SCHENECTADY Raucci will remain jailed until trial BY STEVEN COOK Gazette Reporter
Former Schenectady city schools facilities director Steven Raucci, accused of terrorism and other counts involving school district employees and others, will remain in jail pending trial, an appellate court ruled Thursday. The Appellate Division of state Supreme Court rejected arguments by his attorneys that Raucci was improperly ordered held without bail as a preventative measure. The court noted that the record reflects that Schenectady County Court considered the relevant factors, including Raucci’s character, reputation and the seriousness of his alleged crimes. “We cannot say that County Court abused its ‘sole nonreviewable discretion’ in denying petitioner bail,” the appellate court ruled. “Nor do we find that County Court violated petitioner’s constitutional protection against arbitrary refusal of bail.” The ruling means Raucci will remain in jail without bail to await trial in April, more than a year after his intitial arrest. Raucci’s defense attorney, Ronald DeAngelus, said he and his client were “very disappointed” in the decision. DeAngelus said his reading of the decision is that the court dodged the issue of preventative detention. “As long as the courts dodge that particular question, what they’re actually doing is legislating preventative detention into our penal code,” DeAngelus said. “They’re doing what our Legislature refused to do,” he said. “That’s a great loss to the civil rights of everyone.” ................................>>>>....................>>>>..................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r00103&AppName=1
SCHENECTADY 2 newspapers sue over report More details sought in Raucci probe BY TATIANA ZARNOWSKI Gazette Reporter
The Daily Gazette and Times Union sued the Schenectady City School District Thursday, demanding more information from an investigation the school district commissioned on whether district officials knew about allegations that Steven Raucci harassed and intimidated fellow employees and what, if anything, they did about it. Raucci was head utility worker and Civil Service Employees Association unit president at the school district when he was arrested on Feb. 20 on an arson charge. He was subsequently charged with additional counts of arson and with terrorism for allegedly planting explosive of people he considered his enemy. No one was injured in the four explosions that resulted, authorities said. Before and after Raucci’s arrest, a series of lawsuits was filed against the school district by his alleged victims, claiming school offi - cials knew of his intimidation activities but did nothing to stop them. The school district subsequently commis- sioned an independent investigation into Raucci’s activities on the job and into whether his higher-ups knew of and condoned, or failed to act, on those activities. The school district at first said it would release the report from the investigation, then declined to release it, and later released a report whose pages were almost entirely blacked out. The Article 78 proceeding, filed Thursday afternoon in state Supreme Court in Schenectady County, asks a judge to read the entire report and determine whether more of it should be released to comply with the state’s Freedom of Information Law (FOIL). Calling the release of the redacted report a “sham,” the lawsuit alleges the district failed to satisfy its obligations under FOIL by releasing the 192-page report with all but a few innocuous sections blacked out. .......................>>>>...........................>>>>.................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r00102&AppName=1
And to think that this all started over 'fire crackers'!
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
Elsie Schiffner’s Dec. 11 letter [“Raucci gets his $120K, but victims get nothing?”] is a prime example of public opinion placing the cart before the horse, and how difficult, if not impossible, it will be for Steve Raucci to obtain a fair trail in Schenectady County. It appears that Ms. Schiffner would have liked the courts to hold Mr. Raucci’s lawful life savings ransom to pay for alleged unproven claims, despite the fact that his monies were found to have no connection to the crimes charged against him. Fortunately, two wrongs will never make a right, Ms. Schiffner, so thank God and thank our Constitution for affording all of us the presumption of innocence, which is obviously something that you and many others don’t ascribe to. Steve Raucci has a right to defend himself against these charges just like anyone else, and judges have a right to apply the law and dismiss claims against individuals because of late filings. That’s the way it is, Ms. Schiffner. You speak about individuals on the school board who were aware of these alleged offenses. How would you know this unless you’ve spoken to them, and how would you know of these other four people that were allegedly in fear of their lives unless you’ve spoken to them? I assume you know these victims since you write on their behalf. How else would you know about their state of mind? Let’s not shift, or blame, the problems of the school board on Mr. Raucci.
No grounds to keep Steve Raucci in jail without bail
I’m puzzled over the legalities and seeming unfairness in the Steve Raucci mess. The media continues to refer to the alleged “explosive devices or bombs,” when in fact several references to “quarter sticks” were initially used. In states where fireworks are sold legally, “quarter sticks” are sold as firecrackers. The media, using the Freedom of Information Law process, has been unable to obtain any information tying Raucci’s actions to any school board member, nor obtain any portion of the Raucci report funded by the school board — except in a heavily redacted, useless version. Raucci has been denied bail over and over, having now spent approximately a year incarcerated. On the other hand, a Saratoga County deputy sheriff has been accused of four acts of rape while in uniform yet is walking around free on bail for that alleged violent crime [Dec. 17 Gazette]. It makes me wonder, am I still in America?
Ex-member wants current school board removed Published - Dec 23 2009 05:02PM EST By Lauren Stanforth, Albany Times Union, N.Y.
Dec. 23SCHENECTADY A former city school board member wants the state commissioner of education to remove current school board members because they allegedly allowed district employees to work on board campaigns while on school district time.
Joyce Wachala said she's basing her information on employee statements contained in the internal investigation into allegations surrounding Steven Raucci, the former school facilities supervisor and CSEA unit president who is awaiting trial on charges he placed explosive devices at the homes of his enemies. Wachala said the report alleges that Raucci assigned employees he supervised to work on the campaigns, and that former school board President Jeff Janiszewski assisted.
Janiszewski denied Wachala's claims, saying he specifically told Raucci in the past not to have his union members work on campaigns on school time.
"No member of the school board had anything to do with this, why would we?" Janiszewski said today. "No one is going to cross those kinds of lines for a job that pays nothing and brings aggravation largely."
The school district has refused to release the report in full to the public. Janiszewski said wants the report released, but he has to follow the advice of school district's counsel because of pending litigation filed by former Raucci employees against the district.
The Times Union and Daily Gazette filed a lawsuit last week in state Supreme Court requesting that the entire report be released.
Wachala said she was allowed to read the report while on the board but not to have a copy.
Wachala said she had Superintendent Eric Ely served on Tuesday with an appeal to Commissioner David Steiner to remove the current board members. She said she didn't name individual members for fear of leaving anyone off the list.
School attorney Shari Greenleaf said the district disputes the appeal, but would not comment on the Raucci report. Greenleaf said Wachala should not be revealing information she learned during board executive sessions.
Elected in May, Wachala resigned in August, citing her son's health issues. She no longer lives in the school district.
The state Education Department has been strangely — and disappointingly — quiet about the various and tawdry happenings in the Schenectady school district this year. We’re glad to see it will get another chance to act with former school board member Joyce Wachala’s filing of an appeal to Education Commissioner David Steiner to weigh in on the propriety of unionized school employees being used to work on the campaigns of school board candidates during school time and on school property. During her brief tenure on the school board this summer, Wachala was able to read the $13,000 independent investigator’s report on various school officials’ relationships with alleged terrorist/former facilities director Steven Raucci — a report that the district, after promising it would be made public,, has decided to keep under wraps. She says the report makes clear that Raucci — along with former School Board President Jeff Janiszewski — used employees supervised by Raucci to promote the candidacies of Janiszewski’s hand-picked school board candidates. That, she alleges, would be a violation of state law. Wachala, who resigned from the school board only weeks after being seated to care for a sick child, says she wants Steiner to read the report and to remove any school board members who were involved or aided by the effort. That would be a welcome move, but also rather surprising considering how the department has essentially ignored the story about the district that’s been unfolding over the past year. Granted, the man in charge during most of this time — Richard Mills — was a lame duck, and it may be that he simply didn’t want to insert himself into a sticky situation just prior to retiring Sept. 30. But between the Raucci mess (including the heavily redacted Risotto report); the school budget fiasco — which at least some top State Ed. officials were aware of and expressed dissatisfaction over; the replacement of Wachala with a vanquished former board member; and school board member James Casino’s participation in a drinking party involving teens, it seems the department has had ample opportunity to intervene. Perhaps its only formal opportunity was the complaint over the contingency budget shenanigans filed by a city resident — a complaint dismissed over a legal technicality — but it’s hard to believe that with all that’s come to light about the running of the Schenectady school district this year, State Ed. wouldn’t have at least made some noise if it were so inclined. Steiner may not have had the chance to do so before, but he does now, and we hope he makes the most of it.
Media, authorities completely distort case the against Raucci BY BARRY RAUCCI For The Sunday Gazette
My family and I are sick and tired of the total distortion and character assassination of my brother, Steve Raucci, by the media. We can’t stand by and remain silent any longer. We’ve done so for approximately 10 months now while my brother sits in a jail cell, supposedly presumed to be innocent, while awaiting a decision on his liberty now for almost two months. I would be hard-pressed not to believe that Gazette reporter Steve Cook is not a public relations man for District Attorney Robert Carney and his office. I can provide the Gazette with a more humanlike picture of my brother. I know it’s easier to get more convictions of defendants when cases are over-charged by the district attorney, which is the practice in Schenectady County, and I’m sure this case has its political pressures and benefits and is motivated by public opinion. If you don’t believe me, please take a look at the political flier that was left in people’s mailboxes that shows several convicted felons in the county jail with a picture of my brother in the background behind bars. It doesn’t quite portray a man presumed to be innocent, does it? DAMAGE IS DONE I know Mr. Carney wrote a letter to the Democratic chairman indicating that he had no knowledge of this event and that this flier could cause legal and logistical problems to his case, and the Democratic chairman issued a public apology. However, the damage had already been done. You can’t un-ring the bell. It’s impossible for my brother to get a fair trial and jury in the county. One small example of this would be the Dec. 11 letter to the editor, by Elsie W. Schiffner, who chastises a legal and correct ruling by a judge who returned approximately $120,000 of my brother’s hardearned life’s savings. She would like it disbursed, I assume to someone she knows, on her mere say-so, for alleged property damages. I guess she doesn’t believe in our laws. In my opinion, and obviously the court’s opinion, this money was stolen from my brother and his family and illegally held by law enforcement for about nine months. Not too much ink printed on that issue, was there? My brother has been a workaholic all his life and didn’t like to keep money in banks. I can’t believe law enforcement can now take someone’s life savings because of the manner in which it was wrapped. I guess I should say neatly wrapped in three piles. Furthermore, on the subject of distorted and biased reporting, why doesn’t Steve Cook or Carl Strock interview any of the hundreds of workers in the school system who are not looking to make a quick buck, who have worked with my brother for 35 years and have the utmost respect for him? I know for a fact that these people have good things to say about Steve and his dedication to his job, but are afraid to speak, because of pressure tactics of the state troopers, local enforcement and the district attorney’s office. I know there are people out there that know what I’m taking about. TERRORISM CHARGE My brother has been charged with terrorism and arson, but please remember we’re talking about fireworks. However, in the eyes of the law it is equivalent to murder! I know what real terrorism is. On 9/11 in New York City, I witnessed people jumping from the North Tower building to their deaths. It was a horrible sight that I will never forget. I watched that tower crumble and became sick to my stomach with the realization of the heartbreaking loss of life. My brother is charged with terrorism for allegedly using what has been described as nothing more than 4th of July fireworks, as unbiased reports have previously indicated. During these 15 years of alleged dastardly, cold, brutal acts, not one person has come forward with so much as a scratch. He’s also charged with arson, another A-1 felony. Sounds scary, sells newspapers, lots of ink for Steve Cook and Carl Strock, but the fact of the matter is that there wasn’t so much as a Boy Scout fire initiated. I know these charges are over the top and a stretch. Authorities sensationalizing these charges for political effect and gain have become all too common in order to advance their political careers. ..............>>>>...................>>>>...............http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r02901&AppName=1
My brother has been charged with terrorism and arson, but please remember we’re talking about fireworks. However, in the eyes of the law it is equivalent to murder! I know what real terrorism is. On 9/11 in New York City, I witnessed people jumping from the North Tower building to their deaths. It was a horrible sight that I will never forget. I watched that tower crumble and became sick to my stomach with the realization of the heartbreaking loss of life. My brother is charged with terrorism for allegedly using what has been described as nothing more than 4th of July fireworks, as unbiased reports have previously indicated. During these 15 years of alleged dastardly, cold, brutal acts, not one person has come forward with so much as a scratch.
this is the muck the legislators 'play' for podium pucks......so 9/11 happened, we still dont know what terrorism is from a prosecutorial stand point.... they just made a definition.....do the meanings of words change as societies move forward in time?---sure,,,,just look back....... I ask if we are headed to a "Minority Report" or "A Clockwork Orange" Era-----would be a very sad day in future-history---- "SHOW ME YOUR PAPERS"---HEIGH! HITLER.........
On another point-----Administration from the top down knew,,,,it's a small knit community-----we aren't that stupid.....just buried in the smoke......
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
What the hell do they do to kids who put firecrackers in people's/neighbors mailboxes? Ya know, the people/neighbors that these kids don't like for one reason or another?
Is it an act of terrorism to shoot holes in peoples windows with bee bee guns? How about the ones who play 'mailbox baseball'?
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
Re Dec. 18 article, “2 newspapers sue over report”: In following the whole fi - asco with the Schenectady school board and the Steve Raucci affair, I have to wonder, how can the school board withhold the report completed to find out if there was, or was not, any complicity within the school board? It was $13,000 in taxpayer money that paid for it, therefore it is every taxpayer’s right to read the report, without all the blackout. Could this be viewed as abuse of governmental administration? I apologize for my naivete, but that just seems to be the case to me. It would seem to me that since the school board refuses to release the report, then the school board should pass the hat among themselves and let them pull out their wallets and pay for that report.
On one side the top lawyers for the Hearst Corportion-on the other Schenectady schools Shari Greenleaf!
The issue: Whether the oppressed City sheeple can look at the "transparent" report on the at work "activities" of The Mad Bomber. The legal battle of the decade! If only we could sell tickets to hear the arguments. Keep wasting precious taxpayers resources on a fool's errand. Only in Schenectady.
Quoted from bumblethru: I'd like to know why this guy [Raucci] isn't singing like a bird from his cage.
If a tree falls in the woods, and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound?
Raucci has been denied bail for months. To whom might he be "singing like a bird"? We may learn more when his (overdue) day in court arrives. That is, if the proceedings are public.
Logged
On one side the top lawyers for the Hearst Corportion-on the other Schenectady schools Shari Greenleaf!
