All the ads, signs, and mailers go away after tommorrow... It's Election Day!

For those of you who know me know that I like to dabble in politics from time-to-time. I have been following our local races pretty closely and would like to offer my opinion ahead of Election Day on a few of them.

First, we’ll start with our only City of Troy election this year, City Court Judge (civil court). Judge Matt Turner has seen over 100,000 cases before him while serving as our current city judge. Matt has a record of presiding with fairness, integrity, impartiality, unbiased attitude, courtesy, and promptness. In other words Matt upholds the law and does so in humane and civil manner. The city of Troy needs someone like Matt to represent us. The cases that Matt see’s everyday are based on issues that strain our quality-of-life. After 12 years as judge Matt has done what is fair and just in protecting the city and its residents. Don't just take it from me… if the recent results from this year’s Primary Election are an indicator, hundreds of residents share my point of view. Matt defeated his opponent nearly 3 to 1 in the primary for the Conservative, Independence, and Working Families party lines.

Next we’ll find our way to the cesspool that has been Albany and our state government.

In a time when everything that comes out of Albany has been the adverse to common sense leadership several individuals have done their best to speak for us, the residents of Upstate NY. Roy McDonald has set out to protect our interests and strive to move forward an Upstate Agenda. While ciaos ruled, Roy was hard working. Roy knows the formula. His experience is one of proven results in lowering and eliminating taxes, positive economic development that has created hundreds of jobs and strengthened countless Upstate communities. If you have ever ventured north toward Saratoga you will see the results of Roy’s vision, hard work, and bi-partisan leadership. For almost 2 years now we have been denied similar continued growth in our region because Albany finds itself ruled by a Downstate agenda. Roy’s campaign has been one based on facts, experience, and solutions. Roy’s opponent’s has been filled with deception and outright lies. We do not need business as usual in Albany, we need real leaders with proven results.

One aspect, regardless of political persuasion, that has to upset the constituents of some of the state senate and assembly districts are the way by which they are laid out. Usually, you’ll find a large portion of a district to include the majority of the incumbent’s votes (party persuasion) and a small portion of a district to include a very minor percentage of votes. This is the case for the 108^th Assembly seat. A small portion of Troy’s council district’s 1, 2, and 3 fall within the 108^th. With this being the case what we have experienced is a serious lack in representation by the sitting assemblyman. I would go as far to ask, “Does Tim Gordon know where Lansingburgh is?” The majority of his time, effort, and pork stay’s in Albany County where his votes are. But this is a minor complaint when you analyze Tim’s record. Tim has been a “yes” vote on tax increase after tax increase as he continues to support Shelly Silver and his downstate agenda. In my opinion Mr. Gordon has been lying to and fleecing the public for far too long. Tim is not an independent, he takes his orders from the assembly dem’s and his current and past campaigns have been financed by them, isn’t this a conflict? This charade has gone on for too long. We need enthusiasm, we need a common sense plan, we need someone with an understanding of what the residents and small businesses of Upstate really need… We need a resident of Rensselaer County in Albany to fairly and accurately represent us… we need Steve McLaughlin in the state assembly!

To recap:

Troy City Court Judge: Matthew Turner

NYS Senate 43^rd District: Roy McDonald

NYS Assembly 108^th District: Steve McLaughlin

Other races…

US Congress 21^st District: Ted Danz

NYS Assembly 106^th District: Ron Canesteri

Finally, there is one thing we can all agree on, taxes are too high and our government is broken. Let your voice be heard… VOTE TOMORROW! Even if the individual you cast a vote for loses every vote against their opponent demonstrates to the victorious candidate that there are people paying attention and who do not agree. Don’t just take my or anyone else's word for it research the candidates, their past, present, and plans for the the future. Visit http://troyrecord.com/news/election/ for the Records election coverage.

Stars-for-our-Troops

Hello, I'm back. it's been awhile since my last post. I have been busy with several community projects with a much needed vacation to San Francisco sandwiched in between. I am currently in the process of writing a post regarding neighborhood rebirth, so look for that in the coming days.

I have recently learned about the Stars-for-our-Troops program conducted by the Ladies Auxiliary of Germania Hall of North Troy.

The ladies are collecting used American Flags to continue a program that was started by four women from Florida called the Star Project. From the collected U.S. flags that have worn out their colors and fabric, the group are cutting from them the fields of blue, then scissoring off the embroidered stars.


The stars are then inserted into a plastic bag go a star and an explanation:

"I am part of our American flag that has flown over a home in the U.S.A. I can no longer fly. The sun and winds have caused me to become tattered and torn. Please carry me as a reminder that you are not forgotten."

according to the group the flags should be approximately 5 feet by 3 feet, so that the stars are about the size of half-dollars when they are cut out.

Not only is the group requesting help in obtaining these flags, and also people (with scissors) that would be willing to share a couple of hours on the third Sunday of every month to make these packets for our troops - overseas and at home, as well as local veterans.

Flags can be brought to Germania Hall on Friday nights from 5 to 9 PM, or on the third Sunday of the month from 2 to 4 PM. The remnants of the flags will be properly processed during a flag burning ceremony.

The group would like help locating soldiers that are going to Iraq and Afghanistan so they can give some stars to them to share with others. If you have a local contact for organizations that are sending packages overseas please forward it to the Ladies Auxiliary so they can add them to the packages.

For more additional information, please contact Susan E Wells, President, Ladies Auxiliary, at 235-1558 or email TroyGermania@aol.com or visit www.troygermaniahall.com

Two Upcoming Community Benefits

This Saturday the first annual Community Harvest will be held at Ross parking lots at the end of 102nd Street. The event is somewhat of a neighborhood street festival with the purpose of bringing our local community together.Several businesses partnered with members of the community to put together an afternoon of FREE entertainment and food.



Then on Saturday September 25 a benefit will be held for the O'Brien and Bush families of Lansingburgh who recently were displaced from there home due to a devastating fire.





I would encourage everyone to consider attending one or both of these events. It's events like these that build community spirit and strengthen the relationship we share with those we call neighbors.

Patriot Day

Tomorrow marks the ninth anniversary of one of the most horrific tragedies in the history of our great country. Be sure to take time tomorrow to reflect and remember those who lost their lives on that September morning and each day since protecting the freedom and liberty we enjoy everyday because of their sacrifice and be sure to also celebrate what it means to be an American...

Bustling City Life in Downtown

I rarely ever have the opportunity to spend time in the city during weekday working hours. I currently work outside the city, I leave home around 6:30am and return around 4:30pm. I miss out on the flurry of day-to-day city life. Last Friday, I took off from work for a little R&R with my wife, Melissa. Before we headed out for the day I had an appointment downtown in the AM. The amount of traffic and activity I found myself immersed in was incredible. People coming and going from the restaurants, office buildings, the post office.... Now, I've lived in Troy my entire life and have been apart of the downtown hustle and bustle before, but it had been awhile. For the most part my exposure to downtown Troy is nights, weekends, and special City sponsored events. The atmosphere is completely different between working hours and non-working hours. That morning there was an energy that can't be felt during off hours. Troy was alive. Store fronts were lite and the doors were open, people coming and going. Then I thought, "where do these people go between the hours of 4:30pm and 7am?" Are they all day zombies and at night they fade into the building walls? All joking aside, what will it take to have the streets busy with activity off-hours and on the weekends?

The City and Mayor Tutunjian deserve a great deal of credit for doing a great job of promoting the city and having the many municipal festivals we hold year round. Now, due to previous successes, we are experiencing major infrastructure improvements which include outside investment and private development. With the addition of Dinosaur BBQ and the revival of the Congress/Ferry Street corridor, new and unique attractions will soon be opening that include a much in demand movie theater and retail. Additionally, all the "little" projects such as the new street signals and improvements to the sidewalk corners improve the look, feel, and safety of downtown and bigger projects such as the redevelopment of Riverfront Park and the old city hall site will all add a certain something that has been missing over the recent years. Put all these projects together, with those downtown development projects that have been previously completed, and you have something special that will draw people to Troy and give them something to do, and will draw future developers and businesses because they will see that Troy is a city on the move and is a great place to live, work, and play.

Downtown has many positive things happening in and around it. It is our economic center and home to city, county, and some state governmental offices, but it also now has the Downtown Troy Business Improvement District to serve as its stewards moving into the future. A more consistent, busy city life will return, how much of it, I don't know, but for all of Troy to be successful we need a successful downtown. We are an urban city and our downtown is where the majority of our commerce will happen (tax dollars generated). Now that downtown has been stabilized and is growing positively now the attention needs to be heavily focused on our residential neighborhoods, especially areas in Lansingburgh, South Troy, and sections of Albia, and Sycaway. This will be the focus of my next blog... Neighborhood Rebirth.

The Count Down Has Begun!

We are less than one month away from the 35th Annual Uncle Sam Parade and Celebration... However the festivities are set to get underway next Saturday August 21st with the Miss Uncle Sam Pageant.

This is the last call for entrants for the Miss Uncle Sam Pageant. Alta Reynolds, director of the Uncle Sam Pageant, is now accepting applications from young ladies from Rensselaer County. The pageant will be held on Saturday, August 21, 10:00am, and conducted in St. Augustine's Hall located on the corner of 114th Street and 4th Avenue in Lansingburgh.

For brochures and more information please write to: Uncle Sam Pageant, Alta Reynolds, 8 Bank Street, Troy, NY 12180 or call Alta at 274-7294. Don't miss out on being named to the Miss Uncle Sam Court during this milestone 35th Anniversary Year!

This year's parade will feature a number of new bands and participants and there is a rumor that the US Air Force may make a quick but special appearance to mark this very special year. A fun time is guaranteed for all.


The following is a list of events leading up to and including the 35th Parade:

1. Uncle Sam Jam and Power in the Park Car Show
at Powers Park on Saturday August 28 from 2:00pm to 8:00pm









2. Annual Uncle Sam Grave Side Ceremony conducted by the Veterans of Lansingburgh.
at Oakwood Cemetery Saturday September 11th beginning at 10am

3. Annual Citizen of the Year Brunch conducted by the Uncle Sam Parade Committee
at the Veterans of Lansingburgh Saturday September 11th following the Grave Side Ceremony. For tickets call me, Jim Gordon, at 365-2270.

This year we honor John Murphy the owner of Snowman ice cream of Lansingburgh as our Citizen of the Year. We will honor our Grand Marshal Mayor Harry J Tutunjian and our Humanitarian of the Year David Hamilton.

4. 35th Annual Uncle Sam Parade
5th Avenue from 125th to 106th Streets in Lansingburgh. Parade marches rain or shine.

5. Uncle Sam Celebration
at Kinickerbacker Park, live music featuring THE HOLLIES, BADFINGER, & BILLY J KRAMER and THE DAKOTAS with Blue Hand Luke in one of their final shows together and Donny "Elvis", an international food court, rides and games for the kids, and FIREWORKS! Beings at the conclusion of the parade.


Finally on a Side Note: The Parade Committee is currently conducting a ticket raffle. For a $100 chance you have the opportunity of winning a grand prize of $10,000 or one of our eight other prizes that range from $1,000 to $250.... Only 250 tickets will be sold.... if your interested or would like more information please email me at jgordon003@nycap.rr.com... All proceeds will benefit the 2010 Parade and Celebration.

National Night Out

Tomorrow residents across the city will be out celebrating National Night Out (NNO). NNO is an annual celebration sponsored and created by the National Association of Town Watch and designed for community members to get out into their community and show a since of unity and create a heightened awareness for crime and drug prevention ; generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime programs; strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

The North Lansingburgh Neighborhood Watch is one of the many neighborhood goups that will be celebrating the event in their community. Specifically, the NLNW will be gathering at the 112th Street Gateway Park that they were instrumental in the development of. The group work with Mayor Tutunjian to design and then build the riverfront park. While the park is currently waiting for phase two of construction the group plans to meet and do some minor park maintenance and landscaping while enjoying a bar-b-que cookout.

Additionally, the group is pleased to once again welcome Pastor Willie Bacote and the Missing Link Street Ministry. Last year the group "marched against violence" from the Harry Dahl Firehouse at 115th Street and Fifth Avenue and ended in Powers Park with a cookout.

The group is asking for plant donations to be added to the plant beds. We are also asking that you bring a friend with you. Lets use this informal setting as an opportunity to "recruit" new members for our group. Strength is in the numbers when it comes to neighborhood watch's. The more people we have scanning the street and reporting activity the greatly increase our opportunity for success.

If your free and would like to stop by our or any other groups NNO celebration, please do. For an outline of the evening events citywide, click here.