mchugh was one of eight rebulicans to switch his priorities from the people to big business.  Today was the vote on cap and trade for those that don't know what this is, it is a secret tax on the people.  Because this passed your electric rates will rise 90%, your natural gas bills will rise 55%.  It was shoveled in on a 1200 page document will a bunch of other junk.  Amazingly 44 dems went against their commander and chief to vote against the bill.  These are the kind of represntatives that we need more of!!  This was such a close vote as well 219-212.  This is a 850$ BILLION tax on the people in the next 8 years.  That wasn't a misprint either.  What amazes me the most is that most of the people we have elected to represent us haven't even read the bill!  How can you vote on something that you aren't familier with?  I would encourage all of you to do a little research on H.R. 2454 and then call mvhughs office and tell him what you think he's done to America.  His office number is 202-225-4611.  But even more important than that is that we get ahold of our senetors and give them our opinions on this matter, as this goes to the senete floor next.  Its important we contact them.  Kristin Gillibrand 202-224-4451 and Chuck Shummer 202-224-6542. 

-Kibbles I just want you to know I will always listen to your opinion.  I always enjoy our little discussions.  Grants come from taxes by the way...You know rob from Peter to give to Paul.  You know if some of these people were not so greedy and decided to take a pay cut and handle this like responcible adults some of these people would not loose their jobs.  In this I am talking about both elected officals and city employees.  By the way I don't know if you have noticed but all news is slanted in some way, not just what I have posted.  All of this money from grants comes from somewhere ie my taxes.  Maybe some day we will get a debate going well enough that some other people will choose to have their voices heard as well.  I'm not old enough to remember when police issued tickets and just as well because serving the public and fining the public are two very different things.  It really is time we started to severly limit government on all levels to what was originally intended. 

Kibbles both of these articles were posted from the moderator of another local website. After only about 30 min of research into these claims I discovered that this is all true. I also am inclined to agree with you about the MLD they not only have been taking advantage of all of us but its next to impossible to get any service when you go in. It is not for these people that I posted this information. There is a gentlemen down at the police department with the title of parking enforcement officer, I don’t personally know him but have met him. Last year as you may recall the city of Plattsburgh installed several traffic cameras. They are choosing to fund these worthless cameras instead of a part time human being. Now I don’t like parking tickets but why should this guy loose his job to locally unproven technology? Or the fact that our broke city is still looking to “invest” several thousand dollars into a local community based website. We already have one its called Plattsburgh pipeline. Why, especially in these times, should the city be tiring to compete in an area in which they have haven’t even entered before. This is just my opinion but I would rather they support who ever runs this site locally and save themselves some capital they don’t have. I also wanted to stir up a debate because we haven’t had a good one on here in a while. The information is interesting and pertinent in these times especially. I found all of this very interesting and wasn’t aware that bring things back to the light was taboo. Kibbles I look forward to hearing from you again. I also recommend that you do a little research and find this information on your own, it feels good. Kibbles have a Merry Christmas.

 It may sound cliche but — history does tend to repeat itself.  Just look through the old archives of the Press Republican and you will see many instances of history replaying itself today.  What do the lay-offs of the early 1990’s in th City of Plattsburgh and the lay-offs of March 2007 have in common?  The answer:  Donald Kasprzak and Cynthia Lasher-Graham. 

In the early 1990’s Kasprzak was a city Councilor known for his hot-headed outbursts at Common Council meetings and his personal desire to single-handedly break-up city unions and dismantle the Fire Department.  Cynthia Lasher-Graham on the other hand –was the city’s Chief Fiscal officer who had a disdain for men in positions of power.  Some describe her as maniacal and manipulative.

In looking back at the layoffs that occurred in the City of Plattsburgh in 1990 and comparing them to the lay-offs of 2007 one striking similarity sticks out like a sore thumb — Kasprzak was a City Councilor during the 1990 layoffs and then Mayor during the 2007 layoffs — Lasher-Graham was the city’s Chief Fiscal Officer in 1990 and was again serving in the capacity as Chief Fiscal Officer on an interim basis during the 2007 lay-offs.  Some say the combination of the two  together was double double toil and trouble — for city taxpayers that is.

During both lay-offs 1990 and 2007 the Common Council held illegal executive sessions to discuss who would have their positions abolished.  The NYS Open Meetings Law prohibits governing bodies from entering executive sessions to discuss layoffs — as the law states the issue of lay-offs is a matter of public concern as it deals directly with how taxpayer money will be spent.

Do As I Say - Not As I Do !

August 14, 2008