President Obama campaigns
for President of the world
Projects weakness inviting scorn and
the testing that VP Biden warned of
in October 08.
Appeasement, apologies and pandering
erode confidence of allies in America.
Can Iraqis, Afghans, Pakistanis, and
others, believe that America will stand
by them, if they reject Al Qaeda, and Iran?
Gen Petraeus, warned Congress last week
be prepared for Israel to launch a pre-
emptive strike against Iranian nuclear
facilities.
NYPD is preparing to defend synagogues
from retaliatory attacks that would follow
such a move by Israel.
Meanwhile, Obama plans to make cuts
in defense spending/operations: eliminating
missle defense programs and decreasing the
number of Navy carrier battle groups.
Barack Hussain Obama, as he referred to
himself , on his inaugration and
on his overseas venture , has not yet been
in office 100 days, and he is
singlehandedly destroying the economy
dismantling the U S Constitution and
Bill of Rights, failing to secure our borders,
neutering our military, and leaving America
wide open for devestating attacks by Jihadists
and their domestic allies.
The $7 billion dollar Give Act, for mandatory
national service won't save us or America.
Change he has surely wrought; but change
for the worse.
Osama, and our detractors around the world
including Russia, China and North Korea
must be squealing with delight.
Obama, in Turkey, proclaims that America
"is not and never will be a war with Islam".
Yet, radical Islamists have made war on us.
A small group, using press credentials
planned to assassinate our President, but
Turkish authorities foiled the planned attack.
Americans should be very alert and wary as
they celebrate Passover and Easter.
I'll bet you can't wait to see what President
Obama says and does at next weeks Summit
of the America's involving the Organization
of American States (OAS), as his campaign
moves to the Western Hemisphere.
We know what Lulu of Brazil and Chavez
of Venezuela will say and do.
You can bet that President Obama will
not call for renewal and enforcement of
the Monroe Doctrine.
Nor will the OAS.
Open borders, amnesty for illegals
Latin languages, culture, food, music
dance and sombreros will be in, along
with Russian and Iranian missles in
Venezuela, and the Chinese doing
lateral oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.
Mexico will reassert claims to Texas
New Mexico, Arizona, California and
more.
Sarah P should keep a sharp eye out
the Russians or Chinese making a move
on Alaska.
Gringos , English, stetsons, square
dancing ,country music , and maybe
the dollar, will be out.
A Blessed Easter and Passover to all.
God Bless us and America. Prayer
can still result in miracles.
Maybe, we can survive til the 2010
prmaries and elections. If so, it will
be up to the American voters the
make a course correction that will
be back on the course the Founding
Fathers set for America in the U S
Constitution and Bill of Rights.
Joe Sullivan
Monday, April 6, 2009
HOLY WEEK BEGINS:
WE DO PENANCE AND
REFLECT ON RESURRECTION
Holy Week has begun.
Radical Islamists are still waging a "Holy War"
against Western Civilization. The Obama
policy is to "talk" with those who want to
kill us , destroy our nation and way of
life. Today's TU cartoon has it right.
President Obama apologizes to Europe and
the world for the arrogance of America, but
neglects to pay homage to the American dead
lying in the cemeteries of Normandy, and
throughout the world. These veterans gave
their lives so that we, Europeans, Japanese
Koreans, Iraqis ,and others, might live in
freedom. Ingrates in Europe have forgotten.
Obama did not bring the troops home as
he promised. He is just shifting them to
Afghanistan and likely Africa, not to
combat terror, but to engage in a
"contingency" operation.
Where have all the "Bring Home to Troops
Now" lawn signs gone?
One party control in Albany and Washington
is destroying America.
Leftist Albany mayoral contenders, and
their TU mouthpiece, are focused on
bulls eye BS, distracting voters from vital issues
like gun violence and an upcoming Albany
May school budget vote that will contain a huge
property tax increase, despite the city schools
receiving large amounts of federal stimulus and
state aid, while failing the students, parents and
taxpayers. (See March post, this site, city schools
the major issue in 2009 Albany City elections).
The RC Diocese of Albany is closing scores of
churches and schools in Albany, Troy, Cohoes
Watervliet and Schenectady. The unintended
consequence of this short sighted action is
the poliferation of urban decay and blight.
The politicians and flock stand silently by
with nary a bleat. (See March post this site)
The one party (NYC Democrat) state budget
eliminates the STAR rebate program, as seniors
and other homeowners have suffered significant
losses in their retirement savings because of a
failed government policy that extended "don't
ask, don't tell" mortgages to people who had
no financial ability or history to pay those
mortgages. Realtors, bankers, lawyers, and
others, all cashed in on record high inflated
home prices.
Smart meters, that will allow the government
through utility companies, to control your
home thermostat settings, are coming. Does
freshman Congressman Paul Tonko support
this? Scott Murphy? Chuckie Shumer?
Kirsten Gillebrand?
We do not need smart meters, we need
smart voters.
The 2010 federal, state, and local Democratic
primaries and November elections afford
smart voters an opportunity to regain control
of government.
Governor Paterson appears to be a goner.
Gillebrand is tied to him. Her advocacy of
the Dream Act, affording college tuition
to illegal aliens, coupled with her shift
on Second Amendment Rights of law
abiding citizens, erases Upstate and
suburban support she needs to survive
a likely primary in 2010.
Governor Paterson intends to lay off
nearly 9,000 state workers, American
citizens, to deal with a 16 billion dollar
state budget deficit. Yet, he signs a
2009 budget that increases state spending.
He and the members of his party that
control state and federal government
do nothing to secure our borders, end
sanctuary status for illegal aliens and
do nothing end the financial drain on
federal, state and local budgets caused
by tens of millions of illegals working
off the books, and receiving educational
medical and social service benefits; not
to mention the costs of crime and law
enforcement.
Chuckie, Gillebrand and the entire New
York Congressional Delegation are up for
primary and election in 2010.
All should be polled on their positions
regarding: (1) The Dream Act (2) Second
Amendment Rights (3) smart meters
(4) securing our borders (5) ending
New York's status as a sanctuary for
illegal aliens and (6) requiring valid
U S Citizenship to work, attend school
or receive any social service benefits.
Smart voters can put New York and
America, BACK ON TRACK IN 2010.
Indifference, apathy, ignorance , celebrity
worship, beguiling politicians, vast amounts
of cash and greed, blind partyline voting and
media complicity have brought us to where
we are now.
WE DO PENANCE AND
REFLECT ON RESURRECTION
Holy Week has begun.
Radical Islamists are still waging a "Holy War"
against Western Civilization. The Obama
policy is to "talk" with those who want to
kill us , destroy our nation and way of
life. Today's TU cartoon has it right.
President Obama apologizes to Europe and
the world for the arrogance of America, but
neglects to pay homage to the American dead
lying in the cemeteries of Normandy, and
throughout the world. These veterans gave
their lives so that we, Europeans, Japanese
Koreans, Iraqis ,and others, might live in
freedom. Ingrates in Europe have forgotten.
Obama did not bring the troops home as
he promised. He is just shifting them to
Afghanistan and likely Africa, not to
combat terror, but to engage in a
"contingency" operation.
Where have all the "Bring Home to Troops
Now" lawn signs gone?
One party control in Albany and Washington
is destroying America.
Leftist Albany mayoral contenders, and
their TU mouthpiece, are focused on
bulls eye BS, distracting voters from vital issues
like gun violence and an upcoming Albany
May school budget vote that will contain a huge
property tax increase, despite the city schools
receiving large amounts of federal stimulus and
state aid, while failing the students, parents and
taxpayers. (See March post, this site, city schools
the major issue in 2009 Albany City elections).
The RC Diocese of Albany is closing scores of
churches and schools in Albany, Troy, Cohoes
Watervliet and Schenectady. The unintended
consequence of this short sighted action is
the poliferation of urban decay and blight.
The politicians and flock stand silently by
with nary a bleat. (See March post this site)
The one party (NYC Democrat) state budget
eliminates the STAR rebate program, as seniors
and other homeowners have suffered significant
losses in their retirement savings because of a
failed government policy that extended "don't
ask, don't tell" mortgages to people who had
no financial ability or history to pay those
mortgages. Realtors, bankers, lawyers, and
others, all cashed in on record high inflated
home prices.
Smart meters, that will allow the government
through utility companies, to control your
home thermostat settings, are coming. Does
freshman Congressman Paul Tonko support
this? Scott Murphy? Chuckie Shumer?
Kirsten Gillebrand?
We do not need smart meters, we need
smart voters.
The 2010 federal, state, and local Democratic
primaries and November elections afford
smart voters an opportunity to regain control
of government.
Governor Paterson appears to be a goner.
Gillebrand is tied to him. Her advocacy of
the Dream Act, affording college tuition
to illegal aliens, coupled with her shift
on Second Amendment Rights of law
abiding citizens, erases Upstate and
suburban support she needs to survive
a likely primary in 2010.
Governor Paterson intends to lay off
nearly 9,000 state workers, American
citizens, to deal with a 16 billion dollar
state budget deficit. Yet, he signs a
2009 budget that increases state spending.
He and the members of his party that
control state and federal government
do nothing to secure our borders, end
sanctuary status for illegal aliens and
do nothing end the financial drain on
federal, state and local budgets caused
by tens of millions of illegals working
off the books, and receiving educational
medical and social service benefits; not
to mention the costs of crime and law
enforcement.
Chuckie, Gillebrand and the entire New
York Congressional Delegation are up for
primary and election in 2010.
All should be polled on their positions
regarding: (1) The Dream Act (2) Second
Amendment Rights (3) smart meters
(4) securing our borders (5) ending
New York's status as a sanctuary for
illegal aliens and (6) requiring valid
U S Citizenship to work, attend school
or receive any social service benefits.
Smart voters can put New York and
America, BACK ON TRACK IN 2010.
Indifference, apathy, ignorance , celebrity
worship, beguiling politicians, vast amounts
of cash and greed, blind partyline voting and
media complicity have brought us to where
we are now.
Conservative Democrats and Republicans
start your engines! Get ready to mount
aggressive primaries and elections in 2010.
Time to take New York and America back!
America needs Resurrection!
Joe Sullivan
Thursday, March 26, 2009
THE "GIVE ACT" of 2009.
HR 1388 recently passed
by Congress.
Is this the precursor of President Obama's
campaign call to create a National Civilian
Security Force as large and well equipped/funded
as the U.S Military?
Beware, your Liberty may be on the line.
Read:
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=92288
Joe Sullivan
HR 1388 recently passed
by Congress.
Is this the precursor of President Obama's
campaign call to create a National Civilian
Security Force as large and well equipped/funded
as the U.S Military?
Beware, your Liberty may be on the line.
Read:
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=92288
Joe Sullivan
RC DIOCESE CHURCH CLOSINGS
CONTRIBUTE TO URBAN BLIGHT
The Diocese of Albany is closing a number
of churches and schools in Albany, Cohoes
Watervliet, Troy and Schenectady this year.
The unintended result of these closings will
be increased neighborhood deterioration
and blight.
These closings are shortsighted because
population shifts back to these cities will
occur as the economy worsens and oil
becomes too expensive and scarce to
support commuting to the suburbs.
Ironically, the Diocese of Albany is a major
recipient of social services monies from the
state.
It is imperative for the Mayors and City
Councils to enter into discussions with
the Diocese of Albany and New York State
to come up with a plan to keep RC churches
and schools in the above named cities open.
Neighborhoods are made up of people, and
houses anchored by neighborhood churches
schools and shops.
Take away neighborhood schools, churches
and shops:neighborhood detrerioration, blight
poverty and crime result.
Arbor Hill and the South End in Albany are
two examples. Both were once thriving neigh-
borhoods with neighborhood schools, churches
and many small shops which provided services
goods and employment for neighborhood
residents.
Any urban renewal efforts that fail to include
neighborhood schools, churches and shops
are doomed to failure.
St Teresa's Church and School in Albany
must not be allowed to happen. If the Diocese
can't run them, parishioners must seek out
Religious Orders of priests and nuns, who can.
The same goes for similar parish churches and
schools in Troy, Schenectady, Cohoes and Watervliet.
Parishioners must stop behaving like the
proverbial sheep and resist these church and
school closings. Seek alternatives.
It may be time to recall priests from the
foreign missions to serve in our urban
parishes.
Reach out to Orders and seminaries in
the U.S. ,Canda and Europe in search of
priests and nuns to keep
our local urban parish churches and
schools open.
Do this in memory of your ancestors who
founded these churches and schools; and
do this with recognition that neighborhood
churches and schools are essential to
maintaining neighborhood identity and
quality of life.
Joe Sullivan
CONTRIBUTE TO URBAN BLIGHT
The Diocese of Albany is closing a number
of churches and schools in Albany, Cohoes
Watervliet, Troy and Schenectady this year.
The unintended result of these closings will
be increased neighborhood deterioration
and blight.
These closings are shortsighted because
population shifts back to these cities will
occur as the economy worsens and oil
becomes too expensive and scarce to
support commuting to the suburbs.
Ironically, the Diocese of Albany is a major
recipient of social services monies from the
state.
It is imperative for the Mayors and City
Councils to enter into discussions with
the Diocese of Albany and New York State
to come up with a plan to keep RC churches
and schools in the above named cities open.
Neighborhoods are made up of people, and
houses anchored by neighborhood churches
schools and shops.
Take away neighborhood schools, churches
and shops:neighborhood detrerioration, blight
poverty and crime result.
Arbor Hill and the South End in Albany are
two examples. Both were once thriving neigh-
borhoods with neighborhood schools, churches
and many small shops which provided services
goods and employment for neighborhood
residents.
Any urban renewal efforts that fail to include
neighborhood schools, churches and shops
are doomed to failure.
St Teresa's Church and School in Albany
must not be allowed to happen. If the Diocese
can't run them, parishioners must seek out
Religious Orders of priests and nuns, who can.
The same goes for similar parish churches and
schools in Troy, Schenectady, Cohoes and Watervliet.
Parishioners must stop behaving like the
proverbial sheep and resist these church and
school closings. Seek alternatives.
It may be time to recall priests from the
foreign missions to serve in our urban
parishes.
Reach out to Orders and seminaries in
the U.S. ,Canda and Europe in search of
priests and nuns to keep
our local urban parish churches and
schools open.
Do this in memory of your ancestors who
founded these churches and schools; and
do this with recognition that neighborhood
churches and schools are essential to
maintaining neighborhood identity and
quality of life.
Joe Sullivan
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
APRIL FOOLS DAY AND THE
STATE BUDGET PASSAGE DATE
ARE FAST APPROACHING. BEWARE!
Three men are secretly plotting a number of
tax/fee increases in a vain attempt to close an
estimated 16 billion dollar state budget shortfall.
The three men are: the Governor, State Senate
Majority Leader and Assembly Speaker. All are
Democrats and all are from New York City.
Elected state Republican officeholders are
excluded from the process, and elected Democrats
in the Senate and Assembly from Upstate are
excluded as well. The votes of the latter are taken
for granted because of party loyalty.
When will elected officeholders put America and
New York State before party allegiance?
If elected members of the Congress and State
Legislature would stand together; they could
dramatically impact policies, legislation and
budgets at the federal and state levels.
The Governor has announced 8,900 job cuts
from the state workforce as a budget cutting
measure. Read:
http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=783255
Wrong move! It makes no sense to put
American citizens out of work, when New
York is overrun with tens of millions of illegal
aliens who work off the books, many in the
drug trade, and many who receive social
services, medical care, and education, all at
public taxpayer expense.
If the Governor, Senate Majority Leader and
Assembly Speaker would end the sanctuary
policy of the state with regard to illegal aliens
requiring proof of U S Citizenship for jobs
social services, medical care and education
benefits; illegal aliens would voluntarily
leave the state. Add to this deportation of all
illegals from state and local prisions.
These policies and actions would close New
York's budget gap and make jobs available to
U S citizens resident in New York, promoting
long term economic growth, and reductions
in crime, in New York.
People with assets and job skills are fleeing
New York at ever increasing rates. New York
faces of future of being home to a poulation
of elderly and poor who will not be able to
pay for the government services, schools
nursing homes, hospitals and medical care
that they will expect and require.
The Governor and Legislature must cut
spending to balance the budget, and the place
to start is dealing with the costs of illegal
immigration resulting from a sanctuary
policy and the billions of dollars that policy
costs citizen taxpayers in New York.
Joe Sullivan
STATE BUDGET PASSAGE DATE
ARE FAST APPROACHING. BEWARE!
Three men are secretly plotting a number of
tax/fee increases in a vain attempt to close an
estimated 16 billion dollar state budget shortfall.
The three men are: the Governor, State Senate
Majority Leader and Assembly Speaker. All are
Democrats and all are from New York City.
Elected state Republican officeholders are
excluded from the process, and elected Democrats
in the Senate and Assembly from Upstate are
excluded as well. The votes of the latter are taken
for granted because of party loyalty.
When will elected officeholders put America and
New York State before party allegiance?
If elected members of the Congress and State
Legislature would stand together; they could
dramatically impact policies, legislation and
budgets at the federal and state levels.
The Governor has announced 8,900 job cuts
from the state workforce as a budget cutting
measure. Read:
http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=783255
Wrong move! It makes no sense to put
American citizens out of work, when New
York is overrun with tens of millions of illegal
aliens who work off the books, many in the
drug trade, and many who receive social
services, medical care, and education, all at
public taxpayer expense.
If the Governor, Senate Majority Leader and
Assembly Speaker would end the sanctuary
policy of the state with regard to illegal aliens
requiring proof of U S Citizenship for jobs
social services, medical care and education
benefits; illegal aliens would voluntarily
leave the state. Add to this deportation of all
illegals from state and local prisions.
These policies and actions would close New
York's budget gap and make jobs available to
U S citizens resident in New York, promoting
long term economic growth, and reductions
in crime, in New York.
People with assets and job skills are fleeing
New York at ever increasing rates. New York
faces of future of being home to a poulation
of elderly and poor who will not be able to
pay for the government services, schools
nursing homes, hospitals and medical care
that they will expect and require.
The Governor and Legislature must cut
spending to balance the budget, and the place
to start is dealing with the costs of illegal
immigration resulting from a sanctuary
policy and the billions of dollars that policy
costs citizen taxpayers in New York.
Joe Sullivan
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Morris seeks safer streets: Albany mayoral
candidate cites Pine Hills attacks as need
for community policing.
Times Union, Sat, 3/21/09 pB1
by David Filkins.
Morris posed in front of CVS on Madison Ave
and "railed against the Albany Police
Department and Mayor Jerry Jennings."
Why not blame the perps and their prey
boozed up students?
Metroland 3/19/09 had a more objective
view of the issue:
read Victims 101 by Cecelia Martinez
http://www.metroland.net/newsfront.html#2
Morris has been in office 16 years.
Why hasn't she provided leadership to
address the street crime problem in all
that time?
The 7th ward (Delaware Ave and tributary
streets) Morris' home ward, has become
crime ridden and blighted on Morris' watch.
She is going to save the the city from a similar
fate? There is nothing in her record in public
office that would support that contention.
The TU article says: "Morris unvelied a
three-pronged strategy for reducing crime
in the city. It included more community
policing by the Albany Police Department
using economic stimulus funds to focus on
youth crime prevention, and implementing
the recommendations from the Gun Violence
Task Force.
No Morris leadership or originality here!
The APD has been engaged in community
policing efforts for years. The economic
stimulus monies run out in 26 months.
Then what? Council Member Dom Calsolaro
was the driving force behind the establishment
of the Gun Violence Task Force.
Dom is supporting fellow Council Member
Corey Ellis for Mayor.
Morris has no record of accomplishment
to show for her 16 years in office.
She has undercut the mayor police chief
and Albany police Department at every turn
to further her own political ambitions.
Morris does not have what it takes
to lead Albany
Joe Sullivan
candidate cites Pine Hills attacks as need
for community policing.
Times Union, Sat, 3/21/09 pB1
by David Filkins.
Morris posed in front of CVS on Madison Ave
and "railed against the Albany Police
Department and Mayor Jerry Jennings."
Why not blame the perps and their prey
boozed up students?
Metroland 3/19/09 had a more objective
view of the issue:
read Victims 101 by Cecelia Martinez
http://www.metroland.net/newsfront.html#2
Morris has been in office 16 years.
Why hasn't she provided leadership to
address the street crime problem in all
that time?
The 7th ward (Delaware Ave and tributary
streets) Morris' home ward, has become
crime ridden and blighted on Morris' watch.
She is going to save the the city from a similar
fate? There is nothing in her record in public
office that would support that contention.
The TU article says: "Morris unvelied a
three-pronged strategy for reducing crime
in the city. It included more community
policing by the Albany Police Department
using economic stimulus funds to focus on
youth crime prevention, and implementing
the recommendations from the Gun Violence
Task Force.
No Morris leadership or originality here!
The APD has been engaged in community
policing efforts for years. The economic
stimulus monies run out in 26 months.
Then what? Council Member Dom Calsolaro
was the driving force behind the establishment
of the Gun Violence Task Force.
Dom is supporting fellow Council Member
Corey Ellis for Mayor.
Morris has no record of accomplishment
to show for her 16 years in office.
She has undercut the mayor police chief
and Albany police Department at every turn
to further her own political ambitions.
Morris does not have what it takes
to lead Albany
Joe Sullivan
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Albany City Schools
The Decisive Issue
in the 2009 City Elections
Today's Times Union informs us that the
proposed city school district budget for
2009-2010 is $214 million as compared
with the current budget of $207 million.
(see pA8 Albany school budget cuts staff)
The story headline ought to read:
School property taxes to increase 15
percent in City of Albany.
That headline would capture the
attention of city property taxpayers.
The Philip Livingston middle school will
close at the end of the current school
year, shifting students to the two
remaining middle schools: Hackett and
Myers.
This accounts for the staff cuts alluded
to in the the story headline.
We learn that city charter schools will
account for $27.6 million (13 percent)
of the proposed $214 budget.
Charter schools and charter school
populations continue to grow in Albany
and are educating more children at
lower per capita costs than the city
district schools.
Albany City schools are among the
highest cost per student in New York
State. The high school graduation
rate is about 50 percent.
Not a good return for property tax-
payers.
And now: The Albany City School
District proposes an increased
budget that would raise property
taxes 15 percent ?
The Audacity of those who view
themselves as political, social
and economic progressives!
Only about one-third of city
homes are owner occupied. Those
homes are owned by an aging
population living on fixed incomes,
plus some families with young
children and a number of single
professionals.
These homeowners pay the lion's
share of the property taxes which
support the city public schools.
Many familes with children bear
a double financial burden, because
they send their children to private
schools.
All have endured annual school
property tax increases, and they
have watched their retirement savings
evaporate in the past 6 months.
Keep in mind that about 7o percent
of the city school population comes
from households that pay little or no
property taxes to support the city
schools.
Economic hard times are here. And
they will get worse!
The candidates for Mayor, Common
Council and City Treasurer have to
take a stand on the issue of city schools.
Albany can no longer tolerate two
property tax rolls: one to support city
services and the other to support city
schools.
City schools must be merged with
city government. The Mayor and Common
Council Members must assume responsibility
and accountability for the functioning and
financing of city schools.
Return to a K-8 neighborhood school
system which is best for kids, parents and
neighborhoods.
Trim the fat from school administrations.
Disband the school board. Create one
property tax base to support city govern-
ment and city schools.
The unpropertied households that
account for the majority of the city
school populations must pay their fair
share of the costs of educating their
children.
Nothing less than drastic reform of
the operation and financing of city
schools is required this year.
The Common Council must step up
and present a Home Rule Message to
the NYS Legislature calling for action
this session,
to amend the State Education Law to
allow the Mayor and Common Council
to assume responsibility and account-
ability for the city schools.
Who among the Common Council
Members, seeking to be nominated
for re-election, or seeking nomination
for Mayor and Common Council
President, in the September 2009
Democratic Primary, will sponsor
and vote for this Home Rule Message?
Those who aspire to occupy positions
of leadership must demonstrate that
they are able to lead.
Members of the Albany Common Council
the ball is in your court!
Get the necessary Home Rule Message
to the NYS Legislature drafted , and
put to a vote during the month of March.
Also, place the following questions on
the May school budget vote ballot.
Q1. Shall the Albany city schools be
merged with the city government
creating one property tax base
with responsibilty and accountability
for the city schools vested in the
offices of the mayor and common council?
Q2. Shall Albany return to a K-8 neighborhood
school system?
Joe Sullivan
The Decisive Issue
in the 2009 City Elections
Today's Times Union informs us that the
proposed city school district budget for
2009-2010 is $214 million as compared
with the current budget of $207 million.
(see pA8 Albany school budget cuts staff)
The story headline ought to read:
School property taxes to increase 15
percent in City of Albany.
That headline would capture the
attention of city property taxpayers.
The Philip Livingston middle school will
close at the end of the current school
year, shifting students to the two
remaining middle schools: Hackett and
Myers.
This accounts for the staff cuts alluded
to in the the story headline.
We learn that city charter schools will
account for $27.6 million (13 percent)
of the proposed $214 budget.
Charter schools and charter school
populations continue to grow in Albany
and are educating more children at
lower per capita costs than the city
district schools.
Albany City schools are among the
highest cost per student in New York
State. The high school graduation
rate is about 50 percent.
Not a good return for property tax-
payers.
And now: The Albany City School
District proposes an increased
budget that would raise property
taxes 15 percent ?
The Audacity of those who view
themselves as political, social
and economic progressives!
Only about one-third of city
homes are owner occupied. Those
homes are owned by an aging
population living on fixed incomes,
plus some families with young
children and a number of single
professionals.
These homeowners pay the lion's
share of the property taxes which
support the city public schools.
Many familes with children bear
a double financial burden, because
they send their children to private
schools.
All have endured annual school
property tax increases, and they
have watched their retirement savings
evaporate in the past 6 months.
Keep in mind that about 7o percent
of the city school population comes
from households that pay little or no
property taxes to support the city
schools.
Economic hard times are here. And
they will get worse!
The candidates for Mayor, Common
Council and City Treasurer have to
take a stand on the issue of city schools.
Albany can no longer tolerate two
property tax rolls: one to support city
services and the other to support city
schools.
City schools must be merged with
city government. The Mayor and Common
Council Members must assume responsibility
and accountability for the functioning and
financing of city schools.
Return to a K-8 neighborhood school
system which is best for kids, parents and
neighborhoods.
Trim the fat from school administrations.
Disband the school board. Create one
property tax base to support city govern-
ment and city schools.
The unpropertied households that
account for the majority of the city
school populations must pay their fair
share of the costs of educating their
children.
Nothing less than drastic reform of
the operation and financing of city
schools is required this year.
The Common Council must step up
and present a Home Rule Message to
the NYS Legislature calling for action
this session,
to amend the State Education Law to
allow the Mayor and Common Council
to assume responsibility and account-
ability for the city schools.
Who among the Common Council
Members, seeking to be nominated
for re-election, or seeking nomination
for Mayor and Common Council
President, in the September 2009
Democratic Primary, will sponsor
and vote for this Home Rule Message?
Those who aspire to occupy positions
of leadership must demonstrate that
they are able to lead.
Members of the Albany Common Council
the ball is in your court!
Get the necessary Home Rule Message
to the NYS Legislature drafted , and
put to a vote during the month of March.
Also, place the following questions on
the May school budget vote ballot.
Q1. Shall the Albany city schools be
merged with the city government
creating one property tax base
with responsibilty and accountability
for the city schools vested in the
offices of the mayor and common council?
Q2. Shall Albany return to a K-8 neighborhood
school system?
Joe Sullivan
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
