Monroerising.com

We at Monroerising.com are big fans of Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks.  We think she has done a great job under some very trying circumstances.  The challenges she faces are numerous — no control over the expenses in her budget and having to get your political opponents’ ok before you can raise the sales tax – for starters.  And this is against the backdrop of a hostile daily newspaper, a minority caucus dedicated to causing her political problems and liberal activist groups that have stepped up their game by adding professional protesters to their ranks. 

When Maggie Brooks first proposed Renaissance Square it was a daring solution to a problem that people had grown used to — a blighted downtown with absolutely nothing going for it.  The project made sense.  Remove the buses that clog Main Street, expand MCC’s presence and build a first class preforming arts center.  It would bring people downtown and instantly become a Rochester landmark. Additionally, it would encourage private investment which has been sorely lacking. [Read more →]

Tags: Articles, Cincinnatus, Maggie Brooks, Monroe County by Cincinnatus
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The D&C is reporting that the Appellate Division’s Fourth Department found in favor of the Monroe County School Board Association’s lawsuit it brought against the County’s FAIR Plan.  As you know, the intention of the FAIR Plan was to utilize collected sales tax revenues to pay for Monroe County’s increasing Medicaid costs prior to distributing the remaining funding the County shares with local school districts across Monroe County, except for the Rochester City School District, which would not have been impacted by the move. 

The County chose this course of action to pay for mandated welfare costs instead of increasing property taxes on homeowners.  But the Rochester Democratic Assembly Delegation (David Gantt, Susan John, David Koon & Joe Morelle) made it clear they would not allow Monroe County to raise its sales tax a penny to pay these costs.  Their resistance was meant to force Monroe County to raise property taxes on us homeowners instead.

Well, if the local Assembly Dems and democrats in the County Legislature have their way, we property taxpayers will foot the bill for these increased welfare costs.  I don’t know about you, but as a member of middle class I just can’t take another hit.  At least with the sales tax I could control my purchases.  Will my school district retract their huge proposed tax increase now that they don’t need the money?  Doubt it.  They’ll find another reason to need it “for the kids.”

Monroe County says it will appeal.  I hope to God they do or New York is losing two more people who are among the decreasing number helping to foot the bill.

Tags: Articles, David Gantt, David Koon, Democrat and Chronicle, Joe Morelle, Maggie Brooks, Mr. Peabody, Susan John by Mr. Peabody
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You have to be blind (or a liberal Democrat) to not see the hypocrisy of the special interest wackos (Metro Justice, NYSUT, Alliance For Quality Education, etc.) regarding school education funding in Monroe County.

Last week these social misfits held a meeting in Greece hosted by Monroe County Legislator Richard Beebe (you remeber him — he was the recipient of all that Working Families Party cash that wasn’t reported until 75 days after the legal deadline) complaining about the FAIR plan (you remember that — Maggie Brooks’ plan to save Monroe County taxpayers $10’s of millions of dollars in Medicaid cost) that reduced school funding. 

You will also remember that David Gantt and company forced this plan on the community because of their opposition to raising the sales tax in Monroe County (after approving increases all across New York State) because it was too painless and they were trying to force local Republicans to raise property taxes.

What I found really interesting is that not one of these “concerned citizens” at Thursday’s meeting has said one word about Governor Steamroller’s proposal to cut the amount of money the state promised schools last year.  In Monroe County, schools will receive $21 million less than they were promised.

A reasonable person would expect to hear outrage “for the children.” But these these people haven’t said a word about Governor Steamroller’s proposal.  What makes this even more galling is that the Steamroller is proposing to increase school funding in New York City at the expense of Monroe County children.

Their silence on this issues shows them for what they are — special interest hypocrites with an agenda that isn’t in the best interest of Monroe County.  If their concern truly was “for the children” they would be holding hearings speaking out against Spitzer’s budget proposal.

And one more thing: someone should tell these folks that it is OK to bathe, trim a beard and get a haircut once and awhile. 

Tags: Articles, David Gantt, Dick Beebe, Elliot Spitzer, Maggie Brooks, Prudence Izguhde by Prudence Izguhde
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I meant to write something earlier this week about David Gantt’s continued thuggery — refusing to meet with the top elected official in Monroe County government  — Maggie Brooks, about Renaissance Square. You will remember, the good Assemblyman is upset because it appears as though the county legislature isn’t going to buckle like everyone in the Democratic Party does to Gantt’s ranting and ravings regarding the appointment of a new public defender.

There were two articles in the D&C about how the Assembly Democrats refused to meet with Brooks when she was in Albany this week. Evidently, things haven’t changed much since Day 1. 

The go along to get along culture still thrives in Albany.  Because Boss Gantt refused to meet with the County Executive, Joe Morelle and the other Democratic members were obligated to march in lockstep with Boss Gantt and snub her.

I was shocked when I read today’s article about how Morelle stuck it to Brooks and spent money allocated for Renaissance Square.  The fact that Morelle put politics ahead of what’s good for the community wasn’t surprising — what was surprising was that Morelle bucked Gantt and evidently violated Boss Gantt’s edict.

According to Morelle, there are still no firm plans on Renaissance Square. Meanwhile, other groups have pressing needs for theater space, he said.

He said he told Brooks, “I’m sitting here now looking at a number of projects to fund in the future, and you have a project you want, but there are some problems with it.”

I’m sure something is out of context here — it says Morelle talked to Maggie Brooks.  Joe Morelle knows better than anyone else what happens when David Gantt doesn’t get his way. 

Harry Bronson certainly does — remember when he signed off on the public defender selection process only to put his tail between his legs and change his position when Boss Gantt told him to?  We at Monroerising.com do.

Legislature Minority Leader Harry Bronson, D-Rochester, said the committee is capable of producing a list of qualified candidates without concern for political affiliation. (Click to see entire article)

 Morelle better call the D&C for a correction. I’d hate to see David Gantt show up at his office with his “associates” and cause a ruckus like they did at that County Legislature meeting a couple of weeks ago.

Tags: Cincinnatus, David Gantt, Democrat and Chronicle, Joe Morelle, Maggie Brooks, Monroe County Public Defender by Cincinnatus
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Good news, Jim Walsh is retiring from Congress.  Liz Benjamin of the Daily News lists Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks as a possible candidate for his seat.

We at monroerising doubt Maggie would be leaving Monroe County, she’s much too important to the local Republicans. 

What about Stephanie Aldersley?  Don’t forget Walsh cleaned her clock in 2002 and she might be interested at taking another shot.

Tags: Articles, Federal Officials, Maggie Brooks, Prudence Izguhde by Prudence Izguhde
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Did you see the editorial calling on Maggie Brooks to leave politics out of government in the D&C this morning?  These guys are amazing.  They criticize the FAIR plan and the way it was approved, yet the make no mention of why the County really had no choice but to do what they did.

Assemblyman Joe Morelle — who also happens to be the Chairman of the County Democratic Party — (no injection of politics in government there) was successful at blocking County attempts to increase the sales tax in the state legislature.  Assemblyman Morelle accomplished this by having his mentor, Sheldon Silver, block the bill without even allowing the matter to come before the Assembly for a vote.

Why would Joe Morelle do this when an increase would have “protected the children”– the very people the Democrats claim to be so concerned about?  The answer is so simple that even the D&C editorial board should be able to understand. 

Raising the sales tax would be too painless. Plain and simple the goal was to limit Maggie Brooks’ options to either raising property taxes — or enacted a plan that would cause some group to be outraged. 

To top it off Morelle even voted against extending the current sales tax rate.  If this legislation was not passed (thankfully it was), the City of Rochester would be bankrupt. But there would have been one big benfit for Morelle — Maggie Brooks and the Republicans in the legislature surely would have to raise property taxes then.

What makes this even more galling is that he voted yes on every other county’s request seeking a sales tax extension or increase last year. 

Funny, but I don’t remeber seeing editorials on either one of these items.  They were probably written when I was on vaction.

Tags: Articles, Maggie Brooks, Monroe County, New York State by Mr. Peabody
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