THE HUNT IS ON FOR CITY COUNCIL
New blood may be on the horizon for the City Council . Mr. Hosmer prompted by timing or his run in with the City over the grant money are most likely contributing factors for running. Mr. Hosmer is getting out of the gate early as is Obama.
There will be others throwing their hats into the ring and will Bill Nelson run for mayor again? Rumors indicate Doug Shoulette may challenge Mr. Nelson if he decides to run. This should prove to be an interesting election year.
Journal Article
23 comments:
I believe There will be several canidates for council.
This city has gone backwards for too long under Mr. Nelson. Mr Shollette has proven he is a man who will listen to the taxpayers and has proved with his voting record that he will protect taxpayers from the City everyday bs.
I could ramble on for hours about the things that need to change. I will key on a very few.
We need new blood to make our Police dept accountable. Three unsloved murders in less than five years is unacceptable. Drug use and sales on an all time high. Petty crime follows closely
We need councilmen who represent the taxpayers and do what is necessary to help them. We presently have a system where the manager is anti taxpayer and looking to cut our services and three memebers of council who allow him too without question.
We need councilmen who regualry attend meetings and keep their noses out of State and Federal govt issues.
The city must not compete with small business within the City. This is happening on a regualr basis especially around the waterfront.
My opinion is that Councilor Vaugh and Powers must be replaced along with Mayor
Nelson is running on the platform of a waterfront revitalization and the fact he will be appointed the NYS mayors president this year. The three of them will call on Pat Ritchie to share pictures with them and I hopethe voters look through this fluff and vote these three out of politics this year.
It is fine that Mr Hosmer is running we wish him well .
Our hope is that several intelligent , well educated , independent thinkers have now had the opportunity to Analyze exactly what mistakes have been made , what opportunities have been missed , and just how low the state of leadership in this city has sunken in the last decade and half .
If this city is to become anything other than a penal colony of last resort it is time for strong leadership to bring about a MORE hopeful future . ANYONE who would support taking SING SING is either supporting the local drug economy themselves or wishing to see it expanded .
Ogdensburg already accepted the Worst of the Worst with the SVP -- this latest idea is borne from the same self-destructive thinking ( lunacy) . Now is the time for the intelligence in this community to step up and lead. We've experienced the debauched decline here long enough .we've seen the total willingness to DEGRADE this community long enough , We've seen the hopelessness in this community long enough .We seen the drug culture and deterioration of community safety and murders and all the social fallout from 25 yrs of terrible Quality of Life destroying decisions by leadewrs who failed to achieve or even envision a brighter future .
They willingly put Ogdensburg in the situation it now faces .
It is high time for the well educated younger folks and yes even retirees who have COME HOME from other locations after having achieved success in their careers to GET INVOLVED and RUN for elective office and MAKE this city what it COULD be rather than accept the defeat of being a French Guiana North.
It is all of our hope to see this city THRIVE -- let's get started
Shollette is a known drug user in the city. How could you elect him to be your mayor??
So was Nelson, Chief Wells and Investigator McCarthy.. All rumored but cant be proven. Get off this kind of stuff unless you have fact that can be proven.
Councilor Vaugh.... Thats a different story. He has been highly irrational from day one. His intentions are obvious. He wants to be a career politican or work for one and that obvious. For almost four years now he has taken every picture taking oppurtunity, jumped into every state and federal issue he can be lead into. Over his tenure he has accomplished absolutely nothing.
Hes a nice kid with no real life experiences and has failed miserably at the task for which he was elected. A rubber stamp for Cierro and Nelson and their escapades. He missed meeting after meeting two years ago and lied about the reason. He was helping another Wannabe in his failed quest for the nomination for Congressman.
Mr. Powers would be my second choice to be replaced as he after a good start has been nothing but a stamp for the mayor and his policies. His anti person attitude is the same as Nelsons has gotten.
Talk to many in the Police dept who have targeted sholette and his cuz Skamperely. Skamperely lost a job with the fire dept due to his shaving his head before a test for Narcotics with his hair. He also was a dealer purchased many bags of maryjane off him years ago. Can't prove that he uses but powers is close to both them. They are all crooked!!
There is a need to get a very large BROOM out in the next several elections and sweep the city council chamber CLEAN .
Ogdensburg needs new leadership that has the vision , talent , intelligence , drive and courage to move this city out of its years of decline , decay and dysfunction .
Time for NEW people to GET INVOLVED take the reins and get this sad city on a POSITIVE economic path to the future. We have suffered long enough , We have all paid a huge price for failed leadership and its time , high time for a change .
If you are out there and have talent and courage get involved , your city needs you .
Just look at the facts, drive up and down the city streets look at the mt buildings that used to house businesses, empty land that used to house industry. Look at the number of property owners that are bearing the taxload in this city.
look closely at how many business ventures the city hass gotten into competion with local business people.
Each year our taxes go up and our service go down..
Watch the city meetings on TV if you cant attend. You are limited to five minutes and get no answers anymore.. They will look into it..
Look around folks.... If you are ha;py with what you see vot for Nelson, Powers Vaugh..
If you want change then sweep them out and change. Cant get any worse is the way to look at it.
Getting younger blood involved is a good idea but remember you get people like Nick Vaugh. They mean well and are egar to learn.
They attach to people llike Nelson who they idolize and have no real opinions of their own. They get ambitious and think of grandor.. Look at me I,m important attitude without any real life experiences to guage yourself by.
Vaugh has spent three and a half years floundering in his self esteem without a clue of what to do locally to help any of us. Now he will want another term and ask for our vote and how he will improve by his experiences ..
This Wannabe needs no return to our city government.
True about Vaugh BUT my point is not to attract callow youth BUT actually people who ARE professional or self made sucessess in the working world , Have had success in their chosen profession or job. these folks have the PROVEN experience and are STAKE holdewrs in the long term future and need to step up NOW as do experienced retirees who have the KNOWLEDGE <SKILL and attitude to ensure the MANAGER works for the people and actually moves the city forward in Quality of Life enhancing goals .
I totally agree we can not afford ANY more posers or well intended but ineffective people who ONLY accept mediocrity or terrible alternatives that DESTROY any quality of Life here
We dont need any of the above. We need truthful people who have the city at heart. People who are not afraid to say no. All this compettion with local vendors must end. All of the investing tax dollars into real estate must stop. All of the anti business and anti citizen must stop.
Accountablity to the police dept must be demanded. Accountability to the public works must be acomplished. We cant condone either of their actions anymore. People like Mike Powers question them about trival maters and brush off the real problems with good job to the front lines. Unless he lives in another planet there is tougher questions and some accountablity that must be achieved. Vaughs constant posturing for cameras and stories must be voted out. He has done absolutely nothing for this city since day of his tenure. He is ambitious but its all focused on himself and not us. Lets give him his wish to work elsewhere.
Nelson has simply gotten lazy over the years. As a council man he was a fighter and held the city manager accountable now he totally relies on the manager and backs him even when hes wrong.
His big aim this year is to get elected so he will be appointed president of the mayors association and he can travel some more.
Nelson, Vaugh and Powers are like one mouth, one idea, Its like watching TV and seeing Charlie McCarthy and Mortimer Snerd.. What one says the other echos. We need fresh ideas with people who can think independantly and act alone and independantly
No 2:26 we need SMART people who arew SUCESSFULL and have actually ACHIEVED in the real world not posers , wannabes or well intended but un-equipped pols who TALK BLATHER and have NOT done anything of SUBSTANCE to better the the Quality of Life .
We need a complete CHANGE from what exists currently . While they all may be NICE folks they have done NOTHING to better the conditions . They are the past we need to turn the page
The last election proved the taxpayers didnt want Nelson anymore. The coalition that ran against he and Lamachia ruined that. People want change and they w ill get it. If the Coalition would have campaigned differently they would have taken a couple of council seats. Their message was poor. It was almost take all of us or none of us... None of us it was.
The coalition DID absolutely NOT run as pkg but rather in my opinion said things need to change and that architects of of the status quo ( council) pandered to fear of change and what that could mean to the status quo . They were successful by getting the CO constituency to hold fast to NO change in order to protect TURF .
Now fast forward to today -- thing have Gotten MUCH worse , the state is broke as was predicted in 2006 .
The CO's are in jeopardy financially and faced with downsizing and /or relocation . the SVP broke the bank and is in trouble and the quality of life is much worse with the drug addled crimewave and murders that have occurred and remain unsolved . Neigborhoods continue to deteriorate , our fees have sky-- rocketed and still only 27 percent pay taxes and the council is fiddling around doing nothing BUT continuing to REINFORCE and fiercely defend the staus quo--
The definition of Insanity is to continue too do the Same things , While expecting change to occur .
No again Ogdensburg needs a total revision of the council chamber if things are to ever improve . it will take a courageous and intelligent group of thinkers who are steadfast and expect , demand and implement accountability and if necessary dismissal for failure to meet /exceed stated goals
If it sounds like ocalition and if it smells like coalition it must be coalition...
Wont work unless they get out door to door and sell what they have. I disagree with your concept of them not running as a group. Powers Vaugh Nelson went door to door and worked for their wins. The Coalition held town meeting which few attended. I disagree that the entire council needs to be replaced and in my opinion this is why.
Morley.. Does a good job for the people. He carries their message to the meetings and cares. Hes irrational at times but his intent is true.
Shollette One on one does a commendaable job but lack speaking ability sometimes.. Hes does a good job.
Skamparele.. Irrational and really get emotional at tiems.. Id repalce him
Cilley started well but now is slipping into Nelson pocket. Status Quo.... I ride the fence on him
Vaugh... This kid has no ability because he dosnt care. Anone offering him a job in politics will draw him from his city duties. Young and while understanding government he dosnt care and has no life experiences to draw upon.
Powers.. Rah Rah clap you hands emotional speaks well with big booming voice. Dosnt like to be told anything. Opinionated but wrong on the issues..
B Nelson.. A ture politican.. Can do nothing and make you thank him for it. The only reason he is running is because of his immenent appointment to the NYS mayors assc president. Has spend too much money and time on the waterfront and let the city rot. Lets the manager have too much say in issues and dosnt intervene when the citizens need him
No MY FRIEND I'm NOT the coalition and do NOT speak for anyone or any faction and have NO intention of running personally , but i understand clearly and precisely what will be REQUIRED for Ogdensburg to turn around the mess it finds itself in right now.
AS PEOPLE THE COUNCILORS MAY BE FINE BUT AS LEADERS THEY HAVE FAILED TO BRING ABOUT NEEDED CHANGE. .
I mean no disrespect but like many of my generation i am weary of NOTHING getting accomplished here other than increasing dependence on the Prison and SVP as Ogdensburg's only selling point .
The social fabric of this community has been destroyed , the crime and drug culture have not been effectively dealt with . Fees exceed the rate of inflation, only 27% pay taxes , the streets are in terrible condition , the murders are unresloved and the city is losing population and the Best of its youth leave . What private sector firms stay beyond the expiration of PILOT tax abatement deals ? What new Private sector firms have moved in in the last 3 years ?
What progress has been made to solve these items? I anxiously await ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS
I,m not disagreeing with what your saying. Its true. I only expressed my opinion of the way the coalition ran four years ago. This city needs new blood in council. If the voters dont see this they are blind.
Just this last year I watched two seperate instances closely and how the council handled them
Mr. Wells and neighbors on Hasbrook st made a complaint about a local business running in their neighborhood. They blew him off with false promices and phony concern. This man was one hundred percent correct but they did nothing.
Mr. Rose and his neighbors in Beaver Brook have been trested like second class citizens during their ordeal.. In fact the city manager has ordered certain city officals to harrass Mr. Rose.
Everytime someone makes a complaint, the mayor runs his mouth off about micro managing.. We hired the city manager to run the day to day operations of this city. When he dosnt do it properly he should be directed as to what is correct or the way of the council. They still hold the keys to the city. They are our elected officals not the manager. Mostly this comes from Nelson, Powers and Vaugh but the rest obviously ride the same wave. Perhaps you perception of replacing the entire council is correct..
I too watched those sessions regarding BB and agree that the people were given the "Teaberry Shuffle" by the council .
The MGR works for the council.
Council must set specific goals and hold the Mgr's feet to the fire to achieve them. Failure to achieve major goals over time should lead to termination.
Council has yet to do so.
Considering the lack of action and resolution of the myriad of issues previously cited that have been festering for yrs is a strong rationale for why they ALL need to go in the next several elections.
Unless those who remain by luck of not standing for re-election this fall CHANGE and get things accomplished together with the newly elected council members in 2012 .
NONE of the issues that i raised have been resolved during the past > Pick ANY period of time you want to analyze . 2 yr , 5 yrs 10 yrs -- heck even 25 yrs these problems have only gotten WORSE.
So lacking either the conviction , courage or intelligence this council has PROVEN beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are not able to , going to or willing to address and SOLVE these previously stated issues.
----THAT said it would be insanity to keep elected the same people and EXPECT that they will solve these issues .
That friend is my point - they been there and have done little to nothing but blather and stew.
I think you and i are on the SAME page just coming from different angles. My hope is that other voters wake up before the next several elections
BTW saw this just from Rochester newspapers: NYS Sexually Violent Predator program is the MOST expensive in the USA .
Ineffective and yet the MOST expensive at $175,000 per pervert per yr .
DO YOU MR/MRS taxpayer get 175 grand a yr , live ON THE RIVERFRONT , get to watch PORN flicks as part of your so called "therapy " and get free healthcare , dental , vision etc at tax payer expense?
Tired of getting the short end of the stick?
Remember OUR city council REFUSED to fight to keep this BOONDOGGLE from being built here and taking our riverfront and NOW its BREAKING the Back of the state's taxpayers .
And remember in 2006 the CO's REFUSED to fight to get this out of Mental Health and Into DOC , and now they are being targeted for elimination instead of the SVP .
Interesting , this very scenario was predicted to happen in 2006 BUT NOT our council -- they didn't want to hear it-- said it couldn't happen here . Brilliant !!
Interesting so Ogdensburg is sinking under the weight of POOR decision making in this arena also.
Time for a change
Good memory.. Just this last fall the group hired to promote the four lane highway came to town and made a presentation. Now none of us are sure about the highway but we all no the good it could mean.
They wanted a small sum of money from the council from us and others in and around the county to help promote it.
Nelson, Vaugh and Powers actually voted against it because it wasnt their idea.. The other four voted for it because they realize any thing they can contribute towards it promotion is more chance its a reality. The next meeting licking their wounds the three amigos voted for the project and endorced it to save face.. I cant figure this kind of rationale out.
Mr. Hosmer is trying to get his boat docks up and going and the city is going to compete????? Buying and fixing up old houses????
Investing unknown dollars into buildings downtown????? Renting space to a Senator for two hundred dollars a month???? Just so theyc an get a picture or two with her in an election year.. comman give me a break.. Vaugh runing for Assembly then quitting???? Vaugh going to work serving as a gopher for Dohenys failed campaign.. Last year the people of Ogdensburg at a public hearing expressed disinterest in building a new road in the greenbelt.. Council ignored them.. Powers stated that only the discontent come to public hearings. Yes we need change The police force got a grant and Powers made statement congradulating them on the good job they do.... With the drug dealings oin and around this city and the unsloved murders I think their doing anything but a good job...
True so we have to raise the bar and get OTHERS to RUN for office , so we can replace these ineffective councilors and mayor . That's task # 1 to get BETTER choice for public office and ELECT them .
But it starts with drumming up interest for GOOD , HONEST , INTELLIGENT and EXPERIENCED people to consider running . Lacking that we'll get what we got and THAT isn't good enough any longer.
WOW, alot of disgruntled democrats on this blog, let me guess belladonna pulling all of your strings as well. You freekin clowns report only what you THINK HAPPENS and do not report even what the papers print. every last one of you have no credibility.
I guess when one person writes under the idea of many you actually believe you have a forum. SAD DISPLAY OF REPORTING MAYBE YOU SHOULD GET A JOB WITH THE JOURNAL LOSER!!
I guess your happy Bruce.. Then you should run for council in order to assure there is no change in our city. When papers like the ones in Ottawa and NYC consider Ogdensburg the rusty bucket of the North Country I guess people like yu are happy heh...
Personally I am Republican but I am ashambed of the local Republicans and what they represent. You must be happy to go to bed at night with a gun next to the bed and all your doors and windows locked. Take your walks with several people of go the fitness club route for fear of getting mugged. Crimes every day associated to the drug use Bruce. The Fort drum influence brought us and reinforced by the prisons and pervert palace this council sponsered. If your unfortunate enouugh to have someone murdered in your family Bruce call the Norfolk Police because they have a better chance of solving the crime. My taxes have gone up and up under this administration and my services have gone down Bruce. All because of the Republican control on our city... People now can murder with no fear of the system. People can slash and assault with no fear of the system. Druggies get a free ride in City Court all under the Eepublicans..
People with good ligediment complaints wit the city get treated like crap and retaliated against by the manager..
Yes Bruce I am tired of the status quo that retards like you settle for..
Well said 8:55 .All these problems have been identified for all to see and have contributed to the rapid decline of the Quality of Life in this sad City.
Problem is ole Brucie has his head in the sand . He fails to see the problems or is PART of the problem himself .
After all ONLY those who Fiercely defend the Status Quo fail to see the problems . .
Keep drinking the Kool Aid Bruce ! your either uninformed , a bought and paid for party loyalist or incapable of facing the Truth
These problems identified have existed for several years , are serious and have gotten worse.
TRUTH is they have not been resolved and this council is an epic failure of leadership - a classic case .Time for Change
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