The newest member of the Schenectady City Council is being called out by a political opponent after her mother applied for a city-funded grant to fix up her house.
Democrat Robert Sanders, who is collecting signatures to challenge City Councilwoman Marion Porterfield in a September primary, questioned Monday why the past member of the Schenectady Municipal Housing Authority Board voted to approve a grant that would fund improvements for her own mother’s house. Porterfield corrected Sanders, saying the grant was through the Community Land Trust of Schenectady, and that her mother applied for the funding last summer before Porterfield was appointed to fill a City Council vacancy in April. She said the grant funding, which is U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development money that is funneled through the city and then on to the Community Land Trust, hasn’t been awarded yet. The land trust provides up to $60,000 for improvements to an owner-occupied home through the Green Home Improvement Project. While Porterfield also lives in the house on Strong Street, her mother is the sole owner and meets the low-to-moderate income qualifications that are required to receive the grant, Porterfield said. While City Council previously voted to accept the HUD money, it does not vote on who gets grants that are siphoned through outside non-profit entities, Porterfield said. It’s unknown when those grants will be awarded. Beverly Burnett, the land trust’s executive director, couldn’t be reached for comment Monday. Porterfield was appointed to fill Mayor Gary McCarthy’s vacancy amid an internal fight in the city Democratic party, as members were split between giving the seat to Porterfield, a former Weed and Seed coordinator, or failed council candidate John Mootooveren. Mootooveren eventually dropped his interest in the seat. “My mother qualifies in every way,” Porterfield said about the grant. “This is not something extra she would have gotten if I was on the council.” Sanders, a paralegal at the Schenectady County public defender’s office, is challenging Porterfield for the one-year remainer of McCarthy’s term. Former Schenectady County Legislature candidate Republican Rich Patierne is also running for the seat in November. “I don’t have a problem with her mother getting this money if she qualifies for the grant,” said Sanders. “But it’s how people read things. It’s her address and now that address is getting city money.”
Optimists close their eyes and pretend problems are non existent. Better to have open eyes, see the truths, acknowledge the negatives, and speak up for the people rather than the politicos and their rich cronies.
Fireworks should fly tonight at the council meeting.
Between this news and the APPALLING, DISGRACEFUL actions of the assessment board.
Optimists close their eyes and pretend problems are non existent. Better to have open eyes, see the truths, acknowledge the negatives, and speak up for the people rather than the politicos and their rich cronies.
Good work MC1. Another scoop for the TU. Did you hear that one DEM stooge has already resigned from the horrible DEM assessment bored? Another day more self dealing by the City DEM implosion squad. She was appointed by double dip McCheese. Absolutely horrible that a house where Marion Porterfield lived was approved by her for public funds while she sat on the SMHA board. She didn't know from nuthin? This happens in every NE City -lol. Marion Porterfield is finished. If somehow she gets by Robert Sanders in the DEM primary {doubtful} she will be crushed by Rich Patierne.
Prediction: No one will mention this latest DEM scandal tonight. Everyone who gives a hot damn has moved or is on vacation. Still waiting for one DEM council idiot to talk about the McCheese's DEM $7 million deficit.
. Did you hear that one DEM stooge has already resigned from the horrible DEM assessment bored? A
No.
Which one?
Actually, who sits on the board of assessment anyway? It's not publicized list and the homeowners in the city have a birthright entitlement to have the information EASILY and READILY available.
Sure, homeowners CAN call the city to find out, however, that means making personal phone calls from work probably. How many times do you call a government office, one that has more direct dealings with the residents, such as a tax office, or an assessor's office, a county clerk's office, a DMV office, and you get "you have reached the X office, please leave your number" or "we are all busy, please try your call again later." Homeowners should NEVER have to jump through hoops to get information that they are entitled to as residents and taxpayers. In these day of technology, the dems in the city have an obligation to post said list on their website, with their names, their qualifications, and the dates of their terms of office for EASY ACCESSIBILITY for the homeowners.
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Optimists close their eyes and pretend problems are non existent. Better to have open eyes, see the truths, acknowledge the negatives, and speak up for the people rather than the politicos and their rich cronies.
Oh wait, a mama's girl. An adult not living independently?
And/or nice scam. Daughter doesn't put her name on the deed which then makes mama eligible to sponge off the taxpayers.
Optimists close their eyes and pretend problems are non existent. Better to have open eyes, see the truths, acknowledge the negatives, and speak up for the people rather than the politicos and their rich cronies.
"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."
LOL! Schenectady's own Wanda Willingham-DEM lifer Marion Poterfield! Rotsa Ruck in your DEM primary against Robert Sanders. It's funny watching the corrupt DEM "machine" self destruct. No more carcasses to pick? The only reason they get into politics is to screw the taxpayers. Maybe next time appoint someone with a clue.
Prediction: No one will mention this latest DEM scandal tonight. Everyone who gives a hot damn has moved or is on vacation. Still waiting for one DEM council idiot to talk about the McCheese's DEM $7 million deficit.
If the DEM morons don't mention it it didn't really happen-no? Yet another scandal from the DEM implosion squad. They only run to expand the DEM family and friends club. Keep working together to rape the City taxpayers. No more bones to pick.
Logged
Good work MC1. Another scoop for the TU. Did you hear that one DEM stooge has already resigned from the horrible DEM assessment bored? Another day more self dealing by the City DEM implosion squad. She was appointed by double dip McCheese. Absolutely horrible that a house where Marion Porterfield lived was approved by her for public funds while she sat on the SMHA board. She didn't know from nuthin? This happens in every NE City -lol. Marion Porterfield is finished. If somehow she gets by Robert Sanders in the DEM primary {doubtful} she will be crushed by Rich Patierne. 
LOL! Schenectady's own Wanda Willingham-DEM lifer Marion Poterfield! Rotsa Ruck in your DEM primary against Robert Sanders. It's funny watching the corrupt DEM "machine" self destruct. No more carcasses to pick? The only reason they get into politics is to screw the taxpayers. Maybe next time appoint someone with a clue. 
