Back towards the end of Harry Tutunjian’s term as mayor, Christopher told the law firm that was moving out of the city owned Dauchy building he would help [...]]]> The Troy Record’s Talespin blog has an account of Vic Christopher’s departure from City Hall that coincides with what little I’ve heard of the incident.

Back towards the end of Harry Tutunjian’s term as mayor, Christopher told the law firm that was moving out of the city owned Dauchy building he would help them move their leftover stuff. In other words, they said he could have a bunch of the stuff they didn’t want like old desks, chairs and other office-related materials.

He ran it by Tutunjian who told him to get it in writing.

He didn’t.

To make a long story short, City Hall was notified he was taking things out of the building, put him on paid leave, and he eventually resigned.

Talespin notes that it would have been easy enough for those at City Hall to confirm what he claimed, which is that Tutunjian gave him the okay some time ago and said it wouldn’t be a problem. Unfortunately, as soon as Rosamilia won the primary, promises of a new direction for Troy and an end to bipartisan bickering was drowned out by the high-pitched screech of axes being ground.

It’s a shame that partisan hackery and an obvious opportunity for a political hit superceded the better interests of the city. But Vic, personally speaking, is better off. Check out Keep Albany Boring’s visit to his forthcoming wine bar near Monument Square. I’ve been in there a few times since he started, and I think the place is going to be remarkable. It’s exactly the sort of thing Troy needs more of, and perhaps it’s fitting that it’ll be born in the ashes of what Troy needs less of: partisan doofs who cut off Troy’s nose to spite its face and think anyone with half a brain cares about their ambition to one day become King of Shit Mountain.

If I hadn’t been booked a couple months in advance for the Jimmy Pigfeet Challenge and the subsequent stand-up comedy show in Coxsackie, I’d be in downtown Troy for this event. Trust me. Hell, I’m going to be there in spirit at the very least.

River Street Riot
Hi guys!

If I hadn’t been booked a couple months in advance for the Jimmy Pigfeet Challenge and the subsequent stand-up comedy show in Coxsackie, I’d be in downtown Troy for this event. Trust me. Hell, I’m going to be there in spirit at the very least.

River Street Riot
Saturday, April 21st
6-11:30PM

Join us for:
Live music by The Tichy Boys
Swing Dance Lessons
Pinup girls + Rockabilly Guys | Vintage Fashion Show with Date Auction
Eats by Dinosaur BBQ | Sweets | Cash Bar
Silent Auction
More Throwback fun!

For more information and tickets, visit our website.

Full press release after the jump.

For Immediate Release

Contact: Lauren Hittinger
518-273-0552 x229
Lauren@artscenteronline.org

 

A Rockin’ Dance Party to benefit The Arts Center
Featuring: The Tichy Boys, vintage fashion show with date auction, Dinosaur Bar-B-Que

 

Troy, NY (04/12/2012) – This April 21^st is “River Street Riot,” a night that promises to be one of the Capital Region’s biggest rockabilly dance parties ever.

All proceeds will benefit The Arts Center of the Capital Region.

According to Arts Center Interim President Deborah Onslow, “River Street Riot is only two years old but has already established itself as one of the most fun and creative events in Troy. Great music and dancing with plenty of food and drinks – all mixed with rockabilly costumes and vintage decorations.   The event is aptly named. It really is a riot!”

Festivities will begin at 6PM on April 21st at The Arts Center, 265 River Street in downtown Troy.

The evening will feature live music by The Tichy Boys, consisting of John Tichy, a founding member of the legendary Commander Cody and the Lost Planet Airmen, and his son Graham, a highly respected local musician, along with others.

 

New at this year’s Riot is a vintage fashion show, with models outfitted by Twilight Vintage Fashion in Troy, NY. The models will be auctioned off in a live date auction following the fashion show.

 

Tickets are $15 in Advance and $20 at the door. To purchase tickets in advance, visit www.artscenteronline.org or call 518-273-0552.

 

The food concession at the Riot will be provided by Dinosaur Bar-B-Que and Sticky Finger Gourmet Apples.

 

River Street Riot is sponsored by Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, Twilight Vintage Fashion, and 97.7 WEXT.

 

For information, contact Lauren Hittinger at 518-273-0552 x229 or lauren@artscenteronline.org.

It’s going to be a busy March. Buckle up, kids.

TUESDAY, MARCH 6th 9:00pm
MICHAEL RAIVE featuring FRANK GENTILE
Hosted by KEVIN MARSHALL
Cost: FREE
@ Pinto & Hobbes (142 Washington Ave., Albany)

FREE COMEDY FOR EVERYONE!

====

Also of note: last Friday’s Match Game at Waterworks was a success so they’re doing it [...]]]> FREE SHOW! I’ll be performing stand-up comedy tonight at Villa Valenti Pub (729 Pawling Ave., Troy) starting at around 8pm. Get there early! Get some food! Free show! Comedy! Did I mention the show’s free?

FREE COMEDY FOR EVERYONE!

====

Also of note: last Friday’s Match Game at Waterworks was a success so they’re doing it again this week! I’ll once again be serving as a panelist, and the evening will also include a couple great comics and a round or two of “Make Me Laugh”. Come join us, it’ll be a blast! This Friday, 8:30pm, Waterworks on Central Ave. in Albany (link: Facebook Event Page)

Chuck Schumer and New Hampshire Senator Jeanne Shaheen have made a friendly wager on the outcome of this Sunday’s BIG FOOTBALL GAME! Sources tell me that big game is either the Super Bowl or the Chelsea/Man U game the Fox Network is [...]]]> Could I write a clumsier headline? Fuck you, I do this for free.

Chuck Schumer and New Hampshire Senator Jeanne Shaheen have made a friendly wager on the outcome of this Sunday’s BIG FOOTBALL GAME! Sources tell me that big game is either the Super Bowl or the Chelsea/Man U game the Fox Network is airing live at 10:30am (seriously).

Anyway, here’s the bet, courtesy The Troy Record And Its Terrible Website with Cluttered Design and Pop-Unders:

Schumer and New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen have placed their own friendly wager on the game, with each agreeing to buy the other cases of craft beer from their respective states should their team face defeat. The brews will be shared among the entire Senate, with enough for each member to enjoy.

Shaheen announced she would send beer from New Hampshire-based Smuttynose Brewing Co. in the event of a Patriots loss, while Schumer will split his loyalties among six different Empire State craft breweries should the Giants stumble Sunday, including Troy’s own Brown’s Brewing Co.

There’s other breweries, but they’re outside of Troy so who cares? TROY WHAT!

Thanks to Vic Christopher for tweeting about this.

Bat Shea’s has kind enough to provide a temporary home after the regular location, Flavour Cafe, suffered a fire [...]]]> Tomorrow night (Wednesday, January 17th) the weekly Comedy Open Mic formerly hosted at Flavour  Cafe will relocate to its new temporary home right around the corner at Bat Shea’s (95 Ferry St.) in downtown Troy.

Bat Shea’s has kind enough to provide a temporary home after the regular location, Flavour Cafe, suffered a fire last week that will keep it closed for a couple months. While they rebuild, we’ll be providing the same great comedy with a wonderful atmosphere, delicious food (seriously), and drink specials ($1.50 Miller Lite and PBR).

Best of all, it’s FREE and you never know who will show up.

And of course, I’ll be there to do a few minutes of stand-up.

Sign-up is at 7:00pm.

See you there!

Arrests have finally been made in the ballot fraud case in the city of Troy, the culmination of a two year investigation that feels like it has dragged on forever. The arrests include the sitting City Council President, Clem Campana, who in light of the scandal dropped out of the 2011 Mayoral race [...]]]>  

from ClemCampana.com

Arrests have finally been made in the ballot fraud case in the city of Troy, the culmination of a two year investigation that feels like it has dragged on forever. The arrests include the sitting City Council President, Clem Campana, who in light of the scandal dropped out of the 2011 Mayoral race which was subsequently won by replacement candidate and local business owner (re: non-politico) Lou Rosamilia.

Campana pleaded not guilty Tuesday to felony charges of first-degree falsifying business records and illegal voting and a misdemeanor count of conspiracy to promote or prevent election. Campana, who is free on his own recognizance, ended his campaign for mayor in mid-July.

The final and lesser charge comes with 10 pages of supporting evidence that names 49 voters whose absentee ballots were altered to vote for Democrats running in the 2009 Working Families Party primary. Most of the voters lived in Troy Housing Authority apartments and were unfamiliar with the voting process.The supporting evidence lists 29 instances and dates of illegal activities, which exposes Special District Attorney Trey Smith’s two-year investigation against the officials. The second grand jury investigating the case is still active.

Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Ballot-case-papers-hefty-2418256.php#ixzz1hE4ed4sT

The attitude in many circles has been to downplay what I, in my naivete and own cynical apprehension towards the political process, view as reprehensible. Whether it’s a race for national office, a judgeship, or a municipal seat, I can’t help but feel betrayed by any elected official who would assist in casting so much as a single fraudulent vote in order to sway the outcome of an election.

If you ask a group of people what it means to be an American and what the country’s core values are, you will hear a litany of answers. Some will be similar but have different wording; some will wildly differ or even conflict with others. But I still believe that there can’t be any argument that one of those core principles is the simple belief of representative democracy and the need to maintain the integrity of the voting process.

It is bad enough that politicians often express disingenuous views and intentions in order to obtain elected office, but that is an unavoidable aspect of politics and life in general. Sometimes people disappoint you and, admittedly, sometimes concessions have to be made in order to get things done. But voter fraud is, in my mind, an inexcusable betrayal of one of the very, very few things that we can all conclusively hold dear regardless of our political, social, or cultural leanings. And though those currently accused and those who have slipped through the cracks would downplay the severity of it or even crack jokes with reporters in downtown establishments about their alleged involvement in the crimes, I personally view voter fraud as being not just akin to, but literal, treason. And I wish it was pursued as such.*

* Disclaimer: Before anyone gets in too big of a tizzy, please note that I oppose the death penalty.

It’s called Election Day, and it’s happening right now.

If you’ve been engaged in any of the campouts across the nation, whether it be in front of a bronze bull or under a tree in Academy Park [...]]]> There’s an Occupy movement that all of you, particularly those who identify as “the 99%”, should partake in:

It’s called Election Day, and it’s happening right now.

If you’ve been engaged in any of the campouts across the nation, whether it be in front of a bronze bull or under a tree in Academy Park in dowtown Albany, then you owe it to yourself and your beliefs to be at your local polling place today. Because you can occupy whatever you want for however long you like, but if you’re not where you need to be when it matters, then what’s the damn point?

Make all the excuses you want – it’s an off year, there aren’t any federal elections, our gripe isn’t with our Mayors, these elections don’t matter. It’s all bunk. Democracy begins in your back yard. If you can’t be bothered to have a voice and take part in the most important elections – the ones that most directly affect your day to day life – then your quarrel should be with internal factors in addition to the 1%. Occupy the voting booth.

With our economic prospects dimmer, it is more important than ever that we encourage education, literacy, and a genuine enthusiasm for reading in people of all ages. The only available resources many in the community have [...]]]> Market Block Books will be holding a special fundraiser tomorrow to raise funds for the Troy Public Libraries.

With our economic prospects dimmer, it is more important than ever that we encourage education, literacy, and a genuine enthusiasm for reading in people of all ages. The only available resources many in the community have is the Troy Public Libraries, which sadly face an inevitable shortfall as available funds shrink against rising costs.

So tomorrow, Sunday November 6th, Market Block Books in downtown Troy (290 River St. right on the intersection of River, Front, and 3rd streets) will open with special hours from 10am to 2pm with 20% of all sales going to our libraries.

Go help out local business and our libraries. Two birds with one stone!

If you need recommendations on what to buy:

Chango’s Beads and Two Tone Shoes by William Kennedy
A reporter is witness to turmoil in the form of Castro’s revolt in Cuba in the 1950s and the devastating race riots that plagued Albany and Troy in 1968, finding love and Ernest Hemingway along the way. The latest from the Pulitzer Prize winner might just be his best.

Every Move You Make by M. William Phelps
The true crime writer tackles the case of Troy native Gary Evans, career thief and serial murderer. Inspector Jim Horton, who established a relationship with Evans as a CI and pursued him on and off for roughly 15 years, didn’t even know the extent of his crimes and their nature until Evans dramatic capture and shocking confessions in 1997. The book follows the story from Evans’ beginnings in Troy, to rumors of his involvement in disappearances, and finally to his capture and spectacular finale. To call this a page-turner is an understatement.

These choice [...]]]>

Two teens involved in gang assault (re: four kids jumped two kids at a party, lest anyone think this involved actual gang activity) were in court and got a talking to from the judge, who in his attempt to look tough and stern instead came across as a woefully out of touch curmudgeon .

These choice quotes from Judge Crabby Appleton Robert Jacon, courtesy Jordan Carleo-Evangelist of the Times Union:

Last week, Jacon asked two other teens who pleaded guilty to the attacks about pot use and felt he did not get honest answers.

“What’s going on up at that high school?” the judge asked Monday. “Is everybody smoking pot up there? There must be a cloud of smoke around the whole place.”

These goddamn kids, they’re smoking the mara juwana and it’s making them LIE and beat each other up!