Video of the Week

This one is for Rick where-do-I-live Antelli. After he figures out where he lives, maybe he can tell us!

Rick Antelli, where do you live?

CountyLegislature Candidate Rick Antelli, who -- this week anyway -- holds two elected positions, lists various addresses for himself on local websites. I reproduced them here so you don't need to wonder where the pages went after the Greece GOP reads this...

On the Town of Greece website, Councilman Rick Antelli is shown as residing on Wyndshire Lane:

Rick Antelli Councilman 4th Ward 38 Wyndshire Lane Greece, N.Y. 14626 392-7600 Rick graduated from Charlotte High School and received an Associates Degree from Monroe Community College. He runs a full service hair salon which is a family business operating in the same North Greece location for 25 years. Rick is a member of the Greece Rotary and St. Marks Knights of Columbus. Rick serves of the Board of Directors for the following organizations: Greece Volunteer Ambulance, Greece Police Athletic League, WGMC Radio, Italian/American Sports Club. He has served on the Monroe County Planning Board, Greece Environmental Board, Greece Youth Board, Greece Little League, and Greece Youth Soccer. Rick was the former Director of the Greece Chamber of Commerce, and a volunteer at St. Joseph's Villa. Rick and his wife, Laura, have two children, Ricky and Ashley.

Oops, there's little a problem with that! Mr Antelli is running for -- er, is the newly appointed inclumbent representative for -- County Legislature District 7. Wyndshire Lane is in another district, County Legislature District 19.

So, guess what, the Antelli family says they are living elsewhere now. From the Antelli for County Legislature website:

Rick, his wife Laurie, and their children Ricky and Ashley live on Tasnuck Drive.

Oops, one more problem... there is no such street as "Tasnuck Drive" in Greece.

Rick Antelli, where DO you live?

GOP re-arranges pawns on the Greece chess board

Greece Republicans are not shy about using every advantage they can think up. This year, even with their ranks diminished by those scurrying out of office to spend "more time with family" for "personal reasons," the GOP machine will present a slate of "incumbents."

Earlier this year, Town Board member Mike Barry left office before completing his term. Enter Shannon O'Keefe, who was appointed to fill the seat, and now runs as the incumbent.

County Legislator Doug Dobson left office before completing his term. Candidate Rick Antelli was sworn in to replace him this week, and now Rick can run as the incumbent.

Mr Antelli, by the way, sits on the Town Board. Can he hold two elected positions? Don't bother answering, it doesn't matter. He'll probably be gone soon to make way for the appointment of candidate Kirk Morris... enabling Mr Morris to run as an incumbent, too.

For those of us -- most of us -- who don't pay close attention to who represents us, the words "Re-Elect" so-and-so, or "Keep" so-and-so on lawn signs and literature are easy enticements to vote for the candidate who, due to their "experience in office," seems like the safe bet.

Auberger still mum on FBI complaint

It's been two weeks since I posed the question many people are asking: To whom was the FBI referring as the unnamed recipient of Robutrad breakwall repairs on Edgemere Drive? Was it John Auberger?

A possible identity for the mystery homeowner surfaced in a D&C story last weekend. Richard Bianchi, an active member of the Conservative Party, says Robutrad workers performed work at his shore side home:

The criminal complaint against Morone alleges that he once "had Robutrad workers repair an individual's breakwall on Edgemere Drive in Greece." The county "improperly" paid for the work, says the complaint.

"Several years ago" Morone and "one or two others" helped put "four or five posts" in the breakwall, Bianchi said.

"He is my friend," Bianchi said. "It was on a lunch hour. He was there 15 minutes with one or two others. I bought them lunch."

Maybe this is the answer, but maybe not. "Several years ago" MIGHT include the correct time frame for the FBI investigation, and this MIGHT be the repair mentioned in the FBI complaint. It's also possible that Mr. Bianchi is providing much-needed cover for his friends in the Greece Republican party.

John Auberger, if it wasn't your house mentioned in the FBI complaint, it's easy enough to clear up. Simply say so. I'll publish your statement here without comment. It'll be "case closed," but it's up to YOU to provide the closure.

Happy 4th of July

Video of the Week

I had a friend named Ramblin' Bob.... he used to steal, gamble and rob...

Greece Democrats cheered at Barnard Parade

A little history.

Two years ago, the Greece Democrats had a small contingent in the Barnard Firemen's parade, about ten people. We were marching with our candidate for County Legislature, Dick Beebe. As our tiny group was about to step onto Dewey Avenue at the start point, fifty Republicans in red "Maggie" T shirts stepped into our path and blocked us from taking our designated spot in the line-up. We persevered and got through, but not without shoving and taunting catcalls and protests from the mob that we Democrats were not entitled to take the spot assigned to us by the parade committee.

Yesterday, we marched again. We marched over 100 strong, and instead of one candidate, we had ten. Plus we were joined by countywide candidates Dan Greene for Sheriff and Judge Brian McCarthy.

As we walked down the avenue, we heard cheers. Supervisor candidate Dan Maloney led the contingent and received numerous cheers, whistles, thumbs-up and atta-boys from the crowd.

And Dick Beebe?

Dick Beebe did not march with the Democrats last night. That's because Dick and wife Tammy rode at the head of the Barnard Parade as the Grand Marshall. Nice going, Dick!

I wish I had a photo of Dick in the Grand Marshall car. Instead, here are most of the Democrats as we gathered afterwards. Dick & Tammy are in the center of the group.

John Auberger hasn't yet said "that wasn't my house" in the FBI complaint

On Monday, I posed a question. The Edgemere Drive house mentioned in the FBI Robutrad complaint, the one receiving break wall repairs courtesy of Monroe County taxpayers -- was it John Auberger's house?

I posed the question, and offered to publish Mr Auberger's reply here without comment. The offer still stands. Mr Auberger, please tell us your side of the story.

That was Monday, this is Friday.

Hello? Jack?

Video of the Week

Bob Morone and his crew making break wall repairs on Edgemere Drive... a reenactment.

John Auberger, if that isn't your house in the FBI Rob-U complaint, this would be a good time to say so

Talk has been going around.

I don't know the truth myself. I honestly don't. People who are usually in the know, but don't seem to know the particulars on this one, are asking one another about John Auberger's house. Is it possible, they ask one another, that he is involved in the growing Robutrad corruption scandal?

What we know.

On Thursday, GOP insider and Rob-U boss Robert Morone was arrested on Federal corruption charges. The thirty page complaint lists dozens of allegations -- How Morone used taxpayer money to indirectly fund political campaigns, coerced Robutrad workers into making campaign donations, marching in parades for candidates and otherwise helping Republican candidates such as Maggie Brooks, Joe Robach and Bill Reilich.

Then, of course, there was the payroll padding and free construction work. Several projects done for free or helped with free materials diverted from county projects. A wheelchair ramp for the parents of county Finance Director Scott Adair. Extensive plumbing and landscaping work at the home of Irene Matichyn, financial director under Bill Reilich at the Monroe County Republican Party. A hot tub installed at the home of Morone himself. Robert Morone, by the way, was also Chair of the Gates Republican Committee.

And in Greece?

Home renovations were done for a friend named "Sandy" in the Stone Road area. Sandy, would you care to identify yourself? And, more interestingly, another Greece construction project: "Morone had Robutrad workers repair an individual's break wall on Edgemere Drive in Greece."

Edgemere Drive... why does that ring a bell?

John Auberger lives at 350 Edgemere Drive, and reportedly had break wall repairs done in recent years. There are probably fifty or more homes on the shore side of Edgemere Drive, and I bet many of them had similar work done. Other prominent Republicans live on Edgemere Drive too. Perhaps it was one of them?

The local buzz, however, seems to be focused on Mr Auberger. Maybe it's simply because he's the supervisor and people notice his home more than others. Maybe because he's the supervisor and people talk about the supervisor more than others. Or, maybe it's because he actually is involved in Robutrad, and those who know are whispering the news to their friends. There is plenty of curiosity, but few publicly known facts.

John Auberger, the ball is in your court. The talk is already going around. If the chatter is not true, this is the time to stick up for yourself. Put an end to the rumors. If that isn't your house in the FBI complaint, I suggest you say so. Soon.

I wish to air the truth. Mr Auberger, I hope you make a public statement on this, soon, to clear the air. When you do, I will post it here without comment.

You can see the complete Federal complaint, written by FBI Special Agent Michael Yerdon, here.

Video of the Week

This week we had an unfortunate episode with a bear in the neighborhood. I won't show you that video. Instead, here's a happy bear video!

North Gate Neighbors stand up for their cops

Full disclosure.

I am on the board of North Gate Neighbors, the neighborhood association for the eastern section of Greece. Yesterday, NGN hung red white & blue ribbons along Dewey Avenue to show support for the rank and file officers of the Greece Police Department.

Further disclosure.

I was not 100% on board with the Ribbon Project. I thought people would either be clueless about the ribbons, or misunderstand what they heard. Well, I may have been right on that count -- check the comments on this D&C article to see -- but I did go out and help hang ribbons yesterday. Others may misunderstand, but I get the message, and I support it.

Further further disclosure

I know a few GPD officers and some of the brass, too. I met them during my campaign, through NGN, and by attending the department's citizen education program. Big eye-opener. I did a ride-along, fired weapons at the range, toured the county lockup, plenty more. If they continue offering the program, I recommend it highly.

So what happened on Monday?

About twenty people gathered to install the ribbons, including neighbors from Charlotte. The event was covered by TV and print news media. I didn't see the coverage. Neighborhood shows support for troubled Police Dept was probably their story.

NGN President Jeremy Carter gave instructions and said a few words. Lt. Steve Wise of GPD said a few words of thanks on behalf of the force. Acting Chief Brian Urmacher was there and expressed his gratitude. Supervisor candidate Dan Maloney attended with Town Council candidate (& retired GPD officer) Joe Moscato. Dan and Joe didn't speak, but they went out like troopers and installed ribbons with everybody else afterwards.

I was surprised that John Auberger did not attend. No elected official attended. Nobody from Town Hall attended. This was an event to show support for the rank and file cops who are doing their duty every day. I would've thought this was something everybody could get behind.

Your chance to see first hand how your town government doesn't care what you think

For almost two years, John Auberger has been refusing to hold public hearings or invite public comment on what residents of Greece want on their public access channel. On Tuesday evening, the new bare-bones service he chose without your input will be approved.

Have you ever been to a town board meeting? This is your opportunity to see how Greece operates, and how little effect you and your neighbors have on your elected representatives. The issue of PEG (public access TV) is on the agenda. This means it is already approved, just not voted on publicly yet.

You'll see citizens walk up to the podium to speak. You are free to be one of them. John Auberger and the town board will sit there stone-faced without uttering a word or engaging anybody in dialog. Afterwards there will be a vote. The agenda will indicate who makes each motion and who will second it. Every item on the agenda will be approved. You can go home now. Your input was not welcome and made no difference.

Greece Town Board

Tuesday June 16th

6:oo PM

Town Hall

Video of the Week

As we cross for fingers for the future of the American auto industry, we wish our neighbors who work on Lexington Avenue good luck. Here's a look back at the automobile that changed everything, the Ford Model T:

Independence Party, why do you still exist?

At one time, the Independence Party was, well.... independent. The Independence Party, founded by Tom Golisano to support Ross Perot for president, provided a third point of view to challenge the two-party system in New York State. Today, it is the exact opposite, routinely rubber stamping the candidacies of incumbents from the major parties.... usually Republicans.

Last year their local chairman resigned in disgrace after accepting questionable money (a bribe?) from congressional candidate Jack Davis.

This year, the party didn't make any apparent effort in their candidate selection. To my knowledge, no candidates were interviewed. The written questionnaire provided to candidates for local town offices asked only about state-level issues. I was stunned when I saw it --- the exact same questionnaire I answered last year as an assembly candidate! What is the point of asking a town board candidate what action they'll take to reform the NY legislature?

The Independence Party didn't bother to ask appropriate questions of local office seekers. How do you get good answers without asking good questions? They followed up their lack of interest in written Q & A by neglecting to conduct face-to-face interviews of candidates. So, if you go into the voting booth thinking the Independence Party candidates were thoroughly vetted, think again.

Contrast this to another third party with which I'm familiar, the Working Families Party. WFP has an exhaustive selection process, with detailed questionnaires and personal interviews of each candidate. At the end of the process, WFP makes tough choices... usually, but not always, backing Democrats, picking both incumbents and challengers, and sometimes -- if they don't care for the choices -- withholding nomination in some races. The approach doesn't always win friends for WFP, but nobody can accuse them of mindlessly rubber stamping choices made by the bigger parties.

The Independence Party gave up its pretense of being a real political party long ago. Today, they back incumbents. They support the status quo. They support one-party Republican rule in Greece, corruption in county government, back room deals at town hall, and all the political self-dealing that goes with it. Sad to say, but the Independence Party is a hollow remnant of a once-great movement. Independence Party, why do you still exist?

See a TV news report on this issue, featuring Greece Supervisor candidate Dan Maloney, here.