There's going to be another candidate on the Republican line in this year's race for County Legislator in District 4. Allow me to introduce myself. My name in Mary O'Rourke Barrie. Please talk to me. I want to know what's on your mind. It's the only way I can truly represent our District.
Not happy with the anticipated decision for the Albany Landfill Expansion? Contact: http://www.savethepinebush.org. They would like to hear from you!
Remember it was a grass roots organization called Citizens Against the Dump and a newly elected Republican leadership that closed the Rotterdam C & D landfill once and for all. Never underestimate the power of your input as a citizen!
I don't believe I have ever heard of you before. Can you give us a bio and your visions for the future of District 4 and how you can best represent us? Perhaps you have a website we can look at.
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 believe in protecting the environment. I am a career state employee and work for the Department of Environmental Conservation. I have served on the Town of Rotterdam Conservation Advisory Council since it was established. Most of the time I have worked on the Council was non-paid. We are now paid $300 a year. Obviously, I feel the need to help my community and didn't need the financial incentive to do so. I believe in smaller government and holding the line on taxes, especially at this critical time in the economy. I will be developing a website and I am on Facebook.
I can best represent the residents in District 4 by listening to them. A few of my personal concerns are our out of control property taxes, lack of infrastructure to minimize pollution from cars, bringing jobs to our unemployed, and putting our vacant commercial properties back into productive use. I also am concerned about planning our communities and making sure we are developing in the best areas and preserving our unique areas. I want to maintain a quality of life for our current residents and our future generations.
I referenced the Albany Landfill expansion as an outside issue to our County. It still impacts those of us who drive through there every day to work. We fought to close the Rotterdam C & D landfill and finally succeeded. Take a stand for things you believe in.
I think your statement, Mary, identifies the problem EXACTLY.
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I referenced the Albany Landfill expansion as an outside issue to our County. It still impacts those of us who drive through there every day to work. We fought to close the Rotterdam C & D landfill and finally succeeded. Take a stand for things you believe in.
People are driving OUT of Schenectady ... to Albany, Saratoga, etc ... we need to keep them IN Schenectady. Higher taxes, crazy zoning rules, "I don't give a damn, this is my administration" mentality is what's killing what was a great community. I believe it can be again - but not if all our residents must work outside their home areas.
What parties have endorsed you? Where do you stand on fiscal restraint? Overall ideology (conservative, liberal) ?
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
Minimize pollution from cars? Sheesh...That's a National issue. Obama is "working" on that.
Please state your business/budgeting experience. How do you plan to slash record County taxes? Where do stand on Metrograft and taxing poor people through regressive sales taxes to give money to rich developers?
If you are planning to succeed Joe Suhrada, you have big shoes to fill. We already have one BA-BA Blanchard -that's enough.
If you are planning to succeed Joe Suhrada, you have big shoes to fill. We already have one BA-BA Blanchard -that's enough.
Suhrada was vocal but was unable to accomplish anything which will be the same wall anyone, other than a dem, will hit!
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'll try to respond to all of your concerns. Good community planning means planning for infrastructure to move traffic, support mass transit and encourage safe pedestrian usage. We need to move back to local neighborhood concepts in the suburban areas of town. I have walked to church with my family my entire life unless the weather is foul. As a society, we need to rethink our communities and how we can reduce auto emissions and not create pollution in the first place.
Obama should not have to address these issues. These types of planning strategies are local and I personally do not want any more mandates from Washington, DC. Those mandates cost us all money. We can do this ourselves in our local decision-making process.
As for budgeting experience, I was an office manager for years in the DEC Rotterdam office. Currently, I work in the Brownfield program which touts many tax incentives for the developers who enter the program. A local project is the former Alcoa site which is undergoing cleanup and redevelopment. This blighted area will be restored and reused. Metroplex was involved in the redevelopment. I understand there are many inquiries for how monies are being managed by Metroplex and if having the State Comptroller's office conduct an audit will allay those concerns, then one should be conducted.
I also car pool to Albany every day to save auto emissions. Each of us can make a difference if we try hard enough.
My family and I own property in the rural area of Rotterdam. The property has been in my family since 1909. I grew up spending summers with my grandmother. I plan on relocating there next year. I am trying to preserve the open space and not impact the wildlife and landscape anymore than I need to. It's all about planning and consideration for what is around you.
I appreciate your stand and understand your concerns for the environment due to your employment. However, and some may say 'shamefully', I could care less about auto emissions right now, if ever! Really!
In this state/county and in my opinion, there are bigger fish to fry! We are an already over taxed and over regulated state and county. How do we reverse that? How do we eliminate the public patronage nonsense jobs that are costing the taxpayers? Should the county consolidate the police forces? Do we really need an unenforceable DWT law? How are we going to get a handle on increasing crime? How do we bring more jobs to the area? When will there be an independent investigation of our DSS program? How do we cut spending?
We clearly will not have to worry about auto emissions if we continue with this ridiculous out of control tax and spend fury! Cause eventually no one will be able to own a car or pay for the gas anyway....problem solved! IMHO
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
What is your position re: the "Cap and Trade" legislation that is presently before Congress? The House narrowly passed the bill last evening.
By the President's own statement, the impact of this environmental legislation will increase gas taxes by $1.40 per gallon and increase our utility bills by ~90%.
Thank you in advance for the courtesy of your thoughtful reply.
Additionally, I was thinking about your opposition to the expansion of the Albany landfill expressed in your very first post that announced your candidacy. What is your proposal for disposing of the waste that is produced? Are you advocating that a landfill should be opened in Schenectady County or that the refuse should be hauled to another community for disposal?
Certainly an incinerator will lead to air pollution. And, we presently have recycling programs throughout Schenectady County. So, what is an environmentalist's solution?
Republican Angelo Santabarbara proposes a ban on plastic baby bottles, and now Republicans endorse Mary Barrie the environmentalist concerned about car emissions.
The County Republicans are stealing the National Democratic Party platform.
Mary, have you gone door to door, telling the resident that this is the platform you are running on? I would think you wouldn't be able to hear yourself speak over the laughter.
Brad Littlefield - to cap taxes. Mary Barrie - limit car emissions. Brad Littlefield - Denied Republican endorsement Mary Barrie - Granted Republican endorsement.
Littlefield, O'Connor, Mertz, and McGarry,,,,,, run counter to whatever the idiots running the Republican Party run on.
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Albany landfill? That's already been approved by the State DEC. Are you running for office in Albany County? 
