Hey Ken, just a general comment. I'm really enjoying your blog. Retirement seems to be treating you well. I particularly liked your post about the elderly couple you met in Texas. It was a very enjoyable read. Thanks for sharing.
I’m not normally one stand on formality or polish my bona fides but in this case I think it is worth noting that I am not just a Democrat but the Chair of the Queensbury Democratic Committee.
Anyway, again you miss the point that the Democratic Committee did not leak this news- John Strough did. The executive committee had not even informed members of the town committees that action had been taken pending response from Mr Strough. I will tell you that I sent my full committee an email yesterday letting them know what has happened and informing them that we have been waiting for Mr Strough to respond. Mr Strough is on my committee yet he has not as yet responded to the email. What that tells me is that John Strough has no intention of seeking resolution with the executive committee but is instead trying to use the situation to his own means. As for your desire to see the situation publicized speedily I ask, how does that make any difference? Mr Strough is running unopposed. At the time of the complaint against him no opponent had stepped forward to challenge him. He will be elected supervisor and anything that became public from this would be seen as a smear from his own party. So I hope you will understand how awkward the situation is from the committee point of view. On the other hand, we have seen all kinds of political machinations in this area over the decades you were a reporter and editor and I wonder if you ever heard of a political committee holding a member to account? I will not reveal the nature of any complaint nor the content of any privileged discussion of a private organization, but I am surprised that the former editor of the local paper hasn’t paid attention to the many unseemly actions that have been in the news over the decades. You might consider for a moment the unseemliness of candidates who run unopposed yet are on multiple party lines. It is like the air that we breathe that ordinary voters consider this not just normal but logical. Tell me, why do Republicans who have told us for decades that “you have to be a Republican in Warren County” seek 3 or more alternate lines? They might tell you that this strategy somehow makes them more pure, or you might feel like your vote on a 3rd party line is better but in fact, aside from the Green Party, you are probably supporting some devious alternate that is controlled mainly by one of the 2 major parties. Oh, let’s set aside the Conservative Party here for a moment. And yes, I am hinting very hard that you should look at what happens with the Conservative Party. I mean, why on earth would a candidate like Mr Strough who is running unopposed and was arrested for carrying petitions on the Conservative Party line in the past still seek the Conservative Party line - and I assure you that as Chair of the Democratic Party I ask candidates not to seek that party line. In fact, I refuse to endorse candidates who seek that line. But I am only hinting at the disgusting nature of politics in Warren County. Let me remind you that the Republican Party has controlled this county for decades. They do not want you to consider a county legislature form of government just as the current Queensbury Supervisor will not consider a town manager. And if you think it is awkward that a Democrat might seek an alternate party line in an area where people will tell you they will never vote for a Democrat, or Demoncrat as some like to say, ask yourself why Republicans are on 3 or 4 different lines. Finally, let me say that I am incredibly proud of 99.999% of all Democrats in this county. It is not easy to be a Democrat here. We are people in the community who are denigrated on a regular basis for having ideas that a lot of people don’t like, but I am here to say that we are right far more often than we are wrong.
While I’m at it, ask yourself who has been running this county? It seems like many of the power players are related by blood, marriage, or business relationship. Did the Post Star ever run a roster like they do for sports? No? Did the6 ever make clear that Betty Little’s brother controlled a political party or that Dan Stec’s uncle ran 5he county Dan Stec served as Supervisor in? Did anyone ever run a history of relationships of Dick Bartlett? Did they ever point out that Charley Wood and Carl Desantis were surprisingly prescient in buying property that ended up conveniently located next to what would end up as exits of the new Northway interstate? I find it laughable that Ken Tingley is now eagerly anticipating the resolution of the dirty deeds of John Strough. While those deeds may be dirty, and I am here to assert that they are assuredly dirty, this is a county full of filth. We are home to 2 of the top 5 polluters in the state and that does not include GE, or Ciba Geigy that polluted and closed or left. Our air is filthy. Our waters polluted. Yet our leaders were not just fine with it but they invited a trash burn plant. We have supervisors who do not seem to care that shit, literal shit, is going into the waters of our lakes and streams. Our supervisors voted to sell our county nursing home to an awful private company, bought into a horrific contract with Seimans, do all kinds of things that often do not seem to be in the public interest and supervisors seem to go along without much question. So, forgive me if I find it laughable that anybody questions the motives of myself and other Democrats who attempt to hold one supervisor accountable in some small way. Do not look askance at Democrats; it has been Republicans who have been at the bottom of all the dirt, all the inaction, all the coverups. Give me a call when you have a Republican who will tell you the dirt on Dan Stec, or Betty Little, or Elise Stefanik. I’ll wait.
Where the hell is the story that the former chair of the Republican Party was appointed to the IDA board to replace watchdog Travis Whitehead and then voted to approve financial benefits to a company developing Fowler Square with close political ties to the Republican Party? Seriously, I don’t think there are many in this county who will tell the truth about what happens because hardly anyone seems to have morals or a backbone but are ever ready to attack the few who try to clean up a small portion of the public sphere. Lotta people around here should be hanging their heads in shame.
Hey, how about this one - tell me that the editor of the Post Star at the time did not know this: the son of the former sheriff was involved in an assault and $25,000 of property damage to a local business a few years back and yet the sheriff did not investigate the crime! That seems pretty serious to me, like potentially a felony. But not only did the Post Star not pursue the story which was well known but that same former sheriff is now running for public office again. Not a story in the paper, not a word from Ken Tingley. So, if you have to wait for word on the resolution of the John Strough affair I won’t feel too bad.
I’m not so certain Mr Lehman was correct in his assessment. When the officer who decides whether to investigate a potential felony is the father of the apparent perpetrator, and when that officer is a political ally of the DA I believe the state attorney general or other outside authority should be consulted on the appropriateness of not pursuing charges. Also, I note that you did not post a link to a front page story but to a blog post.
Hey Ken, just a general comment. I'm really enjoying your blog. Retirement seems to be treating you well. I particularly liked your post about the elderly couple you met in Texas. It was a very enjoyable read. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Mike. Sorry, that we never got you to do that column on your family we talked about.
Procrastination is my fatal flaw. Time waits for no one.
I’m not normally one stand on formality or polish my bona fides but in this case I think it is worth noting that I am not just a Democrat but the Chair of the Queensbury Democratic Committee.
Anyway, again you miss the point that the Democratic Committee did not leak this news- John Strough did. The executive committee had not even informed members of the town committees that action had been taken pending response from Mr Strough. I will tell you that I sent my full committee an email yesterday letting them know what has happened and informing them that we have been waiting for Mr Strough to respond. Mr Strough is on my committee yet he has not as yet responded to the email. What that tells me is that John Strough has no intention of seeking resolution with the executive committee but is instead trying to use the situation to his own means. As for your desire to see the situation publicized speedily I ask, how does that make any difference? Mr Strough is running unopposed. At the time of the complaint against him no opponent had stepped forward to challenge him. He will be elected supervisor and anything that became public from this would be seen as a smear from his own party. So I hope you will understand how awkward the situation is from the committee point of view. On the other hand, we have seen all kinds of political machinations in this area over the decades you were a reporter and editor and I wonder if you ever heard of a political committee holding a member to account? I will not reveal the nature of any complaint nor the content of any privileged discussion of a private organization, but I am surprised that the former editor of the local paper hasn’t paid attention to the many unseemly actions that have been in the news over the decades. You might consider for a moment the unseemliness of candidates who run unopposed yet are on multiple party lines. It is like the air that we breathe that ordinary voters consider this not just normal but logical. Tell me, why do Republicans who have told us for decades that “you have to be a Republican in Warren County” seek 3 or more alternate lines? They might tell you that this strategy somehow makes them more pure, or you might feel like your vote on a 3rd party line is better but in fact, aside from the Green Party, you are probably supporting some devious alternate that is controlled mainly by one of the 2 major parties. Oh, let’s set aside the Conservative Party here for a moment. And yes, I am hinting very hard that you should look at what happens with the Conservative Party. I mean, why on earth would a candidate like Mr Strough who is running unopposed and was arrested for carrying petitions on the Conservative Party line in the past still seek the Conservative Party line - and I assure you that as Chair of the Democratic Party I ask candidates not to seek that party line. In fact, I refuse to endorse candidates who seek that line. But I am only hinting at the disgusting nature of politics in Warren County. Let me remind you that the Republican Party has controlled this county for decades. They do not want you to consider a county legislature form of government just as the current Queensbury Supervisor will not consider a town manager. And if you think it is awkward that a Democrat might seek an alternate party line in an area where people will tell you they will never vote for a Democrat, or Demoncrat as some like to say, ask yourself why Republicans are on 3 or 4 different lines. Finally, let me say that I am incredibly proud of 99.999% of all Democrats in this county. It is not easy to be a Democrat here. We are people in the community who are denigrated on a regular basis for having ideas that a lot of people don’t like, but I am here to say that we are right far more often than we are wrong.
While I’m at it, ask yourself who has been running this county? It seems like many of the power players are related by blood, marriage, or business relationship. Did the Post Star ever run a roster like they do for sports? No? Did the6 ever make clear that Betty Little’s brother controlled a political party or that Dan Stec’s uncle ran 5he county Dan Stec served as Supervisor in? Did anyone ever run a history of relationships of Dick Bartlett? Did they ever point out that Charley Wood and Carl Desantis were surprisingly prescient in buying property that ended up conveniently located next to what would end up as exits of the new Northway interstate? I find it laughable that Ken Tingley is now eagerly anticipating the resolution of the dirty deeds of John Strough. While those deeds may be dirty, and I am here to assert that they are assuredly dirty, this is a county full of filth. We are home to 2 of the top 5 polluters in the state and that does not include GE, or Ciba Geigy that polluted and closed or left. Our air is filthy. Our waters polluted. Yet our leaders were not just fine with it but they invited a trash burn plant. We have supervisors who do not seem to care that shit, literal shit, is going into the waters of our lakes and streams. Our supervisors voted to sell our county nursing home to an awful private company, bought into a horrific contract with Seimans, do all kinds of things that often do not seem to be in the public interest and supervisors seem to go along without much question. So, forgive me if I find it laughable that anybody questions the motives of myself and other Democrats who attempt to hold one supervisor accountable in some small way. Do not look askance at Democrats; it has been Republicans who have been at the bottom of all the dirt, all the inaction, all the coverups. Give me a call when you have a Republican who will tell you the dirt on Dan Stec, or Betty Little, or Elise Stefanik. I’ll wait.
Where the hell is the story that the former chair of the Republican Party was appointed to the IDA board to replace watchdog Travis Whitehead and then voted to approve financial benefits to a company developing Fowler Square with close political ties to the Republican Party? Seriously, I don’t think there are many in this county who will tell the truth about what happens because hardly anyone seems to have morals or a backbone but are ever ready to attack the few who try to clean up a small portion of the public sphere. Lotta people around here should be hanging their heads in shame.
Come at me bruh.
Hey, how about this one - tell me that the editor of the Post Star at the time did not know this: the son of the former sheriff was involved in an assault and $25,000 of property damage to a local business a few years back and yet the sheriff did not investigate the crime! That seems pretty serious to me, like potentially a felony. But not only did the Post Star not pursue the story which was well known but that same former sheriff is now running for public office again. Not a story in the paper, not a word from Ken Tingley. So, if you have to wait for word on the resolution of the John Strough affair I won’t feel too bad.
A bit off the topic, but Mr. Parwana might want to check Don Lehman’s blog from Sept. 21, 2016 to get his facts straight. Here is the link https://poststar.com/blogs/don_lehman/an-interesting-lawsuit-threat-and-golf-course-information/article_506d501c-8004-11e6-b03e-1bb907723ddf.html
Also, I retired as P-S editor nearly a year ago so I have no say in current coverage.
I’m not so certain Mr Lehman was correct in his assessment. When the officer who decides whether to investigate a potential felony is the father of the apparent perpetrator, and when that officer is a political ally of the DA I believe the state attorney general or other outside authority should be consulted on the appropriateness of not pursuing charges. Also, I note that you did not post a link to a front page story but to a blog post.