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Te Reagan's avatar

This is a great example of government boondoggle.

It’s the community that needs to address this. Not the federal or state government.

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Sara Idleman's avatar

I think those of us in NY21 should be holding protests at the County Seats. Let our state and county governments that we expect them to stand up to and fight the executive orders coming from President Musk and his henchman, Trump.

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Sara Idleman's avatar

tell our state.....

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Ken Tingley's avatar

You will definitely get more attention!

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Jill Grunewald's avatar

Think global! Act local!

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Sara Idleman's avatar

Absolutely!! Our Counties all get federal funding, sometimes directly, sometimes through our state government. The same is true with our Towns. Our voices need to be heard at the local level.

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Ken Tingley's avatar

And Stefanik is still our congresswoman. That's the office to call and email.

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Chriss's avatar

Fun fact....Karoline Leavitt, Press Secretary for Pres. Trump worked as a communications director for Elise Stefanik. Elise worked diligently to help elect "Karoline for Congress". Karoline came up short and ended up losing to Chris Pappas-D-NH. "Karoline" yard signs only had her first name just like her mentor "Elise".

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Beth Ann Fitzgerald's avatar

Yes she did and that's when Stefanik's social media went sideways. Hard right, nasty and left wing propoganda.

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Ken Tingley's avatar

Was she there just briefly? I seemed to recall meeting a young blond woman with designer shoes that I couldn't imagine her wearing in Potsdam or Massena. But I don't recall her staying long.

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Pema Reed's avatar

Indeed!

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Al Bellenchia's avatar

Aww, the electeds are unhappy. Keep it up, folks. We need action.

https://open.substack.com/pub/albellenchia/p/devolving?r=7wk5d&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

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Maggie's avatar

Yes - I was under the impression that the whole point of voting for a representative was for them to work for US - their constituents! So their "feelings" are hurt? Being urged to do their jobs irritates them? Perhaps they need to be reminded that their jobs are not a right, but a privilege! I believe there is always another election coming up, right?

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Ken Tingley's avatar

Just saw Hakeem Jefferies being interviewed and it was painful. They really don't know how to respond.

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Maggie's avatar

I saw him on Jon Stewart last week - same lack there. Jon asked him what the plan was - and it was obvious there was none!

Now they've had three months, plus all the time BEFORE the election to figure out a plan - what the heck were they doing? I guess just assuming it would all work out for the best?

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Richie Bittner's avatar

If the confirmation votes were secret, not one of his cabinet picks, except Marco, would have passed muster. We find ourselves in a time where one of our two parties is made to declare the belief in a lie in order to have any legitimacy. We could have had Kamala and sane policy moving forward....wow.

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DARCY LEIGH's avatar

Regarding the pavilion, perhaps it could be an income producer at Crandall. In the Town of Colonie riverside park and Crossings, pavilions are rented for events- parties and picnics, etc. True that's not millions of $ in income, but perhaps it could help offset the cost of moving it. Perhaps there is a local business that would be willing to move the building as a donation if that could be worked out.

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Sandra M. Watson's avatar

Regarding the realization in Congress we are "pissed" - looks like grassroots movements will make the "Tea-party" one look like, well, a pretentious tea party (not a Boston Harbor kind).

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lisa adamson's avatar

thank you for amplifying this idea Ken.

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Sara Idleman's avatar

Blake Gendebien for NY 21! At the first glance of his name I assumed it was French. It is and it means "good people." The pronunciation has been Americanized, but its meaning is clear. Just an aside this morning. I used up my quota of anger and madness yesterday.

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Diane Collins's avatar

Kudos to Pema for saving the Pavilion and our history.

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Pema Reed's avatar

Thank you Ken Tingley for writing about this last minute effort to Save Our South St Pavilion!

I am learning from the Farmers Market's past and present Board members that the State of New York funded the Pavilion twenty-five years ago, so that the Farmers Market would have a convenient summer location for locals to have access to freshly sourced farm products.

My understanding is that the City of Glens Falls then handled the maintenance of the Pavilion until it was sold with the parking lot to Bonacio to make room for his 5-story apartment complex.

At this point in the effort to save the pavilion before it is torn down, I would need some help from local Glens Falls officials, lawyers, and others who are interested in helping to postpone demolition of the Pavilion, and potentially find a way to diss-assemble and store the Pavilion till funds come forward to re-assemble the structure at the Shirt Factory, Crandall Park, or other location for it to be be a venue for the summer Farmers Market, outdoor concerts, festivals and other events. Please let me know if you can help with this.

Pema Reed pritaji@gmail.com

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Maureen V's avatar

It's no surprise that the Trump Administration is full of hypocrites and bobbleheads. One just needs to look at NY21 "Representative" Elise Stefanik. It is reported that Elise is not happy with the delay with the US Senate on voting on her confirmation. Basically, they still need her vote in the House to pass bills that are needed to fulfill Trump's agenda.

The squashing and the restriction of press access to this Trump Administration is not only limited to refusing to allow the AP to attend White House events. Recently, the Pentagon ordered CNN, the Washington Post, the Hill, the War Zone, the New York Times, NBC News, Politico and National Public Radio to vacate their dedicated workspaces within the Pentagon. They replaced these media outlets with far-right, Trump friendly and favored ones such as the New York Post, Breitbart, the Washington Examiner, the Free Press, the Daily Caller, Newsmax, the Huffington Post and One America News Network.

Seems to me that the Oath of Office taken by elected and confirmed individuals to support and defend the US Constitution only applies to those provisions and amendments in the Constitution that support the GOP and Trump's agenda.

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Mary Ellen Collins's avatar

Ken, This is ludicrous! Why the "GREAT" idea in the middle of the Mayor's primary run? Where was she last year? or the year before? As I think the idea has merit..."that ship has sailed", and "looking into it" will only delay everything even more. It's no one's fault that Covid delayed the completion...if it's delayed AGAIN because of one woman's great idea too late in the game, Well, shame on her and the council members who support it! Enough is enough. Let's get on with this project's completion...I for one am tired of the delays...

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Ken Tingley's avatar

That is the qu: How fast can the idea be evaluated for feasibility?

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Mary Ellen Collins's avatar

If Jeffries is frustrated by Americans exercising their God-given rights to oppose what's happening, then he needs to find a new career. So far, he is TOTALLY INEPT representing us!!!

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Nancy's avatar

Democrats are pissed? Why aren't Republican representatives being flooded with calls? They are they ones allowing these abuses of power and the Constitution.

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Ken Tingley's avatar

Doing that at the County and Town Biard level might be more effective!

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Maggie's avatar

I believe the repubs ARE getting calls. However - I guess they just ignore them and are smart enough not to whine about it! Besides if they admitted out loud that their "base" was unhappy with THEM - my my that would bother Dilbert.

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Ken Tingley's avatar

Stefanik always ignored them.

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Maggie's avatar

As I learned HERE!

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Sara's avatar

They are being flooded with calls too...

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David Sowizdrzal's avatar

The pavilion, any of the City park areas would hv been a great usage for it. Possibly down at Haviland Cove Beach area. City has plans to revitalize that area.

A local company could hv donated the removal/ install costs . Or the City had millions in funds they were using for sidewalks, and fixing up other City parks.

It's never too late till it's destroyed and put in the dump.

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Pema Reed's avatar

Thank you for your suggestion of ways to save the pavilion, Certainly, Havilands Cove could work. with the renovations the City will be doing there. Any help that you can offer to facilitate this is very welcome!

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mike parwana's avatar

The pavilion:

I’ve designed buildings like this in the past. If there were issues about its structural integrity it would have been torn down as a hazard. If there has been no ongoing leak in the roof this structure is virtually as good as the day it was built. Any concern about structural integrity without having performed an inspection is pure ignorant decision making or papering over the real reason for rejecting the idea.

As a standing building it is a carbon sink.

Knocking it down is a pure expense. Re-using it would provide value. I haven’t had to calculate a price on materials for such a structure in over 30 years but the roofing alone is probably worth $20,000 new. The trusses, which are certainly useable, have great value. The pressure treated posts are still useable.

Of course there would be significant costs in sitework, pouring a concrete pad, purchasing additional needed materials to put the structure back together.

An alternative might be to repurpose the structure in 2 or 3 or more sections, whether as a picnic pavilion or for a salt or storage shed for a town. In that case a town might assign their own workers to disassemble and move the building.

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Ken Tingley's avatar

Good idea! Thanks for added perspective.

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Pema Reed's avatar

Ken, with these supportive suggestion for saving the Pavilion, you have opened the door to the public to be able to comment and hopefully become involved with the project! Thankyou!

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David Sowizdrzal's avatar

Maybe they could get a local BOCES school.construction, bldg program involved. Be a great learning experience

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mike parwana's avatar

I love that idea!

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Ken Tingley's avatar

Excellent idea if there is enough time.

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Pema Reed's avatar

Great idea! I'm told we would need to file an injunction to delay Bonacio from demolishing it. Right now Bonacio is using the Pavilion to use the approximately 22' width by 180' length to stack construction lumber and keep Bonacio vehicles protected from the snow. How useful this structure is!

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Pema Reed's avatar

Thanks so much Mike for your input. Let's make it happen! Does anyone know how to access the original NY State document so that it is clear if the Pavilion still belongs to the City or to the Farmers Market?

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Second Ward's avatar

The Crockwell Preserve consider taking this Farmer Market facility and moving it for use at the former Swim and Tennis property . An engineer we hired gave us a price of $180k to $200k just to disassemble it and move it to Sanford Street .Then there would be reassembly costs . It 4000 square feet in size. We could have built EXACTLY what we needed for about %250k . Because of these costs it will most likely come down .But if it does. at least SAVE THE SIGN !!!

Bob Landry

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mike parwana's avatar

I would think the pavilion could be cut into 10’ or 12’ sections and crane lifted onto a flatbed and transported to a site at a lower cost than complete disassembly. Perhaps a route through the city for an over width trailer would not be practicable, but we as a culture need to consider the negative value of waste and the consequences on the environment and future generations.

I can’t help but think about the sort of expediency we have seen in the not so remote past, like when the builders of Doyle’s trenched foundation walls through the graveyard of Queensbury’s early Quaker settlers.

All value is not monetary.

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Pema Reed's avatar

Thanks Mike for pointing this out. Actually there are a few different scenarios that could work. Do you think we could get Boces involved. I still think that it would be ideal on Eric Unkauf's open area behind Rock Hill Bakery, to be a venue for summer market, for Food truck Thursdays , for concerts and other festivitiesI Or, half of the structure (approx. 90' length) at the Shirt factory and the other half elsewhere. That would also divide the costs between two solutions!

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Ken Tingley's avatar

Thanks for that added information.

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Pema Reed's avatar

Bob Landry, the costs of saving the structure in several parts could be negotiated, especially in the case that a local construction company or local builders would come forward with alternative plans. The DPW might be able to offer advice for diss-assembling it. I'm glad to hear that you would support in enabling it being saved and placed elsewhere. I've heard that the TD Bank parking lot might be available for the Farmers Market to set up for the summer months (starting in May) in case the new Leaf bldg is finished. Thanks!

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Sara's avatar

Are you and Will on Bluesky?

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Ken Tingley's avatar

Yes.

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Sara's avatar

How do we find you? Will?

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Ken Tingley's avatar

Actually, I just found out Will is not on bluesky.

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Sara's avatar

Okay. I followed you. Hope to see Will there at some point. I’m winding down on FB.

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