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Speaking of David Gantt, a reader sent us this story that appeared in today’s New York Times.  Assemblyman Gantt actually told Rachel Barnhart of 13 wham tv, “that’s for me to know and you to find out!”, according to the Times.  I didn’t see it on 13 — the story on their website doesn’t mention it — so I’m not sure how they found out.

A Change of Heart, but Is It Sincere?

Assemblyman David F. Gantt has made it a point as chairman of the Assembly’s Transportation Committee to oppose cameras that monitor traffic for violations like running red lights. They were just too Big Brother for him, he said. But Mr. Gantt, who represents Rochester, has quietly introduced a bill that would allow cities and towns across the state to install such cameras. Now, they are permitted only in New York City.

What could be the reason for his abrupt about-face? According to The Buffalo News, a former senior aide to Mr. Gantt is a lobbyist for a company in Latham, N.Y., that distributes traffic-monitoring equipment.

What’s more, according to The News, Mr. Gantt’s bill calls for a specific type of traffic-monitoring technology that the company, CMA Consulting Services, distributes. The lobbyist, Robert Scott Gaddy, served as counsel for Mr. Gantt’s Transportation Committee and was being paid $80,000 to lobby on the company’s behalf.

But after the matter became public, Mr. Gantt appeared to back off his newfound support for traffic cameras. According to the ABC affiliate in Rochester, WHAM-TV, he said he is still against them. “I submit bills all the time that don’t go anywhere,” he told the station. When asked why he would do that, he said, “That’s for me to know, and for you to find out.”

Calls to Mr. Gantt and Mr. Gaddy were not returned. JEREMY W. PETERS

Tags: Cincinnatus, David Gantt by Cincinnatus
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Our old pal, Assemblyman David Gantt has made the big time.  The New York Daily News has made him the poster child for all that is wrong with Albany.  In a Sunday editorial, they wrote a piece that one would think should be written by those who know him best — our own editorial writers at the D&C. But wait, that would fly in the face of the D&C’s only Republicans do bad things policy.  From the Daily News:

The sleaze that is the New York State Legislature continues to reveal itself in new and astonishing ways.

The latest specimen is Democratic Assemblyman David Gantt of Rochester, Transportation Committee chairman. He pulled a maneuver so lousy, his Albany cohorts are running away from him as fast as they can.

This is the Mr. Ganttwho has for the last seven years singlehandedly blocked plans by numerous cities, including New York, to use cameras to enforce traffic rules.

(snip)

He explained his opposition as a matter of high principle. He said cameras would violate privacy. “It’s the old Big Brother watching,” he said.

But all of a sudden, Gantt has begun to love Big Brother. He introduced a bill that endorsed red-light cameras, writing that his measure was “aimed at helping reduce a major safety problem at urban and rural intersections.”

But Gantt wasn’t interested in letting cities like New York and Buffalo buy the red-light cameras of their choice. His bill mandates cameras that use a technology marketed by just a single upstate company.

And that firm happens to employ Gantt’s former Transportation Committee counsel Robert Gaddyas an $80,000 lobbyist. The fix was in. Caught in flagrante, Gantt admitted to Newsday that he had introduced the bill as a “favor” to Gaddy, adding:

“He’s like a son to me. I don’t know the company, never talked to them.”

(snip)

When Bloomberg pleaded for the authority to expand traffic cameras, Silver gave Gantt veto power - no hearings, no debates. Posturing as a champion of privacy rights, Gantt told Bloomberg to stuff it - until, that is, Gantt’s pal got paid to help things move in Albany.

How’s that for not getting it.  At least Gantt is honest — about doing things for favored lobbyists.  Jim Lawrence and Tom Tobim really ought to hang their heads in shame.  Remember what they had to say about Gantt’s action?  If you don’t, take a look:

Gantt says he doesn’t know any of Gaddy’s clients. He says his introduction of the bill was procedural and he hasn’t decided if he favors it.

The way out of this one is for Gantt to step aside when the bill comes up, if it ever does. And the way out for the future is for the assemblyman to know Gaddy’s clients and to establish distance early on, before problems arise.

Unbelievable.  Gantt admits to lying about knowing who Robert Gaddy represents to Newsday.  And the D&C says Gantt should work to avoid the appearance of impropriety.

And some people think their is a media bias in this town!

Tags: David Gantt, Democrat and Chronicle by The Equalizer
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I should probably be congratulating the D&C Editorial board for their editorial on David Gantt, but I just can’t .  Cincinnatus pointed out in his post yesterday that he hoped the D&C didn’t try to tie Gantt’s conduct in a problem with the Albany culture:

 I hope that when Jim Lawrence and his sidekick Tom Tobin write an editorial about this they keep the focus on Gantt (their hero from the Public Defender Fiasco) and don’t try to tie it in to what’s wrong with the Albany culture.  Plain and simple Gantt’s actions are highly unethical and should be characterized as such. 

But they did:

The Albany political culture is suspect on many fronts, but its allegiance to special interests stands out.

Lawmakers have made some half-hearted stabs at reform over the years, but the perception of the Legislature in the state and outside is that legislators roll over for special interests on matters large and small. It’s up to individual lawmakers to correct that view, to monitor their own relationships with lobbyists and be vigilant about potential conflicts of interests.

Then they actually believed that Gantt doesn’t know who Gaddy’s clients are.  Imagine this, you are a lobbyist and have a bill that your client wants and the Chairman of the committee that the bill goes before, who has been quoted as saying you “are like a son to him”, doesn’t know who your client is.  Yea, right!

Companies left on the sidelines wondered pointedly why Gantt introduced a bill that gave Gaddy’s client a leg up, especially since Gantt in the past opposed what the bill proposes — street cameras that catch red-light violators.

Gantt says he doesn’t know any of Gaddy’s clients. He says his introduction of the bill was procedural and he hasn’t decided if he favors it.

The way out of this one is for Gantt to step aside when the bill comes up, if it ever does. And the way out for the future is for the assemblyman to know Gaddy’s clients and to establish distance early on, before problems arise.

Yea, right again.  Before a problem arises.  Isn’t it a little too late for that?  From the reports I’ve seen, the only business Robert Gaddy has are either transportation related, or something involving the City of Rochester — two areas soley under Gantt’s control.

The D&C blew it.  In the interest of fairness they needed to blast Gantt for his unethical behavior.  Treating Gantt with kid gloves doesn’t serve our community or the people he represents.

Tags: Articles, David Gantt, Democrat and Chronicle, New York State, The Equalizer by The Equalizer
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The D&C has a 1B story on Assemblyman Gantt’s latest shakedown involving lobbyist Robert Gaddy. According to the D&C:

The close relationship between Rochester Assemblyman David Gantt and lobbyist Robert Scott Gaddy is again being questioned, this time over legislation to install red-light cameras at intersections in New York.

The criticism comes from industry officials who allege that Gantt, D-Rochester, the powerful Democratic head of the Assembly Transportation Committee, recently introduced a bill that would favor an Albany-area firm’s bid to install the cameras at intersections across the state.

Gaddy, according to state records, was hired last year for $80,000 by the company, CMA Consulting Services Inc. He served as an aide to Gantt from 1995 to 1998.

This is incredible.  As we reported to you yesterday Gantt had previously blocked a bill that would allow cameras to be installed at traffic intersections across the state.  Then he finally changes his mind and introduced a bill that would make it almost impossible for anyone to install these cameras unless they use the technology owned by Gaddy’s client. 

Gaddy’s relationship with Gantt — who has said that “Gaddy is like a son to me” — has come under fire in recent years.

After serving as a Gantt aide, Gaddy developed a sizable lobbying business, including work in Rochester for the Rochester Rhinos soccer team, the Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority and the Rochester City School District.

In 2004, Gaddy was dumped by the school district after concerns that he didn’t adequately represent the district in a spat with Gantt over school aid.

Gaddy lobbied for the Rhinos?  Aren’t they the guys who received $19 million in state money for a stadium in a part of the city most people wouldn’t go to?  Isn’t the State Comptroller auditing that project?  Aren’t they the guys who went into default and the City had to take over the stadium — and they probably will again in the next couple of years because not enough people feel safe at that stadium (that was built there at Gantt’s insistance?

Gaddy Lobbied for the RGRTA? Aren’t they total dependant on government funding, which would have to be approved by the Assembly Transportation Committee?  Doesn’t Gantt chair that committee?

Gaddy lobbied for the City School District?  Aren’t they totally reliant on state aid?  I think Gantt would have a lot to say about their funding to, right?

Former City School Board member Jim Bowers blows the lid off of the Gantt scam in the article.

James Bowers, a former city school board member and Gantt foe, has been critical of the relationship and said he’s not surprised the issue has been raised recently in Albany.

Gaddy and Gantt have denied there is any quid pro quo. But Bowers alleged that the hiring of Gaddy to curry favor with Gantt is “the cost of doing business. This is very similar to the experience I had when I was on the board.

“When I got there, Mr. Gaddy was the district’s lobbyist. And it was explained to me that this was our ‘Gantt tax.’ This is what we had to do to try to ensure that the assemblyman would respond to us.”

What, you had to hire Gaddy to insure Gantt would respond to you?  This is a blockbuster.  If you regularly read the D&C you are probably shocked that a Democrat would act in such a way.

I hope that when Jim Lawrence and his sidekick Tom Tobin write an editorial about this they keep the focus on Gantt (their hero from the Public Defender Fiasco) and don’t try to tie it in to what’s wrong with the Albany culture.  Plain and simple Gantt’s actions are highly unethical and should be characterized as such. 

Tags: Cincinnatus, David Gantt, Democrat and Chronicle by Cincinnatus
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Boy, you really have to hand it to the brain trust over at the D&C.  For the second day in a row they have an article about PETA complaining about the treatment of circus animals at a show at the fairgrounds.

PETA sent a letter to the Monroe County Legislature on Monday urging it to ban the use of bull hooks and electric prods within the county.

The County Legislature does not intend to do that, according to a spokesman for the Republicanmajority. Furthermore, the county’s zoo director, Larry Sorel, said Monday that employees at Seneca Park Zoo use bull hooks to guide animals.

For two days in a row the PETA charges are denied and yet two stories.  Funny, they still haven’t been able to find the resources to read the Buffalo News story about how the hero of the public defender fiasco, David Gantt is passing bills he originally opposed for one of his favorite lobbyist, and telling the people of Rochester about it.  Nice work guys — no wonder you are losing subscriptions!

Tags: David Gantt, Democrat and Chronicle, The Equalizer by The Equalizer
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Just in case you need to be reminded about how bad the D&C is, our old friend Assemblyman David Gantt is up to his non-sense again.  According to the Buffalo News (the paper of record for the 26th CD — and now Rochester State Legislative delegation members):

Assemblyman David Gantt, a Rochester Democrat who is chairman of the Assembly Transportation Committee, has used his influence to block red-light cameras from being installed in Buffalo, Long Island and other communities looking to improve road safety and bring in additional revenues from traffic fines.

Suddenly, though, Gantt has quietly reversed himself in the past couple of weeks and has actually introduced a bill authorizing the technology. But there’s a hitch: Only a certain kind of system can be used.

And, it turns out, a company that uses that kind of system, according to industry executives, is a small Albany-area firm whose lobbyist is a Gantt friend and former staff member.

Industry officials say they have never encountered anything like what they are seeing in Albany.

“It does appear the language was crafted to favor one vendor. It’s fairly unconscionable that a public safety program at the legislative level would be crafted to support only one vendor,” said Cristina Weekes, vice president of marketing at Redflex Traffic Systems, an Arizona company that operates camera systems in 20 states. [Read more →]

Tags: Cincinnatus, David Gantt, Democrat and Chronicle by Cincinnatus
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After a busy Memorial Day weekend, I’m back on duty.  My in-laws finally left — I love them but Benjamin Franklin was right when he said that fish and house guest begin to stink after 3 days.

Saturday’s Democrat and Chronicle had a story about the Uncivilly Disobedient 3, 1960’s style protesters David Gantt, Franklin Florence and Raymond Scott, being cleared of charges stemming from their disgraceful conduct regarding the Public Defender selection.  According to the paper:

Canandaigua City Court Judge Stephen D. Aronson, presiding over the arraignment in Rochester City Court on Friday, ruled that Gantt, Scott and Florence “acted in good will, intention and purpose” during a protest Feb. 9 in the Monroe County Legislature chambers over the process of naming a new county public defender.

In dismissing the charges, Aronson said the defendants “appear to be persons of good character” and fought against what “they felt was nothing short of a cultural disenfranchisement. … They felt they were being excluded from the process.” [Read more →]

Tags: Articles, Cincinnatus, David Gantt, Democrat and Chronicle, Monroe County Public Defender by Cincinnatus
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Hats of to Channel 10.  They did a story on anonymous mailing sent out on Dollinger’s behalf attacking Joe Robach and one for who ever is running against Jim Alesi for voting for the same budget that Dollinger’s political patrons David Paterson and Joe Morelle voted for.

There was no return address on it — I think this is illegal.  The bulk permit said Atlas Direct Mail a mailhouse used by state Senate Democrats.  Take a look at this expense report I found on the state BOE website.  Atlas was used by Democratic Senator Craig Johnson in that special election to replace Mike Balboni — the first and only rat to jump at former Governor Steamroller’s offer of a job to try to buy the senate.  Ironically, Atlas Direct Mail is housed in Long Island — the very place they say Robach gave tax cuts to — how’s that for nerve?

Channel 10 went to an RIT Political Science professor and here’s what he said:

News 10 NBC took the anonymous mailer to Spencer Meredith, professor of political science at R.I.T. He said, “Setting this aside, this specific message here. Is it ethical to blame one person or one party for something that received support across parties and in different branches of government? Of course, it’s not ethical.

Wait, Dollinger do something unethical?  I thought he was the great reformer?

The local media really needs to ask Dollinger about this.  He can’t claim a lack of knowledge.  If he does, it shows the political bosses are calling the shots.  If they are doing this during his campaign, what would it be like if he were to win?

And what about Joe Morelle, David Gantt and Susan John?  They voted for the same budget Robach did — why not criticize them?

Dare I point out that this all makes RICHard look like a hypocrite.  This reminds me of former Governor Spiter’s conduct.  Claim you are a reformer when you can’t even play by the notoriously lax rules of Albany!  Nice going.

This should give Sandy Frankel even more to think about!

Tags: Articles, Cincinnatus, David Gantt, Jim Alesi, Joe Morelle, Joe Robach, Richard Dollinger, Sandy Frankel, Susan John by Cincinnatus
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James David Manning, Pastor of the Atwah Ministries in Harlem, has an interesting take on African-American leaders.  In this clip, he berates Barack Obama for never having been in jail.  He feels a black leader isn’t “keeping it real” if they haven’t been to jail.

So, Assemblyman David Gantt’s action in February make all the sense in the world.  And his support of Hillary Clinton makes sense now in light of the Pastor’s comments (who cares who you vote for when both candidates have white mamas?).

Mr. Peabody, I agree with about 95% of what you have to say, but you’re wrong on this.  To quote Pastor Manning, “if white people haven’t put a black person in jail then he’s not qualified to be a leader in the African American community.” Assemblyman Gantt is doing the wright right thing! 

Tags: Barack Obama, David Gantt, The Equalizer by The Equalizer
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Monroerising wrote a number of articles covering the antics of State Assemblyman Gantt and his band of forty thugs during our “David Gantt attempts to hijack the selection of Public Defender” series.  If you missed them, feel free to reread here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, aaannnnnd here.

Well Gannett News Service Political Scene Reporter Joseph Spector wrote a neat little piece that helps shed some light on why Gantt all of the sudden had such an unusual spurt of energy back then.  Here’s Spector’s post:

The state Democratic Committee completed its selection today of its 320 delegates and alternates to attend the Democratic National Convention in Denver this summer.

They also named four new superdelegates, all of which are backing Hillary Rodham Clinton — Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, former Manhattan Borough President C. Virginia Fields, Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli and state Assemblywoman Carmen Arroyo.

Clinton has 139 pledged delegates and Obama has 93 pledged delegates.

Here’s the list of the delegates selected today.

[Read more →]

Tags: Articles, David Gantt, Mr. Peabody by Mr. Peabody
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