Give Gallo credit for running the best primary campaign. Crushed by Clement at the Democratic convention, with the party apparatus working for the nominee, and cash-starved — rumor had it those “Gallo for Mayor” lawn signs were leftovers from late brother T.R. Gallo’s three mayoral campaigns — Gallo made a race that had Clement chewing his nails.
And it’s not over, officially.
- Hugh Reynolds
Hugh Reynolds hit it on the head in his column this week, Gallo did run the best primary and the end result hopefully will be him being the Democratic nominee next week. For the record, T.R.'s signs always said Gallo for Mayor and Sottile for Alderman at Large...there were no old T.R. signs out there. I honestly would love to have one if they still exist.
35 comments:
I can't figure it out, Democrats have run the city of Kingston into the ground, it has become a slum, crime ridden and delapodated with no prospect for recovery. Isn't it time the residents of Kingston, the home owners, businessmen insisted government change direction. Now, Sottile talks about cancelling the trash service, so 30 more good jobs will leave the city because no one has the courage to confront the real issue in our town, (and county for that matter), union contracts are no longer sustainable, will union workers continue to insist on the status quo while their rolls decrease by attrition at best and layoffs at worst.
It is a real problem and more so since the tax rolls of the city are being depleted by such excesses and the current economy.
811 No way trash will be stopped under Gallo's watch, rest assured of that. Honestly, not sure of any candidate in the mix that will allow that.
Jeremy, you're right about the lawn signs. I heard the rumor too, and thought it was hysterical. TR Gallo NEVER ran by himself. He always had a running mate...it was Gallo-Noble. Anyone who started that rumor either must not have lived in the city for very long or has a very short memory.
The issue simply put-contracts are poorly negotiated-approved uniformly by the council who fear not being endorsed-some than vote against the budget after voting for the major components.A mayor must bring the city to bankruptcy so that contracts can be voided;a similar tact must be used in the school district .
JB, I will give Gallo credit he was outspent and tagged with an unpopular mayor. I was sure Gallo was going down by a big margin, look at Rich Cahill it was an election of change. Win or lose you guys should be proud of the results but are you proud of the tactic? You were very mean to a lot of people JB, if you win or lose you owe Hayes an apology.
Owe Hayes an apology for what?
If anyone owes an apology, it is Hayes. From the beginning his campaign smeared, lied and misrepresented Shayne's record and lied about his own record. So please tell, what should Shayne apologize for? Who was his campaign mean to?
With no money,no party support and an opponent who smiled while using dirty tactics at every opportunity,Shayne very well may be the nominee by the end of the week, and then he can run the city without owing anything to anyone in the party. Isn't that what we all want? Someone who will make decisions based on what's right, not which friend will benefit.
Let's also remember, if Shayne had promised the jobs and favors to the committee folks who tried to sell their votes, he would have been the "endorsed" candidate coming out of the convention.
8:11 Two years ago CSEA members were screaming to open up the contract to save jobs. Robins hid behind Donahue and would not allow it. He can't do that this year the contract is up, and he has to negotiate in good faith.
HEY !!
Saw you, Jeremy, on ch. 23 in New Paltz Public Access @ the Republican Caucus ?
You changing sides ??
or did you know what was coming ?
Nasty business that caucus,, Savago is a disgace,, or dizgrazia as he would say.
7:51 Everyone knows that Robins does nothing unless Ashdown tells him to. Robins is nothing more than Ashdowns puppet.
7;51, you are right about Bart Robins, he did hide behind Donahue last year with not opening up contract to prevent layoffs. He is a lame duck president and will never be voted in again. But the damage is already done, the union has absorbed the layoffs and taken the hits, so while they are negotiating this year, dont expect the CSEA to give back a whole lot.Especially with their Health benefits, it is all they have since they're wage is not a very high one. They are the employees that make the least amount of money of the three unions that work for the city. It is time now for the fire department and their bloated contract to start giving back and absorbing some hits. The council has to grow some cojones and stand up to the fire dept.
two days later and still waiting for anyone to clarify what he or she thinks Shayne has to apologize for or to say what he did that was so mean . . .
8:09 The average CSEA member makes about $20.00 an hour. Not bad for picking up garbage, or sitting around answering a phone. They are the least paid, but are still compensated very well. Most people would love to make that kind of money. Add the benfit package and its up to $30 an hour.
Nice work if you can get it.
7:15, you are a wrong about that, Ashdown and the majority of shop stewards have distanced themselves from Robins; Ashdown called Bart out in a series of blistering emails on the upcoming negotiations regarding health benefits. Ashdown is pushing to keep Health benefits intact as they are for the membership, Robins is waffling. Most of the shop stewards are aligned with Ashdown. Bart Robins is on his own from here on out. In a year and a half, Robins will be history.
Our party has two city rock stars right now Gallo and Hayes. If Gallo pulls this out, he has to give Hayes the respect he deserves and vice versa. We have to now recognize both Gallo and Clement as leaders of our party.
5:26,
It was NEVER Gallo-Noble. It was always Gallo-Sottile. Noble only became Alderman at Large after T.R.'s death.
You are correct though that Gallo never had signs for Mayor with just his name on it.
Shayne did use his brother's campaign slogan "Working for You".
Shane Gallo will be the next mayor if he wins the primary after absentees are counted. The voter registration advantage will go the Dem candidate.
Ashdown is the true leader of CSEA. In a year and half he will be elected president. I hope Ashdown is right about negotiations. If Robins comes back with a deal the membership will have to vote on it. Two years ago the majority wanted to give up raises and take furlough days.
A lot will depend on the budget. If it contains CSEA members being laid off look for the membership to give up the farm.
Nobody in CSEA wants any part of Robins or Ashdown. Both have done harm. Ashdown is always on the front page and the members hate it. Robins is only in it for himself.
Neither would be around if Joe Kivlin didn't drop out of the presidents race. The members sent them all packing in an unpresidented loss. No one on there ticket even got 10% of the vote. I don't care how much distance the shop stewards place between themselves and Robins. Any of them run and they will be crushed again.
Jeremy how can you be involved in so many races that involve recounts? What is your win record in recounts?!?
I guess you wont post my question as to what Hugh Reynolds knows about who's run the best primary, once again, Hugh knows a lot about beer, why not ask him about somethng hie knows, why task him with such difficulties as who should be mayor, who's campaign is a success and who has the best shot at winning in November, just ask him which beer has the most alcohol content or whether or not he's still spiking it with rubbing alcohol.
Come on JB, get real!
5:36, Ashdown doesnt WANT to be president, I speak to him all of the time. Troy is much more than a union rep. He has close ties with both republican and democratic politicians. Union President is a thankless job with no pay. Bart Robins has an executive board that is benign and virtually harmless. You can say what you want about Troy, but without a doubt he has cast iron balls and is not afraid to take on the front office for the very people that dont have the courage to speak up. There is no employee on the payroll that is more dangerous to the front office than him. When other unions came to support the Kingston unit in the past, they came because Ashdown called. Troy has cultivated relationships with union leaders within the Hudson Valley over the years. Joe Kivlin is a good guy, but he has a low I.Q. What does that say about the intelligence of the members if they ever considered supporting Kivlin?? Here is a final note, the year Ashdown and Manny Steele werent voted in was when the 14 laborers were laid off. When the fighting was going on at cityhall, Ashdown and Manny decided to let the members reap what they sowed since they didnt want them. At the end of the budget season 14 laborers were gone and Troy gave them what they wanted, silence on the front page. To date, those guys are laid off...
5:36---who will run for president of the union? Who has the backbone to take a chance? Who is willing to put a target on THEIR back the way Ashdown, Steele,Fagan,and yes Bart Robins did? George Williams is the current VP and is afraid of his own shadow. Dee Sills, the current secretary, is on the chopping block every budget for the last couple of years, how much is she going to speak out against unfairness on the job?
When the layoffs occurred the big question in the room during those council meetings was where is Ashdown? Where is Steele? How come they are not here fighting. ANSWER: you voted them out, fight for yourselves now! So much for that, fourteen guys were sent home to the unemployment line. Word to the wise, or should I say 5:36, becareful what you pray for.
625 I didn't post it because it was crazy, Hugh Reynolds has been covering city and county politics for over 30 years, I think he is qualified to give his opinion on the Kingston Mayor's race. Whether you agree with it or not is a different story. His opinion carries weight for me.
and 541: I am 2-0 on recount elections..
8:06 Nobody asked that question. Quit tooten your own horn. Management is not scared one bit of your tactics. You big bad union guys. Schupps got robins on the back of a garbage truck all day and if Ashdown ever has the balls to come back to work he'll be on the other side of that truck.
9:39, Robins is very comfortable on the garbage truck, it is his calling. LOL! Seriously, Ashdown asked to be on the "other side of the truck", but Schupp WOULDNT put him there! Nobody has ever questioned Ashdown's "balls." In fact, when Schupp meets with Troy, Schupp usually has 5 or 6 people in the room whereas Ashdown will come in alone or with Howard Baul, the L.R.S. for CSEA. As for tactics, who do you think orchestrated and organized the women of DPW and set up all press releases for maximum coverage taking Sottile and the city to court for the harrassment case that was WON in court? You got it, Troy Ashdown. Ashdown and the civil liberties attorney Michael Sussman are good friends. I have to say, Troy has taken the Sottile administration to "school" for years on a number of issues. It is a good thing to have a union representative that calls out the administration that has tried to cover up harrassment on the job, theft by high ranking dept heads, unworked overtime by dept heads that write their own time card out,stock piling of harmful chemicals to the workers, safety on the job,( something of which the Sottile administration cares nothing about). All these issues Troy Ashdown put on the front page news out into the light of day where it belongs for all to see, whether the workers or management liked it or not. That is what the Labor movement is all about, better working conditions on the job. Not sitting silently while dysfunction goes on within the administration and the workplace. If that is "tootin our own horn", well, we will keep on tootin!
If Hugh carries weight for you, JB, he must have a bad back too!
In all fairness to Bart Robins, he has worked hard as a union rep. for years too. It is a thankless job, and I agree with earlier posts that not many people have the courage to do it. He is Bart Rob, a good man at heart and has taken his lumps like a man. I wish him well! I wont hold it against him that he is a Giants fan,....go J-E-T-s !
901 : touche!!
And leave Troy Ashdown alone he's a good guy!!!
If Gallo and Hayes split, they will need Cahill to run on the Conservative line and keep that dunce Polacco out of the Mayor's Office.
Polacco will be trying to get Cahill out and the Gallo/Clement will be trying to keep him in. Ain't politics weird?
Remember - not Hayes nor Gallo nor Polacco spoke out on Kings Inn corruption - but Polacco voted against it at least - Turco did both.
6:18 AM - where do you get that the "average" CSEA worker earns $20/hour, $30 with benefits? Top laborers who've been there over 20 years only earn about $35K/year (without benefits). After 20 years, they still don't earn enough to support a family. Their pay is horribly low - and if that's top step, that's ABOVE average. You don't know what you're talking about - don't include foremen, supervisors, and assistant superintendents in your calculations. They're by no means rank and file. CSEA gets crapped on by the administration, and they're not sitting around like the firemen.
9:47 AM - how do you speak out "for" corruption? Remember, Shayne works for Sottile - he pretty much has to kiss his ring to keep the job, so he can't dis the mayor. Unless you're in a union, it's generally not a good idea to publicly criticize your boss. Actually, in this city, when your boss is an asshole, even being in a union doesn't protect you. Gallo couldn't have done anything about the asbestos removal cost overruns. Clement couldn't either, but as an elected official, he's more than welcome to criticize the administration.
9:14 The 2011 budget has a laborer making $37893.00. That eqates to $18.16 an hour. A payroll clerk $41236.00 is about $22.60 an hour. A mechanic is at $20.75. Nice work if you can get it.
Average benefit package Medical $18,528, Dental 1,062, and optical 231. Thats another $19,821.00 or about $9.50 an hour.
So we pay laborers almost $28.00 an hour. This does not include holidays, vacation, sick leave, longevity or personal time.
They are not exactly starving.
But by comparision to the police and fire it is pennies.
Wow 9:14 sounds like you're getting ripped off. That, or you just don't know what you are talking about. I think you don't know what you are talking about and are triing to BS everyone.
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