tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34243977911723290112024-03-13T19:47:39.987-04:00Diamond StreetHudson.....and beyond! -
a Blog by Victor Mendolia about art, music, performance, technology, politics and gay life in and around Hudson NYvictorinhudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00727070764427725170noreply@blogger.comBlogger60125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3424397791172329011.post-27795516577732501222012-04-25T18:57:00.002-04:002022-10-15T11:19:10.489-04:00My Time as Eric Galloway's Tenant - Part 6<h2 style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">The Wrap Up</span></h2>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<span class="Apple-style-span">I had previously spoken about my past experiences with Mr. Galloway to friends and at least one time in public at a Hudson Common Council meeting. That time was during the failed proposal to build permanent supportive housing at 5th Street and Warren St, the heart of Hudson's revitalizing business district. But I did not go in depth into my experiences.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span">There were a number of things that inspired me to want to tell the complete story of my time as Eric Galloway's tenant. But the most important one was a post I read on Carole Osterink's <a href="http://www.gossipsofrivertown.blogspot.com/">Gossips of Rivertown</a> blog. That post, <a href="http://www.gossipsofrivertown.blogspot.com/2012/04/conceived-in-iniquity-and-born-in-sin.html">"Conceived in Iniquity and Born in Sin"</a> discusses the origins of Galloway's <a href="http://www.lanterngroup.org/">The Lantern Group</a> and the <a href="http://www.leagle.com/xmlResult.aspx?page=2&xmldoc=2000363271AD2d92_1342.xml&docbase=CSLWAR2-1986-2006&SizeDisp=7">lawsuit</a> by the religious non-profit whose HIV/AIDS residence that they assert was absconded by Mr. Galloway.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span">That case was not resolved in court, but since the Appellate Court found that the case could go forward, one can only speculate that Galloway settled the case out of court. Osterink called for Galloway or <a href="http://galvaninitiatives.blogspot.com/">Galvan Initiative Foundation</a> Executive Director <a href="http://www.tomswope.com/bio.html">Tom Swope</a> to offer an explanation. To date they have not.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span">To be fair, Mr. Galloway's partner in the Galvan Initiatives Foundation and life partner Henry Van Ameringen has done many good things. He is a major philanthropist with a particular interest in mental health issues, gay rights and HIV/AIDS. He should be credited for the good works that he has done. It is hoped that the Galvan Initiatives Foundation (which has still not received 501(c)3 status from the IRS) will follow in the steps of Mr. Van Ameringen.</span><br />
But that remains to be seen.<br />
<br />
From an <a href="http://www.registerstar.com/articles/2011/12/31/news/doc4efe72ff5e42b864522505.txt">article</a> announcing the formation of the Galvan Initiatives Foundation in the Register-Star on New Year's Eve 2011. <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Galloway and van Ameringen founded the organization in 2011, according to a press release from Swope, to preserve “the unique heritage of the city of Hudson, NY, by acquiring, interpreting, conserving and maintaining buildings of architectural, historical and social significance.”<br /><br />There are two parts to this: The architectural preservation and conservation initiatives “will strengthen the social fabric of the city of Hudson by promoting the provision of affordable housing, social services, cultural activities and economic opportunities for residents of Hudson.”<br /><br />And secondly, a grant-making program “will provide financial support to charitable organizations operating in the vicinity of Hudson.”</blockquote>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span">With Galloway, The Lantern Group and Galvan owning 2% of the properties in Hudson there could be great promise or great risk. If Galloway is serious about improving the City of Hudson, he should first work toward creating good will. I would start by renovating and re-renting the large apartment houses he holds.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span">These vacant buildings are eyesores and they have contributed greatly to the large decrease in population that Hudson experienced in the last census. Of the nearly 1000 people that were lost in the 2010 census, probably half could be traced to Galloway's vacant buildings.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span">Getting these buildings (which are the worst buildings on their blocks) back on line, would go a long way to improving Mr. Galloway's standing in Hudson. I'd do that first, before I make grand proposals which would require a 30 year partnership with the government and the people of the City of Hudson.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span><br />
<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span">Read More:</span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span">Columbia Paper Article: <a href="http://www.columbiapaper.com/index.php/the-news/2624-by-debby-mayer">He Collects Hudson</a> by Debby Mayer </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span">Columbia Paper Editorial: <a href="http://www.columbiapaper.com/index.php/editor/2641-by-parry-teasdale">What's his plan for the city?</a> by Parry Teasdale</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span">Register-Star Article: <a href="http://www.registerstar.com/articles/2011/12/31/news/doc4efe72ff5e42b864522505.txt">Non-profit's goal, city's improvement</a> by John Mason </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span">Extensive Coverage on <a href="http://gossipsofrivertown.blogspot.com/">Gossips of Rivertown</a>. Search for Eric Galloway</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Listen</b></span><br />
<b>Archives of my radio show @Issue discussing Galloway and Galvan Initiatives</b></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<a href="http://dl.dropbox.com/u/44380324/%40Issue/%40IssueApril252012.mp3">April 25, 2012 episode</a> with Carole Osterink and Debby Mayer</div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<a href="http://www.wgxc.org/archives/3988">March 7, 2012 episode</a> with Tom Swope, Alderman David Marston, and Carole Osterink<br /><br /><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></div>victorinhudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00727070764427725170noreply@blogger.com2Hudson, NY 12534, USA42.2528649 -73.79095913.942631063821153 -108.947209 70.563098736178844 -38.634709tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3424397791172329011.post-9448754952999470292012-04-24T14:49:00.004-04:002022-10-15T11:14:53.153-04:00My Time as Eric Galloway's Tenant – Part 5<div style="color: #cccccc; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Putting
it all back together and the electrical problem.</b></span></span></div>
<div style="color: #cccccc; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #cccccc; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Galloway's
workers moved all of my possessions to Unit 25 except one, my
mattress. The mattress was left in Unit 6 but was now covered in
debris. My new unit was now stacked with trash bags piled 3-4 feet
high. All I could do was open the door. I piled a few bags even
higher so that I could at least look for a few things.</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #cccccc; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #cccccc; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
workers had thrown all of my possessions randomly into trash bags, so
finding anything was impossible. I didn't know where to start. In
rooms this small, the only way to make things fit is to use every bit
of vertical space possible. Unit 6 had had shelving on one full side
of the unit the full height of the room. Now everything was in a
complete jumble and there was nowhere to put anything away.</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #cccccc; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #cccccc; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I
found three pillows, cleared enough room to lay down on them. That is
how I slept for about two weeks. I had plunged into a deep depression
over the whole ordeal and did not know how to even begin to put
everything back in order.</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #cccccc; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #cccccc; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I
finally crawled out of my depression, piled some more bags even
higher so that I could install the shelving. Once the shelving was
up, I started going through the bags. Computer equipment was mixed
with shoes, food, dishes. The workers who had put the stuff in bags
made no effort to put like with like. It took another 2-3 weeks to
finally sort everything out.</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #cccccc; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #cccccc; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Once
I got everything in its proper place, something very strange started
happening. One by one, all of my electronic equipment started burning
out. I started mentioning it to other people in the building and was
told by one tenant that the whole top floor had electrical problems.
The building's electrical system had not been upgraded in many years.
In the not too distant past most people had a refrigerator and
perhaps a radio or small TV in these units. Now almost every tenant
had those, plus a computer and even though the leases prohibited
tenants from having air conditioners, almost everyone did since the
all of the units had no cross ventilation and were sweltering without
a/c. There was simply not enough juice getting to the top floor, a
perpetual brown-out. <span style="color: #cccccc;">Whether Galloway knew of the problem before renting me the unit I can't say. But it is hard for me to believe that he didn't.</span></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwtZX5ymINSvKjsSHVqh31aitoRYOTl_7MN35EbqrMsJT_76ZRjdXSfFLV3na1Y2w81sY2SAAeHc549os9nXJE3CPP1mWu7MHoSSVoEO79ZTgGjACPzvTSZmEX2HoG_BwHIvEpVzn17fA/s1600/336W19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwtZX5ymINSvKjsSHVqh31aitoRYOTl_7MN35EbqrMsJT_76ZRjdXSfFLV3na1Y2w81sY2SAAeHc549os9nXJE3CPP1mWu7MHoSSVoEO79ZTgGjACPzvTSZmEX2HoG_BwHIvEpVzn17fA/s400/336W19.jpg" width="272" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nearly every unit had an air conditioner, computer, refrigerator and TV</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #cccccc; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">In
June, Eric Galloway sold the building. The new owner was a very
decent guy. When I informed him of the problem with the electrical
system, he immediately offered me a unit downstairs which solved the
problem. He then upgraded the electrical system and solved the
problem building-wide.</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #cccccc; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #cccccc; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">One
day he stopped by to be sure that everything was OK. I assured him
that it was and thanked him for helping and addressing the situation.
He then told me that when he was negotiating with Eric Galloway to
buy the building, Galloway told him that he only liked owning
buildings with challenges. But that this building was too easy for
him, that is why he was unloading it. Needless to say, the new owner
regretted the day he set eyes on the building.</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #cccccc; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #cccccc; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://diamondst.blogspot.com/2012/04/my-time-as-eric-galloways-tenant-part-6.html">Next – The wrap up.</a></span></span></b></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>victorinhudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00727070764427725170noreply@blogger.com1Hudson, NY 12534, USA42.2528649 -73.79095913.942631063821153 -108.947209 70.563098736178844 -38.634709tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3424397791172329011.post-64102148533620559802012-04-23T18:50:00.001-04:002022-10-15T11:28:33.324-04:00My Time as Eric Galloway's Tenant - Part 4<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<h2>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f3f3f3; font-size: x-large;">
No More Than a Squatter?</span></h2>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><style type="text/css">
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</style></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">I reported the break-in to my local
police precinct. In addition I phoned in a complaint to the buildings
department. The compliant was registered as two separate complaints.
</span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><a href="http://a810-bisweb.nyc.gov/bisweb/OverviewForComplaintServlet?requestid=2&vlcompdetlkey=0000641083">Construction without a permit</a> and <a href="http://a810-bisweb.nyc.gov/bisweb/OverviewForComplaintServlet?requestid=2&vlcompdetlkey=0000650491">work on Sunday without a variance</a>.
I discovered afterward, that someone else in the building made a
<a href="http://a810-bisweb.nyc.gov/bisweb/OverviewForComplaintServlet?requestid=2&vlcompdetlkey=0000650407">complaint</a> on Saturday March 5, 2005 as the illegal break-in and
demolition was taking place.</span></span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span">Ultimately what he did by breaking into my unit was illegally combine my unit and the vacant warehoused unit next door. I discovered that this was Galloway's standard operating procedure. He would do illegal conversions and other work he didn't want Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) to know about on the weekends when HPD inspectors are not on duty.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span">The complaint for <a href="http://a810-bisweb.nyc.gov/bisweb/OverviewForComplaintServlet?requestid=2&vlcompdetlkey=0000641083">construction without a permit</a> was was eventually dismissed because the inspector could not
gain access to inspect the building on 3/11/2005 or on 3/21/2005.
That is because the building had no buzzer or intercom. The front
door was always locked and unless someone called, there was no way to
contact tenants or the Superintendent for access. The complaint for
<a href="http://a810-bisweb.nyc.gov/bisweb/OverviewForComplaintServlet?requestid=2&vlcompdetlkey=0000650491">work on a Sunday without a variance</a> was dismissed because “No
violation warranted for complaint at time of inspection”. That
inspection took place nearly a year after the violation was reported,
on 1/2/2006!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span">On Monday March 7<sup>th</sup> I went
to Housing Court and filed an order to show cause. This stayed the
landlord from re-letting the unit and from removing any contents,
which at that point was too late. In order for the case to be heard
the following day I needed to serve the landlord by 5pm which I
managed to do. That put the case on the calendar for Tuesday March
8<sup>th</sup>.</span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDELn1rZmMLDvj2Mw12KMlrqJZB9mEKCU6U39wRwkPLZR5Huezr17HxYD35f-d7Vu6r8SCouv3muGYxnoBtaRcg8pn8CR_kuuN9IPIIQG7Qz9endcLb2CNS0lvBKpYJNG4IHvK4h52gzQ/s1600/ShowCause.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDELn1rZmMLDvj2Mw12KMlrqJZB9mEKCU6U39wRwkPLZR5Huezr17HxYD35f-d7Vu6r8SCouv3muGYxnoBtaRcg8pn8CR_kuuN9IPIIQG7Qz9endcLb2CNS0lvBKpYJNG4IHvK4h52gzQ/s320/ShowCause.jpeg" width="244" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Order to Show Cause for the Illegal Break-In/Possession</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span class="Apple-style-span">At the hearing, the attorney presented
an Affirmation in Opposition with their answer and five exhibits.</span><br />
</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlQzOL9xrf-uQd0Ue8r26AVZWqCjF1De4IujywGZmOQK04eKwJlgWSt2rgj-pa3TkXCzciVdXsU4aOzEqOP7hn9_Rr4ASsQGpQTpXsU-relI9qEnz3zXnA-Z4PJQW8v-mrmns1k1lsg-8/s1600/ShowCause+1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlQzOL9xrf-uQd0Ue8r26AVZWqCjF1De4IujywGZmOQK04eKwJlgWSt2rgj-pa3TkXCzciVdXsU4aOzEqOP7hn9_Rr4ASsQGpQTpXsU-relI9qEnz3zXnA-Z4PJQW8v-mrmns1k1lsg-8/s320/ShowCause+1.jpeg" width="230" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span">The
first four exhibits were my friends original lease for Unit 6; the
renewal lease form showing the legal rent for Unit 6; the new lease
which was just executed in my name for Unit 25 and my rental
application for Unit 25. The final exhibit was two documents which
were never signed by me and never presented to me to sign. I assume
they were created solely for the answer.</span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3uRrDiFr_FU7K8RFNrgewt2eaGQuOQu8iK93959evEFiCY6yOJMlkLlnA-XWGZwLUhOigjheqJfdm9Z4IrXkQjJpcu2KSutbHeRdGaUXw5tkr-uoDP1N8AsfWXEoo4ZX9ur8H3GHZq5E/s1600/MoveIn.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3uRrDiFr_FU7K8RFNrgewt2eaGQuOQu8iK93959evEFiCY6yOJMlkLlnA-XWGZwLUhOigjheqJfdm9Z4IrXkQjJpcu2KSutbHeRdGaUXw5tkr-uoDP1N8AsfWXEoo4ZX9ur8H3GHZq5E/s400/MoveIn.jpeg" width="302" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bogus Move-In Form</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkjXMrtxkE3w-AAxlVBiZ7CysweZgmzw3d2P54gyZAfSoyNnGEuvOkIAJFiFoNGXlLMRLkNOBdSKje-wDY6QGEK2wJ7W5rZN8Nd6kTmObTSrGN8Mt7ENQB06dH12a3jbE-CXgXUWMXJrM/s1600/MoveOut.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkjXMrtxkE3w-AAxlVBiZ7CysweZgmzw3d2P54gyZAfSoyNnGEuvOkIAJFiFoNGXlLMRLkNOBdSKje-wDY6QGEK2wJ7W5rZN8Nd6kTmObTSrGN8Mt7ENQB06dH12a3jbE-CXgXUWMXJrM/s400/MoveOut.jpeg" width="302" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bogus Move-Out Form</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">I'll repeat that these documents had
never been presented to me nor had they been signed by me.</span></i></b></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span">At the initial conference with the
judge, the defendant's attorney hemmed and hawed, claimed that I was
really “no more than a squatter”. Of course the landlord had just
signed a lease with me, hardly something someone would do with a
“squatter”. The judge sent us to conference with his aide.
</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span">In the conference, the aide kept
pressing the landlord's attorney to explain whether they had legal
possession of Unit 6. He continued to dance around the issue. Finally
after about 10 minutes the attorney stated “If my client had asked
my advice about this, I would have advised against it”. To which
the Judge's aide said, “So you didn't have possession. So how do we
fix this”?</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">After a little more back and forth, it
was agreed that the Lihtan Co. would pay me $2,750. In exchange I
withdrew the petition.</span><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Next – <a href="http://diamondst.blogspot.com/2012/04/my-time-as-eric-galloways-tenant-part-5.html">Putting it all back togetherand the electrical problem.</a></b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b><a href="http://diamondst.blogspot.com/2012/04/my-time-as-eric-galloways-tenant-part-3.html">Start at Part 1</a></b></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>victorinhudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00727070764427725170noreply@blogger.com0Hudson, NY 12534, USA42.2528649 -73.79095913.942631063821153 -108.947209 70.563098736178844 -38.634709tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3424397791172329011.post-54537753525013665722012-04-23T11:48:00.001-04:002022-10-15T11:11:00.138-04:00My Time as Eric Galloway's Tenant - Part 3<h2>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
Where the F@%$ is my stuff?</span></h2>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I got back to the city on Sunday I noticed a light on in my unit that I knew I had not left on. When I got up to the unit, the locks had been changed, but the door to the vacant unit next door was open. I went in and discovered that they had broken through the wall between the vacant unit and my unit. All of my belongings were gone.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wall broken through to illegally gain access to my unit.</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I then went up to the new unit. All I could do was open the door. The unit was filled with garbage bags. All of my belongings had been thrown into trash bags, all in no particular order, shoes</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">with books with CDs with food.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All of my possessions were moved to my new leased unit without my knowledge or permission. </span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Needless to say, I was furious! I called the emergency contact number for the building and a very young associate came to the building. I asked what the F@%$ they were thinking and said that they had no right to do what they had done. He replied that they did have a right to do it. When I again explained that they did not have legal possession of the unit and that they had no right to enter it, he again said , "yes, we had a right". He said that they would put me up in the "gay guest house" on 22nd Street for the night and would see what they could do on Monday. He also said that <i>"I should be happy, since they moved me for free"!</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I told him that rather than take him up on his "generous offer", that I was going to the police precinct to report the break-in. To which he said that I could either do it their way, or my way.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had had enough. I chose my way.</span><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next - <a href="http://diamondst.blogspot.com/2012/04/my-time-as-eric-galloways-tenant-part-4.html">No more than a squatter?</a></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b><br />
<b><a href="http://diamondst.blogspot.com/2012/04/my-time-as-eric-galloways-tenant-part-3.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Start at Part 1</span></a></b>victorinhudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00727070764427725170noreply@blogger.com1Hudson, NY 12534, USA42.2528649 -73.79095913.942631063821153 -108.947209 70.563098736178844 -38.634709tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3424397791172329011.post-63683893805683045612012-04-22T20:00:00.002-04:002022-10-15T11:09:39.880-04:00My time as Eric Galloway's Tenant - Part 2<h2>
<b style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Galloway Buys the Building</span></b></h2>
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When I first moved in, the building was owned by a woman who lived in another borough. Then Eric Galloway and The Lighton Group, one of the many corporations he owns, bought it. That's when everything started going downhill.<br />
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Notices appeared on doors, people in the building were telling stories of being harassed, a number of people who had been subletting were told that one way or another, they would be evicted. Some tenants (probably due to immigration status) started leaving on their own, rather than get involved with the system.<br />
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Maintenance in the building faltered. Rats, mice, roaches and bedbugs all became a problem. Mysterious leaks from vacant apartments became common. More tenants left. Once they left, he did not re-rent the units.<br />
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One day I had a knock on the door. It was Eric Galloway. I explained that I had nowhere else to go and that I intended to assert my rights in court. He then offered to "help me out". He offered to lease me an apartment on the top floor in my own name, it was a little larger than the unit I was in (about 125 sq. ft) and it had a small kitchenette for $400. I told him I'd think about it. But I also said that even if I were to take his offer, that I could not surrender the right to the apartment held by my friend who I was subletting from. He said that he didn't care about that.<br />
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In the meantime I was communicating with my friend in Greece about the clear drive by Galloway to empty the building and of his offer. He told me to take the new unit and he would figure out what to do when he returned to the States.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_qUuFVVRUpXj0ghKFjeAD4VRguoOJ5AZEjWWxJCJsVO5HLGUfyKWq6u0ABBw1vGehERC90jG8drQWmAJfUU0P_K54py2fv4h7eFj9yKykGVvJCuLo8LHr20kcUGLvkH8gyibARga_QV0/s1600/Galloway+BreakIn+4.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_qUuFVVRUpXj0ghKFjeAD4VRguoOJ5AZEjWWxJCJsVO5HLGUfyKWq6u0ABBw1vGehERC90jG8drQWmAJfUU0P_K54py2fv4h7eFj9yKykGVvJCuLo8LHr20kcUGLvkH8gyibARga_QV0/s320/Galloway+BreakIn+4.jpeg" width="320" /></a><br />
I signed the new lease on Friday. After I did, his assistant asked when I could move upstairs. I told him that I was paid up through the month in the downstairs unit and it was only the first of the month, but that I planned on moving up everything in the next week or so.<br />
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That did not sit well with him. He said "You mean you can't move up this weekend"? To which I responded no, that I was going away for the weekend to see my mother. I left with my newly signed lease and thought nothing further about it.<br />
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<b>Next - <a href="http://diamondst.blogspot.com/2012/04/my-time-as-eric-galloways-tenant-part-3.html">Where the F@%$ is my stuff?</a></b><br />
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<b><a href="http://diamondst.blogspot.com/2012/04/my-time-as-eric-galloways-tenant-part-3.html">Start at Part 1</a></b>victorinhudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00727070764427725170noreply@blogger.com7Hudson, NY 12534, USA42.2528649 -73.790959-32.499389729616887 145.584041 90 66.834041tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3424397791172329011.post-77800152230346317862012-04-22T13:21:00.002-04:002022-10-15T11:07:43.522-04:00My time as Eric Galloway's Tenant - Part 1<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<i>This is the first in a six part series of posts which detail my time as a tenant in a building owned by Eric Galloway and his companies.</i><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">The Move In</span></h2>
In 2005 I was living in the most deluxe and largest apartment I had ever lived in in NYC at 225 Rector Place. Apartments in Battery Park City that had been damaged in 9/11 had been discounted from the luxury rents they had once commanded. In addition, the state kicked in a monthly subsidy check for two years, to get people back into the buildings. I shared the apartment with my then boyfriend, but it was still an expensive apartment for me. Now the subsidy was ending and the rents were going back to market level. I had to go.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpRPa78X2LJSyE2J6OFUUXm0gbpuoE3LQKa_boIYRD6KuWBsU1Chooa2ky3AI43J-x5PFGiOOs6lTvy74jGf4xAIb5rmANtaknQVeooHaf4Nlys8T7K0AdSZNkRa48UAo85XCAWbHv0q4/s1600/225+RectorPl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpRPa78X2LJSyE2J6OFUUXm0gbpuoE3LQKa_boIYRD6KuWBsU1Chooa2ky3AI43J-x5PFGiOOs6lTvy74jGf4xAIb5rmANtaknQVeooHaf4Nlys8T7K0AdSZNkRa48UAo85XCAWbHv0q4/s320/225+RectorPl.jpg" width="282" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">225 Rector Place (Google Street View)</td></tr>
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At around the same time, a friend asked me if I knew anyone who might be interested in renting his "apartment" in Chelsea. He was headed to Greece to study for a year or two and wanted to sublet the unit.<br />
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It was not really an apartment, but rather an extremely small (10' x 7') unit in a Single Room Occupancy (SRO) building on 19th Street in Chelsea. The rent was $322 a month.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo6OqwPK9o56Rbckftv2KTa3BROECq1bduArHB2ouVnigEzyCNtrE5TCPf3S_8zwYl_HSiyNtONrtiaunoEs2NRlRvG4GLLa9SmtZlk26308-L2HisOSFQeYgeoYN3bhvYybrsD_sjdCM/s1600/336W19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo6OqwPK9o56Rbckftv2KTa3BROECq1bduArHB2ouVnigEzyCNtrE5TCPf3S_8zwYl_HSiyNtONrtiaunoEs2NRlRvG4GLLa9SmtZlk26308-L2HisOSFQeYgeoYN3bhvYybrsD_sjdCM/s320/336W19.jpg" width="218" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">336 West 19th Street The single window over the door was my unit. (Google Street View) </td></tr>
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The building was at one time a five story, one family town house. Now it was cut up into six rental units on each of five floors for a total of 30 units. Each floor had a shared bathroom.<br />
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Having lived in the most expensive apartment that I'd ever lived in for the past two years I decided to sublet the unit, figuring that it would be great to pay the lowest rent I'd ever paid in the 25 years I had lived in NYC.<br />
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Fitting my entire life into 70 square feet was an ordeal. I purged many of my possessions and put others in storage. The unit had high ceilings so I built a loft, increasing my square footage to almost 140 sq. feet. I then purchased enough Elfa shelving to shelve the entire inside wall. Living in such a small space requires using every inch of vertical space.<br />
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It took some adjusting, but after a while I grew to like my extremely paired down life. There was something freeing about it. It was also a huge relief to not have most of my money going to pay rent.<br />
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The building was a mixed bag, a few old men, a few addicts/alcoholics, but mostly it was young men, some trying to find their way in NYC, and others who were living with HIV/AIDS and trying to manage or survive. I fell in the latter category, HIV+ and dealing with a number of complicated, but not life threatening issues.<br />
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This was not a Supportive Housing building. It was simply an SRO that provided small units at affordable (rent stabilized) prices.</div>
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<b>Coming up next: <a href="http://diamondst.blogspot.com/2012/04/my-time-as-eric-galloways-tenant-part-2.html">Eric Galloway buys the building.</a></b></div>victorinhudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00727070764427725170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3424397791172329011.post-170162086042518692010-04-18T21:58:00.007-04:002012-04-22T14:10:08.290-04:00Club Helsinki Opens<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRTQ1joGOE0PiT-8kupVUWxr041SK9VGVMXg2kW6aNYRplbKjrSwKaMudL2UZgIGN2YWuYuvEcAhbeoquCwgRbYD09i1fzYliFHj_xU5HfkcjGU-rBb2Wm05TsUbTlWj4zZZVauXC1xUE/s1600/facility.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRTQ1joGOE0PiT-8kupVUWxr041SK9VGVMXg2kW6aNYRplbKjrSwKaMudL2UZgIGN2YWuYuvEcAhbeoquCwgRbYD09i1fzYliFHj_xU5HfkcjGU-rBb2Wm05TsUbTlWj4zZZVauXC1xUE/s400/facility.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Helsinki Hudson opens.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The facility is truly amazing. Every detail has been meticulously done. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Check out the Helsinki Hudson <a href="http://helsinkihudson.com/index.html">website</a>.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><object height="364" width="445"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/3xNaVmOnQuc&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1">
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<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/3xNaVmOnQuc&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="445" height="364"></embed></object> </span>victorinhudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00727070764427725170noreply@blogger.com0405 Columbia St, Hudson, NY 12534, USA42.2516313 -73.787737142.2476608 -73.7950326 42.2556018 -73.7804416tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3424397791172329011.post-4567822681605152562010-03-31T15:21:00.008-04:002010-03-31T16:17:36.886-04:00Liar Liar Pants On Fire...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqpAn7E_mCOg4wLlcM8hnEEsCax0q1CWcYs1g5DZBkZK4KOJzocSIMMFgZj_FeSVPhrnljX97SYaBR9T4wNYQDnehJtnpy_f2IEKklb6aUl9pZrt_iXZ5wt8ITrne9eF7qcI-Yg6l7F4o/s1600-h/S-Brown-Cosmo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqpAn7E_mCOg4wLlcM8hnEEsCax0q1CWcYs1g5DZBkZK4KOJzocSIMMFgZj_FeSVPhrnljX97SYaBR9T4wNYQDnehJtnpy_f2IEKklb6aUl9pZrt_iXZ5wt8ITrne9eF7qcI-Yg6l7F4o/s400/S-Brown-Cosmo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I know that by now almost everyone has already seen the Cosmo spread of recently elected <a href="http://scottbrown.senate.gov/public/">Senator Scott Brown</a>.</span></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But I thought it might be fun to see him without pants again, while watching <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/ns/msnbc_tv-rachel_maddow_show">Rachel Maddow</a> call him out for being the LIAR he is.</span></span></b><br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="339" scrolling="no" src="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/36108835#36108835" width="425"></iframe>victorinhudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00727070764427725170noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3424397791172329011.post-78154338450488964212010-03-11T10:52:00.001-05:002010-03-11T10:54:06.142-05:00Fight Back NY Produces First Ad with Cynthia Nixon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp4T77tA6Ucp2KwWJZEsiFKDm5Tqcwp0WHj9XD5YTTMdP6bwvNU_6waqoSLedhP_kZ4kXq019w6Shh-TEgqPY-pzgqwNLwSnkmbo1GUmTDBGC3sl2s1Mf8Pzn284nETSqQSSksF6WPHHA/s320/Cynthia%20Nixon.jpg" width="320" /></div><object height="295" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/SU_UQWtAweQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/SU_UQWtAweQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object>victorinhudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00727070764427725170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3424397791172329011.post-38736151028557269452010-03-08T23:00:00.008-05:002010-03-08T23:09:34.881-05:00Kirsten Gillibrand for Senator<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0RlrxSIh1Ik/S5XHt5UQcWI/AAAAAAAAHjM/hGQF5PddFPs/s1600-h/Kirsten_Gillibrand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0RlrxSIh1Ik/S5XHt5UQcWI/AAAAAAAAHjM/hGQF5PddFPs/s200/Kirsten_Gillibrand.jpg" width="160" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Kirsten Gillibrand lives in Hudson NY </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span">(well really in Greenport, but close enough).</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">I am the Chairman of the Hudson City Democratic Committee, and I couldn't be prouder to chair her hometown Democratic Committee.</span><br />
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As a freshman Senator and an appointed one at that, she has taken the lead on a host of issues, but there has never been a stronger leader in the Senate on ending discrimination against gay people.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span">I was at a meeting of Hudson Valley Chairs this past weekend at which we unanimously endorsed the Senator. She was incredible, and I'm pretty jaded when it comes to political speeches. She knows the issues and she offers plans to solve problems. On a host of issues, she is not content with going with the flow. She is taking the lead. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Kirsten Gillibrand for President...er...I mean Senator.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; white-space: pre;"><object height="385" width="600"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/tQNM6ActsYA&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/tQNM6ActsYA&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object></span>victorinhudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00727070764427725170noreply@blogger.com0Hudson, NY, USA42.2528649 -73.79095942.2369824 -73.8201415 42.268747399999995 -73.7617765tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3424397791172329011.post-1429310239001309712009-12-08T04:34:00.002-05:002009-12-12T20:10:44.827-05:00NYS Senator Diane Savino Speaks on the Marriage Equality Bill<span style="font-size: large;">I hadn't ever heard of Senator Savino of Staten Island. But I am a big fan now. Check this out!</span><br />
<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/dCFFxidhcy0&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/dCFFxidhcy0&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">See also <a href="http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2009/12/state_sen_diane_savino_gay_rig.html">NY Magazine</a></span>victorinhudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00727070764427725170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3424397791172329011.post-74753752813877334192009-11-02T20:51:00.012-05:002009-11-06T02:24:38.611-05:00$9Million Dollars?...Well How Much Does a New Form of Government Cost Then?<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi36mddN8jwhyTLomeF1sRk9ZhfwErtPWhTmNsVQTAqVDDZV3r-f91hXjNTTPvSpfGjAho6sKg48Jht2yc2VH8ZTSuJgGuiphIyQ9g2IHxwPLye5aNyJHEHx5VP6sxSJ2VwE-4KXC-aYk/s1600-h/DollarQuestionMark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi36mddN8jwhyTLomeF1sRk9ZhfwErtPWhTmNsVQTAqVDDZV3r-f91hXjNTTPvSpfGjAho6sKg48Jht2yc2VH8ZTSuJgGuiphIyQ9g2IHxwPLye5aNyJHEHx5VP6sxSJ2VwE-4KXC-aYk/s200/DollarQuestionMark.jpg" width="106" /></a><br />
</div><b>How does $9 Million dollars disappear from the county general fund?</b><br />
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Our county leader, Board of Supervisors Chair Art Baer says that no one is responsible. But despite his assertion, there are people responsible and they need to be held accountable<b>.</b><br />
<b> </b> <br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But first a few things need to be stated and understood. One of the most important things to know is that not only is Ken Wilber the County Treasurer, but he receives a separate salary as budget director. So for anyone to seriously claim that there was no way for Ken Wilber to have known about this issue is an outrage. He is County Treasurer <u>and</u> Budget Director. How could he not have known? Either he mislead the public, or he is incompetent. Whichever it is no longer matters.<b> The entire Board of Supervisors, Democrats, Republicans and Independents should immediately call for County Treasurer Ken Wilber's resignation.</b><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As for Department of Social Services (DSS) Commissioner Paul Mossman, he needs to immediately explain to the public why he conducted his department's accounting to the Board of Supervisors and to the public in such a clearly shoddy manner. <b>If he is unable or unwilling to clarify the answer to this question, he should be dismissed.</b><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But there are other questions that need asking as well. How long has Chairman Art Baer known about this fiasco? What about the Chairs of the various committees with budgetary oversight and oversight of DSS, that should have caught this issue? How much will this scandal cost the taxpayers of Columbia County in increased borrowing costs? Will there be penalties for having lied to bond holders who purchased our debt instruments in good faith and now find the county to have overstated its fiscal health? <br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">On the issue of the dismissal of Pattison, Koskey, Howe and Bucci: It is no wonder that Pattison, Koskey, Howe and Bucci has been silent. Chairman Baer has been reported as saying that he would "go nuclear" if Koskey breaks that silence. Now there are rumors that Koskey is one of bidders on One City Centre. The failure of Art Baer to release the results of the bidding process only fuels the fire that we are not getting the whole story. <br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>The purchase of Ockawamick, the move of DSS, the relocation of Pine Haven, the St. Charles Hotel as homeless shelter…and now the write down of millions of dollars from the general fund.</b> Our county has lurched from one misguided and not thought through proposal after another. Now we have the current scandal, all presided over by a Chairman not elected by the people of Columbia County, but by the some of the residents of the Town of Hillsdale.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">All of this points out the real problem in Columbia County. <b>Our form of government is a breeding ground for secrecy, nepotism, lack of accountability and corruption.</b> For decades the Republican majority did not even allow Democrats on the Board to see the budget before it was approved by the Republican majority. The Democrats were inconsequential in the process. While there has been limited improvement to what is shared with the minority, due to Democratic increases in representation on the Board; much of our county government continues to operate in secret. This is the real reason for this scandal and it will never end until Republicans no longer hold the majority on the Board of Supervisors. <br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There are only a handful of counties in New York which still have Boards of Supervisors. Most have moved to County Legislatures with an Executive who is accountable to the voters of the entire county, not just one of the towns. In the next few months I will be dedicating a substantial part of my time to help create a public groundswell of support to end our antiquated form of government. It is time to replace it with one that is accountable for the decisions it makes. One where the party in the minority has the same access to information as the majority, regardless of which party is in power. I urge all of the residents of Columbia County to do the same. Open government with fair and thoughtful representation is what every citizen deserves.<br />
<b>Now is the time </b><b> for Columbia County </b><b>to move to a County Legislature and County Executive.<br />
</b><br />
<b><span style="font-weight: normal;">Victor Mendolia</span></b><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Hudson<br />
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<b>Read more about it: </b><br />
<a href="http://www.registerstar.com/articles/2009/10/16/news/doc4ad7fc1bca9cc391125478.txt%20">• $9M of DSS funds to go uncollected.</a> <br />
<a href="http://www.registerstar.com/articles/2009/10/16/news/doc4ad7fc8bdfb64462642013.txt">• County seeks new accounting firm.</a><br />
<a href="http://www.registerstar.com/articles/2009/10/29/opinion/editorials/doc4ae8d0b7a1d1c922721840.txt">• Passing the buck — 9 million times</a>.<br />
<a href="http://www.registerstar.com/articles/2009/10/20/news/doc4add47455b970429141003.txt">• Officials: No one is to blame for $9M shortage</a>.<br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.registerstar.com/articles/2009/10/23/news/doc4ae13dfb431a3235192792.txt">• DSS officials: County did no wrong by claiming $9M.</a><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.registerstar.com/articles/2009/10/29/news/doc4ae913d23c4e5400402023.txt">• Fate of DSS, One City Centre worries officials.</a><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
•<a href="http://www.registerstar.com/articles/2009/11/06/news/doc4af39ccdc5b57535049095.txt"> Baer answers questions on $9M shortage</a><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">See also: </span><a href="http://www.registerstar.com/articles/2009/11/05/opinion/letters/doc4af1e247b5e31896445581.txt">How Do You Lose $9M?</a> and <a href="http://www.registerstar.com/articles/2009/11/04/opinion/letters/doc4af09e44d5650072538959.txt">Free pass?</a> <br />
</div>victorinhudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00727070764427725170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3424397791172329011.post-71346561827305763192009-06-12T13:56:00.007-04:002009-06-12T15:41:59.194-04:00One of the Best Things About Hudson...Bindlestiff!One of the best things about moving to Hudson, has been seeing and getting to know the Bindlestiffs. The Bindlestiff Family Cirkus is something to see. Fire Eaters, Sword Swallowers, Acrobats and Freaks rule this circus.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.bindlestiff.org/"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 230px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU6o2GM-9PF336mpXnWM_SMzMywNN2mhk73CRE9IK7kuJbpUR5P0fY_T2tk7C2g7fFR5rsDkA0fFewBo8mQXtwIFbPuoUfR_AVOJG0IuJ837xkuYyJSHvhfVKYj_RpkIJLPpVLCYoTgFI/s400/Bindle.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346528294388001090" border="0" /></a><br />Unlike Ringling/Cirque where the action is precisely choreographed, their work is what might happen, when the staff went home at the Mental Institution for the Criminally Artistically Insane.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="font-size:100%;">See everything at:</span> </span><a style="font-family: lucida grande;" href="http://www.bindlestiff.org/">bindlestiff.org</a></span><br /></span><br /><span style=";font-family:lucida grande;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Check out this new video that gives you some history. </span></span><br /><br /><embed src="http://blip.tv/play/AcXHC42qOg" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="300" width="400"></embed><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Make sure to go see their shows in the area this Summer.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://itedie.com/calendar/calendar.php?display=event&id=87&date=2009-Jun-13&returnto=month"><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);"><span class="event">Buckaroo Binldestiff's Wild West Show</span></span></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);"></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"></span><a href="http://www.rhranch.com/index.html"><strong><span class="style5">Rocking Horse Ranch</span></strong></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">June 13 at 8:30PM</span><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:lucida grande;font-size:85%;" >June 20 at 8:30PM</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" ><span class="style5" style="font-family:lucida grande;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">July 4 at 8:30AM</span><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">July 10 at 8:30PM<br /></span></span></span> <a href="http://www.rhranch.com/index.html"><strong><span class="style5"></span></strong></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Fun for the whole family.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"></span></span> <span class="style5" style="font-family:lucida grande;"></span><a style="font-family: lucida grande;" href="http://www.rhranch.com/index.html"><strong><span class="style5">Rocking Horse Ranch</span></strong></a></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="style5" style="font-family:lucida grande;">600 Route 44/55 (Thruway Exit 18)</span><br /><span class="style5" style="font-family:lucida grande;"> Highland, NY 12528 </span><br /></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);"><b>Freaks & Foolz Cabaret</b></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.vermontartscouncil.org/Portals/0/tabid/67/Default.aspx"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:lucida grande;" >Art Fits Vermont</span></a><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);"><b>BurlingtonVT</b></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> <span style="font-weight: bold;">All Day - Two Day Event</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:lucida grande;" ></span></span> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:lucida grande;font-size:85%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Show Times </span><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Saturday & Sunday </span></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:lucida grande;" > <span style=";font-family:lucida grande;font-size:85%;" >July 11 & 12</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:lucida grande;font-size:85%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">12:00 - 3:00</span> in City Hall Park and </span><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">9:00pm - 11:00PM</span> in City Hall<br />(Contois Auditorium) </span><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"></span></span><br /><a href="http://fishercenter.bard.edu/calendar/event.php?eid=106845&year=2009&month=8&day=1"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 153);"><b>Bindlestiffs at Spiegeltent</b></span></a><br /><span style=";font-family:lucida grande;font-size:85%;" >at Bard College<br /></span><span style=";font-family:lucida grande;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">August 1 at 1:00PM</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> August 2 at 7:00PM</span><br /></span> <span style=";font-family:lucida grande;font-size:85%;" >Bard College, Annandale on Hudson<br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="https://maxtix.bard.edu/scripts/max/2000/maxweb.exe?ACTION=ORDER">Tickets</a><br /></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 153);"><b>Bindlestiff Family Cirkus Show</b></span> <b><br /></b><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">at Columbia-Greene Comm. College</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:lucida grande;" >September 20 at 2:00PM<br /></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">CGCC</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:lucida grande;" ></span></span><span style="font-size:78%;">4400 State Route 23, just 1.3 miles east of the Rip Van Winkle Bridge in Hudson<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:lucida grande;font-size:85%;" >Tickets 518-828-4181 x 3344 </span></span>victorinhudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00727070764427725170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3424397791172329011.post-25792440451119689832009-04-25T03:24:00.004-04:002009-04-25T03:55:25.231-04:00Candidate School<div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:180%;" ><br />Don't like the way things are?</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-size:180%;" ><span style="font-family:arial;">Run for office!</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-XeTNe3a6IVRsdygkJ1N-416rojC8nZGy3d8t_Id7pK7pEyGKKHT5GZ8eU_-pI7_ZLsLtJFtn2-QjKC22OPlMPqPwBFpalX93eKiT0CazGHIphimN3ZZ4a_e7RWAtxEXVaPYhKcYwyvE/s1600-h/Calling.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 153px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-XeTNe3a6IVRsdygkJ1N-416rojC8nZGy3d8t_Id7pK7pEyGKKHT5GZ8eU_-pI7_ZLsLtJFtn2-QjKC22OPlMPqPwBFpalX93eKiT0CazGHIphimN3ZZ4a_e7RWAtxEXVaPYhKcYwyvE/s400/Calling.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328532131884664930" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijJhjPLibBV8SUslsPoSOPP3XedljOTQiIKMzsguEptKGo08u9HCvAiySHYIWKvPI7zDddig4kVS7YuEjUg2Owo_pCglwKgLT0QwGCZUuPuI0tGLEU-LsAI7gXjjl0FSM0-Aweyy3EtHE/s1600-h/Are+You.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 122px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijJhjPLibBV8SUslsPoSOPP3XedljOTQiIKMzsguEptKGo08u9HCvAiySHYIWKvPI7zDddig4kVS7YuEjUg2Owo_pCglwKgLT0QwGCZUuPuI0tGLEU-LsAI7gXjjl0FSM0-Aweyy3EtHE/s400/Are+You.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328532023758230114" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhai7BDelMVPpQr3Oq8RYDiUiPzNCY8fLT2_f2e__ZSYLIdzi_LpmqhoeO7CKxOswdOMSrOasz8odC5kECRPwDkcuUeYXykBvlp8nJMabxKp6XelJc6VFxSb13ObvF-8Q8QhbeBKQrAbBk/s1600-h/Rock.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhai7BDelMVPpQr3Oq8RYDiUiPzNCY8fLT2_f2e__ZSYLIdzi_LpmqhoeO7CKxOswdOMSrOasz8odC5kECRPwDkcuUeYXykBvlp8nJMabxKp6XelJc6VFxSb13ObvF-8Q8QhbeBKQrAbBk/s400/Rock.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328531937815306530" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">Shepard Fairey</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ8Y1Wu9cm3TQ45ls_mOa5lwaB8J0PVbGZ31NmfGDjTml9-y-6d8mQ67SVEW-tbh4xl6DdGvU7D4YgVUbJTzVoLOMMxnKTw_sXsLKo4ZzHwRu7uY-G2n6NFw4PlKjiZ1NjTsuXv-i7ghs/s1600-h/Sunday.jpg"><span style="font-size:78%;"> http://obeygiant.com/</span></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ8Y1Wu9cm3TQ45ls_mOa5lwaB8J0PVbGZ31NmfGDjTml9-y-6d8mQ67SVEW-tbh4xl6DdGvU7D4YgVUbJTzVoLOMMxnKTw_sXsLKo4ZzHwRu7uY-G2n6NFw4PlKjiZ1NjTsuXv-i7ghs/s1600-h/Sunday.jpg"><span style="font-size:78%;"></span><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 287px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ8Y1Wu9cm3TQ45ls_mOa5lwaB8J0PVbGZ31NmfGDjTml9-y-6d8mQ67SVEW-tbh4xl6DdGvU7D4YgVUbJTzVoLOMMxnKTw_sXsLKo4ZzHwRu7uY-G2n6NFw4PlKjiZ1NjTsuXv-i7ghs/s400/Sunday.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328531845485979682" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZf5okqIOFNe-ppJCETy0xKWeDm7l2wrr_MXOPw4RzmGWfpVzAXKpbAhhiV0P4Uyk2OkNR8HUem0OrJzrUtwodTg8TAnCQimQH3dYXBUOqQ_WzJ5KoNYiOjpHnFfzpdlkdcBdjj5zKhfo/s1600-h/The+Class.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 104px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZf5okqIOFNe-ppJCETy0xKWeDm7l2wrr_MXOPw4RzmGWfpVzAXKpbAhhiV0P4Uyk2OkNR8HUem0OrJzrUtwodTg8TAnCQimQH3dYXBUOqQ_WzJ5KoNYiOjpHnFfzpdlkdcBdjj5zKhfo/s400/The+Class.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328533066255682034" border="0" /></a></div>victorinhudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00727070764427725170noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3424397791172329011.post-58769148002488333832009-03-20T01:25:00.009-04:002009-03-20T01:40:14.535-04:00San Franciso Mayor Gavin Newsom on Whether Civil Unions and Marriage are Equal<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs1A22MDOiz-2s-ITqYqje1AX8Y4MRQUPmV20Z0tPBo19_tQHTVBQc8vio9tZqTpcvbkGB7_JY0QmW6_Eeov8O2NQfN_g14lzNy2ciaYt_AqeG1yS28GKoPoFED_at0W_a7cmZ8zKsxgs/s1600-h/n53227233471_2096.jpg.jpeg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 148px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs1A22MDOiz-2s-ITqYqje1AX8Y4MRQUPmV20Z0tPBo19_tQHTVBQc8vio9tZqTpcvbkGB7_JY0QmW6_Eeov8O2NQfN_g14lzNy2ciaYt_AqeG1yS28GKoPoFED_at0W_a7cmZ8zKsxgs/s200/n53227233471_2096.jpg.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315139677118618626" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Gavin Newsom, the current Mayor of San Francisco and more than likely, the Democratic challenger to Governor Terminator, spoke at the Commonwealth Club recently. He lays out why civil unions can never be accepted as equal to marriage.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: lucida grande;">Become a fan on </span><a style="font-family: lucida grande;" href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gavin-Newsom/10128918116?ref=nf">Facebook</a></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><object height="284" width="445"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5QsgG_tuxsc&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5QsgG_tuxsc&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="284" width="445"></embed></object><br /><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gavin-Newsom/10128918116?ref=nf"></a>victorinhudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00727070764427725170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3424397791172329011.post-2895719171532929642009-03-10T17:02:00.011-04:002009-03-10T18:02:44.227-04:00I Got Licked!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lickhudson.blogspot.com/2008/09/someone-you-know.html"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0RlrxSIh1Ik/SbbWtSiwwfI/AAAAAAAAETc/kl1ndmLOMqg/s320/afro.jpg.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311668884090175986" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">So I am really late in posting this (like all winter) but toward the end of the summer I had an old picture of myself from 1979 with me and showed it to Christopher at <a href="http://lickhudson.blogspot.com/">Lick</a> - the best Ice Cream Store/Hangout in Hudson.<br /><br />It inspired him to do this chalk drawing of me on the sidewalk in front of Lick.</span><br /><a style="font-family: lucida grande;" href="http://lickhudson.blogspot.com/2008/09/someone-you-know.html">See the post on Lick's Blog.</a></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_0RlrxSIh1Ik/ROCQO7cMABI/AAAAAAAAAU4/yAcD5X1eVcw/s400/scan0001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 180px; height: 178px;" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_0RlrxSIh1Ik/ROCQO7cMABI/AAAAAAAAAU4/yAcD5X1eVcw/s400/scan0001.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">1979 - Cherry Grove Ferry, Sayville NY</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://lickhudson.blogspot.com/2008/08/mans-best-friend.html"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">More of Me (and my dog Rocky) on the Lick Blog</span></a></span></span>victorinhudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00727070764427725170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3424397791172329011.post-42793028891681157682009-02-27T22:24:00.008-05:002009-02-27T22:37:32.745-05:00Best Oscar Acceptance Speech 2009<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">Great Oscar Acceptance Speech</span></span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3dvp2VEfX7q3BWPghqUmIn0h4385_vDu4JhARWnKWgpizNsIVXx_ROSFttoppZMR3Nr_WWE9LjCcR1Ax9QU-Y0AzlVNcfmKvhePVx-WENEU2vnqIRb1bMQ440_aro5IAsqt_p9Ckg2B0/s1600-h/milk.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 191px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3dvp2VEfX7q3BWPghqUmIn0h4385_vDu4JhARWnKWgpizNsIVXx_ROSFttoppZMR3Nr_WWE9LjCcR1Ax9QU-Y0AzlVNcfmKvhePVx-WENEU2vnqIRb1bMQ440_aro5IAsqt_p9Ckg2B0/s200/milk.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307686406549663826" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Best Screenplay - MILK<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Umm - No Not That MILK<br /></span></span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZe8aUWiVlCgqXgMwe_szBOHACEbap7RsoyhNMDgzzX1mr36zMkl-NLAkZtd_JWKbtN1qEFv1E9Kw1sIgXSp25zqOFcIi6jkLMeYeqtmnc_BE8hPEi43MgfT-5_q7an5Px8Ph8_v2zr0E/s1600-h/Milk.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 218px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZe8aUWiVlCgqXgMwe_szBOHACEbap7RsoyhNMDgzzX1mr36zMkl-NLAkZtd_JWKbtN1qEFv1E9Kw1sIgXSp25zqOFcIi6jkLMeYeqtmnc_BE8hPEi43MgfT-5_q7an5Px8Ph8_v2zr0E/s320/Milk.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307685067989190178" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This MILK</span></span><br /><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-mv35SN3ctU&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-mv35SN3ctU&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object>victorinhudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00727070764427725170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3424397791172329011.post-51738737622687434502009-02-20T18:47:00.005-05:002009-02-20T18:55:40.249-05:00Sign the Petition on ThePowerOnline.org<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.thepoweronline.org/"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8vEN-Icj-hhp_c_KF2l6buVM86azyhldi30zAizpl0q9KnbvAhAqt3usaYriQ6gQ1Jbb-ZkWWKkl0NMtknrZwsq3lwyZz2KRyr_m78HD8_RyyCPEn9f54N8LSLrowQmkdeyGFTye7J-Y/s320/ThePower.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305030599641372082" border="0" /></a><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jEelC8-5eNE&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jEelC8-5eNE&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ce1SPuqcRCU&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ce1SPuqcRCU&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object>victorinhudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00727070764427725170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3424397791172329011.post-62093026392473063452009-02-19T13:24:00.005-05:002009-02-19T22:25:04.721-05:00Campaign 2001 Memorabilia<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9kGyiRGlsrspigZz6dEsVJzexGD-RwxULgt-vU65gjdK02qmR78OXWR7aB_5BmUuSf8szDwpREu4nJQxyCaDwx5GCJqeS_zj27n6LVl-2fqMdQV0C7bKKsGVzXE9CjQ0PHF2GYZ2Oim4/s1600-h/CityCouncil.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 307px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9kGyiRGlsrspigZz6dEsVJzexGD-RwxULgt-vU65gjdK02qmR78OXWR7aB_5BmUuSf8szDwpREu4nJQxyCaDwx5GCJqeS_zj27n6LVl-2fqMdQV0C7bKKsGVzXE9CjQ0PHF2GYZ2Oim4/s400/CityCouncil.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304578535627244642" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">I was digging around in some old picture folders and came across my campaign flyer from 2001 when I challenged Christine Quinn (the current Speaker of the NYC Council).<br /><br />At the time she was trying to overturn term limits, was complicit in the harrassment faced by bars, nightclubs and adult establishments and she had an enemies list. Eight years later, not much has changed.<br /><br />The primary took place on an infamous day. 9/11/2001.<br /><br />I had to drop out of the race before the election because I had a gran mal seizure completely out of the blue. I spent months having every test and scan to find out what was up. In the end it was determined that was supremely exhausted and my body just shut down.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0RlrxSIh1Ik/SZ2neW8wtvI/AAAAAAAAECY/WrDxTz4fE4o/s1600-h/04-11-staten-island-quinn.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 161px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0RlrxSIh1Ik/SZ2neW8wtvI/AAAAAAAAECY/WrDxTz4fE4o/s200/04-11-staten-island-quinn.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304580076110657266" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Even though the voters in New York City have held three referenda on term limits and have rejected extending them twice, Speaker Quinn will most likely be reelected to another term, against the will of the people.<br /></span>victorinhudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00727070764427725170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3424397791172329011.post-79371037597258813122009-02-18T00:40:00.011-05:002009-02-18T12:26:55.007-05:00Scott Murphy for Congress<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjVWbW1QcTIAuQ6jf1xLLQuIz1Ab3kpbN08eioJROYDquSrDhJEgcu_QERSRj2Blpa3GryXzAMKfIjAO0xjqwJkvbJxlxwo-4BEG3swp9rw5gR5Mc4mzzYwZ3n0vre1ReZ1YSsEMrzbDg/s1600-h/ScottMurphyNew.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 256px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjVWbW1QcTIAuQ6jf1xLLQuIz1Ab3kpbN08eioJROYDquSrDhJEgcu_QERSRj2Blpa3GryXzAMKfIjAO0xjqwJkvbJxlxwo-4BEG3swp9rw5gR5Mc4mzzYwZ3n0vre1ReZ1YSsEMrzbDg/s320/ScottMurphyNew.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304008227197506082" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">SCOTT</span></span><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> MURPHY</span></span><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> for CONGRESS</span></span><br /></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />There will be a special election in the <a href="http://nationalatlas.gov/printable/images/preview/congdist/NY20_110.gif">20th Congressional District</a> on March 31st to fill the Congressional seat vacated when Kirsten Gillibrand was appointed our new Senator.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.scottmurphy09.com/">Scott Murphy</a> is the Democratic nominee.<br /><br />Learn more about Scott:<br /><a href="http://www.scottmurphy09.com/">scottmurphy09.com</a><br /><a href="http://dccc.org/content/races/ny_20/">Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee</a><br />Scott on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Murphy_%28politician%29">Wikipedia</a><br />Scott on <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/2/11/16130/9052/374/696273">DailyKos</a><br />Scott on <a href="http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7014057139">AHN</a><br />Scott in <a href="http://www.observer.com/2009/meet-scott-murphy">New York Observer</a><br /><br />Scott's <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/ScottMurphy2009">YouTube Channel</a><br />Donate to Scott's Campaign on <a href="http://www.actblue.com/page/hudsondemocrats">ActBlue</a><br /><br />Join Scott's <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=49309003674">Group on Facebook</a><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Scott-Murphy/57633446802">Become a fan</a> on Facebook<br /><br /></span></span></div>victorinhudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00727070764427725170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3424397791172329011.post-30427705955068831342009-01-20T06:58:00.001-05:002009-01-20T07:00:59.149-05:00We Have Tortured! War Crimes Need To Be Prosecuted!<div><iframe height="339" width="425" src="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/28740622#28740622" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe><style type="text/css">.msnbcLinks {font-size:11px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #999; margin-top: 5px; background: transparent; text-align: center; width: 425px;} .msnbcLinks a {text-decoration:none !important; border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; font-weight:normal !important; height: 13px;} .msnbcLinks a:link, .msnbcLinks a:visited {color: #5799db !important;} .msnbcLinks a:hover, .msnbcLinks a:active {color:#CC0000 !important;} </style><p class="msnbcLinks">Visit msnbc.com for <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/">Breaking News</a>, <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032507">World News</a>, and <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032072">News about the Economy</a></p></div>victorinhudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00727070764427725170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3424397791172329011.post-37214036550826637382009-01-20T00:43:00.001-05:002009-01-20T00:45:44.595-05:00Arrest Bush? If We Don't Someone Else Just Might.<div><iframe height="339" width="425" src="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/28741104#28741104" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe><style type="text/css">.msnbcLinks {font-size:11px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #999; margin-top: 5px; background: transparent; text-align: center; width: 425px;} .msnbcLinks a {text-decoration:none !important; border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; font-weight:normal !important; height: 13px;} .msnbcLinks a:link, .msnbcLinks a:visited {color: #5799db !important;} .msnbcLinks a:hover, .msnbcLinks a:active {color:#CC0000 !important;} </style><p class="msnbcLinks">Visit msnbc.com for <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/">Breaking News</a>, <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032507">World News</a>, and <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032072">News about the Economy</a></p></div>victorinhudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00727070764427725170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3424397791172329011.post-19675670606482962722009-01-19T06:55:00.003-05:002009-01-19T07:13:55.936-05:00American Prayer by Dave StewartA new Inauguration Day Version of American Prayer by Dave Stewart (Eurythmics) with a bevy of other cool people (and Jason Alexander).<br /><object height="295" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZxN1sTRAyH8&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZxN1sTRAyH8&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="295" width="480"></embed></object>victorinhudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00727070764427725170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3424397791172329011.post-62234197879704539932009-01-19T06:52:00.001-05:002009-01-19T06:54:54.170-05:00Pete Seeger and The BossThe great Pete Seeger represents the Hudson Valley at the Inauguration with Bruce Springsteen.<br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/n-PCpRWqXv8&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/n-PCpRWqXv8&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>victorinhudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00727070764427725170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3424397791172329011.post-42188094751469400642008-12-31T03:08:00.008-05:002008-12-31T04:51:48.374-05:00THE POWER IS YOURS because you are THE POWER.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3_ks9ygDMpoxa_MVrb2oJ-NtQnpNGjKmsELRNOuMML69PtvaEa5ayVtCJ-coe1hftRxZ98syyws9yinJq65te2vh8ixMcZz6QpYe-hur2IOHvCb4z-3cv8Ak9K1N-xQ4tV9n7XKv5uuY/s1600-h/gayweddingcake.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 235px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3_ks9ygDMpoxa_MVrb2oJ-NtQnpNGjKmsELRNOuMML69PtvaEa5ayVtCJ-coe1hftRxZ98syyws9yinJq65te2vh8ixMcZz6QpYe-hur2IOHvCb4z-3cv8Ak9K1N-xQ4tV9n7XKv5uuY/s320/gayweddingcake.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285863795643685074" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I have been asked to be an officer on THE POWER and am honored to do so. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The Power is an outgrowth of the spontaneous grass roots energy that erupted in the aftermath of California's Proposition 8 which took away the right of same-sex couples to marry</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The first order of business for The Power is to ensure a Democratic majority in NY State Senate without any pre-conditions. .</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Even though Democrats won enough seats to take control of the Senate for the first time in 40 years, three conservative Democrats want gay marriage off the table as the cost of keeping their votes with the Democrats. The threat being otherwise they'll cut a deal with the Republicans and give them back the majority. So a deal may have already been made with the Democratic leadership to not address the issue. More details on the reported deal <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2008/12/details-of-a-leadership-deal.html">here.</a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This is a typical Albany power grab, with equality as the bargaining chip. It is the kind of stuff that has always gone on in Albany, but for once it is seeing the light of day.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Please Join and participate! Help spread the word.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=39366464226">The Power on Facebook</a></span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=39366464226"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=39366464226</span></a></span></span><br /><br />>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:lucida grande;" >From Facebook page for THE POWER</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">THE POWER IS YOURS because you are THE POWER.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">JOIN THE POWER in holding political leaders accountable to support equality,</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> most</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> immediately marriage equality, not on some arbitrary and convenient schedule,</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> but</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> right now.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">UNLEASH THE POWER to enact marriage equality legislation in New York in 2009 and</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> to achieve federal recognition of those marriages.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Please:</span><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">1. JOIN the Facebook group.</span><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">2. POST it to your </span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Facebook </span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">profile.</span><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">3. INVITE all your friends, straight and gay, New Yorkers and out-of-staters.</span><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">4. Post articles and discussions about these Senators and the battle for</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> marriage in</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">New York.</span><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">5. ORGANIZE events and demonstrations. If you are willing to do so, please</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> contact</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> the group leaders.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">***********************************</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">************</span><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Background:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">THE POWER is the outgrowth of a Facebook group that harnessed the spontaneous</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> grass roots energy that errupted in the aftermath of Proposition 8</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> to pressure a</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> group </span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">of rogue Democratic New York State Senators known as "The Gang of Three" (<a href="http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2008/11/anti-gay_state_senator_chooses.html">Ruben</a></span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><a href="http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2008/11/anti-gay_state_senator_chooses.html"> Diaz</a><a href="http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2008/11/anti-gay_state_senator_chooses.html">, Sr.</a>, <a href="ttp://www.nydailynews.com/news/columnists/benjamin/">Carl Kruger</a>, and Pedro Espada, Jr.) to abandon a scheme to back an</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> anti-</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">marriage Republican (Dean Skelos) over a pro-marriage Democrat (Malcolm Smith)</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> for majority leader. Through thousands and thousands of calls to anti-gay</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> Senator</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> Ruben Diaz, Sr., we put him and other legislators on notice that the people are</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> prepared to take the fight for equality to our opponents in their own districts,</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> and that</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> we won't give up until we prevail.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">On December 6th, The Gang of Three made a deal which gives Democrats control of</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> the State Senate for the first time in forty years and which will make Malcolm</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> Smith the</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> President Pro Tempore, enabling introduction of marriage legislation in 2009.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Unfortunately, rumors surfaced in the press that as part of the deal, Smith had</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> agreed</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> to table marriage legislation until after the 2010 gubernatorial election.</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> Though there</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> has been no official confirmation of such a deal, it became clear that the </span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">thousands of</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> people assembling under the banner of the old Facebook group needed and wanted</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> to</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> assemble under a different banner that wasn't tied to any one specific</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> politician or</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> political party, specifically for the purpose of pursuing marriage equality in</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> New York.</span><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><br />Since Facebook does not allow anyone to change the name of a group after it has</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> been created, the only solution was to create a new group with a more generic</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> name.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Thus, The Power.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=39366464226">Go to Facebook Now and Join</a><br /></span></span><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"></span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=39366464226"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIWwg6asTkFVFyaTtssM40b191Ui70JgPCot39PHDaL2qsCx6u-J3SRjcj_Nh1fC1amSlKfj-EmFTpeGcOJSBaKGgpYThQo712txjkNqs5meIXKHOc8SwS-Kqpi90E8kOzt6kBHA9c0is/s320/n39366464226_8728.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285863946690782210" border="0" /></a><br /></div><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Contact Info</span> <a href="mailto:ThePowerNY@gmail.com">ThePowerNY@gmail.com</a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: times new roman; font-weight: bold;">Crucial Links:</span><br /><a style="font-family: times new roman;" href="http://www.marriageequalityny.org/index.html"></a></span></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: times new roman;" href="http://jointheimpact.wetpaint.com/">Join The Impact</a><br /><a style="font-family: times new roman;" href="http://www.marriageequalityny.org/">Marriage Equality - NY</a><br /><a style="font-family: times new roman;" href="http://www.prideagenda.org">Empire State Pride Agenda</a><br /><a style="font-family: times new roman;" href="http://www.cdglcc.org/">Capital District Gay and Lesbian Community Council</a><a style="font-family: times new roman;" href="http://www.cdglcc.org/" onmousedown="'UntrustedLink.bootstrap($(this)," target="_blank" rel="nofollow"></a></span> <h4 style="font-family: times new roman; font-weight: normal;" class="info_section"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Upcoming Events:</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.marriageequalityny.org/marriage_day.html"> Marriage Equality Day in Albany February 3rd </a></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></h4> <h4 class="info_section"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><br /></span></span></h4>victorinhudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00727070764427725170noreply@blogger.com0