Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Frozen pipes in Gloversville versus frozen pipes in Troy

MAYOR LOU

In an earlier post I gave Mayor Lou Rosamilia credit for standing by his guns and not helping residents thaw out their pipes in Lansingburgh.
By the letter of the law, he was probably right too because the city requires someone have a license to use the equipment needed to thaw out the pipes and if the city contracted such a person it would be “gifting” taxpayer money to help only a few residents.
I also said if I were mayor I would have fixed the pipes anyway. It’s not worth the headache for starters, and if doing so violated the city code and/or charter it would take someone to make a stink for it to matter. Nobody is going to make a stink out of helping a cancer survivor or a home with three kids getting the water turned back on. They will, however, make a big stink if you don’t help out. And it's not like the two documents have been sacrosanct by any administration. 
If the mayor was trying to shed his “nice guy” image in preparation for another run, he picked the wrong issue to stand on.
Here’s how it works in Gloversville, my hometown.
I visited my parents on Monday and at about 5:30 p.m. or so my mom discovered they had no water. Despite the fact it was over 40 degrees for the first time in weeks and weeks, the pipes froze – for the first time in 47 years. Evidently, just because the air is a bit warmer doesn’t mean the ground has lost its grip on winter.
PIPE THAWING MACHINE
Anyway, my parents called the Water Department and a recording gave them a non-emergency number at the Police Department. Whoever answered that number, gave them the number for someone on call at the Water Department. They reached that guy and he and another guy came to the house at about 7:30 p.m. with a funky machine that drives hot water and stem into the pipe.
Two hours later the water was flowing.
They were told that as the air temperature starts to get a  warmer during the day the snow melts into the earth. And because the nights are still cold, it freezes and the frost line actually goes deeper for a short period of time. Like I said, they built the house 47 years ago and it’s the first time the pipes froze.
The Water Department guys told them the first time is on the house but to leave their water running a little bit (kind of like the warning given to homeowners in Troy but in G’Ville they shut the meter off so residents won’t get charged for the water that will do nothing but run down the drain.) If the guys had to come back, it would be a $250 flat fee to thaw the pipes out again.
After reading my blog and hearing about Troy on the news for more than five days in a row, my parents were, to say the least, thrilled with the service they got from the Gloversville Water Department.
My dad, who with my brother owns a butcher store, brought the guys who came a couple nice steaks and my mom wrote a letter to the hometown paper, The Leader Herald, praising their work.
WATER DEPARTMENT GUY
IN MY PARENTS' BASEMENT
Both of those are fine gestures, but in a small town like Gloversville everyone knows, likes and respects the butcher (an honest, hard working small business owner) and everyone knows, likes and respects the nursery school teacher (in her 30 years, my mom taught a good chunk of two Gloversville generations and since retiring is now involved with so many civic activities my dad can’t even keep track.) Their word of mouth endorsement is worth more to a politician than any minor party line in Troy.
And, I just watched yet another negative story (how many days in a row now?) about Troy and the city’s refusal to help the residents in Lansingburgh get the pipes unfrozen – pipes owned by the city, no less.
By this point in time, Rosamilia and company should be used to their bad decisions making bad press.
Many of the bad decision though (King Street, King Fuels, not addressing the pending financial nightmare, illegal sidewalks, appointing a police commissioner, no union contracts, a shady attempt to sell the Scolite property, and a host of other snafus) are only noticed by those who really pay attention.
Everyone, though, pays attention when those in City Hall screw up basic services like plowing snow, picking up garbage and making sure water gets to a home.
It leads me to again ask: who the hell is giving the mayor advice? And whomever the hell that is should have been fired about three years ago. It also reinforces my other observation: he won’t run again.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

37 comments:

  1. Wade doesn't have anyone who wants to run.
    Wade wants anyone but Wiltshire.
    Wade is pressuring Rosamilia to consider running.
    Rosamilia doesn't want to run.
    Rosamilia figures if he makes enough moves like this, even Wade will be forced to move on from the slim hopes of a second Rosamilia administration.

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    1. I think you're right!

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    2. Fascinating analysis. Time to push it back into where you pulled it from-- your ass.

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    3. Did anyone ask Wade ? your assumption is wrong.

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  2. Sounds like Jim is calling out Peter Ryan, Bill Dunne and Ian Silverman. They are the ones giving Lou advice. So we have a nice guy who's incompetent. A guy that sold pencils before being politically appointed deputy mayor. A political animal and deviant in Dunne. A young man who begs the question "he went to law school" as your counsel. But food for thought, ask who will surround all the potential mayoral wannabes. These guys may look good.

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    1. Well lets prognosticate the staffs for those rumored to run : Jim Gordon, Rodney Wiltshire, Carmella Mantello, Cindy Doran and Ernest Everett. Who's deputy mayor, corporation counsel and planning director.

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    2. A man who begs the question of whether he went to law school? Sounds like Joel Abelove.

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    3. The only viable candidates are Lou, Rodney, and Carmella. No one seriously thinks Jim Gordon will be allowed to run... although you'll never go broke betting on the stupidity of the Troy GOP.

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  3. Nice story - I believe in Darwin's theory - soon enough evolution will take over and the idiocity / stupid will be adjusted for... At least we have that going for us...which is nice.

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  4. Lansingburgh to succeed to Gloversville!

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  5. One good thing about Rosamilia is that he has not given a raise to any union employee in at least 4 years. Negotiating union contracts will be the next mayors headache.

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    1. If the public safety unions go to an arbitrator they will definitely will receive raises.

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  6. we used to have a truck driven transformer thaw pipes from the fire hydrants back in the day..in Troy..

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  7. Peter Ryan, Bill Dunn, Bill Chamberlain, Ian Silverman, Hayner, Chuck Casale, Panichi, Carley, Matthews, Wade, corporate counsel, all steering him in the directions they benefit from not him.

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  8. Pathetic Peter Ryan is the problem. He has wet brain and can't possibly keep up with the lies. He's the one who lied about Lou being to sick to call the people in the Burgh meanwhile Lou is butting Parker house rolls in his pocket at the Democratic fund raiser in Albany. He and mindless Morris should be fired.

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  9. Lansingburgh has gone to shit. Arsonist still on the loose, no neighborhood infrastructure funding, crimes galore, no new businesses. Jim Gordon is a total waste of space, even worse than anyone predicted. Even the Republicans laugh behind his back.

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  10. How about Martin Reid voting down the resolution calling for him to resign? Pure Republican arrogance. He steals 30,000, won't apologize and Republican DA won't prosecute. Little guy steals 3,000 and DA throws the book at him. Disgraceful!

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    1. Martin Reid stole $15,000, it was Gary Galuski that stole $30,000. Get your criminal acts straight.

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    2. And what do you say about Lynn and Gary?

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    3. If the DOL refers unemployment cheats to your office for prosecution, YOU PROSECUTE THEM. What a dumbass. Did you really elect this guy? Why should Republican criminals get a pass for grand larceny?

      Abelove should be thrown out.

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    4. Good point, but why do democrats (Galuski) who stole double the amount get a pass. And a job too. Reid and Galuski should be removed and prosecuted. Agree?

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    5. Galuski wasn't referred by Labor to the DA for prosecution, that's the difference. But if that's what it takes, why not. Prosecute them both.

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  11. Run, Jim Gordon, Run!

    BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA

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  12. Just wondering if Wiltshire turned Republican saw him last night in the back of parking lot with Crist and Tutunjian what looked to be a political confence while I was leaving the leg. Meeting would love to no what is going on.

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  13. Lou's second term song. Eddie Money- Gimme some water.

    If Schenectady's fire happened in Troy Lou would say buy a ladder and find your deceased family member and the chief would declare the ruins safe.

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  14. Mantello is looking better and better...

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  15. I read in the Troy Record, Assistant City Clerk Lou Schneider not answering calls from Lansingburgh resident Eric Daus.

    1) Assistant City Clerk = useless position
    2) Lou Schneider = PHONY. Lou you should be ashamed of yourself. You have been PHONY your entire LIFE.

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    1. Lou has no time to answer calls. He's too busy all day playing around on Facebook liking everyone's posts on the taxpayers dime!

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  16. I am embarrassed to tell my friends that Lou is my mayor. He does not have a clue and should step aside.

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  17. Sliding dirty. 2 visits. First time no one would wait on me. Second time asked to leave for the Rensselaer County Cambers of Commerce. Will never go back. Short lived resteraunt.

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    1. Another Buell endeavor. Speaking of Buell endeavors, just got invited to a Rodney fundraiser at O'Brien's Public House. I thought I read they filed chapter 11 bankruptcy? They're still open? Will they be open for Rodney's coming out party? Buell will go down as the greatest hit and run developer in city history.

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  18. How bout dunne throwin a fit Over his chairs. Little billy bully in a sandbox.

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  19. Forget the pipes - what about these damn pot holes? You know where the city lines are by driving into the massive holes through out the city. I hope sweet Lou has money in his Plan to fix this... Hoosick street is the gateway to the city....embarrassing....

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  20. Blah blah blah. This blog is like a dinosaur museum. Get out of the way and make room for some new blood. Tutunjian? Mantello? Seriously? We have to escape the losers who have been keeping Troy down for all these years...

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  21. BEWARE THE IDES OF MARCH ...
    This was the day, five years ago, that the Democratic party in Rensselaer County began its downward spiral. History will recall the party's choice to take the road of corruption, ineptitude and deceit. Oh ... had they only chosen the higher road -- how great we might be right now.

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    1. Have another drink McCashion. Tomorrow's a special day. You and Duncan can ride the short bus to Vic's together.

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  22. I have to say Carmella is definitely our best option at this point... A lot of ideas know lets give her a chance to prove herself...

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