Too much strategy coffee can’t be that good for you…
Ulster County Legislature Chairwoman Terry Bernardo denies using political clout to block VLT plan is only the headline of an article in today’s Daily Freeman. Inside, bullshit galore:
- Bernardo said because of the personal and business relationships she had with O’Halloran, a fellow town of Rochester resident, she was ethically bound to remove herself from the legislative debate over a resolution asking the state to allow the game terminals at Pinegrove and the Hudson Valley Resort.
“I abstained because it would personally benefit Mr. O’Halloran, and I have a relationship with him,” she said on Friday.
Bernardo said O’Halloran, as chairman of the Rochester Republican Committee, raised money for her Legislature campaigns and, as chairman of the Industrial Development Agency, was in a position to reach a settlement in a dispute with the Bernardos’ business, Skate Time 209, over a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) agreement with the agency. “There were conflicts of interest all over the place,” Mrs. Bernardo. “I was staying out of it.”
“There were conflicts of interest all over the place,” says Terry Bernardo. You’re damn right, I say. You should have seen them before O’Halloran – prodded by State – was no longer able to protect your PILOT tax breaks.
“I was staying out of it,” says Terry Bernardo. Shame on you, I say. Town of Wawarsing passed a resolution in support of a casino at Nevele. You voted for the same thing in Legislature. Town of Rochester passed a resolution in support of VLTs at two local resorts, and you stayed out of it? Shame on you for abstaining from representing your own town.
- In another email, he asked the chairwoman to come to the Pinegrove so O’Halloran could buy her a cup of coffee and the two could discuss a strategy “to show our support for each other.”
Support for each other? With the cat out of the bag? Not happening.
- Bernardo said that, in a phone call, O’Halloran told her he would “ruin” her and find someone to run against her in the fall 2013 election for her legislative seat.
This is so telling, because, you see, in the Town of Rochester only two people count: one is glued to a Legislator seat, the other one has the solvent.
Terry Bernardo, do you remember the May 2012 Town of Rochester Republican Committee meeting, when Manuela Michailescu announced that she would challenge you in 2013? Perhaps you recall your reaction to her announcement? Having that vacant stare, that mute face? And finally managing to say “I lost my train of thought?” Doesn’t ring a bell? OK, be like that…
Terry Bernardo, do you remember at least one of these two emails sent to all Town of Rochester Republican Committee members?
How about the Ulster County GOP Chair Roger Rascoe announcing Manuela’s candidacy at the March 14 meeting in Kingston? OK! Now that you remember it, try to answer this question: why would O’Halloran threaten on April 10, 2013 with finding a challenger for you… when you had a challenger since May 2012? Unless, of course, David wants to replace you with somebody NOT different from you.
Please allow me to quote from a comment to I don’t want to say I told you so, on the Liberty Coalition blog:
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Note to Manuela – Rochester NEEDS you. Run for office and take charge – the good and honest citizens of Rochester will follow a strong leader with NO self interest!
– Jon Dogar-Marinesco
Rochester Smoke Out 
If Bernardo felt she had such a connection the correct terminology should have been she recused herself from the matter. And then had no further comment or discussion on it. With the public, with fellow Legislators, with the press.
Semantics that should be known to the Roberts Rules of Order expert she wants to be.
But I guess that chapter was missed in her Legislature training session.
Ironic Terry worries about ethics NOW, while Davie worries about getting even! Two individuals with no regard to the taxpayers! Davie–No need to look–Rochester has a REPUBLICAN candidate, Manuela. Rochester does not need the dead Legislator’s son to ride in on a his jet plane and become yet another BOY TOY added to an already Corrupt Rochester. Rochester needs a dedicated Legislator — My vote is Manuela.
Please stop referring to Terry Bernardo as a bona fide legislator. She is nothing but an imbecile used by her husband to further his and Bonacic’s lucrative ambitions. She has no business being an elected official, and she is not one. She went through the moves, but everything was fixed months before the elections. O’Halloran put up with her and Len hoping that they would deliver on the VLTs promise. Now he is in deep shit, scrambling to recover. Best course for O’Halloran would be to to stay the fuck out of the public life, he’s no fit for it, way too self-serving.
‘Halloran is no cleaner than Bernardo. O’Halloran saw potential big bucks heading his way and signed on with the Devil JB. The Devil is starting to feel the heat as all roads are leading to him as Chairman of NYS Gaming Committee. Conflict…..Greed…….CORRUPTION. Hell Yess!
This has been a long time coming. A lot of hard working and loyal Republicans were burnt by all parties involved (including Bernardos and O’Halloran). I’m curious to how all of their elected followers are responding. There isn’t any quotes from them in the news papers, they are equally as guilty for riding this train wreck into their elected positions.
If I were a betting person–of which I am not—hhmmmmmmmmm let’s see how many REBULICANS and officials will be visiting the Pine Grove Dump Ranch on April 17. Run NINA Run–do not step foot in Rochester territory. CUZ–if you do, you will get “roped” into the roundup of crooks in public office! And why would New Paltz want to dirty their team…hmmmmmmmmmmmm
Why is everybody focusing only on the O’Halloran-Bernardo war when the largest employer in Rochester, the one needing help, is Hudson Valley Resort and Spa? Why do they have to suffer because of the O’Halloran-Bernardo shenanigans?
Terry come on conflicts all over ther place. YOUR attorney, the senator’s chief of staff getting a $50,000 job lives in Orage County . Patti Jacobsen getting dead people to sign your petition, her daughter getting a $73,000 job. Tantillo getting a job, her niece fired by the countyclerk for drinking during lunch gets a job too, the guy from Green County, a friend of your attorney, getting a job. You’re right for once chair lady, there are conflicts all over!
All this silliness makes me want to run (for office) but sadly who can live on the payscale. It’s a job designed for the wealthy, the retired, or the unemployed.
As the mighty Senator–he came from nothing and check out his purse.