Thursday, April 30, 2009

The NOT Fully Developed Plan

Mayor Sottile has gone to the paper to announce that he has a plan to combine the Department of Public Works and the Department of Parks and Recreation to make things more efficient. He says the merger would save money and create a wider pool of workers to maintain city parks.

CSEA Unit Vice President Troy Ashdown has said that the proposal will neither save money nor make the parks any cleaner and that there are still questions that need to be answered in regard to the Mayors proposal.

“It is just change for change’s sake,” Ashdown said. “The Mayor is just playing musical chairs.”

Ashdown told Hudson Valley Labor Report that he absolutely agrees that the city should be run as efficiently as possible but the devil is in the details.


To Ashdowns credit, the Mayor admitted to the Daily Freeman that specific plans have not been fully developed, he did say however, that he plans to shift at least five recreation department laborers to public works.

The job of a municipal labor leader is to ensure that the taxpayers get the best production in return for their tax dollars and that, at the same time, workers rights are respected within any "plan" that may be proposed.

Judging from the past track record of this Mayor, the welfare of the workers is not too high on his list of priorities, so Ashdown is 100% correct to make sure he gets involved and questions a plan that is - from the Mayors own words - NOT fully developed.

HVLR has a suggestion for the Mayor. Why not involve the union and develop the entire plan as a team?

“My number one responsibility is to the taxpayers of this community, not the CSEA,” Sottile said. Good soundbite but there are tons of examples of his office costing those same taxpayers money for stupid reasons.
.....and, just last week he involved himself in the CSEA election. This week, he doesn't care.


That seems to be part of an ongoing problem with this Democratic Mayor - he seems to have a few different personalities and a problem working UPFRONT and well with others....and his union issues transcend just the CSEA.

The Mayor told the Freeman he is perplexed by Ashdown’s comments, saying that “behind closed doors,” union officials appeared to back the plan.

How do you back a plan that even the Mayor admits is "not fully developed"?

“It is unfortunate that the vice president criticizes me for trying to save jobs,” Sottile said. Another good soundbite.

Recent history shows that this Mayor does not have a record of saving jobs. Just rewind to the budget he proposed for proof. He didn't give a damn about saving jobs or the people in those jobs.


The best part is that Alderman Charles Landi, D-Ward 3, who chairs the Common Council’s Finance/Economic Development Committee, defended the mayor’s plan, and unfairly bad mouthed the union while doing it.

What could Charlie mean? He backs the unfinished, not fully developed plan?? Good ole dependable free thinking Charlie.


Looks like Charlie is just taking shots here or maybe just doing shots - one or the other. Either way - you're too much Charlie.

Here is a simple solution Mayor- meet with the union and work out a REAL finished plan before going to the paper half cocked and starting a dispute over one that isn't even "fully developed".


Maybe it is time, as some commenters on this blog have said, to take a look at electing a few more Republicans and ousting a few these do nothing, anti-union Democratic blowhards we have in office now in Kingston and in Ulster County as a whole.

It's a good bet that the Republicans would love a few new friends these days and they can't possibly be any worse than some of these "allstars" we have in office now.

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

WE NEED RICH CAHILL FOR MAYOR!!

Anonymous said...

That's no suprise with this Mayor. Most of his "plans" are just like him , not fully developed.

Anonymous said...

Landi should look at the big picture. CSEA leadership is sitting at the table with him helping cut costs on health insurance. CSEA leadership blew the whistle on stockpiling chemicals and undocumented overtime, saving the taxpayers thousands of dollars. Landi seems to be the new rubberstamp for the Mayor. I am sure all of labor can't wait for you to come in for their endorsement.

Anonymous said...

Landi has no clue and why does he work for his wife?

Anonymous said...

You're right bullhorner. This Mayor doesn't think anything through. This will ultimately cost tax payers money. He should call CSEA leadership in to develop a plan, not just say here it is take it or leave it.

Anonymous said...

Democrats in the city of Kingston are not union friendly and labor should look to the republicans for a change. Landi is the latest union unfriendly democrat to join the list. Imagine thinking CSEA would endorse half a plan that the Mayor and his cronies came up with.

It doesn't look much better in Ulster County with the Parate boys looking to close Golden Hill either.

Not many union friendly dems around anymore. I hope all of labor boycotts the boat rides.

Anonymous said...

Why is Rich Cahill seemingly the only politico in Kingston that supports labor?

Anonymous said...

Hey Bullhorner,
You are right the Democrats have let down the CSEA and organized labor entirely in kingston. It is an election year this year. Now is the time for us to make a statement and take a look on who we will support. We have not received much support from them have we?

Anonymous said...

8:02 You're right Bro. Sottile and the democrats in Kingston are not union friendly. Landi used to be a CSEA member and just turned his back on them. HE NEEDS TO LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE.

Anonymous said...

Some democrats are still ok but there are some that are outright assholes when it comes to helping working families - they have to go or be given a good run for their money. Too many come to labor for help during election time and shit on us after that. Those days are gone and they need to pay the price for putting our families in jeopardy and bad mouthing the unions

Anonymous said...

Not many good Dems in Kingston. The silence is deafening. I am sure labor will be looking to see where these aldermen and women stand on this issue. Loosing the rec will only hurt the little guys.

Anonymous said...

Do you really think the Mayor cares about the little guys. He is taking all the programs out of the housing where most of them are single working woman. Does he think that a woman raising her kids wants to go sell drugs and settle for living in houseing. If you think this is true your nuts. Do you think because you Mr. Mayor had a different life then most of these people living in housing that they love there children less then you love your? You have showen that everyone is not created equil in your eyes. The Civil Right is for people to treat everyone the same, but you Mr. Mayor have made fun of this in your actions in the City of kingston. Between the way you treat the woman of DPW to the way you only have family and friends with the jobs around you.Shame on you for your actions. You don't know how to put a plan together and you are to pridefull to ask for help. You need help really bad. The way you double talk in the paper you sound like you are BI Polar Disorder, you need help and I hope you get it. I don't want to see you acting like this because it embarases us all in this city. You are not nice and you only care about you and yours. What about these people with a long time work history with the city. You don't care, you just don't care. You are like a cancer, oh thats right in your eyes you don't care about that either. By not firing that man when he threw that brest showed everyone who you really are. You are a sick sick man

Anonymous said...

Just staying on the negative message against Sottile doesn't make Cahill the right guy for Mayor. CSEA, the Dems and Republicans should start looking for fresh talent. You know some of the Councilmen are looking to run as are some Kingston businessmen. Past Mayoral candidates wont help the working class and already have a record of failure.

Anonymous said...

Charlie Landi take the ring out of your nose that Sottile pulls you around with you are beginning to look stupid.

Anonymous said...

Didn't Landi profit from the jail debacle. He must have some ulterior motive to sign on to this plan with the Mayor. No one else on the council has come out to support this asinine plan.

Anonymous said...

The Mayor was working so well with CSEA leadership. Why did he have to go and screw that up? Comp time, furloughs, working out grievances. Where is Landi coming from with this big picture thing. I think you're right bullhorner he's doing shots not calling them. Sooner or later he'll hit a house too.

Anonymous said...

We need a business man or woman to run this city. Somone that know how to be fair, someone that has gone to school for business. What about the director of Gateway she knows how to run a business and to deal with the mental illness of our alderman. Landi go back in the Mayors office and start again. Talk about no clues, this hold team from the mayor on down don't have a clue. Come out of the caveman times and get in a car and drive. The CSEA should have someone run. I vote for Bart or Troy.

Anonymous said...

The problem is that they dont knoe how to work together with the union they think tha if they fight with the union they are being tough but they are just missing the big picture,

the unio knows that they have to give the taxpayers the bast nag for thier buck. These rejects think fighting with the union makes them better reps hey are missing the boat

Bart Robins said...

Bullhorner, can all of labor please help the City of Kingston CSEA by boycotting the Mayors boat ride. He will use these funds to help union un-friendly democrats get elected.

Troy Ashdown, CSEA said...

Hey Bullhorner, Greetings! I want to say loud and clear, I agree 100% that we need to make changes in regards to our elected officials. Most of whom unfortunately have D-in front of their names. CSEA, Kingston will take a very serious look at Aldermatic candidates in this years elections in Kingston. Although we allow some wiggle room for some issues, if we can't receive support for some of our most basic fundatmental concerns regarding contract language that was bargained for fairly, then we will indeed have to change our support for some new faces. This council sadly, has lost some friends amongst labor. Until next time......

Anonymous said...

I work for the Town of Ulster and I am a member of Local 17. I say no to the boat ride. My union dues should not go to Sottile and co.

Anonymous said...

None of the constructioon unions should go on that boat. Did you ever hear the Mayor EVEN ONCE mention that he wanted to create ANY union constuction jobs? He pushes projects and leaves us out of the picture so the low lifes in the area who pay their people shit can bastardize the trades.

Screw Sottile hes worhtless I hope the boat sinks

Anonymous said...

WE got no work on the Kirkland. What about Walgreens,CVS, The Cove.
NO WORK NO MONEY TO SOTTILE.

That landscaping company owned by Brad Jordan (Aurora)is taking away food for my children. Is he paying prevailing wage? Probably not.

Anonymous said...

Now Reynolds and Hoffay are going to be giving the parking meters away from 5 to 6 everyday. Also this is when the tenants come home from work so whats the difference with the 8 to 9 time frame. This is once again a grandstand by both for election.