disarm the criminals and gangs and make our homes and streets safe. Nor, can that Mayor (or Common Council -also all "Democrats") provide the leadership necessary to fix the failing Albany School System.  They are kept in office by a shrinking block of partyline, lemming like voters who view themselves as "loyal Democrats".  Loyal to what? Can they truthfully look at the last 12 years of the current administration and say that they like what they see in Albany?

Look at the record. Each election the number of people voting, grows smaller and smaller. The representative democracy envisioned by Jefferson is in danger. So, are each and every one of us.

The newspapers which Jefferson viewed as essential to creation of an informed electorate necessary to sustain this representative democracy have failed in their respionsiblity to inform the voters. Today, we get opinions, and few facts, or, no coverage at all.

The media has become a willing participant in creating the best government and judiciary that money can buy.

Those who fail to make the effort to become informed and to cast informed votes have let it happen.

We are nearing the end time of the American experiment in representative democracy that began with men like Thomas Jefferson.

Neither Jefferson,nor the other Founding Fathers,  ever foresaw the nation and world that we live in today. They can't help us. We must help ourselves or perish.

Let us begin, here in Albany, November 8, to create a city where all can live in safety, where children can be educated in K-8 neighborhood schools, where we anticipate and prepare to cope with emergencies, natural and man-made disasters, and terrorist attacks that may  befall us in the days ahead, where we restore our neighborhoods, build more and better downtown housing, and where we develop a comprehensive citywide land use master planand zoning code that will enable Albany to become a liveable city in the 21st Century.

When you go to vote, November 8th, vote with your thumbs.  VOTE  SULLIVAN    FOR MAYOR   ROW A.