Monroerising.com

Can you say big liar? Those are the words I would use to describe Monroe County Bar Association Tom Smith.

Of course I’m talking about that article in Monday’s Democrat and Chronicle about Monroe County Bar Association President Tom Smith lying about judges abilities to serve on Public Defender selection committees.

According to the D&C’s Gary Craig:

In an opinion released last week, the state’s Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics stated that there is past precedent for the involvement of judges on a screening panel to choose a public defender. The opinion of judges may be vital because “there exists a constitutional obligation to provide competent counsel to represent indigent criminal defendants,” the committee noted in a 2001 opinion.

Similarly, the committee said in last week’s opinion, “a full-time judge’s service on such a (public defender screening) panel is ethically permissible and consistent with a judge’s important role in ensuring the adequacy of indigent criminal defense services.” [Read more →]

Tags: Articles, Cincinnatus, David Gantt, Democrat and Chronicle, Monroe County Public Defender by Cincinnatus
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They’ve done it again — the liberal political activists have generated tens of thousands of dollars worth of negative publicity for MCC  over the Presidency “controversy” and now they’re in the D&C complaining about the effect of that controversy on MCC fundraising.

According to the D&C:

In a March 18 letter to MCC board Chairman Richard Guon, 16 members of the MCC Foundation’s executive committee wrote that “appointing a president who is not acknowledged to be the best candidate for the position will hamper the ability of the Foundation to raise private funds.” [Read more →]

Tags: David Gantt, Democrat and Chronicle, MCC Presidency, Monroe County, Monroe County Public Defender, The Equalizer by The Equalizer
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The Democrat and Chronicle is very committed to the Public Defender selection issue and is doing everything they can to keep an issue that very few people care about on the front pages of their paper.

I find it very interesting that there has not been one article written on the status of Gantt’s legal case stemming from his arrest at that County Legislature committee meeting last month.  Seeing how Gantt is  the leader of a city Democratic Committee (meaning any city or county court Democratic judge would have a conflict hearing the case), one would think finding a Democratic judge without a conflict would be problematic. Does anyone know anything about the status of this case?

Let’s hope some media outlet does a little digging on the subject — residents have a right to know what is going on with this case!

Tags: Articles, Cincinnatus, David Gantt, Monroe County Public Defender by Cincinnatus
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We would like to welcome a new blog to our Blogroll — The Smugtown Beacon.  It is a joint project of Chris Wilmot and Aaron Wicks.  While we at Monroerising.com don’t agree with all of their positions, they have interesting, thought provoking pieces. 

They have the best analysis of Assemblyman David Gantt’s role in the Public Defender fiasco.  At the end of post they point out that Rochester City Councilman Adam McFadden (an Obama delegate)  trounced Gantt (Clinton delegate) in his Assembly district.

Tags: Articles, Cincinnatus, David Gantt, Monroe County Public Defender by Cincinnatus
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“Now that those uncaring Republicans forced their choice for Public Defender on us, I’m pleased to see that there is a new cause to fight for.  I’m so excited.  We will rent buses, bring our people to Albany, sing We Shall Overcome, storm the Governor’s Office, overcrowd the Assembly and Senate Chamber and disrupt their proceedings and call those who stand up to our demands cowards.  It will be just like last Tuesday night all over again.”  I hope this was the reaction those opposing the recently concluded Public Defender selection process had when they saw this morning’s paper. 

The D&C had an article about how Governor Steamroller is trying to stick it to poor people by politicizing the board that oversees the Interest On Legal Accounts (IOLA). A process that has been in place for 25 years (not quite as impressive as the old Public Defender process, 35 years).

According to the article:

A bitter dispute about who should control a $25 million state fund that helps to pay for legal representation of poor people has broken out, with the board that now controls the fund fighting Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s proposal that he hold the reins.

On Tuesday, several people prominent in the legal community sent a letter to Spitzer, the legislative leaders and Chief Judge Judith Kaye asking Spitzer to drop his plan. (monroerising.com’s editors note: she better be careful or there will be no raise).

(snip)

The decision on how to divvy up the money rests with the board, which now also has the power to hire and fire staff members. Spitzer’s plan would give himself power over the staff.

The letter was signed by eight people who are well known in the legal community, including Evan Davis, counsel to former Gov. Mario Cuomo, Justin Vigdor, a Rochester attorney who was the first chairman of the IOLA board in 1983, and Victor Kovner, chairman of the Committee for Modern Courts, a reform group.

“The letter signed by the three past chairs of the IOLA Board and other bar leaders points out the clear conflict of interest and chilling effect, which will be created if the governor controls the grants going to agencies, which often engage in litigation against the governor,” said William Nojay, a Rochester attorney who was the IOLA chairman until last summer, when Spitzer named Edwin Lopez-Soto of Rochester as his replacement.

I’m not a lawyer, but this seems issue is even more important than the fight over the public defender. On Monday, February 18, 2008 Tom Tobin had the following to say on the D&C blog:

More on the PD thing

A couple of post-PD fandango points to make: first, from all evidence, the new PD, Tim Donaher, seems a really solid guy and his essay on today’s Speaking Out has none of the partisan horsepuckey that so damaged the selection process. If he stays apart from meddling pols, Donaher can be an extremely effective leader and a living example of the utopian maxim that public service and partisanship should never ride the same train. Also, the fervor of the protesters, the overreaction by the suburbs-dominated Legislature, the antagonistic chatting and blogging that recall in their divisiveness the furor over the Cythnia Elliott essay - all come from some community well of mistrust and anger that is more familiar to natives than to me.

posted by Tom Tobin at 11:32 AM 0 comments

Ironically he refers to Donaher “staying away from meddling pols”, I’m surprised that Tobin would refer to David Gantt that way, but I do agree with him.

If it the fight was truly all about the process, I expect to see Gannett, David Gantt, and “Sister” Grace take their sideshow to Albany. Anything less than total outrage from these folks will expose them as hypocrites.

Tags: Articles, Cincinnatus, David Gantt, Monroe County Public Defender, New York State by Cincinnatus
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Channel 10 had a good piece on Gantt’s press conference.  He said he was sorry, indicated he was going to work with the new public defender, but continue to speak out on important issues. Evidently, he’s done such a good job in Albany that he can devote more of his attention to Monroe County government — who knows, maybe the big guy could run for County Executive in 2011.

Honestly though, I’m suffering from Gantt Fatigue — I’ve had enough of all the non-sense. 

This issue was useful, however, in pointing out how out of touch Monroe County Democrats, left wing bloggers, and the liberal media are with “mainstream Monroe County.” 

The traffic generated on our site during the Gantt controversy, speaks to the need for a forum like Monroerising.com.  Thanks to everyone who participated in our comment section during this controversy.  Once again, we would like to offer people the opportunity to post on our site — you just need to be opinionated and interesting.

Tags: Articles, Cincinnatus, Monroe County Public Defender by Cincinnatus
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Gentle Reader:

Hats off to the folks at Mustardstreet.  They were the first to have the item below. Now the entire world can see how crazy this “distinguished citizen” is.

Tags: David Gantt, Monroe County Public Defender, Prudence Izguhde by Prudence Izguhde
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Everyone knew what to expect when Assemblyman David Gantt decided, as many believe, that he wanted to takeover control of picking the new Public Defender.  It is not a stretch to assume this since the Democrats in the County Legislature and the Bar Association had already agreed to the screening process set forth, although not required by law, by the Legislature President, Wayne Zyra.  The only legal provision is that the County Legislature make the appointment.  As reported, and paraphrased below, by our friends at Mustard Street:

The President of the Leg, Wayne Zyra, organized a panel to screen applicants for the position and recommend them to the County Legislature. It would consist of: 3 judges, Stephen Lindley, Nancy Smith and one other; one member appointed by the Democratic leader of the County Leg, one appointed by the Republican Leader, and two appointed by the County Bar Association. The Bar Association, which earlier had approved the panel, and also the legislature’s minority leader Harry Bronson, who earlier did the same, even participating in a joint press release with Zyra, both decided to back out of the screening committee.

However, despite the very poor reporting from the D&C on this topic (I think there were actually more editorials shilling for the all powerful David Gantt compared to the number of news stories written by the rank and file reporters) the blogger reports uncovered that both Harry Bronson, the Legislature Minority Leader and Lovely Warren, Bar Association spokesperson on this issue, work for the state Assembly local delegation (ie: David Gantt).

Sorry, I’m trying to find a good smart alecky remark to make now, but there are too many coming to mind.  Basically, BOSS GANTT BACKED THEM ALL DOWN BECAUSE HE WANTED TO CONTROL THE PROCESS TO PUT HIS OWN PERSON IN!!!

There, I let the cat out of the bag… since no media sources have the brass ones to call it what it is.

We at Monroerising.com understand this because we know David has been losing just about all of his attempts lately to stack the city school board and city council with his own cronies.

Well the County Leg. Majority did their job and appointed the most qualified person.  However, during ‘his process’ even David may have gone too far in his staged protest.

6:00 P.M. T.V. news reported that Gantt was going to hold a press conference sometime soon , we believe, regarding the following comment he made while walking out of the meeting that finally saw the selection of the new Public Defender:

Assemblyman David Gantt: “You wonder why a guy goes in Missouri and shoots some damn body.”  Watch it for yourself here.

Rachel Barnhart of 13WHAM News reported tonight on questions regarding the issue of a threat of violence.

Gantt was referring to the recent murder of 4 public officials and 2 police officers at another government meeting in St. Louis, Missouri. 

Over the last few days, blogger comments have been pouring in on all media outlets (how can you blatantly NOT report on this) both denouncing and supporting Gantt’s comments.  Although, I’d wager that more people find this offensive, as I’m sure the families of those who were killed probably would.

I haven’t been able to confer with all of our reporters at Monroerising.com yet, but I for one am sad (no, not angry, just sad) that Gantt would appear to use what happened in Missouri to make his political point.  He wasn’t even being dragged out or arrested, so it wasn’t like he was all angry and spazzing out and stuff.  Everyone is saying he was escorted out peacefully, so what gives?

I’m sorry.  I’m ranting now.  I guess I am mad.  I guess I just wish David had read one of the many news stories regarding these deaths before making his comment.  Maybe this one.

David… I guess I do wonder — I wonder what the spouses, children, family members and friends of those who were killed are gonna feel like, knowing that one of our elected officials here in Rochester, New York used the news of their loss unnecessarily and inappropriately to make a point.

Now I’m not quite sure if Paul Haney was referring to the process or David Gantt’s comments in his portion of this video.

Anyway, Gantt’s having a press conference.  We hope it’s to apologize for his comments.  We agree with Paul Haney’s statement, “It’s disgusting.”

Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected by these senseless murders.

Tags: Articles, David Gantt, Monroe County Public Defender, Mr. Peabody by Mr. Peabody
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Thanks to Ryan34 for sending us this comment.

Gantt should be investigated for his comments last night that Channel 10 captured on tape, and I quote “you wonder why a guy go into Missouri and shoot some damn body”. What a great example for our children! “Hey kids, Mr. Gantt says that when things go wrong, it’s ok to shoot ‘em up.”

Imagine if those words had come out of a Republican!

Link to the video below:
http://www.whec.com/article/stories/S344970.shtml?cat=566

Feb 13, 10:26 AM

Too bad that numskull Tom Tobin at the D&C isn’t interested in the whole story.  Checkout this unbelievable post he had on the D&C opinion blog:

Gantt smoked ‘em

Dave Gantt made the county legislative Republicans look like feckless, arrogant amateurs the other day by creating a situation in which he and some supporters were arrested and handcuffed while the lawmakers met in private to cut a deal on the appointment of a new public defender. Gantt became a man of the people fighting for First Amendment rights, even to the point of wearing handcuffs, while the legislators looked like let-them-eat-cake Antoinettes.

posted by Tom Tobin at 1:06 PM 2 comments

What would Tom and his liberal buddies have to say if a Republican said this?

Tags: Articles, Cincinnatus, Monroe County Public Defender by Cincinnatus
13 Comments »

Democratic County Legislator Carrie Andrews described the scene at the County Legislature as horrifying. 

She’s the one who wrote that many of her male co-workers regularly try to steal a glance down her blouse in a D&C essay last year– I mention this to point out how healthy her self-esteem is and to also point out I’m glad I don’t work where ever it is she works — apparently they are hard up for attractive women there. I lifted the following quote off of Mustardstreet who included it in a post they did awhile back. 

Andrews offered a further revelation of deplorable working conditions for NYSUT’s own employees:

I have experienced sitting in a business meeting knowing full well that the person I’m working with is more interested in sneaking glances down my blouse than listening to what I was saying.

She was absolutely right (about last night’s meeting — I doubt her work story — personally, it takes at least a B cup to get my attention) but for the wrong reason.

“This is embarrassing and appalling and it makes me tremble to be a part of this,” said Democratic legislator Carrie Andrews. “There are one…two…three…twelve deputies staring at us right now.”

The whole public defender fiasco was horrifying, but as you might guess, Legislator Andrews had the wrong reasons. It is embarrassing that a state elected official did not fulfill his legal obligation to be in Albany so he could disrupt the proceedings of the Monroe County Legislature. 

Carrie Andrews asked why cheerleaders weren’t made to go through metal detectors.  If she really doesn’t know the answer to this question, she doesn’t belong in public office. 

How many cheerleaders promised to disrupt a Legislature meeting to get what they wanted? 

How many cheerleaders were arrested at a committee meeting three days before a legislature meeting? 

How many cheerleaders have been taken from a legislature meeting shouting something along the lines of “this is the type of stuff that lead to people being shot at at that city council meeting last week (the one in suburban St. Louis)”? Update: see it for yourself.

How many cheerleaders were on WDKX radio inciting racial tension and telling people to come to the meeting and cause a ruckus because they were not given what they claimed was theirs because of a process that was used over 30 years ago?  

Maybe Carrie Andrews didn’t see the channel 13 raw video of Gantt and his friends storming the floor of that public safety committee meeting a couple of weeks ago where Gantt used his considerable bulk to bully the female officer.  Maybe Carrie wasn’t at the meeting on Saturday — the one where it took almost 2 hours to clear the legislative chambers. 

If security was not as it was last night, police would have had to arrest dozens, if not hundreds of people.  The meeting might very well have not happened.  We are a nation of laws.  Our system is set up so that everyone is treated fairly.  Just because someone is passionate about something doesn’t mean they have a say in what goes on.  Personally, I’d love to see the United States out of the war in Iraq.  What meeting can I go and disrupt and take control of to stop this injustice?

Paul Haney complained about a nun not being allowed in the chambers and appeared to blame Republicans.  Dan Quatro, the new Republican Leader pointed out correctly that the outrage should be directed at the people who promised to disrupt the meeting.

What would Carrie Andrews, Paul Haney and the Democrats say if a group that wasn’t a part of Democratic Party’s base acted the way Gantt and company did. What if the evangelical community brought hundreds of people, incited their followers on religious radio, and had disrupted two previous meetings, to protest the gradual legal erosion of the concept that marriage is between one man and one woman?

Would they be horrified? Would they be trembling?  I don’t think so. Treating Assemblyman Gantt and his followers differently than you would treat others is racism — plain and simple. For the Democrats to claim otherwise is hypocritical.    

Tags: Articles, Cincinnatus, Monroe County Public Defender by Cincinnatus
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