Things Are Done A Little Different In Albany

If not for the campaign signs, you wouldn’t even know that an election lurks in the city of Albany. For out of town readers, ”Lurks you say, the election isn’t until November.” No, my friends, the election for the city takes place in September. That is when the primaries are held. If you were to ask a resident of the city what I’m talking about, they would say that if you win your primary election in September, you will probably run unopposed in the November election. If not for some issues to decide upon, the November turnout would be next to nothing. ”Why, you say. Isn’t there a choice to make between a Democrat and Republican?” The answer to that is, for all practical purposed, no. In the 15 common council races, there are 4 Republicans, and your mix of Independent’s, Conservatives, Green Party and other hopefuls all running against well healed incumbents. Even the mayor’s race has a Republican challenger, Jesse Calhoun (I hope you’re not spending any of your own money for the campaign.) 11 out of the 15 council races, however have potential to become interesting. See, we had a redistricting this year, and the Ward lines were redrawn, which actually displaced 1 council member — tell me that wasn’t done deliberately. People actually move into a Ward just to run for a council seat. A council seat that is in a room full of 14 other council members, all of the same Party. And yes, they get paid for doing this, not a bad sum you might say for a part time job. It should be a piece of cake being a council member with everybody being Democrats, and working with a Democratic mayor. In Albany, that is just not the case. The room is full of egos the size of Mars, and they spend way too much time trying to pass legislation like making sure we don’t frack in downtown Albany, or allow any fracking waste to be used as road deicer. Or to make sure that the century old roadway system is upgraded to make sure bicyclists are accommodated. All the time while the city is in financial regress and facing some serious problems. You would think that these intelligent people could sit down at a table and at least try to move the city in a direction for the future. As far as the campaign goes, I actually saw a Sheehan and Ellis sign on the same lawn the other day.……….When Dan McCoy was elected as county executive, I thought that he being a former leader of the Albany County Legislature, things for the county would begin to run smoothly. Now with that nursing home mess supposedly behind us, it appears that the real leader of Albany County isn’t McCoy at all. All the work done trying to bring privatization to the home all went for nil as the county appears to be in the process of hiring a consultant to take over management of the money losing operation. Ten months trying to get the deal through (and yes, the legislature is Democrat ruled, if you out of towners are still reading) the measure brokered by the real leader of the county, Frank Commisso goes through — with a lot of back-stabbing by Frank’s lackey Tim Nichols. I guess you’re a one termer, Dan.……….A note to the United States Government: Please stay out of that mess over in Egypt. If you’re sending money to one side or the other, stop it. We do not want this country in the middle of another conflict where we walk away a loser (like Afghanistan.)……….The display of affection that the Boston Red Sox fans showed towards Alex Rodriguez was exactly what I expected, and nothing short of what the Boston fans really are: despicable, desperate, jealous. A-Rod was booed the first time he’s been to the plate in every city he has been to — New York included — but booing him every time he comes up, and especially when he was hit by a pitch is just reprehensible. Real classy Boston. The “I feel sorry for Boston” train has left the station.