Study reveals demand for housing units in downtown Schenectady Report drafted as part of state grant process Pete DeMola | August 4, 20201 Study reveals demand for housing units in downtown Schenectady Jeff Buell and Redburn Development Partners restoring the old Gazette Press Building on Broadway last year.PHOTOGRAPHER: GAZETTE FILE PHOTO SCHENECTADY — There has been a housing boom in the city's downtown section within the last five years.
Over 1,110 housing units have been constructed within the past seven years and more are in the planning stages, including a 49-unit mixed-use building on the site of the now-demolished Citizens Bank at 501 State Street.
A new report, released last week, provides concrete numbers to illustrate the exact demand.
Over the next five years, downtown Schenectady could potentially absorb 675 to 850 new rental units, 50 to 75 new condominiums and 85 to 130 new townhouses.
That's a total of 810 to 1,055 new market-rate housing units, according to a housing study released as part of the Schenectady Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI).
GAZETTE COVERAGE Our subscribers help us bring this information to you. Please consider a subscription at DailyGazette.com/Subscribe As many as 950 households have the potential to move to the study area annually.
When it comes to market demand, 71 percent, or 676 households, would prefer multi-unit apartments, whether new or pre-existing units.
The projected demand for multi-family sale units -- including lofts, apartments and condos -- is 10.5 percent, while single-family attached for-sale facilities like townhouses constitute 18.3 percent of demand.
Downtown’s capture of market potential for entirely new construction is between 162 to 211 units per year, according to the report.
The study by New Jersey-based consultants Zimmerman/Volk Associates Inc. was designed to measure the market potential for rental and for-sale housing units that could be developed in downtown Schenectady over the next half-decade.
Its release comes as stakeholders are reaching a decision on how to allocate $10 million in state economic development funds awarded to the city last fall as part of Schenectady DRI.
An annual average of 3,960 households have the potential to move within or to the city each year over the next five years.
Younger singles and couples represent 57 percent of the market for new dwelling units in the study area, which includes downtown and the Erie Boulevard corridor up to Mohawk Harbor.
The average market rate for a loft rental is $800 to $1,250 per month with apartment rental ranging from, $1,125 to $2,250 per month; while the purchase price for condos is $175,000 to $300,000 and townhouses, $275,000 to $395,000, according to the study.
Zimmerman/Volk Associates used a complex formula to calculate the demand, factoring data gleaned from the Internal Revenue Service and Americans Community Survey Data, among other metrics into its equation.
Economic development officials say the report supports the soaring number of downtown residential units.
“There continues to be a strong demand for housing across our new downtown from the Proctors Block to lower State Street to Mohawk Harbor,” said Schenectady Metroplex Development Authority Chairman Ray Gillen. “We are getting inquiries from developers every week and many developers who have done projects want to do more.”
In addition to the 49-unit building at 501 State St., a mixed-use development between the Mill Artisan District and Electric City Apartments has been proposed.
Redburn Development Partners and Highbridge Development, respectively, are each seeking state grant funds to subsidize those efforts.
The report also includes occupancy rates for housing complexes in the coverage area.
For example, the Lofts at Union Square are listed at 100 percent occupancy, the River House reported 99 percent occupancy and 245 Broadway has an occupancy rate of 94 percent.
However, the rate for several newer projects, including Electric City Apartments and Redburn-developed projects, are not included because they’re still in the “lease-up” phase, which can take up to a year depending on the specific marketing area, said Laurie Volk, principal at Zimmerman/Volk Associates Inc.
And while Zimmerman/Volk did not conduct a turnover analysis, “we thought downtown was doing very well in terms of occupancy,” Volk said.
The study was completed in February just as the COVID pandemic began to deepen in the U.S. and before stay-at-home orders resulted in the shutdown of large sectors of the downtown economy, including restaurants and offices, as well as Proctors, Bow Tie Cinemas and Rivers Casino & Resort.
While Volk acknowledged that the study was a snapshot in time, she said that the housing market appears to be holding up “extremely well” despite the economic recession caused by the pandemic.
“We were uncertain what impact [the pandemic] was going to have on housing,” Volk said on Tuesday. “But unlike retail, which was destroyed by COVID, housing seems to be doing quite well.”
Local developers said they’re feeling bullish about the future of the downtown housing market.
Dave Buicko, president and CEO of the Galesi Group, said demand at Mohawk Harbor’s River House Apartments has been consistently strong, and popular with both millennials and empty-nesters drawn to the waterfront and surrounding amenities.
“We’re fairly full here,” Buicko said. “We’re very pleased with how we’ve leased up and keep them leased up.”
Mohawk Harbor’s 15 townhouses are also filling up.
“We’re over 50 percent committed to,” Buicko said, “which is right on plan.”
Inquiries are also continuing to come in for the Live-In Schenectady townhouses on Barrett Street, Buicko said, among other recently completed downtown complexes
“It’s a very strong market on the multi-family side,” Buicko said, citing pent-up demand as developers are continue to upgrade housing stock that has been largely unchanged since the 1970s.
Like Volk, Buicko agrees COVID may not leave a lasting impact on the city’s housing market, and Schenectady may ultimately benefit from New York City-area residents seeking to live in smaller cities they perceive as safer.
“I think it’s going to be a benefit to cities like Schenectady,” Buicko said.
Schenectady DRI’s next online public meeting is Thursday, Aug. 13 at 6 p.m. For more information, visit schenectadydri.com.
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David Bianchi My Rights, along with my Families Rights have been continually violated by the City of Schenectady on a number of occasions. My ex- local lawyer Glen Brownell has been a witness and has even wrote me a notarized letter concerning my Rights being continually violated. Unfortunately, Glen, for one reason or another has failed to file a lawsuit for me. He has told me in the past he would file a lawsuit for me. Changing to more recent, I probably need to get an out of the area Law Firm because of the Powers of the City of Schenectady and also the Investors which were involved in the Stealing of land for a named, (Live In Schenectady) housing project, (Town houses) on Barrett St. In the downtown area, also near Union college, City hall, and The Rivers Casino. This started several years back with the threats to me from a lawyer to sell them my Mother's Barrett St. and Seminary Place land cheaply or they would go through the City and Take it! Followed by the City Illegally ordering American Tax Funding to send my tax payment back. ATF is a tax lien company which the City used to sell its tax liens to. (In which the tax lien company ended up suing the City for its right to foreclose on properties they had tax liens on.) Followed by an abandonment proceeding for one of the properties on Barrett St. and then followed by an Eminent Domain proceeding on the Seminary Place vacant lots. These properties were the same one's involved in the initial threats by the City's lawyer along with the Developer's lawyer to sell them my Mother's properties on Barrett St. and Seminary Place or they would go through the City and Take them! The Tax payment that was made by me to ATF was Illegally Ordered sent back so the City could add that to the reasons why they held a Abandonment trial on one parcel and Eminent Domain on several more properties involved in the initial threats. Because the City could not foreclose on the properties for Unpaid Taxes. The City has continued to violate my Rights within the last couple of years on a few more properties. It has severely affected my ability to be a Landlord in the City along with me being a Licensed Electrician in the City. I also have paperwork to clearly prove everything. You can Yahoo search, (Schenectady gate) to see much of my story that I posted on a local forum. Anyone looking to Help me hire a lawyer to sue the piss out of them? I spoke to a few lawyers that said it sounds like I may have a very good case, but they require money down in this kind of case. I'm also an ex-Licensed Electrician and Also a Very Experienced Apartment Manager Looking to Be Hired and Be Able to Make Some Money to Sue the Bastards and Teach Them a Lesson! NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW! If anyone is interested in hiring me or helping me hire a lawyer and sue the One's involved in Illegally Stealing Mine and my Families land on Barrett St. along with the City of Schenectady/City Hall violating my Rights on Several More occasions after Barrett St.. You may contact me on my Facebook Page. I Don't Care What Color You Are! I Will Work Hard for You or Will Give You a Fair Percentage of the Lawsuit if You Help Me Hire a Lawyer to Get Justice and Make Them Pay for Their Wrongdoings! Like · Reply · 1d Facebook Comments Plugin
Well, I gave it my All.. I even posted repeated comments in the Daily Gazette about how a Developer and Lawyers and City Hall can Team Up against You and/or Your Family to Take What They Want! It's a Shame that even in this Day and Age in Which We Have Cameras at Businesses and Homes Everywhere to Help Ensure Our Safety and For Right to Prevail Over Wrong.. That Wrongdoings Can Be Committed in View of the Public Eye. And Gotten Away With! I Do Not Have Cameras in My Case. But I Do Have Articles that were Printed in the Newspaper concerning My Story involving How My Paid Land Taxes were Ordered Sent Back on these Properties.. I Even had gotten a Notarized Letter about My Families and My Rights Being Violated by the City from my then Attorney Glen Brownell who was also a Witness to the Threats and the Bullying from the Start from Attorneys Robert Stoddard and Guila Moses for the City and Developer with even a Admitted Action Printed in the Newspaper from City Corporation Counsel L. John Van Norden. Van Norden said, "he did not know who might have directed Optimum to refuse the payment." I remember Me telling Mr. Van Norden about my payment made to Optimum(ATF) and Him telling Me, "We Will See About That!" I Always Thought Justice Would Prevail.. But I guess in this Case Not So... Between the Lawyers that My Mother and I had that were Supposed to Be on My and even More So My Mother's side.(Since it was Concerning Her Land.) Glen Brownell, Also the Bankruptcy Attorney and the Eminent Domain Attorney. In which All 3 Lawyers. Agreed that it seemed like, " Our Rights were Violated!" Yet, All three of them did Nothing about it. For Me, I Guess Not Backing Down Did Not Matter.. The City's excuse for Taking My Mother's Land was that I Could Not Be Trusted.. Yet the Developers and City Hall were the Actual One's Doing the Wrongdoing in this case. And to Take Another Family Member's Land Because They Had A Different Family Member That Could Not Be Trusted! I Still Can't Figure How That Can Be Right? Well I Guess All in All the Bullies and Thieves Have Won! It Takes Money To Fight City Hall! Even more so with Property Owning Rights!
There was a Recent story in the newspaper on Sheldon Silver Being Sent to Prison and Not Being Above the Law! I guess in My Case a City and Developer (Can Be) Above the Law..
Below I copy and pasted the Sheldon Silver story along with comments made in that story. With also some of the comments being made by Me in that story. I Thought Bullying and Threats of "We Will Just Go Through the City and Take the Land" that were Made to Me by Attorneys about Another Family Members Land Would Not Be Tolerated! Again, Property Owning Rights!
Foss: Celebrate Sheldon Silver going to prison Sara Foss | August 29, 2020 1 Foss: Celebrate Sheldon Silver going to prison Sheldon Silver arrives at court for his sentencing in New York on May 3, 2016. Photographer: GREGG VIGLIOTTI/THE NEW YORK TIMES
Former New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver might be a criminal, but he’s also a very clever man.
I never truly believed he would spend one day behind bars, despite being twice convicted on federal corruption charges.
First convicted in 2015, and then re-convicted three years later after his original conviction was overturned on appeal, I assumed Silver would keep finding ways to delay and avoid going to prison. Earlier this summer, the 76-year-old requested home confinement, saying he didn’t want to die in prison.
Frankly, I was as surprised as anyone when this pitiful plea fell upon deaf ears.
“His time has come,” Judge Valerie Caproni said in July, at Silver’s sentencing. “He needs to go to jail.”
On Wednesday, he did.
Silver’s punishment is much deserved, and seeing him finally report to federal prison in Otisville is deeply satisfying.
As Assembly Speaker, he wielded an enormous amount of power, while also using his office for personal gain.
Silver’s opaque and autocratic style of governance is impossible to separate from the personal failings that led him to enrich himself at taxpayers’ expense, pocketing more than $4 million in a complex bribery scheme. He did everything he could to quash reform and fend off scrutiny, and it’s clear he was motivated by self-interest.
Silver’s imprisonment completes his disgraceful fall from power, and it’s also an urgent reminder of the ongoing need to reform New York state government.
Silver isn’t an outlier - he’s headed to the same state prison where former Senate Majority leader Dean Skelos and Joseph Percoco, a former top aide to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, both reside.
Like Silver, Skelos and Percoco were brought down by corruption schemes.
The three men join a long list of New York public officials who have been charged or convicted of crimes in recent years.
It’s a lamentable state of affairs, but I’m feeling oddly encouraged by Silver’s incarceration, in part because it’s so unexpected.
Our criminal justice system doesn’t always function as well as it should, and one can argue that Silver was given too many breaks. He was allowed to live at home while the appeals process played out - a privilege rarely, if ever, extended to the less powerful.
Now he’s going to prison - a welcome example of the system working to hold a rich and powerful person accountable.
For a long time, it appeared that Silver was above the law.
Then he was convicted, and it seemed he might escape punishment.
Those days are over.
Sheldon Silver has finally - finally! - been held accountable for his crimes.
It’s sad that it took this long.
But it’s also something all New Yorkers can celebrate.
Comments
Robert Jewell Seems like all you republican losers are sucking sour grapes! Andrew Cuomo is an American hero and your all a bunch of money grubbing Trump lovers. In short UNAMERICAN PUTIN LOVERS!! Like · Reply · 1 · 1d James Eccles Hmm... Dean Skelos did his time... Alan Hevesi did his time.. Bag man Joe Percoco is in the pokey and after delaying as long as he could, Shelly Silver is finally in the big house.
Seems like almost everybody has gotten what's coming to them, except... Like · Reply · 1d Diane Sanders Hombach Thank you Carol Eisenberg, excellent written details on what Democrats did and will do under Biden /Harris. Expanded plan details on Biden/Harris web site. There are ZERO written plan details on trumps web site and those that listened to the repubs last 4 days heard zero DETAILS. Like · Reply · 1d Robert Jewell Thank you Diane... I went and looked...some great ideas and solutions there! Trumps a chump whose gonna thumped, bumped and dumped in November!🌊 Like · Reply · 1 · 3h Robert Jewell What about Bill Marincic not paying his taxes that cheat!!! Another typical republican hypocrite! Like · Reply · 1d Bill Marincic That’s all fine and good but what about the leader of the cabal Andrew Cuomo. Does anybody believe that he had nothing to do with any of this? Like · Reply · 2d David Bianchi Salute to Judge Valerie Caproni!! No One is Above The Law!! Even Though, There Are Some that Are Very Wealthy. Also, Prestigious Institutions. Along With Those that are Well Connected With-In The Banking Industry and Government Officials. That Feel They Are So Big That They Are Untouchable/Unstoppable! They Have So Much Power With-In The Courts and even Have Much Power with The News That is Put Out! That NO ONE Would Dare Try To Fight Them! And If Some One Should Dare! They Had Be Very Wealthy To Do So! And Maybe Even Then They Should Not Dare Because They Would Be Risking Too Much To Do So! Ya, I Know, Not Possible! At Least That Is What I Thought Before I Was Told Twice By Two Separate Attorneys on Two Separate Occasions Months Apart Involving Several Parcels Of Land. To Sell Them The Land Cheap OR They Will Go Through The City (City Hall) And Take It!! God Is My Shepherd! And I Shall Not Be Afraid And I Will Not Back Down! They Even Put Out Statements Like They Were Taking The Land Because I Was Less Trusted to Make Way For Them to Steal The Land Away From My Family and I! All For A Block of Town Houses In Their Presage Area That They Had Surrounded! Barrett St. Barrett Village. Yes, I Am Poor. And I Have Even Gotten Into Trouble In The Past! I Ask You? Does That Still Give Anyone The Power to Threaten And Then to Steal The Land!??? I Know Most Are Too Busy With Their Owns Lives to Really Care! Not That Any of Us Don't Care! Just that, We/They Have Enough With Our/Their Own Lives To Deal With! I Can Understand that too.. I Am Not Against Schenectady! It's Good To See It Making A Comeback! It Still Doesn't Give Any The Right To Steal! Or Bully And Threaten To Make One Sell Cheap One Way Or Another Or They Will Just Take IT! So, All You People That Might Make Excuses Why It Is Alright To Steal! I'M Sorry, But, Unless You Might Be Doing It To Save A Life or To Keep Your Family Fed! It Is Still A Sin! And Unless You Might Be Doing it for those Specific Reasons that I mentioned. It Should (Not) Be Looked Down Upon Lightly! God Bless America! And God, I Shall Continue This Fight! Not Because I Feel I Can Win! Only, Because I Feel It Is Right To Do So!!! And Not That I Am that great of a writer. You may Yahoo search,(Schenectady gate!) - Rotterdam NY...the people's voice to read much of my True Story of How My Families and Mine Land Was Stolen! With City Hall Being Much Involved! Like · Reply · 2d Robert Jewell Dave so all this power you think Cuomo has...you would replace with a narcissistic republican like YOU. Go to Florida! Go back home. This is not your state...
How’s it feel when it’s said to you lemming... Like · Reply · 3h David Bianchi Robert Jewell LoL! You're a Funny Man! It doesn't matter to me that much who wins.. Like the next day after the election I will wish the Winner well! I just Wish and Hope they Will follow the Law and Not think they are Above it! But, I guess a Team of Lawyers at their disposal comes with the job. Must Be Nice! The Only problem I see with that, should they Violate Our Rights. It's kind of hard to afford a Lawyer to fight them. And They Know the Game!!! Hey, Can I Check out what You own? Or even more, Anything that You or Your Family might own. Not that I should even need permission for that? I just Want to See if it's Anything I Want? If so, I Will Make You sell it to me at a price that I Think is Fair! You Can Not Say That You Are Not Interested Either! Also, Or maybe I Will Just Take It!! You seem fairly educated. Do You Think That is Fair?? I Would Call That Stealing!! Am I Wrong??!! I Would Think Threatening You To Sell Me Anything of Your Families or Yours and Going About Improper and Illegal Ways to Get It Would Be Wrong!!! I'm Not a Lawyer Though..
WHEN CREDIBILITY MATTERS Sens. Tedisco, Jordan call for criminalization of state open government violations By Brenton Blanchet | February 15, 2021 NY State Senator Jim Tedisco (R-Glenville) in August PHOTOGRAPHER: STAN HUDY NY State Senator Jim Tedisco (R-Glenville) in August
As Gov. Andrew Cuomo faces backlash for his administration’s underreporting of pandemic-related nursing home deaths, two local lawmakers are calling for harsher penalties on officials who violate New York State’s Freedom of Information Law.
Sen. Jim Tedisco, R,C-Glenville, and Sen. Daphne Jordan, R,C-Halfmoon, proposed a bill Monday pushing for the criminalization of violating open government and records access laws. The proposal follows the revelation that the Cuomo administration underreported statewide long-term care resident deaths, which is revealed to be 15,000 in total since the start of the pandemic. Only 8,500 were previously reported.
“This is public information, and people have a right to know what their government is doing on their behalf,” Tedisco said in a statement. “No governor or senior appointee should ever again be able to hide public information like the data related to the deaths of 15,000 nursing home residents without facing criminal penalties.”
The proposed bill would increase consequences for government officials that violate the Freedom of Information Law, beyond the current consequences of paying plaintiff’s legal fees if they lose a FOIL case.
“Any state official — whether it’s Governor Cuomo, Health Commissioner Zucker, Secretary Melissa DeRosa, or anyone else — who knowingly violates FOIL requests and our open government law by refusing to disclose public information should face jail time,” Jordan said. “We also need to remove their indemnification to ensure that taxpayers aren’t paying the legal bills for an official’s malfeasance and gross dereliction of duty. Now, more than ever, there must be a thorough, independent investigation into this growing scandal so families can finally learn the truth and we can ensure that such a tragedy never happens again.”
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Cuomo accepts responsibility for withholding nursing home death toll, not for causing it
Categories: Fulton Montgomery Schoharie, News, Saratoga County, Schenectady County
ONE COMMENT David Bianchi February 16th, 2021 But, I did file a FOIL request at City Hall back when it occurred of when the City of Schenectady had ever refused or ordered a Tax payment returned . I never received an answer. Which could have also showed that I had been singled out and dealt with unfairly. Along with the woman that worked in the Tax department at City Hall for 35 years told me she had never seen in her 35 years of the city ever refusing a Tax payment. My Attorney Glen Brownell back then told me to file the FOIL request because he doubts the City has ever done this to any except me. My True story involves Barrett Street and City Hall with the now being built Barrett Village. To where my Tax payment was wrongfully/illegally ordered sent back by City Hall with the Mayor, then saying the payment was ordered sent back because I was not the property owner. It was said I was not allowed to make payments. When in fact there were several parcels involved . With me actually making the payment in full on seven vacant lots and only had a payment agreement on one other lot. Not that it matters as much with my FOIL request because my story does not involve People dying. My story is about Stolen Land with some Very Powerful Ones Involved! This was after I was approached on two separate occasions by lawyers and asked if I wanted to sell them my Uncle’s/Mom’s property in which I had Power of Attorney of then. Both times of me saying, “No!” and even possible giving them a High price because I was not too interested in selling them the land because my Family and I had already invested in 17 apartments on Barrett St. and had future plans for my Mom’s property. Both times I was told by the lawyers that asked me if I wanted to sell them the property and with me telling them I really wasn’t interested in selling the land. (especially cheaply). I was told on both occasions by the lawyers after their request and my response, “That They Would Just Go Through the City and Take It!” I wish there had been some where to go to get my case filed! Lord knows I tried!!! Most of my story I posted on a local internet forum which you can find doing a google search, (Schenectady Gate).
https://dailygazette.com/2021/.....ggests-new-nickname/ SCHENECTADY Schenectady needs new nickname, Neil Golub says; Suggests accomplishment-based ‘Schenectady Metro’ By Stephen Williams | February 16, 2021 Neil Golub - File Neil Golub - File
SCHENECTADY — Golub Corp. Chairman and former CEO Neil Golub has long been among the Electric City’s biggest boosters.
But on Tuesday he suggested to the Schenectady City Council that the city needs a new nickname — ”Schenectady Metro” — in recognition that the accomplishments of the last 30 years make it much more than the city built around the fortunes of General Electric.
In a nearly hour-long presentation called “Strengthening the Future of Schenectady,” Golub cited nearly a dozen ways in which the city has become a center for excellence: medicine, the arts, business, education and entertainment, among other fields.
Indeed, he said the city really deserves to have a national reputation in a variety of fields.
“As the Wendy’s commercial used to say, ‘Where’s the beef?’ Well, Schenectady has a lot of beef,” Golub said.
A new nickname as “Schenectady Metro” would capture all of that and also convey a sense of something larger, Golub said. “What we’re doing in Schenectady is making a national reputation,” Golub said during the meeting, which was held remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Golub, as the head of the company that owns the Price Chopper/Market 32 supermarket chain, has been a lifelong supporter of the city, and as a founding member of the Schenectady County Metroplex Development Development has played a central role in the city’s rebound from the doldrums of the 1980s, when GE was dramatically scaling back employment at its Erie Boulevard campus.
He has roles on the boards at Ellis Medicine, at the MiSci museum of science and in other community institutions, and said he’s been working with all of them on ways to raise their profiles. “What we’re doing for Schenectady is making a national reputation,” Golub said.
Among his proposals:
— Rebranding Ellis Medicine as Metro Medical Center, given the number of services and quality provided at Ellis Hospital and other medical facilities owned by Ellis.
— MiSci, which has a vast array of archival industrial materials from GE’s early days, would develop a travelling exhibit that could be lent to other museums around the country and provide a source of revenue, since he said donor museums receive a share of revenue from admissions to traveling exhibits.
— Work with the Schenectady County Convention and Tourism Bureau, “Discover Schenectady,” to promote everything the city has to offer.
— He said Bill Patrick, a writer and the husband of City Council member Carmel Patrick, is writing a book about Schenectady’s transformation that he hopes to see published this fall. The book would show how Schenectady’s redevelopment model could be followed elsewhere.
Golub didn’t ask for anything from the City Council on Tuesday except feedback on his idea for a new city nickname.
“We’re excited, and I hope we can get more information going forward,” said Council President John Mootooveren.
11 COMMENTS David Bianchi February 17th, 2021 Lol! Go Get’em Neil!
Log in to Reply BigRedOne February 17th, 2021 I understand the concept but the history is big. How many electric cities are there? Also the Ellis family who started Ellis hospital owned ALCO- American Locomotive Works where the casino now is. They made the largest steam engine in the world and a weapon that put Rommel’s army out of commission in WWII. I don’t think Saratoga is going to abandon its horse history now that they are known for other things.
Log in to Reply SHARON FLOOD February 17th, 2021 I would prefer it stay Electric City or something to do with the locomotives. They like to tout the redevelopment, but when there is no snow this city is very dirty. The housing is awful. We still have whole areas with no sidewalk so people walk in the streets and it’s dangerous. Let’s work on these things before we start calling this Metro or anything else.
Log in to Reply WILLIAM MORAN February 17th, 2021 Love Mr. Golub and what he and his family have done for our community. Respectfully disagree with a nickname change – Electric City is one-of-a-kind, ageless, with many “cool” sub-meanings and connotations. In fact, it should be used much more in the marketing of the area.
Log in to Reply DAVID GIACALONE February 17th, 2021 Two worrisome Schenectady trends can be seen in Neil Golub’s “Schenectady Metro” suggestion: [1] Words are thrown around here as if actual meanings and connotations are irrelevant; and, we seem to think that re-naming (re-branding) actually improves outcomes, quality and image. Do we really have a Renaissance or Walkable Downtown because City Hall and Metroplex say so, despite the lack of a supermarket, safe intersections, and a strong set of attractions to make people want to regularly some to town (rather than to big one-night events)?
Do the signs pointing to Little Italy do anything but lead to disappointment for out-of-towners, 15 years after the designation was made and lots spent on columns and new sidewalks? Did SCCC suddenly get a lot more respect by calling itself SUNY at Schenectady?
Did we really get waterfront development for the City when there no actual public access to the Riverbank and no demand for retail there, despite giant crowds stopping by for a show or to gamble? Does having our major hospital-medical and grocery companies “merge” with out-of-town entities suggest the interests of the people of Schenectady will be better protected?
And, [2] No one seems to have the courage to tell The Boss his or her idea is weak and needs to go back to the drawing-board. No one even opens a dictionary or a web browser, it seems.
As a result of the above trends, Mr. Golub uses the term “Metro” as if it has lots of obvious meaning. To most people (in cities with an actual metropolitan feel) Metro is the subway or bus system (look it up). Or, Metro means much more than a single municipality, or a very small business trying to sound bigger.
How do we explain actually being part of a NY Capital metropolitan area, with cities that have a lot more to offer in the opinoin of many?
I’m interested in Mr. Patrick’s ideas, but can’t quite see how basing our future on gambling and craft breweries, and a series of failing restaurants, works as an example for other municipalities. Nor, is putting so much power in the hands of one development czar, who is courted and feared by many, a particularly good framework for good, open, participatory government.
“Electric City” still works fine for me. But maybe we should consider “Greater Schenectady” as a description and aspiration.
Log in to Reply Ornamental February 18th, 2021 Excellent comment!
Log in to Reply MOHAMED HAFEZ February 17th, 2021 Schenectady Metro vs. Electric City, I’ll go with the latter in a heartbeat. Rebranding may work in business, but here, it could backfire if you change to “Metro” from a great one like “Electric City”. Regardless, there hasn’t been any transformation in Schenectady to warrant rebranding. The city still has plenty of blighted properties, terrible sidewalks, potholes in almost every street, and snow piles in every corner.
Log in to Reply RICHARD A MACKINNON February 17th, 2021 Why do we have to have a brand? The term has not come to be enviable or admirable. I can see that “Electric City” short-changed the contributions of ALCO and other establishments over time. Why not “Innovation City” which seems to capture the characteristics of the many positive things we can lay claim to–including GE research and ALCO’s engineers? Or better yet: why not just SCHENECTADY. Isn’t that brand enough?
Log in to Reply VINCENT J RIGGI February 17th, 2021 The New York Yankees were called the “Bronx Bombers” when they were great and when they were less then so-so, so it’s obvious the name didn’t change anything. It’s great personel that makes the difference, not the name. We shouldn’t look to change history, but instead fix the muriad of problems that face our “ElectricCity” and more importantly it’s historic neighborhoods. In all due respect, please save the glitzy propaganda for another day.
Log in to Reply Ornamental February 18th, 2021 Why not just drop “Schenectady” altogether (those that will flood the city after rebranding can’t say or spell it, anyway), and just rename it, “Metroplex City,” and get it over with, already?
Log in to Reply David Bianchi February 18th, 2021 He and Metroplex were obviously behind stealing my Mom’s property on Barrett Street. Lawyers threatening me to sell my Families Land or They would just go through the City and Take it! Improper probably Illegal and or Violating my Constitutional Rights by ordering a Tax payment return after it was agreed upon and accepted. The City doing Eminent Domain on several vacant lots with no buildings on them that I kept mowed and calling them Blight! (With plenty of actual Blight buildings I don’t see the City doing Eminent Domain on!) Doing a bogus Abandonment trial on one property that the City was never in and that I checked on daily. All this after the Two separate threats by the lawyers. To sell cheaply or else! I find it kind of Amazing that a City’s nickname can cause more of an uproar or outcry by citizens then when Property Owning Rights were trampled on! And Yes I agree! The Electric City is the Best Name Ever!!! Especially with me being an ex-Licensed Electrician, along with my Father was also a Licensed Electrician In which my Father grew up on Barrett Street. My Uncle and Grandfather Both worked at Alco. And the Land the City took through Eminent Domain and the Abandonment Trial was in my Family for 100 years! Which was also done because they couldn’t foreclose on for Unpaid Taxes! Do I still respect the Golub Family, Absolutely! Do I still Love Schenectady, Absolutely! Do I still Love Our Country, No question about it… Do I believe in Our Constitution and No One is Above the Law? I sort of do as long as One can afford proper Legal representation with Property Owning Rights.(kind of scary!)
I got so worked up I ended up posting same comment to this follow up story. And I forgot to add my Uncle also worked at General Electric after he worked for Alco. I get a little too worked up about Property Owning Rights being Violated and the One's involved.
The first thing that caught my eye when I stepped into the Schenectady Trading Company on Wednesday morning was a DVD titled “Historic Views of the Electric City.”
Just a few hours earlier, I’d read about Golub Corp. Chairman Neil Golub’s proposal to retire Schenectady’s longtime moniker, and replace it with Schenectady Metro.
Now, wandering through the Union Street store, which sells all manner of locally-made goods, I couldn’t help but notice all of the items that proudly bore the words Electric City: pint glasses and shirts, coffee from the Schenectady-based company Electric City Roasters, the novel “Electric City” by Schenectady-born author Elizabeth Rosner.
Nicknames only catch on if people want to use them, and Electric City is still very much in use.
Local organizations such as the Electric City Bike Rescue and Electric City Barn have incorporated it into their names, as have a number of local businesses. The Electric City apartment complex, which welcomed its first tenants in 2019, occupies one of the city’s most prominent intersections.
Looking around, I’m not sensing much of a public clamor for a new nickname.
If anything, people seem pretty attached to the one Schenectady already has, and it isn’t hard to see why.
Electric City is lively and dynamic, and it highlights the city’s rich history without sounding dated.
One doesn’t need to be especially knowledgeable about Schenectady’s onetime status as “the city that lights and hauls the world” to find appeal in the word electric, which can be used to describe anything powered by electricity but also a kind of contagious excitement.
In an hour-long presentation to the Schenectady City Council on Tuesday night, Golub suggested that the city needs a new nickname, the aforementioned Schenectady Metro, that recognizes the accomplishments of the past three decades, and how the city is much more than a company town built around the rise and fall of General Electric.
Golub is right that Schenectady would benefit from marketing and outreach that promotes all that the city now has to offer.
And he isn’t wrong to think that Schenectady ought to be known for more than its industrial history, or that there’s a danger in becoming so enamored with the past that you fail to progress.
But to some extent, the work Golub is talking about is already being done.
Last year, I sat in on some of the workshops aimed at soliciting ideas from the public on how to best spend Schenectady’s $10 million Downtown Revitalization Improvement grant from the state.
One of my takeaways from these meetings was that there’s actually a lot of enthusiasm for celebrating the city’s history, while also figuring out how to make the concept of lighting and hauling the world relevant and meaningful for those too young to remember Schenectady in its industrial heyday.
Residents voiced support for doing more to illuminate downtown, with one attendee even remarking: “Let’s light up the Electric City.”
Electric City might harken back to the past, but there’s no reason it can’t be part of the city’s future.
It’s already part of the present, and I suspect most people will want to keep it that way.
That said, I’d like to hear from readers
What does Electric City mean to you? Do you love it? Hate it? Don’t care? Let me know! Email me at sfoss@dailygazette.net
Categories: News, Opinion, Sara Foss, Schenectady County
6 COMMENTS VINCENT J RIGGI February 18th, 2021 On the mark Sara. I believe you will get many emails in support of your column.
Log in to Reply rshafer501 February 18th, 2021 hey vinnie how ya doing pal
Log in to Reply ChuckD February 18th, 2021 Full support, Sara. Electric City is what it is and rightly so. Alcoa was big, but not as big as Edison. But Schenectady was also a frontier of sorts way, way back at the beginning (for the White settlers, anyway). Kind of a Base Camp 1 for excursions out of Fort Orange westward. In that regard it was a real melting pot for the Whites and the already-established Native American communities, and I think that needs to played up more. Not as in a museum, or a gift shop, but more visible like a city emblem, or flag, or something. The establishment of Schenectady and indeed, westward expansion was facilitated by Native American tribes. To not acknowledge that seems a bit arrogant.
(Full disclosure: I’m the 13th generation of Harman Albertse Vedder, one of the original magistrates and mayor who was also censured for trading with the Mohawk and as it’s recorded, married a likely Mohawk woman. So I’m biased. But still…)
Log in to Reply lbbachand@aol.com February 18th, 2021 B Bachand The Union Pacific operates Big Boy 4014 and 844 two locomotives built by Alco in the Schenectady shops during the war years. They operate excursions throughout the western U.S. They keep the name of Schenectady and Alco alive as the city that hauls the world. We shouldn’t lose that history.
Log in to Reply Glenn Cyphers February 18th, 2021 Where did “Schenectady Metro” come from? That does nothing for me. Sorry Mr. G.
Log in to Reply David Bianchi February 18th, 2021 He and Metroplex were obviously behind stealing my Mom’s property on Barrett Street. Lawyers threatening me to sell my Families Land or They would just go through the City and Take it! Improper probably Illegal and or Violating my Constitutional Rights by ordering a Tax payment return after it was agreed upon and accepted. The City doing Eminent Domain on several vacant lots with no buildings on them that I kept mowed and calling them Blight! (With plenty of actual Blight buildings I don’t see the City doing Eminent Domain on!) Doing a bogus Abandonment trial on one property that the City was never in and that I check on daily. All this after the Two separate threats by the lawyers. To sell cheaply or else! I find it kind of Amazing that a City’s nickname can cause more of an uproar or outcry by citizens then when Property Owning Rights were trampled on! And Yes I agree! The Electric City is the Best Name Ever!!! Especially with me being an ex-Licensed Electrician, along with my Father was also a Licensed Electrician In which my Father grew up on Barrett Street. My Uncle and Grandfather Both work at Alco. And the Land the City took through Eminent Domain and the Abandonment Trial that was taken was in my Family for 100 years! Which was also done because they couldn’t foreclose on for Unpaid Taxes! Do I still respect the Golub Family, Absolutely! Do I still Love Schenectady, Absolutely! Do I still Love Our Country, No question about it… Do I believe in Our Constitution and No One is Above the Law? I sort of do as long as One can afford proper Legal representation with Property Owning Rights.(kind of scary!)
I updated the comment some that I made in the newspaper story .
9 COMMENTS VINCENT J RIGGI February 18th, 2021 On the mark Sara. I believe you will get many emails in support of your column.
Log in to Reply rshafer501 February 18th, 2021 hey vinnie how ya doing pal
Log in to Reply ChuckD February 18th, 2021 Full support, Sara. Electric City is what it is and rightly so. Alcoa was big, but not as big as Edison. But Schenectady was also a frontier of sorts way, way back at the beginning (for the White settlers, anyway). Kind of a Base Camp 1 for excursions out of Fort Orange westward. In that regard it was a real melting pot for the Whites and the already-established Native American communities, and I think that needs to played up more. Not as in a museum, or a gift shop, but more visible like a city emblem, or flag, or something. The establishment of Schenectady and indeed, westward expansion was facilitated by Native American tribes. To not acknowledge that seems a bit arrogant.
(Full disclosure: I’m the 13th generation of Harman Albertse Vedder, one of the original magistrates and mayor who was also censured for trading with the Mohawk and as it’s recorded, married a likely Mohawk woman. So I’m biased. But still…)
Log in to Reply lbbachand@aol.com February 18th, 2021 B Bachand The Union Pacific operates Big Boy 4014 and 844 two locomotives built by Alco in the Schenectady shops during the war years. They operate excursions throughout the western U.S. They keep the name of Schenectady and Alco alive as the city that hauls the world. We shouldn’t lose that history.
Log in to Reply Glenn Cyphers February 18th, 2021 Where did “Schenectady Metro” come from? That does nothing for me. Sorry Mr. G.
Log in to Reply FJCJR February 18th, 2021 I agree completely. No name change. Neil Golub is entitled to an opinion but he doesn’t get to decide. BTW, he lives in Niskayuna.
Log in to Reply David Bianchi February 19th, 2021 He and Metroplex were obviously behind stealing my Mom’s property on Barrett Street. Lawyers threatening me to sell my Families Land or They would just go through the City and Take it! Improper probably Illegal and or Violating my Constitutional Rights by ordering a Tax payment return after it was agreed upon and accepted. The City doing Eminent Domain on several vacant lots with no buildings on them that I kept mowed and calling them Blight! (With plenty of actual Blight buildings I don’t see the City doing Eminent Domain on!) Doing a bogus Abandonment trial on one property that the City was never in and that I checked on daily. All this after the Two separate threats by the lawyers. To sell cheaply or else! I find it kind of Amazing that a City’s nickname can cause more of an uproar or outcry by citizens then when Property Owning Rights were trampled on! And Yes I agree! The Electric City is the Best Name Ever!!! Especially with me being an Licensed Electrician, along with my Father was also a Licensed Electrician In which my Father grew up on Barrett Street. My Uncle and Grandfather Both worked at GE and Alco. And the Land the City took through Eminent Domain and the Abandonment Trial that was taken was in my Family for 100 years! Which was also done because they couldn’t foreclose on for Unpaid Taxes! Do I still respect the Golub Family, Absolutely! Do I still Love Schenectady, Absolutely! Do I still Love Our Country, No question about it… Do I believe in Our Constitution and No One is Above the Law? I sort of do as long as One can afford proper Legal representation with Property Owning Rights.(kind of scary!) Not that it matters that much because it has been so long. You can google, (Schenectady gate) to read much of the story.
Log in to Reply David Bianchi February 19th, 2021 BTW, I Live in the City on Watt Street.
Log in to Reply David Bianchi February 20th, 2021 My Mom, SCHENECTADY – Cecelia K. Bianchi, 93, entered into eternal peace on Thursday, October 12, 2017. Cecelia was born in Elizabeth, PA on August 15, 1924 a daughter of the late Vincent and Wladyslawa Kwiatkowski. Cecelia graduated from Draper High School in 1942. She began working during WWII at Mica Co and later as a secretary for Lou Golub, before retiring from the Army & Air Force Exchange Services in Albany. Cecil was lively spirited woman, devoted to her family and friends. (I Love You Mom!)
CAPITAL REGION Capitol Region legislators Woerner, Walsh call for Cuomo’s resignation; Say too many allegations to be effective By Stephen Williams | March 8, 2021 Gov. Andrew Cuomo - Governor's Office
CAPITOL – Two additional Capital Region legislators called on Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo to resign on Sunday, after two additional female former staffers came forward with charges of inappropriate behavior.
GAZETTE COVERAGE
Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner, D-Round Lake, and Assemblywoman Mary Beth Walsh, R-Ballston, separately joined the growing calls for Cuomo to depart voluntarily from his leadership role, due to both the sexual harassment allegations and concerns that data on COVID deaths tied to nursing homes last year was manipulated to minimize the total.
Woerner spoke out soon after Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins called for Cuomo’s resignation, citing the charges and questioning his ability to govern effectively.
“Enough is enough,” Woerner posted on Twitter. “Too many allegations and too many investigations. Good governing takes focus, clear thinking and integrity. I question the governor’s ability to govern well going forward in light of all that has come out and I call for him to resign.”
The new calls for Cuomo’s resignation come in the middle of the legislative session, with a new state budget due to be adopted in less than a month.
“For the past several weeks allegations, accusations and investigations have been piling up. With no end in sight, it is time for the governor to do what’s best for New Yorkers and step aside,” Walsh said in a press release. “From implementing a budget that does right by our state in one of the most fiscally challenging years in recent history to vaccine distribution and COVID-19 recovery, the road ahead is a tough one. As legislators, we have a lot of work to do and the recent string of distractions have impeded our ability to focus on the matters at hand. Enough is enough. It is time for the governor to resign.”
Cuomo said explicitly during a news conference on Sunday that he would not resign.
Assemblyman Phil Steck, D-Colonie, who represents part of Schenectady County, has previously called for Cuomo’s resignation.
A larger group of Capital Region legislators including Democrats like state Sen. Michelle Hinchey, D-Saugerties, and Assembly members Angelo Santabarbara, D-Rotterdam, and Patricia Fahy, D-Albany, voted with all Republican legislators last Friday to revoke Cuomo’s pandemic emergency powers.
Hinchey, Woerner, Walsh, Steck, Santabarbara and Fahy have all said the harassment allegations — now made by five women — require an independent investigation. State Attorney General Letitia James is currently conducting an investigation.
ONE COMMENT David Bianchi March 8th, 2021 Enough is Enough! Very Well said! I have Lived in Fear for Many Years! I have even posted Most of my Story on a Local internet forum in which you may find by doing a google search of, (Schenectady gate)! I still have Fear! But with All, the Torment My Family and I had gone through all these years. I Will try to Fear No More! It Evolves the Current Mayor’s involvement! Back when he was a council member. Hell, it Even involved how do I say? Let me just say for now, it even involved with me being a part in running a Cat for Mayor! (Sparky for Mayor!) All this was to try to Fight the Wrong Stealing of Land! With, City Hall and Some of the Biggest/Most Prominent names in the area being involved! The Stolen land is on Barrett Street in the City of Schenectady! For a now being built row of Townhouses which is part of Phase One of what they are calling Barrett Village! It is just Not hear say either with Plenty of paperwork/proof to Back Up My Claim! I would be Very Eager to hear Any that in City hall would say to dispute my claim! No, I could not afford Proper Legal representation it seems to get my case filed in a proper Court of Law! But maybe, just maybe. With the Help of my keyboard and the internet. As I have said before, I have posted Most of What had occurred. But, Not All! I was hoping that with what I had posted was Enough to Show the Wrongdoing! But, now with getting older and seeing One’s coming out with their Allegations and even with their fear with presenting All of the Facts when a wrongdoing has occurred even with as High up as the Governor being Involved! I can say, It’s Not about the Money anymore! It’s All about the Wrongdoing when Government Elected Officials are Involved! I will continue to get my story out! With No Money along with very little care for the Trouble that Money or Owning Property that Others of Power might Want and the Trouble that can bring! As I have said, I have posted most of the story, but not all. I will be seeking further help to either get a Full Investigation going along with something filed in a Court of Law! Again, There will more coming out with Facts/Evidence to back up! They may have gotten away with Taking the Property after the Threats of, “We Will Just Go Through the City and Take It!” Along with it being so long I don’t expect much.. But something, something keeps me going. As they say, sooner or later the Truth Will Finally Come Out and Righteousness Will Prevail! On that note, I Will Not Give Up!
WHEN CREDIBILITY MATTERS SCHENECTADY Blight demolition resumes in Schenectady; two structures leveled on Barrett Street By John Cropley | March 12, 2021 Bronze Contracting demolishes an old house at 1052 Barrett St. in Schenectady on Friday. PHOTOGRAPHER: ERICA MILLER Bronze Contracting demolishes an old house at 1052 Barrett St. in Schenectady on Friday.
SCHENECTADY — The first old houses targeted in Schenectady’s 2021 campaign against blight bit the dust Friday.
Two structures on Barrett street crumbled beneath the mechanical claw, and four more are on the execution line.
The long-running campaign by city government, the Capital Region Land Bank and the Schenectady County Metroplex Development Authority has so far leveled more than 200 vacant buildings that are deemed beyond repair.
Demolition of the structures at 1052 and 1052 Barrett St. is expected to continue through next week.
The other four are at 804 Strong St., 529 Mumford St., 16 Grove Place and 652 Sunset St.
They will be demolished in early spring with $91,300 in Community Development Block Grant funds provided by the federal government.
The Barrett Street demolitions are near the Live In Schenectady townhouse project. The street has been the site of other demolitions to make way for the redevelopment as well as to improve aesthetics.
Mayor Gary McCarthy alluded to this strategy in a news release.
“As we build back better from the COVID-19 pandemic, we are continuing our strong, unified efforts to fight blight by demolishing unsightly buildings that cannot be fixed,” he said. “Today, we eliminate two problem properties on Barrett Street as we prepare to demolish another four structures in the weeks ahead.”
The city Department of Development opened bids for the four demolitions Wednesday.
They’ll go before the City Council’s Development and Planning Committee on Monday, and are expected to go before the full City Council on March 22 for approval.
The city of Schenectady, the Capital Region Land Bank and the Schenectady County Metroplex Development Authority have collaborated to demolish more than 200 blighted buildings in recent years to help revitalize city neighborhoods.
2 COMMENTS David Bianchi March 12th, 2021 Besides I bought 1052 Barrett Street at Auction and City Hall totally ignored that and foreclosed on it anyway from the previous owner in which was a Very Close Family Member of mine! I guess that would be Small potatoes compared to what the City did to the same Very Close Family member of mine with other Properties on Barrett Street and Seminary Place that Lawyers Threatened Me to sell them my Families Property or They Would Go through the City and Take it! Followed by the City Illegally/Wrongfully ordering my Tax Payment made in Full to a Tax lien company! Followed by an Bogus Abandonment trial in which was also one of the properties involved in the initial Threat to sell or Else! In which the property that was seized at the Abandonment trial the City inspectors were never actually in. Followed by right outside the Courtroom immediately after the Abandonment trial of the Lawyer that represented the City of Schenectady in that Abandonment Trial if I was ready to sell them the Other Properties involved in the Initial Threat! Then with my reply of No! That lawyer that represented the City at the Abandonment trial Tells Me, Then We Will Just Go Trough the City and Take those Properties Also!! In which soon followed the City of Schenectady doing Eminent Domain on those properties which had No buildings on them and were Vacant Lots that I kept mowed. How Can Vacant Lots with No buildings on them be Blight?? I Still after All these Years haven’t figured that one out! I have Solid Proof/Evidence that everything I have stated is Factual and Not Just Hear Say! The City has Also Violated my Rights on Several More Occasions with Other Properties over the Years in which my Attorney right before he stopped practicing Law even wrote me a letter notarized from him to me stating of in which he was an actual witness to the City Violating my Rights along with him be an actual witness to the other lawyers Threatening me to sell them my Families Property or They would Just Go Through the City and Take Them! Not One Threat, but Two of the same separate Threats involving separate properties.. I have to Admit when One’s of Power in a certain area want Yours or your Families Property they can Certainly Get It! Any way Possible! Legal or Not! And Basically They Know How to Beat You Down along with They Know it Takes Money to Fight Them! And Even then with any money, I would bet with Who they know, that a Common person could not get actual Justice.. 8th Commandment, Though Shall Not Steal! In which I would think would go for anyone religious or not. Along with No One is Above the Law!! But, I guess I have been shown different..
Reply David Bianchi March 12th, 2021 *The City’s lawyers ordering the President of the Tax lien company to return my payment.
EDITORIAL: Early release for Sheldon Silver is a miscarriage of justice By Gazette Editorial Board | May 4, 2021 Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver leaves his office at the Capitol building in Albany on Tuesday, January 27, 2015 after a second day of democratic conference to discuss his future as leader. PHOTOGRAPHER: PATRICK DODSONAssembly Speaker Sheldon Silver leaves his office at the Capitol building in Albany on Tuesday, January 27, 2015 after a second day of democratic conference to discuss his future as leader. Shares0FacebookTweetEmail You’re convicted of bribery and corruption for abusing your high leadership position in state government to line your own pockets and that of two real estate developers by several million dollars.
After your expensive lawyers manage to keep you out of prison for five years, the citizens finally get justice when a judge sentences you to 6-1/2 years in prison.
But now, after being in prison for only eight months, you are suddenly faced with a new set of options: You can serve out the remainder of your sentence in:
A) Your current prison cell;
B) Your luxury Manhattan apartment;
C) Your luxury retreat in the Catskills;
What do you choose?
Well, if you were once of the most powerful politicians in the state of New York, like former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver is, you get your pick of B or C.
The rest of us, especially if one of us is a person of color, get one choice if we get any choice at all. As they say in the prison movies — a room with striped sunlight.
Silver on Tuesday was gifted release from federal prison on furlough, with potential placement to home confinement, under a Trump-era Justice Department policy allowing certain prisoners at risk of contracting covid to be released early.
But eligibility is supposed to be for inmates with health issues who have served half of their sentence, or who have up to 18 months left on their sentences and who have served at least 25% of their time, according to the Associated Press.
Silver has about 70 months to go and has only served about 10% of his sentence.
It’s true, Silver is 77 years old, and prisons are known for their susceptibility to covid.
But if there was concern over an old man catching covid in prison, why didn’t the judge who sentenced him take that into account last July during the height of the pandemic when Silver was a still-vulnerable 76 years old?
And the prison where Silver is being held has had only 124 covid cases among inmates and staff since the pandemic started, with no deaths among either.
So Silver has already served during the peak of pandemic without getting sick, in a prison with a light caseload, and when cases are winding down nationally.
Yet he suddenly needs to be released for his health and safety now? How about just getting him a shot of the vaccine and sending him back to his cell?
The prosecutors who worked so hard to get a conviction have strenuously objected to his early release.
And there is no legitimate reason why he should be given special treatment. Plenty of elderly criminals are serving out their sentences in prisons all over the country.
And by the way, the taxpayers of New York would be funding his post-prison lifestyle, with a pension of $6,600 a month.
Releasing Sheldon Silver early, even for a day, is a miscarriage of justice and sharp stick in the eye to the people of New York.
Enough already.
7 COMMENTS JAMES ECCLES May 5th, 2021 I love NY.
Log in to Reply Yakcracker May 5th, 2021 This is absolutely disgusting. The ‘elected’ (no such thing as a free election) criminal goes free to live in his palace where you couldn’t afford the shrubbery, as the unelected criminal rots in a prison cell, for lesser crimes. Yes Sir. Go America. The corruption in the US government is beyond belief. NY is neck and neck with Washington for scumbags in positions of power. How are we, as a nation, allowing this to continue? Just keep paying your taxes and fees and shut up like good sheep. This is only the beginning.
Log in to Reply David Bianchi May 5th, 2021 Two tier, Higher Ups and Common Man.. Different Rights ??
Log in to Reply David Bianchi May 6th, 2021 I’ll Repeat Again, Because it seems my comment might fit here too!
There is Also the Problem of One’s that Get Elected to Higher Office in which they think They Are Above The Law! Having the Legal Bullying Powers of Doing As They Wish! I Wouldn’t Have Believed It Without Witnessing It First Hand! Therefore, I Will Repeat Again.. Corruption in Schenectady? No Way! Barrett Village, Eminent Domain! On Vacant Lots with No Buildings on them with the Mayor Calling Them Blight! Along with Taxes Payed in Full on the Vacant Lots Illegally Ordered Sent Back! In Which the City Couldn’t Foreclose on for Unpaid Taxes! All, After Initial Threats by City Lawyers To Sell the Property Cheap! or They Will Just Go Through the City and Take it! For a Row of Town Houses Selling for $260,000.00 each! Schenectady Gate!! Lord, Please, That’s All I ask is Let Me Have My Day in Court to Expose These Bunch of Corrupt Politicians that Run this City!! I Understand that Chalking Up or Destruction of Property is a Crime! What about Property Owning Rights ???
Log in to Reply George May 6th, 2021 Beyond disgusting. A fine example of the corruption running rampant in our country.
Log in to Reply William Aiken May 6th, 2021 Shelly’s bac in the slammer. But it’s not clear why. I’m surprised the Gazette hasn’t updated this story, yet.
Log in to Reply Mark Mahoney May 7th, 2021 We did. The story is on Page 1 today. The editorial, which urged the courts to keep Silver to prison, was written the day Silver was released on furlough and before he was sent back to serve the remainder of his term.
EDITORIAL: Hi-Ho, Silver. Away! By Gazette Editorial Board | May 7, 2021 Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver leaves his office at the Capitol building in Albany on Tuesday, January 27, 2015 after a second day of democratic conference to discuss his future as leader. PHOTOGRAPHER: PATRICK DODSONAssembly Speaker Sheldon Silver leaves his office at the Capitol building in Albany on Tuesday, January 27, 2015 after a second day of democratic conference to discuss his future as leader. Shares0FacebookTweetEmail New Yorkers got a modicum of justice, and corrupt New York politicians got a clear warning, after convicted felon Sheldon Silver was sent back to federal prison after two days of freedom.
Silver, the former state Assembly speaker and one of the three most powerful politicians in the state for many years, was sentenced last August to 6-1/2 years in prison for trading legislation for millions in business revenue.
But just eight months into his sentence, he was released earlier this week with the possibility he would serve out the remainder his sentence in his luxury home(s).
Many, including the people who prosecuted him and editorial boards across the state including ours, framed his early release as a stark example of favoritism for the powerful and wealthy, and called it a miscarriage of justice.
Well, on Thursday, the authorities that decide such matters reversed course and ordered Silver back to prison.
For a moment, at least, justice has once again prevailed.
ONE COMMENT David Bianchi May 7th, 2021 For a moment, at least, justice has once again prevailed.
(If Only I could Afford Justice..)
There is Also the Problem of One’s that Get Elected to Higher Office in which they think They Are Above The Law! Having the Legal Bullying Powers of Doing As They Wish! I Wouldn’t Have Believed It Without Witnessing It First Hand! Therefore, I Will Repeat Again.. Corruption in Schenectady? No Way! Barrett Village, Eminent Domain! On Vacant Lots with No Buildings on them with the Mayor Calling Them Blight! Along with Taxes Payed in Full on the Vacant Lots Illegally Ordered Sent Back! In Which the City Couldn’t Foreclose on for Unpaid Taxes! All, After Initial Threats by City Lawyers To Sell the Property Cheap! or They Will Just Go Through the City and Take it! For a Row of Town Houses Selling for $260,000.00 each! Schenectady Gate!! Lord, Please, That’s All I ask is Let Me Have My Day in Court to Expose These Bunch of Corrupt Politicians that Run this City!! I Understand that Chalking Up or Destruction of Property is a Crime! What about Property Owning Rights ???
GLOVERSVILLE Gloversville purchases foreclosed houses for $145K By Jason Subik | May 11, 2021 Mayor Vince DeSantis and members of the Gloversville Common Council discuss city issues Tuesday night during the council’s meeting. PHOTOGRAPHER: JASON SUBIK Mayor Vince DeSantis and members of the Gloversville Common Council discuss city issues Tuesday night during the council’s meeting.
Shares0FacebookTweetEmail GLOVERSVILLE – The Common Council Tuesday night unanimously approved purchasing 10 foreclosed properties for a total of $145,404 from Fulton County in what Mayor Vince DeSantis called a “watershed” moment in the city’s battle against blighted properties.
“These are properties that were foreclosed on in 2020,” DeSantis said. “Out of all of the properties that were foreclosed on [in Gloversville] there were only 22 of them, and only 13 of them were houses, the others were vacant lots or commercial properties. So, we offered to make the county whole for all of the taxes and penalties on these properties over the past three years. The city will now benefit from having control over these properties.”
The city will now seek to sell the 10 properties through a process controlled by the city’s newly formed Property Dispensation Committee chaired by Councilman-at-Large William Rowback Jr. The other members of the committee are 1st Ward Councilwoman Marcia Weiss, city Building Inspector David Fox, City Assessor Joni Dennie and city grant writer Nick Zabowski.
DeSantis said a minimum bid price will be established for each of the 10 properties, “probably the amount that we paid for the property,” and the sale of the properties will include deeds with restrictive covenants that require the new owners to bring the properties up to code within a certain amount of time. If the new owners don’t meet the conditions, the property will revert to the city’s ownership.
“They won’t be just looking at the high bidder, the committee will be looking to sell to who would do the best for the city,” he said.
These are the properties and purchase prices approved by the council Tuesday night, which were also approved by the Fulton County Board of Supervisors on Monday:
• 202 South Kingsboro Ave. — $12,748 • 86 East State St. — $20,865 • 18 Pearl St. — $24,950 • 18 Franklin St. — $8,001 • 7 Grandoe Lane — $16,542 • 5-7 Nassau St. — $10,160 • 88 Wells St. — $7,558 • 37 East Eighth Ave. — $24,324 • 66 East State St. — $21,252 • 48 Spring St. — $0
DeSantis said part of the city’s deal with the county includes that the city will turn over any money it can get for selling 48 Spring St. to the county because that property contains a brick building that probably needs to be demolished at substantial cost to whoever purchases it.
“This is something that we’ve never done before, and I think it will be successful this year, and if it is successful and carries on over a few years we will see a marked change in the value and the quality of our neighborhoods,” DeSantis said. “This is an enormous step forward for us.”
Sixth Ward Councilman Wrandy Siarkowski praised the plan to rehabilitate the properties under the city’s control.
“I think this is a huge leap forward for our neighborhoods, and I’d also like to thank you mayor for instigating this plan,” Siarkowski said. “I think this is going to be very, very beneficial to the city.”
DeSantis for years has advocated for the city and county to find a way to keep salvageable residential properties in Gloversville from being bought by real estate speculators at the county’s foreclosure auctions.
Gloversville gave up its foreclosure power to the county around the turn of the century, which DeSantis said has been a pretty good deal for the city, because the county makes both the city and the Gloversville Enlarged School District whole for any unpaid taxes, but the downside has been the city has had no control over the fate of its foreclosed properties.
“After the county takes title, historically, they’ve been auctioned off to the highest bidder no matter who that bidder is,” DeSantis said. “The highest bidder could live far away, has never seen Gloversville, and can get those properties sometimes for a little as $2,000. A lot of times the properties are disinvested and the owner lets them go for another three years, and during that time properties deteriorate and they devalue whole neighborhoods, and it only takes one or two in a neighborhood to begin that process.”
Gloversville’s decision to create a Property Dispensation Committee closely mirrors the city of Amsterdam’s decision to do the same thing under Mayor Michael Cinquanti. Grant writer Nick Zabowski serves on both cities’ committees. Both cities also share the same city attorney, Anthony “Tony” Casale.
Amsterdam recently adopted a vacant property law that also closely mirrors Gloversville’s vacant property law passed in 2016. DeSantis Tuesday night said the city’s vacant property law, which requires fines to be paid for properties that are left vacant, has resulted in a 60 percent reduction in vacant properties in Gloversville since 2016.
ONE COMMENT David Bianchi May 11th, 2021 So, This Story Shows! There is a Legal Way! For a City or County to Acquire Property! With No Threats to Sell Cheap at First or else!
(If Only I could Some How Afford/Proper Representation, Justice..)
There is Also the Problem of One’s that Get Elected to Higher Office in which they think, They Are Above The Law! Having the Legal Bullying Powers of Doing As They Wish! I Wouldn’t Have Believed It Without Witnessing It First Hand! Therefore, I Will Repeat Again.. Corruption in Schenectady? No Way! Barrett Village, Eminent Domain! On Vacant Lots with No Buildings on them with the Mayor Calling Them Blight! (In which I kept the Vacant Lots Clean and mowed..) Along with Taxes Payed in Full on the Vacant Lots Illegally Ordered Sent Back! In Which the City Couldn’t Foreclose on for Unpaid Taxes! All, After Initial Threats by City Lawyers To Sell the Property Cheap! or They Will Just Go Through the City and Take it! For a Row of (15) Town Houses Selling for $260,000.00 each! Schenectady Gate!! Lord, Please, That’s All I ask is Let Me Have My Day in Court to Expose These Bunch of Corrupt Politicians that Run this City!! I Understand that Chalking Up or Destruction of Property is a Crime! What about Property Owning Rights ???
SCHENECTADY COUNTY Link between sheriff, troubled officer had tragic start By Brian Lee | June 6, 2021 Daniel Coppola in 2018. PHOTOGRAPHER: FILE PHOTODaniel Coppola in 2018. Shares0FacebookTweetEmail Daniel Coppola, the former patrolman who stands accused of his second drunken driving arrest, wasn’t only fired by his stepfather, Schenectady County Sheriff Dominic Dagostino.
He was terminated by the man who helped convict his birth father’s killer decades ago.
Coppola, a former officer with the Schenectady County Sheriff’s Department, was accused by Colonie police of driving under the influence of alcohol on April 26.
On May 3, the lawyer for the 26-year-old Coppola of Rotterdam pleaded not guilty on Coppola’s behalf in Colonie Town Court.
Authorities allege Coppola drove on a curb and nearly hit a utility pole with his car while more than twice the legal limit for drunkenness. His blood alcohol content was .2% — well over the legal limit in New York state of .08%. He told police he was driving home after he had consumed a couple of beers at a bar in Albany.
In the aftermath of the arrest, the Schenectady County Sheriff’s Department said Coppola was terminated after an administrative review. The department said he had been an exemplary employee, with no other personnel issues there. Coppola’s union filed an appeal immediately upon his termination, according to Erin Roberts, spokesperson for the county. Calls to the union have gone unanswered.
Dagostino stated that any action short of terminating Coppola would undermine the integrity, credibility and legitimacy of the Sheriff’s Department.
The sheriff added in a statement that he was “disappointed and heartbroken over the actions of my son.”
The linkage between Dagostino and Coppola began early in the former patrolman’s life.
In November 1996, convicted ax-murderer Christopher D’Arton was sentenced to more than 27 years to life in state prison for killing Coppola’s birth father, Paul Coppola in 1995.
Dagostino at the time was an investigator for the Rotterdam Police Department, one of the police agencies involved in the investigation of Paul Coppola’s murder.
Coppola was 28 while his son Daniel was less than a year old at the time of his father’s killing on May 18, 1995.
D’Arton was an employee of Paul Coppola’s automotive business in Rotterdam.
Authorities said D’Arton killed his friend and boss at Paul Coppola’s used car dealership on Helderberg Avenue in Rotterdam.
Paul Coppola’s body was found days later, buried about 5 feet deep behind the auto shop.
During D’Arton’s sentencing, Paul Coppola’s widow, Margaret, described in court how Daniel and his older brother continued to wonder where their father was.
Speaking of Daniel, his mother told the court that he suffered even more because he’d never know his father except for what he learned of him in stories and saw in photographs.
After Daniel Coppola’s arrest by Colonie police, no one answered the door at his house in Rotterdam. He did not appear in court for his arraignment because of what his lawyer, Andrew Safranko, described as a medical issue.
When Dagostino was reached by phone recently, and was asked about his stepson’s tragic circumstances leading up to his arrest, the county sheriff said:
“I’ve commented all I’m going to comment regarding that incident,” he said. “I released a press statement the day that we were made aware and it had my comments, and we’re going to leave it at that.”
The former investigator with the Rotterdam Police Department became county sheriff in 2010.
The New York State Police was the lead agency in the investigation of the murder of Paul Coppola, but Dagostino participated, a prosecutor said.
When Dagostino was asked about marrying the victim’s widow in a case he investigated, the sheriff asserted: “I think you’re crossing the line a little bit,” later adding, “I don’t think it’s an appropriate route, and I’m kind of disappointed in you folks in doing that.”
Asked when he and Margaret Coppola married – marriage licenses are not a public document – Dagostino laughed, said goodbye and hung up.
District Attorney Robert Carney said he doesn’t think the relationship between Dagostino and Margaret Coppola began until after the D’Arton case was resolved.
Carney also recalled that state police took the lead on the case, which led to a confession by D’Arton.
“Dominic was a brand-new investigator,” the DA said. “He sat in. But it was primarily the state police that did that investigation.”
Carney said he doesn’t recall Dagostino making a disclosure to the DA’s office about his relationship with the victim’s widow, but Carney said he didn’t believe he would have had to.
“It ended up being a very successful union,” Carney said. “They’ve been married for a long time and they have their own son who’s in high school.”
John Kleinig, emeritus professor of philosophy at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, said he can imagine that relationships between investigators and victim’s families happen from time to time.
Kleinig said most professional organizations – especially those that he described as “helping professions” – have codes of ethics that forbid professionals from entering into intimate relations with their clients or patients.
Such relations cloud the judgment on both sides, especially when vulnerable people are involved, Kleinig suggested.
“I would think that some such understandings should also underlie investigative practices,” Kleinig said, and there is a conflict of interest concern.
“That doesn’t mean it’s wrong but that it may convey the wrong message — one involving bias. Appearance of conflict of interest is also a problem in the public domain,” Kleinig said.
But some professional organizations put a time limit on the constraint, the professor noted. For instance, the professional relationship must have been terminated at least two years beforehand, lest there be a suspicion of residual taint, he cited as an example.
Kleinig said it should probably be reported in serious cases.
History repeated Daniel Coppola was previously arrested for driving while impaired in May 2018, when he worked for the Schenectady Police Department. He was accused, while off duty, of driving with a blood-alcohol level of .12%.
Coppola’s lawyer did not return a recent phone message. But Safranko has said his client’s first arrest resulted in a non-criminal disposition.
When Safranko was asked after the arraignment if his client has a problem with alcohol, given the two drunken driving arrests while he held jobs in law enforcement, the lawyer said it was too early to get into those types of strategies and mitigating factors.
Carney, the district attorney, said he hasn’t spoken to Dagostino about his stepson’s arrest in Colonie and subsequent termination from the sheriff’s department.
“But I think he did the right thing,” Carney said. ‘“It’s unfortunate. I’m sure it was difficult for him because he really did raise those two boys.”
Daniel Coppola worked for Schenectady police as a patrolman from July 2015 until he left the organization four months after his alcohol-related driving arrest in Schenectady, on Sept. 8, 2018.
His former boss, Schenectady Police Chief Eric Clifford, described Daniel Coppola as an exemplary employee while he was working. But he acknowledged the 2018 arrest somewhat blemished his time with the department.
“I have no issues of the job that he did,” Clifford said. “Very respectful. For my knowledge, no complaints from the public.”
Clifford said the department held Daniel Coppola accountable for the off-duty drunken driving arrest by levying a 30-day suspension without pay.
“He did not fight it. He came back after taking his punishment with a good attitude. He never complained; didn’t become a poison to the agency. And then, for his own reasons he decided to leave and go to work at the sheriff’s department. He did so on good standing.”
The Schenectady police chief spoke generally about police officers getting second chances after they have made mistakes while off the clock.
“I think as a society, we’re becoming more forgiving of people when they make mistakes, especially if they take accountability for them and they serve their punishment.”
But Clifford also suggested police officers are held to a higher standard. Prospective officers are told as much during the interview process.
“He was given a second chance and it certainly has repeated itself,” Clifford said.
“I can tell you this: I know this young man, and he’s got a good heart. He’s a good person. I think it’s indicative of the stressors that are on police officers today.
“I’m not aware of an alcohol problem that he had, or that any of my employees that still know him knew that he had, and I say this because when he left and went over to the sheriff’s department, it wasn’t long after that that he became a canine officer. In that role, he worked closely with our agency, through the canine program, where he would be here often doing gun and explosive work with his dog.
“The fact that nobody knew, possibly, what he had going on is a concern of mine. Are there officers out there who are stressed to the point where they’re doing something like drinking, and they’re disguising it?” Clifford said.
Officers nationwide are under heightened scrutiny, the chief said, while some are concerned about becoming the subject of the next viral video.
“I don’t know if that’s the concern with Dan specifically,” Clifford said. “But it should be an eye-opener for all of us in this profession and even the community… That holding police accountable is one thing, but making the police the enemy is a slippery slope that can’t happen.”
Clifford, who was a lieutenant when Schenectady hired Daniel Coppola, said he was aware of the tragic circumstances involving Daniel Coppola’s father.
“I don’t think he liked to talk about it a lot,” Clifford said. “I am aware of some challenges he’s received in his life. I know that he was raised by two loving parents, his mom and his stepdad, the sheriff. But deep down inside, when you know that that’s happened to your birth father, I’m sure it could be hard. That’s when I say he’s got a good heart; he’s a good person.”
Clifford recalled Daniel Coppola had another job offer from another local police department, but wound up choosing Schenectady.
“That just shows you the kind of kind of person he is, and that he impressed two agencies that both wanted to hire him because he’s got that level of maturity in him… But clearly there’s a breakdown somewhere that’s indicative to get to two DWIs in a short time period.
“I see it more indicative of a problem that he’s currently probably dealing with more than a behavioral thing. That’s just because I know him. I wouldn’t just say this about anybody I didn’t know.
Clifford said he didn’t want to suggest he was defending a troubled former police officer.
“I’m more critical of officers who I believe should not be police officers. And many times, we’ve had some police officers who have lost their jobs because of alcoholism. I think it’s more common for good officers to lose their jobs because of alcoholism than bad officers to lose their job for alcoholism. Maybe it’s because they care too much. Maybe it’s because they carry that burden home.”
There’s not much help for police officers when they’re off the clock, the chief suggested.
“It’s one of those things – that’s an expense that is hard for the city to swallow when taxes are so high,” Clifford said. “But it’s just so important, the investment into your human resources, especially police human resources. You invest in them to make sure that they are well, and that they are operating at a high level personally, so that when they go out and deal with people in crisis, they can adequately serve the public.”
2 COMMENTS William Marincic June 6th, 2021 I’m just curious what you’re trying to do with this story? Are you trying to make Sheriff Dagostino out to be some sort of bad guy because his stepson got a DWI? Are you trying to imply he did something wrong decades ago with the relationship? I just don’t understand why you would ever write something like this.
Reply David Bianchi June 6th, 2021 I’m Glad to see Compassion for this guy! Yes, what happened to his Father was Tragic! I’m Glad to see Compassion! I’m Also Glad to See That NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW!! (Well, mostly no one…)
I’m Also Glad to See That Trump is able to put on some Kind of a Fight that the Election Was Stolen!
This is The United States of America! The Greatest Country in The World! What I Am Not Happy About is How Wanted Land on Barrett Street Was So Easily Taken After Threats FROM LAWYERS! WE WILL JUST GO THROUGHT THE CITY AND TAKE IT! PUBLICALLY NO LESS!!! YA, MR.DA! POLITICIANS! ITWAS MY UNCLE’S LAND! A WORLD WAR TWO VETERAN! WILLED TO MY MOM! SHE WORKED AT THE TEXTILE PLACE ON BROADWAY THAT MADE STUFF FOR THE MILITARY DURING THE WAR! AND LATER ON AS A SECREATARY TO LEWIS GOLUB AND FINALLY SHE WORKED AT AFEES IN ALBANY! HER JOB AT AFEES WAS TOO GIVE THE BOYS GOING TO BOOT CAMP THEIR PLAN TICKET TO GO SERVE OUR COUNTRY!! YA! I HOLD MY CHEST STILL WHILE TYPING THIS! WILL THE GAZETTE ALLOW IT TOO STAY IN! WANTED PROPERTY IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA! UNION COLLEGE AREA! BE PROUD SCHENECTADY! YOU BEAT MY FAMILY DOWN REAL GOOD!!! PROPER DAY IN COURT!! THAT ALL I ASKED!! THANKS FOR THE COMPASSION AMERICA AND THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS TO OWN PROPERTY! YES, I WILL CARRY THIS AND FIGHT FOR 10 YEARS OR UNTIL THE END! LOVE YOU! MOM AND UNCLE UP IN HEAVEN IN WHICH I KNOW YOU ARE IN! SORRY I DIDN’T HAVE THE MONEY! THE MONEY TO GET OUR PROPER DAY IN COURT!!
All For A Block of Town Houses In Their Presage Area That They Had Surrounded! Barrett St. Barrett Village. Yes, I Am Poor. And I Have Even Gotten Into Trouble In The Past! I Ask You? Does That Still Give Anyone The Power to Threaten And Then to Steal The Land!??? I Know Most Are Too Busy With Their Owns Lives to Really Care! Not That Any of Us Don’t Care! Just that, We/They Have Enough With Our/Their Own Lives To Deal With! I Can Understand that too.. I Am Not Against Schenectady! It’s Good To See It Making A Comeback! It Still Doesn’t Give Any The Right To Steal! Or Bully And Threaten To Make One Sell Cheap One Way Or Another Or They Will Just Take IT!
NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW! RIGHT!!
I have Solid Proof/Evidence that everything I have stated is Factual and Not Just Hear Say!!!
Well, I gave it my All.. I even posted repeated comments in the Daily Gazette about how a Developer and Lawyers and City Hall can Team Up against You and/or Your Family to Take What They Want !!! FOR A ROW OF TOWN HOUSES NO LESS!!!
YES,I WILL FIGHT TO THE END!!! GRABBING MY CHEST!!!
AGAIN, WITH THIS LETTER FROM MY THEN LAWYER GLEN BROWNELL!!
I Also Have Paperwork AND WITNESSES To Clearly Prove Everything!!!
AMERICA THE GREAT !!! RIGHT??!!!
I Always Thought Justice Would Prevail.. But I guess in this Case Not So… Between the Lawyers that My Mother and I had that were Supposed to Be on My and even More So My Mother’s side.(Since it was Concerning Her Land.) Glen Brownell, Also the Bankruptcy Attorney and the Eminent Domain Attorney. In which All 3 Lawyers. Agreed that it seemed like, ” Our Rights were Violated!” Yet, All three of them did Nothing about it.!!!
Well, I gave it my All.. I even posted repeated comments in the Daily Gazette about how a Developer and Lawyers and City Hall can Team Up against You and/or Your Family to Take What They Want! It’s a Shame that even in this Day and Age in Which We Have Cameras at Businesses and Homes Everywhere to Help Ensure Our Safety and For Right to Prevail Over Wrong.. That Wrongdoings Can Be Committed in View of the Public Eye. And Gotten Away With!
JUSTICE WILL PREVAIL!!! I WISH THAT COULD BE TRUE!!!
No One is Above The Law!! Even Though, There Are Some that Are Very Wealthy. Also, Prestigious Institutions. Along With Those that are Well Connected With-In The Banking Industry and Government Officials. That Feel They Are So Big That They Are Untouchable/Unstoppable! They Have So Much Power With-In The Courts and even Have Much Power with The News That is Put Out! That NO ONE Would Dare Try To Fight Them! And If Some One Should Dare! They Had Be Very Wealthy To Do So! And Maybe Even Then They Should Not Dare Because They Would Be Risking Too Much To Do So!!!
I just Wish and Hope They Will Follow the Law and Not Think They are Above it !!!
I did file a FOIL request at City Hall back when it occurred of when the City of Schenectady had ever refused or ordered a Tax payment returned . I never received an answer. Which could have also showed that I had been singled out and dealt with unfairly. Along with the woman that worked in the Tax department at City Hall for 35 years told me she had never seen in her 35 years of the city ever refusing a Tax payment. My Attorney Glen Brownell back then told me to file the FOIL request because he doubts the City has ever done this to any except me. My True story involves Barrett Street and City Hall with the now being built Barrett Village. To where my Tax payment was wrongfully/illegally ordered sent back by City Hall…
(Letter from My Mom’s and My Then Lawyer Glen Brownell) August 14, 2018
To Whom It May Concern
Please be advised that I have represented David Bianchi in numerous matters concerning properties in the City of Schenectady.
A number of years ago I was approached by an attorney who asked if Mr. Bianchi was willing to sell a property on Barrett Street, as a development project was planed I responded with his asking price, which admittedly was high taking into account the planed use of the property, the attorney replied “That’s ok, we’ll just have the City take it.” Subsequently, an abandonment proceeding was commenced by the City of Schenectady, which the property was found to be abandoned despite the fact Mr. Bianchi continually used the property for storage and building inspector admitted he had never been inside the property. Exhibits have subsequently misplaced by the Court.
Later, Mr. Bianchi attempted to pay back taxes on another property which was in the name of another family member. After submitting the payment in full to American Tax Funding. ATF returned the payment and indicated that they had been directed by the City of Schenectady to return same as Mr. Bianchi was not the proper payer. This was done despite the fact that the City frequently takes payments from other entities for tax payments. It was clear that the City simply wished to seize the property for back taxes, and even the representative of ATF stated they had never seen that situation before.
Mr. Bianchi owned another property that was foreclosed on and a judgment of foreclosure entered. Subsequently, the mortgagee ex parte requested that the judgment be vacated, a fire later occurred at an adjoining property necessitating the demolition of an structure on Mr. Bianchi’s property. The City later sought to recover the significant demolition cost from Mr. Bianchi, despite the fact he had been divested of to the by the foreclosure proceeding, and knew nothing of what happened subsquently.
It appears that Mr. Bianchi’s Civil rights have been violated by the City of Schenectady on a number of occasions. It is unclear why he became a target of the City, but he clearly was.
Sincerely yours, Glen W. Brownell
JUSTICE WILL PREVAIL!!! I USED TO BELIEVE THAT!!!
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9 COMMENTS William Marincic June 6th, 2021 I’m just curious what you’re trying to do with this story? Are you trying to make Sheriff Dagostino out to be some sort of bad guy because his stepson got a DWI? Are you trying to imply he did something wrong decades ago with the relationship? I just don’t understand why you would ever write something like this.
Log in to Reply ChuckD June 6th, 2021 Because it all smacks of a violation of the public trust. We’re not talking about a sports team, or a boys’ cub. Too bad you don’t see that.
Log in to Reply David Bianchi June 6th, 2021 I’m Glad to see Compassion for this guy! Yes, what happened to his Father was Tragic! I’m Glad to see Compassion! I’m Also Glad to See That NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW!! (Well, mostly no one…)
This is The United States of America! The Greatest Country in The World! What I Am Not Happy About is How Wanted Land on Barrett Street Was So Easily Taken After Threats FROM LAWYERS! WE WILL JUST GO THROUGH THE CITY AND TAKE IT! PUBLICALLY NO LESS!!! YA, MR.DA! POLITICIANS! IT WAS MY UNCLE’S LAND! A WORLD WAR TWO VETERAN! WILLED TO MY MOM! SHE WORKED AT THE TEXTILE PLACE ON BROADWAY THAT MADE STUFF FOR THE MILITARY DURING THE WAR! AND LATER ON AS A SECREATARY TO LEWIS GOLUB AND FINALLY SHE WORKED AT AFEES IN ALBANY! HER JOB AT AFEES WAS TO GIVE THE BOYS GOING TO BOOT CAMP THEIR PLAN TICKET TO GO SERVE OUR COUNTRY!! YA! I HOLD MY CHEST STILL WHILE TYPING THIS! WILL THE GAZETTE ALLOW IT TOO STAY IN? WANTED PROPERTY IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA! UNION COLLEGE AREA! BE PROUD SCHENECTADY! YOU BEAT MY FAMILY DOWN REAL GOOD!!! PROPER DAY IN COURT!! THAT ALL I ASKED!! THANKS FOR THE COMPASSION AMERICA AND THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS TO OWN PROPERTY! YES, I WILL CARRY THIS AND FIGHT FOR 10 YEARS OR UNTIL THE END! LOVE YOU! MOM AND UNCLE UP IN HEAVEN IN WHICH I KNOW YOU ARE IN! SORRY I DIDN’T HAVE THE MONEY! THE MONEY TO GET OUR PROPER DAY IN COURT!!
All For A Block of Town Houses In Their Presage Area That They Had Surrounded! Barrett St. Barrett Village. Yes, I Am Poor. And I Have Even Gotten Into Trouble In The Past! I Ask You? Does That Still Give Anyone The Power to Threaten And Then to Steal The Land!??? I Know Most Are Too Busy With Their Owns Lives to Really Care! Not That Any of Us Don’t Care! Just that, We/They Have Enough With Our/Their Own Lives To Deal With! I Can Understand that too.. I Am Not Against Schenectady! It’s Good To See It Making A Comeback! It Still Doesn’t Give Any The Right To Steal! Or Bully And Threaten To Make One Sell Cheap One Way Or Another Or They Will Just Take IT!
NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW! RIGHT!!
I have Solid Proof/Evidence that everything I have stated is Factual and Not Just Hear Say!!!
Well, I gave it my All.. I even posted repeated comments in the Daily Gazette about how a Developer and Lawyers and City Hall can Team Up against You and/or Your Family to Take What They Want !!! FOR A ROW OF TOWN HOUSES NO LESS!!!
YES,I WILL FIGHT TO THE END!!! GRABBING MY CHEST!!!
AGAIN, WITH THIS LETTER FROM MY THEN LAWYER GLEN BROWNELL!!
I Also Have Paperwork AND WITNESSES To Clearly Prove Everything!!!
AMERICA THE GREAT !!! RIGHT??!!!
I Always Thought Justice Would Prevail.. But, I guess in this Case Not So… Between the Lawyers that My Mother and I had that were Supposed to Be on My and even More So My Mother’s side.(Since it was Concerning Her Land.) Glen Brownell, Also the Bankruptcy Attorney and the Eminent Domain Attorney. In which All 3 Lawyers. Agreed that it seemed like, ” Our Rights were Violated!” Yet, All three of them did Nothing about it.!!!
Well, I gave it my All.. I even posted repeated comments in the Daily Gazette about how a Developer and Lawyers and City Hall can Team Up against You and/or Your Family to Take What They Want! It’s a Shame that even in this Day and Age in Which We Have Cameras at Businesses and Homes Everywhere to Help Ensure Our Safety and For Right to Prevail Over Wrong.. That Wrongdoings Can Be Committed in View of the Public Eye. And Gotten Away With!
JUSTICE WILL PREVAIL!!! I WISH THAT COULD BE TRUE!!!
No One is Above The Law!! Even Though, There Are Some that Are Very Wealthy. Also, Prestigious Institutions. Along With Those that are Well Connected With-In The Banking Industry and Government Officials. That Feel They Are So Big That They Are Untouchable/Unstoppable! They Have So Much Power With-In The Courts and even Have Much Power with The News That is Put Out! That NO ONE Would Dare Try To Fight Them! And If Some One Should Dare! They Had Be Very Wealthy To Do So! And Maybe Even Then They Should Not Dare Because They Would Be Risking Too Much To Do So!!!
I just Wish and Hope They Will Follow the Law and Not Think They are Above it !!!
I did file a FOIL request at City Hall back when it occurred of when the City of Schenectady had ever refused or ordered a Tax payment returned . I never received an answer. Which could have also showed that I had been singled out and dealt with unfairly. Along with the woman that worked in the Tax department at City Hall for 35 years told me she had never seen in her 35 years of the city ever refusing a Tax payment. My Attorney Glen Brownell back then told me to file the FOIL request because he doubts the City has ever done this to any except me. My True story involves Barrett Street and City Hall with the now being built Barrett Village. To where my Tax payment was wrongfully/illegally ordered sent back by City Hall…
(Letter from My Mom’s and My Then Lawyer Glen Brownell) August 14, 2018
To Whom It May Concern
Please be advised that I have represented David Bianchi in numerous matters concerning properties in the City of Schenectady.
A number of years ago I was approached by an attorney who asked if Mr. Bianchi was willing to sell a property on Barrett Street, as a development project was planed I responded with his asking price, which admittedly was high taking into account the planed use of the property, the attorney replied “That’s ok, we’ll just have the City take it.” Subsequently, an abandonment proceeding was commenced by the City of Schenectady, which the property was found to be abandoned despite the fact Mr. Bianchi continually used the property for storage and building inspector admitted he had never been inside the property. Exhibits have subsequently misplaced by the Court.
Later, Mr. Bianchi attempted to pay back taxes on another property which was in the name of another family member. After submitting the payment in full to American Tax Funding. ATF returned the payment and indicated that they had been directed by the City of Schenectady to return same as Mr. Bianchi was not the proper payer. This was done despite the fact that the City frequently takes payments from other entities for tax payments. It was clear that the City simply wished to seize the property for back taxes, and even the representative of ATF stated they had never seen that situation before.
Mr. Bianchi owned another property that was foreclosed on and a judgment of foreclosure entered. Subsequently, the mortgagee ex parte requested that the judgment be vacated, a fire later occurred at an adjoining property necessitating the demolition of an structure on Mr. Bianchi’s property. The City later sought to recover the significant demolition cost from Mr. Bianchi, despite the fact he had been divested of to the by the foreclosure proceeding, and knew nothing of what happened subsquently.
It appears that Mr. Bianchi’s Civil rights have been violated by the City of Schenectady on a number of occasions. It is unclear why he became a target of the City, but he clearly was.
Sincerely yours, Glen W. Brownell
JUSTICE WILL PREVAIL!!! I USED TO BELIEVE THAT!!!
Log in to Reply David Bianchi June 6th, 2021 And I Do Understand in part of this Young Man’s pain. He was Robbed of the Greatest Dad in the World!
Log in to Reply David Bianchi June 6th, 2021 I’m sure Dominic was a Great Step Dad! But, again being robbed of the chance of never meeting/knowing your birth father had to be rough. The things other Humans can do to one another. I admit my stolen land story might not be as bad. Even though I think it took it’s toll. Just when I hear of others breaking the Law that are in a position to uphold the Law gets me worked up.
Log in to Reply David Bianchi June 7th, 2021 Also, the more I think about it. I guess having your Dad murdered when you are one and having to explain that and live with that would be tough. I also have something I don’t like to think about or talk about. Something I had to battle through. Being Falsely accused of attacking someone. It was my ex wife. Before I Married her. Yes, before I married her. The police were so sure I did it! Even when she wanted to drop the charges. I even hired her a lawyer then because the police were threatening her of a year in jail for making a false statement. Having my name plastered in the newspaper too. I can’t even begin to tell you how that effected me.. and our children… All I can say is Never Give Up!
Log in to Reply David Bianchi June 7th, 2021 I guess one more thing. I was guilty of growing my own Marijuana then. Even though the police cut a lock and kicked in a door to find the weed without a Search warrant only an Arrest warrant. When they just got done kicking in the door and chasing me out of the house and knew I wasn’t there. I plead guilty and served some jail time and probation. Having to admit that I attacked her when I did not to the courts and probation was something. Got the Kids returned home by the courts though! Life! No Guarantees! Also, long ago. No Reason to Lie about it!
Log in to Reply David Bianchi June 7th, 2021 I’m Sure, having the guy that killed his birth father and what it did to his Mom and him and having that guy being fed 3 free meals a day. laundry and medical service didn’t help either..
Log in to Reply David Bianchi June 7th, 2021 My Fight on Barrett St. wasn’t about the Money so much.. That Probably Could Have Been Negotiated.. Just When People of Power or Wealth Think They Can Bully Someone Around and Take What They Want and Pay What They Think is FAIR! Not for Free Housing or a School or a Hospital or a Major Needed Roadway, or Anything that would Produce Long Term Jobs. Mind You.. For Townhouses Selling for $260,000.00 each! Along With The City Doing Eminent Domain on Vacant Lots with No Buildings on Them Calling Them Blight! Ya, I Will Fight to The End! The Funny Thing is I Was Never Told By Any Lawyer That I Was Wrong! Just That It Would Take Time and Money Was Needed to Fight! Well, Being Having No Money and Just this Keyboard.. Again, nothing Compared to someone Brutally Killing Someone. Yet, still a Burn and Certainly had it’s effects..
It's kind of odd maybe? That my letter from Glen Brownell was allowed to be posted and kept in a previous story in a comment I made a day earlier in Link between Schenectady County Sheriff and troubled officer had tragic start. But, it kept getting removed multiple times in this story to where I posted it again with a different comment and made reference to it. I had to repost it in this story several times. I have also posted that letter from Glen in previous gazette stories in the comment section and it was allowed to stay in. Did the letter from Glen Brownell strike a nerve more in this story for some reason? I know with Sheriff/troubled officer story that a reply made by someone else was removed that they made to one of my comments there to where someone agreed with one of my comments there. In which the letter from Glen Brownell that was posted in an earlier made comment in that story and was left untouched. My question would be why was the letter from Glen removed many times in this story to where I had to repost it? Also, my guess would be once the Editor comes in tomorrow he will remove the letter again in this story along with possibly other comments made by me in this story. If that happens I will try to make some changes and repost most of the letter that I can. Will the letter get removed again tomorrow from this story and still be allowed to stay in Sheriff story made earlier? Also again, was the same letter from Glen more offensive in this story for some reason?
WHEN CREDIBILITY MATTERS SCHENECTADY Independent auditor issues ‘clean report’ for Schenectady By Brian Lee | June 7, 2021 19SchenectdyCityHall.jpg Share1FacebookTweetEmail SCHENECTADY – An independent auditor on Monday gave city leaders “an unmodified opinion” of its review of financial statements, the highest level of assurance the company could give.
“It’s considered a clean report, no reportable issues and no findings,” John Tafilowski of Cusack & Co. told the City Council’s Finance Committee of his company’s draft audit result concerning the fiscal year that ended Dec. 31.
The company spent three week’s reviewing the city’s financial records, and Tafilowski went line by line of key elements.
During a pandemic-plagued 2020, the city’s general fund, the chief operating fund, spent $84 million, resulting in a deficiency of $3.7 million. Most departments were within budget because of efficient operations, with the exception of transportation, which was over budget by $81,000 due to a big, late-year storm.
Its water fund had a surplus of $890,000, its sewer fund was deficient $167,600, while its recreation fund had a surplus of $149,000.
Grants and other revenue funds were deficient $155,000, while capital projects had an overall deficiency of $17.6 million, primarily because of bonding received in previous years, combined with the city expending the money on capital projects this year, Tafilowski said.
The city complied in all material respects with requirements that could have a direct and material effect on all of its major federal programs, and it had no deficiencies in controls over compliance of material weaknesses, the auditor said.
In April, Standard & Poors affirmed the city’s general obligation bond rating of A, with a stable outlook. In January, Moody’s Investor Services affirmed the city’s general obligation bond rating of AAA.
The city’s expenditures of $84.5 million exceeded revenues of $80.8 million.
As a consequence, the mayor instituted a hiring freeze at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, and the mayor and finance commissioner cut overtime in its entirety, while non-personnel budget lines were reduced 20%, to control costs.
The transportation department was over budget by $81,483, largely because of a Dec. 17 storm in which more than 30 inches of snow fell on the city.
Also, in February 2020, the city settled a contract with the Police Benevolent Association, at an increase of $1.6 million.
Operational revenue fell short of the budget amount by $4.8 million, including a prior year tax lien collection that fell short by $942,000. Interest and penalties on property taxes was under budget by $773,000. Interest and penalties were waived by the city for for much of the year.
Also, projected revenue from the Rivers Casino & Resort Schenectady fell short by $1.5 million due to pandemic closures, the auditor said, and state aid revenue fell short by $560,000. Property sales fell short by $368,000.
On the other hand, sales tax revenue exceeded the budget of $13.2 million by $117,000, and an audit of the city’s energy bills resulted in a net prior year refund of $598,000, the auditor said.
The general fund called for the combined use of $5.7 million in reserve funds and unassigned funds, of which the city used $3.6 million.
The fund balance of reserves on Dec. 31 was $10.7 million, with $2.7 million in restricted funds, Tafilowski said.
“We feel, overall, that management does a really good job maintaining their reserves,” he said.
The city’s proportionate share of net pension liability for retired city employees was $12.2 million, nearly quadruple from a liability of $3.3 million in 2019.
Similarly, the city’s proportionate share of net pension liability for police and firefighters soared to $43.2 million, from $14.6 million in 2019.
Tafilowski attributed the increases to the market being in “the tank” at the time of the valuations in March 2020.
Meantime, the city’s combined “other post employment benefits” increased $42 million, to $332 million.
Tafilowski called the net pension liabilities and post employment benefits “paper liabilities” that are not funded.
Councilman John Polimeni thanked Commissioner of Finance & Administration Anthony Ferrari and his team for “another excellent audit result.”
“We have a hardworking team here and they do a really good job” of multiple reviews of city finances, Ferrari replied.
Once the audit is complete, Cusack & Co. will send a management representation letter for Ferrari to sign, and then the City Council would vote. If approved, the firm would then send the representation letter to the federal government.
5 COMMENTS David Bianchi June 9th, 2021 The government can only acquire private lands if it is reasonably shown that the property is to be used for public purpose only.
Log in to Reply David Bianchi June 9th, 2021 I Want to Remind You. When the Government Makes Laws. They Are Very Careful of the Words They Use.
There is a Major Difference in the Words Can and May that they have both Used when Making Laws!!
Again, The Law As Written! (The government can only acquire private lands if it is reasonably shown that the property is to be used for public purpose only.)
I’m Not Sure How Many Laws The City Had Broken! More Then One I Assure You!
Publicly No Less!
David Bianchi June 9th, 2021 (Letter from My Mom’s and My Then Lawyer Glen Brownell) August 14, 2018
To Whom It May Concern
Please be advised that I have represented David Bianchi in numerous matters concerning properties in the City of Schenectady.
A number of years ago I was approached by an attorney who asked if Mr. Bianchi was willing to sell a property on Barrett Street, as a development project was planed I responded with his asking price, which admittedly was high taking into account the planed use of the property, the attorney replied “That’s ok, we’ll just have the City take it.” Subsequently, an abandonment proceeding was commenced by the City of Schenectady, which the property was found to be abandoned despite the fact Mr. Bianchi continually used the property for storage and building inspector admitted he had never been inside the property. Exhibits have subsequently misplaced by the Court.
Later, Mr. Bianchi attempted to pay back taxes on another property which was in the name of another family member. After submitting the payment in full to American Tax Funding. ATF returned the payment and indicated that they had been directed by the City of Schenectady to return same as Mr. Bianchi was not the proper payer. This was done despite the fact that the City frequently takes payments from other entities for tax payments. It was clear that the City simply wished to seize the property for back taxes, and even the representative of ATF stated they had never seen that situation before.
Mr. Bianchi owned another property that was foreclosed on and a judgment of foreclosure entered. Subsequently, the mortgagee ex parte requested that the judgment be vacated, a fire later occurred at an adjoining property necessitating the demolition of an structure on Mr. Bianchi’s property. The City later sought to recover the significant demolition cost from Mr. Bianchi, despite the fact he had been divested of to the by the foreclosure proceeding, and knew nothing of what happened subsquently.
It appears that Mr. Bianchi’s Civil rights have been violated by the City of Schenectady on a number of occasions. It is unclear why he became a target of the City, but he clearly was.
Sincerely yours, Glen W. Brownell
My Fight on Barrett St./Barrett Village wasn’t about the Money so much.. That Probably Could Have Been Negotiated.. Just When People of Power or Wealth Think They Can Bully Someone Around and Take What They Want and Pay What They Think is FAIR! Not for Low Income Housing or a School or a Hospital or a Major Needed Roadway, or Anything that would Produce Long Term Jobs. Mind You.. For Townhouses Selling for $260,000.00 each! Along With The City Doing Eminent Domain on Vacant Lots with No Buildings on Them Calling Them Blight! Ya, I Will Fight to The End! The Funny Thing is I Was Never Told By Any Lawyer That I Was Wrong! Just That It Would Take Time and Money Was Needed to Fight! Well, Being Having No Money and Just this Keyboard.. Again, nothing Compared to someone Brutally Killing Someone. Yet, still a Burn and Certainly had it’s Effect. Is there something Wrong with this Posting?
Log in to Reply David Bianchi June 9th, 2021 Lord, Please, if Only I Could Be Given a Proper Day in Court with Proper Representation to Present All of The Evidence to Show What The City of Schenectady had Unleashed Upon My Mother and I with a String of Wrongdoings and What it Did to My Family and I With These Wrongdoings! (All For a Row of Townhouses?)
WHEN CREDIBILITY MATTERS SCHENECTADY Democratic candidates discuss city issues By Brian Lee | June 10, 2021 City Council candidate and current councilwoman Marion Porterfield, right, makes her opening statement at a candidates forum in the GE Theatre at Proctors Wednesday. Listening, from left, are Haileab Samuel, Doreen DiToro, Damonni Farley and John Mootooveren. PHOTOGRAPHER: City Council candidate and current councilwoman Marion Porterfield, right, makes her opening statement at a candidates forum in the GE Theatre at Proctors Wednesday. Listening, from left, are Haileab Samuel, Doreen DiToro, Damonni Farley and John Mootooveren.
Shares0FacebookTweetEmail SCHENECTADY – How the city should use its $58 million in federal pandemic relief, feedback on the mandated police reform plan that was recently sent to the governor, and how to put neighborhood improvement on par with downtown revitalization were some of the topics addressed during Wednesday’s candidates forum in advance of the June 22 Democratic primary.
Three incumbents – Karen Zalewski-Wildzunas, Marion Porterfield and John Mootooveren – and Damonni Farley are vying for three available four-year terms on the City Council.
In another council race, Doreen Ditoro, Haileab Samuel and Carl Williams are competing for two vacated seats with two years remaining.
Also, Brendan Savage and Omar Sterling McGill went head-to-head during the forum for the Schenectady County District 1 legislative seat.
At the GE Theatre in Proctors, the candidates discussed questions posed by Daily Gazette Editor Miles Reed through forum co-sponsors, the Schenectady branch of the NAACP and Schenectady United Neighborhoods.
Candidates for council seats were asked a multi-layered question about whether there’s a need for further police reform, such as the elimination of officers being allowed to use their knee to control subjects, whether they wanted a more diverse police force and if the department should use social workers.
Zalewski-Wildzunas said the recently completed collaboration on reforming the Police Department was a good document that remains “living and breathing,” meaning the city would continue to have conversations about additional training for officers and advocating for mental health specialists.
The incumbent said use of force is necessary in certain instances, and she credited Police Chief Eric Clifford for putting the department in “a much better state of mind” in reference to using force. She also said she advocate for social workers.
Porterfield said that after a controversial use of force incident last year in which an officer placed his knee on the head area of a suspect, there was a press conference where the mayor, commissioner of public safety and chief said the city would no longer use knee holds. She said she supported that initial stance, although it has since been revealed during the reform process that officers may continue to use their knee to control a suspect when the officer is in a life-and-death struggle.
Porterfield said she does not support knee holds to the neck and head area, as it could result in a poor outcome. She suggested retraining officers responding to violent and dangerous situations.
Porterfield also said community policing and a more diversity on police force were necessities.
Mootooveren said the Police Department had come a long way. The council president pointed out that the reform plan already recommends a task force to help diversify the department, and he also noted that the plan is to be revisited.
Farley said police officers shouldn’t be expected to act as a mental health professionals, especially walking into a crisis situation. He suggested more work is needed to create a culture that can prevent an officer who isn’t at his best on a particular day from “really horrible outcomes that we’ve seen across the country.”
Ditoro said she supports the reform plan that the city carried out because it was thorough and included members from all the neighborhoods.
“However, with that being said, the report is just the beginning, not the end,” she said. “Community meetings will continue.”
The candidate also said she favors fully staffing the Police Department, creating a community engagement unit that would “be instrumental in bridging and building trust between the police and the community,” and embedding a mental health professional within the department for each shift to handle nonviolent mental health calls.
To a question about the perceived lack of investment in neighborhoods, in the face of significant investment in downtown in recent years:
Samuel said the downtown revitalization effort was necessary because 15 years ago it was “almost a ghost land.”
“Now most of us we walk around very proud to say we live in Schenectady,” he said.
Unfortunately, that same level of effort hasn’t been issued into the neighborhoods that have deteriorated over the years, Samuel said, adding that he would like programs to help residents update to their homes, including siding, new windows, piping and infrastructure.
Williams said there has to be a complete buy-in to revitalizing neighborhoods, rather than talking about it only during political cycles. He said that he would call for conversations and help institute collaborative channels, because, at 31 years old, “I don’t know everything. However, I know that when you bring more decision makers to the table the solutions you come up with have a momentous effect.”
Regarding the city’s $58 million in coronavirus recovery funding this year, Mootooveren said some of it should be used to balance the city budget and pay off debt, and examine its aging infrastructure, fill vacancies, especially in the Police and Fire departments. Some money could also be spent on neighborhoods, he said.
Farley asserted that no one in the forum was qualified to answer, because, rather than make decisions for people, the city should include residents in those conversation.
Residents have to be at table, he said. The candidate recommended establishing an task force that taps people in communities, “and not just the usual suspects at the table.”
Zalewski-Wildzunas said she believed the city would come back stronger from the pandemic. She noted there are rules around use of the federal money.
But the incumbent called for the need to listen to constituents, some of whom have told her of their concerns about aging roads, sidewalks, and water and sewer systems. The city also needs to update parks and install lighting throughout them, Zalewski-Wildzunas said. Samuel noted that the city is still learning the impact of COVID-19. As such, it shouldn’t be so quick to start spending the federal money, he said, calling for a comprehensive study to first understand the impact of COVID-19 long term.
At the same time, Samuel said he wants to address the city’s high unemployment rate, with job training to get people back into the workforce and to use some of the funding to create jobs within the city.
Samuel also said there are many children struggling because of COVID-19. He said some money could be used to make healthcare professionals available to families.
In the county legislative forum, Savage pointed to his work on President Biden’s campaign last year as his proudest accomplishment. He said the president’s plan that provides the city and county with $88 million in combined funding will give the city the opportunity to “build back better.”
Savage said he wanted to build on the county government’s spearheading of Schenectady’s revitalization downtown, and to make further improvements in neighborhoods.
He touted his five-point plan to fix roads, repair and revitalize vacant housing, reduce litter, improve trash pickup, make streets safer through community policing and his desire to bring a grocery store to District 1 because it’s a food desert and the only district in the county without a supermarket.
McGill, who has worked in government, spoke of an unprecedented time in which there are environmental, economic, racial and justice crisis.
McGill said it is important to him to make sure county government is doing its best by the people when it comes to their tax dollars and the services the County Legislature provides.
McGill ended his remarks by saying he would hold town hall-style meetings to hear and understand what constituents of the district want.
Categories: News, Schenectady County
ONE COMMENT David Bianchi June 10th, 2021 So is that why the City was so desperate approx.15 years ago and Had to Make THREATS and Make Improper Use of LAWS ILLEGALLY TO AQUIRE LAND ON BARRETT STREET!
The government can only acquire private lands if it is reasonably shown that the property is to be used for public purpose only. I Want to Remind You. When the Government Makes Laws. They Are Very Careful in the Words They Use.
There is a Major Difference in the Words Can and May that they have both Used when Making Laws!!
Again, The Law As Written! (The government Can only acquire private lands if it is reasonably shown that the property is to be used for public purpose only.)
I’m Not Sure How Many Laws The City Had Broken to Acquire that Land! More Then One I Assure You!
Publicly No Less!
(Letter from My Mom’s and My Then Lawyer Glen ….) August 14, 2018
To Whom It May Concern
Please be advised that I have represented David Bianchi in numerous matters concerning properties in the City of Schenectady.
A number of years ago I was approached by an attorney who asked if Mr. Bianchi was willing to sell a property on Barrett Street, as a development project was planed I responded with his asking price, which admittedly was high taking into account the planed use of the property, the attorney replied “That’s ok, we’ll just have the City take it.” Subsequently, an abandonment proceeding was commenced by the City of Schenectady, which the property was found to be abandoned despite the fact Mr. Bianchi continually used the property for storage and building inspector admitted he had never been inside the property. Exhibits have subsequently misplaced by the Court.
Later, Mr. Bianchi attempted to pay back taxes on another property which was in the name of another family member. After submitting the payment in full to American Tax Funding. ATF returned the payment and indicated that they had been directed by the City of Schenectady to return same as Mr. Bianchi was not the proper payer. This was done despite the fact that the City frequently takes payments from other entities for tax payments. It was clear that the City simply wished to seize the property for back taxes, and even the representative of ATF stated they had never seen that situation before.
Mr. Bianchi owned another property that was foreclosed on and a judgment of foreclosure entered. Subsequently, the mortgagee ex parte requested that the judgment be vacated, a fire later occurred at an adjoining property necessitating the demolition of an structure on Mr. Bianchi’s property. The City later sought to recover the significant demolition cost from Mr. Bianchi, despite the fact he had been divested of to the by the foreclosure proceeding, and knew nothing of what happened subsquently.
It appears that Mr. Bianchi’s Civil rights have been violated by the City of Schenectady on a number of occasions. It is unclear why he became a target of the City, but he clearly was.
Sincerely yours, Glen
(I Removed Glen’s Last Name to Hopefully Make the Gazette OK With Me Posting This Letter In Full)
My Fight on Barrett St./Barrett Village wasn’t about the Money so much.. That Probably Could Have Been Negotiated.. Just When People of Power or Wealth Think They Can Bully Someone Around and Take What They Want and Pay What They Think is FAIR! Not for Low Income Housing or a School or a Hospital or a Major Needed Roadway, or Anything that would Produce Long Term Jobs. Mind You.. For Townhouses Selling for $260,000.00 each! Along With The City Doing Eminent Domain on Vacant Lots with No Buildings on Them Calling Them Blight! Ya, I Will Fight to The End! The Funny Thing is I Was Never Told By Any Lawyer That I Was Wrong! Just That It Would Take Time and Money Was Needed to Fight! Well, Being Having No Money and Just this Keyboard.. Again, nothing Compared to someone Brutally Killing Someone. Yet, still a Burn and Certainly had it’s Effect.
Lord, Please, if Only I Could Be Given a Proper Day in Court with Proper Representation to Present All of The Evidence to Show What The City of Schenectady had Unleashed Upon My Mother and I with a String of Wrongdoings and What it Did to My Family and I With These Wrongdoings! (All For a Row of Townhouses?)
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