How Much Are We Paying for Town of Oyster Bay Mailings?

I came across this great piece by Tim Archdeacon in The Northender.
All I have to say is WOW.
Just WOW.
All TOBAY residents must read this.

TOB Board Pays for Campaign Advertising on Your Dime
Several times a year I receive a flyer called “Talk of the Town”. This usually four-page, two-color glossy is printed and mailed to me at taxpayer expense. The basis for this expenditure is that the citizens need to be notified of the Town’s “goings-on”. My suspicion: this is a thinly-veiled cover-up of what is really happening: political campaigning on the taxpayers’ dime.

Taking a deeper look, the “Talk of the Town” I received less than two weeks prior to this past election highlighted the major campaigners in the pending vote: John Venditto, Angelo Deligatti, and Chris Coschignano. They did give the lone Democrat on the board some coverage: Mary McCaffrey had a picture and a caption on the bottom quarter of the back page.

Over the summer of 2005, another “Talk of the Town” provided a “Spotlight on: Town Councilman Angelo A. Delligatti.” On the back page there is a small box that describes this newsletter as “a town government publication prepared by the public information office of the Oyster Bay Town Board”. My question: is the public information office serving the public or serving the politicians’ political agendas? Either way, it’s your tax dollars at work.

Also within two weeks of the 2005 election, I received an even more elaborate and larger mailer on “hurricane season”, stamped with John Venditto’s name and picture. The front of the flyer read, “IT’S NOT A QUESTION OF IF, BUT WHEN” in block letters over a picture of a dangerous looking cyclone. At the bottom were the words “An Important message from Town Supervisor John Venditto.”

I suspect that the motivation behind this blatant political propaganda was to let the citizens know that Poppa John Venditto was there, watching over them, and as long as he was, they were safe. The timing of this, just before the election, was no mistake despite the fact that the hurricane season started in early August. Why did Poppa John wait until late October to alert the citizens to the Town’s being on top of its game when it comes to hurricane defense?..."

"How is it that the Town has such a large budget for printing? I found some answers to this in NY State Town Law. Apparently when New York’s legislators adopted its rules governing Townships, they had the prescience to limit publicity spending. I wasn’t around when they put together these laws, but I can imagine they limited the Town’s spending for a reason. The limit? $50,000 for a town of fewer than 50,000 people. Towns can spend more that if they vote to. In fact, all funding for publicity must be approved by a public referendum. I recently filed a Freedom of Information Request with the Town asking how much they spent printing and mailing the “Talk of the Town”, and how often they mailed it. The town’s response: no such records. Wow! Not only are they spending your tax dollars on their political campaigning, they can’t even account for the money.

Of course the Town can vote to cut its printing budget but somehow I don’t see that happening. And they say Democrats tax and spend! This is surely another case of GOP hypocrisy, and the pot calling the kettle black.... "

"Of course, stamping his name all over town property is what you’d expect from a local kingpin. This is really not all that different from a dog urinating to mark his territory. It’s primal, yes, but isn’t that what this is about? The GOPs have been pissing all over this Town for decades and the signs are just the ultimate culmination of their territorial marking. You see it everywhere. The portable trailers the Town uses to bring you concerts or award ceremonies are stamped with “John Venditto, Supervisor”. It’s on the Town buildings in large round signs. It’s on the “Welcome to Oyster Bay” signs, the town trucks, the endless pamphlets, signs for all the town parks, the marinas, the parking lots, in big bold block letters. They might as well read, “JOHN VENDITTO URINATED HERE.”

So the next time you are driving in the Town of Oyster Bay and you see a sign that reads “Welcome to Town of Oyster Bay, John Venditto, Supervisor” think about your tax dollars at work. "

For the full story go to www.thenorthender.com/walnut2

Blind Item: Local Business Edition

What State Legislator is going around bad-mouthing a local thriving business because the business owner does not give the legislator full support?
Why are people being told not to do business with the owner?
Why is this happening even though an olive branch was extended?

National Journal Picks up Newsday Article about This Blog

"April 24, 2007
BELTWAY BLOGROLL

'The Blog War In New York'

Last year's election saw the emergence of local blogs that targeted specific members of Congress or promoted favored candidates -- sites like Dump Mike Ferguson that lobbed attack after attack against the Republican incumbent of that name in New Jersey, or like LamontBlog in Connecticut that touted Democrat Ned Lamont in his intraparty bid to unseat Sen. Joseph Lieberman.

Such blogs were relatively rare last year, but there already are signs that they will be far more common in 2008. The latest evidence is a Newsday article focused on "the blog war in New York" alone.

For now, Democrats, who always seem to be five online steps ahead of Republicans, are on the offensive. The piece noted blogs that target GOP Reps. Peter King (Peter King Watch) and Vito Fossella (Veto Vito). There also are blogs aimed at Nassau Legislature Minority Leader Peter Schmitt (Peter Schmitt Watch), also a Republican, and the Nassau GOP (Nassau GOP Watch).

The advantage has local Republican worried. "Readers should consider proper defenses," Scott Scala told his audience at the New York GOP-oriented blog Urban Elephants. "Pro-candidate blogs? Anti-Dem elected officials blogs? Counter posts? Etc. We cannot lose the blog war in New York."

Posted by Danny | 12:11 PM"

This Site in Newsday Today

If you're visiting from the Newsday mention, welcome and look around a bit. We have an archive full of stuff.

Here's the story from Newsday...
LI's Partisan Blogosphere

Say it five times fast. Partisan bloggers are blogging on the bloggings of other bloggers — and Long Island is the battlefield.

“Urban Elephants” is a New York City Republican-oriented Web site. A recent post expresses concern about “energetic liberal bloggers setting up space on line targeting specific Republican elected leaders,” that is, “blogs dedicated solely to one person.”
As examples, Elephants’ Scott Scala cites Democrat-oriented sites that target Rep. Peter King (R-Seaford), Nassau Legislature Minority Leader Peter Schmitt (R-Massapequa), the Nassau GOP — all of a piece. Another such site, called “Veto Vito,” whacks Staten Island Rep. Vito Fossella, the five boroughs’ only Republican Congressman.

“Now this does not necessarily mean such easily-set up sites can make an impact,” Scala writes, but “the larger media loves fights... A one-person crusade against one politician has the potential to become Cindy Sheehan-ized in the wrong hands.”

“Readers should consider proper defenses,” he adds. “Pro-candidate blogs? Anti-Dem elected officials blogs? Counter posts? Etc. We cannot lose the blog war in New York.”

At his “Peter Schmitt Watch,” John Rennhack of North Massapequa blogged: “I guess this post from Urban Elephants is flattering...Urban Elephants is well-written (not that we agree with the writing) and thoughtful.” Rennhack also does “Nassau GOP Watch” and “Peter King Watch.”

One-time candidate Rennhack even responded last year to a “Watch” site targeting King’s challenger, Legis. David Mejias, by creating “Mejias Watch Watch.”

Recent fare on the “Nassau GOP Watch” included a link to the New York Observer “Politicker” site video of GOP state and county leader Joseph Mondello saying of Gov. Eliot Spitzer: “He will self-destruct. You give it a little bit of time.” “GOP Watch” snaps: “So the plan is to wait patiently for Governor Spitzer to `self-destruct,’...Brilliant strategist.”

One recent “Urban Elephants” link, meanwhile, raps Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-Mineola) as having been unable in an interview to define a key term in her own anti-gun bill.

UPDATE: Also part of the scene we're describing is another pro-Democrat site, Nasty Letters, which also whacks King...

Dan Janison"

UPDATE: Video of 1-800-Hot-Schmitt Ch. 11 Story

From CW News at 10.....




FYI. 1-800-Hot-Schmitt is an actual sex chat line. I used it as a joke but it is a real number.
Don't call it looking to get in contact with Peter Schmitt. Unless that's what you want to call the person on the other end of the line. To each his/her own I guess.

For more Schmitt antics, visit www.schmittwatch.blogspot.com

CW Ch. 11 News at 10 Covers 1-800-Hot-Schmitt

The Phone Sex Chat Line story isn't dying down with just a Newsday story. CW News at 10 (Ch.11) did a story Wednesday night on the phone number mistake.
Schmitt who would call a press conference if Suozzi colored out of the lines was "unavailable for comment." This is a guy who has no other job than the part-time Legislature job.
So the republicans use Ed "$80,000/year part-time" Ward to come up with an excuse.
It was just all one big 50,000 piece mailing oopsie.
Nothing to see here, move along.
Dave Mejias got some face time correctly pointing out that there should have been a check before the mailing went out. And he said this mistake is coming from Schmitt, the man who wants to run the legislature.
Some of the "man (or woman) on the street" interviews weren't very positive for Schmitt and the republicans.
the video of the segment.

1-800-Hot-Schmitt

According to Newsday, a mailing sent by the republican legislators about sex offenders directed constituents to call a phone sex line.

"Nassau County Legislator Peter J. Schmitt wants you to be protected from sexual predators," said the headline on the postcard his office mailed in cooperation with Parents for Megan's Law, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the prevention and treatment of sex abuse.
Unfortunately, the 1-800 number printed on the card prompts callers to another 800-number -- a sex chat line.
"Hey there, sexy guy," says the sultry recorded female voice that answers the phone. "Welcome to an exciting new way to go live, one on one, with hot horny girls waiting right now to talk to you."
Republican spokesman Ed Ward acknowledged, "Apparently there was an error in the phone number."
Instead of 1-800, it should have been 1-888, he explained. Ward said he didn't know who made the error or how it was made."

UPDATE: WCBS-TV picked up the story http://wcbstv.com/local/local_story_108064518.html

They Write Comments

I use the popular YouTube site to host video for this blog. Today I found a comment posted today on a vdeo that was put up last year.
Clearly the person is not a fan of this blog and is a complete class act.
"MisfortuneKing (8 hours ago)
NassauPolitics stop your damn crying and stop being a stubborn pedophile. I know the things he is doing are stopping you from molesting little children, but please spare us the comments. Don't bother replying to me. Saladino helps us, you hurt us. Saladino might not be perfect but he is doing his job, and doing it well. I'm thankful to have him help and protect the elderly , the handicapped, the children and us. Thank you Assemblyman Saladino."

I like the "Don't bother replying to me" part. "MisfortuneKing" is another in a long list of anonymous cowards.

Chairman Mondello has a PLAN for GOP Resurgence

Take a look at the video captured by Azi over at The Politicker at ta Queens County Republican dinner where Mondello lays out the GOP victory plan.


So the plan is to wait patiently for Governor Spitzer to "self-destruct."
That is a great plan.
Really.

I'm impressed with the chairman those republicans picked.
Brilliant strategist.
I'm glad he's chairman.... republican rank and file, not so much.