Who's Zoomin' Who

CNY Insider offers up a little local media criticism.

But that doesn't matter to WIBX's First Look Host and now News Director Dave Andrews. As is custom Dave becomes the best friend of whomever is sitting in front of him. This morning he gave Betcher ca rte Blanche to sound off on each and every point he wanted and did not challenge him one bit. At one point he even asked Betcher to "give him the facts" as if in this situation Betcher owns the rights to the "facts".

Now, this beef has little to do with the topic, because truthfully I do not know enough to say one side's argument is better than the other. What I do know is that an issues newstalk show, which First Look claims to be, is worthless if the host does not take a few minutes to read a newspaper and come up with one or two probing questions that force the interviewee to prove his or her point. If I was interested in only hearing Betcher's side of the story, I'd read the propaganda on his web site.

I think Insider pretty much hits the nail on the head- nearly every member of the local mainstream media is incredibly lazy. The bar for reporting in Utica is set amazingly low and with a few exceptions, usually staffers at the O-D, most of them are looking to crank out enough copy to fill up their assigned slot with as little work as possible.

There's also a case to be made that the local media is far too chummy with the political class. In some cases they are, quite literally, in bed with the very people they're reporting on. In Mr. Andrews case he was a government employee of one sort or another until fairly recently, when an unfortunate incident, or incidents depending on who is telling the story, brought his career as head of the DARE program to a screeching halt. Then we have Ryan Nobles, who managed to parlay his job as a reporter into a political career while his girlfriend, now his wife, was still slaving away under the hot lights of the newsroom. And lets not forget the seemingly endless stream of interns and talking heads from local broadcast outlets, usually but not always female, that ended up doing the horizontal monkey dance with some of the very politicians they were covering.

Well, they were still "covering" them, but a bit more carnally than journalistic ethics normally allows.

The Calm

An anonymous emailer tells me that the subject of Mayoral marital misconduct will indeed be a campaign issue this fall, despite pious protestations to the contrary. We can only such public-spirited inquiries extend to other elected officials from the area.

Oh, and Ed Hanna won't be on the ballot when November rolls around, but he'll be intimately involved with the election.

Although "intimately" might be a poor choice of words in this case.

Fireworks

The suspense is killing me.

Update: No, it's not a spelling mistake. I'm told that's what the actual tape is titled.

The Diddler Strikes!

It's been a busy day for the moderator of the O-D's Storychat forum. The story on Ed Hanna's search for a new home in Utica has created an explosion of snark, some of which has been gut-bustingly funny. Sadly, most of the really hysterical posts have been removed because they crossed over into personal attacks. The O-D doesn't really have any another option, since it's a clear violation of their terms of service, but it's still a shame they were tossed into the digital dustbin.

Another issue has been bubbling under the surface of the discussion, but I haven't seen anyone come right out and name names yet: Hanna isn't the only Mayor accused of diddling his staff. "Utica315" in particular, who I have a sneaking suspicion is Larry Tanoury Jr., has been deflecting criticism of Hanna's after-hours activities by hinting around about other Mayoral shenanigans. That's cool with me, since I think an elected official that violates his vows of marriage is just as likely to violate his oath of office.

Update:

As for Julian's people who keep mentioning this "allegation"; maybe it's time that we release the fact that there is another (very similar) "allegation" against Julian right now. He may not be accused of harrassment, but I think the evidence would show that he is in effect paying (with raises) for sexual favors. Why doesn't the media report that?

This is a serious charge that goes beyond accusing someone of infidelity, something I don't think "Utica315" appreciates. Abusing the powers of your office to reward a subordinate for sexual favors is a crime. Cheating on your wife isn't.

Update: Sweet Jumpin' Jeebus, this comment thread with "Utica315" just keeps getting better:

"Maybe the media hasn't reported it because it’s NOT true. Julian has no suits or allegations against him. Check your facts."

No suits? Not true? Maybe YOU should check your facts! There is a suit, and NO I'm not who you all think I am. Just simply check the facts and see how much money this "suit" has already cost city taxpayers in defense costs.

Maybe the reason you haven't heard about it is because the Plaintiff in this case has class and doesn't see it fit to run to the media with the allegations. The circumstances surrounding the case ruined a young man's life. If it was me I would be telling the whole world what really happened. I guess he is more of a man than I am.

I think we just saw Larry Tanoury Jr. deny that he was Larry Tanoury Jr. while saying the lawsuit by Larry Tanoury Jr. against the city of Utica is costing the city money. But that's okay, because Larry Tanoury Jr. is a classy guy. And he's most definitely not Larry Tanoury Jr., but if he was his life was ruined. Oh, and Larry Tanoury Jr. is more of a man than he is, because he's definitely not Larry Tanoury Jr..

Got that?

Update: Ack! Who should appear in the thread but....Larry Tanoury Jr.! It's a miracle! Seriously, go over and read the entire thread. It's a hoot.

Update: A reader asks if it's wise to accuse someone of being Larry Tanoury Jr. after the person in question just accused a public official of committing a heinous crime. I suppose I'll find out, won't I?

Update: Wait, it might not be Larry Jr. after all. I'm nominating this one for "Epic Thread" status.

It Practically Writes Itself

So, is this why they call him the Tool Man?

Mayor Tim Julian will make a cameo appearance Friday in the Players of Utica production "The Full Monty."

The show takes place at 8 p.m. at Utica College's Strebel Auditorium.

Tickets are $17 for adults, $15 for seniors and $8 for students.

Julian is a candidate in the city's fall mayoral race.

Thank the Lord above that there isn't an equal time provision for stage productions. I shudder at the thought of Ed Hanna whipping out his wing-wang on stage. He probably shudders at the thought of exposing himself in public as well.

But I suspect we're shuddering for different reasons.

Break it down! It's Hanna Time!

Ed Hanna's nefarious plot to once again rule the city of Utica is getting the thumbs down from the Observer-Dispatch.

The O-D does not endorse political candidates. But as noted above, long-time readers are well aware that this newspaper believes Hanna did more harm than good to Utica both in the 1970s and again in the 1990s. Voters, the business community, the nonprofit community and the political community have to ask themselves if enduring the hateful circus that is Ed Hanna's leadership trademark is truly in the best interests of this community's future.

It's important to remember that when Hanna resigned seven years ago, many in Utica breathed a sigh of relief:

• The city had been sued by four male employees accusing Hanna of sexually harassing them (it would later make a payment to settle the case).

• The city was defending itself in federal court over violating freedom of the press through actions such as not releasing details on local crime (it would later settle with the O-D and pledge not to withhold such information from the newspaper again).

• The City Center food court had melted down into one more vacant downtown location as Hanna sparred with the restaurants operating there over rent.

• Public safety employees had been insulted for years by Hanna's mean, insensitive remarks.

• And Hanna had squandered immense sums of Community Development Block Grant funds on pet projects, including the giant watering can now located at the Utica Zoo. Those are funds that could have gone to shore up Utica's neighborhoods, including East Utica, West Utica and Cornhill.

In Ed Hanna's mind this is a ringing endorsement, since a distinguishing feature of his world view is that the media has always been out to get him. Every criticism of his instability is just another reinforcement of his paranoid persecution complex, a validation of a mental state that is, at best, mercurial. Put simply, as my ex-hippie father-in-law quipped over the weekend, "Hanna? Dude's motherf***ing crazy."

Putting Mr. Hanna's questionable sanity aside, it's a foregone conclusion that he's going to bull ahead with his candidacy. And that's a good thing. Why?

Because I want to hear the tape.

You may remember that Mr. Hanna was embroiled in a gay sex scandal shortly before his resignation. Four men had accused him of forcing them to engage in sexual acts as part of their employment. More intriguingly, there was allegedly an audiotape of Mr. Hanna having a detailed conversation about those acts.

A seventy year old guy. Talking about the ways young men could pleasure him.

Seven years ago something like that wouldn't have had much of an impact unless it was broadcast. Today, well, things are different. It only takes a few minutes to convert a tape into an MP3, post it to a website, and watch it spread like wildfire. Even better, if the description of the tape's contents are accurate, there's a good chance it will get passed along far and wide because of it's entertainment value.

The result? Ed Hanna will lose the election. Worse, he'll go to his grave as a punchline, remembered only as a goggle-eyed dirty old man that had a taste for young flesh. Not so good for Mr. Hanna, but it will save Utica from a great deal of further embarrassment.

Is It The Fumes?

There is a growing body of evidence that there may be an unrecognized hazardous materials site in Oneida County. I'm speaking, of course, about the Utica Mayor's office. Has the DEC ever tested the air there? There seems to be some kind of chemical or contaminant that creates an overwhelming urge to boff your employees.

Update: A reader thinks I'm bringing up things that shouldn't be brought up. Normally I'd agree that who you're sleeping with isn't a political issue, but the Mayoral tendency to engage in hanky panky with subordinates is a bit different. As in any organization, relationships within the chain of command are terrible for morale and can expose municipalities to crippling legal liabilities. Ed Hanna's reputed assignations have already cost the city of Utica a quarter of a million dollars and...other...Mayoral indiscretions could be equally damaging.

Is it really all that hard for these guys to keep their pants zipped?

Diddle Me This, Toolman!

Like a case of antibiotic-resistant TB, Ed Hanna is back.

Former Utica Mayor Edward A. Hanna will seek the mayor’s office in the fall’s election.

Hanna, who lives in Fayetteville, paid for an advertisement in the Observer-Dispatch announcing his plans to move back to Utica with his wife, Ellen.

“As always, I am seeking the office of mayor using only my own money, under obligation to no one,” Hanna states in the advertisement. “The party name I chose says it all: For The People.”

Update: Joe Politics has more.