The bill for reform, Golisano style, keeps climbing
Once upon a time, when a state senator from downstate wanted to know something about upstate, he or she would ask a colleague from that neck of the woods. Or maybe have his people talk to the other guy's people.
That was then.
Now the Democratic majority has hired a special staff to focus on upstate. Offices in Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse.
But, it turns out, that, too, was "then."
Now comes word that Sen. Pedro Espada has hired his own guy for upstate. "Director of Upstate Relations," to be precise. As majority leader, I guess Espada feels entitled to his very own upstate liaison.
You'd think at $150,000 a year, Steve Pigeon, his new attorney, could pitch in as needed. But no, this job requires a Pigeon flunky, Dave Pfaff.
At $70,000 a year.
In a year when the state's budget deficit is now $4.1 billion and climbing.
Reports Matt Spina:
An investigation begun in 2008 by the Erie County Board of Elections revealed that a political fund maintained by Pfaff and controlled by Pigeon … People for Accountable Government … had collected and spent tens of thousands of dollars more than Pfaff had disclosed on his official reports to the state Board of Elections.
Indeed, Pfaff's duties over the years have included helping Pigeons play shell games with political contributions. As Spina reported in June:
The county (election) commissioners said the two committees filed on time just nine of the 43 periodic reports that have been required since Citizens for Fiscal Integrity was launched in 2005. They have now filed 11 of the 43.
Pigeon and at least one of his treasurers say they are not required to file as frequently as county officials believe because they are not active in every election season.
But the state board says it has obtained six judgments and begun several other enforcement actions against the two committees over the years.
This, folks, is the kind of "talent" your tax dollars are paying for.
As a Democrat, I think it is time to cross the line and vote Republican.
I can't believe all the backyard deals going on and I can't afford to pay my bills.
There is going to be a big backlash on these scammers and hypocrites. All of them have lost touch with the voters.
Posted by: JonWarner | October 15, 2009 at 08:19 AM
Soooo, it appears that Tom Golisano has left this high-taxed state for greener pastures but left his apparatchik, Pigeon, to make sure that it's business as usual in Albany, so taxes would keep going up and up.
Way to go, Tom!
I wonder what would happen if one evening Sabres had to play to an empty house because fans couldn't afford game tickets.....
I wonder if the state of Florida would dish out all the $$$$ to build a new hockey arena for Tom's toy-boys to skate in...
I wonder where all the money-growing trees and milk n' honey flowing rivers are?
Just sitting here and wondering while New York burns....
Posted by: WIFM | October 15, 2009 at 08:54 AM
Vote straight GOP this year! get rid of them all!
They are all crooks!
Posted by: WNYDOG | October 15, 2009 at 09:31 AM
The Only Reform, can come from the taxpayers and voters......REMOVE all present politicians..and NYC from the present dysfunctional highest taxed government in USA...start a new fresh constitution file bankruptcy and remove all the union contracts,,,THIS STATE IS IN REAL REAL REAL DEEP DEEP TROUBLE ECONOMICALLY....AND I AGREE AS A DEMOCRAT..time to vote republican....case closed
Posted by: frquarter | October 15, 2009 at 09:42 AM
WNYDOG - why not vote straight Independent or Working Families or...?
Maybe even start a new party!
But vote straight GOP?
I think NOT!
GOP was in charge of the State Senate and the Governor's mansion during the late 1980's and 1990's and where did it get us?
Posted by: anything but GOP | October 15, 2009 at 09:43 AM
One has to wonder when will we hit the threshold of "enough is enough." Our region has been in a free-fall for decades; the state is in one now, yet "dirty politics" is still the name of the game. And where is our Attorney General in all of this? Why isn't he rooting out the corruption or is he waiting until the party apparatus gets him elected governor? I think the majority of citizens does believe that enough is enough but feels powerless to do anything about it. God, this is depressing.
Posted by: Jim Allen | October 15, 2009 at 10:41 AM
are these appointed ones actually working those jobs,
or do they just use that money for campaign contributions, paid for by taxpayers.......
be interesting to find out!
vote them all out
campaign/lobbying reform is not on their agenda
vote them out!
Posted by: buttbuster | October 15, 2009 at 11:09 AM
It goes to show you that a vote for Senator Thompson and Stachowski is a VOTE For Pedro and Pigeon.
Steal it ALL you thieves
Posted by: Mary Smither | October 15, 2009 at 12:19 PM
James, Doesn't this $70K just replace what Joe Mesi was being paid under the previous (pre-Golisano) Democratic senate leader? It's a stupid waste, but perhaps not an increase due to Golisano as you're saying it is.
Posted by: How is the money Golisano's fault? | October 15, 2009 at 12:42 PM
to: How is the money Golisano's fault?
Because he's bankrolling Pigeon who, in turn, is running the state senate leaders...
If it wasn't for good ole Uncle Tom's dough Pigeon would be out of the game!
Posted by: anything but GOP | October 15, 2009 at 12:50 PM
anything but GOP says why not vote for Working Families candidates? Are you nuts? The so called Working Families Party was organized by a coalition of labor unions, ACORN and other community organizations.
That's right an arm of ACRON!
Do you really think that candidates supported by a group as totally corrupt and rotten to the core as ACRON have the answer?
Posted by: OP Mike | October 15, 2009 at 02:33 PM
OP Mike - they couldn't do any worse than the gang we already have in Albany!
BTW - I also suggested Independent Party or simply starting a new party...
What - no comment to throw at me about those suggestions?
As is so characteristic of you, OP Mike, you only see what you want to see and not the whole message!
Blinded by the hatred.
So sad!
So keep doing what you've been doing and vote GOP - but remember, it's madness to keep voting GOP and expecting different result from that gang of thieves. They're no better than the Democrats. That's why I say - throw out the whole lot of them! GOP and the Democrats!
No mercy. No quarter.
Posted by: anything but GOP | October 15, 2009 at 02:52 PM
anything but GOP -
You're missing my point.
Before the Golisano-Pigeon coup, the previous Democratic senate president (Malcom Smith) was paying Joe Mesi $70K to be his representative in WNY.
Now after the coup came and left, useless patronage guy Joe Mesi is gone from that "job" and the new Democratic senate president (Pedro Espada) hired some other useless patronage guy at $70K for the same "job" as Mesi had before.
How is that extra cost? $70K before Golisano-Pigeon did anything and now $70K after. But James Heany wrote that this means the costs of the coup are growing. How so?
Posted by: How is the money Golisano's fault? | October 16, 2009 at 11:43 AM
How is the money Golisano's fault?
Frankly, I belive it is you who is missing the point.
If not for Golisano's money via his "Responsible New York" PAC - the change in the state Senate from Republican to Democratic control might not have happened.
Follow the money - all the way to the beginning and see where the Pigeon-Golisano connection starts!
Posted by: anything but GOP | October 19, 2009 at 08:23 AM