ANNUAL ASSAULT WITH ROAD SALT

ANNUAL ASSAULT WITH ROAD SALT.  OUR CITY, COUNTY AND STATE GOVERNMENTS ARE AT IT AGAIN - DUMPING TONS OF ROAD SALT ON STREETS, ROADS AND HIGHWAYS.

WHY ARE THE CITY, COUNTY AND STATE GOVERNMENTS ACTING SO IRRESPONSIBLE?  WHY IS THE PUBLIC SO  COMPLACENT? WHY ARE THE ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS SILENT ON THIS ISSUE?

I HAVE REPEATLY CALLED ATTENTION TO THIS PROBLEM FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. REFER TO  "WHITE DEATH" ENTRIES IN THE ARCHIVES OF THIS BLOG, AND THOSE OF
THE BUCKINGHAM POND CRESTWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD
ASSOCIATION:  go to http://bpcnanews.blogspot.com

I WILL NOT REPEAT THE LITANY OF HARM THAT RESULTS FROM THIS EXCESSIVE ANNUAL ROAD SALT DUMPING MANIA...READ THE MANY EARLIER WHITE DEATH POSTS.

FOR 35 YEARS I HAVE WATCHED THE PROBLEM GROW WORSE.

TODAY, ALBANY CITY DGS TRUCKS/PLOWS DUMPED TONS OF GRAY SLUDGE IN THE DRIVEWAY ENTRANCE, OVER THE CURBSIDE ISLAND, SWAMPING THE MAPLE STREET TREE IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE, AND FILLING IN THE SIDEWALK PATH THAT I HAD DUTIFULLY SHOVELED, SO THAT PEDESTRIANS MAY WALK BY.

THERE IS SIMPLY NO EXCUSE FOR WHAT THE CITY WORKERS DID.  THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. THIS PATTERN HAS BEEN REPEATED AGAIN AND DURING THE REIGN OF THE CURRENT CITY ADMINISTATION.

EACH TIME I HAVE VAINLY TRIED TO PROTECT THE STREET TREE BY DIGGING AWAY THE HEAVY SALT LADEN SLUDGE. THE TREE IS IN SEVERE DECLINE.

I AM SADDENED TO SEE THIS. WE ARE LOSING A TRUE FRIEND THAT BEAUTIFIED WHAT HAS BECOME A GRIM, POLLUTED, URBAN SPEEDWAY. THIS TREE HAS ABSORBED THE VEHICLE EMISSIONS, EMITTING OXYGEN, HELPING TO COMBAT THE TOXIC EMISSIONS FROM THE GROWING VOLUMES OF SPEEDING TRAFFIC. THIS TREE HAS GIVEN US SHADE IN SUMMER, BRILLIANT COLOR IN AUTUMN. THIS TREE HAS INCREASED OUR PROPERTY VALUES SO THAT THE CITY AND  CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT CAN RAISE OUR PROPERTY TAXES YEAR AFTER YEAR.

WAKE UP CITY GOVERNMENT AND RESIDENT TAXPAYERS!

THE DEATH OF THIS TREE IS BUT A HARBINGER OF A DYING CITY ,  OUR OWN DEMISE AND THAT OF OUR WAY OF LIFE.

                                                             Joe Sullivan

 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL.

The next  4 weeks are a time for quiet reflection. However, stay alert and watchful.

U N REPORT: GLOBAL WARMING IMPACTS

U N Report: Global Warmimg Impacts

http://news.aol.com/story/_a/un-panel-offers-dire-warming-forecast/20071117124909990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001

FLU PANDEMIC PLANNING

FLU PANDEMIC PLANNING   

What's more important in New York State? Giving illegal aliens state drivers licenses or taking control of the State Senate ....or ...emergency/disaster  preparedness?

PRESS RELEASE
Northern Berkshire Community Coalition to Hold Forum on Preparing for a Flu Pandemic

Contact: Al Bashevkin or Ed Sedarbaum, 663-7588


The Northern Berkshire Community Coalition urges the public to attend an important community discussion on “Emergency Preparedness: Preparing for a Flu Pandemic.” The forum will be held on Friday, October 12th from 10 a.m. to noon at the First Baptist Church in North Adams, and will include representatives from the Berkshire County Boards of Health Association as well as representatives of the Community Pandemic Planning Team facilitated by Northern Berkshire Healthcare.

Two years ago in September the world watched the devastation of the Gulf Coast by Hurricane Katrina. All of America decried the fact that people — especially people without private resources -- were stranded amidst a communications and public health network that was broken.  

Scientists know that every 50 or 60 years, an extremely difficult strain of the flu virus that affects humans takes hold. The Spanish flu pandemic in 1918-19 killed over 500,000 people in the U.S. During the 1957 Asian flu, 70,000 Americans lost their lives. The “bird flu,” as the present flu strain is commonly called, has affected people far from us. If this strain finds an easy means of transmission amongst people, it may be able to travel worldwide, and we may face another pandemic. It’s estimated that up to 40% of our workforce may be either sick or caring for someone and not at work.

The October 12th forum will bring the community together to talk about preparedness for the potential of a flu pandemic. By planning for the worst-case scenario of a pandemic, we will also be better prepared for other emergencies. In case of a flu pandemic or other public health crisis, what can we do to prevent and slow its transmission?  What are the community resources we have to care for afflicted people in our community? How do we get official word out about what to do?

Local agencies are working together to prepare for this potential, and we need to ensure that the broader community is engaged. The October 12th Coalition forum is a part of that process. Join us!
-30-

Nice no show jobs available. $175.000 annual salary plus benefits.

Apply to Governor's office.

                                                                    J P Sullivan

DRIVER GATE FLAUNTS RULE OF LAW

Tuesday, October 02, 2007

MORE ON DRIVER GATE

Enforce and strengthen NYS DMV Law governing issuance of driver licenses.

Amend to read...shall require photo ID (the kind that is eye scan -same as fingerprint)

S 502. Requirements for licensing. 1. Application for license.Application for a driver`s license shall be made to the commissioner.The fee prescribed by law may be submitted with such application. The applicant shall furnish such proof of identity, age, and fitness as maybe required by the commissioner. The commissioner may also provide thatthe application procedure shall include the taking of a photo image orimages of the applicant in accordance with rules and regulationsprescribed by the commissioner. In addition, the commissioner also shall require that the applicant provide his or her social security number

The rule of law must not be compromised to further political agendas.

J P Sullivan

NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH REMINDER

Read: http://bpcnanews.blogspot.com/2007/10/neighborhood-watch-reminder-all.html

ALBANY WARD 7 SPOT ZONING COVER UP

ALBANY WARD 7 SPOT ZONING COVER UP

Read http://bpcnanews.blogspot.com/2007/09/albany-ward-7-spot-zoning-coverupthe.html

Homeland Security or Not?

Friday, September 28, 2007

Recent Happenings Homeland Security

Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings and the local Red Cross Chapter announced they are partnering to promote emergency/disaster preparedness education. This is a late, but good first step, but falls far short of what is needed.

See what Huntsville, Alabama has done: http://news.aol.com/story/ar/_a/alabama-city-reopening-fallout-shelters/20070927171609990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001

There are some who proclaim Albany is not a target for terrorists. Think Again!

Albany is a symbolic target- the seat of state government, the Capitol of the Empire State.

Albany is a major Northeast transportation cross roads with rail lines, interstate highways and bridges as well as a major incoming container cargo port.

Albany is a soft target that is not prepared.


GOVERNOR SPITZER has promulgated an administrative directive providing for the State DMV to issue drivers licences to illegal immigrants.

By so doing, Governor Spitzer is flaunting the rule of law as well as aiding and abetting terrorists
(foreign and their domestic allies), thereby placing all New Yorkers and the nation in harms way.

The Governor can not supercede state law by administrative action.

Governor Spitzer must immediately rescind his unlawful and dangerous directive.

J P Sullivan

READY OR NOT?

August 17, 2007

Personal Contingency Plans: More than an Ounce of Prevention

U.S. counterterrorism sources remain concerned that an attack against the U.S. homeland will occur within the next two to three weeks. This is not surprising, considering that the drums have been beating loudly in Washington this summer about a potential attack-first from Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and then in the form of a National Intelligence Estimate. More recently, several other reports have appeared concerning an impending attack, including an alert over the weekend in New York triggered by an alleged dirty bomb plot.

source: Stratfor  Intel Briefing.  To read more go to:  http://www.billoreilly.com/blog?action=viewBlog&blogID=131449377057170635

IS ANYBODY READY FOR THE WORST?

ARE YOU READY FOR THE WORST?  It is winter, a heavy snow has fallen, the temperatures have plunged to below zero.

There is no heat, no power, no natural gas, no fuel, no water , no sewage disposal, no garbage pick up, because the power lines, natural gas lines, water system and sewer plant have been blown up.

A dirty bomb, hidden in a container at the Port of Albany goes off. The fuel oil terminal and gas tanks are destroyed.

You can't get out of town because the roads are not plowed. The city begins to burn, because arson fires are set. There is no water to fight fires. The firehouses have been attacked and destroyed.

Most city police and firefighters who live outside the city can't report for duty. Besides, their first obligation is the survival of their own families, in such a situation.

The food stores are empty. Civil disorder breaks out with criminals, gangs and mobs running through neighborhoods pillaging and plundering. Most homeowner can't defend themselves or protect their loved ones and property because the Common Council implemented the recommendations of the City Gun Task Force. which opted to disarm law abiding citizens of their Second Amendment right to bear arms and protect themselves.

People, who have not prepared to survive, flee their homes. They run to their neighborhood churches, synagogues, schools seeking shelter, warmth, light, water and food, but these neighborhood institutions and facilities can offer nothing because they have failed to prepare.

No need to go on, you get the picture. Utter chaos, civil disorder, devestation, destruction, hardship and death. You can anticipate and propose many other scenarios. Just use your imagination.

You can be sure that the foreign terrorists and their allies; anti-social,native born malcontents, illegal aliens, gangbangers, criminals, etc., are planning to strike, simultaneously, in ways that we are not anticipating. They are getting ready, but we are not!

Time is short, plan for your own survival and that of your family and loved ones. Encourage your neighborhood churches, synagogues, schools, pharmacies, health care providers, senior housing, etc. to do the same...without delay.

How and where to begin? Scroll through archives in this blog and our Neighborhood Association blog: http://bpcnanews.blogspot.com/   Go to the websites and sources contained therein.

Immediately contact James Greene, Disaster Preparation Coordinator for the American Red Cross: Greene@redcrossneny.org      tel 458 8111 ext 3011, for information, literature.

Have Jim come to your church, synagogue, school to put on a program and share information/literature on what to do to prepare.

Delay not a day longer. Pass this information onto family and friends.

We are nearing the anniversary of the first 9-11 attack. We know our foe acts on symbolism. Our troops have the foe on the run in Iraq and Afghanistan. Osama, and crew, will not be safe much longer in their NW Pakistan mountain frontier hideouts. The end is near and they know it. They are getting desperate.

Who will strike first?  We have the advantage, unless we suffer devestating, simultaneous strikes on the homeland, which will leave our troops, overseas at the mercy of the foe. because our homeland will be in chaos and ruin.

As General Tommy Franks (US Army ret) often says, his worst nightmare is that the U S will be plunged into martial law after such an attack on the homeland.

It goes without saying, the 2008 election, troopergate and all the rest of politics as usual, won't matter. Hillary or Obama, or Nancy Pelosi,or Harry Reid, or Chuckie, Eliot, Senator Joe, or Jerry won't be able to save you. Government at all levels is not prepared either.

Bottom line is that you and your loved ones have to save yourselves. No one else is prepared to.

So, as the rugged Navy Bosun's used to say: "Turn to! Let's see A........, and elbows!"

This is the last you will hear me urge you to get ready. I will be busy following my own advice.

Charles Darwin once postulated the theory "survival of the fittest".

That is precisely what will rule in the scenario outlined above.

No calls please, You are own your own!

 

                                                                      J P Sullivan

                                                                      

                                                            

 

 

 

WE CAN RUN BUT - WE CAN NOT HIDE

WE CAN RUN, BUT CANNOT HIDE.    AIR POLLUTION IS A MAJOR HEALTH ISSUE IN THE CAPITAL DISTRICT AND MANY PLACES IN THE NATION.    READ: http://news.aol.com/story/_a/farm-town-has-nations-dirtiest-air/20070810070509990002?ncid=NWS00010000000001

TAKE STEPS TO END THE WHITE DEATH. LOCALLY, NOW. (see blog archives on White Death, or excessive use of Road Salt)

                                                                                        J P Sullivan

ASSIGNMENT FOR WOULD BE COMMANDER IN CHIEFS

ASSIGNMENT FOR WOULD BE COMMANDER IN CHIEFS:

PUT BOOTS ON THE GROUND IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN.

YOUR BOOTS!

Those who aspire to leadership positions of President, Vice President, Senate Majority Leader and Speaker of the House have to recognize the realities of the world today:

1.The Jihadist have declared war on the Western world: North America, Western Europe, Australia and New Zealand. They have already attacked and are deploying to these regions via immigration, both legal and illegal.

2. The Jihadists are recuiting allies and foot soldiers from the many, assorted anti-social malcontents who are native to these regions, as well as the illegal aliens who are moving into these regions.

3.The 2008 Presidential and Congressional elections are the most crucial since the founding days of America. Our future as individuals and as a nation will be in their hands. Politics as usual will seal our fate.

4. The most important function of the next President will be to act as Commander in Chief. It follows that those who aspire to the above positions must be ready to assume this role at a moments notice.

5. I propose that those who are the current House and Senate Leaders: Pelosi and Reid, and all who aspire, or may be possibly nominated  as candidates for the Presidency and Vice Presidency, as well as potential new House and Senate Leaders in the next Congress, spend ten days in Baghdad, and ten days in Afghanistan, at Forward Operating Bases , on patrols with our fine military during the remainder of the hot summer. No photo ops for the media. Then let these current and aspiring officeholder/leaders come home and explain to the American people what a Commander and Chief must do,  what Congress must do, and what the American people must do, to prevail against the Jihadists over there and here at home.

6. This is the defining issue in deciding who should be elected  President and Vice President in 2008 and Leaders of the Senate and House in January 2009.

FALL IN AND MOVE OUT.                                     J P Sullivan

 

BEWARE OF THOSE WHO CALL THEMSELVES DEMOCRATS

OBSERVE THEIR BEHAVIOR - NOT WHAT THEY SAY.

HOW TO WIN WAR ON TERROR

SOME THOUGHTS ON HOW TO WIN THE WAR ON  TERROR

Positive news from Iraq.  Our military does best fighting wars, not serving as policemen in urban , tribal warfare.

 

Ring around Baghdad should be our strategy.  Let Iraqis restore law and order to the city. We seal borders

to stop inflow of men/munitions from Syria and Iran. Put those two on notice to cease and desist, or else!

 

If Iraqi government can't restore order. Set up  U S military government just like Gen MacArthur did in Japan

after WWII, and as we did in Germany.

 

Restoration of law and order, eradication of  terrorists should be priorities. Once stability happens, Iraqis will

go back to work.

 

Tax oil reserves to pay for U S war effort and pay reparations to families of U S servicemen/women killed and wounded in Iraq/Afghanistan campaigns. Give ordinary Iraqis part of oil revenues, annually, based on good behavior, just like in State of Alaska.

 

Need more boots on ground? Hire Indian army units, place under joint U S/British command.

 

President Bush and politicians should leave war effort to Generals and military. Bush and Congress should

immediately exercise their constitutional authority and responsibility to secure U S borders and ports.

 

No benefits/jobs for illegals. (No driver's licenses, either, Governor Streamroller). No free education. Go home!

Immediately deport thousands of prisoners/felons.  Dump them back across Mexican border or send them to Venezuela.

 

Set up immediate naval blockade of Venezuela. No oil out. No Iraqi/Russian/Chinese arms/missiles in.

 

                                                                             J P Sullivan

 

Read article on Offense by Colonel Ralph Peters:

 

WINNING ON OFFENSE REAL PLAN TO DEFEAT IRAQ FOES

 

June 21, 2007 -- HALLELUJAH! For the first time since Baghdad fell, our military in Iraq has a comprehensive, integrated plan to defeat our enemies.

Until now, our efforts have always been piecemeal, stop-start affairs. Even our success in the Second Battle of Fallujah in 2004 went unexploited.

Things have changed. And terrorists, not just Iraqi civilians, are dying.

The 10,000-man operation reported in the Baquba area is only one part of a broader effort. In the words of a well-placed officer in Baghdad, "Operations like that are going on around Fallujah, Salman Pak, in Eastern Anbar, the belts around Baghdad, in Arab Jabour, outside of Taji and throughout the Diyala River Valley."

This widespread offensive against al Qaeda in Iraq and other terrorists is part of a carefully developed, phased plan. The first step as the troop surge proceeded was to establish livable conditions in key neighborhoods of the capital.

That step was vital, but insufficient in itself. Terrorists fled, but they didn't disappear. They just sought refuge elsewhere. And while neighborhood pacification involved aggressive tactical actions, it ultimately put our forces in a defensive posture.

And you can't win solely by playing defense, either in the NFL or in war.

Gen. David Petraeus understood that. He's done things methodically, operating from a coherent design - not just reacting as was our practice in the past, but imposing our will on the enemy. After regaining lost ground in Baghdad and exploiting Sunni Arab disillusionment with al Qaeda in Anbar Province, our military took the offensive. We pushed the enemy off "our" turf. Now we're going after "their" turf.

This balance between defensive and offensive operations, integrated across central Iraq, is the first time we've seen a classic approach to military operations in post-Saddam Iraq. Amazing, but true.

What hurdles lie ahead?

First, it remains an open question whether we've got enough boots on the ground. While Petraeus and his team are using our forces with remarkable efficiency, there ain't no more to send.

The second, enduring question is whether the Iraqis will finally knock off their squabbling and shoulder their share of the burden. Petraeus is giving us a lesson in skillful generalship, employing U.S. troops where he must, Iraqis where he can. But, in the end, we can't win this unless the Iraqis win it for themselves. Pious statements about "brave Iraqis" only get us so far: We're still only buying time - and no one can pretend that time isn't running out.

Which brings us to the home front, where the war just might be lost, no matter what progress we make on the ground.

Political hucksterism and poll-pandering on Capitol Hill amount to stabbing our troops in the back. Period. The insistence that success or failure will be determined beyond doubt by September is pure political quackery.

The military operations and political maneuvering in Iraq are infernally complex. The earliest we might know anything will be around Thanksgiving - and all we'll know then is whether or not the Iraqis are getting on board in a serious way.

After four lost years, we need to have realistic expectations - unless we intend to throw the game for domestic political reasons. Gen. Petraeus is playing a bad hand with greater skill than we had any right to expect. He's making meaningful tactical progress. We don't yet know if that will translate into a strategic turnaround - but, for God's sake, let's give him a chance.

And let's not lose sight of our own national-security priority, which is defeating al Qaeda. Terror International is having a really bad time in Iraq these days: More and more Sunni Arabs are breaking with al Qaeda and its affiliates over their insufferable brutality. The Baquba-area operations involve former enemies now fighting on our side against the foreign terrorists. That's not just good news for Iraq. It's good news for America.

Much could still go wrong. We don't know if those Sunni Arabs will keep faith with us over the longer term - and now the Shias who control the government are bewailing our new local alliances. Sunni Arabs have realized at last that they've got to "cooperate to graduate." Now the Shia are the ones who insist on playing a zero-sum game.

And, of course, we never eliminated Muqtada al-Sadr. For which we're going to be even sorrier than we are now.

Still, there's reason for sober optimism at the moment: We've finally got a coherent approach to defeating our enemies, not just parrying them. It looks like our military leaders have gotten serious at last.

God help us, it almost looks like we want to win.

Source: NY Post June 21, 2007

GENERAL PACE; AN HONORABLE MARINE

 

http://news.aol.com/topnews/articles/_a/gen-pace-says-he-wouldnt-quit/20070615135209990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001

 

GENERAL PETER PACE  AN HONORABLE MARINE WHO HAS SERVED THIS COUNTRY WELL.

 

CAN'T SAY THE SAME  FOR THE SECRETERY OF DEFENCE (GATES) and PRESIDENT BUSH.

 

POLITICIANS MAKING BAD CHOICES, SETTING STUPID RULES OF ENGAGEMENT, ARE THE REASONS THE IRAQ WAR HAS GONE BAD .

 

GENERAL PACE WAS WILLING TO TAKE ON HARRY REID, NANCY PELOSI AND THE REST OF THE DISGRACEFUL DEMOCRATS WHO ARE UNDERMINING THE EFFORTS OF OUR TROOPS IN BATTLE.

 

PRESIDENT BUSH WAS WILLING TO TANK GENERAL PACE IN HOPES OF  GETTING THE AMNESTY BILL FOR ILLEGALS ALIENS PASSED.

 

THE PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS HAVE THE  CONSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITY TO SECURE OUR NATIONS BORDERS. NO  ADDITIONAL ILLEGAL ALIEN LEGISLATION IS NEEDED!

 

DO YOUR JOB CONGRESS AND MR. PRESIDENT - SECURE OUR BORDERS NOW!

 

FAILURE TO SECURE IRAQ's BORDERS  ALLOWING MEN AND WEAPONS IN FROM SYRIA AND IRAN IS PROLONGING THE CONFLICT THERE AND RESULTING IN MANY MORE U S CASUALTIES.

 

LIKEWISE,  CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT ARE FAILING TO ENFORCE THE MONROE DOCTRINE IN LATIN AMERICA BY ALLOWING CHINA, RUSSIA AND IRAN TO  ESTABLISH BASES IN LATIN AMERICA, THAT WILL, ONE DAY, BE USED AGAINST AMERICA.

 

PETTY TIN HORN  HUGO CHAVEZ  (VENEZUELA) WILL ALLOW IRAN TO SET UP MISSLES THAT CAN REACH EVERY U S AND CANADIAN CITY.

 

IRAN WILL BE ABLE TO USE CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS TO INFLICT TERRIBLE DAMAGE ON AMERICA.

 

WHAT ARE PRESIDENT BUSH AND CONGRESS WAITING FOR???

 

THE MILLIONS OF ILLEGAL ALIENS WILL UNITE WITH NATIVE BORN MALCONTENTS  TO SERVE AS THE GROUND TROOPS FOR THE ISLAMIC TERRORISTS WHO SEEK TO DESTROY US.

 

THE 2008 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION MAY NEVER HAPPEN.  WAKE UP AMERICA, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE FOR THE NATION AND FOR US AND OUR LOVED ONES.

 

                                                                                             J P SULLIVAN

                                                                                             ALBANY, NEW YORK

ALBANY SCHOOL BUDGET DEFEAT FALLOUT

FALL OUT FROM ALBANY SCHOOL BUDGET DEFEAT.

Albany is the Capitol of New York State.  The future of this city, and  those who call Albany home, depends on having a Class A city school system.

Albany voters defeated a 189.5 million dollar proposed city school budget containing another 7 percent property tax increase, on Tuesday, May 15, ONE DAY after  Governor Spitzer and Democratic politicians who control the State Assembly, State Senate Minority and Albany City and County governments staged a rally on the East steps of the Capitol, endorsing U.S. Senator, Hillary Clinton, Democrat, for President of the United States in the February 2008 Primary and  November General Election.

Unlike, Barack Obama, state and local Democrats, had a tough time getting together several hundred people to give the appearances of support for Hillary. The small crowd was herded together so that tv and photo shots would accentuate that appearance. Most of the crowd was made up of  State Democratic officeholders and  State Legislative staff, local Democratic officeholders and their staffs, and about 400 school children, mostly from the suburbs.

What has this to do with the voters defeating the Albany City school budget one day later?  Those seeking votes should act on behalf of, and to benefit those from whom they seek votes...the politicians should EARN and MERIT those votes.

In this case, take immediate, decisive action to fix the failing Albany City Schools.

Governor Spitzer,  Senator Hillary Clinton,  and State Assembly Speaker Silver should use their considerable political clout to fix the failing Albany City school system, by promoting, and passing into law, this session, a Governor's Program Bill that provides for the following:

1. Dissolution of the Albany City School Superintendent position ,Albany City School Board,  Albany City School District and merger of the District with  Albany City government.

2. The Office of the Mayor of Albany,  shall be responsible and accountable for the administration and operation of the Albany City Public Schools.

3. Creation of one  city property tax roll to finance city government, including the city schools.

4. Return to a K-8   City Neighborhood School System which is best for kids, parents and neighborhoods.

Governor Spitzer , the New York State Legislature , and Presidential candidate U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton, have the power and responsibility to make this happen, this session.

                                                           J P Sullivan, Albany

CDC EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS SITE

CDC EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS RESPONSE WEBSITE:

http://www.bt.cdc.gov/         very useful

AMERICANS ALL?

AMERICANS ALL?   TIME TO STOP PLAYING THE RACE CARD, STOP PROMOTING MULTI-CULTURALISM, BI-LINGUALISM. DIVIDED OUR NATION WILL FALL.  SPEAK ENGLISH! SECURE OUR BORDERS!

Read: Click here: Ending Racial Preferences: It's About Time by Linda Chavez - HUMAN EVENTS

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS: SEND THEM HOME

http://news.aol.com/topnews/articles/_a/illegal-immigrants-demand-citizenship/20070501104009990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS are lawbreakers.  American citizens should demand that the illegal immigrants be deported to their countries of origin.

AVOID LYME DISEASE

AVOID LYME DISEASE

Read:  http://www.albanycounty.com/health/lyme.asp

AIR POLLUTION

AIR POLLUTION. Don't forget to add in airborne road salt after every winter. The White Death. See earlier entries this blog.

Read: http://lungaction.org/reports/SOTA07_stateozone.html?geo_area_id=36

PROPERTY TAX REFORM

Property Tax Reform

S.1052 / A.3005
The State Senate Finance Committee this week reported to the floor legislation identified as a priority by the NYSTU. A.3005 / S.1052 would establish a blue ribbon commission on property tax reform to examine, evaluate and make recommendations on alternatives or modifications to the existing real property tax system. The Assembly bill was reported from the real property taxation committee in January and remains in Ways and Means.

NYSTU supports the proposal and hopes that such an endeavor will finally convince lawmakers to adopt a common sense approach to property tax reform and abandon their push to expand STAR.

NYSTU supports any plan that would facilitate the State Senate and Assembly taking a comprehensive look at this problem. We believe that doing so is not mutually-exclusive to endorsing fundamental and systemic reforms of our tax system -- and the NYSTU will continue to do both.

With less than 30 days remaining in the regularly scheduled 2007 State Legislative Session, its more important now than ever for the taxpayer community to get behind a reform proposal. NYSTU encourages all interested taxpayers and taxpayer groups to call their state Senators (518) 455-2800 and Assembly members (518) 455-4100 and ask them to pass this important proposal before the end of session.


Source: New York State Taxpayers Union

CONTROL CRIMINALS WHO USE GUNS UNLAWFULLY

Control criminals who  use guns unlawfully. Do not restrict Constitutional right of law abiding citizens to bear arms to protect themselves, their loved ones and their homes/property.

Read:  http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2007/apr/28/guest_commentary_dont_accept_rash_advice_gun_contr/

 

MORE GUNS LESS CRIME

 

READ   MORE GUNS, LESS CRIME

 

http://www.press.uchicago.edu/Misc/Chicago/493636.html

 

http://www.press.uchicago.edu/Misc/Chicago/493636.html

 

 

Let's have more crime and criminal control.

 

Begin by an aggressive Operation Impact to disarm criminals, gangbangers and anti-social malcontents, who are the natural allies of the foreign terrorists who seek to destroy us and our way of life.

 

Failure of government to immediately act on this, will invite disaster.

 

To infringe upon the Second Amendment rights of law abiding

citizens, to bear arms,  is to deprive citizens of the ability to defend themselves and their homes, against the chaos, civil disorder, looting, pillaging ,and worse, that will follow a natural disaster or terrorist attack.

 

Government can not save us from this fate. We must be able to defend and save ourselves.

 

                                                                      J P Sullivan

STRAIGHT SHOOTERS

LIBERTY

“In its proper constitutional sense, the term [militia] means all the able-bodied people who can be trained and disciplined to act in the community’s defense when it’s attacked. Since it encompasses every able-bodied person, it does not refer to those—such as the police, the military, or even the National Guard—who formally compose the official defense forces of the nation. Every citizen able and willing to act in an emergency becomes a potential defender against attacks aimed at the general population. Unfortunately, because of the anti-gun folly of the leftist media and politicians, we have lost sight of this vital element of our defense... The anti-gun crowd seeks to establish a modern version of [the medieval era], a kind of bureaucratic feudalism, in place of the republican self-government established by our Constitution... The answer is not gun control, but self-government, self-defense, and self-control. We must act to live as free people, else like sheep for the slaughter, we will die, and freedom with us.” —Alan Keyes

FOR THE RECORD

“The trouble with gun control laws is they target the law abiding. ‘If you disarm good people but not the criminals, instead of making things safe for the potential victims you may unintentionally make them safe for the criminals,’ said Dr. John Lott, coauthor of a massive study on guns and crime... Both crime rates and shooting deaths have declined in most states which have adopted ‘concealed carry’ laws, says Dr. Lott. The decline in ‘multiple victim public shootings’ has been especially pronounced, he said. ‘Bill Landes of the University of Chicago law school and I examined multiple-victim public shootings in the U.S. from 1977 to 1999 and found that when states passed right-to-carry laws, the rate of multiple victim public shootings fell by 60 percent. Deaths and injuries from multiple victim public shootings fell even further, on average by 78 percent, as the remaining incidents tended to involve fewer victims per attack,’ Dr. Lott said... In applauding the defeat last year of a measure in the Virginia legislature to permit those with concealed carry permits to have a gun on campus, Associate Vice President Larry Hinckler said Virginia Tech’s strict gun control policy made students feel safer. But there is a difference between feeling safer and being safer, as Virginia Tech has learned to its sorrow.” —Jack Kelly

Source: The Patriot Post  23 April 2007 Vol 07, No. 17

STAND BY OUR TROOPS

A 10th Mountain Division soldier writes: Those of you who know me and know me well know that leaving blogs, or forwards or anything of that nature is not my style. But over the past week I've seen some things that cannot go untold. As you all know I am a squad leader, currently serving in Afghanistan. Been here for 6 months now, but this is by no means my first combat tour. In a span of 3 days, I saw 4 soldiers fight, and loose their lives in combat.  A lot of people like to say that they we're fighting for their country. While I agree with that, there is also more to it than that.  People always seem to overlook the rest of that statement.  These soldiers died so that their brothers next to them could live.  At the time of their deaths they were not thinking that they are helping a nation fight terrorism, rather they died knowing that they were protecting the rest of us who fought beside them.  One man died reloading one of our heavy weapon systems. He knew that the operation of that weapon was vital to the safety of the rest of the platoon.  At that moment, self sacrifice was what protected the other 4 soldiers within his vehicle.  His actions and the other soldiers who died as well will never be forgotten. A brother is not someone who shares a father with you because we all share the same father anyways, rather its someone who is always there for you in your times of need, as well as your times of joy.  The quote is from one of our fallen comrades.  He paid the ultimate sacrifice so that he could be there in OUR time of need. The reason I am telling you all this, is because I am angry.  If I were to go home to the United States and pick one random person and say that I just returned home from fighting a war in Afghanistan, what do you think his reaction would be? I am willing to bet his reaction would be this.  That he would ask, We still have soldiers in Afghanistan? We are still fighting the terrorist who inhabit this poor region. Afghanistan seems to be the forgotten war.  The people of the United States don't understand that people are still fighting anddieing in the mountains, roads, streets and cities of Afghanistan.  I don't know when this transition happened, but people need to be reminded of our actions over here. Iraq seems to be all that fill the minds of our citizens.  Please don't take this the wrong way, I am not trying to take away from the good that our soldiers in Iraq are doing.  I just believe that our forgotten soldiers in the mountains of Afghanistan, and the soldiers who die along with them deserve some respect as well.  While the casualties in Afghanistan are lower then Iraq, consider this fact.  The number of troops in Iraq number roughly around 125,000 while the number of troops in Afghanistan number only around 20, 000.  That's why the death toll between the two war zones seems so drastically different.  I have fought the enemy in both countries, been shot at and blown up more times then I can count. And I can tell you this.  The enemy we face in Afghanistan is a much greater and more determined enemy.  They are better trained and know how to fight.  They have been doing it for hundreds of years. In closing, over the past few weeks, we have encountered some very serious resistance.  My platoon alone has lost two of their brothers and had 7 wounded, all of whom were evacuated to echelons of medical care far away from our current position.  While I weep for the ones who have lost their lives, I am also concerned for those who are trying to heal.  Some may never walk again, others will be permanently disfigured, and all have some trying times ahead of them. Those are the people I am asking you all to pray for.  That they have a speedy and healthy recovery.  I can say this though, I am happy that they are at least out of harms way. This is my charge to all of you.  We need to spread the word of the soldiers who are still fighting in Afghanistan.  Our soldiers here depend on the support of our loved ones back home.  Please copy and paste this to your profiles.  Tell everyone you know of the trying times our brothers are facing.  Tell everyone of the heroism of the soldiers who lost their lives and of the soldiers who are fighting to recover what they have. source: Newzjunky.com    Northern NY

 

BPCNA NEWSLETTER 4/07

BUCKINGHAM POND/CRESTWOOD NA ALBANY, NY 4/07

_____________________________________________________________

J P Sullivan, President T/Fax 438-5230

e mail Lonerangeralbany@aol.com

 

 

Your neighborhood association works when you do. Become informed.

Participate. Your time, talent and efforts are your dues.

BPCNA bounds: (N) Western Ave (S) Whitehall Rd (E) S Manning Blvd (W) NYS TW/Rte85

2007 Neighborhood objectives include: (1) emergency/disaster pre-

paredness by individuals, households, schools, churches, synagogues, health care

providers, and businesses. (2) public safety through an active neighborood watch

and OPPOSING any restriction by the City of Albany to erode the Second Amend-

ment rights of law abiding neighborhood residents, and impairing their ability to

protect themselves , their loved ones, and property, from criminals and civil

disorder, particularly in times of natural disasters or terrorist attacks.

(3) building more affordable senior housing. (4) caring for and planting more trees

at curbsides and on front lawns. (5) saving open spaces. (6) preparing an improvement

and maintenance plan for Buckingham Pond Park. (7)) reducing the growing

volumes of speeding vehicle traffic and associated congeston, noise, litter, air

pollution. All of these objectives are aimed at the goal of maintaining/improving

neighborhood residential integrity/quality of life and the city property tax base

which supports city services and city schools.

Find out more by going to these websites:

http://bpcnanews.blogspot.com and

http://journals.aol.com/lonerangeralbany/lonerangeralbany/

 

Share this information with family, friends, neighbors.

 

Get involved: Be a block captain. Serve on a committee or work

on an individual assignment, such as: monitoring local and state

governments, their committees. Go to websites for details, or call

me at 438 5230

Go to: http.bpcnanews.blogspot.com      for  more

WATCHERS call Albany Police (APD) 458 9148 or 458 5660

Anti Terror Hotline: 1 866 SAFE NYS (723 3697) as needed.

Thank You Joe Sullivan

ANALYZE THIS

To see this story with its related links on the Guardian Unlimited site, go to http://www.guardian.co.uk

Blair blames spate of murders on black culture
· Political correctness not helping, says PM· Community leaders react angrily to comments
Patrick Wintour and Vikram Dodd
Thursday April 12 2007
The Guardian


Tony Blair yesterday claimed the spate of knife and gun murders in London was not being caused by poverty, but a distinctive black culture. His remarks angered community leaders, who accused him of ignorance and failing to provide support for black-led efforts to tackle the problem.

One accused him of misunderstanding the advice he had been given on the issue at a Downing Street summit.

Black community leaders reacted after Mr Blair said the recent violence should not be treated as part of a general crime wave, but as specific to black youth. He said people had to drop their political correctness and recognise that the violence would not be stopped "by pretending it is not young black kids doing it".

It needed to be addressed by a tailored counter-attack in the same way as football hooliganism was reined in by producing measures aimed at the specific problem, rather than general lawlessness.

Mr Blair's remarks are at odds with those of the Home Office minister Lady Scotland, who told the home affairs select committee last month that the disproportionate number of black youths in the criminal justice system was a function of their disproportionate poverty, and not to do with a distinctive black culture.

Giving the Callaghan lecture in Cardiff, the prime minister admitted he had been "lurching into total frankness" in the final weeks of his premiership. He called on black people to lead the fight against knife crime. He said that "the black community - the vast majority of whom in these communities are decent, law abiding people horrified at what is happening - need to be mobilised in denunciation of this gang culture that is killing innocent young black kids".

Mr Blair said he had been moved to make his controversial remarks after speaking to a black pastor of a London church at a Downing Street knife crime summit, who said: "When are we going to start saying this is a problem amongst a section of the black community and not, for reasons of political correctness, pretend that this is nothing to do with it?" Mr Blair said there needed to be an "intense police focus" on the minority of young black Britons behind the gun and knife attacks. The laws on knife and gun gangs needed to be toughened and the ringleaders "taken out of circulation".

Last night, British African-Caribbean figures leading the fight against gang culture condemned Mr Blair's speech. The Rev Nims Obunge, chief executive of the Peace Alliance, one of the main organisations working against gang crime, denounced the prime minister.

Mr Obunge, who attended the Downing Street summit chaired by Mr Blair in February, said he had been cited by the prime minister: "He makes it look like I said it's the black community doing it. What I said is it's making the black community more vulnerable and they need more support and funding for the work they're doing. ... He has taken what I said out of context. We came for support and he has failed and has come back with more police powers to use against our black children."

Keith Jarrett, chair of the National Black Police Association, whose members work with vulnerable youngsters, said: "Social deprivation and delinquency go hand in hand and we need to tackle both. It is curious that the prime minister does not mention deprivation in his speech."

Lee Jasper, adviser on policing to London's mayor, said: "For years we have said this is an issue the black community has to deal with. The PM is spectacularly ill-informed if he thinks otherwise.

"Every home secretary from [David] Blunkett onwards has been pressed on tackling the growing phenomenon of gun and gang crime in deprived black communities, and government has failed to respond to what has been a clear demand for additional resources to tackle youth alienation and disaffection".

The Home Office has already announced it is looking at the possibility of banning membership of gangs, tougher enforcement of the supposed mandatory five-year sentences for possession of illegal firearms, and lowering the age from 21 to 18 for this mandatory sentence.

Answering questions later Mr Blair said: "Economic inequality is a factor and we should deal with that, but I don't think it's the thing that is producing the most violent expression of this social alienation.

"I think that is to do with the fact that particular youngsters are being brought up in a setting that has no rules, no discipline, no proper framework around them."

Some people working with children knew at the age offive whether they were going to be in "real trouble" later, he said.

Mr Blair is known to believe the tendency for many black boys to be raised in families without a father leads to a lack of appropriate role models.

He said: "We need to stop thinking of this as a society that has gone wrong - it has not - but of specific groups that for specific reasons have gone outside of the proper lines of respect and good conduct towards others and need by specific measures to be brought back into the fold."

The Commission for Racial Equality broadly backed Mr Blair, saying people "shouldn't be afraid to talk about this issue for fear of sounding prejudiced".

Mr Blair spoke out as a second teenager was due to appear in court charged with the murder of 14-year-old Paul Erhahon, stabbed to death in east London on Friday. He was the seventh Londoner under 16 to be murdered since the end of January, and his 15-year-old friend, who was also stabbed, remains in hospital.

Copyright Guardian News and Media Limited

LATE BREAKING NEWS

LATE BREAKING NEWS (just off local radio)

Hillary, in a speech to veterans in Western New York, today, advocated pre-deployment brain scans for military.

A better idea:

PRE-ELECTION BRAIN SCANS FOR POLITICIANS AND VOTERS

leading off with Hillary, and her supporters

SPIRALING ALBANY SCHOOL TAX TRAP. WHO'S FAULT?

SPIRALING ALBANY SCHOOL PROPERTY TAX TRAP. WHO IS TO BLAME?

Fred Le Brun blames the cost of charter schools. See his article in Sunday TU, April 8, 2007, pB1, Cost of charter schools puts Albany in spiraling tax trap.

To the contrary, it is incompetence and ineptitude on the part of the Albany School Superintendent and School Board that is at the root of the spiraling property tax trap in Albany. The Albany School District is dysfunctional, spiraling out of control and accountable to no one.

Charter school growth is a response to, not a cause of , dysfunction and incompetence of the school superintendent, school board and school district.

Two options exist to correct this problem.  One: make the Albany School District a Charter School District,  or two:  dissolve the Albany School District, merge it with city government making the Mayor responsible and accountable for the operation and performance of city schools, based on one, not two, property tax rolls. The latter is the preferrable course of action.

Both options will require introduction and passage of state legislation.  Public pressure must be brought to bear on the Legislature and Governor, to make this happen, this session.

In the meantime, the State Education Department has the authority to take control of dysfunctional and poor performing school districts. The Mayor of Albany should request that Governor Spitzer make this happen, now.

In May, the responsibility will fall to the voters of the City of Albany to vote down any proposed increases in the city school budget and school property taxes. These increases have occurred every year for a decade or more.  More money is not the solution to the growing dysfunction, poor performance and violence in Albany City schools

Routinely, school budget and school property tax increase are approved with less than 10 percent of the eligible voters voting. Of that 10 percent about 55 percent vote yes, with 45 percent voting no.

With property tax revaluation ( a tax increase) occurring and significant state aid earmarked for Albany in the new state budget, there can be absolutely no justification for a school budget and property tax increase to be put before city voters, by the school district, in May.

The solution lies in returning to a K-8 neighborhood school system which is best for kids, parents and neighborhoods. Eliminate the top heavy, highly paid school administation. Reallocate those salaries, and benefits, to hiring more teachers for the class rooms. Establish a residency requirement for all teachers, administrators and school staff.  Establish, and enforce, a strict code of student conduct , in schools, in neighborhoods around schools, and on buses. Require all students to wear school uniforms. Remove unruly, disruptive pupils from class rooms, so that those who are motivated to learn, can do so in a sane, safe learning environment. Place the unruly, disruptive, unmotivated malcontents in alternative learning settings, including a boot camp environment, staffed by ex-military, for the worst offenders.

                                                                                         J P Sullivan

                                                                                         438 5230

NO TO PC ALBANY GUN CONTROL LAW

 For Entry In Record

 Albany Common Council Meeting 4/4/07

 

 

Hon Jerry Jennings, Mayor

and Members of Albany Common Council

 

This statement is in OPPOSITION to the proposed Local Law to be considered at tonight's Common Council meeting. This proposed local law should be immediately voted down or withdrawn.

 

This proposed local law would violate the U S Constitution, Second Amendment right of law abiding American Citizens to bear arms.

 

The U S Supreme Court has ruled that police are not under any obligation to protect citizens in their homes.  This means that citizens have the responsibility to defend and protect their homes, property and the the lives of themselves and their loved ones. This local law would severely hamper the ability of law abiding citizens to protect themselves, their homes and property from those who would do them harm.

 

In an age of terrorism, this proposed local law is absurd. We are told by the U S Office of Homeland Security, that in the next wave of terror attacks we can expect to be on our own for days and possibly weeks or more. We are told to stock pile food, water, and other emergency supplies.

 

Take away the guns from private, law abiding citizens, and they will be unable to defend themselves, their loved ones and their property from the pillaging and plundering marauders , civil disorder and  anarchy that can be expected to follow the next wave of terror attacks.

 

Recall the civil disorder and anarchy that followed the Katrina natural disaster. Citizens with guns were able to repel looters and attackers. Those without guns fell victim to the lawless marauders. Many cops fled or did not report to duty. The law abiding citizens were on their own.

 

Is this what you want to happen to law abiding residents of the City of Albany?

 

Criminals do not obey laws. The Albany Police Department has the computer technology in place to plot gun violence incidents and profile the geographic neighborhoods , the offenders,

the victims, and the reasons for gun violence incidents.

 

Any astute citizen can tell you where the gun violence is occurring and who is perpetrating it.

 

The better solution to Albany's gun violence problem, is the greatly increase the penalties, and to step up Operation Impact. Go into those neighborhoods where the gun violence is occurring and disarm the offenders and potential offenders.

 

The criminals, anti-social malcontents, and gang bangers are the allies of the foreign terrorists who seek to destroy us and our way of life.

 

The Mayor of Albany and Common Council would be guilty of aiding and abetting our sworn enemies by passage of a local law that would severely limit the Second Amendment right of law abiding citizens to bear arms, taking away the self-defense ability of law abiding citizens when terrorists attacks or natural disasters occur.

 

Vote down this ill conceived local law. Step up Operation Impact in those neighborhoods where the gun violence is occurring and disarm the criminals, malcontents and gang bangers

NOW before it is too late for you and for us.

 

                                                                          J P Sullivan, President

                                                                          Buckingham Pond/Crestwood NA

                                                                           518 438 5230

BPCNA NEWSLETTER

BUCKINGHAM POND CRESTWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION

Joe Sullivan, President T/Fx 438 5230 Lonerangeralbany@aol.com

Your neighborhood association works when you do. Get informed.Participate. Your time and effort are your dues.

Go to our neighborhood blog: http://bpcnanews.blogspot.com/

also: http://journals.aol.com/lonerangeralbany/lonerangeralbany/

Spring is here. Time to shape up our properties and neighborhood. Share this information with family, neighbors, friends who do not have a computer.     Thank you.

NOTICE: The Trustco Bank branch under construction atCrestwood Plaza has applied for a variance to add a drive up window. The City Board of Zoning Appeals will hold a public hearing on the application, April 12, 2007, 5:30 pm City Hall.

Please attend and speak in OPPOSITION to the drive up window application. Ask the BZA to DENY. (VERIFY hearing DATE/TIME)

Can't attend? Send an e mail/ fax or letter IN OPPOSITION to:

The Albany City Board of Zoning Appeals c/o

melnickd@ci.albany.ny.us Doug Melnick, City Dept Planning

Fax 434 9846 21 Lodge St Albany NY 12207

Copy Mayor Jennings T 434 5100 Fx 434 5013 City Hall 12207

OPPOSE THE DRIVE UP WINDOW It will act as a magnet for speeding traffic, associated congestion, noise, litter and air pollution from vehicle emissions; create a pedestrian safety hazard in and around Crestwood Plaza; thereby eroding the residential integrity and quality of life, and property tax base in this R 1B zoned single family residential neighborhood.

Whitehall Rd, Hackett Blvd, S, Manning Blvd, John David and Gingerbread Lanes , Ferndale-Hopewell Sts and Collins Pl , Hurst Ave and Westford St would be most impacted.

We defeated a similar proposal four years ago.

8th Ward Alderman John Rosenzweig is writing a letter to the BZA in OPPOSITION asking the BZA to DENY application.

We WELCOME TRUSTCO without the drive up window. JS 4/07

 

Albany Muni Golf Course/Crestwood Plaza

Albany Muni Golf Course and Crestwood Plaza. What have these two in common?

Thursday, March 29,  I went for an early morning walk around Albany Muni Golf Course (Capitol Hills), with my Aussie Pals Mick and Paddy. It was a lovely brisk morning, below freezing. As the sun rose, the scattered ice began to melt.

As we walked along enjoying the scenery, it occurred to me that this truly beautiful setting might one day be in danger of being privatized  just like the  Office Campus, by a city government hungry for more cash, facing a landfill crisis, and an exodus of homeowners leaving behind a population consisting of the poor and elderly who are unable to pay for the schools and services they require.

I resolved to contact 8th Ward Alderman John Rosenzweig to have him sponsor legislation providing that the Capitol Hills Golf Course (Albany Muni) could never be privatized, that in case the golf course ceased to exist, the land would forever be public open space as a park and natural area.

Talk about ESP. A bit later than morning, who should knock at my door? Alderman John Rosenzweig. He had come to alert me that the City Board of Zoning Appeals would be considering a variance application from the Trustco Bank branch, now under construction at Crestwood Plaza, for approval of a drive up window.

John said he would write a letter in opposition to the BZA. I thanked him for that, reminding him that four, or so, years ago, our  neighborhood association had defeated a similar application for a bank with a drive up window.

The reasons for opposing this latest drive up window variance application remain the same. It would generate more speeding traffic, and associated congestion, noise, litter and air pollution, present a safety hazard for pedestrians and others using the Crestwood Plaza, all of which would adversely impact the residential character and quality of life in this R-1B single family residentially zoned neighborhood.

I called John's attention to my thoughts about the city golf course and the need to protect the land in perpetuity as a public park/natural area, by means of a deed restriction. I suggested that John sponsor a Common Council Resolution to that effect. John agreed that it was a good idea, and said he would sponsorsuch a Resolution. I said I would work with him in that endeavor.

The city golf course site is a priceless jewel. In 1993, I ran for 8th Ward Alderman opposing then Mayor Thomas Whalen's plan, to build luxury housing on the Albany Muni Golf Course and  called for creation of Buckingham Pond Park. I missed winning the Democratic Primary by 65 votes out of more than 3,000 cast.

However, I was successful in getting the golf course and adjacent Hartman Rd community garden site, zoned Land Conservation, blocking the luxury housing proposal, and creating Buckingham Pond Park through zoning the pond and adjacent shore area, Land Conservation.

So now, the responsibility for protecting both of these valuable public open spaces (park land/natural areas) rests with the current Aldermen, John Rosenzweig (Ward 8) and Joe Igoe (Ward 14), as well as Mayor Jerry Jennings, who is a neighbor, as well as Mayor.

The Crestwood Plaza is essentially a neighborhood pedestrian plaza. In an age when gas prices are sky rocketing, the future fuel supply dwindling and the age of the auto coming to an end, it behooves city officials to have the foresight to plan for the eventual return of population from the suburbs and outlying rural areas to the city. By maintaining and enhancing the residential integrity and quality of life of this and adjacent neighborhoods, now, their futures will be assured. This, in turn, will assure that the city property tax base, based on single family homes, remains strong, to support city schools and city government services.

                                                                     J P Sullivan

                                                                     T/Fx 438 5230

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STEAMROLLER STALLED?GO TO PLAN B

Steamroller stalled? Seem like it's all down hill since Day One?  Slipping in the polls?  What to do? Go to plan B.  Shore up your base.

See  Times Union. pA3 3/27/07

   Spitzer vows to guard abortion rights

Pledge to strengthen state laws to safeguard abortions because you fear the U S Supreme Court may overturn Roe v Wade?

Plan to expand access to emergency contraception drug "Plan B"?

What about civil and voting rights of the unborn?  Moot point if they are aborted. All those millions of unwanted, inconvenient conceptions. Not to worry, they will never vote or serve the good of society in a troubled world. They never will be drafted or volunteer to serve in the military to protect America from the Jihadists.

Is abortion  New York and America's version of the holocaust?

What about the growing elderly population? Run away medicaid and nursing home costs? Can euthanasia be next?

One thing did not change with the dawning of Day One. There is no respect for life here. That is at the root of all the violence we see in our neighborhoods, on our streets and highways, or in our schools.

                                                                        J P Sullivan

 

REASSESSMENT: CITY SCHOOLS THE PROBLEM

Albany City homeowners, have received their Notice of Reassessment Disclosure, and the news is not good.  Most homes have doubled in value based on comparative sales in a overinflated market, where decline has set in.

This translates to hefty projected property tax increases, of a 1,000 dollars or more. This is particularly devestating in a city where less than a third of the housing is owner occupied and where that owner occupance population is aging, with many on fixed incomes.

Upon closer inspection of the projected property tax increases resulting from this revaluation,  80 percent of the increase per residential unit, will  be levied by the city school district.

This is unacceptable. The Albany City schools will be receiving an additional $9.6 million dollars in state aid this year.  The school district has been mismanged, in the recent decades, by a succession of incompetent school boards and superintendents, who are not accountable to the property tax payers of this city.  Poor performance of the student population, school board and superintendent can no longer be tolerated.

The solution? Dissolve the city school district, and school board,  make the Mayor responsible and accountable for the functioning and performance of the city schools. Establish ONE property tax levy citywide. Trim school expenses by eliminating the top heavy administration. Establish a residency requirement for all  teachers and school staff. Return to a K-8 neighborhood school system which is best for kids, parents and neighborhoods.

Mayor Jennings must go to Governor Spitzer and request that the Governor introduce legislation, this session, to achieve the above educational reforms, and to make certain that legislation passes this session.

Governor Spitzer wants accountability in the public schools. As far as the City of Albany is concerned, there will be no accountability without establishing a clear chain of command - make the Mayor responsible and accountable for the city schools,  based on establishment of a single property tax base. as supplemented by state aid.

To the detriment of children, parents and city property taxpayers, the Albany City schools have been a pawn in a political power struggle by a liberal faction of the Democratic Party, which has gained control of those schools, and is now seeking to control the Mayor's office and city government.

Making the Mayor responsible and accountable for the city schools, together with implentation of a single property tax levy , will result in improved student performance as the city returns to a K-8 neighborhood school system. This in turn will help spur revitalization and stability in Albany's deteriorating residential neighborhoods. Smart education equals smart growth.

                                                                                    J P Sullivan

LEAD TAINTS SCHOOL WATER

Lead taints school water  is a front page headline in today's Times Union. We read that six Albany city elementary schools have elevated lead levels in the drinking water. The school district has shut down water fountains and begun replacing fixtures.

Lead is a neuro toxin. Exposure to low levels, over time, can cause low IQ, attention deficit disorder (ADD) and poor school performance. Exposure to high levels of lead can cause brain, red blood cell and kidney damage.

Is it possible that the elevated lead levels in drinking water extends to those homes and buildings which were required to have lead connector lines to the water mains, by the ruling political party?

Should the city , county and state health departments, and EPA conduct city wide water testing to determine if  those homes and buildings, with lead connector lines, have excessive lead levels, and to what extent this has caused long term cognitive  health  and behavioral problems for the residents.

If this is found to be the case, perhaps, this could, partly. explain a host of local problems, including poor school performance, an increasing violent crime rate, and a variety of political behaviors, including blind party line voting and an ever declining voter turn out in elections.

If there is a citywide problem of lead contamination in the drinking water supply, perhaps the millions to be spent on dredging PCB's from the Hudson River sediments, might better be spent on getting the lead out of the city water supply.

                                                                                    J P Sullivan

LEAD TAINTS SCHOOL WATER

Lead taints school water  is a front page headline in today's Times Union (3/23/07).

Exposure to even low levels of lead can lower IQ's, increase attention deficit disorder resulting in poor performance in school (and life). Lead is a neuro toxin which, in high levels, can cause brain,.kidney and red blood cell damage.

We are told that the Albany schools are replacing faucet fixtures.

Is it possible that the problem extends far beyond the schools, to homes, bars, restaurants in the city of Albany, located in those parts of the city that were built at a time when the ruling political party required that lead lines were required to connect structures to city water mains?

Perhaps, the city  or health department should order a citywide test of  residents, homes and businesses ,to determine if there is a long term lead exposure problem resulting from the extensive use of lead water line connecters, and how serious the problem is?

If it turns out that this is the case, perhaps, the millions of dollars which are to be spent on getting the PCB's out of the Hudson River sediments, might be better spent on getting the lead out of the city water supply.

Low levels of lead exposure not only can cause impaired mental ability, other health problems, attention deficit disorder (ADD) and poor school performance - this could also extend to problems with political behavior, including blind party line voting and ever decreasing voter turnout in elections.

                                                                                               J P Sullivan

Return Albany Schools k-8

Now the Superintendent wants to close Livingston Middle School - reason low enrollment, poor student performance. Not mentioned was the fact that PS 20 in North Albany is a K-8 school. Also, charter middle schools compete with Livingston..offering better and safer learning environments for serious students.

SO,   WE REALLY DIDN"T NEED A THIRD MIDDLE SCHOOL ON WHITEHALL RD. BIG WASTE OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

THE SMART MOVE WOULD BE A RETURN TO A K-8 NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL SYSTEM IN ALBANY.

PUT THIS QUESTION TO ALBANY VOTERS IN THE COMING MAY SCHOOL BUDGET/ PROPERTY TAX INCREASE/ MULTI MILLION DOLLAR REFERENDUM TO REHAB THE ALBANY HIGH SCHOOL.

WHEN ARE ALBANY PROPERTY TAXPAYERS GOING TO WISE UP AND SAY....ENOUGH?

THE ALBANY SCHOOL BOARD, SUPERINTENDENT'S POSITION AND MOST OF THE TOP HEAVY ADMINISTRATION POSITIONS SHOULD BE ABOLISHED.

MERGE THE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT WITH CITY GOVERNMENT. MAKE THE MAYOR AND COMMON COUNCIL RESPONSIBLE AND
ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE CITY SCHOOLS.  HAVE ONE PROPERTY TAX.

HOLD SCHOOL BUDGET VOTES AT NOVEMBER ELECTIONS. RESULTS FINAL. NO RE-RUNS.

MORE MONEY AND MORE BUILDINGS WILL NOT RESOLVE THE FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM OF UNMOTIVATED STUDENTS FROM
DYSFUNCTIONAL HOUSEHOLDS.

SCHOOL UNIFORMS AND STRICT CONDUCT CODES ARE NEEDED. REMOVE UNRULY AND UNMOTIVATED INDIVIDUALS FROM CLASSROOMS SO THAT THOSE STUDENTS WHO WANT TO LEARN, MAY LEARN.

ESTABLISH BOOT CAMP AND OTHER ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL FORMS FOR THE UNRULY AND UNMOTIVATED.

                                                                         J P Sullivan

 

CIVIL CONFINEMENT LAW FOR TERRORISTS?

NYS Governor and Legislature enact CIVIL CONFINEMENT law . Governor signed it into law 3/14/07.

 NOW, WILL THE GOVERNOR AND STATE LEGISLATORS ENACT A CIVIL CONFINEMENT LAW  FOR TERRORISTS AND WOULD BE TERRORISTS?

                                                                                   J P Sullivan

Top News- Senate Republicans Thwart Iraq Pullout Plan - AOL News

Top News- Senate Republicans Thwart Iraq Pullout Plan - AOL News :

 

Three cheers for Senator Mitch McConnell and those Senators who blocked this plan.

Wiser heads in Senate prevailed over misguided House Dems.

 

                                                                                     J P Sullivan

 

Smart Growth Planning

  Hon Ray Joyce, Chairman        For entry in record of 3/8/07 Planning Board Meeting

  and Members  Albany City                 Re: Hopi St proposed subdivision application

  Planning Board

 

 

This statement is in opposition to the Hopi St subdivision proposal to build 6 housing    units on  the 2.6 acre parcel at the foot of Hopi St, opposite Zuni St.

 

 I respectfully ask the Planning Board  to DENY this application for the following reasons:

 

       1. The site is a relic landfill and not suitable for building  quality homes that will attract  buyers seeking to buy such homes.

 

       2. The costs of site remediation as conditions stipulated in the now expired 1999 conditional approval of this Board make it highly unlikely that the developer would make a profit  on the proposed 6 units of housing.

 

       3. The site is essentially a cul de sac at the juncture of two narrow lanes (streets) that poses  problems for traffic flow, emergency vehicle access, and snow plowing. Approval of said application would only accentuate those problems.

 

       4. Neighbors complain of insufficient pressure in the water and sewer systems that now exist.

 

       5, New Scotland Avenue is already a busy commuter road at morning and evening rush hours. This makes egress from narrow tributary lanes such as Hopi St hazardous as it is. 6 more housing units and 12 or more vehicles would only increase traffic flow problems, thereby increasing the risks of accidents. Traffic on New Scotland Ave/Rd routinely exceeds posted speed limits.

 

 

The City of Albany is faced with a need to  maintain or increase a declining population base; and to maintain and improve the city property tax base.

 

The answer is not to build substandard housing on marginal sites, like this relic landfill, or that being built as an extension ofBuckingham Mews on Krum Kill Rd at Friebel Lane, that on Bender St, or the subdivision proposed for the steep slopped, wooded ravine, containing two small wetlands and a tributary of the Normans Kill, on Krum Kill Rd, opposite Ohav Shalom.

 

Such clustered or townhouse units do not readily find buyers.  They only diminish the residential integrity and quality of life of the single family zoned neighborhoods wherein they are located. This, in turn, rather than increasing the city property tax , erodes that property tax base, which supports city schools and city services.

 

Such housing units would best be built mid town or downtown on the large city inventory of vacant lands/buildings.

 

In sum, Smart Growth Planning can be achieved by (1) maintaining  and improving residential integrity and quality of life in existing Uptown single family residential zones and 2) steering the cluster, townhouse type housing to the those vacant lands and buildings in the city inventory, which are in walking distance of places of employment.

 

This Smart Growth Planning strategy  (1) maintains the Uptown property tax base (2) adds new housing to the city property tax base in mid and downtown as well as rejuvenating those neighborhoods and (3) reduces the increasing traffic flows on main corridors like New Scotland, allowing workers to live in city neighborhoods and walk or take a bus to work.

 

Smart Growth Planning far exceeds the current piecemeal approval and construction of substandard housing units on marginal sites, which is currently underway along the Upper New Scotland Ave/Rd and Krum Kill Rd corridors.

 

The Planning Board should DENY the Hopi Rd subdivision, as well as the proposed "town house or condo" proposals at Whitehall and New Scotland and the 7.2 acre wooded, wetland site on Krum Kill Rd.

 

Thank you.                                                           Joseph P Sullivan, President

                                                                            Buckingham Pond/Crestwood

                                                                            Neighborhood Association Albany

 

    3/7/07                                                              Tel /Fax 438 5230

 

NOTE: See also Letter to Mayor Jennings

http://bpcnanews.blogspot.com/2007/01/january-26-2007-hon.html

THOUGHTS ABOUT THE 2008 ELECTION

     SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT THE 2008 ELECTION

                            

  Demo candidates Hillary, Obama and Edwards  are unacceptable and are dividing

  their party vote  with many Dems looking at Republican candidates

 

 Rudy G stands out, in age of terror, as a leader because of 9-11 attack and his  demeanor immediately afterwards.  Whether or not Americans admit it,  the war on

 terror and homeland safety are the principal concerns when deciding who the next 

 President will be. These concerns (fears) transcend party affiliations.

 

 Political parties have little meaning today. The political field is dominated by

  individuals, with name recognition and money (and the ability to raise tons more).

 

  Political parties are nothing more than ballot lines. Political party organizations

  exist largely in name only and on paper. TV and radio adds, and media coverage

  have largely replaced committeemen who no longer go door to door or work their

  districts.

 

  Pro Life voters have to make a choice: does their concern for the fate of the unborn

  outweigh their concern for the living, including themselves and their loved ones?

 

  The 2008 national election is about survival of our nation and our way of life, neither of

  which is without flaws. Those who view the 2008 election as politics as usual, about

  political power or entertainment are dead wrong.

 

  As with most elections, it comes down to choosing the lesser of two evils, and putting

  our trust in an individual who shows the most promise as a leader who can serve as

  an effective Commander In Chief in the struggle against Islamic militants at home and

  abroad, for years to come.

 

  The Democratic Senators and Members of Congress, along with some Republicans

  who are promoting resolutions to undermine the war effort in Iraq and Afghanistan are

  doing a great injustice to our troops, and ultimately, great harm to our nation. Their

  politically motivated resolutions are destroying any chance we have of prevailing in

  our efforts to provide stability in the Middle East thereby denying nation state bases

  for the Islamic militant terrorists who seek to destroy us.

 

  The troops may come home, but it will not be long before they will see action in

  America's cities engaging the foreign terrorists , and their allies from among the millions

  of illegal immigrants and native-born malcontents, who dwell amongst us and who have

  no respect us, our history, our culture and our institutions.

 

The images of Baghdad we see in the papers and on tv, today, are destined to appear in urban America before long. Cutting and running in the Middle East and Afghanistan   will only hasten that day.

 

None of the current crop of Presidential contenders has shown the courage of

Australian Prime Minister Howard, and other Aussies, who have clearly laid it on

 the line to Islamic malcontents and militants, as well as any other immigrant group. To paraphrase: respect our history, culture, institutions, way of life; speak English

or clear off! Go to some other part of this planet.

 

 The American voters will be voting for their  own survival, or demise, in 2008.

 

 

                                                                                                       Joe Sullivan