Noted Albany Attorney Lee Kindlon has signed a letter of
intent to represent assault victim Jeff Bennett
in a lawsuit that names the city,“the three drunk amigos" Ed Braim,
John Guzek and Mark Leffler and even “Toothy” Chris Mathiesen Commissioner of
Public Safety. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for the victim. Kindlen is
a first class attorney and Jeff Bennett will be in good hands. I have no doubt Mathiesen will criticize the Mayor
for the cost of hiring lawyers to defend him.
From Lee Coleman at the Gazzette.Top ten highest paid city
workers 2012
Number 1. Bradley Birge, is the city’s administrator of
planning and economic development. $123,798
2. Edward Lewis,even though he retired in September, was still the highest-paid police officer in 2012.
$117,012
3. Kevin Kling, head of the city’s Internet Technology (IT)
department, with annual pay of $116,689. I met him during the Zlotnik affair
and I know more about computers that he does.I understand he was hired as a
favor to Stewards CEO, Bill Dake
4. Lt. John Catone, the police department spokesman as well
as head of the investigations or detective division. He was paid $111,811.
5. Patrolman Anthony Straus, $111,769
6. Patrolman Mark Leffler, $110,048 one of the “three drunk amigos”
7. Patrolman Thomas Sartin, $108,311
8. Fire Capt. John Kirkpatrick, $107,409 Chief pet and toadie
of Fire Chief Williams. Its good to be an asswiping piece of shit
9. Patrolman Travis Carter, $107,228
10. Investigator Laura
Emanatian, $105,338
In other news the theater at the SPA council pre-agenda
meeting was almost as much fun as the gunshow. John Franck was at his Machiavellian
best as he had Finance Commissioner Madigan and “Toothy” Chris Mathiesen attack the Mayor’s
comprehensive review commission. Franck was grinning from ear to ear as Mathiesen
and Madagan questioned the Mayor’s authority to be the sole arbitrator of appointments
to the board.
This was at Franck’s bidding of course. Mathiesen already had slipped a zoning revision in for South Broadway during the confusion over the
Maple Dell rezoning. This allowed John’s friend and client Saratoga Springs
developer Frank Parillo to sign his sweet heart deal with the County government
to lease Topper Buick Pontiac to Saratoga Mental Health for a drug and alcohol
treatment center and possible methadone clinic from Parillo for 28k a month. The
county will also be responsible for the sizable environmental cleanup at the
site with and all other improvements and even pay the his property taxes to the city. Great
deal if you can get it. And “Toothy” did all the heavy lifting for him.
But the conniving Franck has other people to grease and he
needs a majority representation on the commission to continue his development plans.
Parillo owns a sizable tract of property where the Weathervane is and John’s business
partner Harry Manios has considerable property interests on South Broadway. But
the real winner in this scheme might just be Tom Newkirk, CEO and owner of
Saratoga National.He has long wanted to build condo’s and a hotel on his
property. With Charter Change defeated, this commission might be his best bet. Newkirk,
has no qualms throwing money around. John likes that and at the same time his
increasingly bloated figure {pick up some steroids from Albany DA David Soares
when he was here John?} just sits back and lets others be used.
The high rolling Franck also is proposing a raise for Deputy
Commissioners along with a new automatic yearly cost of living increase. So not
only did he decrease the assessment of Sharon Kellner-Chille Deputy
Commissioner of Accounts home but he now is giving her a raise. What a guy.
He also secured federal funding for a temporary position in
his department that will go to some connected soul.
I’m going down to Brooklyn for a couple days but I will be
posting comments so go at it.
Saratoga in Decline
We never Sleep
Because Machiavelli isn’t dead
66 comments:
I am having slight technical problems
Jeffrey Bennett, who was assaulted by former Saratoga Springs police officer Edward Braim, is moving forward with plans to file a civil suit against the city and Braim, attorney Lee Kindlon said Monday. This is from Kindlon:
“Jeffrey Bennett was the victim of former Saratoga Springs Police Officer Edward Braim, who, as a result of this assault, was forced to resign from his position as a police officer.
Last week, Kindlon filed notice on behalf of his client signaling that he intends to seek damages against Mr. Braim and the City of Saratoga for an assault that occurred November 12, 2012. Ed Braim and two other Saratoga Springs police officers viciously attacked and beat Mr. Bennett outside Dango Fitzgerald’s Pub on November 12, 2012. Criminal charges were later filed against Braim, who was represented by Andrew Safranko.
According to witnesses and court documents, while two other off-duty police officers stood by, Braim, who had not known the victim prior to that night, slammed Mr. Bennett into the side of a vehicle parked outside the bar causing injuries that included difficulty breathing, redness, swelling and contusions to his torso, neck and wrist. The fight began between Braim and another man; Bennett had intervened to defuse the situation. Braim, instead, focused his anger upon the peace-maker.
This is not Mr. Braim’s first allegation of assault. Back in 2009, Skidmore student John Capitani was accused of assaulting Mr. Braim, only to have the charges dropped on the day of trial. Six different witnesses came forward to state that then-Officer Braim had, in fact, assaulted the student. Because of this proof, those charges were dropped. Questions remained, however, about what, if anything, the City of Saratoga did following these disclosures to rein-in Officer Braim.
“Ed Braim had been a problem in Saratoga Springs for a while. The City of Saratoga has known this for years. We are asking for accountability, not just from Ed Braim but from the City of Saratoga,”
If Cole had handle this in house instead of giving it to the county DA it wouldn't be were it is now.This whole mess is bullshit.
Why are law enforcement officers are allowed to consume alcoholic beverages? Have we learned ANYTHING yet? As my dad used to say: as long as cops & judges drink, they'll never stop drunk driving -- it's job security all around. I guess it's too bad cops get caught in the same trap, too, eh?
And politicians want to come down on gun owners even though long guns killed 700 some odd people last year in comparison to some 15000 deaths from auto collisions; the majority being from drunk driving!
So, does officer Braim & company know the consequences of consuming and abusing the very vice they are entrusted to control? Where is the outrage?
I knew Franck was a crooked bastard! He and his little dog Madigan are on their way out.
I am thinking of changing the beer I drink,
Any suggestions?
@7:39 - what are you talking about? Years of cover ups are exactly what got us here in the first place.
Kindlon needs to find a way to get Braims old disciple reports. There's a stack a mile high.
Franck manipulates many people. His democratic partners are scared they may not get reelected so they follow his every move. Last thing we need is this type of behavior. He is flipping off the public taxpayer and they are holding his sack for him. He is manipulating assessments to pad his own pockets. Time to kick his ass out of office.
They should also fire Leffler at 110 thousand a year the shity pays him, you would think he would have stepped in to end the fight.
This would free up money to hire some real policemen....for a change..
My question to Commissioner Franck
If you knew the assessments were wrong on the condos, why didn't you notify every condo owner and correct it? Seems you pushed owners to use Diane Young when they should of been able to have the reductions from your office for free. And why are NOT all the condos reduced?
No fiscal control in DPS at all. Kirkpatrick stops by for a couple hours a day and makes over 100k. Patrolman making over 100k and retiring at almost 80 to 90 percent. Captains and Investigators creating their own OT. All making more than the Chief and Assistant Chief. Will hiring 4-6 additional patrolman stop this. Absolutely not. They will find a way. The undermining will continue. The only way to stop it is get these clowns out of office. Look at the newly developed raises, sick days, vacation days, HC and personal days for deputies. Fiscal conservatism has been thrown out the window. This city has had enough of the Lou Bentons, Ron Kims, John Francks, the McTygues and Yepsen and now the physchologically disturbed Christian Matthieson. Will the real leaders in this city please step up and relieve this city of this disgraceful debris.Think about this long and hard. If the State decides to place three casinos upstate and not necessarily at racino sights say goodbye to the VLT funds and surpluses. Of course that will fall on another Council to make the hard decisions. Happened four years ago and will happen again. madigan would be in tears if she had to approve layoffs for her dear police and fireman.
IT should be outsourced. Two people in the dept. One making well over 100k and the other although much lower paid spends half his time smoking outside the building.I'm surprised that use eof city vehicles wasn't in John's package for all Assistants to the Commissioner!!
The Once conservative John Franck who led the fight against the Public Safety dynasty and appropriately so now becomes a hypocrite and shows support for his comrades at the expense of the taxpayer. His tough stance against the SSHA was lauded by many and now he has become worse that those he criticized. At least the housing aouthority is not in jeopardy because of their cash situation while hundreds across the country are. The last thing the city needed was a Mental health Facility at the entrance of the city but as long as it helps his partner and possibly cash flow it is fine. Who would be dumb enough to spend millions to upgrade a building they don't own, maintain it and in five/ten years give it back to the owner who is delighted.Who was involved. Don't forget the other sponsor was Matt Veitch - County Supervisor. How comfortable. Where was Joanne on this one?? The county also will pay for the taxi fare for the patients to come and go from across the county. The use of buses will be rare. Talk about dumb and dumber.
Kevin Kling has very basic entry level computer knowledge. His salary is the biggest crime in the city.
Both Police Officers should have been reprimanded/suspended for not attempting to break up the issue. They knowingly walked away and in a sense were advocates for the situation that ensued.
5:18am,Where was Jo-ann on that one? Good question,they used the slower thinking Veitch and eventually will hang him out to dry,wonder if it's dawned on him he was being played? A meth clinic at the entrance to the city will be a good fit,just picture it---- all those druggies milling around waiting for their fix while puffing on ciggies and god knows what else,the tourists' will just love it while francks'advocate parillo will be laughing all the way to the bank at the cities' expense,don't forget too that Yepsin is for saving Maplewood Manor despite the fact it loses millions yearly---gotta love that form of representation from her,after her behavior at the gun show I"d say she's toast but it'll fun watching her trying to squirm her way out.
I think a gun shop at the old Dairy Queen across from the new meth clinic would be a nice touch
So how does this work, cops were off duty, not being paid, on their own time, drinking alcoholic beverages. Now should they (the other two officers) become involved in a quick scuffle between Braim And the other bar patron? Probably not, they should stay out of it, because they have been drinking. How far do you go with this? Opens the door for any idiot to pick a fight with an off duty cop, to get a lawsuit! Do the cops have a right to go out to a bar for a few drinks on their day off? The pay better be pretty good if you are planning to restrict what an employee does on their own time!
1:58am. There are three IT guys. Kevin - whom is hardly seen. Jeff Cornick who spends most of his time with Franck's deputy, Sharon Kellner-Chille, working on her IPAD and Patrick who does most of the work at a much lower salary than the other two mentioned.
IT should be outsourced...
Yup, 11:35, Bennett's lawyer is going for the deepest pocket= the city taxpayer. It's ridiculous. Seize Braims assets and give him time in the pokey.
Speaking of loathesome behavior, where is surfer boy Weller? Aloha.
Don't forget this IT guy was Ken Ivins go to guy while he was in office. Doing personal work for Frank while on city time. Disclosure! Not! Unethical? Certainly!
Lt. Catone is the big money maker, $111,800 along with an unmarked police Land Rover! Add the savings on fuel, insurance, wear and tear! WHAT A DEAL!
Not sure why the city should be liable for something that happened when this guy was off duty. Even if they had fired him or disciplined him after the 1st incident I don't know how that would have prevented him from going out drinking on Caroline on his own time. Even if he was not a police officer he would have been on Caroline. This is garbage. I doubt if Braim has any insurance to cover an intentional act. They are naming the city to try to get money. This case should be dismissed. This is so frivolous I hope the city is awarded attorney fees and that Kindlon is sanctioned. As a taxpayer this just makes me angry.
Well clown at 11:35 Am
It all falls with seniority, if they all were drinking,senior piggy leffturd should have stopped the fighting the minute it left the bar!
It should have never went to ramming some ones head in a mirror or anything else.
OH BY THE WAY Saratoga county sheriff rule no one on duty if they were drinking 48 hours before duty.
The difference between the sheriff dept and the sspd piggys is the sspd piggys love the pay and hate to work,the sheriff deps love to work and hate the pay.
PS The Sheriff is not a pervert that takes pictures of his wiener in the mens room,he is a family man,this is only a SSPD Browneye trait..... .
I hear sspd favorite song is gonna turn you're brown eye blue LOL
8:02
He was not alone he was with leffler a 110K senior city piggy that should have known better than to let it go that far.
Leffturd should go out with the trash along with chief pecker picture,a perverted freak...
6:10pm you're wrong--the BIG MONEY MAKER is fireman John Kirkpatrick...$110,000---he works two days a week...plus half of that time he's a sleep----literally comes and goes as he please's-----you're right---somethings' wrong in Public Saftey and that something is Mathesian,kirkpatrick is his pet.
What about the two witnesses that showed up to the city council meeting and were not allowed to talk???
What did they see?
Who did they see fighting//Leffler?
So now you see you have two drunks in SSPD but only one got screwed over.... the poor paid one
This comment is for you Ms. Steer..Fact,there were more killings buy guns in the city of Chicago in 2012 than there were in Afganistan,and in Chicago there is a ban a handguns,tougher gun laws will do nothing to prevent crime,all they do is inhence political careers or start one,we're watching in numbers.....(you)
2:36
Sounds like Jeff Cornick has "a thing" for Sharon......is that the implied message?
Something that the PD has kept quiet about........Braim got into trouble BEFORE he graduated from his 6 month training,
Big confrontation on the Northway, with another motorist. Just check with his schoolmate.
It might even be in his file.
off duty cops should sue Dango's for over serving them, therefore causing the lack of proper judgement!
So if any city employee gets in a bar fight the city can be sued?? How does that work.
"I understand he was hired as a favor to Stewarts CEO, Bill Dake."
WTF - What is the connection between Kling and Dake? Since when do the City of Saratoga Springs taxpayers have to cover a $100,000 per year favor for Bill Dake.
If this guy is unqualified (like most of the City staff including Bradley Birge) heads should roll.
Is there anyone in City Hall that is not contributing to the stench of incompetence wafting further and further through the City.
Imagine what this City COULD be if it wasn't mired in nepotism, incompetence and grift.
F Bill Dake and his crappy convenience stores blighting the City. If he pulled strings for Kling that should be public.
Birge has no expertise or education for his self created position. None. Writing for grants and stabbing people in the back are his only experiences to date. That end of City Hall has a bunch of overpaid do nothings.
Not sure when Kling was hired. That would have to be looked into. Ivins and Dake are close. One other issue that is starting to reflect itself loud and clear. This Council has more interest in obtaining more pwer and influence at any cost than it has in committing to their Oath of Office to serve the public and not special interest groups. Sounds like Washington where the main visitors are union presidents and corporations that pay no taxes. How wonderful.
Can any one tell me what JoAnn Yepsen has done for the City of Saratoga Springs. She said when running, vote for me so that I can get the City some money. She hasn't brought in 1 cent. Phil and Skip had brought in all of the money. Madgan is up Billy McTyuge's rump. They have gotten to her, they will use her and spite her out when done. Can't vote for her, she can't use her own mind. She should ask some of the old timers about the McTyuge's.
JT where's your response to the new gun laws
8:25AM,who wrote that?You or Mommy? You are right about yepsin though,I think the Mctyues'are grooming her to run for DPW it should be a real battle,ya know?,after all didn't she knock him out of the county?---she'd be the first woman(outside of donna of course)DPW commissioner. It could happen she has his number and the stock on the mctygues'is getting stronger,a real cat fight is brewing here.
I am on Brighton beach meeting with some Russian friends.I'm working off a ph.I will have a very strong response this weekend.I also say where Yepsen called pro-gun people "disgusting".I will.be addressing the heavy drinking Yepsen soon enough
Grooming, no, she's been stewing Billy M. For a long time!
12:22pm,Everybody loves somebody sometime,there's no tell'in were love may appear,it could very well appear if she knocks off scoopy and friends.
Here's a fun one for the Dems, and their anti gun crusade. Want to know the single most dangerous threat to the City of Saratoga Springs, probably ever, was? Read the complaint against stalker cop, Pat Arpei, that the New York State Troopers took. It has statements, supported by emails, documenting Arpei's plans for violence with his AK-47.
Now, how many Dems are willing to start asking questions of the PBA and, their own Dentist, about why more wasn't done to protect our city from these threats of gun violence.
These dems are no longer called loons,they are now called left wing rabid loons,how about at last nights council meeting the women from(Phila ST)they all seem to be clustered in that area of the city(that probably explains the net over that part of town)threatened the city if they didn't cancel the legal gun shows,I hope she's not packing any heat.
Madigan is well known for her exploits in Watervliet! Tramps who chase men around by their short hairs!
Well, well, well. So Mr. 8:08, you should know better than anyone else that there really are not too man people that are known for there exploits in Watervliet. The real question is whether or not YOU know what an IP address is. My guess is that you don't. Why else would you be posting from a computer located in Ed Spychalski's brother's house?
No one is tracking anyone's IP.address
By Susan Sheer's logic, if some drugged, juiced up kid flies down I-87 doing 100mph in his Comaro & rear ends an SUV, thereby killing 3 young adults, do we now call for a ban on car shows?
Citizen Clancy, that crack welfare mom turned blogger turned cab driver turned blogger is at it again with her journalistic excellence (cough-cough).
Now she is telling us she has the inside stroy on all sorts of things in the city. Get this one:
"Bill McTygue supposedly just signed papers in city hall so he will be able to run against DPW commish Skip Scirocco. "
Now just what papers is one required to sign in City Hall to run for a council seat, Nancy?
The answer of course is NONE!
One deals with the County and State departments of elections when running for a local seat like this.
But who cares about getting it right. Right?
Hey Susan Steer,
You're dimwits that posted all the handgun permits downstate really did a great job showing all the convicted drug dealers where the cops and their family's live.
Talk about people with a low IQ,I hope these cops come up here this summer and thank you and your husband PERSONALLY.
HaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHa. Watervliet Queen now is linked to her commissioner friend to the right's short hairs!
Is it not true that Dianne Feinstein and her husband Richard Blumm own a Arms supply business that has sold weapons to the latest war efforts involving our troops???
I hear they make a hell of lot of money off the 10 year war..I that this is Repugnant not malarky
The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak
I'm headed back and will have new post tonight
On topic of downstate paper. Alll the addresses published were public information. Anyone could get this information. The outrage with the newspaper is a straw man. Focus on real problems.
@1:12 re Stewart's/Dakes.
The only store for miles. Stewart's are a lifeline for thousands in this area. Why don't you take your elitist attitudes somewhere you might prefer. Wealthier with no lower income people. Cretin!
OK,
I will focus on real problems.
If the school in sandyhook had new cameras at the entrance and a buzz in voice system for visitors,then where are the images of Lanza shooting the windows out to gain access to the school.
Some proof would be nice.
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
From Thom Hartmann
“The Second Amendment was Ratified to Preserve Slavery
The real reason the Second Amendment was ratified, and why it says “State” instead of “Country” (the Framers knew the difference – see the 10th Amendment), was to preserve the slave patrol militias in the southern states, which was necessary to get Virginia’s vote [ratifying the Constitution itself]. Founders Patrick Henry, George Mason, and James Madison were totally clear on that . . . and we all should be too.
In the beginning, there were the militias. In the South, they were also called the “slave patrols,” and they were regulated by the states.
In Georgia, for example, a generation before the American Revolution, laws were passed in 1755 and 1757 that required all plantation owners or their male white employees to be members of the Georgia Militia, and for those armed militia members to make monthly inspections of the quarters of all slaves in the state. The law defined which counties had which armed militias and even required armed militia members to keep a keen eye out for slaves who may be planning uprisings.”
Wonder who has more illegals guns...Black or White..just say'in.
Although cute, that is complete horseshit
Proud to be a New Yorker part of the Great NorthEast.
Fuck all of you inbred red neck hillbillies who think any type of gun ownership is a right which comes with no responsibility.
You fucking assholes should move to one of those Southern States so you can be with your own kind.
This is the same type of mentality that thought slavery was a god given right.
Well, assholes, we don’t scare easily. We slapped the snot out of you over that issue and will eventually do the same with this one.
9:38,
You must be real proud, especially when you post anonymously.... Toolbox...
You must be real proud, especially when you post anonymously.... Toolbox....
9;38pm you may be in the northeast but you ain't part of it,but you sure do speak well of others what group is that you're with? Is that the "doves for peace and love".
If you are proud to be a New Yucker,you possibly have a mental issue and should have your gun rights removed...
You probably are a renter and have no idea the cost of property and school taxes in the wonderful northeast.
And who is WE do you have a MOUSE in your pocket.????.
PS I don't need any weapon for a dirty mouth like yours,, and don't worry I am moving to a nice warm state and you can have this shit state all to yourself...and your pals..
9:38 PM
Get on your Obamaphone and call someone who cares it costs me money,,,,and you are welcome...
9:38 I see you have not responded?, that's ok Obama thinks all you people are doing fine just wear a raincoat with your friend tonight ......
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