Monday, October 31, 2011

Mantello: No “Double Dipping” at City Hall

PRESS RELEASE:

TROY—Carmella Mantello, candidate for Mayor, said today that as Mayor she would not permit any appointed City employees to receive more than one taxpayer funded paycheck, including government funded pensions. This practice is commonly known as “double dipping.”

“In my Administration, I will make it a condition of employment that no Mayoral appointees will be allowed to double dip,” Mantello said. “In these challenging economic times, with so many families struggling to make ends meet, it is only right that public servants draw only one taxpayer funded paycheck.”

Congressman Chris Gibson, recently retired from the United States Army, suspended his pension while he is serving in Congress.

“The Congressman’s proud example is one all public officials should follow,” Mantello said. “I call on my opponent to join with me and pledge to the people of Troy that double dipping will not be tolerated in City Hall.”

When asked in the past about his own opportunity to “double dip”, Rosamillia has refused to answer. See here: http://troy.wnyt.com/news/politics/troy-has-new-democratic-mayoral-candidate/68438

With only a week before the election, it's time Lou made his intentions clear to Troy taxpayers.

UPDATE:

At a press conference this afternoon, Lou Rosamilia released a letter from James J. LaGatta, Hudson Valley Community College's vice president for administration, which stated the following:

"At their October 25, 2011 meeting, the College's Board of Trustees were informed of your approved request for an unpaid leave of absence from your duties as Professor, Accounting, effective for the Spring 2012 Semester.

So that we may properly plan our staffing needs, please notify my office, in writing, by April 1, 2012 as to whether you intend to return to active employment status at the end of your leave."

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Friday, October 28, 2011

Community Leaders and Elected Officials Come Together to Defend Mantello’s Record Against Opponent’s Attacks

PRESS RELEASE

TROY - “I drove 5 hours, one way, to stand here on behalf of dozens and dozens of elected officials and community leaders to support Carmella Mantello and her stellar record as Director of the New York State Canal Corporation,” Michael Tucker, Mayor of Lockport said today at a rally for the Troy Mayoral Candidate.

“It is sad that her opponent would resort to bold face lies about her record when everyone in the State of New York who has ever worked with her knows it is completely false,” he continued.

Tucker was joined by a group of leaders including: County Executive, Kathy Jimino; current Mayor of Troy, Harry Tutunjian; New York State Assemblyman Steve McLaughlin; and Mayor Bert Mahoney of Waterford. Also submitted were dozens upon dozens of other statements of support from community leaders across New York State in support of Mantello and her record of experience and accomplishment.

A visibly moved Mantello said she was humbled by the outpouring of support and thanked her many colleagues from over the years for rallying to her defense.

“I am humbled by all of the statements that I have received over the last week. I am proud of my record as Director of the New York State Canal Corporation and Executive Director of the Hudson River Valley Greenway. My opponent’s feeble attempt to defame my record will not stand with the people who I have worked with and the people of Troy certainly will not stand for it as well,” Mantello said.

Read more »

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Friday, October 14, 2011

Carmella Mantello's campaign commercial

Lou Rosamilia's campaign commercial

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Mantello: Expand city quality of life services

PRESS RELEASE:

TROY, NY – Carmella Mantello, candidate for Mayor, today unveiled her plan to expand the ‘Troy Action Line’ to increase accessibility for more residents.

“As Mayor I will improve communication with our residents through our plan to better address quality of life issues and increase the methods use to communicate,” Mantello said.

The plan is to build on the foundation of the ‘Troy Action Line’ created by Mayor Harry Tutunjian. The current Action Line is an online service request system that allows residents to submit requests for service. Requests can range from garbage and recycling collection, pothole reporting, snow removal, street and traffic light problems and codes complaints to name a few.

Mantello has proposed the following changes to the current system:

  • Creation of an Action Line Phone Number – this will allow residents the option of calling in requests for services. This will accommodate requests when online services are not available.
  • Creation of a Smartphone Application – this will allow residents the ability to submit requests directly from their smartphone while they may be away from their home and see something in the city that needs to be addresses.
  • Enhanced Promotion of the Troy Action Line – contact information for submitting request will be made more readily available to residents through promotional materials and a direct link on the city’s website.

Mantello also added that residents who submit any request will have a response within 24 hours.

Mantello also announced that she will institute an Emergency Alert System to better inform residents during emergencies and to inform residents of other non-emergency situations that may cause inconvenience or difficulty to residents.

Residents will have the ability to sign up to receive alerts via e-mail or text message. Alerts can range from public safety messages, traffic problems, construction or weather related events.

“While Director of the Canal Corporation, I worked with Emergency Management Coordinators to initiate an E-Alert System to inform people of situations occurring along the canal system,” Mantello said.

“As I continue to knock on doors and listen to the people, it is clear we need to find more ways to increase communication between our residents and the city. Our plan to enhance the Action Line and create and E-Alert System will improve the quality of life for the people of Troy,” she continued.

“This is one more example of how my real world experience will be put to work for the people of Troy,” Mantello concluded.

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Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Mantello wants the Yankees in Troy

Carmella Mantello, Republican candidate for mayor, today wrote to Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman to urge that he work to schedule games in 2012 at the Joseph L. Bruno Stadium for the AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees.

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre will play all 72 home games at alternate locations next year while its ballpark undergoes $40 million in upgrades. The majority of the games are to be played in other upstate New York minor league ballparks including Frontier Field in Rochester, Coca-Cola Field in Buffalo and Alliance Bank Stadium in Syracuse.

However, the team is also scheduled to play eight games in Allentown, Pennsylvania and four in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.

"The Yankees are New York’s premier sports franchise, and their top level minor league team should be playing in front of New York crowds," Mantello wrote to Mr. Cashman. "The Joe is a first-class stadium, and the people of the Capital Region are first class fans. This is an opportunity to bring the Yankees back to the region that Bernie, Andy, Jorge and Derek proudly once called home."

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Sunday, October 2, 2011

Mantello's record at the Canal Corporation deserves a closer look

PRESS RELEASE:

By Jack McCann, Chairman, City of Troy Democratic Committee

Since announcing her candidacy for Mayor of Troy earlier this year, Ms. Mantello has cited her tenure as head of the state's Canal Corporation as the experience that qualifies her to chart the course for our city's future. However, after researching the finances of the Canal Corporation, we found that many of the claims being made illustrate that after her appointment by Governor Pataki, Ms. Mantello's record is one of huge budget deficits and poor administrative oversight.

According to audits by the Office of the State Comptroller, the Canal Corporation under Ms. Mantello’s direction ran annual budget deficits of in the tens of millions of dollars. During her tenure, the Canal Corporation ran in the red in the hundreds of millions dollars. These deficits had to be made up by the taxpayer, and contributed to the need for successive toll hikes on New York's bridges and highways, including the Thruway regularly traveled by thousands of city residents.

The Comptroller attributed some of the deficits to continuous cost overruns on capital projects, noting that the Canal Corporation had a deficient project management system that lacked critical information necessary to protect taxpayers from cost overruns. One example of such a failed project was the attempt to privatize part of Syracuse's inner harbor area. After spending $15 million on the project the Canal Corporation under Ms. Mantello failed on three occasions to complete the project prompting Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner to ask that the City be allowed to take it over. In response Ms. Mantello said she was not opposed to Syracuse managing the project's completion explaining that "we are not economic development specialists". The City of Troy cannot run the risk of having its finances managed by a career politician with a record of large deficits and deficient management skills.

Ms. Mantello's real record is one of political appointments - she has never held anything but appointed positions since 1987, deficit spending and project mismanagement, and the only qualification we're aware of is her affiliation with the Republican Party, as she refuses to release her academic credentials.

Link to one of the audits:

http://www.osc.state.ny.us/reports/thruwayauthauditsumrecomactions01-25-08.pdf

Syracuse Post-Standard story:

http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2010/11/syracuse_mayor_stephanie_miner_11.html

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Saturday, October 1, 2011

Coalition of women join together to back Mantello

PRESS RELEASE:

TROY, NY – A coalition of women voters in the City of Troy have come together in support of Carmella Mantello for Mayor. The grassroots coalition consists of women from all walks of life, ethnicities, professions and political affiliations.

"Throughout her career Carmella Mantello has established a strong record of leadership and willingness to work with all interested parties to achieve success making her the clear choice for Mayor of the City of Troy. With her service on the Troy City Council, the Hudson River Valley Greenway, and the New York State Canal Corp she has proven herself and I am certain once elected she will do a great job on behalf of the residents of Troy," said Rensselaer County Executive Kathleen M. Jimino.

“As an independent voter, small business owner and women I am proud to support Carmella for Mayor. Troy needs the type of leadership that she has to continue to work to move Troy in the right direction,” said Patti Testo-O’Brien, Co-founder of Women for Carmella. “It’s also exciting to have the opportunity to elect the first women Mayor of Troy,” she continued.

“Since the beginning, our campaign has never been about republican or democrat, but about the people. Our message is resonating with all the people of Troy and much like my experience as Director of the Canal Corporation and the Hudson Valley River Greenway, I am building partnerships and working with people regardless of political party. I intend to do the same as Mayor,” Mantello said.

Anyone who wishes to join Women for Carmella can stop by the campaign headquarters located at 115 4th Street or call 238-3585.

Mantello, a lifelong resident of Troy, is former Director of the New York State Canal Corporation and Executive Director of the Hudson Valley River Greenway. She and her husband Paul Laviano are raising their two sons, Paul Jr. and James.

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