The columnist Reynolds.
As a matter of course, legislative vacancies get filled in a variety of ways, but rarely by the executive of the government in which they serve. On the state level, governors call special elections in cases of vacancies, but do not appoint. When congressional offices go vacant, state governors make appointments, pending a special election.
Kingston’s system is self-contradictory. If the office of the separately elected alderman-at-large falls vacant, a majority vote of the common council names a successor who serves out the full term of the departed. Yet, the mayor fills aldermanic vacancies.
Should aldermen fill their in-house vacancies? Alternately, should the assignment fall to the council’s presiding officer, the alderman-at-large? Either solution would place the responsibility with the legislative branch, where in my opinion it properly belongs.
Hail to the chief
Mayor Noble offered pretty much a rehash (no pun intended) of his inaugural address at Wednesday’s monthly breakfast meeting of the Ulster Chamber of Commerce.
Most people are on board with the new mayor’s open government/reach-out approach, considering the official insanity it replaced.
But as demonstrated during the question and answer session of Noble’s appearance, open, transparent government isn’t always what it appears to be.
Somebody in the 200-odd member audience asked Noble for an update on the sales tax negotiations between Noble and County Exec Hein. Noble walked the crowd through the process, which most were familiar with, explained that a “compromise” he and Hein had reached two weeks ago was being reviewed by the state comptroller. “He wants to know who to send the [sales tax] checks to,” Noble quipped. In fact, the state sends the whole caboodle, an estimated $110 million a year, to the county, which under an agreed formula distributes some $16 million to the city and towns.
More than that, he would not say. When the state comptroller signs off, he said, the county and city will share the news with the public, but not before.
In other words, the mayor supports open government, but won’t, or can’t tell the people paying the bills what’s going on.
I think they should add baloney to the Chamber breakfast menu.
What did she say…”My Mom is not a liar for calling Bernie a liar on healthcare.” Or “those 127,000 votes that disappeared in Brooklyn…we totally know nothing about them–it was a fair and square election!!” Yeah, vote Chelsea. For WHAT is another story. I say a sure bet is “wife of a young rich Jew.” Beyond that use your imagination. “Head of the new Tammany Hall” would not seem too far fetched.