SCHENECTADY Council ‘coffee klatch’ persists Dems meet in secret on grant priorities BY KATHLEEN MOORE Gazette Reporter
The city’s Democratic council members held another secret meeting to discuss how they will distribute the $2.8 million federal grant the city receives each year. Councilman Vince Riggi, who was not allowed to attend the Community Development Block Grant meeting because he is not a Democrat, compared the rest of the council to a “sorority” for not letting him in. “There continues to be certain members of the council who treat their elected positions as belonging to a cozy little coffee klatch instead of acting in a bi-partisan manner,” he said, adding that the public voted him in and presumably wants him to participate in all discussions. Democrats held this meeting and some last year without advance notice, including to Riggi. But the Democrats apparently did not seem to come to any agreement during their meeting, unlike their secret discussion of the budget last year. This time, they are each still supporting a different cause, and trying to persuade the others to vote to fund it. Councilwoman Leesa Perazzo said she suggested several ways to reduce some agencies’ grants so that other projects could also be funded. She did not want to discuss those ideas in public, because it might unnecessarily upset the agencies involved, she said. “It’s so intricate, how the money can be moved around,” she said, referring to the complex federal restrictions on the percentage of the grant that can be spent on various types of activity. Some of her proposed reductions turned out to not be possible because they violated those rules. “So why make anyone panic when it’s not a viable solution?” she said. Councilman Carl Erikson added that secret meetings could allow council members the safety to brainstorm. “People confuse thinking out loud with decisions,” he said. “I might change my opinion as I think out my ideas. If I was to do it in public, I think it becomes distracting to the public.” All the council members were willing to discuss their ideas after the closed meeting. Erikson said he wants to pave roads and rebuild sidewalks. To pay for that, he’s willing to give up some of the projects that have been funded for years. He said CDBG money should be used to support projects for up to three years, not indefi nitely. “I think the money needs to be moved around and given to new efforts.” He also supported Councilwoman Denise Brucker’s proposal to fund a volunteer reading program at the city schools. She suggested $5,000 to $10,000 for materials. But he said it should be more. “How nice would it be to move $50,000 to that and jumpstart the volunteer program?” he said. Brucker said the program was worth funding because all the money would be spent on materials, mainly books. She noted critically that many other agencies use their CDBG money for salaries. “To me it’s a no-brainer. It’s totally a win-win,” she said. “Let’s face it. This is really an emergency. I think it’s one of the most important things we could have ever funded.” Perazzo said she wants more money for the summer lunch program, so that Schenectady Inner City Ministry can feed more children. ..................>>>>..................>>>>....................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r01100&AppName=1
"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."
Erickson is a jerk for supporting this. Those women are making themselves look like @$$#@ts. Who is going to "panic"? In order to think out loud, one must first be able to think. Quit supporting all the causes, maybe they'll go away.
The party seems to keep a certain cheerleader out of meetings too, eh?
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.
Re the article about the “secret” meeting of City Council Democrats excluding Vice Riggi [“City goes online for bids,” April 23]: Mr. Riggi is an elected offi cial by the people of this city. He represents us. Council members need to stop the pettiness and act like mature individuals who are supposed to be looking out for the welfare of this city — not themselves. It is time to grow up and act responsibly!
it really does not make sense. They clearly have the votes to overrule anything Riggi does not agree with. So, what is the big deal about having him in the meetings. And, even if technically legal - it looks petty and political.
And, regardless of whether you agree with Riggi on a particular issue or not - he is trying to do what he thinks is the right thing.
it really does not make sense. They clearly have the votes to overrule anything Riggi does not agree with. So, what is the big deal about having him in the meetings.
Actually, it does make sense.
They are having a meeting to discuss things that they don't want anyone outside the party to know about.
Riggi is a member of an opposing party.
"Approval ratings go up and down for various reasons... An example is the high post 911 support for GWB even though he could be said to be responsible for the event." --- Box A Rox '9/11 Truther'
Melania is a bimbo... she is there to look at, not to listen to. --- Box A Rox and his 'War on Women'
it really does not make sense. They clearly have the votes to overrule anything Riggi does not agree with. So, what is the big deal about having him in the meetings. And, even if technically legal - it looks petty and political.
And, regardless of whether you agree with Riggi on a particular issue or not - he is trying to do what he thinks is the right thing.
Rrriiiggghhhttt....let's elect people so that they are excluded from discussing the issues with others on the Council. Makes sense?? Well, maybe for every DEM in the County. He is the elected official, let him participate in the Council discussions. Unless the DEMS are afraid of Vince...
Petty, hardly. Sounds like these chicken littles are waiting for the sky to fall...let me help them out...the further away you push Vince, the more votes he will get for Mayor.
Mayor Riggi. That just makes me want to smile!!!!!!!!!!
visitor, it doesn't make sense to you because you are operating under the delusion that they all want the same thing, a better Schenectady, and are willing to drop party affiliations to work together for that goal. The little girls in question are operating under the delusion that the party (or Party) isn't over for Schenectady, that not even the Democrat governor gives a damn about us, and that Mr. Riggi is trying to play politics as a party of one and theyare somehow besting him. Why are they this delusional? They can cause shiny buildings to go up downtown, they must be pretty powerful, right? Stupid brats.
The dems have lots to hide. Like why they all voted yes on the contract with Time Warner when they hadn't read the contract, in fact didn't even have a copy of it. Riggi got it just before the meeting without time to review it so he voted no. Everyone else voted yes, Since it wasn't brought up at a committee meeting and no one had a copy to review and discuss it then when did they all decide to vote Yes?!!! Hmmm?
I can hear Brucker now, our corporate council said it was ok. That does not fly it isn't the legaleeze that is the issue it is the facts!!!
Facts like... How much will your cable bill increase to cover Public Access channel. It is around 50 cents now but what if they agreed to have it increased to $1 or $2 multiply that and we are talking a nice chunk of change. How much of what TW collects is the city receiving? How is the city spending it?
The dems have lots to hide. Like why they all voted yes on the contract with Time Warner when they hadn't read the contract, in fact didn't even have a copy of it. ...
Friends and family of Time Warner get free cable.
Ask the council members to show their cable bills.
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