Mayor calls for audit of the Housing Authority by the Comptroller’s Office

BREAKING BREAKING NEWS;Front page of the TU Today

Spa City wants audit HERE

Well the action is starting to pick up with the Mayor sending out this press release which I will republish in its entirety.

City of Saratoga Springs

MAYOR’S OFFICE CITY HALL

474 Broadway Saratoga Springs, New York 12866 Telephone 518-587-3550Fax 518-587-1688

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, January 30, 2012CONTACT: Scott T. Johnson 518-587-3550 ext. 2520, 518-860-9984

The Housing Authority was established in 1951 and chartered under state law as a NewYork State non-profit government agency. As such, it is under the jurisdiction and review by the Comptroller’s Office in instances, such as this, wherein a financial accounting is desired. The audit is requested following recent issues surfacing in the media and under public scrutiny that alleged concerns over potential financial irregularities and spending practices such as salary, compensation, travel and business expenses, and claims of nepotism in hiring.

“Initially, the concerns that surfaced were dealing with claims of bed bug infestation, which alone carries significant and serious consequences to residents potentially at risk and our community reputation”,Mayor Johnson said. “Upon the issue of potential infestation being raised, I have been in contact with both the Executive Director and Chairman of the Housing Authority Board to ascertain the plan of action to be implemented to address that issue. Certainly, I wanted to provide the Housing Authority with sufficient time to design and implement an effective plan of action. The effectiveness of the treatment plan is one of ongoing analysis and, in fact, the subject of two public forums to be held on Tuesday, January 31, 2012.

I will with hold any definitive opinion on the effectiveness of the response until all information has been obtained, in fairness to all parties involved.”The latest allegations involve matters of fiscal accountability and require a different approach. “Once the allegations of fiscal impropriety were being raised, the issues have changed and broadened to require an independent, third party analysis and findings on spending practices”, Johnson added. “In order to ensure transparency in the Authority’s budgets and financial practices, an independent review will best serve the public interest and eliminate uncertainty. This scrutiny is needed in order to put some finality on the allegations being raised.

Any conclusion will be withheld until all facts are available”, Johnson concluded. In other action today, Mayor Johnson appointed Albert Callucci, of Saratoga Springs, to the sole remaining vacancy on the Housing Authority Board. “I am very pleased to appoint Al Callucci to this important position, particularly during these difficult times for the Housing Authority Board. He brings with him a wealthof experience in management and a dedication and commitment to the well being of our community”, Johnson said. The appointment is effective February 1, 2012 and will be a five year term.

First I would like to commend the Mayor for calling for a full audit. I also comment him on his choice of Albert Callucci for the authority board. I know Al Callucci, in fact I consider Al Callucci a good friend. I predict he will be a valuable member of the board and I doubt he can be bought off by a few free trips.

I am disappointed that the Mayor didn’t call for the firing of Ed Spychalski and the resignation of Authority Board Chairman Dennis Brunelle and the rest of his high rolling cronies and yes that includes the “flying nun”. But I understand Scott is methodical in his approach.

That brings me to my third point. Johnson and the rest of the City Council need to hear your stories first hand. Everything I tell them that I didn’t witness is “Hearsay". Spychalski and Brunelle will no doubt pack these meeting with toadies to delude the truth, don’t let this happen.

In other news this story and me have gone national. This went out last week to 575,000 via email. Also on his web site; tweeted (6,000+); and on Facebook (6,000+). HERE

For those who are still afraid.

The truth is my shield, my words my sword.

SARATOGA HOUSING AUTHORITY RESIDENTS; TIME TO SPEAK OUT!!!

Well the time has come for you, the residents of all the Saratoga Housing Authority properties {Jefferson Terrace, Vanderbilt Terrace and Stonequist Apartments} to stand up and tell the Mayor at his Tuesday 2pm conference and at the hearing at 7pm Tuesday in City Hall that is chaired by Commissioner of Accounts John Franck just what a lousy piece of shit Authority Board Chairman Dennis Brunelle and his chief henchman Ed Spychalski really are{ I’m not trying to put words in your month but that is my opinion of them}.

I’ve heard your complaints from the bedbugs to the predatory sexual offenders living among you. I know about the good Pastor John Rice leader of the Saratoga Independent Church who was also declared persona no grata at all Saratoga Housing Authority properties and the women whose arm was broken by a sex offender.

HERE

HERE

I’ve heard about the illegal questioning of heath care personal and the violations of your HIPAA rights at the same time drunks and drug dealers roam your halls free from any interference. You’ve told me of being forced to pay “FINES” in cash and then being harassed if you asked for a receipt.

Now you’ve put up with this shit for too long.

STAND UP AND SHOUT; I’M MAD AS HELL AND NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE.

You know I might be an asshole and god knows I can’t spell or write but if I’ve learned anything in my life it’s this.

Being poor or disabled isn’t a crime. That in the eyes of GOD,any one of you is as loved and valued by GOD as much or perhaps even more than all the Brunelles and Spychalskis in this world.

The main stream media has done its job.I’ve tried hard as well, with my special brand of Gorilla Journalism, but now it’s up to you. I will stand with you, not just now but in the future. I will meet with any of you who feel that the Housing Authority thugs have retaliated against you for speaking out. Remember any threats made against you by staff may in themselves be a crime. Report them to the police.

This is your time. Be proud, be brave

Could the Housing Authority crisis turn criminal?

BREAKING BREAKING NEWS.

Times Unions article blasts Saratoga Housing Authority travel expenses

" The director, board chairman and employees billed $31,875 in 2011 and $25,186 in 2010 for travel, lodging and training costs, according to the housing authority, which released its travel ledger this week under the state's Freedom of Information laws."

Read the whole story HERE

Well there have been a lot of developments in the Housing Authority crisis. First we have dueling news stories in the Saratogian HERE and the Times Union HERE.

The Times Union is reporting that Mayor Scott Johnson will be having a press conference on Monday and will be meeting with residents at the Stonequist Apartments on Tuesday at 2 p.m. Jan. 31, and of course I will be arrested, and handcuffed if I try to attend.

The Saratogian is reporting about the Tuesday meeting with Johnson and the Tenants.

Commissioner of Accounts also has a public workshop scheduled for Tue at 7 p.m. Jan. 31 in the City Council Chambers at City Hal. So we have dueling meetings.

While I have been banned from all Authority grounds by Ed Spychalski and Dennis Brunelle and with the blessing and muscle of the Saratoga Springs Police Department who have labeled me a suspicious person, I never less have been able to continue to document abuses by Spychalski.

In these remarkable photos, we see the return of Housing Authority Jeep BPD 3490 that hadn’t been seen in a long time. Rumors would suggest the jeep has been for the exclusive use of Ed Spychalski’s wife who is the only family member not on the Authority payroll. The jeep was said to have been kept in Spychalski’s three car garage at his palatial estate in Halfmoon 20 miles from the city.

But look closely at the windshield in the above photo and you will see a NYC EZ pass transponder on the windshield. This caused a foil request to be sent to the Authorities attorney who responded that

“The Housing Authority doesn’t have an EZ pass”

The next day as this photo shows the transponder is gone.

What that means my friend is that someone was using their personal transponder on an Official Government vehicle that was being used for personal outings. The fact that the EZ pass Transponder was removed only confirms the vehicle was being used for an illegal purpose.

This is theft from the government . I’m not a lawyer so I can’t tell you the statute.

But I know the DA needs to get a search warrant for those EZ pass records to see where that jeep has been. No excuses this time.

A CRIME IS A CRIME

Then maybe when we clean house of the management and staff of the Housing Authority,I'll never be posting videos like this again

Deal or no deal

Well I take a momentary break from the Housing Authority crisis to stoplight another Saratoga Springs clusterfuck, the Casino reservation coordinator position.

I originally wrote a week ago that Heather Mabee, Mary Lou Whitney's daughter had been pegged for this new but unfunded position at the expense of longtime and much beloved jack of all trades Congress Park foreman Betty French. HERE.

The Saratogian has confirmed my story HERE.

This story goes back to Commissioner of Public Works Skip Scirocco getting bitch slapped as his pet project, the creation of a Reservation Coordinator went unfunded in the 2012 budget. Public works Commissioner Anthony “Skip” Scirocco then claimed if he wasn’t given an influx of funds his department would likely face layoffs.

This sentiment was echoed by then Finance candidate Michelle Madigan who according to the minutes of the November 1 2011 council meeting in the public comment meeting said.

Michelle Madigan of 30 Horseshoe Drive stated she had a question for Commissioner Ivins. She stated he didn’t budget enough in the DPW budget for labor. It leads her to believe he may possibly be considering layoffs in that department and hasn’t had a chance to come forward with that yet.

So after the election in the final budget for 2012 the Public Works Department received a $175,381 influx of capital into mostly labor lines, supposedly to avoid layoffs.

But there never was a threat of layoffs. Madigan was either incredibly naive or had cut a deal with Scirocco. The money was partially meant to circumvent the council’s vote to unfund the position of Reservation Coordinator . Heather Mabee had already been chosen for the position going back to September.

Scirocco seemingly repaid the political favor to Finance Commissioner Michele Madigan for her budgetary support and Public Safety Commissioner Christian Mathiesen, when he broke with the Mayor and supported there half-baked ambulance plan for the city.

But now in spite of all his Machiavellian planning it seems the Little Prince{ Skippy} will need a council vote after all to fill the position.

So watch closely at the next Council meeting to see if Finance Commissioner Michele Madigan and or Public Safety Commissioner Christian Mathiesen vote with Skip Scirocco. One of them just might be the needed swing vote.

Then we will all know once and for all if they made a deal with Scirocco