Even without a County Executive race, the upcoming election season figures to be as hot as the recent weather.
Political insiders can't remember a more crazy time in local politics. Primaries and Opportunity to Ballot races will litter the political landscape for town and county races from Saugerties to Kingston to Esopus to Rochester. Motives range from philosophical differences to outright hatred.
This year's races features:
* A multi-candidate Republican Primary for Kingston Mayor to determine if the most-electable of the lot, Andi Turco-Levin, can emerge victorious.
* A Democratic Primary for Kingston Mayor featuring the last remnants of the traditional Democratic machine (Gallo) vs. the new wave (Clements).
* Kooky Glenn Nooooonan, who previously branded himself "Mr. Republican," carrying Independence Party petitions for the Democratic candidate in Gardiner.
* Tony Russo, nominated by Democrats over incumbent Rich Parete in the Marbletown/Hurley Legislative District, backing out at the last minute (probably due to the fact the Parete secured the Republican line!!!).
* The prospect of of three members of the same family serving in the Legislature at the same time (Poppa John Parete & sons Robert & Richard).
Local political junkies will get their fix & then some this year!!!
Love the new wave canidate. Gallo has been part of the problem. He encourages the Mayor to take everything to court. This has cost the taxpayers well over a quarter million dollars in legal fees alone.
ReplyDeleteClement has sat down with union leaders and can work with them. Gallo has been let go by both CSEA and the PBA. Can't see him working with either union. He will continue to use the court system and continue to lose.
Clement or Turco-Levin can turn this City around. Gallo is just a relic from past riding his brothers coattails. Cahill is all done and can only play spoiler. Cahill says he love Kingston but is willing to watch it go down the tubes and split the vote. Grow up Rich
Noonan carrying petitions for a Democrat. Well isn't that special.
ReplyDeletePrediction: Turco-Levin vs. Gallo. Gallo wins.
ReplyDeletePrediction: Turco Levin v.s. Gallo....people of Kingston realize Gallo is a hollow candidate of the old administration and Turco Levin slides in making history as first woman to hold Mayoral office.
ReplyDelete12:36--Not so sure how the unions feel about Hayes Clement, he has not exactly been a friend nor does he care to be,truthfully. Clement doesnt have a blue collar bone in his body! However, I do agree with you on Mr. Shane Gallo---he is riding his brother's coattails and he does push for administration to go to court. I think he is more popular in his own head than he actually is to taxpayers. The voters want change, at least this voter does, and Shane doesnt exactly fit the bill of change. He may very well not get past the primary. Also, you are right about Cahill, he does not have much of a chance of winning the primary and can only act as spoiler. In fact, Polacco has a better chance at coming in second behind Turco-Levin in republican primary. To be continued...
ReplyDeleteThe City of Kingston is at a crossroad. I am willing to try something new. Years of Gallo/Sittile, Sottile/Noble, have ruined Kingston. Now Gallo/Noble. Can't do that.
ReplyDeleteClement will not be friendly with the unions either. He can be a tough negotiator and that is what Kingston needs. Gallo is cozy with all the unions and worked for CSEA and The PBA. Look for deals to be cut behind closed doors for their support and money.
Name any one thing Turco-Levin has ever done.
ReplyDeleteHas she ever offered a budget? NO
Has she made any proposals to cut taxes? NO
Has she made any proposals to cut spending? NO
Has she made any p0roposals to fight crime? NO
In fact, she told Shayne Gallo at a recent parade that she doesn't even care about the crime problem. Don't believe me? Ask Shayne.
Andi brings nothing to the table except that she is a woman. Nothing else.
Polacco is even worse. Name anything he has ever done. ANYTHING?? He just sits there and votes no. He does nothing.
Cahill is too conservative for my taste. He does know what he is doing. He has offered numerous proposals over the years, some good some not.
Jacobs is a joke with no chance.
Hayes Clement is a bigger joke. His own party chairman has been telling people he will hire lawyers and consultants to run the city for him.
Gallo has put forth 2 or 3 ideas. He does have to explain why he has done nothing in all the years he was worked for the city though.
To me, the only good candidates in this race are Gallo and Cahill. I rank them:
1 Gallo
2 Cahill
3 Turco-Levin and Polacco tied
4 Jacobs
5 Clement
Who has the most experience in city government? Who has the best people skills to get things done?
ReplyDeleteIt seems to me that Turco-Levin and Clement offer us the best solutions to the City's problems. Gallo and Cahill are both life long politians. Both come from political families and will carry the party banner.
ReplyDeleteTurco-Levin and Clement are both new to the business and owe there respective parties nothing. Both can fund their own campaigns so they wont have to pay back the unions or any other special interest group. They both want to make Kingston a better place for all, not just so there croonies can have a job.
The answers, 4:33, are Shayne Gallo and Shayne Gallo.
ReplyDeleteI am still waiting. Name ANYTHING Turco-Levin, Polacco, or Clement have accomplished. ANYTHING!!
ReplyDeleteShane Gallo people skills? Yes his family has been iknvolved in City government for years. So he does have the most experience. But get things done??? No people skills, only political croonies.
ReplyDelete6:38--name one thing Shane Gallo has done besides push the buffoon of a Mayor to go to court on issues he loses in court...we havent heard even a whisper from Gallo for all 7 years of his tenureship on city payroll, so what the f#*k is so special about goofy Shane Gallo? Most attornies that stay on payroll as long as Gallo are ill-equipt to start thier own practice and usually suck as an attorney so...
ReplyDeleteShayne Gallo, who serves at the pleasure of the mayor, can't criticize his boss if he wants to keep his job. I find it amusing that people think that Clement is the new wave. If he's so new, why is he being backed by Frank Cardinale, Bill Reynolds, Tom Hoffay, Ann Marie DiBella, Dave Donaldson, Kevin Quilty, and Mike Hein? Doesn't sound too new to me...sounds to be as if he has the good ol' boys in his camp. Maybe a new face, but he has old people pulling his strings.
ReplyDelete3:20, I can name a couple of proposals that Andi Turco-Levin put up to cut taxes and cut spending. The big one was during last budget season she called for the massive overtime at the Kingston Treatment plant to be addressed and trimmed down $100,000.00 to be exact. Also, she asked for top heavy positions on the city payroll to be trimmed back as well. In addidtion to that she asked that consultants on payroll be seriously considered as to whether or not we needed thier services any longer. There was no other alderman that would support her on these proposals except Polacco. Clement had his head up the private contractor's ass that was running the treatment plant, Camo industries.
ReplyDeleteAhem....Andi outlined ways to trim nearly $350k off last years budget with cuts to overtime at the Waste Treatment Plant, Snow Removal, and also positions such as one of the Environmental Educators. There have been other suggestions including holding the assessor accountable when also paying a consultant to do her job. Let's also mention the suggestion to eliminate of one supervisors at the Waste Treatment Plant when there is a consultant doing the job. Let's also talk about voting NO to cat control, NO to the elimination of brush pick-up (notice the fire hazard tinder-dry brush collecting on the City's streets?), suggesting a way to increase revenue for parking meters in some of the public lots, and other things. Cahill has not set a foot inside City Hall for a meeting in months, and even then it is a rare sighting. His budget recommendations were a joke. She has pushed for the overdue Comprehensive Plan since her time on the Planning Board and she formed a group of citizens who helped re-claim Forsyth Park with major clean up and clearing efforts. And like it or not, she had the courage to address the smoking in parks issue and term limits.
ReplyDeleteI agree with 9:20 and 11:29 postings about Andi Turco-Levin. She did indeed work hard during last two budget sessions to bring some sanity to the city budget. Having two senior plant operators along with a paid consultant that has been on payroll for 25 yrs,CAMO INDUSTRIES, is obnoxious to say the least and totally unnecesary. Andi was the only alderman to call the city and Sottile administration on that. To add insult to injury, the second plant operator was appointed by Mayor Sottile since the operator just happens to be the mayor's next door neighbor, Allen "redneck yahoo" Winchell. Talk about favoritism,geesh. Well, Andi also asked why is this very same Mr. Winchell putting in the budget over 100,000 dollars of overtime down there at the plant? Hayes Clement goes down to the plant to ahem, "investigate" and never even looks at the f#*king time cards to see if these people are actually WORKING the overtime since it goes on in the dead of night soposedly. He just takes Winchell's word for it that they all are working diligently and that the $100, 000.00 of overtime is justified. How the hell can that much overtime be justified for a mere 7 people? Sound like a big cash cow to me and it sounded the same way to Andi too. She will get my vote, since she is an example of showing responsibility as a lawmaker and takes initiative.
ReplyDeleteI remember Turco-Levin pushing hard to find out why over $100,000.00 in overtime was being paid to 8 employees at the treatment plant, when we were paying Camo 75K a year to oversee it. Poughkeepsie just privatized there treatment plant and threw Camo out. This saved taxpayers thousands of dollars. Why can't Kingston do the same?
ReplyDeleteClement and Gallo sat by and did nothing to stop this overspending. Why? The Mayors next door neighbor is running the show down there.
Hear Hear 11;29, I second what you are saying about Andi. When asshole Mike Schupp from DPW asked common council to put off brush pickup in the summer in kingston I was shocked on how stupid the idea was that made no sense at all. Turco Levin was opposed to that dumb idea and spoke out against it. She also did a fantastic job with Forsyth park over last two yrs. Also, she also called for a cut on one of the TWO environmetal educators that just happen to be named...Noble. The nepotism and favoritism in Kingston is rampant in city govt and needs to be adressed ASAP. Andi has the balls to do it.
ReplyDelete11:29PM--Get your facts straight before you compliment Turco-Levins's accomplishments..Address her voting record. SHE VOTED YES FOR THE BUDGET!!! That was political suicide from the begining. Forming a clean-up crew for Forsyth Park was a strategy for the elections. Who cares about the Park and the hundreds of dollars to feed the animals? Yeah, get the financial breakdown of how much the park animals are costing the taxpayers. Courage to pass no smoking in the parks and term limits? You could hear the crickets when there was no one, NO ONE to second the motion to put term limits back on the table. She's almost as effective as an alderman as Clement. All he has done is pass legislation for more stop signs in in ward. STOP the insanity...
ReplyDeleteGallo has his detractors for sure. But they don't realize how popular he is. Furthermore, "the machine" is behind Clement. That should tell you something. The "elites" are not backing Gallo. Gallo's strength is with working class Democrats and there are more of those. I know the Mojo Republicans don't want to hear it. They keep repeating over and over again that he is a clone of his brother or James Sottile. They are in for a surprise.
ReplyDeleteTurco-Levin and the republican minority has always offered cuts to the budget. Problem was the Dems always out voted them. Keeping environmental educators (Nobles reletives) and letting Rec leaders go.
ReplyDeleteKeeping outside consultants over laborers (so the Mayors next door neighbor can sleep at night.
Clement and Gallo supported the Mayors plans and will continue to carry out politics as usual.
Andi has done a lot in a short time with no help from the "friends and family" the dems put in place. Can't wait to see what she can do if elected to the to spot.
Why would someone choose to give up a big NYC salary to be mayor of Kingston for 75k? It's a thankless job for not much money.
ReplyDelete9:10, yup the silence WAS deafening for the call of term limits from Turco Levin, because all of the council besides her and Polacco are Democrats and dont want to let go of the power!! Duh!! Nice try, but lets face it, she is the most electable and people are gonna see that when she wins the primary and puts to bed Cahill and Polacco. In fact, Polacco will come in second with Cahill limping in third. She has an excellent location on Broadway for H.Q. Uhh, where is Polacco and Cahill's?? How can these guys be taken seriously?
ReplyDeleteThe heat must be getting to Hughie Reynolds. He's been going after Hein pretty good lately.
ReplyDeleteWhat's a working class Democrat? The only Democrats I know are either on government services, or they are rich snobs who know how to live your life better than you do.
ReplyDeleteOh bullshit. Those were Cahill's ideas that she ripped off. She is a joke.
ReplyDeleteCahill had the CAMO idea on his blog long before Andi "proposed" it. She also did not suggest 300k in cuts. That's a lie. Cahill submitted nearly a million dollars in cuts.
ReplyDeleteAndi Turco-Levin is my alderwoman and has held bi-monthly meetings for ward members to keep us informed and to ask what our needs are. She has been an excellent alderwoman in my opinion and am looking forward to voting for her in Mayor's race!
ReplyDeleteRich Cahill is a good guy and has spoken out for years aginst the wrongdoings of this current administration and has preposed some good ideas. However, he will probably lose the primary since it is only he and some family members pushing for him. His time has come and gone and now Andi is the hope of the party but she is not your ordinary republican. She has some moderate views and will be appealing to non enrollees and some Dems as well. Clement is the Dem party favorite, and he is the good old boy club favorite as well. Gallo has the marginal dems behind him and will have to work hard to win.
ReplyDeleteAll this talk about unions is making me sick.CSEA is a joke,and I doubt any politician wants their support.The leaders of CSEA are leaches and their membership should push for term limits,let some one with brains run their union.Mark my words if they don't change the leadership,their union will be history very soon.
ReplyDeleteI think this election season is quite interesting and am looking forward to voting on Election day! It certainly is crazt mojo, with all of these candidates vying for position. Also, i find the pictures you post hysterical!
ReplyDeleteComments from 3:20pm, 9:10am, 1:36pm, 1:45pm, and maybe 7:04pm must be from Cahill. He's angry, desperate, and insists that he is always right. Could you imagine having someone like that in charge of Kingston? If you thought Sottile was out of control, this guy is off the charts. He would be a disaster.
ReplyDeleteHaving a headquarters is going to win an election? What is she going to do when she sees 50+ campaign signs on the medium facing her office? She will puke. Having a visible headquarters is a waste of money and thankfully, it is her own because the City committee has no money to back its chosen candidates. If the city committee had been smart, but we know most of them are not, they would have had a city campaign headquarters for all the chosen candidates and not hold-up at the old man's house. She just wants to prove that she has the means and is better off than all the other candidates. Nothing but fluff and hopefully the rest of the populous will see through this stunt.
ReplyDeleteWe have term limits. It's called elections. If the same people keep getting re-elected, the other side has to step it up and find better candidates. With all due respect, Ms. Turco-Levin sells real estate for a living. I don't know how that translates to running city government. And Rich Cahill? Please! He's Michele Bachmann with a penis for chrissakes. He wants to bring back public access television so he can continue to run his mouth with conservative ideas that nobody in the State of New York is interested in. OMG! The choice is clear...Shayne Gallo (note the spelling with a "y").
ReplyDeleteTurco Levin for mayor, all the way baby!! I get a kick out of Rich Cahill, he served one term as alderman, the same as Andi, yet he claims shes not ready to run for Mayor. What a fucking hypocrite. Also, Shayne Gallo, with a y, is a flunky for the Sottile administration and has been the whole time he has served as a disastrous Corporation Counselor. The City of Kingston has received awful legal advice for the last decade and Shayne and Marylou Christiana are the bottom of the barrel. Christiana is telling the city residents in the freeman that they cant change a fuckng simple thing like a curfew. Where did she go to law school? Well, its her and Shayne, with a y, giving our bumbling fearless leader JimBo Sottile legal advice that is bringing us to a slow death here in sunny Kingston. In closing, when little Dick Cahill can get more than 5 people to fill a room at a fundraiser, then maybe he will be taken seriously. Until then, HE is not ready for prime time!
ReplyDeleteYa know, it is a real shame that the democrats in Kingston arent REAL democrats, they are so screwed up compared to REAL dems in the county and the world at large. This city has been run by the "democratic' party in Kingston and what have the enrolled dems (and repubs and non-enrollees) gotten for it? A totally fucked up city economically, community wise, and the crime rate is shooting through the roof! We have had two Mayor's in the last two decades, one that liked to party too much and throw big parties and another that is the biggest fool that ever held elected office other than George Bush! Sottile will go down as the worst Mayor Kingston has ever had and he does deserve that distinction for sure. The common council has had "democratic" majority for same lenth of time and has run the city into the ground with piss poor leadership under Bill Reynolds as majority leader. Good to see him go this year, one less asshole to work towards getting out. What is sad about the situation is that the city dems in power actually think they have done a good job in the past. They dont realize that most dems in other townships thnk of the kingston dems as a bunch of arrogant assholes that arent REAL dems in the first place!! If the city of kingston residents vote another "dem" in office as mayor this year, than they will get what they duly deserve: utter and complete failure.
ReplyDelete7:23 - don't just blame Clement for not throwing out CAMO - the council voted "yes" on the budget. Even though Andi suggested dumping CAMO, ultimately, she voted "yes" as well. Where does Gallo come into play on the budget? He's not the deputy mayor. Are you blaming Christiana for not removing CAMO too? How long has the sewer treatment plant been run by CAMO? Should we also blame Heppner, Zweben, Hintz, and all the other corp counsels? That's ridiculous, and you know it. Put the blame where it belongs: on the council (the ENTIRE council), the mayor, Schupp, and Winchell.
ReplyDelete8:11, you are right; the entire council along with mayor and Schupp and Winchell ARE responsible for poor management by keeping some contractor (CAMO) doing what we are paying the other operators to do in firrst place. We are paying Alan Winchell ALOT of money along with Ed Herwig to oversee the plant. Massive overtime is being put in incorrectly, I might add, and yet Turco Levin was the only alderwoman to call the city out on this practice. Clement claimed he was going to look into the overtime and went down to the plant and NEVER checked the workers time cards to see if the workers that come in to do p.m. checkup(the culprit for all this overtime)actually WORKED the three hours per nite that they put in for. Clement simply took Alan Winchell and Ed Herwig's word that the guy coming in for p.m. checkup is there for three hours every nite when that is utter bullshit. The worker assigned to the o.t. for p.m. checkup doesnt punch in and walks thru the plant and boogies out of there within a half hour and is paid for 3 hours overtime with a grand total of 21 hours of overtime at end of week without having actually worked it. They claim that the overtime is contractual, but it is not. When overtime is scheduled, the employees is to punch in and get paid for ACTUAL HOURS WORKED, not the mandatory 3 hour call out an employee would get if called in for an emergency. The overtime at plant is strictly scheduled in advance thereby contractually the employee is only entitled to receive the ACTUAL HOURS WORKED, not automatic three hours per nite. Clement,Landi,Polacco and Turco levin were all told this while they were on finance committee yet only Turco Levin along with Polacco expressed concern and wanted it corrected. Hayes Clement totally fucked up and actually SUPPORTED the very company CAMO industries along with Alan Winchell. These are the culprits along with Mike Schupp who is perpetrating this practice on the taxpayers of Kingston. Remember, Schupp made a public plea to keep the contractor CAMO in place, mainly because he doesnt want the responsibility that his job encompasses. He also claimed that CAMO had some 'CONNECTIONS" WITH THE DEC. I WONDER HOW THE DEC. WOULD FEEL IF THEY KNEW THAT SOME CONTRACTOR FROM KINGSTON IS CLAIMING "CONNECTIONS" WITH THEM?
ReplyDeleteIt would appear that not one of the candidates is qualified.
ReplyDeleteWhat do we do now, as I recently met Hayes, and to be honest, he seems a little to soft to take on the bloods, crips, CSEA and Mike Hein.
Gallo is now and always has been a Sottile loyalist, how far from the path will he stray?
Andi is a competent alderwoman, buts thats a long way from the mayor seat, it takes more than a few ideas, and a pretty smile to run a city (i.e. Mike Hein, big cheesy smile, has no business pretending to be in charge.)
I hate to say this, but the only real so called politician in the race, with some viable experience, knowledge of city ops, and a plan is Cahill.
Grant it, his lack of personality, and demeanor may be limited, but he has worked his whole life to hold that office, and now that the GOP has f'ed him, wouldnt it be nice to see how he shoves it down thier throats if elected?
Wouldnt you want to see him finally have the power to attack the issues that he has been so outspoken about, to see what he can do?
Just my opinion, and I may be wrong, but over the last 6 years he has been to most outspoken, diligent opposer to all that has happened in Kingston, and has never waivered on his views.
Thats a quality that can achieve progress, cant say that about any other candidate.
Plus both parties cant stand him, why not put him in charge and show both parties that we believe they both suck?
Can be any worse that what we have now, or considering for the future.
9:20, why the hell isnt something done about this?? If this is going on I am concerned about it since my taxes continue to go up! If Hayes Clement is running for Mayor, then this is just plane wrong. I think the candidates should speak on this and do something about this crazy practice of a cash cow. And, why the hell is the mayor allowed to hire his freaking neighbor?
ReplyDelete10;22, well said! Rich Cahill has been the most loudest critic of this screwed up administration and its policies for years and deserves some consideration. It is too bad that Polacco and Turco Levin and Cahill were not all on the same team! But I agree, why not give him a chance.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Cahill is the best of a sorry lot. He has my vote.
ReplyDeleteLew Kirschner is behind Hayes Clement,,, need I say more ???
ReplyDeleteSpeaks for itself, kiddies,,,
8:21, all the local ex politicians are behind someone...
ReplyDeleteThats the game and thats what is wrong with local politics.
The only person they all dread getting in is Cahill, because he never learned to play ball.
All the more reason to back him.
1:10, that is an interesting point...you may just be right. I am reconsidering at this time and will give serious consiideration to Mr. Rich Cahill.
ReplyDeleteShayne Gallo is looking for union support. Need I say more.
ReplyDeleteWhoever wins the primary between Turco-Levin and Cahill should be the next Mayor.
1:10,
ReplyDeleteI hadn't thought of it that way. Cahill is despised by the Democrats and now there is a rift with the Republicans. I like the idea of a Mayor completely on his own without being controlled by a party.
With all the time Cahill spends posting on various blogs it's a wonder he has time to run a campaign.
ReplyDeleteKingston Mayoral canidate Shayne Gallo came undone at the CLC interview. When a union activist questioned him on the triborough agreement. Seem old Shayne told one group he was for the retraction of the agreement then told union officials that he wasn't.
ReplyDeleteThe same union official was at both meetings. No way can I vote for someone who just gives lip service. GO TURCO-LEVIN
The person with whom Shayne was arguing was none other than Joe Donaldson, a member of AFSME (Kingston Water Dept.'s union). Donaldson told everyone there (at the CLC) that he was apolitical, but neglected to tell them that he's on the Democratic Committee. Turco-Levin is no friend of the union, either. She'll be a disaster if she ever gets elected. She's neither smart nor experienced enough. Two years on the council doesn't give anyone enough knowledge and experience to run the city. It wasn't enough for Cahill who's far brighter and more educated; it certainly won't be enough for Andi. It's insulting for anyone to believe that running the city is so easy that a layperson can do it.
ReplyDeleteSO being a family court lawyer with a short fuse qualifies you? Will shane start screaming at developers that question him? What about the unions? He worked for CSEA and PBA and was asked to leave from both positions.
ReplyDeleteShane got caught in a lie and Donaldson called him on it. This is how he will govern the City. With lies> End of Story
Joe Donaldson is the liar here, he's backing Hayes(Layoffs)Clement because Shayne wouldn't cut a back-room deal to support Joe's brother Dave Donaldson in his primary race against Mike Madsen for the county legislature.
ReplyDeleteThe Donaldson's are pathetic.
Joe also lied to the CLC because he told them he has no political role in the City of Kingston, while he is in fact a member of the City's Democratic Committee.
5:34 - since you were there, please tell us about Shayne's short fuse. How angry did he get? Did Joe Donaldson also get angry? Apparently you seem to know what Shayne said at the Dem Committee meeting too. So you must've been at both meetings. Otherwise, you're relying on hearsay.
ReplyDeleteAndi! ducking a debate disgraceful. Hayes will too:
ReplyDeleteHey, Joe D. is a good guy, all he did was expose Shayne for what he is...a hothead that cant keep his cool under a little pressure. Havent we had enough of that with Sottile? Furthermore, Hayes isnt any good either. He is a snob from out of town with a bunch of snobby people surrounding him. I like Andi Turco Levin or Rich Cahill. Both represent true change. Im just sayin...
ReplyDeleteThe CLC have a couple of democratic committee members on it. The CLC should require all mambers not to be a part of any political party committee.
ReplyDeleteI don't think Joe lied to the CLC about the comments Shayne made at the democratic committee meeting. I think Shayne is a hot head and is just telling people what they want to hear. Will Shayne Gallo guantee that as Mayor he will not lay anyone off?
Just drove past mayoral candidate Andi Turco Levin's fundraiser at Keegan ale on St. James st. The parking lot was mobbed with vehicles and people in parking lot outside. Looked extremely well attended.
ReplyDeleteHAHA...local politics is a big joke....money talks and BS walks...people vote for who they know and like.Thats all you need to know.
ReplyDelete9:54, Andi is not ducking the debate, she is happy to participate and looking forward to it. Your statement is incorrect...
ReplyDeleteHere is the deal on Shane with a y....several months ago at a Dem. committee meeting (I was there) Shayne spoke and stated that he was for the repeal of the tribourough law, which is sacred to municipal workers in the public unions. Former Chairman Bob Goldnick, who has prior labor background, was pissed and got in Shayne's ass over that and was a pause for concern. Fast forward to the Central labor council meeting (CLC) with candidates being interviewed for endorsement by CLC. (I was not there but have on good authority) Joe Donaldson asked Shayne why he stated on his questionaire answer that he supported and was against repeal of the tribouruogh law conflicts with what he had said outloud at previous DEm committee meeting few months prior. Shayne got pissed and edgy because Joe ,rightfully so, exposed him for that little diddy. Now does that make Shayne a bad guy? No...it makes him a liar and a fibber that was caught lying to the CLC. Does that mean he will lie again? Probably... On the other hand, Hayes Clement could give two shits about organized labor and is the last person any union would want as Mayor. That leaves Turco Levin and Rich Cahill. Either one would be O.K. for labor, probably Cahill more so since he was financed by labor during last election due to huge anti-Sottile feelings from most labor unions. But, Andi would be fine too.
ReplyDelete11:54 - have to agree with you - people on any political committee should not also be on the CLC. There is no objectivity. As far as a no-layoff guarantee, I haven't heard any of the mayoral candidates (including CSEAs favorite Andi - Bart and Troy can't deny that they're in her camp) make that promise.
ReplyDeleteI dont think any of the candidates are worth a hil of beans for mayor in Kingston. Kingston has declined so badly in terms of quality of life that most people are packing up and moving out. as long as kingston is the county seat and pays the lion's share of safetynet costs, the city itself will be in dire straights.
ReplyDeleteAndi turco Levin had approx. 150 people at her fundraiser on sunday. Her husband Tony Levin's band was fucking phenomenal! It is gonna be great having a bright, intellegent and "hip" woman as our Mayor!
ReplyDeleteJoe Donaldson did what he had to do---expose Shayne Gallo for what he is, a bullshitter. The fact is, Gallo is gonna get his ass waxed by Hayes Clement (ouch!) in the primary anyway, so the situation is moot.
ReplyDeleteTurco-Levin quite frankly, should have been the first to agree to a debate. After all, she is the endorsed candidate the City Republican Committee nominated. She owes the rest of us Republicans that much and should defend the banner and why the committee picked her above the others. Based on what? People need to hear what she is all about, how ineffective she is as an alderman and how she has all the answers to change City Hall with her background and experience as a band promoter/radio announcer/real estate broker. That should prove to be quite a session.
ReplyDelete4:04pm--Cars, not lawn signs, can't vote. So your observation that the parking lot was mobbed means what exactly? Two people per car equals maybe 60 people who came to hear the music or support the candidate? I would like to see the list of attendees who can actually vote for her in the city. Where are the photos to document the crowd?
ReplyDeleteTroy Ashdown and Bart Robins are not in Andi's camp. That's just ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteI think Bart and Troy are smart union leaders. They haven't played there cards yet. I understand why they would not be is a dems camp. The dems have decimated CSEA. The rec and DPW have taken huge hits the last few years. The only ones who haven't are the City Hall workers who you will see in the dems headquarters this election season.
ReplyDeleteAndi and Rich both have said that City Hall is too big and can use a house cleaning. Eveey department head has there own consultant. Need I say more.
Seems everyone is worried about this Turco-Levin. If I were running against her I would be worried too. She is a new face with new ideas. Who cares what they are. Gallo, Sottile, Noble, Landi, Reynolds, Senor, Hoffay, Gallo again. these are the names that have been in control of Kingston for the last twenty years.
ReplyDeleteAsk yourself this question. Is the City of Kingston better after twenty years of Democratic rule?
If your answer in no vote Turco- Levin, Cahill, Polacco, or Jacobs. Lets give the other side a chance and see what they can do. What do we have to lose???
If Troy and Bart are smart (and I know Troy is - I've never met Bart), they'll stay out of the mayor's race completely. So far, I think that they have. The CSEA endorsed Cahill last time because Sottile is such a buffoon. They practically ran Cahill's campaign. It's obvious the CSEA isn't supporting anybody's campaign so far, because all of the campaigns are sputtering (including Andi's - few Kingston Republicans were at her fundraiser yesterday. Andi should be worried about getting them out to vote on primary day, rather than attracting people to see her famous husband. They don't vote.)
ReplyDeleteAll city unions (Fire,CSEA,Police) are staying out of mayoral race until after primaries. Unfortunately, there is all kinds of unfounded rumors floating around.
ReplyDeleteWhy is John Sennett's campaign manager Jonathan Wright always picking his ass??
ReplyDeleteI hope Wright is gonna "pick" a winner, but he has a tough time getting past Holley. Im just sayin...
ReplyDeleteAndi's thing at Keegans was a fundraiser and it was successful. She wasn't going after votes, she was raising money for the campaign. Besides, it was pretty cool. None of the other candidates can say that about their fundraisers.
ReplyDeleteI see Joe marchetti is running for alderman-at-large in kingston against Jim 'who" Noble. I hope Marchetti gets a shot at the position, Noble has done a piss poor job at best and is an arrogent asshole as well.
ReplyDeleteMark it down. Clements and Noble win.
ReplyDeleteWoerner loses, Landi loses, and Madsen loses.
Time to sweep out the trash.
I like Marchetti's ideas. We do need to change the job discription of alderman at large. Noble is invisible on most of the issues. Except crime. He thinks we do not have a crime problem.
ReplyDeleteNoble is not ready to take over the reins if something should happen to the current Mayor. If he were ready he would be running for the position.
I'll give Marchetti my vote but think the democratic machine we re-elect Noble. Not sure about the Mayor race though.
Marchetti? Really is that the best they can do? This guy loves the sound of his own voice more than anything else. He is a blowhard and will talk to anyone who will listen.
ReplyDelete10:33pm Like most politicians. I agree he doesn't have much of a chance. Who knows? Anything can happen in November. Maybe the republicans will finally get there act together and take back the City from the Dems. Its ripe for the picking. Have to laugh the dems will be working night and day to stay in power this time around.
ReplyDeleteGallo will be elected Mayor. He's coming across well in the paper and is the most qualified.
ReplyDelete2:32 The only reason Dems are working now is because they are in Primaries. If there were no Primaries, they would be loading up for the biannual slaughter of the Kingston Republicans. Turco-Levin-Cahill-Pollaco-Jacob's included.
ReplyDelete10-1 right now, a Dem is Mayor on 1/1/2012, probably Clement.
2:49, i think you are going to be in for a surprise this year...people are fed the f#*k up with the usual group of dems that have totally made a mess of Kingston. I think some new faces with (R) in front of their name will emerge victorious on election day. Kingston has become the fucking armpit of Ulster County on the Dem's watch. If the people vote the Dems in control once more, time to pull up stakes and move to the town of Ulster!
ReplyDeleteMarchetti will be a disaster as Alderman at Large. He wants to be Mayor. I pity the Mayor who will have to deal with him if he wins.
ReplyDeleteMarchetti?? Really?? Another wanna-be mayoral candidate. Talk about temper tantrums. You ain't seen nothing yet.
ReplyDeleteHearing you 2:49 These assholes in Kingston elect a dem adn they deserve what they get. I'll move too.
ReplyDelete3:42,
ReplyDeleteWhat ideas? She has no proposals on crime, no proposals on economic development, and no proposals to cut taxes. She has proposals on banning cigarettes though.
Blaber's latest post on his blog slinging mud at Hayes will hopefully open the closet doors and release the skeltons hiding in the Blaber and Gallo closets. Hayes may not know the dirt on these home boys but the locals do. This guy has some nerve. Surely this is a reflection on Gallo for a bad campaign. Grow up.
ReplyDelete@ 6:58 - Hayes knows the dirt, no doubt about it. But he's not going there. That kind of behavior is the problem to begin with.
ReplyDeleteBlabers stunt trying to say Anna Brett wants to close Golden Hill has cost them so many votes, and even a few campaign workers. They're on a self-destruct sequence, it seems
I know this is off the beaten path of political banter...but as a life-time resident of Kingston who remembers Kingston 40 + yrs ago...I would just like to see ONE candidate give ONE cohesive plan of what we all need to do to bring Kingston back to the great town it used to be. All I keep hearing is useless bickering...why can't anyone step up & say and do what needs to be done to begin cleaning up Kingston? It may not be pretty...but there are some ugly facts that need to be addressed. Beautiful neighborhoods that were once inhabited by hard working families are overrun with criminal elements who are not even from Kingston. It's so sad to see the town I love go to pot...and sadder still that our only hope are candidates who are more interested in getting a title in front of their name rather than stepping up and creating viable solutions to these very obvious problems.
ReplyDeleteThis is all public info from the state of NY board of elections website of those whom have contributed to Mr. Hein. Public info to all state of ny boe website this is raw data.
ReplyDeleteDATE
02/08/11 NAME
CHARLES WORK ADDRESS
45 BRUYN TRNPKE
WALLKILL
NY
12589 CHECK NO.
9424 AMOUNT
$35.00 EXPLANATION RECORD DATE
JUN-28-11 12:00 AM
02/12/11 KATHERINE MCINTYRE 18 MADISON AVE KINGSTON NY 12401 2376 $35.00 JUN-28-11 12:00 AM
02/12/11 ANDREW ZWEBEN 12 JOHN ST KINGSTON NY 12401 13897 $35.00 JUN-28-11 12:00 AM
02/27/11 VINCENT MARTELLO PO BOX 921 STONE RIDGE NY 12484 956 $40.00 JUN-28-11 12:00 AM
02/27/11 JULIAN SCHREIBMAN 3 MILL DAM RD STONE RIDGE NY 12484 898 $150.00 JUN-28-11 12:00 AM
03/23/11 PAUL HEWITT 4768 RT 209 ACCORD NY 12404 cash $40.21 JUN-28-11 12:00 AM
04/01/11 DANIEL FRENCH 30 DEERVIEW LN POUGHQUAG NY 12570 1129 $50.00 JUN-28-11 12:00 AM
04/01/11 MICHAEL IAPOCE PO BOX 3741 KINGSTON NY 12402 6327 $50.00 JUN-28-11 12:00 AM
04/01/11 GABRIEL SOTTILE 207 MAPLE LN HURLEY NY 12443 1409 $100.00 JUN-28-11 12:00 AM
04/01/11 FRANK CARDINALE 70 LIPTON ST KINGSTON NY 12401 1099 $200.00 JUN-28-11 12:00 AM
04/01/11 ROBERT DITTUS PO BOX 3883 KINGSTON NY 12402 960 $1,000.00 JUN-28-11 12:00 AM
04/02/11 RICHARD REMSNYDER 42 CENTER ST NEW PALTZ NY 12561 5637 $95.00 JUN-28-11 12:00 AM
04/03/11 KEVIN GINTY 11 HOLLY HILLS DR WOODSTOCK NY 12498 2622 $190.00 JUN-28-11 12:00 AM
04/03/11 ALBERT SMILEY LAKE MOHONK NEW PALTZ NY 12561 2661 $500.00 JUN-28-11 12:00 AM
04/03/11 BEA HAVRANEK PO BOX 48 ROSENDALE NY 12472 6250 $1,000.00 JUN-28-11 12:00 AM
04/03/11 MARSHALL BECKMAN 34 NORMANDY CT WEST HURLEY NY 12491 3795 $380.00 JUN-28-11 12:00 AM
04/03/11 DON KATT 467 MOUNTAN VIEW AVE HURLEY NY 12443 5622 $95.00 JUN-28-11 12:00 AM
04/03/11 DANIEL HONIG PO BOX 50 SAUGERTIES NY 12477 6287 $200.00 JUN-28-11 12:00 AM
04/04/11 PETE CAFALDO PO BOX 695 GLASCO NY 12432 991 $100.00 JUN-28-11 12:00 AM
04/04/11 KENNETH BRETT 57 CLIFTON AVE KINGSTON NY 12401 8462 $50.00 JUN-28-11 12:00 AM
04/04/11 KATHY CAREY-MIHM 500 WASHINGTON AVE KINGSTON NY 12401 2417 $95.00 JUN-28-11 12:00 AM
04/04/11 TIMOTHY ALLRED 294 BROADWAY ULSTER PARK NY 12487 2037 $95.00 JUN-28-11 12:00 AM
04/04/11 DIANE CAMPER 305 HURLEY AVE KINGSTON NY 12401 6373 $95.00 JUN-28-11 12:00 AM
04/04/11 ARTHUR GOULD 415 PEARL ST KINGSTON NY 12401 6375 $190.00 JUN-28-11 12:00 AM
04/04/11 WILLIAM SPEARMAN 26 PARKSIDE DR LAKE KATRINE NY 12449 2219 $150.00 JUN-28-11 12:00 AM
04/05/11 PAUL JOHNSON 305 PEARL ST KINGSTON NY 12401 8567 $100.00 JUN-28-11 12:00 AM
04/06/11 FRED BELL 305 HURLEY AVE KINGSTON NY 12401 1140 $190.00 JUN-28-11 12:00 AM
04/06/11 MELANIE MULLINS 301 BROWN RD WALDEN NY 12586 7211 $95.00 JUN-28-11 12:00 AM
04/06/11 SHEREE CROSS 28 DOGWOOD KNOLL HIGHLAND NY 12528 559 $95.00 JUN-28-11 12:00 AM
Something is puzzling me: is the name Hayes Clement, with Hayes as a first name, or is it Clement Hayes, with Clement as a first name?
ReplyDeleteDo we have an aristocrat or a hillbilly running for mayor?
Either way, this guy is not the common folk.......
Well, if you'd take 5 seconds to pull your head out of your ass and look it up literally ANYWHERE, you'd see it is Hayes Clement...
ReplyDeleteAnd do we really want another mayor who is 'the common folk'? Seems like the last few have worked out SO great! No Change! Vote Gallo! Let's keep everything heading down the tubes!
8:24 -- I an so impressed by the brilliance of your comment. You intelligence must be very great indeed, judging by the vulgarity of your language.
ReplyDeletePerhaps you were not aware that my comment was tongue-in-cheek?