Journal:Gun Bill Passes Assembly

Microstamping - 8 Digit Code
Addie is at it Again

When will she get the picture, and start representing the views of most of her constituents.  Many hunters, sportsmen, and gun enthusiast live and vote in NNY.  Imposing micro-stamping is just another gimmick to increase the cost of guns to you and I.  How many criminal purchase guns legally? NONE!  How many first time criminals would use their registered pistol with micro-stamping to commit a crime? NONE!

Police agencies do not have a process in place at this time to track these guns.  This law puts the cart before the horse and is a waste of time and money.  If enacted what would they do about the rest of the states that produce hand guns.  Addie thinks this will save money? Does she think everyone believes everything she says no matter how ludicrous?

 Firearms microstamping, signed into by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-Calif.) in October 2007 and slated to take effect this New Year's Day (2010), is not in effect since the technology remains encumbered by patents.  Microstamping    

WDT:Putman says district administrators deserve raises

                              Does It Ever End?
I guess it is not just the Ogdensburg School District that think they should have raises.  In spite of 13 billion dollar shortage in the State's budget, cuts to school budgets, and teachers getting laid off...we still deserve a raises at St. Lawrence Central.  They are paying $700.00 for their health insurance, that is about $27.00 every two weeks. 

Raises must make teachers and administrators work harder for the kids, what was I thinking raise my taxes again.

WDT Article

WDT:Clerk says county failed to collect adequate fees

Patty remind us (county legislators) to enact a tax we put a moratorium on!

The election is getting closer and Mr. Regan is grabbing any kind of press, mostly negative press with plenty of mudslinging. Mr. Bellardini has done his job by having Governor Cuomo appoint Galvin Regan as County Clerk. Galvin will earn his stripes when the voters put him in office. Slamming Senator Ritchie, an icon of County Clerks will only hurt his run this fall.   Patty generated "ungodly" amounts of revenue for St. Lawrence county, expanded services, strategically located office throughout the county, stood strong on new license plates, and turned customer service around. 

His first mistake was firing Mrs. Rupp, these declarations by Galvin against Senator Ritchie will just add insult to injury.  Negative campaigning, and negative press have never won elections in St. Lawrence County.  This is almost reminiscing of the first campaign Ritchie ran against Steve Teele.  Look where he is today.

WDT Article

Journal:Ogdensburg's Relay For Life June 10-11

Relay for Life June 10-11

Relay for Life has caught on across the county.  Many other communities are having their own event it is for  a good cause and a great community function.  Teams can sign-up with Sherry Deloney at 394-9904. If anyone wants to volunteer they can contact Laura Gregory at 388-5653 or email laura.gregory@cancer.org.

Journal Article

Journal:Area School District Budgets Approved

Ogdensburg's School Budget Past 628 -361

The teachers got raises and the tax payers continue to support their cause.  We decide to keep the SRO (OPD) and give up some Teachers Aides positions.  I wonder what the SRO does all day since the kids are in class 90% of the time.  Is he responding to fights, disruptions, or investigating criminal activity? 

I keep asking myself who the victims are, is the taxpayers or the students because we know who the winners are. Teachers continue to get laid off across the county and many are forgoing raises and paying something on the health insurance to retain as many teachers as possible.  After all it is about the kids! 

The school consolidation pre-report indicates consolidation of all school districts into 4 districts. We will never see this happen as long as we are willing to pay higher taxes.  I guess the majority of taxpayers have not reached their limit yet...reflected with the 628-361votes.  I guess the teachers got out and voted this year. 

Jouranl Article 

WDT:Cigarette tax again blocked

Indian Money, NYS wants their share!

$4.35 just in taxes for NYS, that is incredible.  Who can afford to smoke, but people stand outside businesses in the middle of the winter smoking.  This fight is just beginning and the end is not near.

I do think there are bigger issues that should be addressed on the Indian Nation. The smuggling and drug trade should be the governments first priority.

WDT Article

WWNY:Russell Wants New York To Adopt Guest-Worker Program

Some want to emulate Utah I think we should emulate Arizona.  The door is half open now and Assemblywomen Russell plans on opening the door all the way.  This is just another Addie statement, made with little or no thought behind it.  I ask Mrs. Russell who would be responsible for screening, importing, monitoring, and enforcing her new plan.  This may catch a few headlines for her but there was little thought behind it.

The farmers do need help but breaking the law is not the solution.  The Assemblywoman should be working with Congressman Owens to expedite the work visa program. The Federal Government has the departments in place and the enforcement capabilities to regulate a program for workers.  The farmers would have to be responsible for their workers and would be responsible for reporting violations. 

Maybe we could get the 1 million illegals in NYC to work on the farms in the North Country.  This is a Federal Problem and needs to be addressed!


WWNY Article

Journal:Vandalism Strikes CityParks

Park Vandalism

Vandalism the willful or malicious destruction, injury, disfigurement, or defacement of public or private property and is increasing in Ogdensburg.  Studies show that kids that perform acts of vandalism peak at age 16. Over time the cost of vandalism adds up substantially.  The parks have been ravished by destructive individuals over the years. Many of the plastic play equipment has been cut and riddled with graffiti.  With tight budgets replacement is not the answer but a little maintenance would not hurt.  Kids Kingdom has held up well over the years but is showing signs of weathering.  The park is used every day and a little prevented maintenance would not hurt. 

Vandalism should not be tolerated, and the parents should be held accountable for the cost of repair and fined.  Most of the vandalism is at night and could renew the City's position on curfews. Setting a curfews has been addressed by the City Council but it has always been a hot topic.  I have mixed feelings on setting a curfew.  This law would replace the duty of the parents, currently there are no laws against poor parenting so maybe a curfew is the only choice.

Journal Article

WDT:State of emergency declared in St. Lawrence County

FLOODING!!!!

RAIN and more RAIN, St. Lawrence County has been saturated with a constant down pour.  Many villages and towns are experience extreme flooding and many homes now have water front property.  Potsdam, Colton and many villages along the Raquette River are experience dangerously high water levels.  The buildings along the river in downtown Potsdam are flooding and pumps continue to run.  Maxfields, one of my favorite places to eat in Potsdam is having major problems because the exterior walls bank the Raquette River.

With the extreme hurricanes in the Southern States and the hurricanes touching down in NYS...weather patterns appear to be changing. Japan is still recovering from the Tsunami and their Nuclear Core Melt down.  The St. Lawrence River is high but is having no problem handling the winter melt and high level of rain. 

This could be our environment rebelling and it is doing so with a knockout punch..."One must not fool with Mother Nature". 

WDT article

Capital Tonight:Sen. Libous Talks Tax Cap, Ethics, Gay Marriage

             ETHICS, TAX CAP, GAY MARRIAGE
Ethics, Tax Cap, and Gay Marriage three issues on the agenda for the legislators.  Tax Cap and Ethics will be the main focus for the Republicans.  Gay Marriage may not happen if Skelos does not have the votes to stop gay marriages. Senator Skelos stated prior to this election cycle that it would come to the floor for a vote.   I believe gay marriages will be held in committee and a vote will never occur.

The last two years is evident that an Ethics bill is overdue.  True ethic reforms comes from a true legislation not a watered down self disciplinary system.  Tax reform is long overdue, voters in NYS pay the highest taxes in the country.  Time for change and time for Senator Ritchie to vote appropriately.   

Capital Tonight Article and Interview 

Rain Rain go Away!

Back in the Burg, and boy is it raining, but it is always nice to be home. It rained most of the trip from Florida but not much traffic.

Not much in the news except Osama bin Laden's death.  Thank the Navy Seals for a job well done. 

Jornal:City Looks For Parking Code Violations



Parking Violations will Be ENFRORCED



Drugs crimes are down, there has not been a murder in a couple of months, and it is time to step up the OPD's efforts on controlling parking violations.  This should generate much needed revenue for the city and at least clean-up errant parking.  They could concentrate their efforts in a 5 block radius around Claxton Medical Center which has and continues to be a parking nightmare.  The hospital have never had the necessary parking for their employees and patients.  It would be easy to get 20 - 30 tickets a day around the hospital.  

The hospital tried to get part of the adjacent park to offset there parking needs, but that effort was met with much resistance from the community.  It appears to be one of the more popular parks. Currently the hospital owns half the houses in the block across from the Emergency Entrance, which could be used for parking. Currently these houses are rented to Doctors that practice at the hospital.  

We all need to be aware of our vehicle placement when parking a vehicle.  I do agree sidewalks should not be blocked which would force pedestrians into the street. So beware if you are parking in Ogdensburg, the OPD is out and you will get a ticket!  

Remember:  

* No parking on sidewalks.

* No parking less than 20 feet from a crosswalk.

* No parking more than 12 inches from a curb.

* No parking less than 15 feet from a fire hydrant.

* No parking in handicapped spaces unless permitted.

I think parking less than 10 feet from a driveway is illegal and that happens a lot.

Journal Article