FALL OUT FROM ALBANY SCHOOL BUDGET DEFEAT.
Albany is the Capitol of New York State. The future of this city, and those who call Albany home, depends on having a Class A city school system.
Albany voters defeated a 189.5 million dollar proposed city school budget containing another 7 percent property tax increase, on Tuesday, May 15, ONE DAY after Governor Spitzer and Democratic politicians who control the State Assembly, State Senate Minority and Albany City and County governments staged a rally on the East steps of the Capitol, endorsing U.S. Senator, Hillary Clinton, Democrat, for President of the United States in the February 2008 Primary and November General Election.
Unlike, Barack Obama, state and local Democrats, had a tough time getting together several hundred people to give the appearances of support for Hillary. The small crowd was herded together so that tv and photo shots would accentuate that appearance. Most of the crowd was made up of State Democratic officeholders and State Legislative staff, local Democratic officeholders and their staffs, and about 400 school children, mostly from the suburbs.
What has this to do with the voters defeating the Albany City school budget one day later? Those seeking votes should act on behalf of, and to benefit those from whom they seek votes...the politicians should EARN and MERIT those votes.
In this case, take immediate, decisive action to fix the failing Albany City Schools.
Governor Spitzer, Senator Hillary Clinton, and State Assembly Speaker Silver should use their considerable political clout to fix the failing Albany City school system, by promoting, and passing into law, this session, a Governor's Program Bill that provides for the following:
1. Dissolution of the Albany City School Superintendent position ,Albany City School Board, Albany City School District and merger of the District with Albany City government.
2. The Office of the Mayor of Albany, shall be responsible and accountable for the administration and operation of the Albany City Public Schools.
3. Creation of one city property tax roll to finance city government, including the city schools.
4. Return to a K-8 City Neighborhood School System which is best for kids, parents and neighborhoods.
Governor Spitzer , the New York State Legislature , and Presidential candidate U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton, have the power and responsibility to make this happen, this session.
J P Sullivan, Albany

JACK IS BACK CARING FOR BUCKINGHAM POND PARK... GOOD NEWS!

CDC EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE WEBSITE:

http://www.bt.cdc.gov/ very useful

MORE GUNS LESS CRIME

READ MORE GUNS, LESS CRIME

http://www.press.uchicago.edu/Misc/Chicago/493636.html

http://www.press.uchicago.edu/Misc/Chicago/493636.html


Let's have more crime and criminal control.

Begin by an aggressive Operation Impact to disarm criminals, gangbangers and anti-social malcontents, who are the natural allies of the foreign terrorists who seek to destroy us and our way of life.

Failure of government to immediately act on this, will invite disaster.

To infringe upon the Second Amendment rights of law abiding
citizens, to bear arms, is to deprive citizens of the ability to defend themselves and their homes, against the chaos, civil disorder, looting, pillaging ,and worse, that will follow a natural disaster or terrorist attack.

Government can not save us from this fate. We must be able to defend and save ourselves.

J P Sullivan

BUCKINGHAM POND PARK CLEANUP MAY 5 is a noble effort arranged, independently by several neighborhood residents. The BPCNA does not sponsor such events because of liability claims that might arise from a participant getting injured or contracting Lyme disease.

Word is that Jack , who has done such a great job maintaining the park, in summers past, will not be returning. We urge Mayor Jennings to assign an elderly gentleman, to tend the park year round, with summer help recruited from among neighborhood youths and seniors, when the work load is greatest.

Buckingham Pond Park is in need of an active neighborhood association Park Committee, to prepare and effect a viable park plan that addresses a variety of needs including, but not limited to: security, safety, lighting, water quality, shore erosion, reducing the application of road salt and lawn chemicals within the park pond watershed, clearing bush and vines that are strangling young trees, planting Red Osier Dogwoods bushes to stabilize pond banks, planting and maintaining trees, wildflowers, bushes, reducing and eliminatng graffiti, installing blue light emergency phones at selected locations around the park perimeter, improving and maintaining pathways, etc. Refer to earlier posts on this site for more details/ideas.
An active Park Committee of neighbors, working with Mayor Jennings and The City Parks Department, can make Buckingham Pond Park the neighborhood jewel its should be.

NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH. All residents are members. Refer to earlier posts on this site. Our Watch Plan is an active watch made up of fixed obervation locations (homes) supplemented by dog walkers, strollers, joggers, and drivers who have cell phones programmed to the Albany Police Department and NYS Anti-Terror Hotline. APD call: 458 9148/ 458 5660 Anti-Terror Hotline: 1 866 SAFE NYS (723 3697)

Our neighborhood is off limits to graffiti, gangs, crime and criminals! They have gotten the message, but we must remain active and vigilant. Work with the APD.

GUN CONTROL. OPPOSE any efforts, by the City of Albany, or any other level of government to infringe upon or otherwise restrict the Constitutional right of law abiding American citizens to bear arms for the purpose of protecting themselves. Refer to earlier posts, this site.