Dangerous Precedents

 The Town Board meeting on Tuesday, December 20th, 2011 - during the Public Input portion at the beginning of the meeting - Barone went up to speak, finished his input, then the board called Tamara D., but she wanted to speak about the MP at the Public Hearing. Then the board calls "David Allen" - and Barone says that he is there to read a letter from David Allen because Mr. Allen could not attend the meeting.

MJD says "I don't think you can do that, sir."

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Republicans Who Carried Petitions

For the cross endorsement of Republican Mary Joyce D'Aurizio, and Democrats Stephanie Aldersley, John Perticone.

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Everything Is Political

Town Board Meeting.....

I'm sorry - but are you f$#%!@* kidding me with that whole "You're being political" junk at public input?  Is she going to do that to every speaker she disagrees with or doesn't like?  Since they are all basically politicians sitting on that board, and every speaker from January 1st to December 31st of that year could be political in their public input.......are they only censured around election time?  How come when they ran for public office, it was ok for them to coincidentally show up for public input around election time and "be political" in their comments? Why was it ok for John and Stephanie to go up at public input when they were running for Town Board?  When Mary Ellen Jones mentions that she was a Senator, or a proud Democrat.....isn't that political? That was allowed.

How come the cross endorsement comments from June/July meetings weren't "censured"?

Aldersley and Perticone showing up for Public Input around election time - Aldersley introduced as a Legislator and Perticone lobbying for using local labor for Walgreens (a private development)......wasn't that political?  Is it a coincidence that all current Town Board members never really spoke at public input that much - but around August (if there is a primary) and October (just before November elections) - the candidates are alllllll about giving their public input at that time.  Uncanny.

October 2005 and also in 2007.

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Q&A

Here are some questions that I have been asked in the past month.

Q: Is the ice skating rink going to be built?

A: No, not this year apparently. Camp Eastman land was not level enough to facilitate the ice rinks. I do not know if it's going to happen next year either.
3/3/10 MPN article on ice rink.

Q: Was Marty Piecuch fired?

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ReMEHmber?

I haven't seen the Town Board meeting yet - but I can't wait to! I'll comment on it after I view it....but for now....

I just want to bring something to Stephanie's attention.

It's an article from 2005 when Mary Ellen was campaigning against Schantz, and the campaign questioned the Schantz administration's hiring practices, and why some Town employees do not reside in the community.

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Hypocrisy

It seems Joe Morelle can talk the talk - he just doesn't walk the walk when it comes to following his strict guidelines about political mailers and political signs.

That's just typical, hypocritical Joe for ya.

Too bad that he'll probably be elected Supervisor and Town Board again on Tuesday. ;)



Remember during the primary

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Now This Is Odd........

Remember the blog I did a bit back about "Mr. Fakity-Fake-Fake" who wrote a letter to the Irondequot Post, and in that letter "Mathew Lewis" said that "but all the town leaders I wrote to, responded to me."?

A FOI request was submitted for those "responses", and an answer has been given, in record time I might add (9 days!),about that particular FOI request.

Here it is, in all it's glory:



Gee, if Mathew Lewis is a real person, and has a real address on Norton Street, and said he wrote to the town....there should be a record of that.

No such records exist.......

And, neither does Mathew Lewis on Norton Street in Irondequoit. We've e-mailed him, but he never seems to return our e-mails with a quote or explanation that I could show.

Here is the extent of what we have from/to Mr. Fakity-Fake-Fake.





But.......Mark Scuderi exists. We've e-mailed him too, and he got back to us right away (probably because he has nothing to hide, and is a real person. That always helps.)

This is what Mr. Scuderi has to say about it:

"Good For You, Good For You, Go Back Home"

At the TBM on 4/16, Public Input was scheduled at the end of the meeting, according to the agenda. But the Supervisor decided to do some Public Input at the beginning of the meeting - like, the very, very beginning - right after the pledge.

Bob Ament went up to give some input on the Labella report, and did not speak for a full three minutes, but the bell dingy-dingied, and he was told his time was up. He then left. Towards the end of the meeting, when Public Input was scheduled according to the agenda, he had returned, and went up to speak again - because he felt he had some time left.

This is the video of the Public Input at the end of the meeting.

Right around the 1:30 mark of the video, Bob Ament commends Councilwoman Debbie Evans for asking some very good, pertinent questions, even applauding her. (She did ask some pointed questions, and I know that I appreciated that as well. I hope others did too.)

Right after this, he says:

"Supervisor Mary Ellen Heyman, I thought it was very staged, and leading tonight - and was very unhappy with you."

He walks away from the podium.

THEN you hear Mr. Perticone say:

"Good for you, *inaudible* go back home."

Then someone (can't tell who, but a woman's voice) says:

"Good for you."


Do you guys realize that technology nowadays is very advanced, and those microphones are sensitive, and I can practically hear your stomach breaking down food during the meetings?

Do you realize that? Or, more importantly, do you even care?

I mean, I know you guys take a lot of heat all the time...no matter the political party.....but YOU are the ones who make these "rules of conduct" for the residents to adhere to.....but you can't even control your remarks when someone makes a less than favorable comment about you?

You're politicians fer cripes sake! You should be used to this by now.

And, ya know what? Honestly? Parts of the presentation DID seem "scripted".

What ISN'T scripted in politics? Like, that's something new?

Did he really deserve your disrespect for speaking the truth? Or what he believed?

He may not be the kind of "public input" you want to hear, but everything isn't peaches and cream all the time. You have to expect people to be upset and comment on things in a negative way sometimes, especially when someone is so obviously passionate about this issue.

For you to sit there and get so upset that you mumble under your breath (or so you thought) things like you did is so unprofessional and disrespectful to a resident who even VOTED FOR YOU......I can't even come up with words to describe how truly disappointed I am in this representation.

As a Democrat, I am embarassed.

As a human, I am ashamed.

Thank you for at least letting us know how you really feel about some of your constituents, because now, I can truly say with every fiber of my being......

I cannot wait until a few of you "go home" yourselves.

You are a disgrace.






Here is the YouTube of Mr. Ament's first input, the Public Input that was right after the pledge:


I really don't think there was anything he said in either input that deserved being disrespected like he was. Not at all. This is how Democrats treat their fellow Dems who vote for them? Ugh.

Let's Talk About Hypocrisy...........

This was recently added to the Town website.
Here is the link to the Town Code.

I guess they felt the need to put this on the website, because of this:



Apparently, rules of behavior only apply to "the public". The Town attorney can disrespect a member of the public, but that public better not clap!



I remember a meeting a little over a year ago where members of the public booed at a speaker during public input, and there was massive amounts of clapping from the ones that booed too.......but that was in favor of the Supervisor, so that was ok.

Link to letters archive at MPNnow.



Is Hammer/Sickle syndrome contagious? I sure hope not.

*giggle* Remember This? *giggle*

The outright hypocrisy in this article is astounding! I am not lying when I say that I actually laughed out loud when I read this. This was written by her less than 6 months ago.


Besides the 6 times the word "change", and 3 times the word "dream" were in there, here is what I had a good chuckle over:

1. Government must manage cost — the tax dollars come from our pockets.




Really? She knew that? I couldn't tell. Well Supervisor, just like you expect the State Government to manage cost......so do the residents of this Town expect YOU to "manage cost". Which is why a majority of us do not understand why they want to sink $1.2 million into a rental, when we already OWN a building that will cost much less to renovate. Supervisor Heyman shakes her fist at the very State and Federal Government that is giving her CDBG grants and tells them "Shame on you! You must cut costs!" - but she expects over a million to fund her pork project, and she has no problem holding out her hand when Joe Morelle comes to the rescue. She contradicts almost every statement she makes in here with the Kings Park/Medley Center "visions". Want them to cut spending? Stop asking for money! That will help.

2. Education is fundamental, expensive and necessary for a viable future.

It's necessary, but she's "defended" her tax increases or taxpayer grant money spending by pointing out how much the SD takes. AND she is "hurting" school districts by offering property tax breaks (PILOT) for rich developers. Maybe if they paid their fair share, the residents wouldn't have to make up so much of it in their property taxes. Ever think of that?


The tax burden for education in New York state must be uncoupled from property tax — immediately.

But, that will financially hurt the school districts where she said "Education is fundamental, expensive, and necessary". Right?

Quality of life in communities suffers because home improvements and repairs take a back seat to saving money for tax payments.

Especially when the Supervisor and Board takes money allocated to Home Improvements to pay out of state landlords on a lease.

AND when they hand out PILOT tax breaks for DECADES to developers, who could save the residents a few bucks on THEIR tax bills by paying their fair share!!! But noooooooo.......taxpayer subsidized projects like Medley Centre, and Kings Park are driving the car that the home improvements and repairs are in the back seat of.


We must control and ultimately cut back spending.

YES! Which is why it is so unfathomable to me that she gladly sticks her hand out for Joe Morelle's $125,000, and yet she was bleating about the State cutting costs and controlling spending! I have an idea how we can help the state cut back a bit....stop asking for more, and stop giving tax money to landlords and developers! Duh.

Property ownership is still the American dream. Please, New York state legislators, don’t kill that dream. Cut spending.

Unless it involves the ownership of the Pinegrove property. That's not an American Dream to them. Their dream is to pay over a million to out of state landlords on a lease. That is a nightmare....not a dream. Cut Spending? Yes! Good idea. Let's start with the roughly $1.5 million for Kings Pork. Then think about the PILOT tax breaks to Congel.

Evaluate everything from staff and energy costs to special projects and special interests.

Special interests? Hello? Kings Pork? Congel and the mixed use development? Hello?

We cannot continue to fund “special interest projects” at the cost of education, health care, infrastructure and basic service.

She's right, we can't. So........uh........why is she going ahead and doing this with Kings Pork and Congel?

Government must be leaner.

I think so too! I also think that she should practice what she preaches.....and walk the walk since she's been talking the talk.

Bah! What are words for? Heyman's actions speak louder.

Epitome of hypocrisy.

Heyman Lies Right To Your Face & 232-1212

Mary Ellen Heyman has been a busy girl - not for calling a public hearing like she is supposed to according to CDBG requirements - but for being at Tim Horton's handing out her glossy card stock lies, and arranging press conferences with Joe Morelle and every Dem in town, plus the two token Repubs from the Chamber Of Commerce.

"A grantee must develop and follow a detailed plan which provides for, and encourages, citizen participation" and the plan must: "provide for public hearings to obtain citizen views and to respond to proposals and questions at all stages of the community development program, including at least the development of needs, the review of proposed activities, and review of program performance"



She is telling you that the Pinegrove building is unsafe by handing you that political flier that states exactly that.

That is a lie. Mr. Merrick has not declared Pinegrove unsafe, and there are still ongoing activities there.

She has been quoted numerous times in the media that CDBG cannot be used for Pinegrove.

That is a lie. The budget cut to Pinegrove clearly states that repairs could be funded by CDBG.

She hands you the flier that says there will be no new cost to Irondequoit taxpayers.

That is a lie. Grants, (Whether Joe Morelle's or CDBG) come from YOUR TAXES! More grants mean more of your taxes used, means more of your taxes raised. $1.2 million of CDBG being paid as RENT to an out of state landlord is YOUR taxes GOING THERE instead of STAYING HERE.

If the WISD buys Pinegrove, they will need to make improvements, and your school budgets will be raised to pay for those improvements. YOU WILL PAY MORE TAXES. "New" costs for the SD to make improvements at Pinegrove if they buy it.

The only thing that isn't a lie on there, is that she wants you to VOTE YES on February 24th.

That is a no-no. By her handing you that flier that says "VOTE YES" on it......she is telling you how to vote.

232-1212

A resident has claimed they received a phone call from this number that asks if they are aware of the Senior Center issue etc., and if they're for it or against it. I'll try to find out more about this. Guessing that it probably is someone from the MCDC, because their fax number is pretty close to the above number.


Interesting.

The Town Has No Time For Resident Forums Re: Pinegrove-

But tons of time and cash to make up political fliers urging you to vote YES for the King's Park plan, and to hold press conferences with Joe Morelle.

Who needs stinkin' forums for public comment anyways? Phooey!
Of course you can give your opinion at public input during the Town Board Meeting, but you have a limited time to speak and you don't always get questions answered. You can be heard there, but it's not the same as public hearings for the use of CDBG funds, and you're not guaranteed to get answers or be shown studies and power point presentations etc.

Anyways, this particular flier was acquired at the House Of Bacchus, where they put it in the bag with your purchase of alcohol. Printed, according to the little mark in the bottom right hand corner, by the Union Label, and not at taxpayers' expense.

That's great. Thanks.

Instead of a public hearing or public meeting where residents could get some answers to some questions before this move is made - we get glossy card stock to read.

According to the CDBG site "A grantee must develop and follow a detailed plan which provides for, and encourages, citizen participation" and the plan must: "provide for public hearings to obtain citizen views and to respond to proposals and questions at all stages of the community development program, including at least the development of needs, the review of proposed activities, and review of program performance"

This was not done in this case, and when people realized the Town Board was voting unanimously to move the Senior Center without public hearings, they organized a grassroots, (during the busy holiday happenings between Thanksgiving and Christmas during that very cold couple of weeks...) door to door petition to force a referendum on this. Not to vote yes or no, but to have your voice heard! 1,952 people signed that hoping that this would force the referendum, and give the Town time to hold meetings and share their info and hear the public concerns etc.

Not done.




Granted, the people who petitioned and signed the petition don't have the Assembleyman/Chairman of the MCDC at their beck and call. They can't call press conferences with the media. They don't have a union behind them willing to pay for a print up of glossy card stock that takes advantage of the "guilt trip" spin. "Hey, our seniors sacrificed for you. Don't you think you should say THANK YOU to them and VOTE YES on February 24th?"

And if you don't VOTE YES? What does that mean? Do the seniors not care about kids when they VOTE NO on school budgets because they are sick of paying outrageous taxes in this town? If you really cared about the seniors, you'd give them way better tax breaks instead of giving them to Congel, don't you think? I mean, their kids already went to school and they've paid their dues, right? Why does Congel get to pay less to the SD through PILOT, and seniors don't?

King's Park.....heart of town.....enhance the seniors' quality of life......
It is exactly 3 miles from King's Park to Pinegrove. King's Park is not in "the heart of town". It's not even really "centrally located" at King's Park either. 3 miles difference is going to enhance the quality of life for seniors? I haven't seen any studies, or documentation that shows there is a "higher concentration" of seniors around King's Park, but if we're using that logic for why the Senior Center should move there......there's a high concentration of seniors at St. Ann's and maybe the Senior Center should go there, right?

8,000 additional square feet means better services for seniors, but it also means more staff, ergo more tax money to pay them. They aren't covered under CDBG, right?

The outdated and unsafe building at Pinegrove? Outdated, maybe. Unsafe? That is a lie. First of all, there's been tons of activities from numerous groups in the past years, and there
are activities going on now, and in the future. It's so unsafe that 8-12 year olds are invited to the classroom at Pinegrove for Helmer's Heroes. 4th - 6th graders can do crafts there. Adults can "come inside and have hot beverages by the fire" after a Moonlight Snowshoe. Winter Fun Day with some activities in the classroom. Pancake Breakfast is coming up. 2nd - 4th graders can learn about sharks. Irondequoit Art Club meets there. Red Cross has babysitting classes there, and a Macular Degeneration Support Group meets there too.

But it's unsafe. Uh huh. When did Mr. Merrick declare that Pinegrove is unsafe? I don't seem to recall him saying that, ever.






No new cost to Irondequoit's hard working taxpayers.... What? It's from GRANTS which can be federal or state-doesn't matter-and they come from.........wait for it........TAXES!!!
More square footage means more staff, and more taxes to pay them. If you sell the building to WISD they are going to need to repair/renovate, and where do you think that money is going to come from? A nice increase to the WISD budget is what I'm thinking.

Good grief.

Let's Put Seniors First In Irondequoit....Hello? Where have you been the past 3 years and more? "We" have been begging to get the libraries and Pinegrove fixed for a while. The Town just sat on it, hoping everyone would embrace paying for a lease at King's Park with no other alternatives. They are giving no one any choices here. It's either King's Park or the seniors sit in a building that the Town refuses to renovate or fix. They tried to sugar coat it by reallocating CDBG funds from a couple of other grants to pay for the move and a "temporary" lease for up to 5 years - that could cost well over 2 million dollars put into this when all is said and done, on a building the Town doesn't own, rather than spending half that on rebuilding or renovating a building they do own.






A lot of people have a lot of questions still.

Questions like;

I thought this wasn't political?

Is King's Park truly in the "heart" of town?

Where are the studies that show the highest concentration of seniors are in the King's park area?

Why is it more fiscally responsible to pay more to lease a building temporarily until you find a permanent one instead of fixing up Pinegrove or even rebuilding it, which can be funded through CDBG as well?

Joe's gracious "gift" of $125,000 today is a grant. State Funds. (Again, and I don't know why I have to keep repeating this, but grants and state funds come from taxes.)

Also, if Joe can pull the money out of his magic hat for this, can he do it for the libraries too? I mean, they need fixing up now. Leaky roof, mold, etc. Or, are we going to sit on that one too until it's "too late" and you "need to move forward" and put those libraries at King's Park? The seniors use those libraries. Don't you care about those seniors too?

And, where were these state funds years ago to fix up Pinegrove? Or, is that not the agenda?

Can you use this $125,000 grant to fix up Pinegrove now instead of giving it to the landlords at King's Park? (According to Mr. Morelle's answer to a resident at the Press Conference today, yes, they can use this money for Pinegrove.)

Why should our grant money go to Landlords in MA?


And let's talk about how much the Town cares about the seniors when they cut funding for Pinegrove in the budget. It clearly states that they cut the budget for Pinegrove, in which the repairs could be funded by CDBG funds.



Vote YES or NO, whatever YOU think is best. But remember when you pull that lever, that the ONLY REASON you had a chance to vote on it in the first place is because about 40 concerned residents went out to collect the signatures of 1,952 concerned residents to give you that right. It's not a privilege, it's a right. The Town is upset that you wanted that right. They didn't hold any public hearings on this at all during this time, even though when using CDBG funds, they are supposed to.