Rochester Smoke Out

Sometime in January we had the pleasure to introduce the Terry Award, to be presented every year to the most malignant Ulster County politician. The call for this year’s nominations produced a short list of characters from both ends of the political spectrum.

Now is the time for the promised poll. Above are the nominees, in alphabetical order. Vote for the one who – in your opinion – inflicted the most damage on Ulster County’s political compass. Poll closed at midnight on Sunday, February 9, 2014.

– Jon Dogar-Marinesco

This headline of the Daily Freeman‘s article came as no surprise: Ulster County Legislature Democrats slam Chairman John Parete over committee assignments
What else would you expect from a situation cooked by Len Bernardo?

Terse comments were exchanged during a Democratic caucus Thursday, a day after Legislature Chairman John Parete, D-Boiceville, appointed Legislator Herbert Litts, R-Highland, to fill a committee vacancy… A number of Democrats were further troubled by seeing the committee elect a Republican chairman, which follows elections of Republican chairs of the Ways and Means and Public Works committees.

Legislator Jeanette Provenzano, D-Kingston, who is on the Health and Human Services Committee, said she could have been appointed chairwoman if the Republican majority wanted to respect the political balance. “In all my (23) years as a Democrat, I find this totally embarrassing for our party,” she said. “I find it totally embarrassing for our agenda.”

Legislator Hector Rodriquez, D-New Paltz, said it was apparent that Parete had not consulted with Democratic leaders before making committee appointments. Rodriquez, who had been the choice for Legislature chairman of most Democratic lawmakers, questioned whether Parete should participate in his own party caucuses. “Apparently, appointments are being made really without consultation with the Democratic caucus,” he said. “If that’s the case, that’s fine. But if it’s not going be made in consultation with the Democratic caucus, then why are you caucusing with us?”

Legislature Majority Leader Donald Gregorius, D-Woodstock, said seeing Parete appointed with Republicans support had put Democrats in the position of being in a “minority majority” and that committee appointments were retribution against some party members. “It was a planned punitive response,” he said, adding that it “leaves a very sour taste in everybody’s mouth.”

Despite Chairwoman Bernardo being sent home by voters, I see another bumpy ride for Ulster County Legislature…

– Jon Dogar-Marinesco

To enter the FedEx Small Business Grant Contest and compete for a share of $50,000 in small business grants, tell FedEx – by February 9 – what separates your business from the rest. Once your application is approved, the voting period begins and the number of votes you receive will boost your visibility in the contest and is one factor that FedEx will consider when selecting the finalists and the winners.

Got it? Free money! What are you waiting for? First step, write an idiotic “business plan.”

Of course, by now everybody at FedEx is FedUp with your writing skills:

“Skate Time 209 would use the grant to invest in a flying trapeze/circus program for our youth. This program would help kids get fit and learn the skill of entertaining. The social network that is created through the bond of circus teamwork, commitment and discipline, can combat the seductive appeal of gangs and drugs. The sense of accomplishment and self-determination learned through trapeze and circus program will carry into other aspects of kids lives and would be a positive impact on the community.”

When you’re done with the blah-blah-blah, focus on step two: getting the votes. Go to Facebook, create a fake event and ask the guests to vote for you:

And always, always lead by example:

And always impart your wisdom unto the unwashed masses.

“They say everything in politics is about timing, and trapeze is absolutely about timing. It’s like a pendulum going back and forth,” Terry Bernardo said. “Timing is everything.”

– Jon Dogar-Marinesco

Do you remember the four-year nightmare known as Terry Bernardo? Here she is, working hard to prove that a liar is a liar is a liar. Take a look at this masterpiece found on her Facebook page:

“We have been fighting not only rumors, but our actual IDA contract being cancelled at Skate Time 209 for years. Despite the fact that we hired a lawyer and that there was no legal basis for what they did to us and that they HAD to reinstate our contract, people still want to believe the spin that we didn’t create the jobs we were supposed to.

Just like Chris Christie’s people used their positions and power to pay back their opponent politically, I have been on the receiving end as well. While the people that are dishing it out and actually trying to convince voters that they are working for the taxpayers and trying to hold people accountable, they are really just using their appointed or elected position to hurt others politically.

The waste of taxpayer money on political pettiness is astounding. It goes on all the time. Read any of the things that Gates has said in his recent book.”

As an old friend remarked, “Wow, what a name dropper – she compares herself to Christie and then throws in Gates. What jobs? Last I knew they had 4 in 2012.”

Terry’s whine gave me a bad case of SMH (that’s “shaking my head” for the acronym-challenged readers). I’m not surprised that she lies about past, present, and future. I’m surprised that she’s so sloppy doing it. Read again her first sentence:

“We have been fighting not only rumors, but our actual IDA contract being cancelled at Skate Time 209 for years.”

Really Pinocchio? For years? How about these two articles in Daily Freeman, less than three months apart?

Accord roller rink co-owned by Ulster County Legislature Chairwoman Terry Bernardo losing tax breaks

KINGSTON, N.Y. – Two Ulster County businesses, including one owned by county Legislature Chairwoman Terry Bernardo and her husband, will lose their property tax breaks for failing to agree to a voluntary reduction of those breaks, the head of the county Industrial Development Agency board said on Thursday.

Board Chairman David O’Halloran said he will sign documents Friday revoking the payment-in-lieu-of-taxes, or PILOT, agreements for Skate Time 209, the Accord roller rink owned by Terry and Len Bernardo, and Hudson Valley Sportsdome in Milton, owned by Nick Pizza.

Accord roller rink co-owned by Ulster County Legislature Chairwoman Terry Bernardo has tax breaks reinstated

KINGSTON, N.Y. – Three Ulster County businesses, including one co-owned by county Legislature Chairwoman Terry Bernardo, would have property tax breaks reinstated by the Ulster County Industrial Development Agency following an agency policy change.

Agency Chairman Michael Horodyski said the board on Wednesday voted to reverse a previous policy change that had the effect of canceling payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreements with the businesses following a state Court of Appeals decision involving a similar action by the state Empire Zone.

Bernardo, R-Accord, said she was pleased by the Industrial Development Agency board’s action Wednesday, saying the board had “no legal basis” to terminate its payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement in the first place.

Bernardo called the decision to revoke her businesses tax breaks “politically motivated.”

Politically motivated? Only if the phrase “all politics is local” refers to Terry being loca.

– Jon Dogar-Marinesco

After the last week introduction of the Terry Award – to be presented each year to the most malignant Ulster County politician – the following nominations were made via comments on this blog:

Len Bernardo
FROM NOMINATION: …I remember reading that Len Bernardo is the cancer of Ulster County politics, and I agreed one hundred percent…

Terry Bernardo
FROM NOMINATION: …the inaugural Terry should obviously go to its namesake…

David Donaldson
FROM NOMINATION: …who connived with Republicans on behalf of John Parete so he could become Vice Chair, #1 traitor with no moral character…

David O’Halloran
FROM NOMINATION: …he accepted the vice chairmanship of the Ulster County Republican Committee only to resign a few weeks later. He destroyed the local Republican party by giving access and power to the Bernardos, but didn’t stay on to fix the problems. He cowardly resigned the chairmanship of the town’s republican committee when his schemes didn’t work out…

John Parete
FROM NOMINATION: …just your self-professed average political tool…

Roger Rascoe
FROM NOMINATION: …Republican membership has declined during his tenure. The entire Route 209 corridor from Hurley to Wawarsing has been handed to the Democrats. But Jane, his wife, eased into the chair behind the Town Clerk’s desk with no challenge in the primary and general election…

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The deadline for nominations is January 31, 2014. The nominees will be featured in a poll, and your votes will determine the winner.

– Jon Dogar-Marinesco

People’s Choice… Golden Globes… Oscars… Tonys… Emmys…
Something is missing, and I have the remedy.

Proudly introducing the Terry Award, to be presented each year
to the most malignant Ulster County politician.

Don’t be shy, send in your nomination via a comment on this blog. Name and reason.
The deadline is January 31, 2014.

The front-runners will be featured in a poll, and your votes will determine the winner.

Thank you!

– Jon Dogar-Marinesco

On January 7, 2014 Ulster County Legislature had its organizational meeting.

I was there.

I saw two legislators wasting their breath trying to make a bunch of political animals think twice before they sell their souls for some elusive short-term gain.

This is what happened:
Because his father is his hero, Legislator Richard Parete nominated him for the Chairmanship of Ulster County Legislature. The hero won 13 (10 Republicans + 2 Paretes + Dave Donaldson) to 10 (the rest of the Democratic majority).

Here is what you need to know, clearly explained by Legislator Provenzano:
The hero did not seek the chairmanship. The battle was initiated by the Republican minority who found in John Parete a renegade Democrat.

It’s a known fact that Len Bernardo masterminded the ascension of John Parete. In 2012 Len Bernardo bought for his wife a well written speech. Yesterday Len Bernardo left his buddy to his own devices. So, John Parete – apparently a show and tell aficionado – produced a tailor’s measuring tape and announced the audience that he has only six inches to live. A bungled metaphor to be sure, followed by the 72-year old’s disquieting promise that he will behave for the remaining six inches.

Len Bernardo supports John Parete with a vengeance, even after the plan succeeded:

As you see, Len calls Lynn Archer a partisan because she voted for Hector Rodriguez, a Democrat. Isn’t Parete also a Democrat? Len, you’re such an idiot!

– Jon Dogar-Marinesco

After attending yesterday the Ulster County Legislature organizational meeting, the journalist Paula Sirc posted her opinion on her Facebook wall. Look what happened next:

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I hope you caught Len Bernardo’s threat: “Terry lost, seea in two years…”

– Jon Dogar-Marinesco

Legislators Hector Rodriguez, Jeanette Provenzano, Peter Loughran, Lynn Archer and John Parete being sworn in at the Ulster County Legislature Organizational meeting on January 7, 2014.

After enduring four years of being “represented” by a legislator with no experience whatsoever, Legislative District 21 (Rochester/Eastern Wawarsing) is finally in good hands. A former Town of Rochester Councilwoman, Legislator Lynn Archer has solid local government experience and can be trusted to truly represent the people of our district.

Congratulations to Legislator Lynn Archer for a well-deserved victory!

– Jon Dogar-Marinesco

Upon coming to America, a friend of mine made a deal with himself: no jaw dropping, no matter what. The deal fell through a few days later when he saw the size of Sunday New York Times.

Thirty years later something amazed me too. In January 2012 my jaw dropped during an Ulster County Legislature roll-call: Parete John… Parete Richard… Parete Robert… Beg your pardon? Three members of the same family in a 23-member Legislature? Nice voting bloc if you can get it!

I never met any of the Paretes and as far as I know each of them might be a cross between George Washington and Mother Theresa, but that’s not the point. Hoarding three legislative seats by a father and his sons it’s enough to make any thinking person throw up. On the other hand, the voters are equally responsible for this aberrant situation. Papa John does not even reside in “his” district, while the cubs live across the Route 209 from each other.

The good news: the incumbent Parete Robert didn’t run in the 2013 election.

The bad news: rotten moral fiber notwithstanding, Parete John wants to be the Chairman of the Legislature. Get details from Ulster County Democratic chairman says GOP ignoring will of people by helping John Parete become Legislature chairman – a Freeman article by Patricia Doxsey:

Democrats secured a 13-10 legislative majority in the November election after being in the minority for four years. Rodriguez, D-New Paltz, then was tapped by the Democratic caucus to be chairman.

But Parete apparently has the backing of the Legislature’s 10-member Republican caucus. And that support, along with Parete’s own vote and that of his son, Richard, D-Accord, gives the elder Parete the 12 votes needed to become the next chairman.

In a letter to the Freeman, Democratic Chairman Frank Cardinale blasted GOP support of Parete John, D-Boiceville, as “a desperate effort” by Republicans “to cling to power despite their loss at the ballot box.”

In his letter, Cardinale also questioned Parete’s loyalty to the Democratic party that Parete once led.

“It is my great belief that no honorable Democratic legislator would even entertain the idea of turning his or her back on the hardworking Democratic committee people who have done so much, or on the will of the voters of Ulster County in return for selfish short-term personal gain,” Cardinale wrote.

Without any doubt Len Bernardo is behind the Republican support for his buddy Parete John. Based on closely watching the GOP for the last few years, I predict another Bernardo victory. Papa Parete will get the chairmanship and the cojones-challenged Republican legislators will rush to introduce some fitting local laws and resolutions: No legislator shall live in the represented district… All legislators must add Parete to their last names… No legislator is allowed to cast a vote before showing proof of attending at least three fundraising events at the Boiceville Inn… All legislative committees’ meetings will be held in Len Bernardo’s kitchen…

If the headline of this post doesn’t ring a bell for the GOP legislators, here is a little help:
“…and then there were none.”

– Jon Dogar-Marinesco