LED TO BELIEVE THAT TENTATIVE AGREEMENTS WERE REACHED...THEREFORE DID NOT ATTEND THE MEETING.




  HERE IS MY SPEECH IN ITS ENTIRETY AND WOULD HAVE BEEN CONVEYED AT THE MEETING:

My name is Susan Arcuri and I am the creator of the blog Justice Denied13501, who for the past 5 years has compiled credible documentation of the corruption that exists .....what I regard as the sole cause of the financial crisis this community faces today.

Let me preface my statement tonight by making it very clear, that I recognize the arrogance and disregard that is so prevalent in this Common Council, that which impedes any attempt to attain a viable solution to resolving the problems before us, therefore I will not even attempt to venture into that arena., but rather will address this council putting into perspective the dangers that this community faces as they arbitrarily propose cuts to our public safety departments.


It used to be the standard that a man’s word was his bond; a true measure of integrity, character and moral conviction....that simple premise no longer exists as we have witnessed in recent days when this common council unanimously agreed to allow Public Safety Department heads the opportunity to make cuts to their departments then callously reneging on that agreement putting forth a proposal making drastic and unsuspected cuts within those departments, without conferring with the professional leadership of both our Chiefs of Police and Fire.

This underhanded move was intended to pressure both departments into making concessions that will fit into the fragmented council’s personal agenda’s, so as to give the community a false sense of competent governing, to elevate their popularity, and feed their egos as the new power brokers sitting at the helm. The propaganda that’s being conveyed through media sources casts the blame of an eminent tax increase, unless concessions are made, on the membership of both the fire department and the police department...they are perceived to be the obstructionists in the city’s attempt to balance the budget. Nothing can be further from the truth...they are the scapegoats...


Fiscal irresponsibility by our past administration; the frivolous spending of taxpayer dollars subsidizing our former Mayor’s trips to Saratoga with his young babes and his bodyguard, the first days in office with expensive renovations to the Mayor’s office, the inflated payroll consisting of those qualified as being in Roefaro’s "family and friends plan", and the hiring of political cronies all contributed to fiscal instability.....all taking place while our fireman were risking their lives in the line of duty..carrying out the chard bodies of beautiful babies and their mother in the fire known to most as"THE INFERNO" on Schuyler Street, and our police officers were consoling each other in the lost of their fallen comrade and brother Tom Lindsey as he was gunned down in the streets of Cornhill.... but don’t think for one moment that these are isolated cases, when essential personnel in our public safety departments are cut ...the probability of more fire related deaths and policeman being gunned down in the streets in this increasingly dangerous environment is eminent..the blood of each fire victim and police man will be on your hands..you will be the responsible party...you will have to live with your decisions for there has been thought out and meticulously crafted proposals made...by the experts...our Chiefs...but cast aside for again, it doesn’t meet the criteria of your personal agendas.

 CHIEF OF CORRUPTION, DANNY LABELLA

We are all witness to the devastating effects of decisions being made by incompetent politicians rather than experienced professionals....Some members of this sitting council played an intricate role in the death of Utica’s police officer and wife, Joe and Kristian Longo, when they employed poor judgement and accepted the civil service list of candidates for the chief of police containing the name of Daniel Labella......guided by political cronyism....instead of appointing one of a qualified nature. This is the same perfect storm that prevails today.....politicians making decisions instead of qualified professionals..

But rest assured, history will repeat itself... the only differences will be the name of the defendants in a civil suit, in what I predict to be willful neglect in providing this community with necessary services in keeping the citizens safe, and the names of those who become the victims to a dangerous political game of balancing the budget.

Hope you sleep well tonight!