The Monroe County Legislature approved the County budget last night. Democrat Carmen Gamina joined all 15 Republicans in supporting the plan.
Monroe County Democrats showed that they learned absolutely nothing from the last election where they lost ground in an election they expected to make significant gains.
Thanks to the monroerising.com [...]
Our good friend Philbrick has a great post on Rochester Mayor Bob Duffy’s hiring of a convicted felon who was arrested for an alleged rape of a city resident while he was on the job. Philbrick rightly points out that if this was a Republican hire, it would be [...]
I’ve been meaning to get to this — Democrat Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi is behind in his re-election – a race he was expected to win big. He is currently trailing his Republican opponent by 390 votes out of 250,000 cast.
Suozzi made a name for himself across the state [...]
Our friend Philbrick over at mustardstreet.blogspot.com has established himself as the blogger of record on District Attorney Mike Green’s handling of Andy Moore case. He had two post’s that deserve your attention.
Take a look at Garagantuan Disgrace and Gargantuan Disgrace — Part II. Mike Green should really be ashamed [...]
I posted this last year in honor of Thanksgiving and it’s one of my favorite traditions here at monroerising.com. Johnny Cash, one of the greatest of all time, says it better than anyone else.
Funny, in the weeks preceding the November 3rd election, Democrat District Attorney Mike Green was all over the media. His office was indicting Republicans left and right. Local Democrats were giddy that this was going to help them “win” a majority in the county legislature.
Democrat HQ had a well timed mail [...]
When I’m wrong, I’m man enough to admit it — unless I’m arguing with my wife. Last week we told you about Assemblyman David Gantt’s comments to a media reporter and not to expect the D&C Editorial Board to comment on Gantt’s inappropriate remarks.
Down [...]
Democrat Senate Leader John Sampson reminds me of my younger brother. When we were kids and my father wanted us to help him do work, without fail he would have to take a dump.
According to Liz Benjamin, Leader Sampson used that time tested excuse to explain why he was [...]
Last week’s election proved many things, including people really don’t care about Jim Lawrence and the Democrat and Chronicle Board’s opinions. The only Republican County Legislative incumbent they endorsed, Chili’s Mary Valerio, won big. But so did every other Republican incumbent. So did the Republican Supervisor Candidates of Penfield, Gates, Mendon [...]
In honor of Bullwinkle’s post regarding Hillary Clinton not mentioning the real hero the Berlin Wall coming down, President Ronald Reagan. One of my favorite lines from one of our best Presidents.
[...]I’m thinking about opening a political consulting business — Cincinnatus & Associates. I saw mustardstreet had a link to a City News piece pointing out the problems of local Democrats being tied to Sheldon Silver and the dysfunction of Albany.
It seemed to me that I’d seen someone else make [...]
This is worth the read — my good friend Philbrick at mustardstreet.blogspot.com has a great post on the Ciaran Hanna/Nora Bredes race. It is his typical, thoughtful insight into local races.
He also has a great post on politcal heavyweight Carmen Gamina, the Webster County Legislator who is for [...]
Thanks to the reader who sent us this link. Democrats across New York State got their heads handed to them and Erie County was no exception.
College Professor Kevin Hardwick picked up a seat after his third try. Check out this line from the Buffalo News Story on the campaign [...]
What a night for the local GOP — they won just about everything. And local Democrats were left wondering how could this have happened.
It is very simple. All across the county Democrats pointed to problems but offered no solutions. Candidates for county legislature pointed out the budget problems but had no [...]
(editor’s note: We received an e-mail from Howard Eagle, Democrat running for City School Board on the Working Families Party.)
[monroerising.com] Published on November 3rd, 2009
To Whom It Concerns,
With regard to the Rochester Board of Education race — your article [...]
So much for open government if Dan Maloney is elected Greece Supervisor.
We told you earlier about questions raised about Maloney or his supporters using the term wetback at the Northgate Candidate’s Night. Apparently Maloney’s team tried to use union thuggery to intimidate the questioner.
Take a look at how he responds [...]
I was a little taken back from an e-mail I found in my inbox this morning. The Northgate Neighborhood Association held their candidate’s night last night. A controversy erupted when a woman expressed concern over the use of the term “wetback” at a Maloney campaign “meet and greet” in a local saloon (seems [...]
Wow, as if not endorsing Tony Lafountain and Mark Assini weren’t enough. How about the endorsements for County Legislature?
They endorsed Mike Condello and said this about John Howland:
Howland also has passion and is independent-minded. But the legislature needs a new breed.
They endorsed Paul Haney and this to say about [...]
Is there a better example of the need for independent news sources such as monroerising.com than today’s article about Democrats complaining that Legislature Republicans sent campaign mailings out on the 2010 County budget?
Jill Tererri faithfuilly reports Assemblyman Joe Morelle’s comments about the mailing:
“This is the equivalent of insider trading for [...]
County Executive Maggie Brooks announced the 2010 budget yesterday. It’s good news for County taxpayers, but bad news for Monroe County Democrats.
Fortunately for Democrats, Jill Terreri tried to do their bidding in the story, claiming Brooks “beat back criticism” that there wasn’t any long term planning.
This was one of my [...]
I guess they call it the Democrat and Chronicle for a reason. This morning’s editorial endorsements continue the anti-Republican theme of their newspaper coverage. I’ll point out my concerns starting with the most offensive first.
In Penfield the endorsed Margaret Travett over Tony LaFountain for Supervisor. Travett has lived in Penfield [...]
UPDATE: Our friend Philbrick over at Mustard Street has a great write-up on this story. Check it out.
Holy political prosecution Batman!
At the request of prosecutors, a judge today dismissed a felony criminal charge against Andrew Moore, a suspended Republican Party executive director who also serves [...]
I’m not sure how I missed this, but Al Martino, the man who played Johnny Fontane in The Godfather, died Wednesday. His character was the inspiration of one of my favorite lines from one of my favorite movies.
RIP Mr. Martino.
Monroe County Democrats, the people complaining about Republican stewardship of County finances, have been strangely silent of the news that Governor Paterson is planning mid year state budget cuts to schools (don’t do it to the children), cities and most other organizations that receive state money.
I think I figured out why Greece Democratic Supervisor Candidate Dan Maloney is in such a hurry to name a Chief of Police in Greece. He has a lot more experience with the criminal justice system than any of us knew.
I’ve been sitting on this information for a while now. We’ve received [...]
I’ve always respected Ed Koch, he’s the type of guy who puts people ahead of party. He teamed up with David Yassky expressing their concern about the role of the Working Families Party in New York politics in an op-ed piece in the New York Daily News.
From their piece:
But as [...]
We told you last week that local Democrats were giddy about the pending bombshell indictment related to Robutrad. Well it hit the fan yesterday with the indictment of former Deputy County Executive Jim Smith.
A couple of thoughts — first, all of the charges against Smith (6 total) are misdemeanors. [...]
Democratic County Legislature Candidate Mike Condello has been caught in a campaign lie — he claimed to be a life long Henrietta resident, despite the fact that he owned a home in Gates from 2005 until 2008.
Republicans are questioning a recent flyer Condello mailed to residents claiming to [...]
We are always trying to be helpful here at monroerising.com, so we thought you would like to see what will be the hottest holiday gift this year.
Just In Time For The For The Holiday's
[...]Evidently our friend Philbrick has heard the same rumors we have — District Attorney Mike Green will be releasing indictments related to Robutrad scandal next week.
You can find Philbrick’s post here. As always, he makes a compelling case.
[...]Thanks to the reader who sent us this info on our post this morning on Mike Green and the charges against Andy Moore:
The case is not assigned to County Court Judge Brian McCarthy; it is assigned to County Court Judge Richard Keenan.
Judge McCarthy handled the initial arraignment because, simply, he [...]
Depending on your outlook, there were plenty of bad guys at Tuesday night’s legislature meeting.
If you are a Democrat you’re probably thinking, “boy, those Republicans really are bad, why don’t the just open the process and consider our legitimate attempts to provide greater transparency.”
Republicans are thinking, “we tried to bring [...]
I never considered DA Mike Green a politically motivated guy. That’s starting to change. That piece in the Democrat and Chronicle about 25 people in all of New York State being charged with rewarding official misconduct since 1/1/2007 adds to my concern.
Then I received an e-mail from a pretty reliable [...]
District Attorney Mike Green’s motives on the Robutrad investigation are being questioned by many. As long time readers of monroerising.com know, my personal favorite when it comes to blogging is my good friend Philbrick at mustardstreet.blogspot.com.
Philbrick does his usual great job in questioning the motives of Mike Green [...]
Did you see that report on the front page of this morning’s D&C? Those right wing extremists, Unshackle Upstate, are proposing reforms to the public employee pay system that is one of the main drivers of our state having the highest tax rates in the country.
Thanks to the heads up from a reader who tipped us off to this. Back in June, ACORN became one of the first groups to endorse Senator Kirsten Gillibrand’s re-election. The Albany Project reported this at the time:
“I am honored to have the endorsement of ACORN and proud to [...]
The New York Times is reporting that alleged girlfriend slasher Senator Hiram Monserrate has waived his right to a jury trial and is letting a judge decide his fate.
Stunning the court and prosecutors at the start of his domestic violence trial, Senator Hiram Monserrate [...]
This is a really big deal– late Friday the Obama Administration announced it was caving in to demands from big labor and imposing a tariff on tires imported from China.
From the Washington Post:
During the campaign, he had pledged to “crack down on China” and “work to ensure that China is [...]
I think this a great tribute to 9/11. I hope you have time to watch it all — it truly is inspirational.
This is the most shocking headline I’ve ever written. Here is this morning’s story in the Democrat and Chronicle.
According to that story:
On Thursday, Monroe County deputies and the FBI arrested county GOP Executive Director Andrew Moore on a felony count of rewarding official misconduct in the second degree and [...]
Former Rochester Mayor Bill Johnson doesn’t understand why Mayor Bob Duffy killed Ren Square.
Take a look at what he told Channel 10:
Rochester Mayor Bob Duffy is being taken to task for his role scuttling the Renaissance Square project downtown and the criticism isn’t coming from county republicans; it’s coming [...]
As state leaders and budget officials prepare to address a $2.1 hole in the State Budget, the State’s county officials will get together this morning to discuss how the State’s fiscal woes are impacting their county governments. They also called on the State’s fiscal decision makers to cut state spending [...]
I try to keep up with what’s going on — that’s part of responsibility as a citizen journalist. But some how I missed this. Thanks to President Obama (and the people who pay taxes, of course), welfare recipients are now eligible for free cell phones. Seriously, I’m not kidding.
I don’t quote Cindy Sheehan that often, but she made a point recently that my friends and I have talked about for some time now. Where are all of the anti-war protesters?
From Ms. Sheehan:
However, while the so-called left is obsessed over supporting a very crappy Democratic health care plan, [...]
Fair and balanced — that doesn’t apply to the Democrat and Chronicle. Did you see Jill Terri’s front page story in yesterday’s paper criticizing Maggie Brooks for questioning the wisdom of New York State handing out $200 for “school supplies”?
She really went out of her way to do a balanced story. She [...]
First there was the no strings attached $200 per payment welfare recipients received for “school supplies” that we told you about here.
Now there is word from the Watertown Daily Times that welfare recipients will begetting $300 gas cards.
Low-income north country residents will get help with gasoline expenses to [...]
Various media sources are reporting that suspended Greece Police Chief Merritt Rahn has been indicted.
According to the Democrat and Chronicle:
Greece Police Chief Merritt Rahn has been indicted for a felony crime, according to his attorney.
Rahn’s attorney, John Parrinello, said Rahn will appear later today in Monroe County Court, where [...]
The Working Families Party, the ACORN affiliated political party that is largely responsible for electing the Senate Democrat Majority, is being criticized for apparent conflict of interests in it’s endorsements in political campaigns.
The New York Post is reporting on candidates who receive the WFP endorsements turning around and hiring [...]
Make sure you’re sitting down for this. If you have high blood pressure, make sure you’ve taken your medicine. The new Senate Democrat Majority continues to bring us the change we can believe in.
According to the New York Daily News, [...]
If you see Louise Slaughter, Fairport Congresswoman and the pride of Harlan County Kentucky, wish her a happy birthday — she turns 80 today. That makes her one of the oldest members of Congress. This may help explain why she had Rochester Mayor [...]
The joke that is the Senate Democrat Majority just keeps on getting funnier by the day. It really is the change we at monroerisng.com have come to expect from Albany Democrats.
First we told you about the guy in Antoine Thompson’s staff guy who pretended to not be himself when [...]
It really is too bad, but thanks to the tactics used by the left wing fanatics used over the last couple of years, the political discourse in this country has reached a new low. Remember the idiots who would follow former Congressman Randy Kuhl around and disrupt his meetings or [...]
President Obama’s polling nubers are dramatically dropping. From that right – wing news organization CBS News:
A new Quinnipiac Poll out this morning has bad news for the president: his approval rating is down to 50 percent, thanks to Americans’ worries about the economy and his handling of health care [...]
While I don’t agree with our colleague Jim Delany and those who question where President Obama was born, I do respect his/their right to raise the issue. I do think the President could make this all go away by providing a copy of his birth certificate and he is trying [...]
The Albany Times Union does an in depth examination of how Senate Republicans losing control of the Senate has hurt upstate.
ALBANY — For decades, upstate New York has been the well-kept beneficiary of the Republican-controlled state Senate’s power and pork-barrel spending.
But in the first year under a Democratic Senate [...]
We’ve talked about identity politics and the problems it poses for Democrats. The AP had a great story about it today.
Little discussed — in fact, studiously avoided — but part of the fabric of New York’s government for two centuries, “identity politics” is when race, ethnicity, gender, a neighborhood [...]
Liz Benjamin has an interesting story on how the Senate Democrats can’t get their act together.
The first victim of the shake-up, according to Senate sources, is $145,000-a-year communications director Brian Keeler, a 2006 Senate candidate and blogger/Albany Project co-founder who was brought on by Sen. Malcolm Smith as part of [...]
Leave it to those Democrats — they’re right on top of this one. They New York Times has a story on concerns among Democrats that Governor Paterson’s campaign lacks strategy and fiscal control. Sounds like his first budget — the one where he warned everyone about the fiscal doom the [...]
I hope Mayor Bob Duffy is happy. Playing politics with Ren Square just insured that Main and Clinton will remain one of Rochester’s most blighted corners. Just what all those nice people at the yet to be constructed PAETEC HQ will want to see when they come and go from [...]
Rachel Barnhart is right onwith her take an Ren Square. This makes me wonder why there isn’t objective reporting at channels 8 or 10.
From the WHAM-TV reporters blog:
In the end, the compromise was not a compromise at all.
It was the mayor and his staff locking themselves in a room and [...]
Mayor Duffy and the Rochester City Council have chosen politics over progress and voted to change the plans for Ren Square. According to the Democrat and Chronicle:
City Council members this morning approved a redesigned Renaissance Square plan, one that project boosters say will spell the end of the project.
Council members [...]
This year’s county legislature races will be interesting once things heat up. There is one question Democrats are going to have to figure out: how can they criticize Republicans on their alleged political abuses when they are led by Joe Morelle and Harry Bronson?
Morelle is the Monroe County Democratic Chairman [...]
We’ve told you about western New York State Senator Antoine Thompson before. He’s the guy guy who hires staff members who lie to the media about who they are (this is worth a read if you’ve missed it the first time around).
He recently showed that he is a really intelligent [...]
I’ve never been a big fan of Ren Square. But I have to give credit to County Executive Maggie Brooks for her vision on this project. I think her support was well intentioned — revitalize a blighted area with a project that should help spur economic development.
But Monroe County Democrats, [...]
Media sources reported that Governor David Paterson has selected a new Democratic State Party Chairman. Who cares, right? Anyone dumb enough to take this job should have their head examined. Being Governor Paterson’s guy a year before Andrew Cuomo takes the party nomination away from him isn’t the best thing [...]
I can’t wait to see how the liberals try to justify this. The Senate Democrats gave big raises to their staff during the month long power struggle that produced nothing of benefit for the average New Yorker.
From the Daily News:
Do-nothing State Senators doled out fat raises to top staffers [...]
Leave it to the Senate Democrats — they’re still providing us with plenty of entertainment. 3 Democrats walked out on the Senate Democrat sham session yesterday.
According to the New York Post:
ALBANY — After a provocative breakfast meeting yesterday, the state Senate’s “Four Amigos” declared tomorrow the deadline to end [...]
Ray Kuntz, Jr., the guy who wrote the following letter in today’s Democrat and Chronicle:
I feel County Executive Maggie Brooks is a “true politician.” Her media grandstanding is not a surprise (July 2 story “County cuts Robutrad”). I know personally that there are good, honest workers still working in [...]
Amazing. Failed Senate candidate and former heavyweight contender Baby Joe Mesi has quit his job as head of the Senate Democrats patronage office in Buffalo.
From the Buffalo News:
Joe Mesi, the former heavyweight boxer appointed to a controversial new office in Buffalo by State Senate Democrats, resigned Thursday effective immediately.
(snip)
“I [...]
At least Harry Bronson and Monroe County Legislature Democrats are consistent. They’re still trying to politicize the Robutrad issue to score political points. Did you see Harry’s response to Republican plans to end the relationship with Robutrad?
From the Democrat and Chronicle:
Harry Bronson, the legislature’s Democratic minority leader, said the Robutrad investigation [...]
Monroe County’s decades-long relationship with Robutrad Corp. will end effective Aug. 1, County Executive Maggie Brooks announced today.
Robutrad, which provides trades workers to the county, is at the center of a federal and Sheriff’s Office investigation into possible corruption. In December, 14 trades workers, most associated with Robutrad, were arrested [...]
It wasn’t that long ago that I held Gates Supervisor Ralph Esposito in high regard. But after reading his comments to the Messenger Post about the Robutrad scandle involving Bob Morone, I’m starting to wonder.
From the Messenger Post:
Esposito said he has two canceled checks totaling $2,425 for exterior painting done [...]
Paul Haney really has a big set of stones. The Democrat and Chronicle had a story on how the County Legislature Democrats voted against 2 environmental projects out of “principle”.
The party-line votes took place during two committee meetings last week, and the subsequent disagreement is representative of the tension [...]
I don’t understand why so many liberals are filled with so much hate. Jimminy Rittler, Democratic Monroe County Legislature staffer, attacked Repoman on the local liberal/progressive/socialist blog for comments he made here at monroerising.com.
Now I can understand people going after me. It’s happened all of my life. My good looks have [...]
What Robert Morone did is pretty bad. In case you live under a rock, you can find the story here. If it proves to be true he deserves to go to jail.
But overzealous hatemongers like County Leg Democratic staffer Joe Bizbo have been spreading misinformation about who has been [...]
I wrote a post in February 2008 asking what Richard Dollinger was promised to leave the Brighton Town bench to run against Joe Robach for a job he obviously didn’t want, state Senator. I know members of the media asked him the question and Dollinger swore up and down [...]
How’s this for progressive values? Hiram Monserrate, alleged girlfriend slasher, has gone from thug to hero in state Democratic circles. From the Daily News:
Malcolm Smith - the ousted Dem leader whose spokesman called Monserrate a “thug” after his defection - Monday called him “important” and “someone who we’re happy [...]
Assemblymember Susan John knows the answer to this question: what is the largest industry in New York State? I didn’t know this but it’s agriculture.
That’s why Democrat’s plan to add more benefits to farm workers, which would make even it more difficult for New York farms to compete, makes no sense. [...]
Assemblyman David Gantt and his cronies have another chance to dust off their 1960’s style protest against a public defender process. They only problem is that they will have to drive 30 minutes to get there.
According to the mpnow.com website, there is a new public defender selection process about to [...]
This happened to me just the other day — I was meeting with someone and throughout the meeting they kept on playing with their Blackberry, checking e-mail, looking at the internet. I was insulted. Unfortunatley it was my boss, so I couldn’t really complain.
Just in case you need more proof [...]
There was an interesting story in the Democrat and Chronicle yesterday morning. School districts are complaining about unfunded state mandates and the influence they have on property taxes.
Here are the key points:
Jeff Crane, superintendent of the West Irondequoit Central School District, said school employees currently must pay into the state’s [...]
Leftists everywhere are sticking to their talking points and saying Republican State Senators are using scare tactics when they claim Democrat “drug law reform” will allow judges to seal up to 4 criminal convictions so reformed crackheads can work with our most vulnerable citizens.
Despite these protests, the Associated Press is [...]
This is unbelievable. Senator Antoine Thompson, a Democrat State Senator, has some staff. Constituent and media relations is the bread and butter of all political offices. Thompson’s screening process and staff training says a lot about him and many of his colleagues in the new Senate Majority.
Speaking of that classy bunch bringing us “change” in Albany, here is an update on Kevin Parker, aka Senator Sluggo’s criminal case. From the New York Post:
Notoriously hotheaded state Sen. Kevin Parker was indicted on assault and other charges yesterday for allegedly attacking a Post photographer.
Parker, who was demoted [...]
We’ve mentioned Buffalo area state Senator Bill Stachowski before. He was locked in a tough re-election race last fall and told everybody he needed to win because he was going to be chairman of the Senate Finance Committee if the Democrats took control of that chamber.
Well, Billy Stach and the Senate [...]
Earlier we’ve commented on how Broome Community College broomed their former President Lawrence Spraggs because of his job performance. Ironically, he was one of the “professionals” the MCC faculty wanted to hire here last year.
Well, BCC’s new search, one not tainted by politics, isn’t going so well. From pressconnects.com:
Board [...]
Aren’t you glad the Democrats have total control in Albany? If you are a crackhead or a car thief you certainly are. The Daily News had a great editorial on the consequences of the drug law “reform” that was championed by the state Working Families Party and enacted by Albany Democrats.
From [...]
Harry Bronson better have Jiminy Bizbo think of something quick. According to Monday’s Democrat and Chronicle, Monroe County is in better shape than any other county in New York State when it comes to declining sales tax revenue.
According to the Democrat and Chronicle:
Counties across the state are dealing with [...]
Assemblyman David Gantt, the Democratic Party’s hero of the Public Defender Fiasco, is standing in the way of the democratic process once again. This time, he is blocking legislation that would prohibit text messaging while driving in New York State. This is another story you won’t read in the Democrat [...]
So much for the reinvented Eliot Spitzer. He had been making the rounds on tv shows offering his thoughts on things, apparently trying to lay the groundwork for an eventual political comeback.
An article in today’s New York Times ought to help put an end to that. According to that article, Client [...]
Monroe County Legislature Democratic Minority Leader Harry Bronson’s boss, Susan John, was featured in Sunday’s Democrat and Chronicle. They did a story on all the pork Assembly Democrats have delivered.
We’ve commented on Harry’s tendency to complain about Republicans in the County Legislature and not offer any specific solutions. But I”ve never [...]
BUFFALO - Congressmen Chris Lee (NY-26) and Brian Higgins (NY-27) held a press conference yesterday morning at Broderick Park on Squaw Island to announce that the State Department has informed them of its intention to open a permanent passport issuance agency in the Buffalo-Niagara Falls region. The lawmakers have been [...]
Wow, Harry Bronson needs to get someone new to write his stuff for him. His piece in the D&C this morning was pointless garbage.
Here’s the substance from Dirty Harry’s essay:
Democrats support a collaborative style of leadership. We believe in working as partners to tackle fiscal matters, including coming up with [...]
10NBC broke a story saying that billionaire/political activist, Tom Golisano will be moving to Florida from his home in the Rochester area.
Golisano announced today during his speech at the 2009 Financial Executive of the Year Awards luncheon that he intends to move to Florida, saying he has already begun [...]
Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks delivered her 6th State Of The County Address. She focused on economic development and some of the positives in our community. Despite what we constantly hear, Monroe County is in better shape than many parts of New York State.
Despite the shackles placed on Monroe County by [...]
With the exception of Jose Cruz, Monroe County Democrats should be ashamed of themselves. Voting against the multi park master plan last night because of a bunch of people who consider the effected parks their personal property was outrageous.
Their first clue that they were headed down the wrong path should have [...]
So much for the question: What did Malcolm Smith know about Kevin Parker’s temper, and when did he know it? In addition to several previous incidents, the New York Post is reporting that Senator Kevin Parker got out of his car and yelled at a parking attendent in Albany, just [...]
Monroe County Legislature President Wayne E. Zyra (R-Sweden, Hamlin, Clarkson, whose current term ends December 31, 2009, today announced that he will not seek re-election.”I would like to thank the voters of the Towns of Sweden, Clarkson, and Hamlin for the honor and privilege of representing them in the Legislature,” [...]
