Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Ethics Commission clears Wiltshire


By a unanimous vote, the Ethics Commission cleared Council President Rodney Wiltshire of any violations, Monday.
The commission was looking into social media reports that Wiltshire had a financial interest in Kokopellis, a Fourth Street bar where a melee occurred on Jan. 25 that ended with five arrested and eight officers injured, six severely enough to require hospital treatment. Since, three more have been arrested.
Wiltshire has staunchly maintained he did nothing wrong, has no financial interest in the bar and called the investigation a “witch hunt” by some members of the seven-member panel.
Parts of the melee were caught on surveillance and cell phone cameras and they appear to show an orderly crowd leaving the bar as police were entering. However, things quickly got out of hand when police attempted to arrest Roshwan Donley. Videos show a police officer beating him with a nightstick while others held him down. Outside the bar, police describe, and video show, a chaotic scene with people throwing bottles at officers and someone throwing a garbage can through the back window of a cruiser.
Police say they were justified in their use of force while many claim it was one more example of police using force to the excess. Racial tensions remain spiked in the Collar City, with a forum being held at the Missing Link Ministry Wednesday, and a third Public Safety Committee meeting slated for March 5. The first was for the public to voice its concerns about the police and during the second Chief John Tedesco had a chance to respond. Both hearings were packed and emotionally charged. 

The commission also is looking into a decision by Councilman Bob Doherty, D-District 4, to accompany the owners of Kokopellis – Barry and Joe Glick – to the New York State Liquor Authority. Doherty, who chairs the Public Safety Committee, said previously he only went to urge the SLA to not make any rash decisions regarding the bar, which is located in his district, until all the facts regarding what transpired on Jan. 25 is known.

The commission has not ruled on Doherty as of Wednesday morning.
More information as it becomes available. A press release by the commission is due out today.

32 comments:

  1. If Wiltshire engaged in funny business with the SLA, the City Council's bogus ethics confab will mean squat compared to what awaits him from the Attorney General's office (unlike McNally's outfit, that one will actually prosecute felonious Democrats).

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  2. Well somebody does care! Regardless of what this ethics board found it's clear Rodney has no self awareness as he and his crew (Cox, Couch, Bacote) have one motive and one only, get Rodney elected. You think it's bad now with Lou and Pete in way over their heads, let's go with Rodney. And the loser republicans, Harry, Cubit, Mazur, Crist and Gordon use this ethics board as a vehicle to embarrass Rodney. Let him be, he'll do a better job of making a fool of himself on his own.

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  3. How bout the ethics commission looking into dave Sheeran showing up his fellow code officials by showing up to complaint calls wearing his custom high top snow shoes. The engineer makes all other code officials sit at their desks during snow storms.

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    1. He was seen peering in the windows of the friends of 112th street dinner. He was banned a few years back after a heated argument with everyone's favorite rabbit. The gutter didn't appreciate it the next day

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    2. No hightops at the dinner? Who sang tesla skid row and ratt hits while strumming a sic air guitar wearing acid washed denim and a warrant tee shirt? Who filled that gap? Two burgh legends not present at the dinner of gentleman high top sheeran and turtle.

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    3. Rabbits gutter don't like when people back talk to her senior

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  4. So lets get this straight, the Ethics Board who is appointed by the majority of the DEMOCRATS is not responsible for bringing up zany investigations, its still the Republican's fault. Yeah, go sell your brand of crazy somewhere else. There is no investigation if Reverend Shaw doesn't say so. Who appointed him? Oh yeah, the DEMOCRATS. Class dismissed.

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    1. There are seven on the commission and seven people vote whether or not to investigate. Not all were appointed by the Dems. Do your own homework before you dismiss the class, Republican logic FAIL.

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    2. Yeah, but 5/7 were.

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    3. Here is the real deal. The Ethics Commission hasn't been operating for awhile and now that they are people are afraid their shenanigans are gonna bite them in the ass. It isn't a Dem vs. Rep. witch hunt like you believe, you're too paranoid.

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  5. He runs like Mickey Rivers in his high top pf flyers

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    1. More like troys own jimmy rivers

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    2. Hi Tops sings like Johnny Rivers --after the crash

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    3. Lays on the ground like River Phonix

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    4. Looks and acts like Gary busey after the crash

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    5. Doesn't like bus rides either

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    6. He will do river dance around the engineers new hire

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    7. Over under on when Sheeran blows up on the engineeers new "boy"

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  6. Where is the press release indicating that Wiltshire was exonerated? Oh wait, that would show character, which Cubit had none. Cubit made a big deal of the accusation but nothing when they cleared him. Cubit also told Wiltshire that he investigated because someone told him of the issue, though he would not share the name. Cubit surely violated the spirit and the intent of the ethics law. Maybe he should be investigated? He was used by the republicans with nothing to show for it other than he has no character and no understanding of ethics!

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    1. The consent of all members of the commission must be given before an investigation is launched. John Cubit is only one member and he is not in charge. There was never an accusation of wrong doing. I hope that Rodney and all who work with Rodney regard this as a momentary distraction and have moved on. Anyone who is embellishing this with their own paranoid conclusions is not a friend to our Council President.

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    2. @ 7:17am....perception is reality. there was an accusation of wrong doing and this was the "investigation" to prove its merit. Nothing was proven, accusation is now terminated and everyone's time has been wasted>

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    3. There was no accusation whatsoever prior to the inquiry. The correct term is presumption, not perception..

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    4. True Troy dem rhetoric, "perception is reality" that's how we get elected. What you read on social media is what you get. Rodney Wiltshire has run his own business into the ground and now wants to oversee a city workforce. Policeman, fireman, office workers and all road crews. Take a deep breath and just ponder that thought. And then become very, very scared.

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    5. Well --he did create Green Jobs according to his campaign material. I guess the 1 job he created for himself qualifies. Nobody flies a fish like he does either

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  7. You have to be shitting me about this one. The Hungry Fish is going to have to have a fund raiser so they can buy a piece of property on Congress street from the city of Troy. I'm also told that this is one of Monica's deals. Where is the fiscally do diligents done on this deal? This is a real joke.

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    1. "Due diligence", Einstein. You must be a republican.

      It's a private fundraiser for a private business that increases the city tax base. What, exactly, is your problem?

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    2. Ok dunne. Love dr death

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  8. Cops love Rodney now. How did that endorsement work out for the PBA. Fitz has endorsed 5 guys who have been since indicted, signed agreements, entered plea's, or have sentenced to jail time. Let's not forget their darling, Naughty Nina.Now Munster & Rod sticking it to the boys in blue as a thank you.

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    1. Fitz picks losers, that's for sure. Takes one to endorse one, I guess.

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    2. Well done. Hit the nail on the head

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