Those Damn Immigrants

Another one of those horrible immigrants from Bosnia is asking for us to give him even more:

A Utica man is working to put together a benefit concert for fallen Utica Police officer Thomas Lindsey.

Nedim Mujic never met Officer Lindsey, but says after hearing the news of his death, he wanted to do something to help.

Mujic, who is originally from Bosnia, created a web site in Officer Lindsey's honor and came up with the idea of a benefit concert. He says this is his way of giving back to the community.

You can find Mr. Mujic's website, and details about the benefit concert, at thomaslindsey.com.

In case your sarcasm detector is broken, I think this a typical example of how much recent immigrants to our country, and our area in particular, add to our community. There's a certain subset of the local population that thinks the thousands of Bosnians that now call Utica home are a "problem". Not surprisingly, they also dislike the immigrants from Somalia, Russia, Nigeria, Vietnam, Peru, Cambodia, Pakistan, and, well, pretty much anywhere.

What most of those critics of immigration fail to grasp is that the only thing stopping our area from undergoing a massive economic collapse is the influx of legal immigrants. Without them there's a good chance our population would have fallen below the level necessary to support any kind of tax base in the last decade. Even a casual examination of the real estate transactions and business incorporation announcements in the Observer-Dispatch will demonstrate that it's the people with "funny sounding" surnames that are now building the foundation of our local economy.

They're the ones buying marginal properties in blighted areas of the city and restoring them.

They're the ones starting up the small businesses that fuel what little real economic growth we have.

They're the ones that are helping to give us a future.

It's Not The Years, It's The Mileage

Joe Politics celebrates:

Today is a monumental day for CNY Political Insider. It was on this day one year ago that I began the ill-fated journey of posting about the comings and goings of Central New York Politicians. After a near brush with shutting down, I have maintained and for better or worse, survived.

This also marks the blog's 100th post, which in the blog world is a very small accomplishment. I have tried to post 100 insightful and worthy pieces of information. I haven't always been successful, but it has been fun.

When it stops being fun it's time to quit.

The Wheel Of Karma

Strikeslip has a nice write-up on the constitutional, and karmic, implications of the Department of Energy's pro-NYRI corridor ruling.

Sometimes "what goes around comes around," as someone astutely pointed out on Story Chat referring to Mr. Picente's complaint that the Federal National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor designation for Oneida County is unconstitutional. Just like Oneida County shoved a huge garbage dump onto the small (in population) Town of Ava, the Federal Government may be about to shove the NYRI power line onto politically insignificant Oneida County.

Shame, shame on us for thinking it was OK for someone else to sacrifice their environment for our needs . . . and dismissing their complaints as "NIMBY" sentiments . . . or merely standing mute while it all happened. . . NOW we will know how it feels. Maybe we will learn a lesson from the experience, and change our ways.

Sadly, the NYRI powerline, in one form or another, is going to be built. There may be some legal maneuvering over the next few years, but we simply don't have enough political power to materially impact the outcome of this particular fight.

New York City and it's environs desperately need power. Upstate has a surplus of energy that will only continue to grow because of additional generating capacity in the form of dozens of windfarms. We also have a dearth of demand, despite what you might think from your high energy bills, because dozens of manufacturers have taken their mills and factories elsewhere.

What Upstate lacks, and New York City has in ample supply, are votes. Votes that can swing every state and national election for the candidate that says he or she will keep the power flowing. And after they get the power they're going to come for the water.

Does anyone seriously think any state or national politician will do anything that could alienate the massive block of downstate voters? Sure, they'll talk a good game and put out some reassuring press releases, but if there's even a possibility that the City is threatened by brownouts or a water shortage they'll don the ritual robes and sacrifice us on the altar of expediency.

Don't think it'll happen?

"Marcy chip fab" ring any bells? How about the state Homeland Security facility at the county airport? Or the state records complex?

Our success in capturing those facilities should give you a good idea how successful the fight against NYRI is going to be.

Friday Night + Sambuca = Photoshop Fun

Sure, it's juvenile, but even Voltaire told fart jokes.

Just as a note of explanation, I vaguely remember that Earle Reed's house has some kind of weird farmland exemption on his property tax assessment. Or something. I'm too lazy tonight to actually go over to the excellent database at New Hartford Online to check, but I'm sure there's something dodgy there. This is, after all, Earle "Christ, we actually have to let them vote on this crap?" Reed we're talking about.

I kidz! I kidz! LOLZ.

Tinfoil Hats, Ho!

Here's a conspiracy theory for you, courtesy of My Paranoid Friend(TM): Frank Meola's candidacy for Mayor of Utica is a clever scam. He and his supporters know he doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell of winning, what with the criminal history and all, but that's exactly why he's running. He's so bad, so totally unsuited for high office, that when Meola drops out the real Democratic candidate will look like a godsend in comparison.

Farewell To A Giant

One of the towering figures of the music world has passed. Mstislav Rostropovich has died.

Mstislav Rostropovich, the ebullient master cellist who fought for the rights of Soviet-era dissidents and later triumphantly played Bach suites below the crumbling Berlin Wall, has died. He was 80.

Rostropovich died today in a Moscow cancer hospital, the Itar-Tass news agency reported. Rostropovich’s spokeswoman, Natalia Dollezhal, confirmed he had died but she did not provide other details.

Rostropovich, who resided in Paris after self-imposed exile, had intestinal cancer.

Rostropovich owned an estate in Jordanville in New York for several years but rarely visited. It was sold in November 2005 for $1.15 million. It featured 790 acres of woods, pastures and a large pond, along with five buildings.

I visited the Jordanville estate twice, once as a student in an advanced art seminar and again, many years later, when I was an adult. The seminar was a transformative experience in my life. I'm still amazed that I was chosen for it, since I'd been a terrible student and a constant thorn in the side of my instructors, but one teacher saw more than just a sullen, combative kid from a dirt-poor family. She took a huge risk fighting for my inclusion and I can never repay her for how much it changed my life. That seminar never would have happened if not for the sponsorship of Maestro Rostropovich, but I eventually, in a small and very personal way, ended up paying part of my debt to him.

Mayor Stickyfingers?

Utica Councilman Frank "Stickyfingers" Meola has become the endorsed Democratic candidate for this year's mayoral race.

The Utica Democratic Committee has endorsed Common Councilman Frank Meola as candidate for mayor, committee Chairman Mitchell Ford said Wednesday night.

Meola, who represents the fourth ward and was elected to the council in 2003, is a hardworking, energetic candidate who has improved Utica during his time on the Common Council, Ford said.

"I'm hoping he'll bring more economic growth to the city," Ford said. "The city has been stagnant a long time."

The Democratic Party chose to endorse Meola during a closed meeting at the Sons of Italy lodge on Bleecker Street Wednesday night.

If elected Mr. Meola would have the dubious distinction of being the first convicted felon to attain the office of Mayor in New York state this decade. On the bright side, he already has a relationship with Governor Spitzer. You may remember that it was then Attorney General Spitzer that brought the hammer down on Mr. Meola for his involvement in an organized crime ring.

"The individuals involved in this ring set out to plunder upstate stores on a daily basis," said Spitzer. "The extent of this crime and the frequency with which it occurred is shocking. Thanks to a cooperative effort by my office, the State Police and local retailers, this ring of criminals, which plagued area businesses for so long and at such enormous cost, is now out of business -- permanently."

"This type of organized crime is among the many challenges facing legitimate New York business enterprises today," Superintendent McMahon said. "Unfortunately, large scale thefts such as these add to the overhead expenses that must be borne by retailers. Ultimately, these costs are passed along to the consumer. I am pleased that the teamwork between the Attorney General’s Organized Crime Task Force and the New York State Police has put this organization out of business.’

That incident brought Mr. Meola to the attention of the State Insurance Department, which fined him for his "untrustworthiness".

Frankly, with a track record like that I can't imagine a more perfect candidate for Mayor of Utica. It's been far too long since someone associated with organized crime was at the helm of the city.

Fear The Fur

CNY Circus has a look at Ithaca College's use of the virtual reality world of Second Life as a classroom.

No dull old talking head hook-ups by computer or satellite for guest lecturers at Ithaca College. They’ve started making virtual trips to campus by sending their avatars from the online alternate universe of Second Life.

What the linked Ithaca Journal article fails to mention is that Second Life is populated with the most ridiculed, hated, and marginal group on the internet: Furries.

If you've seen the infamous CSI episode featuring the Furry community you've seen but a glimpse of their horrific nature. Gaze upon the abomination, if you dare!

I firmly believe that nothing is beyond Furries. Some will sink to any level to gratify their sexual urges. A lot of furries assure me that not ALL Furries like looking at poorly drawn pictures of cartoon characters having sex, not ALL Furries like reading Rescue Rangers erotic fiction, not ALL Furries have sex in Fursuits, not ALL Furries own a collection of specially modified 'yiffable' soft toys, not ALL Furries do these things - it's just the 'Furverts' it's just some bad 'Fursons' that are into those things.

Note: Do not click on the the link to the above site if you value your sanity. The author describes the activities of the Furry subculture in detail and it's not pretty. Seriously, this is the kind of stuff that would make Larry Flynt blush.

Are Floaty's Days Numbered?

Oneida County has spewed over half a billion gallons of sewage into the Mohawk River in the last two years. The state has set this week as the deadline for fixing the problem.

The county needs to either sign the state's proposed consent order or request further discussions, said Department of Environmental Conservation spokesman Stephen Litwhiler.

The order was issued by the environmental agency so the county would stop pumping untreated waste from a Yorkville pump station into the Mohawk River. The estimate for repair work is $66 million.

"We're going to continue negotiations until we get a consent that works in a manner to our satisfaction," Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente said.

The county's response will be given to the department by Monday and will have three major amendments to the state's order, Picente said. They are:

•More time to conduct a study of the problem and an extension of the state's 2011 deadline to complete necessary repairs.

•Getting rid of the $200,000 in fines the department imposed on the county.

•Lifting the moratorium barring sewer extension permits to the affected areas.

To boil that down to it's essence, Mr. Picente's response is to do a study. Worse, he wants to continue allowing development that will only put even more feces and sewage into the river. In much of the state projects like that are forced to construct their own water treatment facilities so the net load on the sewage system doesn't increase, but Oneida County seemingly can't agree to even that token effort to keep our surface water uncontaminated.

The Hunt Goes On

WKTV has posted the video of today's press conference on the Lindsey investigation. After watching how both Chief Pylman and DA McNamara have handled themselves over the course of the investigation I've been impressed by the professionalism of both men. I've had almost the exact opposite reaction to the local media.

Larry Tanoury Lays It Down

Larry Tanoury has risen to the challenge:

UPDATE: This blogger continues to question this "MySpace" account. As if there aren't any real issues to discuss. They have asked "what song was on the profile." What does it matter? As I stated, I deleted the account in order to avoid dirty tactics like these.

Well, no, you didn't say that, at least until now. And your account wasn't deleted, it was switched from public to private three hours after the cognitive dissonance between your public and private persona was pointed out on an internet message board.

I don't remember exactly what song they are looking for, as I would often change songs. I believe the last song was "Cake" by 50 Cent. You say you have it archived, I say release it so that everyone can see how rediculous this whole conversation is.

See, that wasn't hard, was it? People like politicians that are open and honest. After all, what could possibly be offensive about a song? It's just words and music, right? The very idea that your theme song could be "embarrassing" is laughable on it's face, which is why this whole brouhaha is, as you point out, so trivial.

Really, people are so thin skinned these days.

I would like to point out, in the interest of fairness, that Mr. Cent is merely a featured artist. The credit for the song itself belongs to the talented Lloyd Banks, who deserves all the credit for lyrics that flow off the tongue like fine poetry:

I need the cake nigga!
The Unit dont play, we rap but we strapped
Buck got the shotgun, 50 got the Mac
Spider got the sweeper and he dyin to hear it clap
you wont have another birthday (cake) after that
cuz Yayo got a temper and he dont know how to act
and Ive been gone a winter, but now a nigga back
to get the (money)all the (money)all the(money)all the(money)all the (cake!)

[Verse- LLoyd Banks]
And you mutherfuckas looking like steak
food on the plate, for the wolves, follow moves,
dont get moved by the tools, blood'll ooze on ya shoes
Wait!, control ya hate, you aint ridin in them sixes
(Why?), cuz you spendin all ya (cake) on them bitches
I need the bread, lil niggas need christmas
Banks dont rap with a backpack, im in it for the
(money)all the (money)all the(money)all the(money)all the (cake!)

[Verse-50 Cent]
haha, you heard Banks say it so you know i got the Mac
I'll pull up pull out spray hollows at ya back
i dont give a fuck its goin down like that
i dun been thru everyhood that niggas gonna rat
in the heart of a victim, murder is monumental
i dont complicate shit kid, i keep it simple
my bullet wounds will tell you a story bout what i been through
Southside trauma, drama with the llamas
i converstate with killers its usually bout life
politic with lawness its usually bout white
im da posterchild of violence im the boy on the poster
when the shots start to ring out im the boy with the toaster
yea listen up clicko, i hustle i get dough
you fuckin with a sicko, i spaz let a clip go
cannon out the rental, beam to ya temple
i squeez blow ya mental, all over ya friends

[Verse-Lloyd Banks]
me im from the street, we aint nothin sweet
the home of the homi's, theres a body everyweek
now i dont hear the sirens but they probably on a creep
plottin to pull me over, plant the (cake) in my jeep
so i'll be skippin cities, 7 states in a week
cant a mutherfucka breathin and tell me i cant eat
show me the (money)of the (money)of the(money)of the(money)of the (cake!)
nigga slowdown pump ya brakes
no mistakes cuz them jakes run the plates
then ya headed upstate for rollin round with a steak
nigga start up a beef, and run straight to the cops
you a bitch ass nigga the cup(cake) of the block
any nigga disrespect the clique gettin shot
round here niggas get found upside down over the
(money)all the (money)all the(money)all the(money)all the (cake!)

Well. That was uplifting.

Since Mr. Tanoury has pointed out my cultural ignorance several times, I'd like to defend myself by listing the lessons I've learned from his theme song.

1. "Nigga" isn't really an offensive word.

2. When you're confronted by armed men, one with a pump shotgun, one with a MAC-10, and one with a cut-down fully-automatic shotgun, the one to watch out for is the one with the fully-automatic shotgun.

3. Good financial planning is ruined when you use an excessive amount of your income to impress "bitches".

4. The MAC-10 machine pistol is particularly effective when firing hollow-point bullets.

5. When a gunfight erupts, aim for the head.

6. Police want to pull you over and plant "cake" in your car. From the word usage I'm beginning to think the "cake" in question isn't from Sarah Lee.

7. If you start a confrontation and then go to the police for protection you're a "bitch ass nigga".

I'd like to thank Mr. Tanoury for providing me with this educational experience. I think we all owe him a big debt of gratitude for what we've learned today.

Still Life, With Meltdown

The dancers have left the floor, the wait staff are clearing the plates from the tables, but the band plays on.

Common Council President Patrick Donovan on Friday called for the council to end its investigation of police Chief C. Allen Pylman, but an O-D poll of council members showed division over whether to shut down the inquiry.

Donovan, a Republican who's also chairman of the Public Safety Committee, said Pylman was an effective leader and the council needed to move on.

But three council members — two Democrats and one Republican — said it's inappropriate and poor timing for Donovan to be discussing the issue eight days after a Utica police officer was shot and killed.

Here's the reaction from council members reached Friday afternoon:

•Majority Leader Bill Phillips, D-5, Councilman Rocco Giruzzi, R-at-large, and Councilman James Zecca, D-2, said it's not the time to argue about the council investigation. City leaders need to focus on one goal: apprehending police Officer Thomas Lindsey's killer, they said.

Unless Mr. Phillips, Mr. Giruzzi, and Mr. Zecca are personally gathering evidence and working the phones it's hard to imagine what, exactly, they're doing to find Officer Lindsey's killer. Over a hundred officers from multiple law enforcement agencies have been doing the actual work of trying to capture a murderer. The Utica Common Council hasn't, and can't, do much more than offer their well-wishes to the investigation.

•But Councilman David Roefaro, D-at-large, and Councilman Frank Meola, D-4, want to complete what the council started. Transcripts of witness testimony need to be filed and forwarded to Mayor Tim Julian and possibly the Attorney General's Office, they said.

It's been two months since the last witness offered testimony before the council. Are they seriously suggesting there hasn't been enough time for the simple transcription of oral testimony? If that's the case, the Common Council needs to look into getting some new office staff.

"I think it is a political move and in light of what has happened to our community this week, I think his timing is deplorable," Roefaro said. "It is his opinion that the chief exhibits good leadership because there are many things in this investigation that will come to light. This will go to the Attorney General's Office."

Well, there you have it. Mr. Roefaro believes he's uncovered criminal actions that warrant action by the Attorney General. Charges so serious, so devastating, that the chief law enforcement officer of the state needs to be brought on board...but Mr. Roefaro can't really say what those charges are. Considering the dire nature of the situation isn't it vital that the transcripts be completed as soon as possible? From the inexplicable foot dragging of the council it would appear the real answer is somewhat in doubt.

Update: A kind bystander pointed out that criminal charges should have been filed for Officer Franco's assault on a suspect. While I'm not totally sure that's true, it's undeniable that the entire incident was covered up by Chief Pylman and then District Attorney Michael Arcuri. Oddly enough, while Mr. Roefaro has been questioning witnesses and gathering evidence during the investigation into the Franco incident he's also been serving as a member of now Congressman Arcuri's staff.

Your Guns Need To Go

It appears that Utica's Democratic Party is pushing the idea of a gun ban in the aftermath of the Lindsey shooting. This should be interesting.

Larry Tanoury Is Down With That

Larry Tanoury has called me out.

A certain blogger has posted some troubling information about my MySpace profile. The post is offensively titled "What do Larry Tanoury Jr. and Don Imus have in common?".

I have known about these naive allegations for some time, however, I thought they were so immature and childish that they didn't warrant a reply. However, I have now heard that certain Democrats are actually questioning what this is all about.

It's simple. I had a MySpace account for several years. MySpace is a social network which allows me to keep in touch with my friends across the country. The so-called "embarrassing material" was a simple RAP SONG.

Okay, I'll bite. What was the song?

Update: In addition to this post I've left a comment on Mr. Tanoury's blog asking the same question. If he chooses not to respond via email or his own blog within a reasonable time I'll assume he doesn't wish to answer it. I hope he doesn't do that, because I think this is a great opportunity for him to dispell my "lack of understanding of other cultures." Considering his extensive experience with racial inequality and human rights issues I think there's a lot we could all learn from such a discussion.

Update: I've been told there is indeed an archival copy of Mr. Tanoury's Myspace page from the time in question, as well as a way to access his current page. Since Mr. Tanoury may well be away from internet access I'll give him some more time to respond before exploring those options.

Update: A helpful reader writes:

"...ol' 3.9 must use spell check a bit better on his term papers than he does his blog.

I currently have a cummulative GPA of 3.9 and am planning on transfering to Utica College to major in Political Science with a minor in Human Rights Actavism.

If someone was going to Actavate on my behalf I'd hope he could spell."

Bad spelling does have a negative "cumulative" effect on reader perceptions.

You Can Have My Gamepad When You Pry It From My Cold, Dead Fingers

Now that all of New Yorks major problems have been solved, Gov. Spitzer has decided to crack down on the insidious pixellated threat that lurks in our living rooms.

Gov. Eliot Spitzer will take a shot at violent videos and video games as part his remaining 2007 legislative agenda that includes campaign finance reform, streamlining the courts, and energy development.

Spitzer said he will soon provide a bill that would target the ratings of video movies and video games "'that are often violent and degrading"' and can hurt children who repeatedly use and view them.

Spitzer said he wants to restrict access to these videos and games by children, similar to motion picture regulations which prohibit youths under 17 from being admitted to R-rated movies without a parent or adult guardian.

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the ultimate expression of the "For the children!" mentality.

I won't dwell on the fact that the system Spitzer proposes already exists. I won't mention that every major game publisher already uses a rating system nearly identical to the one used by the Motion Picture Association of America. I'll avoid pointing out that every game retailer already has policies in place that prevent children from getting games with an inappropriate age rating.

Instead, I'd like to take a moment to ask Gov. Spitzer, in all seriousness, if he's out of his mind. This is what you're worried about? This is the major crisis the state is facing? Are you kidding me?

Remember the whole "Appalachia" thing? Yeah? Well, guess what. We're still here. Call me crazy, but I don't think a bunch a pre-teens getting their hands on a copy of "Halo" comes close to the huge chunk of your state that's suffering double-digit population losses in importance. Before you start worrying about Mario's repeated unprovoked attacks on innocent mushrooms you might want to consider taking a look upstate. We have a few teensy, tiny little problems that could use some attention.