I was actually talking to an elderly friend of my mothers who lives in the city (by the post office on Altamont), telling her to vote for Pat - that we needed to change city hall. She hadn't even heard of this "curb tax", she had to cut the Gazette from her budget last year when it came down to a choice between meds, heat and luxuries. She asked me how one person could change it and what she could do.
Other than telling her Pat's accomplishments already, I really couldn't answer her question. We (they) know what's wrong with the city - it's broken, but how can one person bring about a change - of the level needed? She wanted to hear specifics on what Pat would do to fix city hall and get this budget under control. I couldn't answer her, but did promise that I'd talk to her soon with some followup.
So, my question to Pat is, what specifically will you do, as (pardon me) a renegade, to stop this waste? (Renegade isn't meant to be a "bash" - but you're upsetting the "status quo" in the machine, they're not going to look kindly on that as a formerly unified body.) You're mad, residents are mad, but what can one person do, and how long do you anticipate before change actually comes?
Above, you're also being (rightfully) critical of the city council health insurance program. That's cool - but will you accept it, or deny the package?
I was actually talking to an elderly friend of my mothers who lives in the city (by the post office on Altamont), telling her to vote for Pat - that we needed to change city hall. She hadn't even heard of this "curb tax", she had to cut the Gazette from her budget last year when it came down to a choice between meds, heat and luxuries. She asked me how one person could change it and what she could do.
Other than telling her Pat's accomplishments already, I really couldn't answer her question. We (they) know what's wrong with the city - it's broken, but how can one person bring about a change - of the level needed? She wanted to hear specifics on what Pat would do to fix city hall and get this budget under control. I couldn't answer her, but did promise that I'd talk to her soon with some followup.
So, my question to Pat is, what specifically will you do, as (pardon me) a renegade, to stop this waste? (Renegade isn't meant to be a "bash" - but you're upsetting the "status quo" in the machine, they're not going to look kindly on that as a formerly unified body.) You're mad, residents are mad, but what can one person do, and how long do you anticipate before change actually comes?
Above, you're also being (rightfully) critical of the city council health insurance program. That's cool - but will you accept it, or deny the package?
What will YOU do, and how will you do it?
Thank you
Kindly extend this response to your mother’s friend who cannot read this post herself.
Actually, I wouldn’t refer to myself as a renegade in any sense of the word. The “status quo” as you so pointedly mentioned is doomed to failure as the Taxpayers of the City cannot sustain any further “reductions in the growth of the budget” as our mayor so poignantly stated was his greatest accomplishment.
As “one person” I can do many things. There were several legislative items voted on during the past year where two members voted no, while the rest voted yes. I disagreed with the items in question and would have voted no also and the legislation would not have passed. Not all members currently on the council are always a rubber stamp to the McCarthy regime as I am not either.
That doesn’t mean that I would always be voting no. There are items that I agree with, and items that I disagree with; the ones that benefit the Taxpayers as opposed to the ones that benefit certain members of the city workforce. Carl Olsen and his new “shop manager” would have been voted out, were I on the council.
As far as health insurance for part-time elected officials, not only would I never accept that I would introduce legislation that states if a part-time elected or part-time appointed anyone “wants” health insurance, they would have to pay for it in full. That is one of my first goals as a council member. The “buy out” option would also be a thing of the past and included in that legislation.
Just because the party in control decided that all elected city officials were “employees” doesn’t make them so. The city has given away the store (1968 pact) and is realizing that we’re on a sinking ship with sea rats all around us. Change has to happen and I know more than enough to know what needs to be done.
I don't always agree with her - really just the tone of the discourse, which I feel can be counterproductive. However:
No one can deny her good intentions. She'll work very hard to do what is right. Completely dedicated to our city and it's taxpayers. Unlike many others in government, she is pragmatic. That alone deserves our votes.
If zollinger, for some reason, is not elected.......than the people deserve everything they get and should stop whinning, pony up and continue to pay their over inflated taxes!!
Zollinger is the ONLY one that will fight and try to protect the taxpayers. Zollinger will expose the corruptness and back room deals that do daily in the city!! Why? Because she is on of those city taxpayers who has had enough!!! She clearly does not belongto the 'friends and family club'. Zollinger appears to be doing this 'all on her own'!!
Good luck Pat Z.!!
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
If zollinger, for some reason, is not elected.......than the people deserve everything they get and should stop whinning, pony up and continue to pay their over inflated taxes!!
Zollinger is the ONLY one that will fight and try to protect the taxpayers. Zollinger will expose the corruptness and back room deals that do daily in the city!! Why? Because she is on of those city taxpayers who has had enough!!! She clearly does not belongto the 'friends and family club'. Zollinger appears to be doing this 'all on her own'!!
Good luck Pat Z.!!
I sadly agree. One outside interest who will not put the "party" first and will be there to shine the light of day can do amazing things. We will see if the dumbed down voters can grasp this.
"While Foreign Terrorists were plotting to murder and maim using homemade bombs in Boston, Democrap officials in Washington DC, Albany and here were busy watching ME and other law abiding American Citizens who are gun owners and taxpayers, in an effort to blame the nation's lack of security on US so that they could have a political scapegoat."
Pat Zollinger deserves our strong support and respect. For years she has been criticizing self dealing, pork and lack of accountability. Everything she has warned about has come true. Even if you don't live in the City-you know relatives, coworkers and friends that do. Tell them to find Pat Zollinger on the bottom of the ballot and vote for her. It is hard to locate her name on the ballot. The other candidate is on the top line it will take an informed electorate to make this happen. That has never been Schenectady's strong suit.
Why do we need Pat Zollinger on the City Council? City "leaders" just announced layoffs of 19 fire fighters with closure of the Bellevue Firehouse AND that a golf pro at the public course is making $314,000 PER YEAR. This was on the front page of the Gazetto 10/21. We have a Mayor who spent 3 years trying to increase his bloated salary. Where was the shock? Where was the outrage? No one said "Fire them". This rape of the City taxpayers cannot continue. Pat Z will be our taxpayer watchdog. If you're tired of 3 DEMS in a room deciding every judgeship, County and City office-on November 2nd you finally have an option.
If you're tired of 3 DEMS in a room deciding every judgeship, County and City office-on November 2nd you finally have an option.
.......then they fax that info bullcrap to the gazette for the sheople to read! We need Pat Z on the other side of that rail folks!!
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
.......then they fax that info bullcrap to the gazette for the sheople to read! We need Pat Z on the other side of that rail folks!!
And more bullcrap in the mailbox. Working together alert! Incoming! The newbie runs to Rotterdam for an endorsement; "He brings alot {sic} of financial experience to the City Council. Now, more than ever, we need that management experience. He has my whole-hearted {sic} support." You can't make this stuff up.
We need that management experience because for 35 straight years these DEMS morons have ruined City finances. The DEMS ran everything into the ground paying a golf pro $314,000 while laying off 19 vital fire fighters and closing the Bellevue Firehouse. If you want higher taxes/fees and home insurance rates-VOTE DEMOCRAT.
A critic challenges Erikson By Lauren Stanforth Staff Writer Published: 12:00 a.m., Friday, October 29, 2010
SCHENECTADY -- A longtime critic of city government is challenging a new City Council member for his seat in Tuesday's election.
Patricia Zollinger earned enough signatures in an independent nominating petition to challenge Democratic Councilman Carl Erikson for his seat, which he was appointed to in June.
Erikson, a Democratic committee leader from the Goose Hill Neighborhood, was selected to replace Councilman Mark Blanchfield, who was appointed to a City Court judge position. It is the only City Council race this year. It is a four-year term.
Zollinger, 53, a computer programmer for the state Thruway Authority, is running under a line called the Schenectady Taxpayers Outrage Party. She says she went before Schenectady County Republicans to seek their endorsement, but she is not enrolled in a party. Republicans decided not to back her. She campaigned to be a write-in candidate for City Council in 2005.
She has been closely following city government for about 10 years, often making statements during public comment periods at City Council meetings about what she sees as overspending and fiscal mismanagement.
If elected, the Woodlawn resident said she will fight to change the city law that requires council members to be salaried. If they only receive a stipend, then the city does not have to offer council members health insurance or pay into the state retirement system, Zollinger said. She said she would enforce the residency requirement that mandates most Schenectady employees live within city lines..................>>>>.....................>>>>.....................http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/A-critic-challenges-Erikson-735027.php
Obviously, Zollinger's own home town rag won't give her print time, huh?
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
Quoted Text Patricia Zollinger earned enough signatures in an independent nominating petition to challenge Democratic Councilman Carl Erikson for his seat, which he was appointed to in June.
Erikson, a Democratic committee leader from the Goose Hill Neighborhood, was selected to replace Councilman Mark Blanchfield, who was appointed to a City Court judge position. It is the only City Council race this year. It is a four-year term.
I've often had the feeling that one newspaper is somewhat biased toward the current administration. I truly hope that that isn't the case. However I also know that the "wife" of one of the Gazette Editors signed my opponent's petition. It made me cringe a little when I saw that.
My opponent is talking garbage or should I say, waste recycling.
During one of the neighborhood association presentations, he had the unmitigated audacity to suggest that he had a plan that would raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for the taxpayers. The truth is that this is not something that he conceived. The fact is that this is a borrowed flawed bogus unfounded and unresearched imaginary concept that I had previously heard from “Commissioner” Olsen.
My opponent simply threw trash on the listening public in hopes that something would stick to the wall. The fact remains that nothing stuck. Let me explain why.
My opponent obviously has no clue of which he speaks. In order to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars as he claims to be able to do by recycling, we would need hundreds of thousands of tons of recyclable waste. According to the city only 8% of the households recycle. That is substantiated by a simple drive up or down any street you pick in the city and look for recyclable bins. You won’t see too many. But even if everyone recycled, a bucket full of empty tin cans and plastic bottles doesn’t weigh very much.
According to my limited research in order to be able to sell recyclable materials it must be sorted, processed and compacted. According to the United States National Solid Wastes Management Association it costs on average $50 to process a ton of material, which can only be resold for $30.
So my opponent who is a self proclaimed economist must have gotten his degree in Economics out of a vending machine. It looks to me, from what he said that we’ll be kicking in an additional $20 for every ton of recycled waste that we dispose of. So where does he get the idea that he’ll be able to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars with recycling?
The truth of the matter is that my opponent hasn’t come up with one idea since he was appointed to the council. He has not introduced any legislation to soften the blows that the McCarthy/Stratton machine have inflicted upon the Schenectady Taxpayers. He has not once objected to any proposed legislation that burdens the taxpayers further.
As for the budget, the best he could do was to come up with a five thousand dollar savings. With our $77 Million dollar budget for 2011, Erikson’s $5000 savings amounts to approximately 6 cents savings for every thousand dollars in the budget.
It was only after I clearly concisely presented to the council my ideas on how to save at least $5 Million Dollars that my opponent switched from the five thousand dollars savings to the imaginary “garbage” revenue.
Logged
Pat Zollinger deserves our strong support and respect. For years she has been criticizing self dealing, pork and lack of accountability. Everything she has warned about has come true. Even if you don't live in the City-you know relatives, coworkers and friends that do. Tell them to find Pat Zollinger on the bottom of the ballot and vote for her. It is hard to locate her name on the ballot. The other candidate is on the top line it will take an informed electorate to make this happen. That has never been Schenectady's strong suit.
