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.

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.