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Archived stories from Sunday, June 7, 2009 through Thursday, August 6, 2009

TIDBITS

7/25: Well, I just decided to leave my job at the grocery store due to high stress levels... not sure what's next. Hopefully I land that coveted meteorologist job, but failing that, I really don't know. I just can't go back there for a while. 7/21: Random tidbits... Stan Lundine is in agreement with Andrew Cuomo that the Ravitch appointment, as conducted, was illegal... Salamanca teacher Michael Dupont, who was convicted of exploiting young teenagers last year, has been sentenced to the maximum 14 years in prison... now that we're getting past the 4th of July, and I think Labor Day is nothing more than a day off, the next major holiday is Thanksgiving, and I'm already hard at work with this year's Thanksgiving Fullervision Style compiling stuff. 7/20: I just had a dream that the Jacksonville Jaguars were moving to Gainesville, FL and that the San Francisco 49ers were moving out of SF (can't remember where) on the same day. You figure that one out. 7/14: Just a heads-up, I renewed Fullervision.net for the year, so the site will now remain up until at least July 18, 2010. 7/7: Continuing thoughts on the state government circus... the governor and comptroller do not have the authority to have their cake and eat it too; if he calls a special session, the state has to pay for it. It's as simple as that. Withholding pay and travel compensation (which unfairly targets those who live in rural areas, like our state senator) to force through legislation is a bullying tactic unfit for a legitimate government, and I don't care what that legislation is. 6/25: Crazy idea to resolve the Senate dispute: why not ask Eliot Spitzer to rescind his resignation? He was elected to a full term; theoretically, he could rescind his resignation at any time during the term. Nothing in state law says all resignations are final upon taking effect. The move would put Paterson back in position as Lieutenant Governor and finally give the necessary casting vote to break the gridlock. It's never been tested, anywhere, but this whole debacle has shown a major hole in the state constitution regarding gubernatorial succession. It certainly sounds like a better idea than throwing a temper tantrum like a 3-year-old, like he's doing now. UPDATE 7/7: I'm glad he's looking into a new interpretation of the public officer's law that suggests that a lieutenant governor can be appointed (though not elected) in the event of a vacancy. These deadlocks are not supposed to happen. Outside of that, it would take an actual change of a Senate seat to get quorum, which could happen as soon as this fall, with a vacancy in the congressional seat for Northern New York, a swing district. 6/15: Apologies for not updating the weather forecast for the past five days. I had an emotional meltdown on Thursday and it took me a few days to recover. 6/7: Rollover day... in case you missed FV's exclusive story: Is Catharine Young considering a run for Congress in Northern New York?

The pork-barrel spending that was going to the Southern Tier... now goes to who needs it most (sarcasm): affluent Westchester County... and when called out on it, Malcolm Smith changes the subject (Albany Times-Union)... 8/4

IT'S FAIR WEEK! Yes, once again, it's time for the Cattaraugus County Fair... I'll be making appearances Monday and Sunday for the demolition derbies... the schedule of main events is as follows: MON) demolition derby, TUE) tractor pull, WED) pro truck pull, THU) Jason Aldean in concert ($23 for grandstand seats plus admission), FRI) monster truck rally ($4), SAT) stunt rally and school bus demos ($4), SUN) championship demolition derby ($5).

Oh, joy! Another cigarette tax increase... or... why you won't see Brooks Market selling cigarettes come January 1, 2010 (Jamestown Post-Journal)... 7/31

Democratic senators channeling Catharine Young? Kirsten Gillibrand sounds like she's direct-quoting her as she wails about bailing out wine grape growers (Dunkirk Observer)... 7/31

OH, SNAP: CATTARAUGUS  COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CHAIR FORCED TO RESIGN AFTER FALSIFYING AND FORGING SIGNATURES FOR INCUMBENT SHERIFF AND D.A... THEY'VE BROUGHT IN THE ERIE COUNTY D.A. AND THE STATE POLICE TO INVESTIGATE (Olean Times Herald)... 7/30

Upstate congressmen Slaughter, Lee and Tonko form the Dairy Farmers Caucus... keep in mind, though, none of those serve on the agriculture committee. Eric Massa, who isn't yet part of the caucus, is. Something to watch in the days to come (Albany Times-Union)... 7/29

Here comes the bailout for the farmers! At least if Catharine Young gets her way, which is probably not going to happen (WPIG)... 7/28

Tornados confirmed in Cattaraugus County, in the Onoville area and in Allegany State Park (National Weather Service)... 7/28

Democrats and union leaders in secret meeting, reportedly in crisis mode (NY Daily News)... according to the NY Post, there were threats exchanged, namely that the union would not support Paterson's election bid if things don't straighten out... 7/27

Tornado in Genesee County (National Weather Service)... possibly one in Cattaraugus County as well, just east of Onoville... 7/25

It wasn't just Spitzer: blogosphere abuzz that Ed Rendell, current governor of our neighbors to the south (Pennsylvania), was also linked to Spitzer's call girl... 7/25

At least one place where upstate is beating downstate: Buffalo's Chris Collins, often considered a contender for governor, is leading announced candidate and Long Islander Rick Lazio in fundraising by a wide margin (PolitickerNY)... 7/25

Minimum wage just went up-- but only a dime here in New York... for now... until Sheldon Silver decides he wants to raise it again... 7/25

Massa finds some spine: will vote against the "Obamacare" health care reform due to a lack of funding (The Hill)... 7/23

Oy gevalt... Flutie Flakes redux: introducing "Terrell Owens T.O.'s" cereal (Buffalo Business First)... 7/23

Our wonderful "upstate" senator Kirsten Gillibrand at work: upstaters are fatter than downstaters, especially those from Cattaraugus County (Albany Times-Union)... 7/22

Brian Kolb and Joseph Giglio turn against the state senate (Jamestown Post-Journal)... 7/22

...and Hades freezes over??? Health care union agrees to wage freeze...? Sounds too good to be true (WLEA)... 7/22

Nebraska invites New York politicians to witness the unicameral legislature in action, something that Rick Lazio and a few others have recommended as a reform idea for New York (Albany Times-Union)... 7/22

Olean Times Herald profiles Little Valley... 7/22

Where your tax dollars are going-- New York City-- upstate left in the cold (WLEA)... except Stachowski (Albany Times-Union)... 7/21

This is how bad state politics is getting: "Naked Cowboy" Robert Burck throws his hat into the ring (AP)... 7/21

So the mayor of New York City doesn't get to keep his grubby hands on the city's school system, because the legislature can't reach an agreement to do it, and now he wants the state police to force them back into session. Talk about a poor loser (WCBS)... 7/17

Call me unconvinced that this law is even necessary (isn't distracted driving already illegal?) but the state senate has passed a bill that explicitly bans text-messaging while driving (AP)... 7/17

A plan to buy the former Catholic Church in Little Valley to turn it into the new Board of Elections building has fallen flat in the county legislature's public works committee (WPIG)... 7/16

New radio station in the area: "WBYB," a so-called "hot country" station broadcasting under the name "Bob FM," begins broadcasting in a few weeks (Olean Times Herald)... thoughts: this seems to be Jeff Androlunis trying to get back at WPIG for some odd reason. The call signs come from the initials of WPIG's parent company Backyard Broadcasting. Their initial statement seemed directly aimed at WPIG. I think he's making a mistake. He reportedly relied on his teenage daughter for choosing the format, and if he's chasing after younger listeners, keep in mind: most of those younger listeners are leaving the area in droves, so you're chasing a demographic that doesn't exist much around here. From what I understand, he did a good job with his other new station, "The Mountain," but a petty p!$$ing contest with the market leader is just asking for trouble, especially when your main selling point is playing an automated randomized loop of the same chart songs that get too much airplay as it is. (NOTE: I notice he's also considering fleshing out the format with rock-leaning artists such as the recent work by people like Robert Plant and Bob Seger, something that for the most part WPIG avoids. If he does that, it'd be good.) 7/16
UPDATE 7/25: Got an e-mail from Jeff Androlunis, CEO of WBYB's owner, who wanted to clarify a few things. He says that the "BYB" thing is just coincidence, and that it was supposed to be an approximation of BOB, but had to use the Y because he had trouble finding something that resembled BOB in the pool of available call signs. He also says he's going to aim the listenership more toward WMXO or WTSS (the two hot AC stations in the area) than WPIG. They say they're not directly aiming at WPIG. It also appears that WLMI is going to be adapting the Bob FM branding, according to the official Web site, WLMI.net.

Welcome to Club Fed: Bernie Madoff and the Rigases are apparently spending their time in the same prison (WESB)... 7/14

Note to self: do not try Angelica man Richard Drachenberg's scheme to avoid taxes (renouncing US citizenship)... he's getting 18 months in jail and a divorce (WLEA)... 7/12

Governor plans on taking a road trip to campaign against the state senate (AP)... gee, Spitzer tried this trick against Randy Kuhl in Elmira just about a year ago... where did Eliot end up again? Oh, yes... resignation. 7/7

Fred Dicker commentary: New York City politics and bullying during the current session is to blame for the state senate's problems, after the chamber had operated with the sensibility of upstate politics for decades (New York Post)... 7/7

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY FROM FULLERVISION: FIREWORKS WERE POSTPONED LAST NIGHT HERE IN LITTLE VALLEY, SO WE HAVE A DOUBLE-SHOT OF THEM TONIGHT, AND THE WEATHER WILL BE MUCH BETTER. I'LL BE SINGING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM FOR THE DEMOLITION DERBY, AS USUAL, AT 7:30. FIREWORKS AFTER THE DEMOS. THERE WILL ALSO BE FIREWORKS AT HOLIDAY VALLEY IN ELLICOTTVILLE. NOT SURE ABOUT THE CASINO, BUT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE THEM LAST NIGHT, AND THERE WAS STILL SOME LINGERING DRIZZLE THEN, SO I DON'T KNOW.

Paterson persona-non-grata among Democrats (Tom Precious)... 7/5

Chronicles from the merged districts: Chautauqua Lake teachers are demanding three consecutive years of 5-8% pay raises?! In the middle of a recession?! This is why the Taylor Law is a problem, folks (Jamestown Post-Journal)... 6/25

Beavers invade suburbia (Buffalo News)... 6/23

Catharine Young, quit wasting our taxpayer dollars to subsidize inconvenient weather! (WESB)... 6/20

How many people realized Perrysburg was still a village? If the explorations go as planned, it won't be for much longer (Dunkirk Observer)... 6/20

From Limestone: local area businesses team up to save the house of a man whose home the county wrote off as condemned. The county, at the time ready to throw the man in a senior-living facility, is now taking credit (Olean Times Herald)... 6/17

Also from the Limestone, or Allegany-Limestone anyway: the feud between the teachers' union and superintendent Diane Munro continues after the board of education refuses to terminate Munro's contract... as Terrell Owens would say, "get your popcorn ready," because this is fun to watch (Olean Times Herald)... 6/17

As I suspected: due to near-perfect weather, New York maple syrup production shot up 10 percent this past winter (AP)... 6/15

Business First talks with John Illig about his GM franchise being yanked (Business First)... of note: he told his son to get out of the business several years prior because he saw it coming... 6/12

The beginning of something big: New York court of appeals rules that minors are subject to the same equal protection under the law as adults (AP)... 6/10

Update-by-update: Complete New York State Senate Dispute Coverage

STATE SENATE DEMOCRATS OUSTED: REPUBLICANS TAKE OVER LEGISLATURE WHEN TWO OF THE ORIGINAL "GANG OF FOUR" DEFECT... IN SHOCK MOTION, TOM LIBOUS (R) MOVES TO INSTALL NEW SENATE LEADERSHIP AT 3 PM MONDAY, JEFF KLEIN (D) ATTEMPTS TO BLOCK IT WITH A MOTION TO ADJOURN, BUT MOST OF THE DEMOCRATS RUN OUT OF CHAMBER BEFORE A VOTE TO ADJOURN COULD BE TAKEN... REMAINING TWO COALITION DEMOCRATS AND ALL REPUBLICANS CONTINUE SESSION AND IMPOSE NEW LEADERSHIP... DEMOCRAT DISSIDENT PEDRO ESPADA NOW THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, REPUBLICAN DEAN SKELOS BACK IN POSITION AS COALITION MAJORITY LEADER... MALCOLM SMITH CLAIMS THE VOTE WAS ILLEGAL AND WILL SUE... (AP)...
UPDATE 3 PM Tuesday: Democrats still poring over their options... Gannett reports that Sheldon Silver has allied himself with Smith and is doing everything within his power to get the Smith faction back in power... both Paterson and the Obama administration have backed Smith... D-Day is Wednesday, 6/10 at 3:00 p.m., when the Senate is scheduled to reconvene... Smith has locked the doors to prevent further legislative action, but the coalition plans on conducting session anyway either outside the chamber or in the legislative office building. Note: Catharine Young supported the move and was involved in the negotiations; she also credits Tom Golisano for backing the move (Jamestown Post-Journal)...
Update 6/10 3 PM: Senate Democrats have turned over the keys to the chamber, at the request of Governor Paterson. The chamber will be opened for a session, though there has been a delay due to some continuing negotiations... I found several good interviews on WBEN involving the WNY delegation, including Young's conversation with Tom Bauerle... For those interested, Elizabeth Benjamin of the Daily News is covering all the developments very well.
UPDATE 6/11: Ruling blocks Espada from serving as temporary president but otherwise allows business to continue... INSTALLS SHELDON SILVER AS ACTING LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR?!?! Now we're really in trouble... (New York Post)...
UPDATE 6/15: Two major updates... 1) Hiram Monserrate is out of the coalition due to a lack of Democrat support, leaving the state senate in 31-31 deadlock. Espada is not budging. 2) Sheldon Silver has threatened to pull the assembly out of session if the Senate does not resolve its problems... most recent known deadline was Tuesday, 6/16 at 1:00 p.m., before the judge steps in and settles it, but he keeps pushing it back... both sides seem to be willing to put it in the judge's hands and are at an impasse...
Update 6/17: JUDGE PUNTS... refuses to decide the issue and throws case out of court... at 31-31, Espada will assert he is lieutenant governor and vote twice. Paterson has volunteered to temporarily return to the LG post to resolve the dispute, but only if the Senate asks him, as he has no power to do it himself.
UPDATE 6/18: It's still quiet at the legislative building, but according to Liz Benjamin, Democrats are willing to now compromise, may consider joining the coalition as long as it kicks Espada to the curb, and at least one has mentioned Dale Volker as a potential coalition leader instead of Espada... one of Albany's Old Guard senators is not exactly what I'd call reform and progress, but hey, this is New York we're talking about here.
UPDATE 6/20: WCBS reports that Paterson has appointed Stan Lundine to mediate the dispute...
UPDATE 6/22: GOVERNOR PATERSON PLANS TO CALL "SPECIAL SESSION" AND WILL IMPRISON THE ENTIRE SENATE IN ITS CHAMBER UNTIL IT PASSES THE BILLS HE WANTS IT TO, ACCORDING TO REPORTS... HE'S ALSO IMPOSING HIS OWN HANDPICKED SENATE PRESIDENT, JONATHAN LIPPMANN, THE STATE'S TOP JUDGE... DOES HE EVEN HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO THIS GARBAGE? THIS IS THE MOST HEAVY HANDED, ARROGANT, OBNOXIOUS, DISRESPECTFUL JACK*** I HAVE EVER SEEN, AND THIS IS AFTER SPITZER...
UPDATE 6/23-25: IN TWO SEPARATE SESSIONS, BOTH FACTIONS PASS SEVERAL BILLS UNANIMOUSLY AND HAVE DELIVERED THOSE BILLS TO THE GOVERNOR TO BE SIGNED... PATERSON REFUSES TO RECOGNIZE EITHER ONE... HE SEEMS TO BE READY TO CROSS THE LINE INTO UNLAWFUL IMPRISONMENT AND HAS HINTED HE WILL NOT ONLY CALL A SESSION FOR EVERY DAY BUT CONTINUOUS ALL-NIGHTERS AS WELL... NOT TO MENTION UNCONSTITUTIONALLY WITHHOLDING ALL COMPENSATION... WHO WILL STOP THIS TYRANT?! (NOTE: Focus now seems to be shifting, at least within the legislature, to Angelo Aponte, who is allegedly obstructing Republicans from entering the chamber... the GOP has gone to court over the matter...)
UPDATE 6/30: Paterson goes judge-shopping, finds a judge who will force both factions into the chamber at the same time, but still doesn't settle who will preside... Senate Republicans will appeal... I'm no lawyer, but if I were to interpret the Constitution I'd say it's Sheldon Silver, as next in line behind the disputed Senate President seat.
UPDATE 7/4: Here's what I missed... Paterson is calling special session for July 4, but it's an early session and a late session tomorrow, ostensibly giving time for Senators to go home for July 4. (But you try getting from Albany to Olean in that time.)... some senators have been skipping out, Darrel Aubertine was not in Albany but was MARKED "PRESENT"... Paterson wants to unconstitutionally withhold pay, DiNapoli is looking into it... State Senate is accusing the Senate Secretary of fraudulently altering documents...
UPDATE 7/8: See top headline... also... comptroller is following through on his unconstitutional threat to withhold pay in order to force through legislation...UPDATE 7/8 5:30 P.M.: GOVERNOR PATERSON HAS APPOINTED RICHARD RAVITCH, FORMER HEAD OF NEW YORK CITY'S METRO TRANSIT AUTHORITY, TO POST OF LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR... UPSTATE LEFT IN THE COLD YET AGAIN (YEAH, BIG SURPRISE THERE)... MORE 7/9: DID NOT CONSIDER ANY OTHER NAMES... GEORGE WINNER IS THREATENING IMPEACHMENT... ALSO: I COULD'VE TOLD YOU TO WATCH OUT FOR THIS BACKSTABBER, PEDRO ESPADA IS BACK WITH THE DEMOCRATS AGAIN, SO THE DEADLOCK IS LIKELY NOW BROKEN... WATCH HOW QUICK THE DEMS ACCEPT HIM NOW... HYPOCRISY AND EXTORTION IN THE HIGHEST. (UPDATE: Yep, Espada is now majority leader.)

I KNOW THIS WOULD NORMALLY GO UNDER THE "SENATE WATCH" SECTION BELOW, BUT WE'VE JUST RECEIVED WORD THAT GOVERNOR PATERSON HAS REQUESTED ALL THE TELEVISION STATIONS IN THE STATE TO CARRY A PRESS CONFERENCE AT 5:00 P.M. TONIGHT (7/8), AND IS EXPECTED TO USE A LEGAL INTERPRETATION TO APPOINT A LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR. NAMES BEING FLOATED INCLUDE MOST NOTABLY NASSAU COUNTY EXECUTIVE THOMAS SUOZZI AND OUTGOING SYRACUSE MAYOR MATTHEW DRISCOLL. THE STATE CONSTITUTION FORBIDS *ELECTING* A LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IN A SPECIAL ELECTION, AN AMENDMENT ADDED IN 1947, BUT PUBLIC OFFICERS LAW STATES THAT VACANCIES CAN BE FILLED BY APPOINTMENT, WHICH IS NOT THE SAME AS AN ELECTION. AG ANDREW CUOMO CONSIDERS THE MOVE ILLEGAL, CONSIDERING AN APPOINTMENT TANTAMOUNT TO AN ELECTION, BUT QUITE FRANLKLY, IN MY OPINION, CUOMO IS WRONG. THERE ISN'T REALLY A PRECEDENT; SINCE 1947, THERE HAVE BEEN TWO VACANCIES IN THE LG POST, BOTH WENT UNFILLED UNTIL THE NEXT ELECTION. THAT, OBVIOUSLY, IS NOT AN OPTION THIS TIME AROUND. THE FACT REMAINS THAT THE SENATE NEEDS A CASTING VOTE RIGHT NOW, EITHER THROUGH AN APPOINTMENT OR THROUGH THE LINE OF SUCCESSION (READ: SHELDON SILVER). AN APPOINTMENT WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH A JOINT SESSION OF BOTH THE ASSEMBLY AND SENATE, OVER WHICH SILVER WOULD PRESIDE. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS CONTINUE...

Ralph Phillips: How I did it (Albany Times-Union via WBEN)... 6/8

Telling line from the AP: "Higher taxes may be the best tool yet" (AP)... 6/7

Small earthquake in Wyoming County (AP)... 6/7

Beware the bears-- they're out in record numbers (AP)... 6/7

Kevin Gaughan, let me warn you right here, right now: you have no business in the Southern Tier. Just stay out. You are a dishonest, power-hungry man who is using the disguise of downsizing government to eliminate opposition. We know full well what we're doing here, and you have no standing to butt in and try to tell us how we do our business. Do not try and pull the same stunt you've been pulling in Erie County. The problem is not elected officials, it's unelected ones. (Jamestown Post-Journal)... 6/7

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