2011 is fast approaching, giving us time to reflect on the past year and ready ourselves for the future.
2010 was an interesting year in East Greenbush, to say the least. Following is a small listing of what we, as a Town, experienced and endured this past year. By no means is it all-inclusive.
· A change in majority alliances on the Town Board;
· Courts twice ruled against "two hat seats", resulting in a three member Town Board and numerous unsuccessful attempts to seat replacement Board Members;
· Standing Room Only attendance at Town Board Meetings;
· EGPD Officer Mark Mann returning safely from Afghanistan;
· The tragic loss of EGPD Officer Ed Witko;
· Creation of a local "Tea Party" and the Bastille Day event;
· Creation of "CARE" and its sponsoring the Candidate Debate;
· A hotly contested Election, with what could well be a record turnout, to elect two Town Board Members and the seating of those Board Members in November;
· An audit of the Town's Financial Statements commissioned by the Town Board;
· An audit of the East Greenbush Ambulance District Operations conducted by the NYS Office of the State Comptroller;
· Expansion of the Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc facility;
· Approval of the Fed Ex Ground Planned Development District;
· Appointments to the Town Board of Ethics;
· A 2011 Budget with a small tax increase, but with reserves to pay down the inter-fund borrowings;
· Creation of a Citizens Fiscal Advisory Committee, with a Chair and Vice-Chair to be elected by the members; and
· Food drives for local food pantries and clothing collection drives for Conserns-U.
Let's build on the good things that have been accomplished and focus on the future … 2011 and beyond. Admittedly we may not all agree on what "the good things" are.
I think the most heartening of "the good things" is the "Standing Room Only attendance at Town Board Meetings". Townspeople have become more interested and involved in the the governance of the Town.
I'd like to see this continue, but I'd also like to see the residents of East Greenbush leave past differences in the past and support the full Town Board. I'm not saying we'll all agree with everything the Town Board does. Nor am I saying that we should blindly follow without constructive criticism and questioning - the operative term being constructive. Remember, regardless of our political preferences, leanings or affiliations, or theirs, they are elected to represent us all. In doing so, we must hope and trust that they do what they believe is best for the Town.
Bismark is quoted as saying "Politics is the art of the possible." Many have said that politics is also the art of compromise, where one gives up part of his or her "demands" in an effort to move forward. Let's all focus on the common ground or goal rather than on the differences. This may be overly optimistic, but I'd like to see every vote of the Town Board be unanimous and the result of Member discussion, deliberation and, if need be, compromise.
Christmas Observance
All Town of East Greenbush offices will be closed on Friday, December 24, 2010 & Monday, December 27, 2010 in observance of Christmas.
Pete Stenson
Pete, loved your post and agree on all points. A lot will depend on how the full board does its business. If there is the openness and transparency that Phil and Sue campaigned on that will be a plus. If public hearings really mean something instead of being a useless formality that will be a plus. If our Supervisor can avoid looking bored and being rude that will be a plus. If board members can speak openly and honestly and avoid political double speak that will be a plus. What I am saying is that people's reactions to our town board are driven, in part, by not just what the board does but how they do it. And, unfortunately, how the board did its business over the last few years has been a real issue. Decisions have been made that removed from the board the legal requirement to vote and approve. So if the board members own up to their responsibilities I think there is a much larger liklihood that citizens will follow your excellent suggestions.
ReplyDeletePolitical "doublespeak " is all in the eye of the beholder ! Not everyone receives information or explanations in the same vein. Different political agendas drive people to hear what they want to hear and not necessarily what was spoken.
ReplyDeleteI applaud the post - well written and obviously good intentions. Honesty is always refreshing ! Happy Holidays too all !
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous,
ReplyDeleteI definitely believe in "the exchange of ideas, opposing viewpoints, healthy debate and standing by one's principles", thus my inclusion of unanimous votes being "the result of Member discussion, deliberation and, if need be, compromise."
I do not believe that compromise necessarily means that one abandons one's ideas, viewpoints, and principles, but rather that one works to have them reflected or incorporated in the final agreement or product. That is what negotiation is all about.
The Town Board holds a pre-meeting on the Thursday preceding the Regular meeting. I am not aware of the history of these pre-meetings, but it gives the Members time to review, research, discuss and negotiate the agenda items. Nothing should come as a surprise at the Regular meeting.
My wish for unanimity does not advocate a "group-think" or a herd mentality. But if all five Board Members agree on "what they believe is best for the Town." what is wrong with that? Is that group think or a consensus? Unanimity is generally thought to be the strongest voting outcome, not a sign of "group-think". It signals that those voting believe the outcome to be the best one possible. I am in full support of that.
Pete Stenson
More often than not, a unanimous vote on proposals in front of the Board have been "beat to death" in pre-meetings , calls and e-mails. As Pete has said - unanimity does not always suggest group-think , but rather that the merits may have already been debated and the final outcome appeals to each Board member. A descenting vote does not mean that someone thought longer and harder on a specific topic or proposal. It also does not signify that any particular Board member is more "enlightened" on a specific topic. To chastize a Board as a whole for unanimous voting or to single out a Board member for not voting with the rest is simply archaic !
ReplyDeleteWait a minute....Weren't Cristo, Matters and Danaher just nailed to the barn door for voting with McCabe on issues? The more things change, the more they stay the same. I seem to remember hearing that "you can't criticize if you voted with somebody."
ReplyDeleteTo: Anonymous said... December 21, 2010 5:08 PM
ReplyDeleteEG Talks has removed your comment and repost the relevant parts here. Let us keep civil.
Every vote unanimous??? You do believe in the exchange of ideas, opposing viewpoints, healthy debate and standing by one's principles; do you not? Apparently not. Group-think is not good for anyone. I hope every Board member votes exactly how they feel and believe on each issue and not vote in sync with all other members. You speak of trust, but how will anyone trust any one of these Board members if every vote is 5-0.
ok - a little off topic here - but is anyone else p-o'd at these oil companies -( big oil) who find it amusing to hike the price of oil at the holidays?!? These people are needlessly raising the price of crude ,. which ultimately drives up gasoline and home heating oil at a time when most Americans are pressed for funds to survive.
ReplyDeleteWe all complain and play the blame game with a 2.7% local tax increase or the 2.9% County raise , yet when these oil barons stick it too us all needlessly - no one seems to raise a stink ! I'm pissed off to no end here . Our own people are screwing us and if left unchecked, the economy will dive thru the floor once again, and it will ALL be the fault of the American Oil Companies yet again.
I personally would like the blogs and readers around EGB to watch and post the cheapest price for gas and then everyone could go there and the rest of the local gas stations would have to fall in line and there would be no price gouging by any of them.
Maybe this will help ...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.albanygasprices.com/
Just read cristo's blog about the 4 very qualified people who will no longer be working for the Town, funny he never mentioned the 10 or 12 very qualified people who were let go last year right about this time, quess he has memory problems.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteWhat could be so bad that "These posts have been removed by a blog administrator?"
ReplyDeleteTim,
ReplyDeleteBoth comments contained personal attacks against individuals.
Congrats to the administrator who deleted those comments. When I read the comments allowed elsewhere and the constant barrage of negativity coming from the self-righteous , self annointed purveyors of truth , justice and the Reform party way - (bloggers from the other blog) , its actually refreshing to not have to see it here.
ReplyDeleteThose folks who choose to stay negative can do so - elsewhere ! Thanks to egtalks for attempting to keep it civil .
Negativity is running rampant over on the other blog. ALL of it approved laughingly by the one and only Ann Taylor. Cristo pipes in and gives his theories on life and they all sling mud like the true losers they are . Congrats to cristo and taylor - your true colors have never shined as bright as they are today !
ReplyDeleteLets see - am I Joe , Mike , Mike , Jim, Dave , Tom , or Jim today ???? Hmmmm ok - you guess !!! - or - maybe none of the above ?? Keep guessing - so far your ice cold !
It's sad to see and hear (of) comments made here and elsewhere. We are one East Greenbush, with a duly elected Town Board.
ReplyDeleteI stated in the opening comment that "I'd also like to see the residents of East Greenbush leave past differences in the past and support the full Town Board. I'm not saying we'll all agree with everything the Town Board does. Nor am I saying that we should blindly follow without constructive criticism and questioning - the operative term being constructive. Remember, regardless of our political preferences, leanings or affiliations, or theirs, they are elected to represent us all. In doing so, we must hope and trust that they do what they believe is best for the Town."
Name-calling, innuendo and mudslinging do nothing to move the Town forward, but rather tar it with a hateful brush. One can make the same point without resorting to these tactics. I've said before - write what you think but think before you write. Please keep things civil.
I'd much prefer to see a thoughtful dialog on the real issues facing this Town. Hopefully I'm not in the minority.
Pete Stenson
Yet you write for a blog that has allowed people to be called drunkards, fornicators (using much worse terms) and the like.
ReplyDeletePete.....If your wise comments and admonitions had been heeded by your compatriots on this blog during the campaign, your wishes might have a chance of being followed. However, I was personally libeled a number of times and comments were posted in my name which I never sent. Now, after your friends have deleted all that trash, we should all get together and be nice. The problem is that they "went there" a number of times, and are capable of doing it again. The majority now needs a new image for the next election, so there is a call for a truce of sorts.
ReplyDeleteI have never made an assertion about any issue without real evidence to support the assertion. That is a fair and reasonable approach. The juveniles running this blog hide in anonymity, spread their trash and then have a laugh.
You may recall that recently I was told that submitting anything would result in it being deleted without posting. Unfortunately, there are some truths which the administration has yet to deal with. And it won't deal with them unless they are put forward by citizens or demanded by control agencies or law enforcement. Ridiculing people who speak the truth is not a victory of any sort. It only strengthens resolve. Your colleagues on this blog need to learn that.
Now that's what I'm talking about, Don. You've authored, as you frequently, if not always do, a sincere comment, without the name-calling, mudslinging or innuendo.
ReplyDeleteThere's considerable trash talking everywhere … EG Talks has no monopoly on it. However, I believe that "all that trash" on EG Talks was deleted to start anew rather than to hide it. My humble opinion is that trash talk serves no purpose other than to make anonymous authors feel superior.
How ironic is it that my credibility is attacked by an ANONYMOUS author??
Don, I think we want the same things for East Greenbush … we may differ on the means, but the end is the same. East Greenbush's problems did not occur overnight. Nor will they be resolved overnight. The full board has been in existence for less than two months. I'm saying the townspeople should give the Town Board the opportunity and time to implement change.
Tomorrow is New Year's Eve, which calls to mind Guy Lombardo and The Royal Canadians welcoming the New Year with Auld Lang Syne. Recall the line "we'll take a cup of kindness yet, for auld lang syne." Let's do just that!
Happy New Year!
Pete Stenson
Don Johnson ; what you glaringly fail to understand is the following:
ReplyDeletemaybe in fact you are speaking with facts in front of you. The reality of the matter is that the majority of people who read this blog don't necessarily place the same amount of "seriousness" on the topics as you do. That,combined with the fact that you insist that everything you've allegedly uncovered is a crime and McCabe , OBrien and anyone associated with them should be hung from the lightpole in front of Town Hall - just doesn't seem to rest well with most of the voters in Town. Here's the facts plain and simply:
#1) MOST people in East Greenbush don't like Mike Cristo - that is a fact displayed in election totals from the past two years. They don't like him and they clearly don't care what his opinions are about ANYTHING in East Greenbush . That sir - is a FACT !
#2) most people in East greenbush don't care about the stipend issue - regardless of how important you think it is . You can keep harping about it - your really simply pissing people off...its over with - drop it.
#3) Mike Cristo started that other blog - and despite your assertion that THIS blog started the mudslinging...I have the evidence to the contrary -( yes - I kept copies of ALL the posts from ALL the people posting).
The reform party people do nothing but look to insight discontent and disruption amongst anyone who ever even said hello to Rick McCabe or Ginny OBrien. You all look past the indescretions of the political appointments of Cristo and company - ( if you want - we'll talk about them ) yes they were true political appointments and nepotism runs rampant within the Republican party as well!
Your viewed as nothing but argumentative and nasty when there's NO NEED for it. We ALL live in East Greenbush , we ALL Pay the same taxes and we ALL are effected by the same things you continually complain about. The simple fact is this: all the bullsh*t started over there on the TAYLOR/CRISTO blog.
THIS blog was created because of ALL the baseless namecalling and derogatory statements being made "annonymously" on that blog! You refuse to acknowledge that simple fact - and it is there that we all simply cannot agree . That is the entire mess in a nutshell - agree or not - that's the view from the winners side of the argument . Stop trying to learn who is writing what and be content knowing that annonymous or not - regardles of what blog its written from -( egprays is totally annonymous and you can't even respond to it!) People in East Greenbush simply don't place the same creedence on your prolific arguments - your effort to embarass and expose what you believe are huge violations of public law , are simply not nearly as important in peoples lives as you THINK they need to be.
At least Pete cleaned out the posts here - Taylor refuses to do that , she likes to insite nastiness and discontent and actually flames the fire when she thinks she's gaining something politically for her or Cristo.
Prime example #1 from "them over there" the whacko who said that the Town should run out and rent a snowblower to clear sidewalks! Then they be bitch*ng abouthe cost of the rental . It never ends..........
And since when is it the towns responsibility to clear sidewalks anyway? I do my own, why don't the businesses. Why should the town do it?
ReplyDeleteYAY timmy ! Mangold and Malone won....they get to govern and apparently cristo and taylor cant handle that. Too Bad. I'm sorry I have not written in a while but I was trying to respect the request to keep it clean. When I read what they allow to be written I ask why are we playing by any rules ? This taylor has no idea what shes saying half the time and just likes to embarass people. cristo tries to make people think he is somebody that has some say in east greenbush - NOT !!! Hey Don - I like what Timmy says - you should take notice I'll bet your bloodpressure would go down!
ReplyDeleteTimmy, who is still here....It is fortunate for the community that the issues which are important to community life and our social contract as citizens will not be decided on the blogs. There is so little logic and light in these columns. They are more a source of consternation. That is the reason I have spent most of my time in other endeavors, and have rarely commented in recent days.
ReplyDeleteFortunately, there is a higher standard than that espoused by Timmy which governs the performance of those in positions of public trust.
Poor Don - you just can't come to grips that not everyone agrees with you or your point of view. I sincerley wish you the best and hope that somehow - you find some peace in your life. Whatever other endeavors your involved in - I hope they are satisfying to you somehow.
ReplyDeleteWhoever "Timmy, yep its still me" is an incredible writer. You hit the nail right on the head in every word you said. Lets get some civility going for 2011 - New Years Eve is tomorrow night; stop the nastiness and be nice to one another. It was an election; people won; people lost - get over it; there's always going to be nepotism - it started hundreds of years ago. Be friendly toward one another. I don't mean to be a "debbie downer" but we could die tomorrow; get run over by a car; have a massive heart attack, be told we have cancer and have six months to live; and still people are using their energy to hurt others. Get over it. There will be another election next year. Go for it. For this year; lets congratulate our newest town board members and say thank you to Ginny O'Brien & Rick Matters; its been difficult for many of us. Shake their hand, wish them well - and help each other instead of being so judgemental. Our Supervisor is a good man who is trying very hard to keep everyone happy. Be glad we have him instead of condemning everything he says and does.
ReplyDeletePete, you've got a great comment also by welcoming the New Year in with "Auld Lang Syne."
You're a great guy and its always a pleasure chatting with you! Happy New Year to you and yours.
Dave VW - Congratulations on your new position; I know it all work out for you. You're a wonderful individual and a hard worker who wants only the best for the Town of East Greenbush and you deserve to be treated with the utmost respect. Good Luck to You!
Timmy: As an observer, I must say that I hope that you and some of your friends don't have kids. The lessons you are teaching them about the responsibilities of citizenship are absolutely terrible. Community life depends on honest and lawful behavior. Sounds like you are saying that if enough people don't care about certain lawbreaking, it's OK. That reminds be of the deep South about 50 years ago. Maybe your town has been lost in time somewhere.
ReplyDeleteOut of Towner
ReplyDeleteGee, I thought unlawful behavior was for the courts to decide not bloggers.
Out of Towner ; I have children and what I know about the people who support this supposed Reform movement - is NOTHING I want my children to copy. Responsibilty of citizenship does not necessarily mean you keep complaining about the same trivial thing , day in and day out.
ReplyDeleteWhat I said exactly was that we ALL live here and pay the taxes - ALL of us. What part of that don't you understand. Obviously some of us - actually - MOST of us , just don't see the need to continually embarass and degrade and humiliate public officials on a continual basis! The points were made, they were addressed, they continue to be addressed - so WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM?
I don't need someone like you to associate me with the deep South. People like you and Ray Mooney and Dwight Jenkins and Don Johnson and Ann Taylor are the reason that I will continue to support the current administration until such time as I deem my support mis-placed or having been violated to the degree that I simply cannot support them further.
Otherwise - I suggest you head on over to the Taylor blog and jump in with the rest of the mal-contents who don't have the patience to see what changes are coming. Its not hardly been 60 days since the election - WHAT exactly is the pressing issue???
Anony: That's what I thought too, and it is the point I was trying to make. Perhaps you'll get a chance to find out.
ReplyDeleteTo: Out of Towner regarding kids:
ReplyDeleteOut of towner: “That reminds be of the deep South about 50 years ago.”
What do you know about the south of 50 years ago? You wish people don’t have kids, you think Tim’s morals are terribly flawed. You are supporting people who have a lust for power and will stop at nothing to gain it.
I refuse to rehash the election trash talk, you need only to read the “other” blog to take the weather gauge of the opposition.
No one on this blog has threatened anyone with jail or suggested that they have committed criminal acts, you are implying both.
Both of my children have been brought up Christian and are a joy to me and my wife. I can only hope you can say the same. I am a veteran of the U.S. Army and served honorably and with distinction. No law was violated, while the “practice “ of stipends is frowned upon by the auditors they are not illegal. All of the town board members voted on the budgets in question and approved them. That includes Mr. Cristo and Danaher.
This whole argument is moot, let’s move forward and fix the things that are wrong and improve what we are doing right. We need to change from a bedroom community to one with an economic base to support our population . The FedEx project is a good first step in that direction but many more need to be taken. The last thing we need is another pizza joint on the “pizza mile”.
P.S. I lost a grandson last year and I pray the same never happens to you since you're not a kid-lover
If liberals weren’t that stupid would we have this START treaty?