Welcome to another week that was on Rochesterturning.  We opened with hydrofracking and genetically modified rice and closed with Governor Paterson withdrawing from the Governors race.  Which opens the door for Andrew Cuomo.  In between was COMIDA, GVRMA, and proposed County Legislature reductions.

Let’s get started.

Local Scene

Free Money - Carestream, a recent COMIDA benefit recipient, is moving some manufacturing jobs to China.  Subsidized Outsourcing?  Yeah - we mentioned that 18 months ago.  Then there is the Genesee Regional Market Authority.  We ask some questions but the devil is in the details and is pointed out in the comments.   Commenter Concerned Citizen reviews the GVRMA minutes and discovers all isn’t as it seems.  How exactly was that traffic light paid for?  Or Palmer’s Market expansion?  There was this nice take down of GVRMA Board Member Jack Driscoll’s op-ed.

Ah Mayoral Control - local College Presidents are in favor of it and they miss the point.

County Legislature - The Democrats float a proposal to cut the number of County legislators.  The local Republicans say no way.  What is interesting is that the Republicans have a chance to reduce government, cut government payroll, heck since they control the legislature - they could redistrict the Democrats out of office - but they say no, not a chance. Why?  Well, they would actually have to govern.

Bob Morone is going to jail for ROBUTRAD.

Looking West from Albany

What a difference a week makes.  Remember when Governor Paterson came to Rochester last week?  Susan John introduced him and was all fired up.  Ed Koch issued some mystifying statement of Gov Paterson support.  In the end - Gov Paterson pulled the plug on his campaign.  We posted a condense version of Governor Paterson’s Campaign kick-off speech.  Worth watching if only to see how forceful he was kicking off the campaign contrasting it to pulling the plug a week later.

Federal level

Rep Rangel gets admonished.

Simon asks Harold Ford what is he waiting for.  Come on Harold - we all want to go to the Circus.

High Speed Rail - Rep Louise Slaughter wrote a response to one of my posts on High Speed Rail - the one where I pointed out the weakness of New York’s application.  The good news is that there is a plan to go forward.

The House strips Insurance companies anti-trust provisions.   Damn does that sound great?  Especially with a vote of 409 to 16.  WOW.  It has everything - bipartisanship, level playing field.  Terrific.  Except with you get hit in the head with a political reality 2×4.    First off, the vote is a wonderful start.  There were actually three votes and two of the three votes were about shutting down the bill and that was hardly bipartisan.   Which is where our own Rep Chris Lee comes in  - can you read the 2010 D&C endorsement editorial now?  Hey, even Chris Lee voted for stripping the anti-trust provisions.  Of course they will conveniently forget that Chris Lee voted with his obstructionist party to prevent a vote on the final bill.  No matter - Now the bill goes to the Senate - It joins the 290 other House passed bills waiting sitting there waiting for passage. I think passage is wonderful but it becomes real when President Obama signs it.

Quick Clicks

Wingnuts continues - Stack was misunderstood and there was the usual nonsense.

ex-Rep Sweeney goes to jail for DUI

The Hummer drives off to oblivion.

Ladkiddo gets a survey because someone bought a bad mail list.

That’s it - see you next week…

You remember  Rep Sweeney right?  He is the one that Kirsten Gillibrand defeated enroute to the House of Representatives.  Before that, he was the guy who led the charge in Florida attempting to prevent the recount.  Remember the pics of all those preppy looking guys pounding on the windows of the room housing the ballot counters?  Well, turns out they were all Republican operatives.

Anyway Sweeney was convicted of DUI.  Originally charged with a felony, he pleaded to a lesser charge.  This is his second conviction in 18 months.  First time he blew .18, the second time he refused the test and was charged.

Said his lawyer

“We just wanted to avoid a felony and we were able to do that,” Jones said. Sweeney will keep his license to practice law.

In addition to [30 days ] jail time Sweeney will also be fined $1,000, be placed on probation for three years and have to perform 300 hours of community service which Jones said will likely be in the form of pro bono legal work.

As a condition of his probation Sweeney will have to wear a device that monitors his alcohol intake for one year.

Normally, I wouldn’t care about this for the blog but remember all the discussion about local Councilman John Lightfoot?  I’m just wondering with regards to Rep Sweeney where is the counseling or interface with victim groups and such?

One more thing - Read the Saratoga Times article then read the AP report - tell me which article contains more information.  From the AP report we learn among other things that

He was once a county coordinator for STOP-DUI, a program that aims to reduce alcohol- and drug-related crashes.

Well,  I think the are a couple of other ROBUTRAD guys that need to have their cases resolved but the ROBUTRAD ringleader is going to jail for 1 to 3 years.  That is a sentence imposed by the County he still will be sentenced by the Feds in late April.

Via the D&C

Robert Morone, the former county maintenance supervisor who was the liaison with Robutrad, pleaded guilty in County Court to grand larceny. Under the agreement, he will serve one to three years to run concurrent with a federal sentence.

…

Morone admitted Friday that trades workers he supervised stole more than $112,000 from the county. The workers, most of whom were employed by the now-defunct Robutrad Corp., did jobs on county time that were not county-related. Morone has been accused of directing the workers to do jobs for his friends, family and Republican Party colleagues.

What of all the supposed other shoes and heels left to drop?  via MPN - no comment.

As part of Morone’s deal, he must cooperate with investigators. Gargan would not confirm or deny whether there are ongoing investigations into anyone beyond those already facing criminal charges in the Robutrad case, or those who have already pleaded guilty.

“There’s things going on right now but we’re in no position to comment.”

Last week Governor Paterson kicked off his campaign across the state and one of those stops was in Rochester.  I must say I found Governor Paterson an impressive speaker.  It was my first time hearing him live.

He positioned himself to run against the Republican candidate but also the Democratic party establishment, the State Legislature, special interests, President Obama the media, history, momentum, the odds, well the the list keeps going.  I’m not trying to be  cute in this post but fair or not Governor Paterson has been beleaguered and under fire since he sat in the Governors chair.

Now, via well, everyone , but here is the NYTs coverage.

Gov. David A. Paterson announced on Friday afternoon that he was ending his election campaign and would not run in November.

…

“I have never abused my office — not now, not ever,” he told a gathering of roughly 60 reporters, photographers and camera people in a crowded briefing room in the governor’s office on Third Avenue in Manhattan.

Finally, here is a 7 min video clip (condensed from 25 mins) of what I thought were highlights of his Rochester speech.  His drive, list of State vaccomplishments and how other States are faring.  Certainly worth a few moments of your time.

but back to reality and a history lesson.

Day One began when Governor Spitzer was sworn in

Day Two began in March 2009 when Governor Paterson was told - hey, I’m Client number 9 and you are now governor.

Day Three begins as soon as Andrew Cuomo announces.

Maybe the third time is a charm.

Not that it matters given that Governor Paterson is exiting the race but while I was processing some Paterson video (to be up later today) I created this clip of Susan John introducing Governor Paterson in Rochester last Saturday.   I haven’t really heard her speak before.

Susan John is not running for reelection to the Assembly and Governor Paterson is not running for Governor.

The Monroe County Legislature Democratic minority held a news conference where they unveiled a plan to basically cut the size of the Monroe County Legislature in half.  There are 29 seats and the Democratic proposal reduces that number to 15.  The Republican Majority will redraw the districts based on the 2010 census.

Via the D&C

Democrats, who hold 13 of 29 seats, claimed the proposal, which would reduce the legislature to 15 seats, would save $500,000 per year when lawmakers’ salaries, benefits and resources are calculated.

The legislature’s total budget is $2.1 million, which the Brooks administration classifies as a “mandated expense.” Rank-and-file lawmakers earn $18,000 per year, meaning that cutting 14 legislative seats would trim $252,000 in salaries alone.

Via press release from minority leader Harry Bronson’s office

The proposal will bring Monroe County in line with peer counties in terms of the number of constituents per legislative district. Currently there are about 25,000 people  living in each district, whereas Monroe’s peer counties average slightly more than 50,000 per district. After enactment, Monroe would have roughly 50,000 people living in each district. Upon voter approval in November 2010, this proposal would take effect on January 1, 2012, following the redistricting process.

Not that it is going to ever happen because

Republican Majority Leader Dan Quatro, R-Webster, called the proposal “a thinly veiled attempt” by Democrats to regain control of the legislature.

See Dan Quatro assumes that the secret plan depends on he the Republicans to redistrict themselves out of power.  Funny that.

If anything his comments once again highlights that the Republican majority does not engage the Democratic minority in County governance.

Nevertheless, what do you think of the proposal?

If the number of legislators is reduced the cost of governing is also reduced.  On the flip side, the number of constituents served per legislator is increased. There is a higher concentration of power I suppose.  Probably the cost ot get elected increases reducing the number of people who would/could run for office.

So good or bad idea?

Geez, I step away from the Internet for a bit and I get a call from a reader who points me to a Huffpo report that Paterson is suspending his campaign.  Oh boy - he isn’t resigning but he is suspending his campaign.   At first he was just talking to others but just before 10 am there was an update.

His campaign, formally announced just days ago, is threatened, and his ability to balance the budget is weakened. In the face of it all, Paterson remained defiant but left the door open to change.

“I’m not suspending my campaign,” Paterson told reporters in Manhattan, “but I am talking to a number of elected officials around the state.”

Then there was this update where the the Daily News reports

Embattled Gov. Paterson has pulled the plug on his bid to seek reelection, a source close to the governor said Friday.

Paterson will announce the decision later Friday.

Paterson has been under fire for having contacted a woman who accused one of his top aides of domestic violence.

The source said the governor has agreed not to seek election, but he will not resign - opting to serve out the remainder of his term.

The recent story in the New York Times identifying a top aide and his conduct coupled with the Governor’s account was too much apparently.

Day 3 to begin shortly.

Rep Rangel has been under fire for this and the House Ethics committee admonished him.  It is an open question as to when the more serious allegation will be resolved.  (Via the NYT)

The House ethics committee said on Thursday that it had admonished Representative Charles B. Rangel for violating Congressional gift rules by accepting corporate-sponsored trips to the Caribbean in 2007 and 2008.

But the ethics panel, the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, did not issue findings in its continuing inquiries into more serious matters concerning Mr. Rangel’s fund-raising, his failure to pay federal taxes on rental income from a Dominican villa, and his use of four rent-stabilized apartments provided by a Manhattan real estate developer.

Well, this is a surprise.  I wrote a piece about New York State’s recent award of $151 million out of $8 Billion in federal funds for high speed rail.  The post was titled Trickle up dysfunction: New York State and and High Speed Rail Failure.  The premise of the post was that the application submitted by New York State was weak and only with help from the Congressional delegation was New York State awarded $151 million.  Anyway, Congresswoman Slaughter saw the post, read it and wrote this response to clarify and expand on the issue.  Thank you Congresswoman Slaughter.

In his commentary on high-speed rail from last week, stlo7 asks if during the planning and preparation for our state high-speed rail application if New York State reached out or accepted help. The answer is yes. I know they accepted help because I coordinated our Upstate Congressional Caucus, CSX, Amtrak and others in that effort.

Let me first point out that I’m thrilled at the funding New York received from the stimulus package. Out of 38 states that divided up $8 billion, New York ranked eighth in funding. This was not a high-speed rail failure; this was a $151 million high-speed rail WIN and because of the work we did together New York is a step closer to a third track dedicated to passenger rail which will connect Buffalo to Albany to New York bringing economic vitality across Upstate.

Because of the efforts by all the parties mentioned above along with the Governor’s office and New York Department of Transportation, the necessary parties in New York have come together to comprehensively lay out how we’re going to make rail a reality.

My efforts on rail remain strong. My office has held over 50 meetings on  high-speed rail and I speak regularly with the Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood about the strong need to build a third track in New York.

I believe it’s also important to note that the $151 million New York received from the stimulus package is only one source of federal funding. Already with other members of the Upstate Caucus in the House,  we’ve secured $4.7 million from this year’s appropriations bills for signal crossing improvements and we’ve already begun the process that will secure more in next year’s funding. I’m pleased that this administration is dedicated to building high-speed rail throughout the country and I’ll continue to work diligently to make sure that New York gets its fair share.

I understand that this will be at least a $2 billion project and I understand that once funded this will take 2-3 years to complete. I also understand that improved transportation helps stimulate an economy. We know that New York has a proud history of rail. And I’m positive that with the dedicated and skilled workforce of Upstate New York, we will open new opportunities across Upstate. I will continue to work with the state, Amtrak, CSX and others to make this program a reality.

I’ve already mentioned that the House overwhelming voted to  strip the anti-trust exemptions from Health Insurance companies - the vote was 406 to 19.  As I said in the previous post the vote wasn’t all that bipartisan- let’s look at our local folks - (note:  I actually wrote this last night as I wrote the other post but decided to post it today)

Remember - there were three votes

Vote  #1 Close debate - this closes debate, stops amendments and moves the bill closer to a final vote.

Vote  #2  Recommit with instructions - This sends the bill back to committee for further amendment.   It certainly delays a vote on a final passage - I’m thinking Monopoly and landing on the go directly to jail square.

Vote  #3  Pass the Bill - all the hemming and hawing stops and the bill is voted upon.

So how did they vote? - if you favor the bill you should have voted - Y, N, Y

Rep Eric Massa (D, NY-29) - Y, N, Y

Louise Slaughter (D, NY-28) Y, N, Y

Dan Maffei (D, NY-25) - Y, N, Y

Chris Lee (R, NY-26) -  N, Y, Y

So Chris  Lee tries to prolong debate - preventing a final vote, send the Bill back to Committee - preventing a final vote - then finally in favor of the final bill.  A little inconsistent eh?  Wonder if that will appear on his campaign lit.

Well, this reminds me of a story - I’ve been in a Hummer only once since I left the military - haven’t had the opportunity - but that one time a few years back left me with an impression.  See, a friend of mine and I got into civilian version of  a Hummer that was on display somewhere.  My friend was impressed with all the empty room between the seats.  I reminded my friend that depending on the configuration that was where bank of radios went or the Machine Gunner stood.

I never really understood the commercialization of the Hummer but, no matter- the Hummer will be no more apparently -

A buyer can’t be found for the Brand  (apparently the sale to a Chinese company fell through) so GM will discontinue to the Brand.

DETROIT — General Motors Co. said Wednesday it will shut down Hummer after its bid to sell the brand to a Chinese company collapsed.

Heavy equipment maker Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machines Co. pulled out of the deal for Hummer, known for its hulking, military-like SUVs, because it was unable to get clearance from Chinese regulators within the proposed deal timeframe, the manufacturer said in a separate statement.

Got to agree with this assessment (Kurtz)

It was always hard for me to buy into the idea that we’d learned our lessons from the dotcom bust or the 2008 financial collapse so long as we were still producing and purchasing the Hummer. There are other emblems of our excess but none quite so blatant.

Talk about symbolism

Finally (via FDL) The vote was 406 to 19.  Sounds bipartisan doesn’t it - well, not so fast -

However, like everything in Congress, you have to read between the lines a bit. The motion to adopt the closed rule for debate showed the usual partisan tilt, with all Republicans opposed, along with 10 Democrats (Bright, Dahlkemper, Ellsworth, Giffords, Hill, Minnick, Mitchell, Childers, Murphy, Shuler). As the rule was closed to amendments, maybe the Republicans and those 10 Blue Dogs just wanted to offer some perfecting amendments. I’m sure they had them handy. Meanwhile, there was also a motion to recommit, which would have essentially stopped the bill in its tracks, and 165 Republicans voted for that, along with 5 Democrats. So let’s not hold each others hands just yet. The final passage was a free vote to bash health insurers, essentially.

The Murphy mentioned above is Scott Murphy (NY-20) who voted against debate closure.

So now the bill goes the Senate -

How many bills have been passed by the House and are awaiting Senate Approval?

Well, the answer is 290.

We have been writing about the Genesee Valley Regional Market Authority for the past week.  Not really understanding the whole story, I took the opportunity today to speak with Bill Mulligan Jr, the current Market administrator to actually validate the information garnered from other sources.  Here’s what I learned:

• There are 120 acres within the Regional Market and 80 are tied up into 20-30year land leases.
• The properties with land leases pay 1.3 million/year in property taxes.
• Taxes are payed on the buildings, the land is tax exempt.
• There are 1,600 FT and 500 PT people employed by the businesses within the Market.
• The GVRMA is the only New York State Authority who operates with a surplus.
• Senator Jim Alesi is sponsoring legislation which “helps the state while leaving the Market intact”.

Jim Lawrence wrote this editorial in Sunday’s D&C which somewhat mirrors my take on the Regional Market.

A far more reasonable corrective action should involve members of the Rochester region’s Albany delegation finding a compromise that’s fair to all involved.Remember, 80 acres of the authority’s land is locked down under lease for the next 20 to 30 years. Another 30 acres comprise private roads and parking lots that could become a costly maintenance burden if the state assumed ownership as proposed.

Too, there is no evidence of unscrupulous activity by Mulligan and the authority’s four employees, including his mother. (A comparable authority in Baltimore has 10 employees.)

Let me also point out that the Baltimore authority continually operates at a loss.

My question remains, why take an authority which is an asset and dissolve it while we continue to loose money through the authorities operating with a deficit?

The phrase, “Cutting off your nose to spite your face” comes to mind.

The word “Stupid” comes to mind too.

Can’t we find a compromise, as Jim Lawrence suggests, which allows the Market Authority to remain intact at the same time that we remove the tax breaks which seem to be putting everybody’s panties in a knot?

I’m just sayin…

Is this a surprise?  (via the D&C)

In a letter e-mailed Tuesday to the Democrat and Chronicle, the presidents of every major post-secondary school in the region said the school board system of governance was a failure, that it is time to “venture down new paths” and try a new approach.

So governance is the problem and Duffy’s plan will solve that?

Duffy has asked the state Legislature and Gov. David Paterson to turn over control of the school district to him for a five-year test period.

Which begs the question - what exactly is the plan?  Specifically - what is the plan other than Mayor Duffy will be in charge of the school district as the governing function of the Rochester School board is folded into his City Administration.  What changes will occur - How exactly will the schools be run differently than they are now?

As I’ve said before - I’m on the fence on Mayoral control, neither for or against.  I believe I could become a fan if it is coupled with an honest attempt at breaking the cycle of poverty in the City.   An approach that helps kids during the day when they are in school and at night when they are not in school.

After reading an article in the New York Times about Harold Ford Jr.’s most recent poll on himself and Gillibrand,  I want to ask Mr. Ford Jr. what he is waiting for.

Last Thursday, while in Rochester, Harold Ford Jr. had meetings with Mayor Bob Duffy and Assemblyman Joe Morelle.  As the D&C reported:

“Ford, 39, is not yet a candidate but he acted like one, meeting with Mayor Robert Duffy, shaking hands at Nick Tahou Hots and talking to reporters about the economy and taxes.

Following an afternoon meeting at City Hall, Ford said he supports Duffy’s effort to take control of the City School District. (snip) ‘The reason I’ve always been a supporter of reform efforts and alternative education models is that oftentimes kids find themselves trapped in settings that don’t work,’ he said.”

On Thursday night, he delivered the keynote address for the Black Students’ Union’s Black History Month celebration at the University of Rochester.  Despite how the event was advertised, Mr. Ford Jr. did more that just speak on civil rights, volunteerism, and students in leadership.  He sounded like a candidate running for office while talking about how to strengthen the American image and what he could potentially do for the state of New York.  He would not confirm a run for office but did say “I have to do what is right for New Yorkers.”  He discussed problems with education, health care, green jobs, medicare/medicaid, state spending and the fact that he would vote in favor of gay marriage if he were in a position where that may come up.  (Note: this is a change from his prior views and voting record.   For more, see his interview with the New York Times on Jan. 13, 2010.)

As a non-candidate, Harold Ford Jr. appears to be building support, taking sides on local political issues, and certainly speaking as if he were a candidate.  (For more see Stlo7’s post on “Harold Ford Visit to Rochester“)

I have a profound respect for most of those who choose to run for office.  It is a decision that requires a good deal of time, personal sacrifice, and courage to come before the public (and their scrutiny).  If Mr. Ford Jr. is truly passionate about representing the interests of New Yorkers as they need and deserve,  then it’s admirable that he would come here and run.  But as he remains non-committal, continues to spend money on polling and maintaining both homes in Memphis, TN, and New York City this feels more like a back- up career decision after he couldn’t win in his own state.