Well for two people who ran their political campaigns on open goverment and transparency nothing could be farther from the truth.
First we have Public Works Commissioner Anthony “Skip” Scirocco shafting locals while lowering the cost of the Casino for out-of-towners. Wood-be Saratoga brides will be paying $2800 up from $2500 but lower than the proposed $3000 that Scirocco originally wanted. The increased passed with Public Safety Commissioner Christian Mathiesen being the swing vote.
Next Empire ambulance was granted the secondary ambulance contract. I love Empire and I credit them with helping to save my life in my 3am transport from Saratoga Hospital to Albany Med. Empire made the trip in 27 minutes flat and allowed a Priest to ride with us as he administered last rites over my fading carcass back in June. My insurance Greater New York Heath Care SEIULocal1199 has a contract with Empire so my bill was paid in full. The surprise of the contract was the rental fee for the West Ave station that was in Mathiesen’s original proposal was reduced from the claimed 100k down to 40k. Already ambulance projected revenue is down 60 thousand. No details of the bidding process were presented and the amateurish Mathiesen left the contract open ended until it was corrected by the mayor.
Next we have the MultiMed Ambulance Billing Service contact,it passed with little debate and few details. What wasn't discussed was that in the Multi Med Contract in Section 1a it refers to allowing Multi Med to turn over any billing for collection or legal actions deemed necessary. Chief Williams when presenting this program stated their intentions were to soft bill. So much for open and transparent government.
And finally drug testing for police and fireman. Accounts Commissioner John Franck said random drug testing should be instituted in both departments. Accounts Commissioner John Franck called “It’s a no-brainer” but Public Safety Commissioner Christian Mathiesen still said he didn’t feel it was necessary even though we have a crack addict fireman in jail. They still won’t answer if he is getting paid. Not very open . Finance Commissioner Michele Madigan also felt it wasn’t necessary and doesn’t like people turning over their body fluids for testing.
I guess Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb was her favorite movie
"Do you realize that in addition to fluoridating water, why, there are studies underway to fluoridate salt, flour, fruit juices, soup, sugar, milk, ice cream? Ice cream, Mandrake? Children's ice cream!...You know when fluoridation began?...1946. 1946, Mandrake. How does that coincide with your post-war Commie conspiracy, huh? It's incredibly obvious, isn't it? A foreign substance is introduced into our precious bodily fluids without the knowledge of the individual, and certainly without any choice. That's the way your hard-core Commie works. I first became aware of it, Mandrake, during the physical act of love... Yes, a profound sense of fatigue, a feeling of emptiness followed. Luckily I — I was able to interpret these feelings correctly. Loss of essence. I can assure you it has not recurred, Mandrake. Women, er, women sense my power, and they seek the life essence. I do not avoid women, Mandrake...but I do deny them my essence."
I just got off talk 1300 with Steve Coffey and will have a post on that later today
6 comments:
You are a busy guy JT.
I/we really appreciate how you have taken the reins, and are covering more than one major topic at a time. Multi-tasking at its best.
I watched and listend online last night's council meeting.
I will add to your comments later.
Good job.
There are a lot of people watching and listening.
The good doctor is obviously in over his head, and each day it is becoming more of an issue for the taxpayers.
Is Madigan serious? We shouldn't do it because there might be false positives? Take two samples, if the first comes up wrong, run it again from a second sample.
Drug testing criteria should be a no brainer for the following circumstances.
1. Anytime a weapon, including a taser, is discharged. Knowing that person who discharged the weapon was clear of any substance can only HELP the DA make their case, and close the door to any civil action.
2. Anytime a PS individual is sent for medical attention. Since they're already at the hospital, a sample can be taken with little to no inconvenience. The trips to the hospital seem to come in the course of police using force, it can only help the DA's case to have proof that the arresting officer was of sound mind, and not under the influence of any substance.
Outside of that tests should be allowed to be issued at the discretion of superior officer, or a commissioner. Adding commissioners might make it likely they get done. Otherwise, the "blue wall" will never cave on one of their own. However, if it's a case of commissioner having to step in and ask for a test to be done, and it comes up positive, we SHOULD be asking everyone in the chain of command how they missed it.
Does Dr. Toothy have an clients in his dental practice who are PS employees, or on PS employee insurance? Shouldn't he recluse himself from anything involving PS contracts, since Health Coverage is a part of that, and he could have a vested interest in one carrier over another, based on who he deals with at his dental practice.
Taking blood from PS employees to get tested when they are sent to the hospital is also a good idea because it shows insurance they weren't under the influence of anything when they were injured.
Comm. Scirocco has truly screwed up this whole casino situation. Lets see how this whole thing transpired:
He had the best of both worlds with Betty French not only booking the casino & increasing revenue every yr. but also mowing lawns, raking, snowblowing & supervising.
He thens decides to go to civil service, have the booking duties pulled from her (even though it was approved by them for more than 15 yr.)& create ANOTHER JOB at $70,000 yr. while stating the position will create $50,000. A $20,000 lost to the taxpayers. Great business move!
He then goes ahead & hires Mary Lou's daughter for the "new" position before he went to council to have the position funded. Great business more!
He then goes to council crying he doesn't have the votes but the whole council is wrong for not funding this position. The casino is loosing money & this person can now DOUBLE the revenues if only they'd listen. Never mind, "It's over & he'll deal with it." He has to deal with it, he created IT!
Now what does he do? He increases the rates on city residents. First by $500!!!! Then at the last council meeting he decides he'll give them a "break", he'll only increase it by $300 but he also decreased nonresidents rate by $200! Not only that, he worked these rates & the other rates out with the Tourism Convention Bureau! The organization that will only be paying $2,300-2,500for the casino ($500-$300 less)than a city resident and $900-$700 less than previously!! Talk about back door deals! Also, why should the goverment have a discounted rate? Great business moves Commissioner!!
The Commissioner has taken a perfectly fine working, revenue increasing situation and turned it into the worst business move this city has seen ever!!! EVER!! I believe the saying is "If it's not broken, don't fix it." The Commissioner has certainly fixed it! Beacuse of the Commissioner the taxpayers & resident brides & grooms have been screwed & the casino revenue will suffer.
Thanks "Skippy"!
And whatever happened to renting chairs for these casino events as a revenu generator. Now the business goes to Allerdice, a Skippy supporter. Another great business move on the part of the Commissioner. A special thanks to Eileen Finneran, the Goldbergs, Thilo and all the other city Dems who are responsible for putting this guy in office and keeping him there. Your legacy will long be remembered in this city.
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