Well tonight was the first regularly scheduled City Council meeting of 2010 as the members adjusted to life without Kim. The evening started with only one comment in the public comment period with the always articulate Kyle York offering to shovel the sidewalks of the elderly and disabled of the city. Next was a rather routine session with a lively and spirited debate on the county sales tax plan and the benefits and drawbacks of the cities decision to leave it in 2001. Ken Ivins Jr. took the old school Republican position that leaving was the worst decision the city ever made and Franck taking the old school Democratic position that it was the right thing to do. The verbal match was clearly a draw with no side able to claim victory. Mayor Johnson acted as referee with Wirth sitting the discussion out. Anthony “Skip” Scirocco seemed lost without his mentor Kim. He seemed to be speaking in a kind of verbal chase of his own tail that was hard to follow. I did get this much leaving the county sales tax formula BAD, and he also publicly stated again the city will be shut down soon because of layoffs in his department. Outside of Skippy’s incoherent babbles the discussion between Ivins and Franck was carried out minus the rancor and grandstanding that was so much a part of Kim’s combative style of politics. The city faces some very tough decisions in 2010 and if tonight is any indication they will be handled by adults in a bipartisan and thoughtful way. Well done gentleman you were a credit to civil discussion. Hint to Skip: the less you talk the brighter you look.
Next on the agenda. Something that I overlooked at the Saratogian while I was caught up in nailing Demroc.
Public Safety layoffs threaten D.A.R.E. program
Published: Sunday, January 3, 2010
By MAREESA NICOSIA,
http://www.saratogian.com/articles/2010/01/03/news/doc4b400e7003380336078795.txt
Why didn’t you call this piece of puff MAREESA?
Save me,Save my kids,Save us all.
Mareesa what you should have asked is
How does the DARE program still exist? By now it is virtually a joke, the only people who ever wear DARE shirts are stoners who wear it ironically... Forget the fact that the program is virtually useless and may actually have the opposite of intended effect, as long as the kids look forward to it, right Mareesa. We don’t have the money for this feel good crap, dump it. Put the officers back on patrol were they can do some good.
But in fairness I will present the Saratogian view of the world.
High School graduation of Children who went through DARE.
High School graduation of those who didn’t go through DARE
14 comments:
I have no children, but once was asked to video tape a DARE graduation, replete with skits that the class organized under, I assume, the tutelage of the DARE Officer. One I remember concerned a kid who took one hit off a joint and died. Now how long do you suppose it was before that class realized the total fiction of the entire exercise and later thought that information about huffing gasoline or oven cleaner was BS as well.
Being DARE officer is a good way to make a living (or overtime)
I say put the cops back on the street, let parents deal with drugs, sex and other matters concerning their children.
DARE is brainwashing where I come from. Teach the parents the FACTS and let them figure out how they will raise their own children with the knowledge they now possess. Pot never hurt us.
DARE certainly could have helped you John. You were driving under the influence since 16yrs old. Probably why you pulled in front of that city truck.
Maxstein sez,just looked at the anti blog and I've been unable to determine if the authors'rantings are the result of glue,smoke or pills...after a period of thought I would have to say it's probably a concoction of all three and then probably laced with LSD,any thoughts on this.
Did anyone one else see the new saratogian reporter? LUCAS BLAISE, Ok Ok he is a nice kid.But what the fuck, is he 12 years old? He looks like an intern from middle school.
Scirocco is speaking Skipperish
Skipperish is a generic term in English for talking that sounds like speech, but carries no actual meaning. This meaning has also been extended to meaningless text or skippedygook. The common theme in Skipperish statements is a lack of literal sense, which can be described as a presence of nonsense. The word may derive from the word "Skipabber" ("to talk nonsense"), with the "-ish" suffix to signify a language; alternatively, the term Skipperish may derive from the eclectic mix of English, Spanish, Hebrew, Hindu and Arabic spoken on the British territory of Gibraltar, which is unintelligible to non-natives. In Saratoga it is widely heard in the Public Works offices in City Hall and city council meeting
Thank you Noam that explains a lot.Tell me Noam has Skipperish ever been successfully translated?
No it cannot. Skipperish cannot be understood by normal people.
Many people ask "how many people read your blog."
Well the short answer is a lot.
Here are today's stats since midnight.
Summary (Saratoga politics) 6th January 2010 12:31:26
Page Loads 2,929
Unique Visitors 1,161
First Time 652
VisitorsReturning 509
I Why was there no coverage of the Sales Tax issue in the Saratogian story by boy wonder LUCAS BLAISE.
Supervisor Yepsen had it right when she spoke. Years ago we collected our own Sales Tax and we had continuous surpluses while the County ran at a deficit. The City Council, in concert with the County, gave the County the authority to collect and disperse the Sales Tax in a formula designed by the County - without real concern for our City.
The obvious then happened. We started to run in deficit mode and the County went into surplus mode. Go figure.
Every year the SS share was threatened by The Board of Supervisors, especially Daley of Clifton Park. Our cut was continuously reduced by reformulation of the Formula.
We are better off collecting our own Sales Tax, and thereby controlling our own financial future - given we have a responsibly and efficient City Council. Unfortunately at the time, we do not.
You're hurting my head. That's too much to digest, CB. Numbers and statistics are just too, well: confusing!
As the People's Assmblywoman, my slogan will be PHOOEY WITH NUMBERS AND LOGIC! IT'S ALL ABOUT FEELING GOOOOOOOOD!
Also, does anyone know if Assembly candidates have running mates? Ronnie has been acting REAL strange the past few days and needs something to keep him busy.
Eileen and Shawn: please look into that?
While we're at it, will someone make sure we're stocked up with Kool Aid?
See you all at Wells Street tomorrow night! Hail Vanguard.
That picture of high school graduates sure doesn't reflect on John Tighe. Remember John when I threw your diploma on the front steps for you at St. Peter's many years ago?
Yes, John i remember you as an altar boy back then. You really wore that robe well. Miss those days!
Have you Saratogians been following the budget in Albany? They are losing their payments in lieu of taxes and now are in a fix. The payment plan was put in when the State took over half their land for the Capitol. If you think the budget in Saratoga is in trouble now think what it will be when the city loses its payments in lieu of taxes that it was given when the State decided it owned all the land of the track instead of NYRA(including Oklahoma) in addition to all the other prime Saratoga land already off the tax rolls (SPAC, tree nursery, state park, golf courses etc, etc.). You are losing more and more of your tax base to the state. They better start planning now.
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