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| ZALEWSKI |
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| DOHERTY |
In no uncertain terms, Councilman
Ken Zalewski, D-District 5, shot down a proposal by Councilman Bob Doherty,
D-District 4, that would make it a crime for police to prohibit citizens from
videotaping officers while they work.
“I will state this clearly to you
right now: If any legislation is presented to the Public Safety Committee that
attempts to target police officers for actions that are already covered by law
and procedure, I will vote against it,” Zalewski wrote to Det. Sgt. Sean Kittle
in response to a letter he addressed to the entire Council. “In addition, I
would encourage my colleagues to vote against it as well.
“This is a bit presumptuous of me,
but I’m fairly confident that any such legislation would never make it out of
committee.”
Doherty, chair of the Public
Safety Committee, said his ordinance would carry a fine of up to $5,000 and up
to 15 days in jail.
Kittle, in his letter to the
Council, said he was “disheartened” by the ordinance, not because he disagrees
with it in principal but because there are already laws protecting a citizen’s
right to videotape police officers. Also, he said, it violates the Constitution
by singling out police officers.
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| ZALEWSKI LETTER |
“I am disheartened because I
expect much more from an elected city official than an attempt to advance legislation
that is directed at only a select group in our society,” Kittle wrote. “A naïve
person may believe your intent is honorable because of misconceptions that
exist. But, if you simply change the words from “Troy Police Officer” and
replace it with some other specific group (ex: race, religion, disability,
etc.) you may begin to realize that you, as an elected official, are not embracing
the basic principles held in the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
Earlier, Capt. John Cooney called the ordinance an "insult."
Doherty has not formally proposed
the legislation but it came out of a third Public Safety Committee meeting over the
Jan. 25 melee at Kokopells bar that ended with eight officers injured – six requiring
hospital care – and eight people arrested for a host of crimes including
disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.
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| KITTLE LETTER |
During the first, well-attended
Public Safety Committee meeting, many of the public claimed the TPD implements institutionalized
racism and often uses excessive force with little or no ramifications. The criticism
continued during the second, but Police Chief John Tedesco did have an
opportunity to respond to the accusations and many citizens defended the police
not only for their actions on Jan. 25 but in general.
The letters came to this blog through someone with close ties to the Council.
This was discussed at the 3rd public safety committee meeting and Zelewski says they never heard of it? Selective hearing Ken? Will you tell the residents of South Troy you didn't know about the truck traffic with no new road in the new proposal? This group is absolutely dangerous to the law abiding taxpayers of the city of troy.
ReplyDeleteWill Morris lift his shirt at Vic's? Will bill dunne enjoy? Did spokeswoman leave a cell phone at a bar in drunk stupper. Who returned it to Lou. Chris Ryan or his kid?
ReplyDeleteDoes Morris look good in a skirt? Will there ever be anyone at City Hall who does? Youre slipping Lou!
DeleteUmm Monica until she screws up and goes to work for a non for profit shortly after
DeleteWhatever you think about the proposal, there is an inane comment by Kittle.
ReplyDeleteThe police in no way function like a minority group in our society or our laws. I am just stunned Kittle would say something sooooo stupid.
"if you simply change the words from “Troy Police Officer” and replace it with some other specific group (ex: race, religion, disability, etc.) you may begin to realize that you, as an elected official, are not embracing the basic principles held in the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights."
Thanks Bob, shouldn't you be getting ready to annoy the folks at city hall. If you hadn't yet noticed the doors have all been closed not because they're busy or reading McCashen's tweets, it's your buffoon behavior.
DeleteVito's door is open up at rink he won't back talk he doesn't like being scold by Lou the following day.
DeleteRemember when Vito's first amendment rights we're crushed and mayor Lou presented a gag order on him.
DeleteI am more than a little sad in the fact that through out the last several election cycles the PBA chose to not vet or endorse a republican candidate. It seems you folks got what you paid for.
ReplyDeleteAccording to Troycrazy this is described as the classic "Bitchslap" !
ReplyDeleteMake no mistake. Zalewski formulated this ultra liberal proposal and, as always, has someone else carry the message so that he isn't criticized.
ReplyDeleteHe obviously has read public opinion on this matter and now throw Doherty to the wolves. Two conclusions: Ken will always be gutless and Bob will continue to be Rodney's and Ken's sap.
You can always count on Kenny to forget who helped elect him, who his friends are, to change his position with the wind and, yes, if Ken says nothing will get done, we know ... nothing gets done with Kenny in town!
DeleteKen is a narcissistic windbag. But lets be fair. He's a hell of a facebooker.
DeleteRemember the Time Warner deal Crawley worked out for the city? Still waiting for Mr. Let's Form a Committee to Study This Zalewski to show us the better deal he negotiated.
DeleteLooking at his photo, one has to ask: is Zalewski related to Putin ? They look like brothers.
ReplyDeleteThe hell with Putin --looks like he was separated at birth from Mark McGrath
DeleteYour taking these insults of Kenny too far now.
DeleteWait, Ken Zalewski lecturing someone with endless paragraphs of patronizing bullshit? How unusual.
ReplyDeleteWho is the bitch?
ReplyDeleteAs to Floozewski? If he says nothing will be done, I'd believe him. Hell, he doesn't get anything done when he says he's going to do something. Well, other than heating up whatever room he is in with his unending monologues and indecisiveness. Expect more such media blurbs from him. He's pissed that Rod the Lip is getting too much press, for Kenny want to be Mayor too...or, more!
Great day at City Hall, St. Patrick's Day and the only bad news is about Tutunjian's people. Haven't seen a tweet all day. Coors light all around!
ReplyDeleteU can thank Henzo for doing the right thing here. Spili it any way u want. Crawley got them nailed. Just like willy
ReplyDeleteIf I remember correctly Crawley got rid of Messnier, Rosenthal and THA board president Vince Jimino all at the same time. What gives?
DeleteWhat about Petersons taste the rainbow shirts sheerans bugle boy cutoffs and dunnes pre ww2 sweaters. Fashion mall city hall
ReplyDeleteAll to impress the chicks at council meetings.
DeleteLet's not forget Vitos cowboy boots in all colors. Lou is lucky to have him
ReplyDeleteSkittles does not want this policy to go through. ... does not live in Troy, does not vote in Troy, buddies with domestic violence nutso Willie Wade, thinks he is a minority (Skits, are you really that ignorant?), and he's got Mr. Kenny on his side. Mr. Kenny, what happened to believing what the African American community in Troy told you about police brutality, or will doing what's right impact your job in the Senate? Legislature? You've got to be Gary's replacement, right? King forever!
ReplyDeleteAn Open Letter to Skits! Dear Skits, Here are some writing tips to help you be MORE successful in your next letter writing campaign. Next time, check a thesaurus. Think about avoiding the unnecessary repetition of a word like “disheartened.” Other words called "synonyms" could be used, such as, daunted, dejected, dismayed and discouraged to name a few. Think about deleting the double-spacing between paragraphs and eliminate the spaces between your name and title; that's called the complimentary closing in case you missed that lesson in second grade. Why the change in typeface? ...Italics? ..first sign of a poor communicator! Also, in social studies, if you missed that class, there is a document called the U.S. Constitution and another one called the "Bill of Rights." Between them, esp. if you read them, you'll learn an awful lot about your rights as well as those you claim to serve. Finally, laws that address specific behaviors are not unconstitutional; they are called "laws," and they were written for you and for me as well as for everyone else, even your very best friends! If you don’t like working here, and it sounds like you don’t, why not look for another job in law enforcement in another community? Given your gifts, I am sure there would be a line in front of your office, begging you to join another police force in the Capital District. The TPD has a great local, state-wide and national reputation! Hey, while you’re at it, help Willie Wade, too; that guy is so great, everyone except his ex-girlfriend, her family, her co-workers, the arresting police officers, her friends and any functional person that read the transcript of the deposition probably agrees! Go, Skits, go! And, I mean it: Your talents are wasted here. You really need to find a better job! You deserve so much!
ReplyDeleteWTF. Who is Skittles?
Delete"Also, in social studies, if you missed that class, there is a document called the U.S. Constitution and another one called the "Bill of rights"'
DeleteObviously you missed the same class. The bill of rights if the first 10 amendments of the US Constitution. Also I believe the officer was stating a law that targets a specific group not a behavior. Here's a history lesson for you again. Jim Crow laws targeted a specific group of people. That has been deemed unconstitutional to target a specific group of people. Put your bag of "skittles" down and re-read the constitution, the officers email and your 2nd grade social studies book and then come back and tell us all what you've learned.
Sweeney? Steve?
DeleteOur next Mayor?
ReplyDeleteOuch, That's going to leave a mark....
ReplyDeleteWhoa... enough... ladies and gentlemen in blue, please stop. The reason our department is being viewed as less than stellar is based solely on the political interference by our own Bob Fitzgerald and the fools in city hall. They played the game and used us as pawns, and WE lost. We are all flawed and some have grudges from past transgressions but, we have to stick together. The warm weather is soon upon us and we'll be under fire as IT all moves outside. Lookout for each other and let Fitz and the mopes at city hall play with each other. Be safe.
ReplyDeleteZalewski's a fool, here. He's failing to understand the difference between the so-called laws he's citing. The Department of Justice has demonstrated here (http://www.justice.gov/crt/about/spl/documents/Sharp_ltr_5-14-12.pdf) that extensive case law interprets filming the police as protected free speech. However, the legal protections require that an officer violate one's constitutional rights and then pursue the officer in a CIVIL suit following section 1983 of the crime bill. There are no CRIMINAL laws that can currently be used against officers who violate the rights of citizens to observe and/or film them.
ReplyDeleteIn the Folley v Polay case -- that the Troy PD and Officer Polay had to pay out $90k of tax payer dollars for! -- Officer Polay attacked and beat Folley because Folley was filming his friend, Shakim Miller, being beaten by cops. The only reason Folley was attacked was for filming them. He got beaten so badly, he had broken bones from the incident. In 2010, an RPI student was beaten for filming his fraternity brother who was being clubbed in the street. Troy Police have a pattern of attacking people who observe their activity. So, they have a pattern of violating the civil rights of citizens and visitors to take part in observing their activity. This law is needed, because the civil protections are insufficient. Ultimately, it will save Troy taxpayers lots of money, and it will provided a demonstrably needed protection against reckless officers.
Thank you for your clarification, it will hopefully help people understand the importance of all of us abiding be the laws.
ReplyDelete