Metroland

Think you've got la influenza porcina?

Check out doihavepigflu.com to find out.

Ellis trashes Jennings

Albany Common Councilman, and mayoral candidate, Corey Ellis sent this press release out yesterday. Sorry for the delay. I was busy!
Ellis took the opportunity of Earth Day to blast the mayor's management of the nearly full Rapp Road landfill.

“Today as the country celebrates Earth Day, the residents of Albany are facing an expanding mountain of garbage.  Real leadership over the past 16 years would have addressed this problem, instead of continually pushing it off to the future. As is the case with all garbage, if it smells today, it will stink tomorrow.

“Today as Mayor Jennings announces his campaign to be mayor for another four years, we will hear all the same rhetoric – he will talk about how he wants four more years to “finish what he started,” just like he did when campaigning four years ago. He has promised that he wouldn’t expand the landfill – he’s breaking that promise.

“The last time the landfill was expanded it was projected to last 15 years. It only lasted nine. The landfill is slated to close by the end of the year. This administration ignored the landfill issue for years – and today, as the mayor announces his re-election, the landfill issue is in crisis mode, the city is deeper in debt than four years ago and facing large budget deficits. We can’t afford four more years of mismanagement.”

Sean Rowe Makes Fire

Read about the other stuff he does in this week's issue.

That No-Good Socialist Commie Fellow Traveler

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

hat tip: Alicublog.

Teabagging isn't funny, anymore

Here is my article on the Tax Day Tea Party in Albany. Wow. Some lively characters at that big afternoon of zany.

There is some confusion about the number of people who turned out: According Al Roney and Fox News, "more than 2,000 people" turned out for the bitch-fest, whereas I reported the number at a humble "well more than 1,000." Not to be out-done, the Times Union reported that there were more than 2,500 people(!!!). Holy shit!

I am sticking by my number (until I am proven absolutely wrong). As far as I know, the Hudson Amphitheater at Corning Preserve seats about 800, and according to the Albany City Web site, the venue can host more than 1,000 people, a number that probably includes for the loungers and late-comers who sit on the grass.

Regardless of the number, it was an impressive crowd. I'll give them that. Yee-haw. 

Glazin'

It's got a great beat and you can seize to it.
Here's the video for "Glazin,'" a track off of Black Dice's new album Repo.

You can read a review of the album in this week's issue.

Dalai Lama definitely

It's official.

The TU has a story on it.

Remember kids, you have Keith Raniere to thank.

Take 2: Dalai Lama coming to Albany

How excited were you when you heard that the freaking Dalai Lama was going to be coming to Albany? Then, how disappointed were you when you read that the Dalai Lama had canceled his visit to Albany due to the controversy surrounding an organization that you'd probably never heard of? Well cheer up all you Dalai Lama fans, cause it looks like you might be back in luck: I just received an e-mail from Keith Raniere, the "conceptual founder" of the World Ethical Foundations Consortium and founder of NXIVM, and he is claiming that the Dalai Lama is BACK ON.

According to Raniere:

The World Ethical Foundations Consortium is delighted that His Holiness the Dalai Lama has quickly announced a new date for his rescheduled visit to Albany despite media reports that the event was cancelled. This historical visit, His Holiness' first public appearance in Albany, organized by Sara & Clare Bronfman and sponsored by the World Ethical Foundations Consortium, is now set for May 6, 2009. We are pleased to have ensured the citizens of Albany will have the opportunity to welcome this world-renowned leader and benefit from his message of compassion and wisdom. We are thankful for the support of His Holiness and look forward to this important event. Additional details will be available in the next few days.

According to the Times Union Center's Web site, Ringling Bros. Circus opens on May 6, so where is Raniere  planning to hold his event? Dunno, yet. The Dalai Lama's own site still has no mention of any visit to Albany. Will the WEFC be renting space on SUNY campus again? Why did the Dalai Lama change his mind? I have asked Raniere these questions, so I guess we might find out in the next few days.

Albany Newspaper Guild turns to protest

Word came down yesterday that Hearst, the corporation that owns the Times Union, has canceled its contract--the collective bargaining agreement--with the guild. The guild responded with a protest.

You can read the finer points here.

George Hearst, the TU's publisher, wrote in a full-page ad in today's paper that the company "took this step only after making every effort to reach an agreement at the bargaining table. Central to both management and Guild bargaining representatives are the issues of seniority and the ability to outsource," which is all true. The union reps don't want to see seniority language stripped from their contract, for fear that the management would fire people based on whims and the bottom line. Also, the guild worries that the company plans to outsource key production responsibilities to the detriment of the paper. The management argues that all it wants is "flexibility."

Old Brass Balls O'Brien, guild president, says that the union will be engaging in multiple campaigns to force concessions from Hearst, including a circulation boycott and a request to TU advertisers to pull their ads. They hope to hit the company where it will hurt the most. Should be interesting, considering that Hearst broke the back of the San Fransisco union not long ago, and doesn't appear to be shying away from a fight here in Albany.

Alleged bottom-toucher CAUGHT

We just received word from Troy super-cop/PR machine David Dean:

Yesterday, Thursday April 9^th 2009 at about 3 pm Troy Police arrested John A. Cramer, 30 years old , 6 feet tall, 210 lbs,from 142 Main Street in Cohoes after an investigation into victims being accosted in North Troy.  Cramer works for Jay Molding of 7 Bridge Ave in Cohoes NY.  In one incident he is accused of exposing his penis and masturbating near a high school.  Cramer gave Troy Detectives a statement as to his criminal activity.  In one incident Cramer admits to touching one of his victims on the breast and he also admits to touching one victim on the buttocks in another incident.  Cramer has also been charged in Cohoes in similar incidents. 

Cramer’s known victims range from age 16 through 19.  Cramer was convicted of Public Lewdness and Harassment 2^nd degree in Cohoes in July of 2008. 

The Troy Police Department is encouraging anyone victimized by Cramer to come forward and report any such criminal activity to the Troy Police Detectives at 270-4426. 

This investigation is ongoing.