NOTE: Having trouble with comment moderation! For some reason blogger will not let me see or moderate comments until I get about 12 or so...so if you left a comment, I'm not ignoring it just be patient.

Running for my life ...

I will be running the Kingston Shamrock run this Sunday and am looking forward to it! Certainly something I could not of done just a year ago...if you see my out there running or laying out in the side of the road somewhere ;), stop and say hello!

What is ‘policy’ and what is ‘administration’, ponders Ulster Legislature committee

From MidHudsonNews.com : Ulster County Legislator Brian Shapiro, a Democrat, and member of the Government Operations and Efficiency Committee, calls it ‘reinventing the wheel’.
Republican Terry Bernardo, who chairs the committee, doesn’t quite see their mission that way.
Broadly, this has to do with clarifying the mission of the Legislative and Executive branches of county government, under the year-old Charter, and County Executive Michael Hein.
Bernardo said that despite some misconceptions, the county executive is but one of six elected countywide administrators, along with the comptroller, sheriff, district attorney, county clerk and others.

“The legislature is the body that appropriates and makes policy for all of those divisions,” she said. “Michael may have put out put out a directive about nepotism, but that only affected his little tower, if you will. It didn’t affect the people in the DA’s office, the people in the Sheriff’s office, in corrections. It didn’t affect the people in the clerk’s office. So that is the job of the county legislature.”

Bernardo noted that during an orientation with County Attorney Bea Havraneck, they were presented with a long “do not touch” list from the county executive.
“And it was all about the things that the legislator couldn’t touch, that were the executive’s. We didn’t really get a big list of things that the executive couldn’t touch.”
Bernardo was disappointed that Hein, who was invited to Wednesday night’s committee meeting, did not attend, but sent a few key staffers, instead.

Two other invitees did attend – Comptroller Elliott Auerbach and Legislature Chairman Fred Wadnola, who charged the committee with the mission of reviewing current personnel policy.
Shapiro, however, said there is a mechanism already in place, that has worked before, at doing the same thing.

“So I think there’s a learning curve right now. I hate for us diving right into creating a new ethics law. Why don’t we give this to the Board of Ethics; that’s what we did last time. They came up with a good product. That’s what I’m going to recommend this time around, to look at the issue of nepotism.”

Shapiro sees this as the new Republican majority, which took office two months ago, wanting to jump in head first.

A Circus at Kingston City Hall, Ring Leader Schreibman

MISS HIM YET?

What more can we take?
Under Julian : Two county wide election loses, the Katz convention fiasco, the bylaws fiasco last night, loss of the county legislature. We can not afford anymore of Chairman Schreibman..enough is enough!

I attended the bylaws vote at Kingston city hall last night before heading back to the city and what a circus it was.

Julian Schreibman called the meeting at 715ish and said a quorum was present, I thought that 40 % was the required number for a quorum to be present so I went up to Kathy Mihm who was taking attendance and asked her if we had the 40% needed for a quorum, she informed me that we did and only 30 % was needed.

I did a head count and there were 75 people in that room, 93 would have been required to have the 30% needed so there was no quorum at that meeting and business was conducted illegally!

Besides that, the meeting was chaos, Brian Shapiro asked very pointed and well thought out questions and Terry Rosenblum did not have answers to those questions it was just a joke.

Attorney Andy Zweeben (no friend of mine) also asked relevant questions which were not answered and people gave him different answers...we voted on a document last night that we were not clear on.

And while Andy Zweben is not my favorite person, I thought it was out of line for Mike Harkavey the chair of the Saugerties committee to heckle him as he spoke, that's completely unacceptable to do to anyone.

How ironic that the Ulster County Democratic committee or I should say the Saugerties Democratic committee and it's ring leader Julian Schreibman passed new bylaws heavily focusing on ethics, in the most unethical manner.

More importantly I am extremly upset that I was lied to directly by the secretary of the meeting when I asked about the quorum, this person also happens to be the Democratic elections commissioner..how can we have faith in the elections process.

I'm not 100% against the new bylaws, two of my friends worked very hard on them and I know at least their intentions during that process last year were genuine but the meeting last night and how it went down was illegal and wrong on many levels.

Sorry

Things have been hectic will update blog during the week

Coming Thursday

We respond to Ulster MoJoe Roberti's latest attack and offer comments on the stinging editorial written about him in Reynolds' City Beat.

Nuisance Suit Settled

DFS settled this case for one reason and one reason only: the enormous cost of battling a gigantic corporate law firm in a "nuisance" suit," Cantor continued.
"As this incredible shrinking case comes to a close - no million-dollar conspiracies, no massive fraud - there is only a penny-ante dispute over bridge tolls and some part-time campaign workers." "For now, we are pleased that we can return to the serious work of advancing 'common-sense progressivism.' Stronger rent regulation. Living wage jobs. Energy efficiency and mass transit. Paid sick days. Lower property taxes on the middle class and higher income taxes on the wealthy. Nothing more, but nothing less.

- Dan Cantor, WFP Executive Director and the only honest party boss I know!

As first reported by the Voice's Tom Robbins yesterday, the deal requires Rose to pay $8,525 to make good on "alleged undercharging" by DFS - the bulk of which, $5,600, is for the services of three employees: Vonda McKeithan, Bryan Collinsworth and Rachel Goodman.
Rose also has to pay a $5,000 outstanding bill for work DFS did on the February 2009 special election she lost to Ken Mitchell, whom she later ousted in the September primary.
In addition, DFS has agreed to a host of "corporate structure and corporate governance" reforms, including changes to its contracts with candidates, the appointment of independent directors; the establishment of employment, management and administrative structures wholly separate from that of the WFP and annual audits by an outside CPA.
The settlement appears in full after the jump. There's also a confidentiality agreement that you can read here.

As Robbins noted, this is hardly the big bombshell that Mastro made it out to be when he first filed his lawsuit back in October. But there's room for both sides to declare a measure of victory here.
Mastro will no doubt trumpet the fact that he managed to force the WFP to make significant structural changes that will uncouple it from DFS.

WFP officials have privately said they would likely have done so anyway, once former Chief Judge Judith Kaye is done with the review she has undertaken at the party's request (and expense).
This does clear away one headache for the WFP, leaving only the US attorney's probe into DFS for the party to worry about - a not insignificant concern. But if that investigation comes to as clean and timely a conclusion as this lawsuit has, the WFP will be able to flex its muscle - a lot more carefully - in the upcoming fall elections. WFP Executive Director Dan Cantor, who has been keeping a low profile of late, released a rather defiant statement calling Mastro's action a "nuisance suit," and insisting that DFS "did not undercharge the Rose campaign - or any other - by a single dime.

New Paltz Equality Rally

NEW PALTZ – Saturday, February 27 will mark the sixth anniversary of the New Paltz same-sex weddings and hundreds of human rights activists are expected to mark the occasion with a rally in that community.The New Paltz weddings, on February 27, 2004, were conducted in solidarity with the San Francisco same-sex weddings that month.The 25 weddings solemnized that day were annulled two years later by a New York State court.The state Assembly recently approved same-sex marriage, but the Senate rejected it this past December.Former Mayor Jason West, who performed the weddings, will be at the rally to lend his support for state legislative approval.

Woerner Making A Kingston Comeback?

Below are some pictures from an event last night at the Hodge center in Midtown Kingston. From what I hear it was a great community event hosted by Sandra Hopgood, Fourth Ward Alderwoman Shirley Whitlock and former Ulster Supervisor Nick Woerner.

Many speculate Nick is looking to make a comeback in his hometown of Kingston, possibly looking at a run for Kingston Mayor or Alderman at large in 2011...time will tell if the former Supervisor can get the support after a crushing lose to Jim Quigley; but a heavy focus on Midtown would be a good start. It's no secret midtown has been widely ignored under Mayor Sottile.

Gov. Paterson Makes it Official at Hofstra

"After all you have heard, there's one rumor I will confirm, I am running for governor this year," Paterson said to a crowd of about 400 at Hofstra University. "They haven't knocked us down yet and they never will."

Gilpatric Did What?!? You're Kidding?

The Daily Freeman has some sort of weird man crush on Supreme Court Justice James P. Gilpatric, it just kills them that the people of Kingston and most recently six counties elected him by huge margins, despite his past mistakes. I mean how many times is the Daily Disappointment going to mention the fact that Jim Gilpatric has suffered from addiction? We get the pont, it's in your newspaper anytime you do a judicial story, give it a rest! We all know and we all accept it. Move on.

Mike Hein Delivers Second Annual State of the County

"I caution any individual whose real intention is to erode the charter or drag the government back into it's dysfunctional past: You will find no greater opponent, I will always side with the people of Ulster County."

Check Out Auerbach's Website

www.auerbachforcomptroller.com

Van Blarcum for Sheriff Campaign Kick Off

Please Join Sheriff Paul Van Blarcum for his Campaign Kick Off at Hillside Manor:

Friday Feb 26th from 530-730

donation of $40

rsvp at: pvbforsheriff@aol.com or call :845-417-4123

Check out the Sheriff's website at: www.paulforsheriff.com

County Executive Mike Hein to Deliver State of the County

TONIGHT

County Executive Mike P. Hein

Ulster County Executive will deliever his state of the county, Tuesday, February 16th at 6pm on the 6th floor. Public is encouraged to attend.

Former Governor Eliot Spitzer Coming to New Paltz

Who likes Gov. Eliot Spitzer more then me?!?! I'm excited to report that the former Governor will be at Suny New Paltz Thursday, March 11th and the public is welcome to attend at no cost. I will be there and hope you will too! It's from 5-7 at the Lecture Center.

Use your Facebook account to R.S.V.P.

3 months ago at Skate Time 209...just found this on my facebook and thought it was kinda funny!

Blaber New's Poll: Keep the Ball in our Court

A match up between Judge Larry Ball and Tom Petro would be a blowout according to a recent Blaber News poll, with more than 70% of people saying they would back Ball over Kingston attorney Tom Petro.

Larry Ball became full time city court Judge in January, with the election of Judge James P. Gilpatric to the NYS Supreme Court. Ball will run for a full term in a special election this November.

Happy Birthday to Comptroller Auerbach

Blaber News wishes a very Happy Birthday to our favorite public servant, Ulster Comptroller Elliott Auerbach. If you see him today wish him a happy birthday and maybe write him a check for his reelection campaign ;)

48 Hrs

The amount of time it took Rich Cahill to turn the tragic death of a Kingstonian into a poltical attack against Mayor Sottile and his administration. Way to go Rich, you never let us down!

Kudos to UC Legislator Mike Sweeney

On Ulster County Legislator Mike Sweeney's blog, he recently posted that he declined to take the county health insuance plan, as well as declining the buyout. Mike said while it's not much in a 300 million plus budget every penney counts...if that quote was on his facebook status, I would hit the like button! Could not of said it better myself, kudos to Legislator Sweeney!

mo-JOE Roberti Feelin' the Heat

As you can tell by his recent cheap shot at me on his blog, Ulster mo-JOE ROBERTI is feeling the heat for his viscous yet sometimes humorous over the top posts on his blog: Ulster MoJo.

At a recent event in Saugerties, the former county legislator was in the rest room when the Dean of the lower Hudson Valley Hugh Reynolds walked in and said to him " How are ya, Ulster mo Joe", we hear Roberti didn't say a word, just walked out...without washing his hands btw---eww yuck!

BTW- Joe for the record, I was a cute baby!

Senator Kevin Parker Continues to Disgrace Brooklyn

Just when you thought things could not get any stranger in the state Capitol, state Sen. Kevin Parker is once again in the news– this time for reportedly unloading on a Senate colleague over the ouster of Sen. Hiram Monserrate.

State Sen. Kevin Parker, a Brooklyn Democrat with a history of anger management issues, “charged” at Sen. Diane Savino of Staten Island during a heated closed-door meeting on Tuesday, Senate sources told the New York Daily News.

Parker not only reportedly dropped numerous ”F-bombs” — but also tossed a “B” word in while hollering at Savino, a Democrat and former labor leader in New York City. The report quoted one senator who said an enraged Parker ”went a little ballistic, swearing and screaming that the Republicans have no right to dictate what goes on in our house.”

It’s not every day that a politician with a history of rage reportedy lunges at a female senator — all while defending another senator convicted of assaulting his girlfriend.

And Parker’s past already included a 2005 misdemeanor assault arrest for allegedly punching a traffic agent over a parking ticket in Brooklyn. The charges were dropped when he enrolled in an anger management counseling.

Parker was later charged in 2009 with assaulting a newspaper photographer in Brooklyn
There have been other dust-ups, including one in February 2005 when Parker cornered a reporter from a New York City tabloid livid over a story that ran that day. Parker walked away from the confrontation in the state Capitol with the help of another lawmaker - former state Sen. Ada Smith, whose well-documented history included a conviction herself of throwing hot coffee at an aide.

Murphy Bites A Huge Bullet: Molinaro Will Not Run for Congress

STATE Assemblyman Marc Molinaro isn’t going to Washington.After several weeks of deliberation, Molinaro, R-Red Hook, said he’s decided against making a bid for New York’s 20th Congressional District seat.

“The whole idea that I could be a candidate for Congress was and is flattering, and I respect the folks who have presented that to me, but the reality is that I don’t know that there is or could be a more critical time to be involved in state government,” Molinaro said.

“I believe that hard-working, reform-minded elected officials really need to engage in problem solving in state government, and that’s an overwhelming responsibility that I take very seriously.”

In January, Molinaro said he had been called on by a number of GOP officials and civic and elected leaders to consider running this fall for the House seat currently held by Democrat Scott Murphy of Glens Falls. Molinaro declined to say who has asked him to run.While he wouldn’t rule out a possible future run for Congress, Molinaro said now is not the time, personally or professionally, to make such a change.

“You seek elected office to do a job, and if you wish to seek higher office, you do it at the right time for you and the people you represent,” he said. “There really is work that needs to get done in Albany, and I’m not ready to abandon that.”

As the father of an 8-month-old son and 5-year-old daughter, Molinaro said he prefers, for now, to be in a position that allows him to be with his family as much as possible.Molinaro, 34, first was elected to public office at age 18, when he became a member of the Tivoli Village Board. He was elected mayor of the Northern Dutchess village a year later.

He then became a Dutchess County legislator before being elected to the state Assembly in 2006 and 2008.New York’s 20th Congressional District stretches from Northern Dutchess to the Adirondacks. Murphy was elected in the district last year over Republican James Tedisco in a race to succeed Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand. Gillibrand, D-Greenport, had been appointed by Gov. David Paterson to the U.S. Senate seat formerly held by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

NEW PALTZ BOND VOTE TODAY!!! VOTE YES!!

UPDATE 10pm: Huge turnout, problems with machines, paper ballots being handed out, may not have a result on vote until am! UPDATE: BOND VOTED DEFEATED :(