RSS
Vacation's over!
I'm back, did you miss me?
Returning to work was made slightly more difficult today by the fact that my computer died on the eve of my departure. It was replaced while I was away, but the hard drive, in the process of catastrophically failing, destroyed thousands of saved emails, a few files, and all of the web sites I had book marked in my browser.
The emails, sadly, are gone for good. So, if you've ever sent me an email that you think I should have on file, please re-sent it to abernstein@saratogian.com. I'm looking at you, Kyle York.
Since I spent much my early afternoon dealing with my computer, and lamenting my lost emails, I did not get the chance to make a round of calls to the City Council, as I had planned to do. As such, I don't have much political news to share, except for one note that was left on my desk while I was a way. (There were lots of such notes, but most weren't that interesting).
A note from David Broner, a Saratoga staple known to anyone who makes a regular habit of attending City Council meetings, is very concerned about "illegally-placed" Ron Kim campaign signs.
Specifically, he is concerned about a city law that prohibits signs from being placed in the right of way. If you're curious about Mr. Broner's political leanings, you should not that while he made specific reference to Kim's signs, he didn't say anything about sings belonging to GOP candidate for Public Safety, Richard Wirth, which also seem to have cropped up around town in the week that I was away, with many placed in close proximity to Kim's signs in the right of way.
Anyhow, the specific law in question, article X, section B(2), states that "No signs shall project into the public right-of-way, except as approved by the City's Department of Public Works after consolation with the Department of Public Safety.
As I have not yet spoken to the Commissioner of Public Works, I can't say if he was consulted in regards to these candidate's signs, but I will say that I'd be surprised if he had been. Of course, I think it's safe to say that if asked, Kim would say that his department had approved his sign.
BUT, political signs, from every party and any party, are a sign of seasons, and are almost always found in various rights of way. I think it's safe to assume that before Nov. 3, many other candidates will have their signs placed in the right-of-ways around town.
What was the best part of my vacation? Leaving at the height of track season and returning with the track gone, and political season upon us. This is when it's most fun to be a reporter!
Returning to work was made slightly more difficult today by the fact that my computer died on the eve of my departure. It was replaced while I was away, but the hard drive, in the process of catastrophically failing, destroyed thousands of saved emails, a few files, and all of the web sites I had book marked in my browser.
The emails, sadly, are gone for good. So, if you've ever sent me an email that you think I should have on file, please re-sent it to abernstein@saratogian.com. I'm looking at you, Kyle York.
Since I spent much my early afternoon dealing with my computer, and lamenting my lost emails, I did not get the chance to make a round of calls to the City Council, as I had planned to do. As such, I don't have much political news to share, except for one note that was left on my desk while I was a way. (There were lots of such notes, but most weren't that interesting).
A note from David Broner, a Saratoga staple known to anyone who makes a regular habit of attending City Council meetings, is very concerned about "illegally-placed" Ron Kim campaign signs.
Specifically, he is concerned about a city law that prohibits signs from being placed in the right of way. If you're curious about Mr. Broner's political leanings, you should not that while he made specific reference to Kim's signs, he didn't say anything about sings belonging to GOP candidate for Public Safety, Richard Wirth, which also seem to have cropped up around town in the week that I was away, with many placed in close proximity to Kim's signs in the right of way.
Anyhow, the specific law in question, article X, section B(2), states that "No signs shall project into the public right-of-way, except as approved by the City's Department of Public Works after consolation with the Department of Public Safety.
As I have not yet spoken to the Commissioner of Public Works, I can't say if he was consulted in regards to these candidate's signs, but I will say that I'd be surprised if he had been. Of course, I think it's safe to say that if asked, Kim would say that his department had approved his sign.
BUT, political signs, from every party and any party, are a sign of seasons, and are almost always found in various rights of way. I think it's safe to assume that before Nov. 3, many other candidates will have their signs placed in the right-of-ways around town.
What was the best part of my vacation? Leaving at the height of track season and returning with the track gone, and political season upon us. This is when it's most fun to be a reporter!
posted by The Saratogian City Desk at
9:39 PM
17 Comments:
There are groups in Saratoga working to preserve, and promte the city. Then there are the ones who plant political signs, cluttering and trashing the beauty of the city. In some cases those preserving and promoting are the same ones planting signs. Only in Saratoga.
the signs are like holiday decorations. i know a lot of people complain about them, but the signs are better than not being able to vote.
Entering Saratoga from the East on Union is arguably the most beautiful transition from rolling countryside to the land of Funny Cide. Yesterday, thanks to Commissioner Kim's unauthorized night vandals, "the Median is the Message."
No advertising of any Wirth, just Kimpassioned clutter littering the median just East of Yaddo.
Given the Commissioner's Mayoral aspirations, he can demonstrate his dedication to our future by plucking those damnable signs today. After work, of course.
-Kyle York
Signed by Me
I count political signs. They tend to reflect the candidates ability to manage money. The more out there indicates a big spender, probably a future tax increaser. Less is always better in both signs and raising taxes. No signs and no tax increases will always get my vote.
It makes the city look trashy.
Who has the right to take them down if they violate that code?
Demroc,
So what are you saying? Without those tacky-ass signs that are a gigantic waste of money, time and resources, that our democratic system would cease? I don't think that's true. And I'd also be curious to know how well those damn signs work in the first place. The only people they are aimed as are those who are fickle and easily swayed; people who think elections are a horse race.
I would challenge any one running for office to clip the signs out of their budget and replace them with some good ol' fashion campaigning...BUT...it's a little too late for at least one candidate, who has littered the city with his dreck.
i loved the article about the blog comments. the best part is, reading the comments to that article. it's all whining about kim's whining. too classic. most of the really derogatory comments have already been removed.
of course we all know there is a "report abuse" button, as was pointed out by horatio. however, if the person doesn't read the blog, again pointed out by horatio, then how would one know they were there to begin with, to have them removed?
Why don’t you do a story about the head of public safety and the chief law enforcer of the city making a mockery of the very laws he is supposed to enforce.
We drove down (up?) Caroline Street today and on the corner of Caroline and Court there are two Kim signs on one lawn and two Johnson signs lccked behind a tall metal fence on the other corner.
Update on this story:
Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety Eileen Finneran encourages anyone who has concerns about the legality of a political sign to call the Public Safety office (587-3550, x2625) to register a concern about a violation of city law.
Or just take them and toss them in the trash. I'd like to see someone write me a ticket for cleaning up that trash. Let them PROVE that the signs were there legally...I would expect NO political signs to be approved for public lands, especially those plastic signs, how non-green.
Those signs are for your front yard to show your support. Not for public lands.
We should pass an ammendment to the law to specifically prohibit any political signs on public lands, and take any ambiguity out of the equation. Then if some charity or HS event wants to advertise, they can ask and do so as long as it's cleaned up after the event. Plus, the city could decide where the signs would be least intrusive and restrict the advertising to those locations. Any signs outside that area would simply get "cleaned up"...
So i guess Finneran can't get out of her office to take a look herself? I guess she's too busy calling the league of angry Koreans to find the time.
George, as a salaried member of the city staff, Deputy Finneran should not be attending to political matters while at work.
Maybe someone should tell Miss finneran that andrew,everyone in public saftey knows what she does and what she doesn't do.
Andrew,
I don't believe Finneran going out to check if the signs are legally posted would be conducting campaign work on city time, since code enforcement falls under the discretion of the Public Safety department, right? Admittedly, there are other city workers that should be ordered to do this sort of thing. But if they're busy...I'd like to know she's doing SOMETHING in there to earn her $66,000 salary.
yeah, horatio wants to know, so find out for him.
What if "Horatio" is a "her?"
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home