Hi all, just some information.  As probably most area bloggers do, we read each other's work and 99.9% of the time they are right on spot and very interesting.  From Citizen Nancy's news to Dan De Federicis local business and entertainment blogs, to name a few, are most interesting to read.  Most people especially most bloggers don't pay any attention to one blogger who doesn't live in our City but knocks everybody in it.  I want to thank this blogger for using information from my stories on his blog, the blogger does however, add his own venom to the stories.  I don't like this blogger, most people don't either, but I want to put up a post of his and let me know how you feel about his style.  First a response to his post by your Captain. Here goes.

Captain America here, blogger.  Just a note, please don't put me in the John & Nancy club.  We at the League are here to put out some interesting true stories and some truth into your mostly fabricated stories.  We are, as our profile states " Truth in blogging. News as pure as the wind driven snow." Thanks for putting my material on your blog."  Let me know what style you like better (lol)

  Now his poston his blog

"....So as much as Housing Authority Director Ed Spychalski along with his cheerleader and chief Eric Weller want to po po it {Weller called it "petty garbage"} there is a serious drug and violence problem in Saratoga Springs public housing.So heres to you AL, you were RIGHT"

"NOW on to the ulgy citizen team of Saratoga Springs, John Goldberg and his little racist wife Nancy Goldberg"

"So let’s see what they have to say about Saratoga’s new movie theater? These are direct quotes from them."
“What ever happened to the City in the Country we were famous for? We have sacrificed a peaceful, quaint, busy city to the likes of Tom Roohan, Sonny Bonacio, John Witt type realtor/developers and they have turned our city into a mini NYC. Remember, they are all in bed together (some literally). I would hope the Design Review Committee will come to a sane decision {on the movie theater} and throw this idea out the window, well we can always hope.’

On the new fish market

“Saratoga also has a new fish market and brewery opening, so Broadway will now start smelling more like NYC for the benefit of those moving here that want to change Saratoga into a mini New York City. You know the cast of characters, they are the usual suspects.”

Remember folks, these people along with Eileen Finneran Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety, run the Saratoga Springs Democratic committee.The Anderson trial is starting in Federal court Monday in Albany. Let’s see if Nancy Goldberg is called to quantify her famous remarks calling potential residents of the Anderson project” spics and niggers or Negros” depending on the contradictory testimony.

I will be reporting on the ballet and everybody’s favorite 300k fuck up former Joe Bruno toy Marcia White later on this week.

JUST A FEW NEWS TIDBITS I WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON.

With the track opened, real information is pretty slow and well, Scott Johnson and Shauna Sutton must be in Miami getting a tan or something.

It looks like if and when the new ‘coming to your neighborhood Bonacio Theater’ happens, we will have to pay twice to see a movie.  Once for the admission and again to cover the tax break (someone has to pay for it).  Saratoga Springs just seems to get a bit crazier by the day but that’s the trade off for living in the greatest City in the world or so some people say.

Marylou Whitney and her husband John have given exclusive rights to sell the Marylou Whitney Rose, Yankee Candle to Saratoga Hospital.  Oh yes, there is joy in Mudville.  There is also a rumor that a statue of Marylou will be erected in Congress Park and that people can go there to light a candle, kneel and watch a video of her entrances from her various past galas with commentary from Michelle Riggi.  City officials are hoping that the heat and scent from the candles will heat the public restrooms and make them smell like a Marylou Whitney rose.  Her husband John will appear at the Spring Grand Opening of the public toilets (Skip Scirocco and Mayor Johnson cut the ribbon this year, no pun intended).

Saratoga also has a new fish market and brewery opening, so Broadway will now start smelling more like NYC for the benefit of those moving here that want to change Saratoga into a mini New York City.  You know the cast of characters, they are the usual suspects.

I see that a local out of town blogger, ‘he who shall not be named’ because he still thinks he lives here and is well a brazil nut, is using my (yes, your Captain’s) story lines on his blog.  Must be when they kicked him out of SPAC he doesn’t know what to write about.  We all know him; he is in bed with Mayor Scott Johnson, Esq., attorney for midgets.

I would like an answer to a question.  I ask this because I know my readers will give me a clean and honest answer and I would like you to respond.

Do you think Saratoga Springs should put a moratorium on building for a period of time on new building, including anything that is on the books for immediate expansion?  Again, I would appreciate your comments.

BONACIO’S MILLION DOLLAR MOVIE

I would never want to cast aspersions on our great Planning Board but it does surprise me that only 1 member (Amy Durland) had comments about the movie theater project that Sonny Bonacio will develop but only if we pay for it.

The Saratogian reports, “It’s a good problem to have,” said Board Chair L. Clifford Van Wagner. “There are a lot of cities that would like to have that many people downtown.”

This guy must have his head where it doesn’t belong.  Most cities don’t want the traffic problems Saratoga has.  What ever happened to the City in the Country we were famous for?  We have sacrificed a peaceful, quaint, busy city to the likes of Tom Roohan, Sonny Bonacio, John Witt type realtor/developers and they have turned our city into a mini NYC.   Remember, they are all in bed together (some literally).  All but one board member (Durland) have been appointed by Scott Johnson during his ‘reign of terror’, and it’s a safe bet she will not be reappointed. Johnson (Scott), has crafted this Planning Board with his ‘old time politicos’ and the Jimmy Johnson hair look alike Van Wagner and with a new slot opening at the end of this year (Durland’s), will undoubtedly place someone will do his biding.

I would hope the Design Review Committee will come to a sane decision and throw this idea out the window, well we can always hope.

TEMPERED BY MEMORY 9/11 SCULPTURE

I drove by the steel disgrace that plopped into our City today.  This eyesore monstrosity is better suited to be set up at the City landfill instead of being planted in the City proper.  If you get a chance, visit some cities via the internet and look at what beautiful memorials were crafted out of the steel that was given to them, you will be amazed by some and in awe of others.

However, Saratoga Springs can never do anything normal.  We (the City) accepted this heap of destruction and I guess from the arguments from last year this humongous bird perch is classified as beautiful art.  I’ll keep my mask, tights and shield, thank you.

I don’t think that I could ever bring out of town friends to visit this piece of art and tell them what it is with a straight face.  Someone has to bring these fruitcakes that think they have to keep bringing things like this into Saratoga Springs, under control.

First it was the Palacio Del Riggi, then 101 Condominiums now the Twisted Sister, what next, a statue of Scott Johnson holding Shauna Sutton?

SARATOGA SPRINGS GREAT NON PROFITS AND IT'S 1 IDIOT

When you look at the good work non-profits do in Saratoga Springs you have to appreciate all the hard work that is done by the volunteers and the paid Director’s and support staff.

We have the unfortunate miserable luck to have in our area a blogger that is so hateful and acidic that we all should be ashamed to even say hello to this idiot.  I don’t mention his name not because I shouldn’t but because hardly anyone reads his blog and I wouldn’t want you to even bother to go and take a look at it.  He writes hate filled articles, then comments anonymously about his own article.  If you happen to be involved as an unpaid volunteer, drink a cup of coffee with your left hand, in need of a hair cut or any other of about 1,000 things, he will find a way to start to attack you (I have never been on his hit list, so this is not pay back).

This ‘blogger’ is now degrading every non profit director who makes a salary for doing their job.  He has gone after the YMCA, Saratoga Bridges, and SPAC and will be starting on the Hospital and Prevention Council next, according to his hit list.

It is hard to understand why this guy is filled with so much hate.  Everyone can complain (even I, your Captain does), but this guy takes the cake.  He has been out of work because of a ‘disability’ from the City for years, collecting a fat check every month that comes from OUR money and he demands that Director’s of non profits are “overpaid leeches”.  If he only sat in the chair of a Director for 1 week he still would not be able to comprehend all the work and extra time that goes into the job.

So non profits, we want to take the time to say thank you for all of your dedication and hard work, our City is in the hands of some terrific people.

144th SEASON OF RACING IN AND AROUND SARATOGA SPRINGS

Well, the racing has descended upon us for the 144^th time.  I read in our local paper where room hotel and motel rentals have been booked at a higher rate than last year at this time, but they must not be going to the track.  While the “robust” crowd was up only 521 people from last years “robust” crowd of 25,155.  Saturday’s crowd was a dismal 21,948 with 11 races.  The figure might be a little off from last year but I couldn’t find the comparison in the pink sheet from last year and Saturday’s figure.

I love the ad on the front page of the Pink Sheet, the one that states that they are the only ‘Gentlemen’s Club in Saratoga’ with one-on-one couch dances and they also have ‘amateur night’ (must be lap dancing on folding chairs).  The funny part of the ad is that they bill themselves as a Saratoga Club but are located in Clifton Park.  Everyone wants to be a Saratogian during the track meet.

I also heard that there might be an investigation of mismanagement at the Racino, gee, that’s a surprise.  This will be another take over for the Governor.

A word to our very own city newspaper, will you please take down the headline on the front page of the online version of the paper about Marylou Whitney being our own aristocrat?  If it’s up for much longer it will be as old as she is.

Well, I have to go and polish my shield, it's about time to go out and protect those people walking on Broadway from being poked by a burning 11" cigar.

  

OUST NY CITY BALLET AND PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA?

The NY City Ballet season has come to a close in Saratoga hopefully for the last time, and maybe the Philadelphia Orchestra’s stay also.  We are not saying that these two fine arts be removed for ever but maybe just the players.  If you are a ballet or orchestra lover does it matter who is in residence at SPAC.  If SPAC could get two other fine groups for a longer time period for less money, would that disgust the ardent lovers of the ballet and orchestra, or are they just fighting to keep what we have so they can go on slamming SPAC management?    Think about it, (ok, times up), I vote to oust the NY City Ballet and Philadelphia Orchestra if it would extend by a few more weeks each of the ‘classical’ seasons.

NEW CITY GARAGE

 I read that 3/4 of the new Woodlawn Parking Garage is set to open this Friday (July 20th).  One floor is not completed but should be ready in a week.  The deck took 3 months to build, if it is the top deck that isn't finished, I wouldn't dare park in any of the levels below it, unless I was wearing a hard hat and a suit of armor.  Oh well, happy parking.  Now is the time of the year that those born in Saratoga Springs who calls those who moved here ‘carpetbaggers’ gladly open their arms to 6 week 'carpet baggers' so they can drain them of their money and send them packing.  After Labor Day, they start complaining about those taxpaying, civic minded carpet baggers again.  Amazing, I love the City, but the natives are too restless.

SAVE THE BALLET?

Well, I listened to the City Council meeting on TV tonight.  I can always count on a good comedy when at or listening to a Council meeting.  The topic tonight was Save the Ballet.  One gentleman got up to speak during the public session and either had a fifth of Jim Beam before he spoke or there really is someone that can imitate FDR with a cigarette holder in his mouth.  Basically he went on to say that SPAC was built for the “fine arts” and anyone who dares to go to a rock concert is a simpleton.  He wants the City to financially support the ballet and orchestra and the term they are here should be extended.  Heck, the City can’t even afford to put a Memorial Day Parade or a Fourth of July celebration on and he wants us to support the fine arts?  This guy must be related to Remiga Foy as the Mayor let him drone on for at least 5 minutes.  I was flipping back and forth to a movie and I left him babbling and when I came back, someone had either shot him or he had the microphone pried from his hands.

Then there was Phil (the Thrill) Diamond who spoke about the fact that SPAC was built for ballet and the orchestra and that is why Saratoga has grown because it has drawn the educated to our ‘town’.  HEY PHIL, WE ARE A CITY.   Excuse me, back to Phil; he must be part of Save the Ballet group.  This group now has a script they use and he quoted from this script.  “The people who come to watch the Ballet and Orchestra stay in our hotels, eat in our restaurants and spend their money shopping downtown, while those who attend Phish concerts, but I have nothing against Phish, fall out of trees naked and use our resources like City Police, they take up space in our emergency room, they don’t stay in our hotels, eat in our restaurants or come downtown to shop”.  You know this came from a Council meeting as one cannot make this stuff up.

After Phil, some lady spoke about how she was from Saratoga and her family goes back generations and she is proud that her parents were in the generation that went around collecting pennies and donated money to build the outdoor venue., at this point the Mayor asked her to state her address.  She thinks that every Saratogian should donate money to keep the Ballet here.  Then came Dee, and well, who cares.

The message of all the speakers (as I said, I have a feeling they all belong to the Save group) had in common was that the fine art’s were for the educated in Saratoga and those who attend the other functions at SPAC were the drop outs.

First off, if the ballet and orchestra are such money losers why do we have to have the NYC Ballet and the Philadelphia Orchestra?  I think a few years ago we had another Ballet company perform and they were a big hit, and a lot less expensive.  The same could be said for the Orchestra, there are probably a few Orchestras that are as good for a lot less money.  Those that want to attend the Gala for the ballet could still dress up and spend the big bucks, or better yet dress down, eat hot dogs and give what they would have spent on themselves to SPAC as a donation.

HERRING BONE HERRICK

Say it isn’t so.  It looks like John Herrick’s head popped out of the musical box again.  He has thrown his hat into the ring to succeed Jasper Nolan as Republican County Chairman.

This is the same Herrick that caused so much turmoil as City Chairman he ‘resigned’ his post after the 2011 elections. 

This is the same Herrick that allied himself so close with Scott Johnson that he muffed up the rest of the Council causing the majority to go to the Democrats.

 
This is the same Herrick that let the post go to his head, walking around with his head held up saying look at me, pretty me, pretty Chairman... very pretty Chairman.  The only other news that would make us pause at the Justice League is if Andrew Jarosh threw his hat in the ring.

In all honesty, I feel Chris Callaghan would be better suited for the position of Republican County Chairman.  Where is Jenny Scarano when you need her?

GOING QUIETLY INTO THE NIGHT

Why is it, that almost anyone that gets involved in an elected office ends up never wanting to leave on an high note but waits until they become an embarrassment to themselves, their office or in this case a Party Committee ?  So is the case in the 27 year Saratoga County Chairman Jasper Nolan, who is ‘not running for another term’ and now in retirement would like to be ‘chairman emeritus’ –it never ends.  Jasper was 'the man' when politics was a one party system in Saratoga County.  If you wanted a County or City job, ‘go see Jasper’.  If you wanted a summer job at the track, ‘go see Jasper’ and on and on.  Remember you had to be a registered Republican to get a job and you needed to be at the Party’s beck and call forever after.  That used to be the way politics worked.  We all know politics is really a dirty game fought in the trenches by Party Leaders who most of the time will stop at nothing to say or do anything, just as long as it helps their candidates get elected and Jasper was a master at these games.  These strong armed tactics that were prevalent in the past weren’t just done in the Republican Party, just look at what Albany had as a Democratic despot for mucho decades.  (I’m just throwing in one of my foreign language bits).

Jasper just didn’t have a handle on things the past few years and why he kept being elected shows the power one person can control if they have the right connections.  I feel this is one reason we don’t see as many strong boss types in local politics anymore, when the long term boss leaves the connections usually leave with them and it’s hard to get them back in the pocket of a new person.

As I said earlier, politicians should know when to go.  We can take a look at Saratoga’s own Tom McTygue.  He was in office for over 30 years and he was fortunate to have a good Deputy in the last number of years in Pat.  Pat had the City looking great and knew how to run a tight ship with the City DPW crews.  Tom should have left 15 years before he was defeated, as he had become somewhat of an exposed embarrassment for his role of Commissioner and for things that were going on in his department that some say were not kosher.

As for our own Mayor Johnson, 4 years would have suited him the best.  He is starting to become in public what those who work in City Hall and those who have tried to get public information from the City are treated like we live in the old USSR.  Mayor Johnson, staying in the position when he should have gotten out with a shred of decency is becoming Saratoga Springs embarrassment and heck, he is even embarrassing himself.

Should they stay until they hear the slogans like “Remiga, who needs ya” or “Ken, Ken, Kenny, bye bye”?

But other than voting them out of office, how do we say ‘hey, its time to go’?  If they don’t live up to the majority of those who put them in office and that majority starts to complain, well, who wants to hear them bellyache, it’s your fault.

Goodbye Jasper, your time has come, only it should have been 15 years ago.

Here We Go Again

   

Exactly how many 4 story buildings can a small city have before it looks like a large city and loses its small city charm?  Well, just keep your eyes on Saratoga Springs and you’ll see how long.  The landscape has changed so much that if you left the City 10 years ago, you wouldn’t know Saratoga when you came back to visit.

There used to be various contractors that built the monstrosities in the past but under our current Mayor it seems he is pushing these buildings through on a fast track.  Why you ask?  Probably because after this term he will bounce back and forth between Miami, California and some brief visits to Saratoga Springs.  What mentality has spurred the growth and wants to keep it going?  Well, those who have come into Saratoga to make the City home come from largely populated areas and are mostly seniors (not all) who have retired here to get away from the nightmares of big city living.  Are these people responsible for making Saratoga a mini version of the large cities they left?  I will grant you, the arts, museums, a City Center, short access to the Northway etc., etc., etc. (gee, I used one of Mayor Johnson’s most used phrase) make Saratoga Springs a very nice place to live, but at what expense?  Saratoga Springs has lost that quaint charm it once had, are we better off or not?

I feel this rampant growth has to ease up until our infrastructure can handle this growth.  Saratoga Springs has only grown by about 400 people in the last 10 years according to the last census, yet when looking around you would think we have doubled our population.

One business to be built if the developer can get 3 million dollars in tax breaks would be an 11 screen theater with retail and apartments, why can’t those who work in Saratoga Springs live here with all these new apartments?

On the heals of this announcement comes the Congress Plaza giant, a 6 story hotel (the owner says maybe some retail, maybe not).  He already has a hotel chain lined up; at least he plans on additional parking spots.  I wonder if this deal comes with a tax break like the theater?  We need more 5 & 6 story buildings in Saratoga, especially downtown.

CITY MANAGER MERIDETH ROBSON SPEAKING

 Well, I want to add some information to those interested in getting some information from a City Manager.  A friend sent me this link and because of the 1 minute 35 second interview that Barbara Lombardo put together from a 1 hour sit down with Merideth, I felt you deserved to hear a little info from the source.  Use the information as you wish.  Follow the link if you are interested.  By the way, for a 'homemade' video it was well done, maybe Ms. Lombardo should have watched it first to piece together her interview, obviously she can't follow the spoken word.

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzKZvcMPRao

PAT SUMMITT, A LEGEND

I don’t know how many of you readers like college woman’s basketball, but I happen to like almost all college sports better than the pros except for baseball (could never stand aluminum bats) and football with an exception, I also like pro football.

Tonight one of the greatest college or for that matter one of the greatest basketball coaches was honored Wednesday night with an ESPY award.  Her name is Pat Summitt.  Having coached from 1974 – 2012 at the University of Tennessee, Summitt is the only coach in NCAA history, and one of three college coaches overall, with 1,000 (1,098) victories.  Her teams won eight NCAA national championships, second only to the record 10 titles won by UCLA men's coach John Wooden.  In 2009, the Sporting News listed her number 11 on its list of the 50 Greatest Coaches of All Time in all sports; she was the only woman on the list.  In 38 years as a coach she never had a losing season.

It seems that we idolize athletes, managers and coaches when they are really like us, people who love doing their jobs.

In 2011 at age 59, Pat was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease, she finished the season in a reduced role.  In one interview she stated "There's not going to be any pity party and I'll make sure of that."  I’m sure that a lady like Pat will be a fighter, battling this terrible disease with the same drive she had as a coach.

When we look at our lives we may think that we have it tough, we forget that we should take the time to look around at some in our own country and around the world to see how really good most of us have it.  I hope and that you also,  pray that God watches over Pat and her family so that she can inspire us to take it on the chin and keep fighting.

Nancy Muldoon aka Citizen Nancy

Hello Wednesday.  Well, Citizen Nancy signed off for what we hope will be a short hiatus.  While we here at the Justice League wish her good luck in her future endeavors we will certainly miss the cutting edge stories and the on point interviews she has given us.  I can’t think of one blog that gave Saratoga Springs better information and most of the time, breaking news features, than Citizen Nancy did.  It’s rare that one can write a blog and back up everything up with facts.  Sometimes her stories weren’t that popular because she pushed the envelope in getting to the heart of the matter and that upset some people, but that didn’t stop Nancy from writing a story or just giving her honest view of a subject matter.

Again, we wish you well Nancy and hope you get back to the blog soon; someone needs to keep Saratoga in line.



Movie Theater Wants Free Admission

The latest on the new proposed movie theater has taken a turn many people anticipated.  Mr. Bonacio gets $3 million dollars in tax breaks or the deal to build the 11 screen theater and 2 floors of inexpensive office space is called off.  Saratoga Springs, the County and School District need money, giving it away seems like a step backwards.  The deal seems to benefit Bonacio and screw the 3 entities .Several posters to the article had some good points.  “There are never 11 movies at a time that ANYONE wants to see. How about 2 screens with first run movies” said ‘myupstater’, “How about the first floor for parking, the theater on the 2nd floor and offices on the 3rd floor? Without the parking I wouldn't grant him the right to build” by native_saratogian, Joe F said “Neither a movie theater or "modern" downtown market is needed. What's next? Perhaps a mini Times Square or a Trump Tower. My survey says most people moved to the area to get away from this type of growth and continued increase in population” and “I'd like to see something more useful than a movie theatre in town. Perhaps a theatre like Proctors. Catching a show or concert in the midst of winter would be sweet.”.

        Of course Mayor Johnson & Commissioner Franck are all for giving Mr. Bonacio all the tax breaks he wants.  The attorney for Mr. Bonacio, Matt Jones estimates that $2.5 million in concession sales will generate needed sales tax unless he also wants us to give that income up for 10 years.

I stated before in previous post that the Mayor should move fast to have the zoning board institute the code that you must provide parking for either square feet or by a number of potential customers.  We needed additional parking downtown and it seems we are creating businesses where we will be creating more of a mess than before.

        I guess that’s progress, but in the end we the citizens will be footing the bill.

A Barbara Lombardo Interview????

I went online tonight and saw where Barb Lombardo had interviewed The City Manager from Beacon New York.  I haven’t made any meetings of Saratoga Citizen and only get information from their website which has some very good articles and video pieces.

When I found out that Ms. Lombardo’s interview with the Manager from Beacon could be seen on video from a click from the article, I said to my self, a great chance to hear a City Manager explain what the job entails.  Holy crap, Batman.  It took longer for the piece to load up than the time the interview took (1.34)  I thought it was 1 hour and 34 minutes, but zowie, it was 1 minute and 34 seconds.  I hope Ms. Lombardo doesn’t interview many people because it wouldn’t pay to sit down for her interview.  So, since that was a Saratogian bomb I’ll have to hope that Saratoga Citizen outs her discussion at the Library on their site or wait for another Manager to visit.  However, this time I won’t relax in my chair with my popcorn and Pepsi in anticipation of a good interview.  Heck, it took 2 minutes to microwave the popcorn!  Until later, same Bat time, same Bat blog.

Thank You MaryLou Whitney and Good Health

With the upcoming racing season fast approaching, Saratoga Springs gears up to make our visitors welcome and make sure they have a great time.  I also hope that one of our Great Dames of Saratoga has the good fortune to have a healthy season so she can enjoy the great times ahead.  For years this patron of Saratoga Springs has graced our City and put it on the map rivaling any city as the best social scenes ever.  She truly is one of the main reasons we flourish socially and there is no one in the mirror to take her place, she is one of a kind.  Her aid in helping non profits, contributing to many of the arts and even bringing national prominence to many arts organizations is unparallel in our City.  We can’t even begin to say thank you, but saying thank you we must.  Why not send her a card and tell her how much she has meant to Saratoga or just a simple hello, I’m sure she would get a kick out of it.  Again, remember she is one of a kind, although there may be pretenders to the throne there will never be anyone like her.



He Who Shall Not Be Named Should Go Phishing

According to a blogger (he who shall not be named), as he does remind us of Voldemort from Harry Potter, he now wants to start a ‘Remove Commissioner from Office’ group.  As of this date it consists of 1 (he who shall not be named).

I think this blogger has forgotten that Commissioner Mathiesen who won on the very platform that he is carrying out today is doing something behind everyone’s back.  Why you think that the masses hang on your every word is beyond me.

In the last election you claim by helping Johnson and digging up dirt on Wilkes (which was later proven you were entirely wrong, not only by various media but the State of NY.  As a matter of fact it was the dirty false statement that you were spreading that spurred Johnson & Sutton, to put out that bogus political piece at every house in Saratoga Springs and Wilkes only lost by some 200 votes.

We should not forget what promises politicians run on and if elected old their feet to the fire to accomplish those goals.  You feel when one wins on his campaign promises he or she should be removed from office.

Well, he who shall not be named, I think its time for you to go phishing.

New Parking Garage to Provide Only A Net of 200 Spots

Prior to the year 2000, there was a zoning transect in affect that basically dealt with parking requirements for new building.  For every unit or square footage you needed so many parking spots.  Many of the condos have their own parking on the ground floor of the units.  Some of the condo’s built after 2000 even put the parking in as a measure of not impacting downtown parking spaces.  However, it was the idea of some developers that tenants would park on the street at night and would be gone during the day (working or whatever).  The code was also eliminated to encourage downtown growth by eliminating the need to provide using building space for parking.

Today if you build in certain areas of the City the parking rule is enforced or if you alter an existing building for certain new businesses you will need to provide x number of parking spaces per square foot of the building.  This does not pertain to the rumored movie theater going up where the old Price Chopper was located.  The new parking garage will serve as tenant parking and theater parking spots.

While we desperately need a new parking garage downtown and the new one on

Woodlawn Avenue

is a nice one, it still gives us only a net of 200 spaces and the top deck will not be used in the winter.  The cost for the 200 parking spaces will end up costing $30,000.00 each.

My only disappointment with the decision by the Mayor’s Committee is why didn’t you use more property to extend the parking garage therefore create more parking spaces?  Granted it would have been a little more expensive but with all the equipment in place there already and seeing how fast the garage was assembled, one would think that gaining more parking spots would be a little more palatable than having a net 200 and 187 of them being used by the new condo tenants across the street.

We know this Mayor will not act to propose that the Planning Board consider enacting the transect that was eliminated in 2000; we can only hope that a new Mayor will have the smarts to think about doing this.

Saratoga Springs own Groundhog's Day

This year's Fourth of July, the day we celebrate the founding of our nation, we should   take a moment to think about where we would be if not for the men & women that fought so hard to gain their Independence.

Okay, I've thought where we would be if the men and women of 1776 were not so brave and couldn't decide what side of the fence to be on.

I'm thinking of our own Mayor Johnson.  He would be wearing one of those white powdered wigs one day and playing a fife the next day.

After netting about $27 million dollars (his share) of the tobacco lawsuit, and no he didn't sue because it stunted his growth, the next thing you can only desire to satisfy your hunger is POWER, especially when you think you are above everyone else because you feel no one is right except you.  Anyone following Saratoga politics can see the progression of power he is assuming in this Commission form of government.  The Mayor has virtually stopped all public information from being obtained by the citizens who have a legal right to have it.  He has turned his department into the most tightly closed government office in the city's history (or so I have been told), as I am not as old as our original native Saratogian, Remiga Foy.  Here is a list of basically the same statements he has made over the years regarding Charter change, which he is still possibly thinking of starting a Mayoral Committee some 4 months before the election.  Now tying this all back to 1776, if he was the people's General, we would all be speaking with an English accent and stopping mid-day for tea and crumpets.

Published: Saturday, June 30, 2012

By LUCIAN McCARTY

“Thursday, Mayor Scott Johnson said he is still publicly undecided about whether he will create a mayoral commission to explore charter change.”

“I don’t want to unduly delay it,” he said. “There are reasons why I’ve delayed my announcement.”

“He would not divulge the reasons.”

Published: Wednesday, June 27, 2012

posted by Lucian at 11:32 AM

“I'd ask him again today (about the Mayor’s plans), but I've left him three messages in three days to talk about the SSHA and I haven't heard back.”

Published: Saturday, May 19, 2012

By LUCIAN McCARTY

“Although the City Council voted Tuesday night to move forward the charter change proposal based on Saratoga Citizen’s 2010 petition, Mayor Scott Johnson has left open the possibility of blocking the initiative before it appears on the November ballot.”

“All options are on the table,” Johnson said Friday, maintaining he has the “sole authority” to create a charter change commission. “I don’t need any consent or votes from the council.”

Johnson said he will discuss the creation of a mayoral charter change commission “in fairly short order” but would not elaborate on a timeframe.

“I haven’t ruled anything out,” he said.

 

 

Saratoga Citizen wins legal challenge; court rules charter change should be on the ballot

By LUCIAN McCARTY

Published: Thursday, April 05, 2012

“I am not going to stand in the way of this initiative,” Johnson said. “I have always been viewing this as my legal obligation as the mayor.”

Published: Saturday, February 19, 2011

By Pat Donges

“While admitting that two competing charter referendums (which is what could appear on the ballot this year if the council appoints a commission and Saratoga Citizen’s proposal is approved) would be potentially confusing, Johnson said he believes there is still time to form a new commission to discuss how the current charter could be “clarified” or “tailored.”

“At this point the landscape has obviously changed,” he said. “I’m still considering all options.”

Now does this sound like something out of the movie Groundhog Day?



Our Mystery Groundhog



                                                      



Is this man a Tory?



An Inspiration to All

We see many great athletes on TV every day, but how about the greats we very rarely hear about.  Unless you follow Olympic swimmers, you probably have never heard about Dara Torres.  Torres at 45 years old was hoping to make this year Summer Olympics’ her last.  She missed out making this year’s Olympic team by 9/10ths of a second.  Coming out of retirement she won 5 medals at the 2000 Sydney games and 3 more at Beijing in 2008.

Torres started her career in 1984 at the Los Angeles games and won 12 medals.  She becomes the first woman to swim in 5 Olympics and is the oldest female ever at the games.

Thanks Dara, for becoming a special American, one we’ll miss seeing at the Summer Olympics.

Fourth of July Small-Town Celebrations

ABC News Explore has listed Saratoga Springs as #5 out of 11 small towns 4th of July celebrations.

Quoting from the article:
 "Several of the celebrations in the Northeast have a seriously historic bent, such as Saratoga's annual All-American Celebration, which kicks off with the "Family, Freedom and Founding Fathers" parade. Following is a party at Congress Park, where attendees can take historic tours and meet "Ben Franklin," "General Burgoyne" and many other historical re-enactors."

Over the last 4 years or so when the City stopped funding the July 4th celebrations, a local citizens group started an effort to solicit donations from businesses and the public to make Saratoga Springs celebration worthy of this distinction.

I would like to thank Kate Jarosh, who was one of the first citizens to step up to the plate to not only keep our Nation's birthday alive but vastly improve on our previous years events.

To everyone a Happy 4th of July

Help Spread the Word

The Captain is asking:  If you like the blog can you pass it around to your friends i.e. mailing lists and facebook friends and ask them to do the same.  The more the merrier.
As always, Thanks.

Charter Change, or Damn the Citizens

saratogamoosetracks.blogspot.com


Let's get one thing straight, for better or worse Charter Reform is on the ballot and you can cast your vote for or against the Proposal that is presented.  One thing about Saratoga Citizen the organization that has been around for 4 years and holding monthly meetings is that everything has been out in the open and discussed before the public in their monthly meetings.  In today's Saratogian, Mayor Johnson who has spent at least $80,000.00 to $100,000.00 in outside attorney fees (that's taxpayer monies), and has lost twice in court, once in County Supreme Court and then in NY State Appellate Court by a 5-0 decision in favor of the Citizen's group, is quoted as saying 'he still has the option of appointing a Charter Review Committee'.  This some 4 months before the election. 

Last time a Commission was formed (by a Democratic Mayor) this late (2006) in the year the Mayor and his Party cried foul saying it's a rush job.  I guess he feels that when he uses his golden scepter all past statements will disappear.  Just some information to add to all of this, The Saratoga Springs Charter Proposal was put on the ballot by a 4-1 Council vote.  I'll let you guess who voted no.  Keep the vote away from the people. 

Remember this is the same Mayor that will not allow any of his department’s employees answer any citizen’s questions.  The department's under his office are the following:  City Attorney, Asst. City Attorney, Building Department, City Civil Service Commission, The Ethics Committee (ha-ha), Community Development and City Planner, these are most of the major ones and there are some minor ones as well as some Charter mandated positions he arbitrarily eliminated.  His motto of "Charter be Damned" is the reason he doesn't want citizens to be more active in THEIR government. 

By the way, I haven't seen Cozmo the Magician or Shauna Sutton around.  I hope both reappear by Tuesday’s court date or tongues will be wagging that Shauna is Cozmo's new assistant.

CAN YOU TELL WHICH ONE IS MAYOR OF SARATOGA SPRINGS?

        

Charter Change, or Damn the Citizens

Let's get one thing straight, for better or worse Charter Reform is on the ballot and you can cast your ballot for or against the Proposal that is presented.  One thing about Saratoga Citizen the organization that has been around for 4 years and holding monthly meetings is that everything has been out in the open and discussed before the public in their monthly meetings.  In today's Saratogian, Mayor Johnson who has spent at least $80,000.00 to $100,000.00 in outside attorney fees (that's taxpayer monies), and has lost twice in court, once in County Supreme Court and then in NY State Appellate Court by a 5-0 decision in favor of the Citizen's group, is quoted as saying 'he still has the option of appointing a Charter Review Committee'.  This some 4 months before the election. 

Last time a Commission was formed (by a Democratic Mayor) this late (2006) in the year the Mayor and his Party cried foul saying it's a rush job.  I guess he feels that when he uses his golden scepter all past statements will disappear.  Just some information to add to all of this, The Saratoga Springs Charter Proposal was put on the ballot by a 4-1 Council vote.  I'll let you guess who voted no.  Keep the vote away from the people. 

Remember this is the same Mayor that will not allow any of his department’s employees answer any citizen’s questions.  The department's under his office are the following:  City Attorney, Asst. City Attorney, Building Department, City Civil Service Commission, The Ethics Committee (ha-ha), Community Development and City Planner, these are most of the major ones and there are some minor ones as well as some Charter mandated positions he arbitrarily eliminated.  His motto of "Charter be Damned" is the reason he doesn't want citizens to be more active in THEIR government. 

By the way, I haven't seen Cozmo the Magician or Shauna Sutton around.  I hope both reappear by Tuesday’s court date or tongues will be wagging that Shauna is the new magic Girl.

CAN YOU TELL WHICH ONE IS MAYOR OF SARATOGA SPRINGS?