Walking The Walk

I don't know if you've noticed, but I complain a lot on here. I do...I know this, and I accept it. I don't know if everyone else is as accepting. :) But...ya know what? They may have a point in being "less receptive" to my complaining if I don't offer some type of solution, or alternative.

I know I have made some suggestions in the past, or I've said to just "do away" with some things to save some money and help municipalities run more efficiently. I don't always focus on the solutions (sometimes I do), and instead only point out the problems (a majority of the time).

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Pork, Upstate's Lack of it, and Buying Votes.

Remember the "big member" blog I did a while back where I said:
"Years ago, when the Republicans were the majority of the Senate, earmarks were distributed mostly to special projects on Long Island and upstate NY - while the Democratic majority Assembly sent most of their money to NYC and the surrounding suburbs.

Now that the majority of both chambers are controlled by New York City Democrats.....upstate might see a little less of the $cha-ching$ that they used to get."

A friend recently sent me an article from the Albany Times Union that shows how much Upstate is losing in the "Pork Barrel Spending" game.

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Big Member.........

......... ITEMS, that is........

A good chunk of change is given out all across NYS in the form of member items. You could say that member items are "state funds allocated for public purposes such as community projects, civil or public health programs...".

You could say that they are legislative earmarks doled out by individual members for pet projects.

Or, you could be completely honest and say that member items are "incumbency protection plans".

Over $170 million is in this year's budget for "earmarks" that will be divided up, and given to the Senate and Assembly for member items.

The majority party in each chamber takes the largest share of the member item money, and then the leader of the majority party in the Senate and the Assembly takes the biggest chunk and divvies up the rest, with senior members typically getting the most.

Years ago, when the Republicans were the majority of the Senate, earmarks were distributed mostly to special projects on Long Island and upstate NY - while the Democratic majority Assembly sent most of their money to NYC and the surrounding suburbs.

Now that the majority of both chambers are controlled by New York City Democrats.....upstate might see a little less of the $cha-ching$ that they used to get.

Ya wanna talk about "pay-to-play"? Research by Taxpayers for Common Sense uncover the uncanny alignment between earmarks and campaign cash.
Check out some of the links on this site.....it's pretty eye-opening.

Another very helpful tool to use when searching NYS member items is the SunlightNY site. You can view every county in NYS, and find other interesting things to peruse on there.

For instance, Irondequoit for 2008-2009:




Irondequoit for 2007-2008:



Irondequoit for 2006-2007:




Morelle for 2008-2009:






Morelle for 2007-2008:






Morelle 2006-2007:






Hmm.....it seems to show the same stuff that was in the previous blog about Pork-o-nomic$......not much at all given to the senior services at Pinegrove....just that $5,000 2007 gift from Alesi.

I guess $40,000 bleachers at McAvoy was more important than $40,000 worth of upgrades at Pinegrove.

You can clearly see how much "member item" money is spent on Seniors in Irondequoit......you know, the town with the highest percentage of seniors in Monroe County.......who are being told that they "come first"......well, after art, schools, sports, police, cabarets, landfill and water studies, bleachers, upgrades to Perinton Senior Centers, vans, kitchen upgrades, Henrietta Senior Centers......THEN they are definitely first!

Speaking of "Seniors First".....I was thinking about the "Seniors First Committee" at 3098 St. Paul Blvd. while looking up all this info.

They are "Active"....according to SunlightNY:




They haven't filed anything though. They sent out mailers.....how can they not have any expenditures? It said right in the top left corner that the mailers were paid for by the Irondequoit Seniors First Committee.

Unless......they didn't really pay for it, and the IDC paid for it, and is not expecting reimbursement? I have no idea what happened with that.

The "Seniors First Committee".....when was it started? Did they always care about seniors? Or did they just start caring about seniors jussssst before February 24th, 2009?

I wonder if there is anything on file with the "finance database"?

Let's take a look:









Nuthin'.

I thought they were a "committee"? A "committee" who puts "Seniors First"?

If they are truly a "committee", there should be some history of expenditures there, don't you think? Especially since Irena Scoglio was quoted in the D&C as assuming she would be billed for the money spent on the mailers that had her address in the top left corner as the "Senior's First Committee".

I wonder why there is no history there?

There should be......you know......because they care so much about Seniors, and put them first and all........

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight?

Pork-o-nomic$

The Democrat and Chronicle has a very helpful tool to use called "RocDocs". Here is the link.

If you scroll down towards the end of the page, you will see a link to "Pork-Barrel Spending".

If you type in a word.....say, for instance "Morelle".....it will show you all of the projects that Morelle has distributed member item money to.

It is broken down into Assembly and Senate, so you can check names.

You can also type in words like "Seniors", "Aging", etc. and find out how much other towns received for those groups.

As you may know, Irondequoit has the highest percentage of Seniors in Monroe County, and I would think it only natural that member item money would be directed to Senior Services in Irondequoit more than any other town......right?

I would think that Senior Services and Aging would be a number one priority for Morelle to direct member item money to.........right?

I mean, the mailers have claimed that the "Seniors First Committee" is all about giving the seniors what they deserve, and I'm sure they would have contacted Morelle to send some of that member item money their way.........right?

I should be able to look up the past 5 years on this "Pork-Barrel spending" member item money list and see a bunch of stuff for Irondequoit's Seniors.......right?

Because it's the priority with MEH and the Board........right?

Riiiiiiiiiiight?

Let's have a look-see:

Member Item Money For All Of Irondequoit From 2003-2008:




According to this, only ONE $5,000 "gift" was given to Senior Citizen Programs from Alesi in the past 5 years, in 2007.

Hmm...maybe there's more listed under Morelle? Let's look:

Member Item Money Distributed By Joe Morelle For 2003-2008:













According to this, NOTHING was given to Irondequoit Senior Citizen Programs from Morelle - But under the "Aging" agency label -

$10,000 given to the Jewish Home Foundation for resident programs and services.
$15,000 given to the Ibero American League for a handicapped accessible van.
$25,000 given to the Ibero American League for a wheelchair accessible van.
$75,000 given to Lifespan for operating expenses.

Hmmm....maybe there is more listed under "Aging"? Let's look:

Member Item Money Distributed to the "Aging" agency:





According to this, member item money was spent on some town's senior centers-

$50,000 to Henrietta for renovations to their senior center.
$45,000 to Wheatland Senior Center for a van.
$37,000 to Penfield Senior Center for kitchen upgrades.
$30,000 to Henrietta Senior Center for a passenger van.
$16,000 to Sweden Senior Center to repair handicap ramp.
$10,000 to Sweden Senior Center for operating expenses.
$10,000 to Fairport/Perinton Senior Living Council for Elderbus expenses.
$5,000 to Henrietta Senior Center for new equipment.
($5,000 to Irondequoit.....from Alesi....repeat of what is above under "Irondequoit")
$5,000 to Wheatland Senior Center for programs and services.
$5,000 to East Rochester Community Resource Center for programming and services at the Senior Center.
$5,000 to East Rochester Senior Citizens for programming and services at the Senior Center.
$5,000 to Fairport Senior Living Council.
$5,000 to Fairport Senior Living Council for transportation for elderly.
$5,000 to Chili for services at Chili Senior Center.

Hmm.....maybe there is more listed under "Seniors". Let's look:

Member Item Money Distributed to "Senior" agencies:



Hmm.....pretty much the same things that are listed under "Aging".

I wonder why all these other towns and groups can get mega member item money to fix up their senior centers and buy vans and upgrade kitchens etc., but Irondequoit got $5,000 in 2007 for their senior services?

That's it?!?!

But........but......I thought Senior Services was a priority!?!?