END COMMON COUNCIL POWER GRAB. DO YOUR JOBS

 

      SULLIVAN FOR MAYOR  CITY OF ALBANY, N.Y. 2005

June 8, 2005                                                J P Sullivan  Tel/Fax  438 5230

        SULLIVAN TO COMMON COUNCIL INCUMBENTS AND

       CHALLENGERS: END POWER GRAB, DO YOUR JOBS

Joseph P. Sullivan, Republican candidate for Mayor of Albany, today, called on Albany Common Council candidates to end their power grab to undermine a strong Mayor in Albany.

This power grab is a distraction that is taking attention and energies away from resolving the issues vital to the quality of life and future of the City of Albany:

   * disarming criminals and gangs, making our schools, streets and neighborhoods safe for law abiding residents

   * strictly enforcing speed limits and safe driving on residential neighborhood streets

   * preparations to cope with natural and man-made disasters and terrorist acts

   * restoring a K-8 neighborhood school system with a focus on learning the knowledge and skills needed to become a well-adjusted, productive member of society

   * developing a comprehensive city land use master plan, with the advice, participation and consent of neighborhood residents, that will promote improved residential integrity and life quality in city neighborhoods.

Common Council incumbents, and challengers, must take clear stands on these and other vital city issues, in order to be worthy of re-election or election, before there is any further debate of the recent calls for charter revision and redistribution of power from the office of the Mayor to the Common Council in the City of Albany.

Stop undermining the office of the Mayor. Albany needs a strong Mayor more than ever. The buck stops at the Mayor's desk and the focus of the 2005 city elections must be his performance as a leader in addressing the above issues.

The current, weak, ineffective Common Council does not merit any additional powers. Their ineffectiveness is a major issue in campaign 2005.

They should do their jobs, fully exercising the powers already vested in them as individuals representing the constituents of their respective wards, and as a body representing the residents of the City of Albany as a whole.

In short, Council Members, and candidates, get to work and do your jobs! Demonstrate that you are worthy of re-election or election!

Lost for ideas? See Sullivan Blog:

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