EDUCATE YOURSELF AND LISTEN TO DEBATES

I am a self educated citizen when it comes to Charter Change.  Your Captain is not involved with Saratoga Citizen or SUCCESS, (although I have friends in both groups).  I feel it is up to the individual to do research on their own before making a decision.  There are all kinds of posts on the various blogs, from insightful to the ridiculous.  After doing some internet research I did find information on the Saratoga Citizen website informative, while honestly I couldn’t find out any information except for the donors of SUCCESS, on the internet.  All the information I received about the group was from friends of mine who are members and have told me where they stand and why as told to them by Ms. Foy. 

In researching the Commission form of government, which Saratoga has had for almost 100 years, I found that there are only 40 or so cities our size in the entire U.S. that use this form and about 76 total in the entire country.  The Commission form, as almost everyone knows, was started because of a disaster in Texas and businessmen needed fast action to rebuild their losses.  It still appears that the Commission form is promoted mostly by businessmen as evidenced by the list of donors of SUCCESS.  There also seems to be a few ex politicians who suffered tough losses and really didn’t want to give up their power as backers of the group.

One phrase a friend said to me is ‘what is wrong with Saratoga’?  ‘Our City is the envy of cities across the country’ (this has also been said by Mayor Johnson).  In response I said to her, there is absolutely nothing wrong with Saratoga Springs, we have a beautiful city and while I don’t believe we are the envy of the country, I find that many people like to live and visit our City.  Saratoga has a great volunteer base, a great downtown, an active Chamber of Commerce, a very busy Convention Bureau, these things can’t be denied.

However, there is a double edged sword, while we have all the above, we also have a dysfunctional and costly government.  The question one should ask themselves is, can our government run more efficiently and more streamlined?  Do we need 5 payroll departments?  Do we need to give City employees 15 minutes of work time to cash their checks on Friday?  Do we need 8 unions, which our Mayor cannot negotiate expired contracts, should we turn a blind eye when the City fails to live up to the laws they set forth? Is there proper planning for 5 to 10 years out?  Ten years is a stretch but there are some items that would benefit from a time period like this i.e. do we have a plan on the number of years and how many police cars needs to be rotated out for new ones?  The same plan should be planned with fire vehicles, or do we wait 19 years until a fire truck catches fire while trying to put out a fire?  By the way this last one made the national news.

It seems to me as I talk with people that young adults and those who moved here in the last 15 years or so favor a new form of government, while the ‘old guard’ of Saratoga favors the status quo, and if you ask them why, they have no answer other than to say ‘it’s always been this way’.   One thing Saratoga Springs has is a very high percent of voter apathy.  In the last primary, workers in 2 Districts reported a total of 6 and 7 people respectively, turning out to vote, (very sad).

Some people try to demonize Pat Kane, Brent Wilkes and anyone else in the Saratoga Citizen group.  I feel the issue is the form of government and the information a group puts out, not the people behind it.  If this were so, would that mean that if you disliked Remiga Foy, you would automatically say that SUCCESS is a bunch of crazies and be for charter change?  Should Ms. Foy be demonized because she is adamant in keeping the status quo? I don’t think so.

I did my research first on the various forms of government and truth be told the Professional Manager, Council, Mayor form of government seems like the best one out there.  Granted there is no form that is 100% perfect, but in today’s real world, running a government has become so difficult, that running a City without a qualified professional manager at the helm seems unreal.  Would you hire a carpenter to run a $37 million dollar computer business?  There are some who say that say they are for a strong Mayor, but it seems to me that you still are electing a pretty face who may be as dumb as a box of rocks.

Just one other thing, if you do your own research without having someone talk you into something you will feel more comfortable with your decision.  A question that pops up frequently is the cost of a new government.  The figures are out there, but think about this, if this new government form is voted in, it will be bound by the budget that is passed by the current Council, the very same Council that will be responsible for sifting through resume’s for a Professional Manager, one who will work under a Council elected by the citizens of Saratoga.

See how much information you can get if you take the time to do a little research?

GROUND BREAKING NEWS, I GUESS

In ground breaking news it seems that there is a story spreading around local coffee shops and in downtown restaurants’ that a local blogger that we won’t mention (the one with the red nose, blood shot eyes and beard) has been getting his funding from a local businessman who we won’t mention (his name rhymes with Daisy with an M) and that his ‘cancer screenings) are a way to so solicit funds for his trips to Double Vision in Clifton Park.  I want to tell you right now that I have no hard proof of this but the story is getting more steam behind it every day.  He has also posted on his site that Saratoga Citizen is behind (a.) funding Lee Harvey Oswald. (b.) Saratoga Citizen cut Ted Kennedy’s brakes before going over the Chappaquiddick Bridge and (c.) That Saratoga Citizen has buried Jimmy Hoffa’s body under the monstrosity ‘Tempered by Steel”.  I guess that Big Sugar told him to demonize Saratoga Citizen any way he can, it may be worth $20,000.00 for him to go a little more overboard, that might be why he was wearing an aluminum foil cap with a 6” antenna and hopping on one leg on Broadway the other day.

Mayor Johnson will officially open the Waterfront beach this week.  He will cut the ribbon so you can drive up to the property.  You may not swim, boat, raft or go water tubing yet as the place isn’t finished, as a matter of fact it’s only about 20% finished, and this is after our Little Caesar Mayor Johnson told us last year it would be complete by May of 2012.  He was waiting and salivating hoping for a lawsuit to feed his buddies in Glens Falls but since there was no lawsuit he got a little behind (now don’t think dirty, not that kind of little behind).  Here it is the end of August and he will open the beach for swimming from Nov.1 thru March 31.  I just can’t wait until he cuts the ribbon for the Grand Opening of the Public Toilets in the Spring.  Saratoga was #2 in Some Great City Magazine for best ribbon cutting for public toilets in the lower 48. #1 was a his and hers igloo in Nome.

Well it’s time to go out and do some crime fighting or look for Tamara; I bet that makes you all happy.

If you can think of anything else that Saratoga Citizen is responsible for let me know.  The one about Saratoga Citizen making blouses for Mary Zlotnik with those plunging necklines is already taken.

ASSESSMENTS

It seems like City Hall is in a state of confusion again.  With no Professional oversight, not that John Franck isn’t a professional, has a stooge in his department who has caused a controversy much as she has done in almost every job or organization she has been involved in.  This story may not even be worthy of news when the Attorney General makes its decision.  It appears that an independent appraiser will appear and try to have your assessment lowered much as an appraiser performs his or her duties to estimate the value of a house so a Bank can have a figure to use in making a mortgage loan.  The important word here is ‘independent appraiser’ which means they get paid, think of representation by an attorney, they don’t represent for free.

I think one must understand the whole City assessment picture before rendering an educated complaint like some bloggers have done.

But, I digress.  Mary Zlotnik has been asked to leave almost every job or volunteer position she has ever held.  She has held many of her past jobs for as little as a few months.  It seems that she may becoming a new Remiga Foy in that if it is not done her way she’ll find a way to ‘make it so’, as Jean Luc Pickard used to say. “I would tend to believe that she has a poor job history at her former position at City Hall based on her track record”, said an aquatints  of Mary’s.  Here’s hoping that after the Attorney General’s decision, Mary Zlotnik doesn’t find herself in a lawsuit that might not end in her favor.

THANK YEW!!

Well people, first I want to thank you for reading Captain America’s fun and fact filled posts (lol).  Your Captain started his blog in June of this year and there have been 6,250 hits to the site since then.  I appreciate it.  I promise to continue the blog without having any 24 hour money-thons to get my readers to donate money to me or beg on Broadway for SPAC tickets.  I will also promise not to have you think I have cancer so that I can get money from saps who believe I do, just so I can take a vacation with my wife Joyce, did I say Joyce?  I didn’t mean her.

Well just some interesting bits on area oddities.

It seems one of our greatest Mayor’s in the history of Saratoga Spring (and that’s going back hundreds of years when the area was known as Well Water Junction, by the Indians), translated that means mucho aqua.  Anyway, Mr. Johnson took umbrage to Lucian McCarty’s blog post about him (Lucian) asking the Mayor many, many times about his appointing a Commission at this late stage after 3 years of saying he could do so.  Well in a phone call with the Mayor it seems Sir Scotty said it wasn’t funny to keep making it seem like he was ducking the issue.  To that I say REALLY?  After 4 years?  Mr. Mayor, your middle name is Duck.  I hate to pick on the Mayor all the time (he does deserve it) because I am involved with Republicans on many levels and they think he is a little batty also.  I’ll have more later.

By the way, has anyone found Tamara yet?  Wonder Woman left a spare costume.

 Thanks again.

THESE ARE NORMAL DAY’S OF OUR LIVES IN SARATOGA!

Have you ever wondered to yourself, has the world gone crazy or is it you?  Well, Capt. Am.  Friends, it has to be the world or more specifically Saratoga Springs.

• “More than a dozen people spoke at a Design Review Commission public hearing Wednesday night regarding the future of 66 Franklin St.”

• “The Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation says the building can be saved, according to Executive Director Samantha Bosshart. The SSPF even hired an attorney from a national firm to fight to save the stack of boards.

• “Boff (the owner), as well as the builder who has been maintaining the property, estimated a full renovation of the building would cost more than $2 million and the building would be worth less than $1 million when done.”

My good people this is daily business in Saratoga Springs unless your name is “Developer” Sonny Bonacio, then the City will pay you over $1 million dollars to tear a building down.

Here is another example of delirious business:

·         Wednesday night at 7 p.m. in the Saratoga Springs Public Library, Saratoga Citizen brought another speaker in to discuss what they see as the benefits of the council-manager form of government. "The only way people can be for or against it is if the know what it's about," said Pat Kane, one of the groups primary organizers.  The proposal is legally set to appear on this November’s ballot for a vote.

·         "Nothing to report at this time," Mayor Scott Johnson said Tuesday night (August 16^th), when asked about whether he has decided to assemble a mayoral commission to explore charter change or not.

·         The mayor left the door open for the commission back in May when the City Council put the Saratoga Citizen proposal on the ballot, however, Johnson has done nothing about putting a Commission in place after saying he might do so 3 years ago.

·         “I've asked the Mayor about the commission virtually every time we've talked since then, and I am no closer than I was in May to knowing whether it is going to happen. At the end of June he said “I don’t want to unduly delay it. There are reasons why I’ve delayed my announcement.” He wouldn't tell me the reasons.”

Most of the information here is from Lucian McCarty’s blog piece.  Thanks Lucian.

Here are only 2 examples of how Saratoga does business, and these examples are just part of one day’s business as usual.

There is a serious matter though.  Two bears have been sighted on Skidmore campus in the last few days and this should be nothing to make light of as many people use the North Woods for walking, jogging or walking with their dogs, and the woods are very close to Maple Ave. Middle School, so be careful.

It was noted earlier in the day that upon hearing this, Mayor Johnson donned his best Daniel Boone cap and his bow and arrow to either get his wife a new bearskin rug or chase them back to Wilton. 

Just another day in Paradise.

THE TALE OF THE MISSING TATTLER, OR WHO TOOK TAMARA?

Well, it looks like the Tattler’s are missing one tattle tale, Tamara Valentine.  This should be a story for Lucian Mc Carty.  Lucian I beg you, please find Tamara.  She was my favorite Tattler and now she blows it and drops out of the quartet and now the group has become the Tattler’s Trio. 

 It could have been that Tamara attended the many social events as a participant and couldn’t write about what the heck these people do other than spend $500.00 a plate and buy at auction a $39.00 Timex watch for $6,000.00.  Now calm down, I know the money goes to needy non profits but it makes great tales to read about, but I want background details, what happens when the lights go down, who walks off with full bottles and continues the party at home etc.?

There is a lot of good material to be written after we know who was at these events, but alas, we will never know.  Now before any of you say ‘why not find out yourself and write about it’, I don’t think it would be proper.  I would look foolish wearing a tux over my uniform and that damn shield would keep getting away, although women do like the Captain America mask and uniform, well, to hell with the tux give me a notebook and pen and $500.00 to eat.

If anyone finds Tamara let me know, she has to be in trouble somewhere, then I could swoop in and save the day.

RECREATION CENTER OR POLICE STATION?

In the news, Public Safety Commissioner Christian Mathiesen has set aside $10,000.00 to explore how the police station in the basement of City Hall can be renovated. 

We remember not that long ago when then PS Commissioner Ron Kim declared the need for a new Police Station, a need I might add is 50 years past due.  The Republican majority at the time declared that we didn’t have the money and went on to pour money into a new Recreation Center.  The question I ask myself and others is, Why does Saratoga Springs promote itself as the best tourist destination in the country, yet in every aspect of government and outdated building codes, we are so far in the past it is pretty disgusting.  The only one that benefits from Saratoga taxes and fast track building permits, also a payment for City property that has not been paid in 5 years but was included in past budgets, is none other that that grand builder Sonny Bonacio.  Now don’t get me wrong, Sonny has done some good things in Saratoga but most of what he has done has ruined our ‘City in the Country’, that moniker does not even come close to what Saratoga Springs is today.

Anyway, back to the Police Station.  Why is it taking the decision makers like Roohan, Sutton, Tarantino, Anderson and pack to realize that they need to give the nod to get a new station in place?  They didn’t listen to Kim, but had a chance when Wirth occupied the seat.  Could it have been that Wirth would not have been capable to oversee such a venture?  Now must we wait for City Hall to collapse so that we can sell the property to Bonacio?  He then could build a new City Hall/Police Station/Law Library on the 2^nd & 3^rd floors and retail space on the 1^st floor and lease floors 2 & 3 to the City.  This sounds like a deal that Mayor Johnson/Sutton are salivating over.

Your Captain says to stay tuned, this isn’t over.  Just wait until the ceiling falls down, I’m sure some will blame Commissioner Christian Mathiesen for that.

RECREATION CENTER OR POLICE STATION?

In the news, Public Safety Commissioner Christian Mathiesen has set aside $10,000.00 to explore how the police station in the basement of City Hall can be renovated. 

We remember not that long ago when then PS Commissioner Ron Kim declared the need for a new Police Station, a need I might add is 50 years past due.  The Republican majority at the time declared that we didn’t have the money and went on to pour money into a new Recreation Center.  The question I ask myself and others is, Why does Saratoga Springs promote itself as the best tourist destination in the country, yet in every aspect of government and outdated building codes, we are so far in the past it is pretty disgusting.  The only one that benefits from Saratoga taxes and fast track building permits, also a payment for City property that has not been paid in 5 years but was included in past budgets, is none other that that grand builder Sonny Bonacio.  Now don’t get me wrong, Sonny has done some good things in Saratoga but most of what he has done has ruined our ‘City in the Country’, that moniker does not even come close to what Saratoga Springs is today.

Anyway, back to the Police Station.  Why is it taking the decision makers like Roohan, Sutton, Tarantino, Anderson and pack to realize that they need to give the nod to get a new station in place?  They didn’t listen to Kim, but had a chance when Wirth occupied the seat.  Could it have been that Wirth would not have been capable to oversee such a venture?  Now must we wait for City Hall to collapse so that we can sell the property to Bonacio?  He then could build a new City Hall/Police Station/Law Library on the 2^nd & 3^rd floors and retail space on the 1^st floor and lease floors 2 & 3 to the City.  This sounds like a deal that Mayor Johnson/Sutton are salivating over.

Your Captain says to stay tuned, this isn’t over.  Just wait until the ceiling falls down, I’m sure some will blame Commissioner Christian Mathiesen for that.

CITY REPUBLICANS OR DEMOCRATS, GOOD OR BAD

I love watching and reading about how politicians in City government (any city) call each other bad, crazy, ignorant or in some cases even worse.  The reality is that in City politics there is little difference in being associated with any Party.  What you have in City government are capable leaders or inept imposters.

Take Mayor Johnson for example.  He has been in office longer than any Mayor in Saratoga history.  He has been involved in some good policy making (although I can’t think of any off hand) and some bad decisions that he would like to be his legacy.

The Rec Center being one.  Did we need a Rec Center?  I would say yes but the building of the Center was plagued with many problems, some of which will tarnish the Mayor’s reputation and could even be considered by some as bordering on being illegal.  Take the case of the building inspector at the time ; a source in City Hall has said the Mayor and his Deputy knew of the use of inferior and said by many, illegal insulation. When asked to sign off on this part of the job, the building inspector would not do so because of potential lawsuits that may arise using flammable insulation, by following the law the inspector was let go, given his walking papers, shown the door by the Mayor and his Deputy with some excuse they used and had known about when they hired him.  They then hired an Albany engineer to certify the job and after an inspection, she left the post.  The building was also opened for use without a Certificate of Occupancy.

The lake front property that was to be in use for all citizens of Saratoga, when after years of planning and promises that the job would be completed by July 2012 is still sitting the same way it was before he took office.

The new Parking Garage that opened on July 20^th which was not completed as promised also was a scene from an Abbott and Costello movie.  The use again of inferior materials, the dismissal of another building inspector because he wouldn’t sign off at the direction of the Mayor because of again a potential lawsuit for allowing unsafe materials to be used.  The City (through the Mayor’s Department of not getting a building permit which is required by law, using an outside engineering firm as a clerk of the works instead of any of our 3 city engineers that get paid to do such things all reflect bad decision making by Mayor Johnson. 

Spending upwards of $70,000.00 in court fighting a citizen’s group who legally followed State law to put a proposal on the ballot to change the form of government and he lost in Court twice.

He has not gotten 7 of the 8 union contracts settled like he promised in his first campaign 5 years ago.

And the list goes on and on.  Is he a bad Republican?  I don’t think so; he is just an inept leader who has a lot of $5,000.00 a plate friends and money.

CITY REPUBLICANS OR DEMOCRATS, GOOD OR BAD

I love watching and reading about how politicians in City government (any city) call each other bad, crazy, ignorant or in some cases even worse.  The reality is that in City politics there is little difference in being associated with any Party.  What you have in City government are capable leaders or inept imposters.

Take Mayor Johnson for example.  He has been in office longer than any Mayor in Saratoga history.  He has been involved in some good policy making (although I can’t think of any off hand) and some bad decisions that he would like to be his legacy.

The Rec Center being one.  Did we need a Rec Center?  I would say yes but the building of the Center was plagued with many problems, some of which will tarnish the Mayor’s reputation and could even be considered by some as bordering on being illegal.  Take the case of the building inspector at the time ; a source in City Hall has said the Mayor and his Deputy knew of the use of inferior and said by many, illegal insulation. When asked to sign off on this part of the job, the building inspector would not do so because of potential lawsuits that may arise using flammable insulation, by following the law the inspector was let go, given his walking papers, shown the door by the Mayor and his Deputy with some excuse they used and had known about when they hired him.  They then hired an Albany engineer to certify the job and after an inspection, she left the post.  The building was also opened for use without a Certificate of Occupancy.

The lake front property that was to be in use for all citizens of Saratoga, when after years of planning and promises that the job would be completed by July 2012 is still sitting the same way it was before he took office.

The new Parking Garage that opened on July 20^th which was not completed as promised also was a scene from an Abbott and Costello movie.  The use again of inferior materials, the dismissal of another building inspector because he wouldn’t sign off at the direction of the Mayor because of again a potential lawsuit for allowing unsafe materials to be used.  The City (through the Mayor’s Department of not getting a building permit which is required by law, using an outside engineering firm as a clerk of the works instead of any of our 3 city engineers that get paid to do such things all reflect bad decision making by Mayor Johnson. 

Spending upwards of $70,000.00 in court fighting a citizen’s group who legally followed State law to put a proposal on the ballot to change the form of government and he lost in Court twice.

He has not gotten 7 of the 8 union contracts settled like he promised in his first campaign 5 years ago.

And the list goes on and on.  Is he a bad Republican?  I don’t think so; he is just an inept leader who has a lot of $5,000.00 a plate friends and money.

WAIT A FEW WEEKS

There is really nothing going on in Saratoga that is not horse racing related.  I did speak with  an Arab friend of mine who thought it was super of the greeting Marcia White gave Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, the Ruler of Dubai with a performance of the Arabian nights program Saturday night with the Philadelphia Orchestra.  We should  know that belly dancing is a traditional form of dance starting in Middle Eastern countries such as Turkey, Egypt, Syria, Iraq etc., and adapted in the U.S. in the Middle East both men and woman can participate.  The dance signifies importent events such as weddings, victory parties or performances at feasts,  and as my friend said, he appreciated SPAC's welcome.

Well off tonight again to the horse sales to see what is going on, it starts at 7:00 at City Hall, see you there.

PAY $176,000.00 TO EAT AT YOUR OWN HOUSE

John Hendrickson bid $176,000.00 to dine with Marylou Whitney, outbidding Ron & Michelle Riggi.  The special dinner for two will consist of Whitney’s own secret recipe for bologna tacos with pork bellies stuffed with collard greens (I defy anyone to eat this goop).  The beverage is to be Old Milwaukee beer in 40 oz. throwaway bottles.  The fundraiser was for the Saratoga Springs Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit, which Marylou and her husband will be visiting after the dinner.  I think we can all tell that Marylou has done great things for Saratoga Springs but can’t boil water.  By the way it was said that Mayor Scott Johnson bid $750.00 for the dinner.

I attended the opening night of the Philadelphia Orchestra the other night and enjoyed Tchaikovsky’s  Piano Concerto No. 1 op. 23,B-flat minor and Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2 op. 27, E minor.

SPAC did a great job and it was a very pleasant night.  Thank you, Marcia White.

There will be someone blaming Marcia White and saying this is her fault.
The Philadelphia Orchestra is out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
The orchestra stunned the arts community when it became the first major U.S. orchestra to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in April 2011.
A month after a U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge approved its reorganization plan; The Philadelphia Orchestra Association announced Tuesday it has officially emerged from Chapter 11.
The POA addressed more than $100 million in claims, debts and liabilities with a settlement of $5.49 million. Under the reorganization plan, the 111-year-old symphony will shrink from 105 musicians to 95 and cut their pay by about 15 percent. The orchestra also got a break on its rent from its main venue, the Kimmel Center.
Officials said the organization's long-term health has been bolstered by a new labor agreement covering musicians and a shift away from defined benefit pension plans.

A DIFFERENT VIEW

As I am turning 40 in a few weeks I seem to think more about how the world & Saratoga Springs, where I have lived my whole life except for college, is getting crazier almost every day.  Maybe it’s just I am getting older and one starts to look at things in a different light.

In today’s Saratogian, there is a story about a mother who lived with her son in Albany County.  This loving mother killed her son using a hammer and knife.  She then lived with her dead son in their apartment for several days.  I have a feeling she was listening to Peter, Paul and Mary’s song ‘If I had a Hammer’ when she went off the deep end.  She couldn’t live with him and now has to live without him.  Crazy stuff.

From the lips of Scott Johnson, the Waterfront Park is ‘ready’ to open, however, in his words “it’s day to day”.  It has been day to day for several years now and even though it will be open, there will be no signage, no dock for non-motorized boat access, gates at the top of the park and a barrier to section off some areas that will not be open to the public.  Also, the park will have no swimming but there will possibly be two phases in the future to make swimming possible.  We will be able to go and watch the sand blow around for a day of fun in the park.  In the Frank Sinatra song ‘New York, New York’ the phrase 'it’s a city that never sleeps'.  In Saratoga, under Scott Johnson the phrase would be 'it’s a city that never finishes a project'. 

Racing Season is in full swing at the Saratoga Race Course.  In today’s Pink Sheet there was an article about how much money the State rakes in with unclaimed tickets.  Last year the total was $1,925,000.00 and in the last 25 years the average dollar amount has been well over $1,000,000.00.  This amount goes back into the State’s general fund, which is silly because it should be put back into the racing industry.  The back stretch could use some of this money every year and I’m sure Saratoga and the other tracks could use the rest for improvements.

The figures stated above would be much higher if not for the dumpster divers and scavengers who pick up tickets off the ground, in the grandstands, in the picnic areas and just about every other place in between.  Last week one veteran scavenger found a ticket that paid him $950.00.  I wish these people could find the rest of the $1,925,000.00.  It would be better for them to reap the benefits for their work than the State getting the money and not putting it back into racing.

Well, we can always go to Waterfront Park to get a tan, so maybe I’ll see you there.  I’ll be the one with the cape and sun screen.