MAYOR'S JOHNSON & SUTTON SINK SARATOGA

Since as far back as your Captain can remember I have never seen the Mayor’s office taken down to the low level Mayor Johnson and Shauna Sutton have taken it to.  Under their stewardship they really have sent the office into the slime at the bottom of Saratoga Lake.  Let’s look at the Recreation Center debacle and the firing of a building inspector because he wouldn’t do as commanded by the dynamic duo and sign off a part of the job when it was unsafe and illegal.  The two then hired an engineer from Albany to inspect and sign off for them and she walked away and went back to Albany without putting an initial on the paper.  They also opened the facility without a certificate of Occupancy.  Next when the two put their heads together to plan the project, they left out parking spaces and showers for those using the building.

The next item that citizens of the City paid dearly for was the Mayor’s intentional delays and court battles with the citizens group Saratoga Citizen.  Scott spent nearly $80,000.00 of our money playing one-upmanship with costly court and appeal delays.  He lost every point in court and in the State Appellate Court.  So much for his prowess as a great litigator, (in his humble opinion), and taking the advice of the great West Side Dive Bombers, Elliott Massie and Remiga ‘who needs ya’ Foy.  Ok, I couldn’t resist a swing at Ms. Foy but she makes herself such a great target.

This just scratches the surface.  Next, The Mayor and his Deputy, give free reign to Sonny Bonacio to reshape the landscape of Saratoga Springs.  If you check the records you will see that Sonny get’s his projects through the various Boards faster than a speeding bullet.  One thing I’ll never understand is why doesn’t the City’s boards make Sonny put a Victorian look to his condo buildings?  I thought we wanted to project a certain look of a past era.

The Lillian’s parking lot was sold to Sonny for about ½ its worth by the Mayor and the sale price was used in 4 budgets and the City hasn’t received a penny yet.  Beware when the Mayor says ‘it will be taken care of within the month’ (remember the statements regarding the Waterfront Park).

The new parking garage which was recently built has its own prints by the dynamic duo on it.  The Mayor contracted out much of the work that the DPW could have done for more than ¾ in savings (hooking water lines etc.), but 2 engineer’s were hired to see that the jobs were carried out by another firm, probably with ties that can go back to the Mayor and Shauna.  Again, when the Mayor and Shauna couldn’t force the building inspector to put his ok on part of a job that was unsafe, you guessed right fired, gone, thrown out.  We now have no building inspector.  It is being said at City Hall that Scott Johnson is studying to become a building inspector, but as Mary Zlotnik has proved most employees don’t know the whole story.

These are just a few tidbits that the Captain has now, but we will be exposing more costly follies and possible actions that have put the City and its citizens in financial peril.  Until next time, superhero’s.

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.

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?

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.

Thank You, Commissioner Madigan

CHEER'S
Transparency, it sounds like a nice word when a politician uses it in a speech, but the word means more when it is put in use.  I would like to thank Commissioner Michele Madigan for not only talking the talk, but walking the walk.  She has been in office for 6 months and a few months ago she put a transparency tab on the homepage of the City's website titled 'transparency'.  If you click on that tab guess what, you can go to any year from 2008 thru 2012 (anticipated), revenues and expenses of each Department and it is even broken down by individual line items for the 5 Departments.  We want to thank Commissioner Madigan for this benefit to all who would want to view the information; you get the Golden Peach Award.

Now, the flip side of the coin.

JEER'S

Since Mayor Johnson has been in office, every department and the employees under his authority cannot speak to or give any public information to citizens of Saratoga Springs.  That's right, information we have a legal right to see can't be given to us unless of course we file a FOIL request and bring the City Attorney into the picture.  

Can you say APATHY?  I spoke with 2 people who worked at the polls for Tuesday's primary; one District had a total of 16 voters cast their ballot and the other, 16. It's the old Saratoga mentality "When I turn on my faucet and water comes out, and my leaves are picked up, everything is right with the City".  

The Mayor is running a socialist department and sadly, not many seem to care.  If enough people demanded to see information that is public I'm almost sure his attitude would change (?) and we wouldn't be FOILED again.  Sorry Mr. Mayor, you get the Raspberry Award for this one.

Ssaratoga Springs Commissioner of Finance

Michele Madigan

Deputy Mayor Sutton Repays Favor?

 Much was made of the fact that at Tuesday's Council meeting Commissioner of Finance Michelle Madigan reappointed Rob Mains to the Civil Service Commission.  Rob is the husband of Amy Durland who is a member of the Planning Board and now the sole Democrat holding a seat on that Board.  With no conflict of interest, the Mayor said Tuesday night the Mayor questioned Madigan about her motivations or if she “had been put up to it”.  The story here is that the Mayor had promised a contract to paint a sign at the City's Recreation Center.  The painter that got the $10,000.00 contract is the husband of Shauna Sutton’s best friend who also happens to work with Shauna, who happens to be the Deputy Mayor.  Oh, by the way, the City employees a head painter who could have done the job.  This is a glaring conflict of interest which the Mayor had not one comment about when the contract came up for a vote.  Maybe the gentleman who was awarded the $10,000.00 painted the houses of Scott Johnson and Shauna Sutton.  The more you dig the more rot you uncover.

Tighe Misses Another Big Story

Hi all, from Captain America:

Well once again our super sleuth detective blogger John Tighe has missed out on another big story in his beloved Saratoga Springs (he lives in Milton).  Telling the world how someone 'donated' seats to Yanni's performance at SPAC and someone 'donated' a one year patron's pass that allows him free food and open bar, he has the nerve to slam some of the patrons that actually bought and paid for their own patron pass.  John was seen stuffing his wife's pocketbook with 'pigs in a blanket' and mustard sauce to go along with them.

Now here is the story that none of his sources gave him any information about but gave every other local blogger.  The City has not received a building permit for the Woodlawn garage project.  It is a law that a permit be in plain site to be seen by all.  When Saratoga's blogger 'Citizen Nancy's, Nancy Muldoon asked the crew chief at the site if the City had to get a permit (again, a law that the City must follow for any remodeling or new building of any City owned property, he "Yes, we work for the city and the city is supposed to have a permit." I then asked him where I could get the permit and he quipped, "Ask the Mayor for one."  So she travels to City Hall and goes into the Building Dept. and asks to see a copy of the permit and is told that she would have to FOIL to look at it (there isn't one), then the office worker said she is not supposed to answer any questions from anyone.



John Tighe, Milton's Super Sleuth Being Programmed By Scott Johnson



It seems like our King, I mean Mayor who is a puppet of Remiga Foy and friends thinks he is beyond the law in performing his job duties.  This has been his method of operation for 5 years.  He is following Remiga's Law 'if it ain't done my way, hit the highway'.