SCHENECTADY Stratton gets ‘green’ endorsement Mayor wants to encourage environment-friendly practices BY KATHLEEN MOORE Gazette Reporter
Mayor Brian U. Stratton wants to offer state incentives to encourage developers to build greener buildings, he announced Wednesday as he accepted a political endorsement from the New York League of Conservation Voters. He said he would look at creating a green-building incentives program if he is re-elected, noting that the city needs to get ahead of coming development. Many new buildings will go up in the next four years at the former Big N Plaza, Alco, the Robinson’s Furniture site and Clinton Square, as well as in the East Front Street waterfront development project. He said the city could wrangle grants from the state and other sources to persuade those developers to add innovative green technology to their projects. As an example of innovation, he cited Proctors, which installed heating pipes under its new sidewalk to melt the snow. The system will cost roughly $800 to run every winter, but the theater expects to see a savings because workers won’t have to buy salt or plow the snow. The sidewalks are expected to last longer as well, and environmentalists believe the city will be better off with less salt entering the storm water drains, which lead to the river. Other companies might come up with equally innovative ideas if the city can fi nd financial incentives to encourage them, Stratton said. “I think it’s something we should look at,” he said. Stratton is one of only 28 mayors in the state to sign on to the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, which calls for mayors to reduce pollution in their cities to 7 percent less than the 1990 level. Although Stratton has focused on fiscal issues in his four years in office, the state League of Conservation Voters said his money-saving policies have also helped the environment significantly, resulting in the group’s endorsement. Stratton acknowledged that finances were usually his reason for enacting environment-friendly policies. “Obviously it’s the environmentally smart thing to do, but the focus has been financial,” he said. “It’s always a balancing act, but the overwhelming concern has been to provide the most cost-effective services.” Now that the city is in better fi scal shape, he said, “pure environment” decisions could be possible. He suggested buying hybrid vehicles or even using city funds to get developers to go green. The mayor admitted there’s some irony to getting a green-friendly endorsement while driving a sport utility vehicle. The SUV is provided to him by the city. “I am driving an SUV, but that car won’t be in our fleet forever,” he said. He’s argued that he needs the SUV to get around the city during blizzards. “You have to give up some fuel efficiency for all-terrain vehicles,” he said. “But there are some alternatives now. I believe there are even some hybrid SUVs coming onto the market.” League spokesman Dan Hendrick said many otherwise-green mayors drive SUVs in the Northeast. “We see that often,” he said, adding that the league was willing to overlook it in the face of all the other things Stratton has done for the environment. “He’s actually very progressive,” Hendrick said. Stratton’s opponent in the mayoral race is Michael Cuevas, city Republican chairman. Cuevas, who was corporation counsel under Mayor Frank Duci, has since then served in state positions including chairman of the Public Employment Relations Board and, currently, chief counsel to the Assembly minority, which is led by another Schenectady Republican, James Tedisco. PRACTICAL ANSWERS One of Stratton’s first initiatives was to merge vehicle maintenance with the county, saving the city $1 million a year. It had the side benefi t of reducing gasoline usage by 15,000 gallons in the first year, as regular maintenance made vehicles more efficient. Stratton also pushed through the redevelopment of the Big N Plaza. “That is our first brownfield redevelopment project,” he said. “I wanted a new YMCA, and I thought that site was the best place for a variety of reasons. Foremost among them, it would clean up a derelict and polluted area.” That area is now clean, and the city’s remediation plan was recently approved so that construction can begin. The plan would go into effect if any contamination is found during site work. Under Stratton’s administration, the city council also approved an energy-efficiency project that is slated to save more than $5.1 million over 15 years by replacing city boilers and air conditioning units and putting longer-lasting LED bulbs in traffic lights. The program’s first two phases cost $3.1 million. Stratton also negotiated a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to create energy-efficient homes for low-income residents. The program will be a demonstration project for the state, Stratton said. Now city officials are measuring the methane produced at the wastewater treatment plant. NYSERDA, the state Energy Research and Development Authority, has offered to pay for the start-up costs if the city has enough methane to run the plant on natural power rather than buying electricity. In 2005, the city spent more than $700,500 on electricity for the plant.
There will be generous pay raises coming for Mayor Brian U. Stratton and City Council members -- assuming they win re-election next month -- but a longtime city resident believes they deserve even more. Romolo Versaci, a Democrat, asked for the even-bigger pay increases for the Democratic mayor and the all-Democratic City Council. Versaci, a former Republican City Court judge, made the plea at the last council meeting. The mayor's pay is soaring from $60,502 to $96,706.
Council salaries will grow from $9,800 to $14,600.
Versaci suggests the mayor's pay should be hiked to $110,000 and council's stipend boosted to $25,000.
You are correct Shadow. Ya know, I really don't know if the reps can do a better job, but we have to get these present jokers out of office and quick. I do not live in Schenectady, but I will do all I can to help the residents who live there and campaign for Cuevas. I know many people who live in Schenecctady and I am passing the word, not just regarding Stratton but also Suzie Savage and her slaves.
And from what I'm hearing, it won't be a hard sell.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
After 10 Terms, McNulty Calls It Quits October 25, 2007 at 5:18 pm by Rick Karlin
U.S. Rep. Michael McNulty, who has represented his Albany-area distict since 1988, will announce Monday that he is stepping down at the end of this term.
McNulty’s office wouldn’t confirm his plans, but the Congressman has sent out invitational postcards saying he will “make an announcement regarding the future of New York’s 21st Congressional District” at the Crowne Plaza in Albany.
Several sources inside the Capital Region’s Democratic organization confirmed McNulty, 60, has decided not to seek another term in 2008.
McNulty, has been in elective office since 1969 when he was became Town Supervisor in Green Island at age 22. Emerging from a Green Island political dynasty with relatives serving as tax collectors, mayors and village trustees, McNulty went on to the state Assembly in 1982.
When then-Congressman Sam Stratton said he was stepping down due to ailing health in the summer of 1988, McNulty was all but annointed by Albany County Democratic Chairman Leo O’Brien. Once in Congress, McNulty handily beat back Republican challengers every two years, enjoying a comfortable enrollment margin with Democrats outnumbering Republicans by an approximately 170,000 to 121,000 margin. In his 2006 race, he won with some 78 percent of the vote.
Among the names already circulating on the Democratic side are Schenectady Mayor Brian Stratton, son of McNulty’s predecessor; state Sen. Neil Breslin of M. Tracey Brooks, an aide to Sen. Hillary Clinton who challenged former Assemblyman Pat Casale.
On the Republican side, freshman Schenectady Assemblyman George Amedore’s name has come up.
Not soon enough. I've been talking to someone about running on the Republican ticket even before McNulty considered resigning. We'll see how things come out. I don't know about Amedore running for it as hejust took over the 105th Assembly District at the state level. While I realize this is a major change that hasn't happened in quite a while, so is the seat that Amedore is currently in.
CAPITAL REGION House member will be leaving Sources report Michael McNulty won’t run again BY JUSTIN MASON Gazette Reporter
U.S. Rep. Michael McNulty is poised to leave office at the end of his term, nearly 20 years after he was hand-picked for Congress to succeed Rep. Samuel S. Stratton. McNulty, D-Green Island, an outspoken critic of the war in Iraq, holds a seat on the House Ways and Means Committee. Word of his decision to leave Congress came as Democratic leaders throughout the district received invitations to an announcement McNulty has arranged for Monday. Representatives from the congressman’s office declined to comment on the nature of the announcement, other than to say it is “concerning the future of the 21st Congressional District.” However, numerous sources within the state and county Democratic Party indicated McNulty, 60, plans to leave office after his term expires in 2008. One source said McNulty will cite his family commitments and the difficulty of serving a five-day congressional work week as reasons for not seeking re-election. McNulty’s district includes all of Albany, Montgomery, Schoharie and Schenectady counties, as well as parts of Fulton, Rensselaer and Saratoga counties. Calls placed to his residence were not returned Thursday. McNulty is a third-generation politician from Green Island and the first from there to ever serve in Congress. He was elected town supervisor at the age of 22 and went on to win a seat in the state Assembly 13 years later. Party leaders tapped McNulty as their choice for the district just hours after an ailing Rep. Sam Stratton — the former Schenectady mayor and father of current Mayor Brian Stratton — announced his resignation from politics at the end of his 15th term. McNulty was heavily supported in 1988 and beat Republican challenger Peter Bakal. McNulty easily maintained his seat through 10 elections, including a resounding victory last year. Besides his seat on the powerful Ways and Means Committee he is chairman of a subcommittee on Social Security. Though an initial supporter of the war in Iraq, McNulty has become increasingly outspoken in advocating withdrawal of U.S. forces. In June, he joined the Out of Iraq Congressional Caucus. His brother was killed in Vietnam during that war. Word of McNulty’s pending announcement traveled rapidly, with area politicians already speculating on potential candidates to replace him. Assemblyman Jack McEneny, D-Albany, declined to discuss Mc-Nulty’s future, but said if the congressman leaves his seat, a number of candidates are likely to make a push for it. “Undoubtedly, there will be a number of people from the Mohawk Valley who will think it is time for the district to switch back to the Mohawk Valley,” he said. Democratic Party leaders in Schenectady County listed Susan Savage, the chairwoman of the county Legislature, and Schenectady Mayor Stratton, as the two most viable candidates for the job. Stratton is facing re-election next month. Neither Savage nor Stratton returned calls for comment Thursday. Another candidate for the job could be McEneny himself, said former U.S. Rep. Daniel Button, who lost what was then the 29th Congressional District seat to Sam Stratton in 1971 after Stratton’s district was gerrymandered out. Button said he received an invitation to McNulty’s announcement and drew the conclusion that the congressman had decided to leave office. “I called Jack and told him he’d be a natural for that seat,” he said of McEneny. “My guess is that given the time to think it over, he might decide he’s a possible candidate. I do think he’s equipped to do it.”
It's somewhat amusing to read or watch the media coverage about McNulty's resignation. They all give their picks on who will fill the seat. Funny how they all can come up with a list of dems and just a couple reps. I wonder if that's the media spinning or that the reps don't really have the right candidate for the posiiton.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
I am responding to Mark Grant’s Oct. 25 letter lauding former Mayor [Al] Jurczynski’s term as mayor. I am both amused and somewhat puzzled how one could maintain that a mayor who left the city over $10 million in debt, our credit rating at junk status and downtown development at a standstill, “laid the groundwork” for today’s success. Businesses and industry would not move in with the kind of climate that “Mayor Al” presided over, and the letter writer thinks Republicans should be given credit for today’s resurgence just because Jurczynski posts it on his Web site. The mayor could not get along with the City Council; the Republican county Legislature and Republican mayor were at odds with each other, and the various economic development entities were in competition rather than working together. The letter writer mentions the excellent efforts of [Price Chopper CEO and President] Neil Golub and [former Union College President] Roger Hull and their formation of Schenectady 2000. It was very successful as far as it was allowed to go. But the lack of leadership by Mr. Jurczynski and his Republican colleagues at the county stalled any real progress. Real progress did not happen until January 2004, when the Democrats elected Brian Stratton, retained the City Council and, for the first time in almost 40 years, the residents of Schenectady County elected a clear majority of Democrats to the county Legislature. They all ran under the slogan of “working together works,” and they followed through by instituting a unified economic development strategy under the direction of Metroplex Chairman Ray Gillen. Positive results quickly followed throughout the county. All of that progress could disappear, if the gang that couldn’t shoot straight succeeds in getting elected this November. While Al Jurczynski’s slogan this year is “back home,” I say, “return to sender.’ CHUCK THORNE Schenectady
I don't like to live in a city/county where there is a dictatorship in control of everything and the residents have no say in how the city/county is run. I don't like the Dems present plan of tax and spend with no regard to the hardships placed on the residents who have to pay for it. I don't like the slight of hand being used in projecting a 9.7% tax increase so that they can give us a 4.5% tax increase and tell us they saved us all kinds of money. We need an administration that will lower taxes and cut spending and if some services have to be cut so be it.
Big win boosts Stratton's profile After trouncing his opponent, Schenectady mayor is positioned for possible congressional run next year
By LAUREN STANFORTH, Staff writer First published: Thursday, November 8, 2007
SCHENECTADY -- Mayor Brian U. Stratton received a staggering 71 percent of the vote in his bid for re-election -- a margin of victory that political observers say could give him momentum for a possible bid to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Michael McNulty. Stratton's defeat of Republican Michael Cuevas by the largest percentage of the vote since the city switched to a strong mayor form of government in 1978 raises Stratton's profile for the potential run for Congress seat next year, said Steven Greenberg, Siena New York Poll spokesman.
"He's certainly someone who's proven to be formidable, but there are a lot of potential candidates," Greenberg said.
Stratton's success won't deter the long list of other Democrats who might run, Greenberg said. The list includes state Sen. Neil Breslin of Bethlehem, Assemblyman Ron Canestrari of Cohoes, Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings and Schenectady County Legislature Chairwoman Susan Savage.
Since McNulty's announcement last week that he was retiring, Stratton has remained mum about whether he intends to seek the congressional seat, which his father, Samuel S. Stratton, held for 30 years before McNulty. "I'm just getting a little rest," Stratton said when asked about his future plans.
Stratton called the win a voter endorsement of his administration's management of the city finances. The city's financial rebound -- Wall Street returned the city's bond rating to investment grade last year -- has been a constant theme for the mayor. "My message has not changed since 2004," he said.
Richard Naylor, chairman of the Schenectady city Democratic committee, doubts Stratton had much time to think about a congressional run. "He was focused in on the election," Naylor said. "Now he's looking at what's going to happen in the city. I don't think he's had a chance to give it much thought at this point."
Stratton, who won his first mayoral race by a scant 300 votes, trounced Cuevas, though there was an unusually low turnout.
In the unofficial count, Stratton defeated Cuevas, an attorney for the state Assembly Republicans, 6,503 to 2,700 Tuesday. The total of votes cast was about 5,000 fewer than in 2003, when Stratton edged out Republican Peter J. Guidarelli -- and turnout in that race was noted for its low turnout. In 2003, Stratton had to await an absentee ballot count to be declared a winner.
Former Mayor Karen Johnson, a Democrat, said Stratton was the beneficiary of several positive factors that came together at election time: The financial turnaround of the city, the completion of several downtown projects funded in part by the Metroplex Development Authority, and the popularity surge Democrats are enjoying nationwide.
"When a lot of things start coming together the whole thing goes over in a positive way," Johnson said. "You had the city in enough crisis that the state was paying attention to it. You have some truly remarkable professionals who are working for Brian. He's put it all together."
Voters apparently weren't fazed by some of the controversies that popped up during Stratton's first term, including a public outcry over the city's new garbage fees and a proposed midyear pay raise for Stratton.
Tuesday's results made another thing clear. Voters are apparently not happy with the man who led the city before Stratton. Ex-Mayor Albert P. Jurczynski got only 16 percent of the vote in a failed bid to win one of the two legislature seats in Schenectady County's District 2.
Stratton's success won't deter the long list of other Democrats who might run, Greenberg said. The list includes state Sen. Neil Breslin of Bethlehem, Assemblyman Ron Canestrari of Cohoes, Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings and Schenectady County Legislature Chairwoman Susan Savage.
SUSAN SAVAGE? Oh my God! That would be like putting Hillary in the oval office! Just a disaster waiting to happen!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
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