Rochester Smoke Out

This is today’s editorial in Times Herald-Record:

Politics has to go both ways

Politics is a one-way street in Ulster County.

When a well-connected political couple seeks a tax break for their business, they get it with no questions.

When the county tries to take away that taxpayer subsidy because the business never hired all of the workers it planned to, it’s a political vendetta.

There is no question that Skate Time 209, the business run by Terry Bernardo, the chairman of the county Legislature, and Len Bernardo, the chairman of the county Independence Party, who also ran for county executive, has hired nine workers, not the 37 that were part of the discussion at the time.

The original decision to give the Bernardos a break on their taxes did not tie the dollars to the jobs, so the couple was on the verge of suing to keep their good deal from going away.

The Ulster IDA backed down rather than to go court. In the future, it will make sure to ask the questions that did not get asked this time and to put all of the promises in writing.

All of this leaves Terry Bernardo wondering “… who do I see to get my reputation back?”

That’s easy. All she has to do is look in the mirror, then hire more workers or give up the tax break.

I’m not sure the Bernardos can claim credit for it, but here is a job for you: match the words above with the pictures below. There is no rush… as long as you do it before the November election.

– Jon Dogar-Marinesco

Ed Gaddy, Chairman, Ulster County Conservative Party

According to the Ulster County Board of Elections (see below memo) – Manuela Michailescu has been nominated as a candidate by the Conservative Party on July 17, 2009 – almost 4 months before the elections held on November 3:



Ed Gaddy, the Chairman of the Ulster County Conservative Party, refused to sign Manuela’s nomination because “jumping in at the last minute doesn’t work.” Look what he wrote on this blog on January 22, 2013:

“…when Manuela did call me the petitions were already sent out, the meetings held, interviews completed and the “Show” was already on the road. I and the Conservative party have always given fair hearing to anyone who wants to seek our Endorsement. Unfortunately time is never on our side. There is that little known facet of the process called Deadlines. You know filing dates. You can’t jump in and contact me that late in the process and not expect it to problematic. With 20 towns, a city and 4 villages do you think putting a meeting together on no notice with Chairmen, and 5 other elected officers who were already out with petitions for other candidates was possible? I don’t wish Manuela ill but please stop blaming me for doing the right thing, and her getting in to the races so late.”

If you had to hold your nose while reading the paragraph above, I don’t blame you – it’s pure bullshit. In 2009 Ed Gaddy had promised Terry Bernardo to not let anybody challenge her on the Conservative line. Manuela was not late, not even by one second.

Coincidentally, the same day Ed Gaddy posted his lame excuse, Manuela Michailescu sent this letter to the town and county leaders of the Conservative Party:

Gerald Fornino
19 Deer Tail Trail, Accord, NY 12404

Edward J. Gaddy
176 Jockey Hill Road, Kingston, NY 12401

John R. Crispell
42 Tuytensbridge Road, Lake Katrine, NY 12449

Alan D. Hartman
841 Route 9W, Highland, NY 12528

January 22, 2013

Dear Messrs. Fornino, Gaddy, Crispell and Hartman:

This is my letter of intent to run in this year’s election for the seat of Legislator in District 21, on the Conservative line.

Considering the Presidential Inauguration as the beginning of the 2013 political year, I do not want to be in any way “late” in making my intentions known to all of you, leaders of the Conservative Party in Rochester and Ulster County, respectively.

For those who do not know much about me, few facts:

• In 2007 I was one of the five Republican candidates in the Town of Rochester who ran on the Conservative line – following the interview with the local Conservative leaders (including Mr. Fornino).
• After winning the election, I served for four years (2008-2011) as Town of Rochester Councilwoman, proudly representing both Republicans and Conservatives.
• I did not betray in any way the Conservative principles and cannot understand why I was not acknowledged as a town elected official being present at the Conservative caucus held in Rochester in 2011.
• In 2009 I ran for a Legislature seat in former District 1. There were four seats up for grabs and only two Republican candidates.
• Based on the signatures gathered – as notified by the Ulster County Board of Elections – I did qualify as a candidate, but I did not receive the Wilson-Pakula from the Conservative Party Chair, Mr. Gaddy.
• Instead, Mr. Gaddy chose to endorse three Democrats – the result of a deal among all four Ulster County party chairs at the time.
• In 2011, when I ran again for Legislature, Mr. Fornino, Chair of Rochester’s Conservative Committee, went to Court and nullified the Opportunity to Ballot filed on behalf of the Conservative Party line. If I recall correctly, an Opportunity to Ballot was allowed in a neighboring district, where a primary took place, but NOT allowed in our District 21.
• Mr. Fornino’s action was just an expression of the “commitment” the Conservative Party had made to Mrs. Bernardo. I may be “old style,” but I believe that elections are not about commitments to friends.

As I continue to believe in the strength of the democratic principles, I’m asking you to consider my intention to run for the Legislator seat in District 21 (Rochester / Wawarsing), and timely inform me about petition deadlines, dates you set up for interviews, meetings, Convention and any other events where a candidate must be present.

Wishing you a happy, politically meaningful New Year,
Sincerely,

Manuela Michailescu

5858 Route 209
Kerhonkson, NY 12446
845-626-5206
manuela@oldbrickhouse.com

Despite Gaddy’s claim that he “and the Conservative party have always given fair hearing to anyone who wants to seek our Endorsement,” he never acknowledged Manuela’s letter of intent, and the Conservative party’s nominating convention is behind us. Ed Gaddy, you are full of it…

– Jon Dogar-Marinesco

I can’t wait to see the results of this year’s Republican primary. Courtesy of David O’Halloran – the famous talent scout – Rochester is lucky to have two candidates, both solid contenders.

The Dawson camp has no doubts about who is going to be the winner:

Knowing the strengths of their candidate, the Bernardo loyalists have already booked the victory party!

Who are you rooting for? Who do you think is going to win on September 10?

– Jon Dogar-Marinesco

Yep! That’s me signing for the juicy tidbits on David O’Halloran delivered by Len Bernardo, the Chairman of Ulster County Independence Party.

Just kidding! I swear, that’s me signing Terry Bernardo’s Independence Party Designating Petition, after Len reminded me that – despite being a registered Republican – I’m still an Indy till November 6, according to the New York State Election Law.

– Jon Dogar-Marinesco

Brought forward by popular demand.

It sucks to write a book only to see it ranked at #9,023,651.

It sucks to send your wife to work while you stay home to bang the drums.

It sucks to run for Town Board and lose.

It sucks to see Manuela winning the election for the same position.

It sucks to have repeated thoughts, feelings, and ideas that make you feel driven to do something, anything – e.g. posting this comment today on Steven L. Fornal – the “L” stands for LIAR:

Steven L. Fornal
Submitted on 2013/03/28 at 8:08 AM

Hello, Jon
You apparently cannot tell the truth. So here’s a link to a blog with all the pertinent court documents. It tells the tale of eight years of borrowing without any clue as to paying back your indebtedness.
http://www.themindofmanuela.blogspot.com
Also, by calling me a liar when you and Manuela know that isn’t true shows
what you are.

Well… Hello right back, Steven. Apparently nowadays you cannot even fake sanity…

Obviously, the purpose of the above comment is to make people click on the link to your miserable blog. Funny, didn’t I do this already in Steven Fornal awarded a medal for self-preservation two weeks earlier? You, redundant freak, you!

Obviously, you are obsessed with our 2008 bankruptcy. When we are begging people to take a look at the court documents, what do you hope to accomplish by smearing us non-stop? Excuse the cliché, but isn’t doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results the definition of insanity? You, redundant freak, you!

Obviously, you lie incessantly. Here is just one example, but I could give hundreds:

The truth (Daily Freeman):

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

The lie (Steven L. Fornal):

The reality, however is that all new business ventures in UC use the tax breaks allowed them by law. Ms. Bernardo’s use of those tax breaks was no different than any other business that have located in Ulster County.

– Jon Dogar-Marinesco

::
Any thoughts?
::

From a very smart person I received this smart phone screen grab
of a Times Herald-Record article:

– Jon Dogar-Marinesco

From the May 30, 2013 Freeman article Ulster County Legislature Chairwoman Terry Bernardo vows to fight for GOP line on November ballot:

If Terry Bernardo sounds pissed off that she was denied her entitlement, don’t rush to judge. For her the Republican nomination was a given. In 2009 hubby Len struck the infamous Bernardo-Catalano-Schreiber-Gaddy dirty deal and Terry was appointed legislator. In 2011 David O’Halloran – the Bosshole of Rochester – broke most of the Republican Party by-laws and had her skating through the nomination process. Why should 2013 be different?

My comment could not be better than this:

Reader12401
You don’t do business that way but you have your husband to do it on your behalf. Mrs. Len Bernardo’s tenure has been one of discord, cronyism, dysfunction, retribution, self promotion, opportunism and flat out failure… The voters will speak and you will be back to practicing your circus act where it belongs and not in the Legislative chambers.

For years, Terry Bernardo and David O’Halloran were on the same “Screw the People” team. What went wrong?

As Senator Bonacic’s darling, Bernardo was supposed to deliver the VLTs to O’Halloran’s Pinegrove. After all Bonacic is the chairman of the Senate’s Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee.

As the chairman of the Industrial Development Agency board, O’Halloran was supposed to keep under wraps the Bernardo’s Skate Time 209 racket: unearned tax breaks. A State audit forced O’Halloran to abandon his part of the deal, but he still expected Bernardo to keep hers.

“I work for the people, not for him,” Bernardo added. “I will take my case to the people, and I believe I will be successful.”

Again, a comment says it all:

townplanner
Yes, let the people decide. Let them decide if you have used the office for your personal advancement, hiring only your cronies, all while your husband plays his games directing from behind the scenes and you get tax breaks for deals you didn’t fulfill. Oh yes, and while you sue the County, by all means, let the people decide if we want birthday parties with free beer or a Legislator who wants to really work for the people. Please, take your case to the people.

As for O’Halloran, didn’t he mention a coming resignation?

– Jon Dogar-Marinesco

County-wide candidates nominated
at the Ulster County Democratic Convention:
Ulster County Clerk: Nina Postupack
Ulster County Family Court: No candidate to challenge Judge Marianne Mizel
Comptroller: Eliott Auerbach

– Jon Dogar-Marinesco

– Jon Dogar-Marinesco