I have not blogged these last few weeks as I have been out every day campaigning. It was a good effort , but the public went with the three Dems. I finished 6 out of 6. I am disappointed, but realistic. In this city it is an uphill battle with the Rep, endorsement since they are outnumbered almost 3-1. I felt the candidates I ran with were outstanding and it is a real shame none were elected.
I am proud of my campaign and deeply thankful for all my supporters. This will be the final blog as I will take down this site shortly. Maybe there will be another time... not ready to decide yet.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Saturday, October 15, 2011
WFP event
On the night of Oct 4th after the candidates forum I was approached by Jim Welch from the Working Family Party to invite me to a candidate night on Friday Oct 14th. I wrote it in my calendar.
Unfortunately I never received a confirmation or time until Oct 9th. The time was 7:30pm and I had a conflict with a family event at that time. Had it been earlier- even 6:30- I would have been there.
It is too bad, since I am not avoiding or ducking anybody. I will be at the Olde Judge Mansion (in the same neighborhood) Tuesday Oct 18th from 5:30-6:30pm and everyone is welcome to visit and exchange ideas or ask questions.
Unfortunately I never received a confirmation or time until Oct 9th. The time was 7:30pm and I had a conflict with a family event at that time. Had it been earlier- even 6:30- I would have been there.
It is too bad, since I am not avoiding or ducking anybody. I will be at the Olde Judge Mansion (in the same neighborhood) Tuesday Oct 18th from 5:30-6:30pm and everyone is welcome to visit and exchange ideas or ask questions.
Tom Wade letter
Earlier this week the Record published a letter authored by Democratic County Chairman Tom Wade. In the letter, Wade basically stated the Democrats used an effective screening process and found quality candidates while the Republican process was clearly flawed and took rejects and underqualified people to comprise their council slate.
This is more typical partisan nonsense. The Republican cnadidates are well qualified and are consiencious, concerned citizens. Why take cheat shots at them? The Democrats outnumber the Republicans in enrollment by more than a 2-1 margin, they should be able to take the high road and win every time.
I authored a rebuttal to this nonsense which will appear in the Record soon, possibly on Sunday Oct 16th.
What really saddens me is that for the first time the city has new faces and young faces running, which is great. Why behave this way? Is it intended to discourage people from coming forward unless you have gone through the "partisan" ranks.
His assertion that Republican candidates are getting lots of cash is ridiculous. We are fund raising on our own and have less to spend than our Democratic opponents. The Republicans have no city chair and only an acting county chair at this point-we are working largely on our own or as a group. NO ONE IS PULLING ANY STRINGS or GIVING US TALKING POINTS.
Try to read my response. I make my point. Wade is an embarrassment to the Democratic party.
This is more typical partisan nonsense. The Republican cnadidates are well qualified and are consiencious, concerned citizens. Why take cheat shots at them? The Democrats outnumber the Republicans in enrollment by more than a 2-1 margin, they should be able to take the high road and win every time.
I authored a rebuttal to this nonsense which will appear in the Record soon, possibly on Sunday Oct 16th.
What really saddens me is that for the first time the city has new faces and young faces running, which is great. Why behave this way? Is it intended to discourage people from coming forward unless you have gone through the "partisan" ranks.
His assertion that Republican candidates are getting lots of cash is ridiculous. We are fund raising on our own and have less to spend than our Democratic opponents. The Republicans have no city chair and only an acting county chair at this point-we are working largely on our own or as a group. NO ONE IS PULLING ANY STRINGS or GIVING US TALKING POINTS.
Try to read my response. I make my point. Wade is an embarrassment to the Democratic party.
Candidate Forum
The second candidate forum took place Tuesday Oct 4 in the former School 12 in the South End. All 22 candidates were in attendance. The event drew a good crowd.
Each of us was given a minute to make remarks about ourselves and why we were running, then there were six questions we answered in a rotating order. The moderator was my former editor, Lisa Lewis, who is still the editor of the Record.
I felt the evening went very well. For the most part everyone behaved with civility, although there were some boos early on, which fortunately were not repeated.
The questions ranged from city hall to sustainability and quality of life issues.
I maintained the position I have held all along that moving city hall to the Dauchy Building is not a good idea. I continue to feel city hall should be relocated to a building which is not now nor ever was on the tax roles. This would keep both the Dauchy and Verizon properties on the tax roles which is in the long term the best solution for the tax payers. A recent suggestion by councilman Mark McGrath to look at School 1 in Troy is very appealing to me.
With respect to sustainability, I attended a composting workshop hosted by RPI and left very impressed. Getting food waste out of the garbage stream makes sense. The challenge is going to be the initial start-up costs. It will take years to get the money back and begin to feel a real savings. The same is true of solar panels on government buildings. Another great idea, I just hope the initial costs can be found via grant or partnerships. All these ideas have merit, and I am open to them.
Quality of life issues are the toughest. Code enforcement is working hard and according to one of them I spoke with at length the current mayor put some teeth into waht they do. Despite this, there are still problems. One of them occurrs when a bank forecloses. They need to hire a local management company to maintain the property. One homeowner in South Troy is livng next to a home which has been vacant for six years and is slowly deteriorating right next to the home she has lived in for 62 years.
This situation is terrible and we have to find a way to address this. The new ordinace requiring banks to report who is responsilbe for the property is a step in the right direction. Every home in the nieghborhood suffers when a home is left vacant for too long.
The other thing often left unsaid is the responsibility of parents. Many domestic police calls are for matters which have more to do with parenting than anything else. The city can't raise children. Parenting is the single most important job in our society and it is a shame everyone does not understand this.
I look forward to attending other evenings like this one, but everyone should feel they can send me an email question or idea anytime.
Each of us was given a minute to make remarks about ourselves and why we were running, then there were six questions we answered in a rotating order. The moderator was my former editor, Lisa Lewis, who is still the editor of the Record.
I felt the evening went very well. For the most part everyone behaved with civility, although there were some boos early on, which fortunately were not repeated.
The questions ranged from city hall to sustainability and quality of life issues.
I maintained the position I have held all along that moving city hall to the Dauchy Building is not a good idea. I continue to feel city hall should be relocated to a building which is not now nor ever was on the tax roles. This would keep both the Dauchy and Verizon properties on the tax roles which is in the long term the best solution for the tax payers. A recent suggestion by councilman Mark McGrath to look at School 1 in Troy is very appealing to me.
With respect to sustainability, I attended a composting workshop hosted by RPI and left very impressed. Getting food waste out of the garbage stream makes sense. The challenge is going to be the initial start-up costs. It will take years to get the money back and begin to feel a real savings. The same is true of solar panels on government buildings. Another great idea, I just hope the initial costs can be found via grant or partnerships. All these ideas have merit, and I am open to them.
Quality of life issues are the toughest. Code enforcement is working hard and according to one of them I spoke with at length the current mayor put some teeth into waht they do. Despite this, there are still problems. One of them occurrs when a bank forecloses. They need to hire a local management company to maintain the property. One homeowner in South Troy is livng next to a home which has been vacant for six years and is slowly deteriorating right next to the home she has lived in for 62 years.
This situation is terrible and we have to find a way to address this. The new ordinace requiring banks to report who is responsilbe for the property is a step in the right direction. Every home in the nieghborhood suffers when a home is left vacant for too long.
The other thing often left unsaid is the responsibility of parents. Many domestic police calls are for matters which have more to do with parenting than anything else. The city can't raise children. Parenting is the single most important job in our society and it is a shame everyone does not understand this.
I look forward to attending other evenings like this one, but everyone should feel they can send me an email question or idea anytime.
Campaign update
It has been much too long since my last blog, so I will post three this morning on different topics. I have been going door-to-door and scheduled three hour long appearences around the city to try and meet and listen to as many people as possible.
I was at Graham's Cafe in Lansingburgh Oct. 10th and Flavor Cafe on the 13th and I will be at the Olde Judge Mansion Oct.18th from 5:30-6:30pm.
I will be at chowderfest today and will continue to be in as many places as possible. It really isn't much different than when I was a news photographer. I was all over the city then only in a different capacity.
My billboard is up at the junction of River & King Streets. It will be up until election day. Thanks to my wife, Deborah, for the design.
I was at Graham's Cafe in Lansingburgh Oct. 10th and Flavor Cafe on the 13th and I will be at the Olde Judge Mansion Oct.18th from 5:30-6:30pm.
I will be at chowderfest today and will continue to be in as many places as possible. It really isn't much different than when I was a news photographer. I was all over the city then only in a different capacity.
My billboard is up at the junction of River & King Streets. It will be up until election day. Thanks to my wife, Deborah, for the design.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
UFA endorsement
I did receive the firefighters endorsement making me the only candidate who has been endorsed by the Police, firemen and retired firemen. I worked as a news photographer alongside these men & women for more than 31 years and I have great respect for the work they do. I am proud to receive their endorsement.
Ryans Wake
I held a fundraising reception at Ryan's Wake on Wednesday and it was well attended. I want to thank Chris Ryan for his support and help and Francesca, who provided food. It was a good evening and brought out several supporters who had been unable to attend other events. Thank you to all.
It was a good week at Ryan's Wake as it was the location for a film on Monday. The period piece features "Legs" Diamond in a saloon, which will be a backdrop to an interview with William Kennedy telling "Prohibition Stories". Chris Ryan and his brother Matt were both in the film. I shot still images and had a great time. The WMHT production crew was first rate and really captured the atmosphere of the bar.
It was a good week at Ryan's Wake as it was the location for a film on Monday. The period piece features "Legs" Diamond in a saloon, which will be a backdrop to an interview with William Kennedy telling "Prohibition Stories". Chris Ryan and his brother Matt were both in the film. I shot still images and had a great time. The WMHT production crew was first rate and really captured the atmosphere of the bar.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Endorsements
I received the PBA endorsement which came as somewhat of a surprise since I was never invited to an interview. The PBA President told me it was because the guys know me and believe I really care about the city and will be my own person if elected. I am honored and hope to prove worthy of their endorsement.
I was interviewed by the Firefighters' who have not yet announced thir endorsements. I was given a fair shot and that is all I seek. Regardless of their decision, I am second to no one in my respect for the job they do in protecting our city. I joked that Troy is so good at putting out fires it was hard as a newsphotographer to get there before the flames were already knocked down.
Public safety is crucial if we are going to grow our city and attract businesses and people. They will not come to Troy if they do not believe it is a safe place to live, work or visit.
I made the following promise to the firefighters, which I make to all the citizens: I will always be willing to listen, and to be fair (there are always two sides) and to be honest. I am sure there will be times when we will agree to disagree, but it should not result in a long standing grudge as seems to have happened in the past. Just because we may disagree does not mean we need be enemies. I have been married 27 years and my wife Deborah and I disgree regularly but I love her and I am happy to still be with her. That is exactly how I hope everyone behaves going forward.
I was interviewed by the Firefighters' who have not yet announced thir endorsements. I was given a fair shot and that is all I seek. Regardless of their decision, I am second to no one in my respect for the job they do in protecting our city. I joked that Troy is so good at putting out fires it was hard as a newsphotographer to get there before the flames were already knocked down.
Public safety is crucial if we are going to grow our city and attract businesses and people. They will not come to Troy if they do not believe it is a safe place to live, work or visit.
I made the following promise to the firefighters, which I make to all the citizens: I will always be willing to listen, and to be fair (there are always two sides) and to be honest. I am sure there will be times when we will agree to disagree, but it should not result in a long standing grudge as seems to have happened in the past. Just because we may disagree does not mean we need be enemies. I have been married 27 years and my wife Deborah and I disgree regularly but I love her and I am happy to still be with her. That is exactly how I hope everyone behaves going forward.
Uncle Sam parade
I marched in the parade with other candidates and enjoyed the gorgeous Sunday. It was a good parade, one of my favorites from my days as a news photographer. The crowds seemed a little smaller than in the past which is too bad since being the home of Uncle Sam is a significant tribute to our city and something we can build on to attract tourists and others to our city.
I also attended the gravesite ceremony on Saturday where Marge Derguarian acted as mc. She did a great job and the ceremony was spot on in remembering the man who became an American iconic figure.
Monday, September 12, 2011
9-1-1 Memorial
I was asked to photograph the dedication of the new 9-1-1 Memorial in Lansingburgh on Sunday in a newly created park North of the 112th Street Bridge. It was an honor. It was a great day.
The memorial looks great and is a fitting tribute to the devastating attack on America and Troy's assistance in many ways in the weeks that followed.
Jim Gordon spearheaded the effort and should be recognized for his outstanding concept and execution. Everything starts with an idea, but it then takes hard work and on organized effort to get anything done. He and his committee got it done.
I have long felt and have written how important I feel it is to have every entry point to our city sparkle. You get one chance to make a first impression and people entering Troy should know we take pride in our city and take care of it. Having this memorial greet people who enter Troy from Cohoes is a significant improvement over what used to be there. This is an outstanding use of this space and a profound improvement.
Congratulations to everyone who worked to make this project a reality and hopefully it is indicative of how we as a city can move forward developing ideas and bringing them to reality in the future.
The memorial looks great and is a fitting tribute to the devastating attack on America and Troy's assistance in many ways in the weeks that followed.
Jim Gordon spearheaded the effort and should be recognized for his outstanding concept and execution. Everything starts with an idea, but it then takes hard work and on organized effort to get anything done. He and his committee got it done.
I have long felt and have written how important I feel it is to have every entry point to our city sparkle. You get one chance to make a first impression and people entering Troy should know we take pride in our city and take care of it. Having this memorial greet people who enter Troy from Cohoes is a significant improvement over what used to be there. This is an outstanding use of this space and a profound improvement.
Congratulations to everyone who worked to make this project a reality and hopefully it is indicative of how we as a city can move forward developing ideas and bringing them to reality in the future.
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