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Greene (& Columbia) Go Backward, Part 3: Freedom of the Press

By tpletcher
November 30, 2012 //
1

UPDATE, 9:10 PM

From Will Pflaum: I really want to be clear that I respect law enforcement. They are the good guys, I hope.

If you live in our area and you bother to read the Register-Star or the Daily Mail, you know that they do not meet the highest standards of journalistic excellence. It’s arguable whether they even meet the bar set by the lowest common denominator. The recent Tom Casey firing imbroglio, and Publisher Roger Coleman’s ludicrously self-serving front page rationale for it, simply underscored how badly readers and our region are served.

There are several local blogs that do a far better job of reporting honest news than our so-called newspapers. Among them are Jim Romenesko.com, SamPratt.com and Hudson Sunshine. Unfortunately, the last of these has just been shut down.

You’ll remember that in Part 2 of this “Going Backward” series I commended Hudson Sunshine blogger Will Pflaum for going after municipal attorney Tal Rappleyea and his highly questionable billing practices. His reporting was picked up by the Times Union (a newspaper several rungs up the journalistic ladder from the Register Star & the Daily Mail), the result of Pflaum’s extensive and expensive, FOIL-based investigation. Now Pflaum has gone after other officials who’ve displayed questionable ethical behavior. One of them apparently had the clout to have law enforcement step in and “express concern” about Pflaum’s latest charges. The fact that law enforcement would do this is of course ironic, not to mention worrisome.

I contacted Will Pflaum, and here is what he had to say:

Local law enforcement has informed me they have concerns about some of the matters and sources in my recent posts. Pending a resolution of this matter, I have temporarily removed access to the Hudson Sunshine blog. My expectation is that law enforcement will pursue the issues I have raised to a successful conclusion. Whether or not that occurs, Hudson Sunshine will eventually return and I will report the outcome then.

UPDATE, 5:40 PM

NB: Here’s a corrective update from Will Pflaum, sent after this post went live:

I would just say I’m down pending a law enforcement investigation. I’m hoping the cops are the good guys and they didn’t ask me to do it … exactly.

This entire scenario just seems flat-out wrong in 21st century America. If someone felt Pflaum had published something false or defamatory about him or her, the typical recourse should be an attorney’s office, not a police station. Countries like China and Iran pressure websites they don’t like—the police in upstate New York should not be doing the same thing. Nevertheless, it seems Mr. Pflaum made the decision to take his site down.

Stay tuned.

Categories Columbia County, Greene County, Law, Local Business, Local Government, Media, Politics

Open Utopia

By tpletcher
November 29, 2012 //
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While questionable ethics and serious moral lapses continue to persist on both sides of the Hudson—see the ongoing “Sleepergate” scandal documented on the Hudson Sunshine blog, for example—we’re going to defer our own up-close look at some scandalous behavior for just a bit longer. Instead, let’s have a look at Utopia.

I’m referring to the 1516 classic published by Sir Thomas More, AKA “A Man for All Seasons” and familiar to college students everywhere. More actually coined the word “utopia” and the idealized system and society he imagined in his famous book remain as elusive as ever today. The book itself, though, has never been more accessible: now we have Open Utopia on the web, wherein the book becomes a meeting place and people can gather and exchange comments (ideally, these would be about the book and the idea of utopia, rather than the current size of the Powerball lottery).

Open Utopia is the brainchild of NYU associate professor Stephen Duncombe. Faced with a year’s sabbatical, he had planned to write a book but decided to pursue something different instead. “We live in a world where people can talk back to their books,” Duncombe says. Open Utopia embodies this concept; an article detailing the genesis and development of the project is available here.

I haven’t delved deeply into the project yet, but I think the concept of book as gathering place is intriguing (though I’m not sure whether it ultimately works; I suppose that would depend on both the book and its technological implementation). If you want to explore Open Utopia, the developers recommend Chrome or Safari (though I had no issues in the introductory pages using Firefox). The idea of utopia, of course, is always worth exploring. Some may feel Thomas More is not the most reliable guide, however—see the dark, corrective portrait of More in Hilary Mantel’s gripping historical novel Wolf Hall, for example.

Now there’s a book that doesn’t require a meeting place. You’ll find it totally absorbing all on its own, regardless of whether you’re reading pages or bits.

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Categories Politics, Technology, The Arts

Greene Goes Backward, Part 1: Ignorance and Habit

By tpletcher
November 13, 2012 //
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Why does Greene remain such a backward county? In the 13 years I’ve lived here as a full-time resident, I have seen almost no progress on any front. Quite the contrary, in fact—Greene continues to rank in the lower reaches of New York’s 62 counties by almost any important measure. And Greene continues to vote for candidates who are unlikely to help change the situation, and did so once again in the 2012 election.

Let’s take a moment to look at Greene’s status within New York State. In population, it ranks 51st. In the percentage of its residents who have graduated high school, it ranks 50th. In terms of health care outcomes, it ranks 52nd. The practical consequences of these rankings mean that Greene is not a good place to earn a living, not a good place to start a business and not a good place to grow old. There are few jobs of any kind, and almost no good-paying jobs. There is a substandard communications infrastructure, and a serious lack of true broadband service. It’s necessary to drive long distances, both to earn a decent living and to avail oneself of decent shopping. Nor are medical services readily available, even though Greene has among the highest percentages in the state of citizens who are 65 or older (this, despite the fact the county is not a healthy place for them to live).

You’d think that Greene would want to move up in the state, and in the world. But every time an election rolls around, Greene votes against change. For example, the county re-elected Pete Lopez to the state legislature, based mainly on the fact that he is a nice guy, and drives all over creation to attend every inconsequential gathering and say hello. It doesn’t matter that Lopez hasn’t managed to achieve any significant improvements for the county—in fact, that’s probably a point in his favor. Similarly, Greene voted the newly “moderate” Chris Gibson back into office, even though Gibson is likely to undercut the safety net of Social Security and Medicare that so many Greene residents—very definitely part of Romney’s scorned 47%—depend on. On the other hand, Greene voted against Cecilia Tkaczyk for state senate, because she is progressive enough to actually want to do something about the quality of life in this area (there is a chance Tkaczyk may still pull out a victory, despite Greene’s opposition).

And of course, Greene voted for Romney/Ryan.

Greene County fits the mold so memorably described in Thomas Frank’s classic book, What’s the Matter with Kansas?, in which the machinations by which ordinary people are led to vote against their own self-interests are laid bare. Greene votes from a base of ignorance and gullibility, over and over again. The county’s voters are its own worst enemy.

Next time: Corruption and Apathy

Sources: ProximityOne; Population Health Institute, University of Wisconsin

Categories 2012 Election, Greene County, Politics

The Day After

By tpletcher
November 7, 2012 //
0

America dodged a disaster last night, managing to avoid what would likely have been four years of catastrophic misrule. Yet despite Mitt Romney’s shape shifting and evasions, and despite the Republicans’ desire to feed the rich at the expense of every pressing national priority, the election was close. Too close. We as a country are starkly and rigidly divided, and those of us on the blue team are breathing a sigh of relief today.

Worth a Thousand Words
A campaign victory image posted on Facebook.

The relief is likely to be short-lived, though. We face enormous challenges as a nation, and our divisions hamper our ability to face them. Still, I’m grateful that President Obama remains at the helm as we move forward.

Local election results were mixed. More on that in a future post.

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Categories American Dream, Civil Rights, Economy, Education, Environment, Health Care, Politics

Vote Wise, Vote True, Vote Smart, Vote Blue

By tpletcher
November 5, 2012 //
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The heading of this post is an entreaty for everyone, but it’s especially aimed at Greene County residents, who have seldom voted wisely in the past. Deep-red Greene County is one of New York’s most backward areas, and I would argue that this is due to in large part to long-term Republican control. There has been a prevailing county ethos against change or progress of any sort, which is why the county’s officials are often so laughably inept.

If you’re happy with this backward status—no hospitals, no jobs, inadequate services, crappy broadband—then go ahead and vote for a friendly, “nice-guy” Republican like Chris Gibson or Pete Lopez and help make sure things stay just as they are. The rest of you, read on.

At the national level, Republicans would continue to do to the U.S. what they have done at the local level for Greene County: set us back. It’s vitally important to move forward as a country … but it’s equally important for us to progress right here, where we live. The recommendations below reflect both priorities. Please don’t forget to vote all the way down the line—make sure you cast your vote for local candidates, as well as those running for national office.

Here are BlueInGreene’s recommendations:

President:   Barack Obama
U.S. Senate:   Kirsten Gillibrand
U.S. House of Representatives, 19th District   Julian Schreibman
N.Y. State Supreme Court, 3rd Judicial District   Richard Mott
Stephan Schick
N.Y. State Senate, 46th District   Cecilia Tkaczyk
N.Y. State Assembly, 102nd District   Jimmy Miller
Greene County Legislature
Unopposed   Harry Lennon
Larry Gardner
District 5 – New Baltimore   Jim Van Slyke
District 1 – Catskill   Kevin Lennon
Joe Kozloski
Vinny Seeley
District 6 – Ashland, Jewett, Prattsville, Windham   Sondra Clark
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Categories 2012 Election, Politics

Gibson Record Exposed

By tpletcher
November 4, 2012 //
0

Chris Gibson’s attempts to soft-pedal his voting record and present himself as a moderate took another hit yesterday, when some 40 protesters gathered on a cold November morning to “rally for the truth” and expose the Congressman’s true colors on women’s rights. The Hudson rally was sponsored by Planned Parenthood Advocates of New York.

Women Are Watching
Women Rally Against Gibson. (Photo: PPA)

M. Tracey Brooks, president of PPA, told the Register-Star that Gibson has voted in support of every bill “that has made it more difficult and life-threatening for a woman to access abortion, and he’s done it consistently.”

The newspaper’s coverage was somewhat undercut by giving extensive space to Gibson spokeswoman Stephanie Valle, who attempted to rationalize or explain the contradictions between Gibson’s voting record and some of his recent statements, for the most part unconvincingly.

Gibson’s distortions of his record on women’s rights and freedom to choose are only his latest attempt to present himself as something he’s not. He has also presented misleading accounts of his positions on the Federal budget and Medicare, among other issues, as he tries to fight off a strong challenger in a new Congressional District.

Denying your own record is not a valid basis for re-election. Follow the lead of the women who braved the cold yesterday morning (and who would be left out in the cold by Gibson’s real policy choices). Vote for challenger Julian Schreibman on Tuesday.

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Categories 2012 Election, Chris Gibson, Congress, Julian Schreibman, Politics, Women's Rights

Help Expose Gibson—Rally Tomorrow

By tpletcher
November 2, 2012 //
0

Congressman Chris Gibson has consistently tried to hide or distort his voting record during this campaign, and with good reason—it’s not a record he could reasonably run on anywhere.

One of the most outrageous examples of Gibson’s “repositioning” as a moderate concerns his supposed support of a woman’s right to choose. He now says he is in favor of reproductive rights, in favor of choice.

This is a lie. Even worse, it’s a lie that is being reproduced in various media outlets. The Albany Times Union, in its unfortunate endorsement of Gibson, repeats Gibson’s claim that he “supports a woman’s right to choose abortion”.

In reality, Gibson’s voting record has earned him a 100 percent rating from the National Right to Life Political Action Committee, which endorsed him two years ago and is endorsing him again now. In contrast, Gibson has a zero rating from the Planned Parenthood Action Fund and NARAL Pro-Choice America. His opponent, Julian Schreibman, has a 100 percent rating from both groups. And Julian Schreibman offers the kind of forward-looking leadership and support for working- and middle-class families that our district needs.

Planned Parenthood Advocates of New York, a volunteer-based, grass-roots organization, is holding an anti-Gibson rally tomorrow morning to get the truth out. After the rally, which is planned for 11 AM in Hudson, volunteers plan to conduct a door-to-door canvas to continue to bring the truth to voters.

They could use your help. Please call 518-434-5678, x133 for complete details, and plan on attending the rally tomorrow morning.

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Categories 2012 Election, Chris Gibson, Congress, Julian Schreibman, Politics, Women's Rights

Weather & Politics

By tpletcher
November 2, 2012 //
0

Last year, Greene County and surrounding areas were hard-hit by Tropical Storm Irene. There was loss of life, and much of the damage caused by that storm more than a year ago has still not been repaired.

This week, when Hurricane Sandy struck the Northeast, our area was luckier, although there was flooding and some homes and businesses did incur damage. But New York City and New Jersey, which had escaped the worst of last year’s storm, took a tremendous blow this time, with many deaths (41 in the city alone, as of today) and horrendous, historic damage, currently estimated at $50 billion.

A parking garage near Wall Street
A parking garage near Wall Street.     Damon Winter/The New York Times

Would you be surprised if another major storm hit the Northeast next year? No? Then why aren’t we talking about it? Why isn’t climate change on the political agenda?

Speaking of politics, there was a refreshing break in the immediate aftermath of the storm. Both presidential campaigns were suspended, Obama’s for a day longer than Romney’s. There was even some bipartisan cooperation between President Obama and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who hailed Obama as “outstanding”.

What’s really refreshing, though, is yesterday’s surprise announcement by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg that he is endorsing President Obama—because Obama is more likely to take on the challenge of climate change than Romney, who now denies the issue, in line with Tea Party orthodoxy.

Way to go, Mayor Bloomberg. If Hurricane Sandy turns out to be an “October surprise” that helps get Obama re-elected, then maybe the country will finally start taking climate change seriously.

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Categories 2012 Election, Climate Change, Environment, Politics

Stick to the Facts—Vote Schreibman

By tpletcher
October 24, 2012 //
0

One of the most telling moments in the third and final debate between Congressman Chris Gibson and challenger Julian Schreibman came near the end, when Schreibman noted that it was mid-term season at SUNY-Oneonta, where the debate was held.

“If you’re taking a test and you’re asked for your opinion, you’re free to give it,” Schreibman said. “Congressman Gibson and I have been exchanging a lot of opinions in these debates. But if you’re asked when Columbus came to America and you say ’1776′, you’d be wrong. Facts are facts. Congressman Gibson seems to have his own version of the facts, and you can’t do that.”

Schreibman then proceeded to rip Gibson for his Romney-like effort to evade, deny or cover up his record. On point after point, Gibson has tried to present himself in a way that contradicts his actual votes in Congress.

Another revealing moment, also near the end, came when Gibson complained to Schreibman about “how you’ve treated me.” This would be funny if it weren’t so pathetic. As Schreibman noted, it’s not personal. But Gibson seems to take every challenge, and every exposed lie, as a personal affront.

Perhaps it’s his military background. Perhaps he thinks that entitles him to be taken at his word, even when his word is obviously false and contradicts his actions.

“Who do you trust?” he asked, in closing, as he did in the second debate.

Not you, you prevaricating hypocrite. And not your deluded Tea Party followers, with their mantra of small government, small business and “individual initiative”. If this small-minded Randian “philosophy” represents a genuine way forward, then why do so many upstate Republicans live in poverty? Why has upstate New York been so backward for so long? Why do towns continue to stagnate, people continue to leave and opportunities continue to vanish?

Why can’t Gibson’s supporters understand they are being asked to keep things just as they are? Why can’t they see they are being exploited?

The 2012 Congressional election is a rare opportunity for upstate New York to renounce its benighted history, change its status quo and actually move forward. People who believe in facts, in science, in climate change, in common sense, and in the hope of their children—these people should vote for Julian Schreibman. Mr. Schreibman represents a genuine way out of the morass of ignorance and stubborn, self-defeating resistance to change that Republicans have imposed on this region for so long. If Gibson wins, we’ll continue down the same ignorant pathways, continue to watch our towns shrivel and die, continue to watch our kids move away and watch life become even grimmer for those left behind.

Please: stick to the facts. Have the courage to move forward. Vote for Julian Schreibman on November 6.

Categories 2012 Election, Chris Gibson, Congress, Julian Schreibman, Politics

Obama 2, Romney 1

By tpletcher
October 23, 2012 //
0

Most of the instant polls following last night’s concluding presidential debate showed President Obama as the clear winner. The CBS poll of uncommitted voters called it for Obama by 53% to 23%. So the president managed to ring up two victories in a row after his disastrous performance in the first debate, when he appeared not to be fully engaged, or even fully present.

Will it be enough? For any thinking Amercan who follows politics, it should be. But that is not the majority of voters, sad to say. For people who tend to be swayed by sound bites, it’s still an open contest. And I think the Republican base, even though it may be repulsed by Romney’s move to the middle—how many times did Romney utter the word “peace” last night?—is still likely to get out and vote, if only to support Ryan (and get rid of our first black president).

There are now two weeks to go until the election. If any of you reading this should happen to remain undecided, all you need to know is this: electing Romney-Ryan would send America to hell in a handbasket, P.D.Q. The rest of you have made up your minds already. Let’s hope that the half of you who’ve made them up correctly prevail.

President Obama deserves re-election.

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Categories 2012 Election, Politics
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