A Fair and Balanced look at Ulster County Politics. Got a tip? E-mail the Blaber Tip Line : jeremyblaber@yahoo.com
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Julian and Democrats' next two years
Saturday, September 25, 2010
ATTORNEY GENERAL nominee ERIC SCHNEIDERMAN @ Garlic Fest
Friday, September 24, 2010
WOW, Are you kidding me?
Holly Carnright put out a letter the editor blasting the NFL for an internal policy decision that was made regarding an NFL employee that had been charged with drunk driving...here is the letter.
DA Carnright to the NFL: Get It Straight
WRONG.
Braylon Edwards, the Jets wide receiver gets arrested for DWI, .16 (BAC), and the NFL says "this is a violation of their substance abuse policy".
WRONG.
It is a crime. Driving While Intoxicated is a crime. An organization that has as much influence on our young people as the NFL should get it straight. D. Holley Carnright
Ulster County District Attorney
Peter Rooney
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Sottile Bombshell: If I don't run I'm supporting Hayes Clement
What a huge blow to his Alderman at Large Jim Noble who has stood firmly behind Mayor Sottile's side through everything. However it probably will do more harm for Clement than good. I doubt Hayes or Noble want or will seek the unpopular Mayor's support if they run next year.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Congratulations to Senator Eric Schniederman, NYS's next Attorney General. While he was not my first or even second choice for AG, my party has spoken and I fully support Eric Schniederman. I have always been a supporter of the Senator's stellar record as a state lawmaker and am confident he will make a fine attorney general. I commend Eric Dinallo for running a great campaign, he is a man I have the utmost respect for and is all class.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Monday, September 13, 2010
2010 Primaries
Republican Governor : Carl Paladino
Democrat US Senate: Kirsten Gilibrand
Republican US Senate: Joe DioGuardi
Republican US Senate: Jay Townsend
Democrat NYS Attorney General: Eric Dinallo
Independence City of Kingston Judge: Larry Ball
Conservative City of Kingston Judge: Larry Ball
Democrat New Paltz district 7 Committee : Dan Torres and Toni Hokenson
Hein Looks To Prevent Job Cuts in 2011 Budget
Counties across the region are preparing their 2011 budgets to be presented in the next several weeks. The financial problems facing all of them in the last few years, including fewer revenues, more charges and fees and unfunded mandates from Albany, have left counties in rough times.
In Ulster County last year, county officials enacted employee layoffs to help balance the spending plan.
County Executive Michael Hein said he does not want to place anymore of a burden on county residents.
“Taxpayers simply cannot afford major tax increases. We need to make significant transformations in government,” he said. “Government can’t just whittle around the edges. Government has to actually make significant changes. The American family, they know that tough decisions are needed because they make them every single day and that’s something government has to learn to do.”
Hein said he hopes there will be no need for layoffs this year. He will present his proposed budget to the county legislature in about a month.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Assemblyman Cahill's Picnic In The Park!!!
This Sunday!!! September 12th, 2010 1:00- 5:00 PM Upper Hasbrouck Park , Overlooking the Majestic Hudson River! This is always a really great event and I encourage everyone to attend.
Here and There
Sorry to see Kingston Public Access is off the air, again! It was only a matter of time though. That commission is a complete mess with a clear agenda. Whether I agree with certain shows on that station, throwing away a 6 municipality live tv station is a huge blow to free speech.
So Mario has decided to pull out of the race for Chair for a second time. Rumor has it Robin Yess was not backing out for him and has secured the support of Al Spada. The era of good ol' boy politics ended with Mike Hein, Elliott Auerbach and other great electeds that stood up and said, you know, we are here to serve the people not ourselves. There are a few people that apparently have not gotten that message.
County Exec Hein Takes Wadnola To Task On RRA
- County Executive Mike Hein
Ulster Legislative Chairman Fred Wadnola was taking to task by County Executive Mike Hein today after Wadnola falsely misrepresenting the facts of Auerbach's latest audit that was critical of the county legislature's handling of the RRA. Here is a link to the Freeman Article: Freeman
Here is some of the exchange between Comptroller Auerbach, Executive Hein and Leg. Chairman Wadnola:
Wadnola contended that Auerbach issued the report after taking “marching orders” from County Executive Michael Hein, who, like Auerbach, is a Democrat.
Auerbach responded that the report was intended to “look out for the interest of the taxpayers in Ulster County.
“So that’s who I take my ‘marching orders’ from, and there must be a disconnect because the (county) charter specifically talks to the role of the comptroller in the new county form of government and addressing its efficiency and effectiveness — that is really our charge.”
Hein said it was “very sad” that Wadnola, a former Ulster County Resource Recovery Agency board member, has “decided to play politics when there are so many incredibly important issues” that have not by addressed by the Legislature.
“This is an attempt by Wadnola to deflect from his involvement in the RRA as well as cover up the fact that under his leadership in the Legislature, they have accomplished virtually nothing,” Hein said.
“Fred Wadnola is doing a disservice to his constituents and the entire Legislature by willfully misrepresenting the facts,” Hein said. “That’s unfortunate because he knows well as a former board member of the RRA that the direct (comptroller’s) report is to the Legislature.”
Catalano Endorses Paladino for Governor
Ulster County Republican Chair Mario Catalano and the Ulster County Republican committee have officially endorsed Carl Paladino for Governor over party favorite Rick Lazio. Wow!
Thursday, September 09, 2010
2011 DA POLL: Sennett Would Crush Carnright
This is no surprise, Carnright won due to a three way race which split the vote between Sennett and Vince Bradley. Since Carnright has been in office there have been countless blunders and an overall failure by Holly to establish himself as the DA, and not the guy that sits behind Don Williams' old desk.
Thursday, September 02, 2010
Catalano Changes Mind?
Come Celebrate Ulster County and Support Our Executive Mike Hein!!!
Come out and support Ulster County Executive Mike Hein. I know there are a ton of fundraisers and times are tough but it's really important that we reelect our Democratic County Executive Mike Hein next year. Unfortunitly running countywide is very costly and it takes a lot of money to win these campaigns. So if you can make it please try to attend.
- Jeremy Blaber
Time: September 21 · 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Location: Hillside Manor, Route 32 South of Kingston
We will be keeping it local with farm fresh fare from Ulster County.
Donation $75.00 per person.
Checks made payable to:...Friends of Mike Hein
PO Box 3005Kingston, NY 12402
Please contact Mikeheinforexec@gmail.com to reserve your ticket
poll results
Here and There
Eric Dinallo was very impressive in his debate in Albany yesterday on WAMC, he was clearly head and shoulders above the other candidates, I really hope Democrats come out and support Eric Dinallo who has all the right qualifications and experience to be our next AG. I will say before the debate Assemblyman Richard Brodsky got up unexpectedly and started playing the piano at the theater where the debate was held, I must say he was good, I like Brodsky he is a good guy.
Alderwoman Jen Fuentes and CSEA put on a great community event last weekend, it was really well attended and they both deserve a lot of credit and kudos.
Wednesday, September 01, 2010
Could Ron Polacco Be The Next Mayor Of The City Of Kingston?
While many under estimate the young two term Alderman, I don't and anyone that does is really mistaken. Ron Polacco has very similar qualities to T.R. Gallo as a young charismatic Alderman that came out of no where and took over a city that was desperate for new fresh leadership.
Ron Polacco is gaining support, he recently assisted KPD in a huge drug sweep that netted more than 18 arrests and has been active and about at all city functions and events throughout the city. In my opinion he easily will be the Republican nominee for mayor and I have it on top sources he's in the race and in it to win. He will likely have to face a primary from former Alderman Rich Cahill and possibly from Minority Leader Andi Turco Levin, both he will defeat.
In a general election it gets tricky, Polacco has to overcome a huge Democratic enrollment advantage in the city but the 6th Ward Alderman has been a fairly moderate voice which will appeal to independent voters and some Democrats that are feed up with Jim Sottile. Put it this way if Jim Sottile is the nominee for mayor, Polacco will win by almost 1000 votes.
Can he beat someone like Jim Noble or Hayes Clement, well that remains to be seen. Lets not forget that he did beat the very popular Elisa Ball last year, who's a great lady and would have been a terrific Alderman..so he has proven he is not to be underestimated and in this political climate Mayor Ron Polacco is at the very least a good possibility.
Auerbach Watching Our Backs!
Auerbach released a report on what he calls a “laissez faire approach” to the UCRRA by lawmakers even though the county has been paying net service fees as a result of a 1992 agreement.
“We think it is an opportunity for the legislature to look back at the initial agreement and amend it,” he said. “We are also concerned of what the future is going to hold and we see there may be some dramatic changes to the industry going forward and how is that going to impact the county and the cost they are providing to Ulster Resource Recovery Agency to make up the shortfall?”
Legislature Chairman Fred Wadnola was surprised at the report, saying he thought the RRA was functioning well.
“The net service fee has been reduced, I believe, over the last three or four years and I think everything was going well there,” he said. “The executive director meets with the Environmental Committee on a monthly basis, and since January, he’s been doing it on a quarterly basis. I have to investigate the report and review what the comptroller has stated.”
Auerbach’s report found that since 1992, the county has covered between 10 percent and 50 percent of UCRRA’s annual operating expenses; the county has not employed its contractual powers to monitor the fees; the county has not practiced due diligence to ensure the UCRRA complies with its contractual obligations; and under the status quo the agency will not be able to meet its obligations in the future without continued, annual net service fees from the county.
Primary Vote
FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL THERE IS A DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY VOTE FOR ERIC DINALLO