America's North Shore Journal » Local
Rochester, N.Y.’s 2010 Tea Party
The Rochester Tea Party organizers have scheduled another outing for all of us that oppose the big spending, high taxing, big government. There was a hugely successful gathering last year and they hope to make this year’s even larger and louder. Date: Thursday, April 15, 2010 Time: 11:30 am EDT to 1 pm EDT Location: Genesee Crossroads Park The park is located in downtown Rochester, NY, on the west bank of the Genesee River north of Main Street and south of Andrews. Further information can be found at the Rochester Tea Party website. Photos from the April 15, 2009 Rochester Tea Party Previous in series Next in seriesTable of contents for American Tea PartyTime for a Tea PartyTea Party VideoTea Party News and ViewsAcorns and Oaks – Seeds of ChangeTea Party and TodayPhiladelphia Tea PartyUpcoming Tea … Read entire article »
Filed under: American Politics, Local, Politics
Online News Probes Intern Affairs
New York State Assemblyman Sam Hoyt has been caught by the online news site PoliticsNY.net. He stands accused of having affairs with two different interns while serving in the State Assembly. Later reports from old media seem to show that they were adults, though still state employees. Powerful politician, state employees in their early twenties. Hmmm… Misconduct? Sexual harassment? If I had done it in a private sector business, it would be. Goose and gander, Sam, goose and gander. His statement: Recently, accusations and slurs have been made online about my personal life; and like a lot of things on the Internet, much of it is false. Here’s what is true. Several years ago, my wife and I had a difficult time in our marriage. Since that time, my wife Connie and … Read entire article »
Filed under: Americas North Shore, Local, Other Bloggers, Politics
Government As Thief
The East Rochester Volunteer Ambulance Corps has been in existence since 1938. We were incorporated as a New York membership corporation in 1949. Up until about four or five years ago, the Corps had a contract with the Village of East Rochester to provide EMS and ambulance services to the Village. The Village discontinued the yearly contract and we were told that it was unnecessary and / or improper. We operate out of a forty year old temporary building owned by the Village. The Village allocates, in its general budget, a sum of money from which the Village pays operating expenses for the Corps. That includes building utilities and maintenance, ownership and operating expenses for two ambulances, and supplies used in our operations such as bandages and splints. In 2005, at the request … Read entire article »
Filed under: Commentary, East Rochester Ambulance, Local, Original writing, Politics
NY Comptroller
Well, the race for New York Comproller has shaped up into a contest. Hillary won’t lose. Spitzer is poised to become Governor. Andrew Cuomo will take the AG spot. All Dems, in a rout for the Republican party in New York. But… Democrat candidate for State Comptroller, Alan Hevesi, has shot himself in the foot. Spitzer, the whitecoller-crime fighting AG, waited days to throw old Alan overboard but he did. “Alan, don’t stand so close to the rail!!” “Oh, God! Man overboard! Man overboard!” Hevesi was using state funds to pay for a driver for his wife. The original story was that they had received threats. The new story is that she’s sickly. So far he’s ponied up over $170,000 to reimburse the state. Curiously that’s about a half year’s pay for … Read entire article »
Filed under: Commentary, Local, Original writing, Politics
Unsafe Cities and Politics
After I posted the original post about the Unsafe Cities Report, I began to wonder about the decades that the Democrats had controlled the mayor’s office in so many of the cities. Why? Why would the voters of Newark vote for a Democratic mayor for 53 years? Clearly Newark has struggled during that period, had riots and crime, had an economy slump nearly out of sight. What did the Democrats bring to the voters of Newark that kept them in power? Or, could it be the poor presentations by Republicans? Is the Republican Party in general that bad at running good candidates for the office of mayor? Detroit has had a Democratic mayor for 44 years. In the beginning of the 1960′s they elected a Democrat. They kept electing Democrats through the … Read entire article »
Filed under: Commentary, Crime and Punishment, Local, Original writing, Politics
Moderately Fast Ferry
Some years ago, a bright idea occurred to the city fathers of Rochester, New York. Why not find a way to increase tourism and commerce, and revitalize the lake front at the same time? An angel spoke to Mayor Johnson, who was not a baboon at the time, in a dream. “Lo, I shall send you a ferry, a shipt to guide your city to the Promised Land.” No, I really don’t know what moron came up with the ferry idea or how. I thought it was a boondoggle from the start, but I wished its proponents well. Because, with a little luck, it might all work out. Well… let me tell you. I hope the tax payers of Rochester enjoyed their screwing, because they got it good. And it ain’t over, neither! The … Read entire article »
Filed under: Americas North Shore, Commentary, Local, Original writing, Politics, Rochester New York
Gates Audit
Democrat and Chronicle Because of poor fiscal management and budgeting, and lax oversight from the Town Board, Gates went from a $1.7 million surplus in 2000 to a $2.8 million deficit in 2005, a decrease of $4.5 million, according to an audit released by State Comptroller Alan G. Hevesi this morning. The 2000-05 deficit of $2.8 million does not include an additional projected shortfall of more than $1 million in 2006. The audit reviewed the town’s financial records and procedures from January 2001 to December 2005. In November, the comptroller’s office also released a review of the town’s 2006 budget. The Audit I read the audit, the Town’s response, and the audit response. This is as damning an audit as I have ever seen in over 20 years of accounting. Three issues, not responded to by … Read entire article »
Filed under: American Politics, Analysis, Local, Original writing, Politics
Why New Orleans Still Suffers
NY Times Billions of federal dollars are about to start flowing into this city after President Bush on Thursday signed the emergency relief bill the region has long awaited. But, with the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina approaching, local officials have yet to come up with a redevelopment plan showing what kind of city will emerge from the storm’s ruins. No neighborhoods have been ruled out for rebuilding, no matter how damaged or dangerous. No decisions have been made on what kind of housing, if any, will replace the mold-ridden empty hulks that stretch endlessly in many areas. No one really knows exactly how the $10.4 billion in federal housing aid will be spent, and guidance for residents in vulnerable areas has been minimal. A month into his second term, Mayor C. Ray Nagin … Read entire article »
Filed under: American Politics, Americans, Charity, Disasters, Gulf Reconstruction, Katrina relief, Local, Politics
Coming Soon: Future Posts
- Declaration of War 1812 (in 129 days)
- USS President vs HMS Belvidera (in 134 days)
- General Hull Invades Canada (in 153 days)
- First Battle of Sacketts Harbor (in 160 days)
On Y!CN
- Radioactive Gravel from Japanese Nuke Disaster Used in Buildings
- Fuel Supplies Reach Nome
- Fuel Convoy Reaches Nome
- Russians Sail to Rescue of Ice Bound Alaska Community
- Pope Embraces Anglicans in U.S. with New Ordinariate
- Nebraska Nuke Plant Placed on Special Inspection Status
- Radioactive Water Leaks at Japanese Nuke Site
- Japan Damaged Nuke Plants Still Not Under Control
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State Deficit Provides Tax Rebate
October 13th, 2008 | Comments Off
The lovely wife and I got a nice surprise last Saturday. New York State sent us a check for just over $500. It is marked as part of the STAR program for property tax rebates but the explanation with the check also refers to income taxes paid. I was surprised because I know that New York State is running a deficit of some $1.2 billion. I wasn’t too surprised because I am very familiar with the corruption of the New York State legislature. These checks arrive about three weeks before the election. Does anyone find that curious? No, I didn’t think so. Members of the State Assembly and Senate are nearly invulnerable to defeat at the polls. The Republicans control the Senate and the Democrats the Assembly. The only thing they can agree … Read entire article »
Filed under: Commentary, Local, Original writing, Politics