You can't make this stuff up................ Mayor Jim Sottile is now having City taxpayers pay for his boots!!It seems that this all came about after some DPW dispatch workers received a boot allowance and for some reason the workers at city hall filed a grievance with CSEA to get boots as well and won. So now all City employees will receive a $100 voucher for boots. Can't say I agree with it but it's a union issue...seems like that would be that..right? Wrong!
Kingston Mayor Jim Sottile, who is not a member of CSEA, thought he was also entitled to boots and received a pair at the City's expense last week. I wonder how Cruella feels about this? Kingston's Fifth Ward Alderman works with homeless kids who can't afford shoes, let alone boots. How can she as a lawmaker, justify approving such a thing for a man that makes over 75k a year?
Let's look at the breakdown :
Blackberry
Jeep
Car Insurance
Gas
Boots?
The following items are all paid for to Sottile by the City of Kingston. You would think he could buy his own boots!
46 comments:
Well done! and what a shocker.
Time to contact Channel 2 news again. This time for the Channel 2 - "Shame On You" segment.
Jeremy, you seem to be scooping all the traditional news outlets in Kingston. Good for you.
Time for Jim to get "the Boot".
Dont blame me - I voted for Cahill.
How about this? Put Jimmy and the council on commission. $10.00 + for every job and resident gained since they took office, and $10.00 - for every job and resident lost?
That should trim Jimmy up good and the council would be voluntary...
Why Boots? Doesn't the City of Kingston have a collective bargaining agreement with its unionized uniformed employees that specifies an 'uniform allowance' paid on an annual basis. How does the Office of Mayor fit into this great scheme of the "boots conspiracy" I'll never know.
$100 boots? Can't they get $30 ones at Walmart? I don't think those Timberlands are any better. I doubt they're american made.
The Poughkeepsie Journal made a very smart move bringing your blog online. You scooped the Freeman.
I knew about this story, but held off publishing it at the request of the Daily Freeman.
Jeremy, I commend you for showing some independence.
Lastly, I agree with the poster. Don't blame me, I voted for Cahill too.
Jeremy,
I am starting to be proud of you. Maybe now you are growing up and realizing that Jim is not the answer to this city's problem, he is the cause. Piss poor management, leads to less than stellar employees, and then to poor performance. This is just another example of how ridiculous this city is run, and for the last year, you have been trying to convince everyone how great these folks are. It now seems you are waking up......keep up the good work
6:18: It is obsessive and opportunistic for the mayor to have taxpayers buying his shoes.
A man of integrity would A.) Return them immediately. B.) Donate them to charity. C.) Auction them off on Ebay. Something to show that he is not a greedy (in it for me) SOB.
I Agree with everyone here , we need to picket in front of city hall to get the mayor to step down . We need to.
Arent you people the ones who voted for him?
Isnt this or wasnt this a pro democrat, pro Sottile website?
Werent you all bashing the other choice you had, and saying how wonderful a mayor we have?
You all deserve to buy his boots and give him a raise.........
He walks all over you little wannabes, and takes more of your money after you elect him again!
Good for you all!!!!!!!!!!
You guys are getting what you deserve. You voted for Sottile and now he is running wild, seeking raises, getting new boots, etc.
Jim won't stop either. As far as he's concerned, he thinks you will just lick those very boots.
I agree wholeheartedly with the last poster. I am a life-long Democrat, but I knew Sottile had to go. If someone actually looked closely at his actions, my bet is that a lot underhanded junk goes on every day. The $65 parking ticket fiasco with Senor is the tip of the iceberg. Yet, no one wants admit it, and all those party faithful who pulled that lever for Sottile, this is what you voted for. No matter how many times I tried to "talk sense" on this blog before the election, how many called me and others like me names, like "Little Dick," etc. The fact that Sottile had a "D" next to his name was enough to justify for many of you that he was the best candidate, despite so much evidence to the contrary. You got 4 more years of this corruption. Don't blame Sottile entirely, blame yourselves.
It must be a real slow newsday in Kingston.
Hello...there's a much bigger and better world out here guys!!!!
Sottile looks fresh in those new Tims!
- CB Love Child 2
Jeremy did you try to get a comment from the Mayor regarding this story? If you did and he refused than the story is justified. If you did not and are printing heresay from those who make it their life goal to get him than; shame on you. Sometimes you're used to do other peoples dirty work and you don't realize it. Your would bring your blog a step higher than it is by giving the individuals that are critized an opportunity to respond, if they don't, they are fair game. Gordon Webb lived by that rule.
9:35 - this is a blog; if Jeremy was a news reporter, then he'd have contacted Sottile. But, it's more than just hearsay, there's documentation. It'll be in the Freeman tomorrow - maybe the mayor will comment to Paul Kirby.
9:35 You raise an interesting point. Is a blogger held to the same level as a journalist?
Clearly it is in the best interest of both to confirm information.
How many times has Hugh Reynolds printed information that has not been verified?
Oh Yes.......Gordon just used to put people down for there lifestyle
I knew you wouldnt post my comments. You are such a coward!
If you want to be a politician and reporter, you had better get ready for people to disagree with you, and point out the obvious, when you fail to do it....
You deserve this clown for a mayor.
I told you a long time ago that they were all in it for the money and prestige(if you can imagine that), and now they are proving me right.
You refuse to post comments that prove how ridiculous they are, because you are a follower too, and have no balls!
I know you wont post this either, but I had to tell you how disappointed I am with you1
To the guy who says "It must be a slow news day,"- He doesn't realize or care about this kind of issue. Guess what, the politicians realize this, so....they continue to try and get away with more and more. It's not about $100 for boots. It's about $100 here for boots, $65 to fix a parking ticket, another $10,000 to allow a development to be built without the proper scrutiny. It's about ethics, and a severe lack of them by more and more politicians, as the people continue to get screwed and have a guy like this not care. You'll care one day, because even if it hasn't hit your pocketbook yet, it will soon.
What does this have to do with Dibella?...it would seem that the man of your dreams Bill Reynolds (who is majority leader) ok'd this as well....You are being critical of her when you should be critical of the mayor and the entire council, not one alderwoman. Regardless of what Dibella did to you in the past..let it go you sound like a child. This is not about her.
I agree with 9:27. Enough slander regarding DiBella. Your grudge against her for supporting Bradley is getting boring. Move on, this is a new year, try to be a bit more respectful in your future comments. I appreciate the news and how quickly you report it but really Jeremy please find a new cause.
- "What does this have to do with Dibella?...it would seem that the man of your dreams Bill Reynolds (who is majority leader) ok'd this as well...."
Actually, nobody "ok'd" this yet, but DiBella did say that Sottile deserves the perk...she's an a$$ kisser, as well as a poor steward of taxpayer money.
Sottile does not need to be in sewer-laiden mud during the middle of a sewer break. If he wants to know what is going on he can look from afar OR just stay in contact with his Department Heads.
What next? Does Sottile want a full set of fire clothing, potentially costing the taxpayers over $1,000? Or his own bullet-proof vent costing taxpayers over $4,000?
Enough is Enough!
What is extremely upsetting to me is that Al Teetsel, the GOP minority leader, is okay with Sottile getting boots.
I thought Al was a fiscal conservative? Al must know about some sort of slush fund since he has been involved for the last two years during budget meetings.
Jeremy, contact Al and ask him point-blank where the boot money is coming from.
Fire Departments for many years have conducted "boot drops" for the purpose of raising money. Cars driving down a highway, road, or street would come upon an area where the Fire Department is set up in the middle of the road asking for donations. Drivers would throw loose change [quarters, dimes, nickels and pennys] into the fire fighter's fire boots.
The City of Kingston has had a long running policy of NOT allowing boot drops. The reason behind the policy is varied. Some have suggested that one reason for the policy is that the Kingston Volunteer Fire Fighters would be in the public eye - the "career" fire fighters would not like that.
Suffice it to say, it would seem that Jimmy Sottile is backing a boot [drive] policy of his own now, solely to his benefit.
Does anyone know what day the boot drop will take place in front of 420 Broadway? I just do not see any reason for city taxpayers to foot the bill for Jimmy's boots.
The mayor knows he controls the Council- now more than ever. He can and will do as he damn well pleases. And Jeremy, you helped him get here with almost every line you wrote.
Boots, car, gas, at our expense and more. Now a raise? Didn't he get himself a $15,000/year raise a couple of years ago? Cost of living? Or is Sottile offsetting his tax increase? I want a cost of living tax rebate for every propery owner in the City- residential and commercial. Will that happen? We all know the answer to that.
If you think boots and car and gas is bad, just wait. This term has just begun.
Over my lifetime, I have come to realize that when politicians are so obviously self-serving in situations like "free" boots (they are not free, you and I pay for them) there is more under the radar that is harder to find. I'd like to see the State Attorney General's office come here and do a forsenic audit. But that won't happen either.
The voters of Kingston voted him back in. And now you got no choice but to live with it and pay for him. And watch as more and more working class and middle class residents leave this City. Taxes keep going up, services keep declining - and the Mayor and the Council keep asking for more for themselves, their family members and their friends.
Those of us who stood up before the election were ridiculed, demeaned and insulted on this blog and by this blogger. I'm glad to see a change here, however it is too late. Public drunkness, political favors, a $15,000 pay raise, the projects that never got off the ground and those that still aren't finished weren't enough indication that Jim Sottile is not a real leader, nor does he have the integrity, forsight and vision to take this City forward. Now we all will continue to pay dearly for this Mayor who believes he has a right to all he can get his hands on.
he could have gone to payless shoes and gotten three pairs for one hundred bucks. the arrogent hot head thinks he is president pf the universe. pride goesbefore the fall.
Those of you who voted for Sottile, are you sorry yet?
The DPW workers get steel toed boots for the work that they do for safety reasons- my guess is that the boots purchased by the office workers were expensive trendy hiking boots that Montanos sells- I do not think any of the ladies named in the paper bought steel toe workboots.
Obviously, the saga of the "City Boots" conspiracy continues with the publication of the news article in Today's Sunday Freeman.
First off, the only "entitlement" to any type of an annual uniform allowance specified in a collective bargaining agreement between a union and a municipality should ONLY be granted to UNIFORMED EMPLOYEES such as police, fire, and DPW. This is common sense which I see a lack of in this instance perpetuated by several parties.
In so far as greed and self-serving interests: this seems to run rampant in Both major political parties amongst office holders-- not just merely confined to one jurisdiction alone.
No, the ladies were free to buy nice sneakers. Did the check come from the sewer fund? Nice of Jimbo to spend the money in Saugerties. Buy local? Practice what you preach.More hidden money secrets to follow.
to 9:49 - if Jeremy's displeasure with Cruella DiBella was limited to her support of Bradley, I might agree with you. But, it isn't just Jeremy who is displeased; I've spoken with many who have no use for her. She's simply not a nice person and can't be trusted - it's more than her support for Bradley - it's what she did to Dave Donaldson and what she tried to do to Bill Reynolds. She has proven, repeatedly, that it's all about herself and her lust for power. She does not have her community's best interests at heart - she's a snob and a backstabber. It's too bad the city Republicans are in such disarray - if they could put up someone other than Jean Jacobs, Cruella would be sent packing.
I tend to agree with 1:53pm about the type of boots that the City Hall "clerks" bought.
I would bet that many of them bought trendy boots.
More importantly, *if* the City offered vision exams twice a year to employees, I have to wonder how many take advantage of it especially if they feel their eyes are not any worse off. My point here, folks, is that most employees do NOT take FULL advantage of every benefit offered. Common sense prevails with most employees.
What we have witnessed is pettiness that extends from the top down. What a complete waste of taxpayer dollars.
Just another black eye on Kingston.
Dibella kisses the mayor's ass whenever he want's something. there has got to be something going on with the two of them.
9:26 - you're very observant - if you only knew....
Yo 8:13pm.
Your logic is sound if you were talking about a business. But this is local City government where its everyone for themselves.
3% of $30k is only $900 for a yearly raise. Add on the boots for an even C note and now you are talking about a raise of $1k.
Hoe-dee-Hoe
Jeremy, please reveal who on the Council will be voting against the boots?
What I just do not understand is how the Mayor was reimbursed so quickly and rank-n-file members have not.
Who approves the Mayor's expenses?
Simply put, there needs to be executive oversight on expenses.
Hey 10:11
There is no accountability when it comes to the Mayor. The Mayor does what he wants and gets away with it.
Buying boots for himself and charging back the City for them is not the move of a fiscal conservative. Its a move by a liberal who now does not care about the taxpayers because it is not an election year.
Hey last poster - were you talking about the Mayor and/or President Bush Jr. in the 1st Paragraph?
As the feminists say, "The personal is political..."
And I'd say that the citizens of this City, County, State and nation are getting "stomped" on all over the place...
Move over Bill Gates...
Smart (but sadistic?) investors are probably BUYING bigger shares in the boot business by now...
Which will come in handy, also, for the 3rd world populous that appears to be our collective future...(Will YOU be a King, a queen, a multimillionaire CEO, a military man/woman; a priest, minister or prophet --- or one of many, many, many slaves?????????)
Oh, silly me, there is only room for one King and Queen, right?
42 comments on boots. At least it beats the running commentary on the other Journal political blogs. You can't illicit a response over there no matter how much you push their buttons. Deadsville.
maybe he needed these boots to wade through the load of crap he keeps handing us. i voted for cahill
When I first read it I thought you said that he wanted us to pay for his booze? Someone should tell him that you don't need boots sitting at the Cozy.
most csea employees don't even take advantage of the dental plan I mean come on let's get those Yuk Mouths Fixed If your not gonna use the plan then give the money back to the taxpayers.
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