Desperation in Albany


By DIA, Section News
Posted on Thu Aug 07, 2008 at 05:02:55 AM EST

After 15 years of Mayor Jennings as your CEO, we are treated to this.
City Comptroller Thomas Nitido was more blunt: "The city was confronting some very significant financial problems before the loss of this money -- what was a pretty sad situation is becoming a desperate one"
Desperation in Albany. Brought to you by the irresponsible economic policies of Jerry Jennings (maybe if he hadn't endorsed all those Republicans we would've gotten this aid from a democratic governor. So it goes.)

I spent the last four years trying to warn people. It was clear as day if you knew what you were doing. Less than a year ago Mayor Jennings told us he gave the people of Albany a "responsible budget". He was wrong. Again.

In other news Schenectady didn't get any aid either. But since they have a competent mayor and a balanced budget, they are doing just fine.

Note to Albanians: Get yourself a competent mayor. And save up for those taxes.

Update [2008-8-7 5:57:16 by DIA]: I forgot to mention that the mayor gave himself another raise this past year. Apparently those raises aren't based on job performance.

Update [2008-8-7 6:50:20 by DIA]: Here are the numbers, from an email that Richard Conti sent out to his people.
The City's multi-year financial plan, as submitted to the NYS Division of the Budget on February 6, 2008, projects an operating deficit of approximately $14.9 million for 2009 and $20.4 million in 2010. To put it another way, if these deficits were to be funded by property tax revenue it would require a 30% increase in the property tax levy for 2009 and an additional 32% property tax levy increase in 2010. That's an unacceptable option and certainly not a burden that Albany property tax payers can sustain.
I would like to point out that the existing PILOT payments decrease by $8 million in 2011. So, that number for 2011 looks to be about $28 million in the red.

If I'm reading Conti's email correctly that is back to back 30% tax increases and that doesn't include our 2011 problem. If you do the math that means your tax bill would be increasing.....oh, shit....anyone want to buy a house?

Update [2008-8-7 7:39:24 by DIA]: I guess we can assume that we won't be wasting money on a money losing convention center. At least one long term benefit of Jennings' incompetence is we won't have to be saddled with that money losing project for the next 20 years.

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Desperation in Albany | 16 comments (16 topical, 0 hidden)
Contest??? (none / 0) (#1)
by makome on Thu Aug 07, 2008 at 06:20:05 AM EST
Ok, what does everyone think about what gets cut out of Albany's services first.

My guess:  
Community Centers
Library Improvements

How about the things that should be cut but won't be touched?  

My guess:
Golf course
City official's transportation (Jerry's SUV)
Jerry's 2008 raise

Any other thoughts here???

The lucky winner gets reduced municipal services and a higher tax bill!!!  YIPPPEEEEE!!!

library (none / 0) (#2)
by DIA on Thu Aug 07, 2008 at 06:32:04 AM EST
library budget is seperate from the city budget.

[ Parent ]
Why? (none / 0) (#3)
by makome on Thu Aug 07, 2008 at 06:40:05 AM EST
why is the library budget separate from the city's budget?  Part of State Library system or something?  

[ Parent ]
check your tax bill (none / 0) (#4)
by DIA on Thu Aug 07, 2008 at 06:43:08 AM EST
its a seperate line item.

Once you see it, you'll be inspired to go borrow some books.

[ Parent ]

Untouchable (none / 0) (#5)
by TerryONeillEsq on Thu Aug 07, 2008 at 06:47:17 AM EST
Our libraries are an incredibly important resource for working class Albanians.  

[ Parent ]
Not sayin' they aren't (none / 0) (#6)
by makome on Thu Aug 07, 2008 at 07:21:48 AM EST
but when push comes to shove and Jerry is forced to choose between 30% a year tax increases and finding a way to cut things that don't really "matter" to him my guess is he'll pull some Jerry "magic" and slide that money into the general fund...unless prohibited by law...oh that's right, Jerry makes the laws 'round here!!

[ Parent ]
He has nothing to say about it (none / 0) (#14)
by Tom Paine on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 06:02:41 AM EST
The Library is a separate entity with its own budget.

[ Parent ]
Realistically, what are the choices here? (none / 0) (#7)
by makome on Thu Aug 07, 2008 at 10:47:13 AM EST
I mean really, what choices do we have here? We can all bitch and moan about the tax increases we are going to see, the services that are going to be cut, etc.  But will this news force Jerry to actually put forth a plan that addresses at least some of the deficit?  Will he at least do a dog and pony show to demonstrate some bullshit window dressing cuts to show us all how he can be fiscally "responsible" too, if pushed?   Will there be applied pressure from the local media to at least make a show for the people?  It should make for interesting news in coming weeks/months, but I guess I have to see it before I believe it.  

our choice (none / 0) (#8)
by DIA on Thu Aug 07, 2008 at 12:59:09 PM EST
is to find a competent replacement for Jennings.    

I doubt he will run in 09..  When trying to scare people into approving the landfill expansion he said that without the landfill money we would have to layoff a third of the staff or raise taxes 30%.  I believe the direct quote was "if that happens, no one will want to be mayor of this city".

I expect Jennings will blame some other people and then not run for re-election now that Paterson is playing hardball.    

No convention center.   No easy money and endless budget increases.    Why would he stay?    


[ Parent ]

This is obviously not good news (none / 0) (#9)
by devtob 53 on Thu Aug 07, 2008 at 05:47:00 PM EST
for Albany residents, except for this part -- it practically guarantees that Jennings will pack it in next year.

The next mayor will have his/her hands full dealing with the fiscal mess Jennings will leave behind.

But he/she cannot possibly be worse than Jennings.
The Democrats are the party of the people.

Skeptical about the city's residents... (none / 0) (#10)
by makome on Thu Aug 07, 2008 at 07:49:25 PM EST
and their ability to stay interested long enough to make a difference.

Well, if the machine finds a replacement for Jerry then we won't be in much better shape will we?  The real test will be the Dem mayoral primary next year.  There has to be a real push to get answers out of the candidates rather than the typical political "make us all feel good" bullshit.  That will take a "real" media and real constituents to ask tough questions when these candidates make appearances or do their door-to-door shtick. Does Albany have the willpower and perseverance to elect someone that will do the right thing in this city?  Given that they have re-elected Jerry what, 4 times, I have my doubts.  

[ Parent ]

The Machine.. (none / 0) (#11)
by HannibalSmith on Thu Aug 07, 2008 at 11:45:58 PM EST
..has demonstrated it's lack of effectiveness for the past 10-15 years in getting their people elected. Jerry is one of the last real bullies left and without his Soprano-wannabe threats and positioning, that leaves the door open for a genuine candidate or candidates with dedicated and not scared supporters hitting the streets. If I'm not wrong, it's exciting. If this is true, the days of fear and intimidation are over. Can anyone imagine Shawn Morris or someone else threatening to castrate fools if they don't fall in line? That's not hard to imagine if your talking about someone like Jim Tuffey. Scary  thought if Jerry wants to turn Kingmaker and in one last act of desperate control tries to get his buddy Jim in there. Even if he does coerce the city contigent of the County committee to nominate someone like him, he's got too much baggage to get elected. Who do we see running in '09? Who do we want to see in there?
"I love it when a plan comes together.."
You're not wrong (none / 0) (#15)
by Tom Paine on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 06:04:18 AM EST
There is enormous pent-up energy waiting to be released on this issue.

[ Parent ]
let the blaming begin (none / 0) (#12)
by DIA on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 05:44:15 AM EST
As I predicted yesterday, Jennings will blame others for the budget problems.   Hopefully the voting population isn't that dumb.   Remember last year during the budget process when Calsolaro said we needed to cut spending and the mayor called him "crazy"?

Anyway, the beginning of Jerry's blame game.


The mayor noted that Albany receives less funding than other major cities throughout the state. He blamed the city deficit on rising costs for health insurance, salaries, utilities and gasoline.

Let me note that all of these things were known for years.   And let me also play the blame game.    If you say you are the CEO of the city, like Jennings does, and you can't prepare for what might happen 6 months down the road, you are a piss poor CEO.  

A good CEO would take steps to prepare for what was coming (Exhibit A:  Governor Paterson).

There is plenty of blame to go around for this situation.   It all rests squarely on Jennings and the members of the council who kept rubber stamping his budgets.   Remember when the head of the budget committee said they did "due diligence" in reviewing the budget last year?     I think he owes us an apology.    

No Apology (none / 0) (#13)
by A Muse on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 02:02:17 PM EST
No apology will come from Jennings and I think the voters got what they wanted although they did not deserve what will happen as a consequence of their poor decision to elect him over and over.  They trusted the wrong people.

Maybe if the voters had actually completed high school raising the standard of educated voters in Albany things might be different.  Jennings helped Albany voters become dumb.  

The layoffs will continue to take place and are good for business.  They can pick and chose the best workers and dump the rest.  It may be a good time to start or expand a business.  A good time for Albany to get rid of the non-productive workers and hire those those are educated and will give a 100% in their job.  It is time for the State and Cities to require a 40-hour workweek Mr. Patterson.  That is the trade for not increasing the cost of health benefits for State employees.  Someone please tell him and the unions to do this.  It is a win win for both the union members and State.  

Yes a CEO of a Corporation would have a yearly, 5 and 10 year or longer plan for the company.  I just frankly can't understand how it is that Albany even functions.  I have seen a lot of do nothing City of Albany workers getting paid for work that could be done by 40 hr week employees in half the time.  The competition for employment will become difficult for the rest of our lifetime and that of our children and grandchildren.  Albany is in a pit and no one seems to be able to see the way out.  The competition for jobs will come not only from outside of Albany but outside of the United States.  Employees will be required to do more for less.  That is the future and Albany is not prepared.  Each day Jennings is in office makes it more difficult and more unlikely to find anyone with the quality and experience necessary for the position.  It is very likely that anyone with common sense might just walk after 2 years.

You can't blame just Mr. Jennings for all the woes of the City.  There are the Department heads cut from the same cloth and the Common Counsel over many years that allowed the City to deteriorate.  And, there is the School Board and it's head.  If the School Board is not going to commit to a goal of graduating either through the normal school process or GED and work and study programs outside of the classroom then they should all resign or be removed.  The parents who voted deserve some blame as well.  Maybe the most.

City Assistance (none / 0) (#16)
by A Muse on Wed Aug 13, 2008 at 01:47:53 PM EST
DIA, at first you criticize Jennings for going after "welfare from the State" and on the other hand you criticize Jennings for supporting the Republicans which is why Albany did not get full funding from the State.  I hope Patterson is neither a Republican or Democrat when it comes to supporting areas in need like Albany.  I am a bit confused by your comments.

I truly believe that the days of the Platform Candidate are gone and it is why we need a national third party within the election system.  As things stand now we have done what needed to be done and have our President and Vice President based on the electoral results.  One is a Republican and one is a Democrat.  It would save the taxpayers a LOT of money and having to listen to a lot of name calling over the next year.  Of course this would put a lot of people and companies out of business, but it would be good for America, taxpayers,and others who live here.

Desperation in Albany | 16 comments (16 topical, 0 hidden)
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