Dominick enjoys serving the residents of the First Ward in the South End of Albany, New York and working on ways to make Albany a more desirable place in which to live.

Calsolaro eyes
mayoral run

Albany council member exploring election challenge to Jennings

By TIM O'BRIEN, Staff writer

First published: Wednesday, June 18, 2008

ALBANY -- Common Council member Dominick Calsolaro will meet with supporters Sunday to explore running for mayor next year.

Calsolaro, a Democrat first elected in 2001, said he wants to make sure incumbent Mayor Jerry Jennings has an opponent if he runs again, but Calsolaro won't split the vote if there is more than one challenger.

"I have to get people together, talk things over and see where that leads," Calsolaro said. "My main thing is if Jerry runs again, I want to make sure we have a united candidate everyone can support. I don't think we can afford Jerry any more."

Calsolaro sent an e-mail inviting people to a meeting Sunday at 560 Delaware Ave. to discuss the city's 2009 elections.

Jennings, who has said he will seek re-election, laughed when told Calsolaro was holding the exploratory session.

"He didn't invite me," he said. "Leave it at that."

Calsolaro said he had not decided to run and could support Council President Shawn Morris or Assemblyman Jack McEneny if one of them should choose to challenge Jennings.

"I'm not going to run if we're going to split things," he said. "I think it's more important we have a change than I run for something."

McEneny, who is up for re-election in the 104th Assembly district, said he is concentrating on that election. McEneny lost a primary bid for mayor against Jennings in 1997.

"It's too early to work on one campaign when you're working on another," he said. "I have made no plans to run for mayor. I am going to stay right out of it here and concentrate on getting elected to my position here."

He described Calsolaro as "very sincere," though he noted the two have clashed over the need for a proposed Albany Convention Center. Calsolaro opposes the project, and McEneny is on its board and one of its biggest boosters.

Calsolaro also fought for years to create a Gun Violence Task Force in the city. Jennings finally agreed this year, and the task force is now meeting to develop solutions for the shootings that have plagued the city.

A frequent critic of the mayor, Calsolaro voted against the budget and has railed against the city's habit of borrowing to pay for short-term needs.

While acknowledging it is early to start the process of running for mayor, Calsolaro said Jennings' incumbency gives him an advantage that needs to be countered.

"Nobody is going to be able to raise the money that Jerry raises," he said. "It's going to be more of a ground-level process."

 

Tim O'Brien can be reached at 454-5092 or by e-mail at tobrien@timesunion.com.

Permalink to 6/18/08 Times Union article

Email sent to all Common Council Members, May 26, 2008, in regard to the May 26 article in the Times Union about the bonding for the landfill:

Mike, (Mike O'Brien)

I agree with you, the Council needs to be better informed of what is happening with the landfill expansion project.

I am asking you, as Chair of the General Service Committee, to demand that copies of all materials, letters, correspondence, contracts, etc. concerning the landfill project, including the letter referred to in today's TU, "DEC sent the city a notice April 18 that its application was incomplete, said Lori O'Connell, a spokeswoman for the agency." be given to you as Chair. The letter referred to in the TU is at least the FOURTH letter from DEC telling the city that its applications and follow-up reports are INCOMPLETE!

This situation is an embarassment to the Council and the City. Furthermore, I think we should repeal the $750,000 bonding authorization for "professional services" until we contract with competent professionals. Obviously, the advice the City is paying hundreds of thousands of dollars for is BAD advice!

Dominick

Permalink to 5/26/08 email

City may revisit landfill decision

Albany's attorneys advise against borrowing for expansion until state review is finished

By TIM O'BRIEN, Staff writer

First published: Monday, May 26, 2008, Times Union.

The council will be asked at its June 2 meeting to repeal its ordinance passed May 19 to borrow $6.9 million to expand the landfill and $1.7 million for related work to restore part of the Pine Bush.

According to the council's agenda, the city's environmental and bond attorneys are recommending the city not go forward with borrowing the funds until a state environmental review is completed.

The city plans to expand the Rapp Road landfill eastward into 14 acres around the current transfer station, but the state Department of Environmental Conservation has raised questions about its application.

DEC sent the city a notice April 18 that its application was incomplete, said Lori O'Connell, a spokeswoman for the agency.

"We are still waiting for a resubmittal of their application to address the comments we had," she said. "Once the full application package is complete, then the public will be given a full opportunity for review and comment."

Albany officials have said the existing landfill could be full by the end of 2009 and the expansion could let the city keeping collecting garbage until 2017.

Michael O'Brien, who leads the council's General Services Committee, said council members had questioned whether to approve borrowing money before the plan was approved. He said City Comptroller Thomas Nitido had advised the timing was right to borrow.

Nitido said he merely told the council that if it was going to approve bonding this year, the May 19 meeting was the time to do so because the city borrows in July.

"We didn't contemplate borrowing money for this until the approval is done," Nitido said. "We did not expect to go to market for landfill stuff this year."

The city attorney's office did not return a call for comment. The Department of General Services referred a call to former commissioner Willard Bruce, who is working as a consultant to the city on the landfill plan. Bruce could not be reached.

Tim O'Brien can be reached at 454-5092 or by e-mail at tobrien@timesunion.com

Permalink to City may revisit landfill decision

Expand and Borrow

The Albany Common Council approves bond issue to fund proposed landfill expansion, Metroland, May 22, 2008

Safety Second

Legislation to require window guards for apartments inhabited by small children meets resistance in the Albany Common Council, Metroland, May 22. 2008

Talented dog takes bigger bite

Albany raises adoption price for strays as part of $459,000 in fee hikes, By TIM O'BRIEN, Staff writer
Wednesday, May 21, 2008, Times Union

City of Albany
Common Council

Statement by Members of the Albany Common Council in Opposition to the Fort Orange Club’s Parking Lot Application Currently Pending Before the Board of Zoning Appeals
(5/12/08)

As members of the Albany Common Council we voice our opposition to the application by the Ft. Orange Club to demolish two structures for the purpose of expanding a surface parking lot.  These buildings are in a highly visible downtown location and part of an important streetscape near the Capitol Building.  The proposed demolition is contrary to urban planning principles and should be denied.

Endorsed by:

Passing the Buck, Written by David King, Metroland. May 8, 2008

Letters regarding real property tax relief to people who rehabilitate vacant buildings to Honorable John McEneny and Honorable Neil Breslin, May 7, 2008

AN ORDINANCE REQUIRING THE INSTALLATION OF WINDOW GUARDS IN CERTAIN RESIDENTIAL DWELLING UNITS

Permalink for Window Guard legislation

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Letters to the Honorable John McEneny, Honorable Neil Breslin, Honorable Ron Canestrari regarding window guards

May 6, 2008