George Amedore: The state senator would have to move his residence. He lives in Rotterdam, in Schenectady County, which is in the 20th Congressional District, represented by Democrat Paul Tonko.
Honorable mention: Fill in the blanks.
We hear from Dancin’ Dave
County Legislator Dave Donaldson, who apparently considers the world his oyster, has been getting ink of late in urging the Kingston school board to reconsider its 5-4 rejection of a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) for the upcoming $137.5 million high-school renovation project. He says that by hiring union workers the district could save upwards of $11 million. The school board voted 5-4 against exploring the possibility of a PLA.
As proof of the value of organized labor on a major construction project, Donaldson cites the Ulster County Jail, which had a PLA. Donaldson, ever the loyal union man — unions donated to his campaign and to other legislators during the jail debacle — says it wasn’t labor that drove jail costs some $20 million over budget. Unions just did their jobs, which owing to inept management — and that’s putting it mildly — resulted in massive overruns.
The bottom line is that a PLA is no guarantee a project will be brought in on time and on budget, but it sure puts local workers to work.
Legislative funnies
Under the heading of fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, etc., I can’t say I blame disgruntled Democrats for being bent after being two-timed by legislature Chairman John Parete. For the second year in a row, the wily Parete recruited minority Republicans in the 13-10 Democratic house for the votes he needed for reelection. This time legislators Chris Allen of Saugerties and T.J. Briggs of Ellenville joined Parete, his son Richard and Dave Donaldson for the 14-8 win.
The columnist Reynolds.
Democrats were so desperate to thwart Parete that a few even offered the chairmanship to Minority Leader Ken Ronk of Wallkill. Ronk laughed, though it must have been tempting.
So, what we have for the second year is a bipartisan legislature, and that is not a bad thing.
I find Herb Litts, freshman Republican from Lloyd, a real asset. Sober, sensible and receptive, Litts paid his dues after several terms as a town councilman. But sometimes, in the heat of debate, tongues get twisted, feet tangled, and funny stuff comes out.
Example: Litts, in debating a resolution, made reference to New Paltz Legislator Hector Rodriguez as his “constituent, Hernandez.” Rodriguez, tongue-in-cheek, corrected and forgave his colleague, who obviously meant no offense. “I know some people think we [Hispanics] all look alike,” he quipped. Craig Lopez just smiled.
It was announced at last week’s county legislature organizational session that the sheriff had signed a memorandum of understanding to cease warrant checks at the Department of Social Services. I had the sheriff signing with the county executive, which Hein later told us was wrong. He signed with DSS Commissioner Mike Iapoce, a Hein appointee.
Hein said a correction was in order, and here it is. I apologize.
But I see a distinction without a difference. Iapoce works for Hein. Had he signed an MOU with the sheriff without the all-controlling executive’s express approval, he might well have been standing in one of those welfare lines the next day. Running this highly controversial subject through DSS gives the executive cover.
