NY Daily Balance: Stocking up? (For those misundertandings...)

NY Daily Balance: Stocking up? (For those misundertandings...)

North Country Sen. Darrel Aubertine, for example.

In his most recent campaign filing, Aubertine reports that 20 percent of his total campaign spending over the past six months was eaten up in buying office supplies.

There’s no detail or specifics, other than a notation “OFFCE” to explain the expenditures, just as there’s no explanation for what Aubertine did with the $600 he paid himself and a top aide in “petty cash.”

So we’re left to wonder: what does $2000 buy in office supplies?

Watertown Daily Times | Cape wind ban gets support

Watertown Daily Times | Cape wind ban gets support

COUNTY APPROVAL: Partial moratorium proposed by town doesn't win board's OK
By NANCY MADSEN
TIMES STAFF WRITER
WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2009

A wind-power moratorium on just a portion of a town doesn't make sense.
That's according to the Jefferson County Planning Board, which considered Cape Vincent's proposed six-month moratorium for wind power development in the lakefront and river front districts at its meeting Tuesday afternoon. The members of the board approved a townwide moratorium, which was not presented to them, rather than the town's proposed partial moratorium.

The county board, however, did not directly reject the town's proposal."They should look at all areas," said member Jon W. Storms. Some Citizens in the Community of Cape Vincent Agree.





When the Town Council introduced the moratorium idea July 9, it said it would protect the two districts which were never intended for wind power development. More from the WDT here



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The officials in Cape Vincent are proposing a moratorium on industrial wind development in an area where there isn't any planned. Then the town Supervisor has the audacity to say it wouldn’t be fair to the developer to enact a moratorium that would actually be meaningful to the community. Apparently the town supervisor would rather protect the interests of a foreign power company than those of the community he was elected to serve. Mr. Reinbeck’s statements say it all “The projects are too far along I don’t think It’s fair to the wind companies”. “We don’t want to suspend those. One is almost complete.” Just say NO… Mr. Reinbeck, step up to the plate and do your job. You work for our community. Not for the foreign wind companies’!!!

ATTORNEY GENERAL CUOMO ANNOUNCES NEW ETHICS CODE ADOPTED BY WIND INDUSTRY COMPANIES ACROSS NY | Room Eight

ATTORNEY GENERAL CUOMO ANNOUNCES NEW ETHICS CODE ADOPTED BY WIND INDUSTRY COMPANIES ACROSS NY | Room Eight

ALBANY, N.Y. (July 29, 2009) – Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo today
announced that 16 companies representing the vast majority of wind
energy activity in New York state (more than 90 percent) have signed his
Wind Industry Ethics Code, facilitating the development of renewable
energy while helping assure that the industry is acting properly and
within the law. The Code calls for oversight through an advisory Task
Force and unprecedented transparency that will deter improper
relationships between wind development companies and local government
officials.

Fourteen companies have now joined the two that signed late last year
to make a total of 16 wind industry leaders agreeing to Attorney General
Cuomo’s Ethics Code. According to the Alliance for Clean Energy (ACE),
these companies, along with their subsidiaries, are responsible for more
than 90 percent of the wind farm development (past, present or future
projects) in New York State.Continue reading

Senator Eric Adams ~ Gives Expert Opinion on Stupidity ~ FOX News

Senator Eric Adams Weighs in on the Cambridge Conundrum,

FOX News The O'Reilly Factor

A Whole Lotta Bull

Aubertine: Those Cows are Mine !
Well don't try to milk them ~ Cows ~ Darrel~ I don't know if those are steer you are standing next to or a whole lotta bull but them ain't cows!

~ Just stick with what you know best ~ milking the system ~

State Senator Darrel J. Aubertine, an upstate farmer, said he felt the loss of the pay he received for serving in the Legislature.

Recently an article in the the New York Post
By STEPHEN CEASAR
Published: July 21, 2010
reported that , All 212 senators and Assembly members have gone without a paycheck since the beginning of April.
~~~~~~~~~~~~

That is what happens in the real world when you do not do your job ~ you do not get paid . The Albany Legislators have failed in delivering a state budget so they do not get paid .

This includes Cape Vincents own Senator Darrel Aubertine, a Democrat who represents several rural counties upstate, runs a farm that does not yield much of a profit. And though his wife is a real estate agent, their household budget requires two incomes.
The disappearance of his Albany paycheck has meant depleting his savings and taking out loans to pay for college tuition for his son, his mortgage and a car loan.

“We’re just like any other family,” Mr. Aubertine said. “If you woke up tomorrow and didn’t have a paycheck for four months, that certainly would make things difficult.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Darrel is in luck! Andrew Cuomo's optional ethics code only has provisions for ethics concerning municipal officers this code was tailor made for Darrel Aubertine,
he has options , he could sign a few more wind leases to increase his wind "Wind Fall"
and because he is not a municipal officer Darrel Aubertine would not have to disclose his new wind leases.
Plus Because Darrel Aubertine is not a municipal officer and Andrew Cuomo's optional ethics code does not apply to him ,this means that Darrel could possibly be in a position to help New York state meet its goals for a renewable Portfolio Standard.
Darrel is in a position to work as a go between ~ a sort of liaison officer to the wind company and government to facilitate the wind projects and make a few turbine bucks too~ a win wind for everyone except the tax payers wouldn't you say but since ethics do not seem to apply to everyone in New York state perhaps it is feasible . Maybe Darrel should stop by the Acciona offices and check it out! Wait a minute , didn't I just read a post on Jefferson's Leaning Left that



they insist that turbines increase real estate values, Mrs. Aubertine should have no problem supporting the family as a real estate agent in Cape Vincent , business must be booming.

I cannot take credit for this next suggestion but , a reader sent me an email suggesting that voters for wind get together and hold a pancake breakfast fundraiser for Mr. Aubertine, I have to say that I think that this is an excellent idea they could advertise , come and support Darrel Aubertine"he's one of us". They could even make green pancakes!

I would like to mention as well that the picture above ,was titled Darrel Aubertine with cows~ those are funny looking cows that Darrel is standing next to, I hope he doesn't try and milk them! I thought that Darrel gave up milking Cows and has been milking the system and Wind!

There is a difference between a COW a STEER & PLAIN OLD BULL !

Aubertine Wind Turbine Map

WHO DOES THOMAS K. RIENBECK WORK FOR?

  July 9, 2009 Cape Vincent- Town Supervisor, Thomas K. Rienbeck, cited this blog as grounds to prevent a private citizen from videotaping Town board meetings.

 Mr. Rienbeck chose to publicly insult and admonish a private citizen who has absolutely nothing to do with this blog.
 Apparently Mr. Rienbeck doesn’t like accurate records of statements he makes in public. For example, a Watertown time’s article, dated 8/04/2005, (View entire article below) RE: industrial wind development, Mr. Rienbeck said.
 "I don't know, I think there are more downsides than upsides."
 ~~~~
 I remember attending a meeting held 8/04/2005, where Todd Hopper was representing Acciona wind and many of the wind lease holders were present as well. Ritchie Edsall, our esteemed planning board chairman, was also at this meeting as a wind lease holder pushing his own agenda.

 This meeting was contentious at best. It was my impression at this meeting that he was conflicted about the industrial wind development planned for Cape Vincent.

 7/9/2009, Cape Vincent officials have proposed a sham moratorium on wind development in the Lake and River district. The town officials were asked if they’d consider extending the moratorium to all parts of the town. “The projects are too far along I don’t think It’s fair to the wind companies” Mr. Rienbeck said. “We don’t want to suspend those. One is almost complete.”
 Well, just who does Thomas K. Rienbeck work for, the people of Cape Vincent or the wind companies?

 The following Watertown Times article may answer that very question.

 (WDT article,8/04/2005)
 CAPE MAY ZONE OUT WIND FARMS ICE WORRIES, BIRD SAFETY, VIEWS AMONG CONCERNS
By M.B. Pell Times Staff Writer
CAPE VINCENT -- Rumors that a company wants to develop a wind farm in the town of Cape Vincent have prompted town officials to start draft zoning regulations that would prevent such construction. The Town Council will hold a meeting at 7 tonight at Recreation Park, James Street, to gather public comment on the proposed zoning changes.

Supervisor Thomas K. Reinbeck said he has heard that an unidentified firm wants to build the turbines off of Favret Road, near the town transfer site. "People might stand up and say 'we all want them' or they may say 'no, we don't want them,'" the supervisor said. "I don't know,I think there are more downsides than upsides." Mr. Reinbeck said he is concerned that the large turbines will detract from the town's bucolic splendor, will make too much noise and could throw large chunks of ice during the winter.
The danger presented by flying ice is debatable, but some experts say that for flying ice to cause personal injury or property damage, it would require a set of circumstances that could be achieved only in a lab.
The public reaction could be as varied as the supervisor suggested, as some Favret Road residents already have said they are not concerned about a wind farm development. "It doesn't bother me" said Brian R. Knapp. "We already have cell towers and they're an eyesore, but you get used to them."
The Jefferson County Planning Department has been working with the town to develop zoning codes to prevent construction of a wind farm. "Very generally, it's an issue of tower's height, view-shed and compatibility with other uses; that's where you start," said Bruce A. Armstrong, county planning director. "What it comes down to is what fits the community's land-use philosophy." Mr. Armstrong said the county has suggested limiting the height of towers in specific areas as one approach to preventing wind turbine development.

In June 2003, Assemblyman Darrel J. Aubertine, D-Cape Vincent, said that a company had approached him about installing 11 wind-powered generators on his property and the properties belonging to three of his neighbors. Each turbine would be capable of generating 11.5 megawatts of power.

William R. Evans, executive director of Old Bird, an Ithaca-based nonprofit group that studies night migration of birds, said in 2003 that the town of Cape Vincent is a poor location for a wind farm because it would present a threat to many species of migratory birds.

Mr. Evans, who also has worked for the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, said north-south ridge lines and valleys, such as the St. Lawrence River Valley, "channel the birds into areas, concentrating their populations," thereby increasing the chances that large bird populations will run into the turbines.
Furthermore, he said, birds do not like to fly over large bodies of water, but instead fly along coast lines.
The ornithologist said the north-south direction of the river valley and the fact that the river's shoreline meets the coastline of Lake Ontario combine to make the St. Lawrence flyway an important migratory path for a variety of raptors, including bald eagles, and a plethora of songbirds, such as orioles.
He said for these birds, especially night-migrating songbirds, which can't see the wind towers, the generators would act as a giant Cuisinart.
That is not to say he opposed wind farms.
Mr. Evans said that from an environmental standpoint, wind generators provide a safe energy source. He encourages companies to continue installing the wind farms, but only in responsibly selected locations.
"There are plenty of good places to put wind generators, but until a study determining the effect of a wind farm on bird populations in the St. Lawrence flyway is conducted, Cape Vincent should not be considered one of them."

The Culture of Corruption in Congress

NYS Senate Majority News Conference - July 9, 2009

NYS Senate Minority News Conference - July 9, 2009

Eric "Show me the Money" Adams pretends to support reform

(RPFlower13601)
Pistol-packing Democrat Eric Adams of Brooklyn joins wholeheartedly in the Albany circus as he feigns outrage at Republicans over the continued dispute over the State Senate's leadership.
The Democrat-led stalemate has crippled Albany government, but Democrats are hoping to raise public ire to support their efforts to maintain an iron grip on government, with its rewards of patronage jobs, perks and higher pay for majority party senators.
In office less than six months, Adams last year stood on the Senate floor and demanded a pay raise.

Senator Eric Adams Comments in NYS Senate Session

Paterson tries to end Senate standoff

Governor turns up the heat on senators

I'm proud to be an American - American Soldier Tribute

Show me the money, says Stachowski

Two members of the New York State Senate Agriculture Committee are criticizing each other

by Andrew Henderson
Valley news link not available

Two members of the New York State Senate Agriculture Committee are criticizing each other through the media over the recent stalemate in the Senate as well as agricultural bills that remain on the table.

Senator Darrel Aubertine said last week that the farm community should be concerned about the Republican Conference’s push to pass a bill that he believes would devastate New York’s agricultural industry.

According to Sen. Aubertine, Sen. Catharine Young, the ranking minority member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, stood behind Sen. Pedro Espada and Minority Leader Dean Skelos at press conferences as they attempt to take control of the New York State Senate.

“It’s clear that Sen. Young and her colleagues have put their desire for political power ahead of working for the people they represent,” said Sen. Aubertine, chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee. “She has not only supported installing a Senate president who is under investigation and stands accused of attempting to put hundreds of thousands of dollars of taxpayer money in his own pocket, but one who has listed as one of his priorities a bill that would devastate the upstate economy by driving farms out of business.

“It’s clear the Espada-led Republicans say one thing and do another,” Sen. Aubertine added. “They talk about reform, but reject real reform. They talk about upstate, but put downstate first. Sen. Young and her upstate colleagues have stood behind Sen. Espada and supported his efforts to take the reins of the Senate. They have sold out the interests of farmers for their own political gain. I call on Sen. Young and any lawmaker who truly cares about the upstate economy to set aside personal gain and support real reform through a power sharing agreement.”

In a statement released to the media, Sen. Espada of the Bronx, a Democrat who joined the Republican caucus and was named to head the Senate, joined Sen. Skelos of Long Island in pointing out that the actions they took last week have stalled legislation. Among the legislation that Sen. Espada listed as a priority in his plea to move certain bills this session is the “Farmworker Fair Labor Practices Act.”

“I have been working with colleagues in my conference to help them understand how a so-called farm worker protection bill would hurt farm workers across the state and force many farms to close down,” Sen. Aubertine said. “Sen. Young should do the same. I thought we had put this bill behind us for this session, but now Senator Espada has listed it among his priorities. This should not sit well with anyone who truly supports any efforts to grow the upstate economy.”

That act was first introduced by Democrats. Sen. Aubertine said that while supporters have good intentions, the legislation does not take into account the nuances of agriculture and would actually do more to hurt farmers than help them.

“The fact is that Majority Leader Malcolm Smith and others in the Democratic conference have been receptive to the needs of upstate New York, while those attempting a power grab this very moment are a pair of downstate senators with no real concern for the needs of anyone north of Westchester, let alone here in central and northern New York,” Sen. Aubertine said. “I’ve worked with my colleagues to explain that this bill is attempting to fix a problem that does not exist. Now, Sen. Young has helped give this bad legislation new life.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In response, Sen. Young said, “Our American democracy and tradition of fair and open public debate has always afforded the opportunity to respond to attacks, especially of the type that are as personal and gratuitous as that which north country Sen. Darrel Aubertine leveled against me in a statement issued by his office this week.

“In his statement, Aubertine gives an insider’s view of the recent events at the Capitol that caused Democrats to lose control of the state Senate after only a short—but disastrous—five months,” she added. “I’d like to take this opportunity to explain these dramatic events from the perspective of those who care both about open, transparent and accountable government, as well as the future of upstate.”

Sen. Young said that after Democrats gained control of the Senate on a promise to bring change and reform to a capitol derided as the “most dysfunctional” in the entire nation, Albany became “more secretive, less productive, and more reckless” than at any time in the past four decades.

“They gave lip service to reform while enacting the largest budget in state history, voting to raise taxes on every upstate family an average of $2,400 a year, eliminating STAR rebate checks, gutting state programs that create and protect upstate jobs, and passing a radical agenda of bills that includes letting convicted felons become school teachers,” she said.

She added that Sen. Aubertine voted with the New York City-based leaders on every one of these measures.

“Now he’s raising the biggest red herring of all by claiming that the shift in political control from Democrats to a Republican-led coalition raises the threat to already struggling farmers from a pair of farm labor bills that are by the far more destructive to the upstate economy than any I have seen in my tenure as a lawmaker,” said Sen. Young.

“It’s unfortunate that Senator Darrel Aubertine, who actually voted when he was in the Assembly in favor of the farm-worker bill, would spread such malicious falsehoods suggesting that I would in any way support these farm-killing bills,” she continued. “He should explain to farmers across the state why he voted to put them out of business then but has flip flopped on the issue now.”

Sen. Young said that Sen. Aubertine recently conceded he was powerless to stop these bills, and, as a leader of the Democrats’ Upstate Caucus, he was unable to convince a sufficient number of his colleagues to oppose them. “Here’s another fact that Sen. Aubertine got wrong in his screed,” said Sen. Young. “He says that the shift in political control won’t change the way that Albany operates, ignoring the fact that, in its very first act, the new majority enacted reforms to the Senate rules that guarantee more transparency.”


- Valley News

American Thinker: Taking the hot air out of wind power

The idea of wind generated electric energy is being sold by environmentalists as an overlooked opportunity to reduce greenhouse gasses. Global warming advocates claim that this discounted treasure could be a major part of an effort to reduce the burning of fossil fuels and eliminate the need for some of our nuclear power plants.

Is it true that we are passing up on a gold mine of renewable energy in favor of unnecessary and harmful fossil and nuclear fuels?

Let's start by looking at what we use to generate the power we use today. Renewables, such as wind, solar, biomass, etc, provide 2.4% of our electricity. The bulk of our power, 51%, comes from coal, followed by natural gas at 20% and nuclear at 19%.
 Cotinue reading via this link

American Thinker: Taking the hot air out of
wind power

Antoine Thompson channels Dr. Evil

Bill Stachowski reads "computer mail" to earn his pay

text:
RPFlower13601
July 02, 2009

Western NY State Sen. Bill Stachowski hasn't done a lick of work in four weeks as Democrats continue their walkout and no-bill standoff over their loss of power in the Senate to Republicans last month.

So how does he defend still collecting a paycheck?

In this video, Stachowski tells reporters he's been busy in Albany reading his "computer mail" and catching up on reading while leaders continue to hammer out a power-sharing arrangement that will let the Senate get back to work.

Meantime, WGRZ TV says the stalemate has so far cost taxpayers $5 million for salaries and expenses while no work gets done.

New York Senate News Conference - Power for Jobs