New York (again)

[unbillievable]

11 hours ago, Big Blitz said:

Nah.  Don't overreact.  New York and California are simply dying and no longer relevant.  California losing house seats for first time ever.  New York has the same population it had in 1970.

 

You leave.  Unfortunately, many vote the same way.  That has to stop.  

 

Because these policies will follow them.  See Virginia.  

 

 

 

The goal is to make everyone think the same way. Outliers are bad in socialist societies.

 

...Besides, doesn't really make sense to be "gifted" in Critical Race Theory.

 

 

[B-Man]

 

 

Quarter of NY counties refuse to ‘become mask police’ despite Hochul mandate
 

County officials statewide opposed to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s mask mandate called it “silly,” “misguided” and “unenforceable” on Tuesday — with one rejecting it as “Gestapo tactics” and another saying “we’re not going to become the mask police.”
 

Since Hochul announced her order on Friday, leaders in 13 Republican-controlled counties have publicly refused to force businesses that don’t require vaccination for admittance to make workers, customers and visitors wear masks.
 

The defiant counties — along with Nassau County, where incoming Republican County Executive-elect Bruce Blakeman has said he’ll defy the mandate — account for nearly one-quarter of all the state’s territories, not including the five boroughs of New York City.
 

In addition to Nassau, four other counties — Rockland, Orange, Putnam and Dutchess — are among the Big Apple’s suburbs.
 

Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus said he opposed “using Gestapo tactics and going business to business and asking them if they are enforcing masking.”
 

“My health department has critical things to do that are more important than enforcing this and I think small businesses have been through enough already,” he said.

 

https://nypost.com/2021/12/14/quarter-of-ny-counties-refuse-to-enforce-hochul-mask-mandate/

 

 

[\GoBillsInDallas/]

https://www.investigativepost.org/2021/12/23/ipost-suit-prompts-release-of-stadium-reports/

 

[Orlando Tim]

3 hours ago, \GoBillsInDallas/ said:

https://www.investigativepost.org/2021/12/23/ipost-suit-prompts-release-of-stadium-reports/

 

I am surprised they are even hiding the reports since no one batted an eye when during the last renovation of the stadium the contract stated politicians were given a suite at taxpayer expense. No one left on NY seems to care.

[Precision]

Returned last night from visiting family in WNY and all I can say is Wow.

 

Spent lots of time off the beaten path driving Rt 7 (parallel to I-88), was sad to see that Gibby's in Duanesburg closed.   Also drove all of Rt 417 (parallel to Rt 17/I-86).  Visited the Comedy and Lucille Ball museums in Jamestown which were nice.

 

Pretty much everywhere else I passed is starting to look like a third world s**t-hole.  I expected that in some area's (over toward Salamanca) but even towns that used to be nice are continuing to degrade.  There must be a tax break in NYS for blue tarp as it seems every 10th house has some wrapped around something.  It amazes me the number of vehicles on the road in NYS that would be impounded as an unsafe vehicle in other states.  Some of the trucks are just a cab with garbage can of rust sitting on the back.  Considering there's a housing shortage I can't believe the number of houses that are in such poor shape they should be condemned.  My kids couldn't believe people actually lived in them.

 

Are other people seeing the same throughout NYS?  I don't get to Rochester or Buffalo much anymore and just drive through Albany.  I'm very familiar from Cobleskill to Binghamton and West to Olean.  That entire stretch is starting to look like a failed state.

[Wacka]

So the cars have rust. Have you seen the price of new cars now? Lived in CT for 2 years (has no inspection). Saw more cars tagged on the side of the interstate than anyplace else. 

[Precision]

 

2 hours ago, Wacka said:

So the cars have rust. Have you seen the price of new cars now? Lived in CT for 2 years (has no inspection). Saw more cars tagged on the side of the interstate than anyplace else. 

Surface rust isn't a problem.  When pieces of the vehicle can fall off then that is a safety issue.

 

I am well aware of the price of new vehicles as all of ours are new.  

[Wacka]

6 hours ago, Precision said:

 

Surface rust isn't a problem.  When pieces of the vehicle can fall off then that is a safety issue.

 

I am well aware of the price of new vehicles as all of ours are new.  

nice you can afford them. I have a 2009 Focus. No rust visible yet. Got it in 2017. Must have been owned by an old couple. Has only 62 K on it.

[Precision]

1 hour ago, Wacka said:

nice you can afford them. I have a 2009 Focus. No rust visible yet. Got it in 2017. Must have been owned by an old couple. Has only 62 K on it.

We have been lucky, worked hard and are older with no dependents left in the home.

 

Glad you have a good ride.

 

My comments up thread come from driving over 1K miles around WNY over 6 days.  When you see town after town after town with boarded up downtowns, run down houses and old cars (some of which shouldn't be on the road) it is concerning.  I find it concerning because most of my family stills live in WNY.  I find it concerning because I genuinely care about the area as it is where I was raised.  If it was one town or one house or one car that's no big deal.  But when you drive hundreds of miles and see the same economic situation across a vast area then there is an underlying problem at the state level. 

 

I'm curious if there are similar issues in the Buffalo/Rochester areas as most of my travels take me into the southern tier, through the I-88 corridor.  I know there is some wealth in Corning, Elmira, Binghamton and the finger lakes.  The issue I see is that the areas outside of those appear to be struggling and are not getting better.  I suspect many school districts will continue to consolidate which will remove high paying jobs and further exacerbate the local economic situations.  I wonder how much longer school mergers can continue as you can't ask a kid to sit on a bus for 3 hours each day in order to get to the regional school.  Also, I wonder if the economic problems in these areas of the state are indicative of what will eventually come to the more metropolitan areas as often rural money finds its way to the larger cities.   

[Irv]

17 hours ago, Precision said:

We have been lucky, worked hard and are older with no dependents left in the home.

 

Glad you have a good ride.

 

My comments up thread come from driving over 1K miles around WNY over 6 days.  When you see town after town after town with boarded up downtowns, run down houses and old cars (some of which shouldn't be on the road) it is concerning.  I find it concerning because most of my family stills live in WNY.  I find it concerning because I genuinely care about the area as it is where I was raised.  If it was one town or one house or one car that's no big deal.  But when you drive hundreds of miles and see the same economic situation across a vast area then there is an underlying problem at the state level. 

 

I'm curious if there are similar issues in the Buffalo/Rochester areas as most of my travels take me into the southern tier, through the I-88 corridor.  I know there is some wealth in Corning, Elmira, Binghamton and the finger lakes.  The issue I see is that the areas outside of those appear to be struggling and are not getting better.  I suspect many school districts will continue to consolidate which will remove high paying jobs and further exacerbate the local economic situations.  I wonder how much longer school mergers can continue as you can't ask a kid to sit on a bus for 3 hours each day in order to get to the regional school.  Also, I wonder if the economic problems in these areas of the state are indicative of what will eventually come to the more metropolitan areas as often rural money finds its way to the larger cities.   

 

I live in Rochester.  I work downtown and carry a 38 pistol at all times.  It's no joke.  Some of the people that live in the city are savages.  For them - total lawlessness.  The others are at their mercy.  I feel sorry for the good people.  Government has used them and forgotten them.  What a mess.   

 

 

[Precision]

1 hour ago, Irv said:

 

I live in Rochester.  I work downtown and carry a 38 pistol at all times.  It's no joke.  Some of the people that live in the city are savages.  For them - total lawlessness.  The others are at their mercy.  I feel sorry for the good people.  Government has used them and forgotten them.  What a mess.   

 

 

That's really sad.  I had an internship in Kodak Park off 104 in the late 80's and always felt safe.  My mother used to shop in Rochester, but she doesn't anymore as the malls she would go to are now closed or have limited stores.  I never would have thought a city that I had consider affluent would get so bad.

 

I haven't been up there in a while, had to go up 5 years ago when my father was med-flighted to Rochester General.  What are the big employers in Rochester now?  When I was there it was all Kodak, Xerox and to a lesser extent B&L.  I think GM had the glass building off I-90?

[LeviF]

On 1/1/2022 at 4:44 PM, Precision said:

That's really sad.  I had an internship in Kodak Park off 104 in the late 80's and always felt safe.  My mother used to shop in Rochester, but she doesn't anymore as the malls she would go to are now closed or have limited stores.  I never would have thought a city that I had consider affluent would get so bad.

 

I haven't been up there in a while, had to go up 5 years ago when my father was med-flighted to Rochester General.  What are the big employers in Rochester now?  When I was there it was all Kodak, Xerox and to a lesser extent B&L.  I think GM had the glass building off I-90?

 

Rochester now has one of the highest murder rates in the country at about 39 murders per 100,000 residents. On par with Detroit, I think. Good for top ten even as homicides skyrocket across the country.  Meanwhile the criminal anti-cop mayor (who has since left office) had to declare a state of emergency due to the rapid increase in violent crime.

 

[Precision]

1 hour ago, LeviF said:

 

Rochester now has one of the highest murder rates in the country at about 39 murders per 100,000 residents. On par with Detroit, I think. Good for top ten even as homicides skyrocket across the country.  Meanwhile the criminal anti-cop mayor (who has since left office) had to declare a state of emergency due to the rapid increase in violent crime.

 

I had no idea things were that bad.  I thought the outlying areas were suffering but it sounds like the cities are as well.  

[LeviF]

If you live in any of the five boroughs, please leave. I know from personal experience that this is just saying out loud what has been a reality for a few years. 
 

https://nypost.com/2022/01/04/manhattan-da-alvin-bragg-to-stop-seeking-prison-in-some-cases/

 

Quote

Manhattan’s new DA has ordered his prosecutors to stop seeking prison sentences for hordes of criminals and to downgrade felony charges in cases including armed robberies and drug dealing, according to a set of progressive policies made public Tuesday.

 

In his first memo to staff on Monday, Alvin Bragg said his office “will not seek a carceral sentence” except with homicides and a handful of other cases, including domestic violence felonies, some sex crimes and public corruption.

 

Bragg’s memo also detailed the following instructions for prosecutors to reduce charges filed by cops in various cases:

 

Armed robbers who use guns or other deadly weapons to stick up stores and other businesses will be prosecuted only for petty larceny, a misdemeanor, provided no victims were seriously injured and there’s no “genuine risk of physical harm” to anyone. Armed robbery, a class B felony, would typically be punishable by a maximum of 25 years in prison, while petty larceny subjects offenders to up to 364 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.

 

Convicted criminals caught with weapons other than guns will have those felony charges downgraded to misdemeanors unless they’re also charged with more serious offenses. Criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, a class D felony, is punishable by up to 7 years behind bars.

It keeps going but I only want to copy and paste so much. 

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

30 minutes ago, LeviF said:

If you live in any of the five boroughs, please leave. I know from personal experience that this is just saying out loud what has been a reality for a few years. 
 

https://nypost.com/2022/01/04/manhattan-da-alvin-bragg-to-stop-seeking-prison-in-some-cases/

 

It keeps going but I only want to copy and paste so much. 

It’s really out of the box thinking imo. If you stop charging and the prosecution of crime, certain metrics will say there is less of it happening.   Just don’t read the police reports… 

[LeviF]

9 hours ago, Over 29 years of fanhood said:

It’s really out of the box thinking imo. If you stop charging and the prosecution of crime, certain metrics will say there is less of it happening.   Just don’t read the police reports… 

 

Certain metrics. DA can claim that only so many charged with felonies and so many convicted, but the UCR and NCVS won't lie. 

[All_Pro_Bills]

12 hours ago, LeviF said:

If you live in any of the five boroughs, please leave. I know from personal experience that this is just saying out loud what has been a reality for a few years. 
 

https://nypost.com/2022/01/04/manhattan-da-alvin-bragg-to-stop-seeking-prison-in-some-cases/

 

It keeps going but I only want to copy and paste so much. 

Its the 1970's all over again!  Where is Charles Bronson when you need him?   

[leh-nerd skin-erd]

26 minutes ago, All_Pro_Bills said:

Its the 1970's all over again!  Where is Charles Bronson when you need him?   

Sadly, I think he just changed his name to Kyle Rittenhouse. 

[Not at the table Karlos]

On 12/31/2021 at 9:38 AM, Precision said:

Returned last night from visiting family in WNY and all I can say is Wow.

 

Spent lots of time off the beaten path driving Rt 7 (parallel to I-88), was sad to see that Gibby's in Duanesburg closed.   Also drove all of Rt 417 (parallel to Rt 17/I-86).  Visited the Comedy and Lucille Ball museums in Jamestown which were nice.

 

Pretty much everywhere else I passed is starting to look like a third world s**t-hole.  I expected that in some area's (over toward Salamanca) but even towns that used to be nice are continuing to degrade.  There must be a tax break in NYS for blue tarp as it seems every 10th house has some wrapped around something.  It amazes me the number of vehicles on the road in NYS that would be impounded as an unsafe vehicle in other states.  Some of the trucks are just a cab with garbage can of rust sitting on the back.  Considering there's a housing shortage I can't believe the number of houses that are in such poor shape they should be condemned.  My kids couldn't believe people actually lived in them.

 

Are other people seeing the same throughout NYS?  I don't get to Rochester or Buffalo much anymore and just drive through Albany.  I'm very familiar from Cobleskill to Binghamton and West to Olean.  That entire stretch is starting to look like a failed state.

The areas that you mentioned and are familiar with have been shitholes for as long as I can remember. Pretty much anything along 17 has been bad since the 90s

[LeviF]

15 minutes ago, Not at the table Karlos said:

The areas that you mentioned and are familiar with have been shitholes for as long as I can remember. Pretty much anything along 17 has been bad since the 90s

 

And it's worth adding that it looks like a failed state because New York is a failed state.

[Buffalo_Stampede]

One thing that is great about the United States of America is that you're allowed to move to any state you want.

 

I work with people that hate NY and talk about moving all the time. I tell them to move. What are you waiting for? 3 years later they're still talking about it.

[Precision]

8 hours ago, Not at the table Karlos said:

The areas that you mentioned and are familiar with have been shitholes for as long as I can remember. Pretty much anything along 17 has been bad since the 90s

 

I would disagree that the region has always been that way or even since the 90's.  Certainly, there are some areas that are poor and have never improved but by and large the 80's to at least the late 90's were good for the region.  The NYT has a pretty good article (for them) here.

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/30/nyregion/new-yorks-southern-tier-once-a-home-for-big-business-is-struggling.html

 

IMO things started getting bad after 2000.  Most of the school consolidations started in the late 90's and I don't believe this was fully felt (or implemented) across the region for a few years.  Rochester was still ok back then as I knew people who would commute from the Hornell/Dansville area to Kodak Park and KAD.  Neglecting the Rochester area, some large employers who vacated the region or had large layoffs were after 2000 (i.e., Foster Wheeler-Dansville, Dresser Rand-Region, Siemens-Olean, DOT-Hornell).  Also, this was the timeframe when the US lost significant manufacturing jobs which impacted the Southern Tier disproportionally.   

 

More recently I think the economy has worsened as I see lots of lots of small closures throughout the region such as Steuben Trust, Valu Home Centers, even the Friendly's in Hornell!  In higher education (unfortunately a significant employer now) local, regional and national demographics are working against them.  AU and St. B have increased enrollment-for now, SUNYs are up probably due to NYS tuition programs.  Conversely, CC and EC are down, and KC will be gone in 3 years.

[Beast]

8 hours ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

One thing that is great about the United States of America is that you're allowed to move to any state you want.

 

I work with people that hate NY and talk about moving all the time. I tell them to move. What are you waiting for? 3 years later they're still talking about it.

 

And I will be within 6 years. Possibly 2. Florida, here we come!

[B-Man]

5 minutes ago, Precision said:

 

I would disagree that the region has always been that way or even since the 90's.  Certainly, there are some areas that are poor and have never improved but by and large the 80's to at least the late 90's were good for the region.  The NYT has a pretty good article (for them) here.

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/30/nyregion/new-yorks-southern-tier-once-a-home-for-big-business-is-struggling.html

 

IMO things started getting bad after 2000.  Most of the school consolidations started in the late 90's and I don't believe this was fully felt (or implemented) across the region for a few years.  Rochester was still ok back then as I knew people who would commute from the Hornell/Dansville area to Kodak Park and KAD.  Neglecting the Rochester area, some large employers who vacated the region or had large layoffs were after 2000 (i.e., Foster Wheeler-Dansville, Dresser Rand-Region, Siemens-Olean, DOT-Hornell).  Also, this was the timeframe when the US lost significant manufacturing jobs which impacted the Southern Tier disproportionally.   

 

More recently I think the economy has worsened as I see lots of lots of small closures throughout the region such as Steuben Trust, Valu Home Centers, even the Friendly's in Hornell!  In higher education (unfortunately a significant employer now) local, regional and national demographics are working against them.  AU and St. B have increased enrollment-for now, SUNYs are up probably due to NYS tuition programs.  Conversely, CC and EC are down, and KC will be gone in 3 years.

 

 

Well put.

 

Here in Cuba, the problem is highlighted by the lack of young adults. Almost NO ONE stays in the area after graduating high school.

 

Last fall I skipped driving down Route 86 and drove 40 miles down 417, very depressing.

 

 

Edited January 6, 2022 by B-Man

[Precision]

41 minutes ago, B-Man said:

 

 

Well put.

 

Here in Cuba, the problem is highlighted by the lack of young adults. Almost NO ONE stays in the area after graduating high school.

 

Last fall I skipped driving down Route 86 and drove 40 miles down 417, very depressing.

 

 

Cuba, holy cow we were practically neighbors as I grew up in Canisteo!  We may have played you guys in football! 

 

When are you guys going to build that big cheese factory?

Edited January 6, 2022 by Precision

[B-Man]

53 minutes ago, Precision said:

 

When are you guys going to build that big cheese factory?

 

 

A perfect example.

 

Our Cheese plant was to be (re)built here (after a hundred years of being open)

 

Unless something changes, it will be moving out of town, over the hill to Franklinville.

 

$$$$$$$

 

 

 

Edited January 6, 2022 by B-Man

[LeviF]

12 hours ago, B-Man said:

 

 

Well put.

 

Here in Cuba, the problem is highlighted by the lack of young adults. Almost NO ONE stays in the area after graduating high school.

 

Last fall I skipped driving down Route 86 and drove 40 miles down 417, very depressing.

 

 

 

The measure of a smaller municipality isn't whether young adults stay put. Young adults (read: men) naturally want to forge their own path and the current year method of doing that is leaving the place you called home for a decade or more.

 

The measure of a smaller municipality is whether it can attract young adults or families from other places. And upstate New York, with some notable exceptions (like Albany, astroturfed by NYS government), hasn't been able to do that for many years.

[B-Man]

 

 

 

 

 

 

[reddogblitz]

42 minutes ago, B-Man said:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quote

President Joe Biden on Saturday offered prayers for the slain and injured cops.

 

Thoughts and prayers.

[B-Man]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Orlando Tim]

9 hours ago, B-Man said:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Congressional map she approved is against the state constitution which states that districts "be as compact in form as practicable and not be drawn to disfavor political parties". Neither of these has been applied at all.

[ALF]

Check out Texas gerrymandering 

 

Justice Department sues to block gerrymandered Texas congressional map

 

https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2021/12/06/justice-department-accuses-texas-of-voting-rights-violations-in-gerrymandering/

 

Anatomy of the Texas Gerrymander

Here’s how Texas Republicans crafted one of the most politically and racially skewed maps of this redistricting cycle.

 

https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/anatomy-texas-gerrymander

 

 

Edited February 5, 2022 by ALF

[B-Man]

  NY Democrats 'Jerrymander' path to bigger home congressional majority 

 

 

[Westside]

2 hours ago, ALF said:

Check out Texas gerrymandering 

 

Justice Department sues to block gerrymandered Texas congressional map

 

https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2021/12/06/justice-department-accuses-texas-of-voting-rights-violations-in-gerrymandering/

 

Anatomy of the Texas Gerrymander

Here’s how Texas Republicans crafted one of the most politically and racially skewed maps of this redistricting cycle.

 

https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/anatomy-texas-gerrymander

 

 

Who cares? I don’t live in Texas! I care about NYS, if you think that’s ok, you’re part of the problem. 

[ALF]

9 hours ago, Westside said:

Who cares? I don’t live in Texas! I care about NYS, if you think that’s ok, you’re part of the problem. 

 

Are you saying it's ok for red states to gerrymander ?

 

I'm against all gerrymandering

 

 

Edited February 5, 2022 by ALF

[Westside]

4 hours ago, ALF said:

 

Are you saying it's ok for red states to gerrymander ?

 

I'm against all gerrymandering

 

 

Are you saying that? You’re the one doing the whatsboutism.  I think it’s wrong period! I don’t base my opinions on which party is doing it. I think for myself. 
People need to stop acting like both political sides are a football team!

[B-Man]

 

 

SHAMELESS: 

 

Andrew Cuomo Says He Feels ‘Vindicated’ and Won’t Rule Out a Political Comeback.

 

https://pjmedia.com/news-and-politics/rick-moran/2022/02/08/andrew-cuomo-says-he-feels-vindicated-and-wont-rule-out-a-political-comeback-n1557305

 

 

 

 

 

[reddogblitz]

1 hour ago, B-Man said:

 

 

SHAMELESS: 

 

Andrew Cuomo Says He Feels ‘Vindicated’ and Won’t Rule Out a Political Comeback.

 

https://pjmedia.com/news-and-politics/rick-moran/2022/02/08/andrew-cuomo-says-he-feels-vindicated-and-wont-rule-out-a-political-comeback-n1557305

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Trump vs Cuomo race would be epic. 

[B-Man]

 

 

 

 

Democrat Party hypocrisy ?

 

Good thing I was sitting down.

 

 

[BillStime]

3 hours ago, B-Man said:

 

 

 

 

Democrat Party hypocrisy ?

 

Good thing I was sitting down.

 

 

Cruelty?

 

Could you possibly be more dramatic?

 

 

IDIOTS