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Democracy in Albany is a site focused on Albany and New York politics featuring regular rants by the moderator.
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Albany Blogging Round Up


By DIA, Section News
Posted on Tue Jan 06, 2009 at 08:35:37 AM EST

Some new voices join the Albany blogosfear. I have to warn them that if they seek fame and fortune, they should know that The Albany Eye will continue to win the best local blogger for years to come. They are were that good.

First up, looks like Jerry has even lost the Republicans. Ouch. From Chichester Said So comes a top quality rant. Another example of why I don't really care much about what party you are in when it comes to local politics. We may not agree on foreign policy but we can both agree that roving bands of criminal teens on bikes are a bad thing. And that Jennings is at fault.
Dear Mayor Jerry Jennings,

It's your fault.

It's your fault Albany is plummeting into decay and decline. You have led my city for 15 years. And failed. Miserably.

Whether it's law enforcement, economic policies or quality of life, you have presided over a public policy calamity.
And he is just getting warmed up. Read the whole thing.

Next up, Albany Citizen One. This good citizen attends common council meetings. Apparently on a regular basis. For that, they deserve much credit. Public access TV coming to Albany? So sez ACO.

And a new publication about Albany called Capital Flip. Full disclosure: The Capital Flip is currently publishing some of my rantings. The Times Union's offer for me to replace Lebrun apparently got lost in the mail so I went with the Flip.

(3 comments) Comments >>

Floral School Dropout


By DIA, Section News
Posted on Tue Jan 06, 2009 at 04:57:04 AM EST

Chip off of the old block
''She was registered as a student from September 1980 to Nov. 13, 1980, in the flora-culture program,'' said Holly Cargill-Cramer, SUNY Cobleskill's director of communications and public affairs.


(1 comment) Comments >>

The Bruno Family Tales


By DIA, Section News
Posted on Sun Jan 04, 2009 at 09:42:52 AM EST

This is another gem. Apparently Bruno's kid didn't have to show up at the office to get her $84K a year.
Associates of Susan Bruno say privately that during the past five years, she seldom appeared at the office — perhaps once a month, according to one person — and that she was allowed the unusual arrangement of working from her home.

Her long absences from foundation offices at the corner of State Street and Broadway led staffers to use her private office for meetings, according to those who have worked with her.

Susan Bruno did not respond to requests for comment made through the foundation.
And this is just funny.
The position requires a "bachelor's degree or equivalent," according to a job description provided by the Research Foundation. Bruno's resume, turned over to the Times Union under a Freedom of Information Law request, states she attended SUNY Cobleskill for "two full years of college courses" and also holds an "NYS Real Estate License." There are no dates listed for either entry in the document.
Not bad pay for someone who only has a real estate license and no college. Ok, she actually doesn't even have the real estate license. Nice job of parenting there, Joe. Good to see you taught your kids the value of education.
The FBI's inquiry has been broad. Recently, investigators have displayed an interest in CMA Consulting in Latham, the company Joseph Bruno joined as CEO after quitting the Senate, according to a grand jury witness. CMA, with tens of millions of dollars in state contracts, has had a long-standing business relationship with the Research Foundation, which has paid the firm more than $1.5 million.
Quite the criminal empire. I'm sure glad I didn't spend a lot of my career doing deals with Bruno or I might be a little concerned that someone in this investigation might decide to get chatty. And then if I was also friends with John Sweeney, Bill Powers and Tom Spargo I might have to have an extra scotch or two to drift off to sleep at night. You find out who your real friends are when they are all facing federal indictments.

Makes one wonder about how that illegal machine gun investigation went away, doesn't it? All the evidence was there. No one disputes that. And we even have a source saying that the investigation wasn't pursued because of the political problems it would cause.

"If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything." Mark Twain

(5 comments) Comments >>

Albany Local Development Corporation


By DIA, Section News
Posted on Sat Jan 03, 2009 at 10:28:40 AM EST

I like to pretend to know everything. It is an act. Here is a legitimate question that for which I hope someone else has an answer. Today the TU refers to the ALDC like this:
This year, for the first time in the history of the city arts grants program, Albany had to partner with a private not-for-profit to help pay the awards.

The amount of the 2009 Albany City arts grants is about the same as last year, delivering $350,000 to 35 city-based groups. But this year, Albany brought in the Albany Local Development Corporation, which contributed $150,000 of the $350,000 total
A private not-for-profit. What isn't clear to me is how a private not-for-profit is run by this guy:
"The arts and these venues are very important to bring in economic dollars from outside the city," said ALDC President Mike Yevoli. "It's very much a part of our mission, so when we found out the city wasn't able to keep the commitment, we jumped on the opportunity to help."
You might know Mike Yevoli from his day job. I will avoid any editorial commentary and just refer to him as the Commissioner of Planning for the City of Albany. How is is that he runs a private not for profit as well?

Anyone? Where does the ALDC get it's money?

(4 comments) Comments >>

LTE at the Gazette


By DIA, Section News
Posted on Fri Jan 02, 2009 at 12:59:30 PM EST

And I thought they loved Mayor Jerry up in Saratoga.
Regarding Michael H. Brown’s Dec. 27 letter about Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings replacing Sen. Hillary Clinton: Mr. Brown is clearly misinformed or merely one of Jennings' cronies.

Mayor Jennings has run the city of Albany just as he ran Albany High School when he was principal many years ago — badly, very badly. Albany is an embarrassment to everyone in New York state. Anyone would be a better replacement than Jerry Jennings.

Nancy Muldoon
Saratoga Springs

(3 comments) Comments >>

Con Center Update


By DIA, Section News
Posted on Fri Jan 02, 2009 at 09:59:31 AM EST

Well, at least this is $1 million of money we won't be wasting.
A proposed convention center in downtown Albany lost a critical source of funding as of Jan. 1, but hotel and motel guests in Albany County will benefit in the short run.

Albany County’s hotel occupancy tax dropped from 6 percent to 3 percent because the state Legislature did not act on a request from county lawmakers to continue charging the full 6 percent.

(1 comment) Comments >>

Happy New Year


By DIA, Section News
Posted on Thu Jan 01, 2009 at 05:59:12 AM EST

Wanted: Intelligent people with 10 hours a month available for discussion.

Pay: $20,000 a year

Benefits: Health insurance, full time pension, all that good stuff, free mailings.

Work Requirements: none. But you might want to occasionally wake up by 5 PM and show up at a meeting. This isn't "required" but more like "suggested".

If you would like to apply for this job, run for common council. Odds are the person you would challenge would amuse you. But you don't know who that person is. And so they keep taking you tax dollars, showing up drunk to work, and will have a fat pension thanks to YOU.

(3 comments) Comments >>

A Holiday Story


By DIA, Section News
Posted on Wed Dec 31, 2008 at 06:29:02 AM EST

Van Riper has a good piece on some positive things happening in his neigbhorhood. Like me, Van Riper likes to give credit where credit is due and he has some positive things to say about the mayor. He also relates a story that the mayor told him at this event. Here is a bit, make sure to go read the whole thing.
What happened next is that The Mayor decided to tell me a little story. Also present fror this extraordinary tale was Pastor David Traynham of the nearby New Horizons Christian Church on Catherine Street, our neighborhood church. Here’s the story as best I remember it.

My first year teaching (said The Mayor) at Albany High, I was a young guy in my twenties, teaching history. I was alone in the room after class let out, when in comes Rocco So-and-So, the toughest kid in the school. (You remember Rocco? “I sure do,” said Pastor Traynham.)

I was standing by my desk, and Rocco comes up to me and gets this close, and he says to me, “This is MY school, and the sooner you learn that the better for you.” (Or something like that.)

Well (said The Mayor of the capital of New York State,) I had one of those big history books on my desk. I put my hand on it, slid it fast across the desk and hard into his gut and he doubled over. I then grabbed the back of his head and slammed his face into the desk.

“Your school, huh.” said The Mayor. “I’ll show you whose school this is. After that, Rocco became my chief enforcer.”
I like this story. It works on many levels and explains pretty much everything you need to know about how the city of Albany is managed. Should be an interesting campaign season.

PS. Not being an educational expert, can anyone explain to me why exactly a history teacher needs a "chief enforcer"?

(9 comments) Comments >>

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