Albany's SCCC Project Stalled in Political Game

Published on Saturday, May 18 2013, 6:56 PM

Last Monday, the County Legislature did more than just re-stall the Nursing Home privatization….the re-stalled the Schenectady County Community College annex to be housed at 112 State Street. Now, come on!! This project has full support…I’m betting that Mr. Commisso has a General Contractor in mind that he would prefer over the one selected by the County. Hmmm…maybe the same General Contractor he’s milked in other County projects.

Here’s the discussion that moved Resolution 164 to the floor for a vote…as you can tell, the person truly running this legislature is not the electeds, it is Jamie Kallner, Majority Counsel to Frank Commisso. He winked at them to kill the Resolution but there was overwhelming support. Now, the Chair, Sean Ward, with Commmisso pulling his strings, sent the Resolution to the Law Committee.

No doubt, one of the “other” contractors will be introduced and the County bid project will again, just like in Nichols’ Nursing Home craziness, be challenged for the personal benefit of one or more legislators. Of course, this could just be plain old retaliation in Commisso’s political battle with Dan McCoy….it could be used in a bargain on down the “governing” road.

If nothing else, to invoke the Story of King Solomon, we are certainly learning truly cares about the citizens of Albany…and it’s not Mr. Commisso.

Cabaret Code: Successful

Published on Saturday, May 18 2013, 10:04 AM

On Tuesday night, I attended the Planning Committee of the Albany Common Council. The single item on the agenda was the review of the “Caberet Code.” Since there had been a lot of complaints on the passage of this long anticipated legislation,  I expected that the complainers would show up…but they didn’t. Apparently no one is that upset with the new process.

Mr. Jordan, Corp Council and Nala Woodard sat at the table and told of the successful implementation of the code ordinance. In the six months since the legislation was passed, there have been 65 applications and 64 public hearings. The only complaints received from the applicants are when they are denied…and those denials are minimal. There has not been one single complaint about the process and few delays with five or six departments involved in the process.

Only one denial resulted in going to the appeal process which involves appearing before the BZA. Remember with me, this “appeal” process is the former process. This Caberet Code processing has done exactly as expected…and what was promised…it has eased the process for business owners to get to business faster and easier than ever before and lifted the burden on the Board of Zoning Appeals.

The Cabaret Code was deemed successful in making Albany a bit more business friendly.

Alleged Petition "Dis" Loyalty Is Telling

Published on Saturday, May 18 2013, 2:32 PM

Heard at 22 Colvin, the endorsed Mayoral candidate may be doing the old smack down on the very folks who endorsed her. Of course, that endorsement was really only the Party Boss endorsement after Mayor Jennings decided not to run but still….the party endorsement was something that Corey Ellis wanted desperately.

So, this is what I’m hearing...Ms. Sheehan does not want her name on the Democrat’s petitions…because, Gary Domalewicz is on the Dem Petitions. Instead, Ms. Sheehan (I hear) will be carrying petitions with Gary’s opponent, Darius Shahinfar’s name on it. That puts Ms. McLaughlin at the top of the citywide petition list with Gary Domalewicz but she’s already betrayed her progressive supporters so she doesn’t care. Oh yeah, and that leaves Leif Engstrom, the currently unopposed Auditor who is a big old prog, can you imagine his decision making machine right now?

Will the Auditor who is, for the most part, unliked by much of the Blue Dog Dems and party faithful stick with the “party who ‘brung’” him or will he deflect to the progressive petition or continue to pretend to be a traditional democrat.  Honestly, if this is true, this is the first honest thing any of the progressive candidates has done. Still, I believe Ms. Sheehan should walk her own talk and, if she doesn’t want to be associated with the Party’s endorsed candidate,  it’s rather hypocritical of her to accept the endorsement.

I guess we won’t know who’s diss’n who until the party petitions hit the streets. Even without Jerry, this could be a fun election..keep your eyes wide open!

Delay in Khan Trial...Again

Published on Friday, May 17 2013, 7:05 PM

Mala and Shareen Khan delayed their day in court once again. If you’ve been reading this blog for long, you know that I began following the Khan’s in City Court several years ago when they had just gotten stung for erecting illegally modified rooming houses for parolees. One even made the CBS 6 news….65 First Street with an illegal mod allowing for shared space for many parolees. Heck wouldn’t you love to have that neighbor…but you’d never know because Ms. Khan didn’t file the proper paperwork…ever. And, prosecutors are alleging, on occasion Khan even forged her paperwork to make it look all legal to get paid for the illegal housing.

So, anyway, another little charge that is attached to the list of Mala Khan charges is that of “human trafficking.” I have seen the charges but I’ve gotta bet that would be for her “keeping” of her “property manager.” Some of you may remember I was with Mr. Gunnish (I’m sure I got that wrong, but I’m close) when he was arrested in the Khan case at City Court…he was being represented by Ms. Coleman in that case…I was there.