Spitzer Involved in Prostitution Ring

03/10/08
Last Update: 8:27 pm

NEW YORK (AP) - The New York Times is reporting that Gov. Eliot Spitzer has told senior advisers that he had been involved in a prostitution ring.

Spitzer is scheduled to make an announcement this afternoon. Spitzer officials wouldn’t immediately comment on the story.

The 48-year-old Spitzer is married and has three daughters. Details about the prostitution ring were not immediately clear.

But last week, federal prosecutors in Manhattan filed conspiracy charges against four people accusing them of running a prostitution ring that charged wealthy clients in Europe and the U.S. thousands of dollars for prostitutes.

The Web site of the Emperors Club VIP displays photographs of the prostitutes’ bodies, with their faces hidden, along with hourly rates depending on whether the prostitutes were rated with one diamond, the lowest ranking, or seven diamonds, the highest.

Prosecutors say the most highly ranked prostitutes cost…

BLOGGERS — a threat to national security? “Good. We should not fear our government, our government should fear us.” Heh. Indeed. Full story here.

James Joyner has some pungent thoughts.

Governor’s Vision For Upstate Will Benefit Elmira, Mayor Tonello Says

Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s plans to pump more than $1 billion into the Upstate economy, commit 200 state troopers to help local police fight crime, cut taxes, reduce state mandates for municipalities, and make New York a stronger draw for business and young people will benefit the City of Elmira in 2008 and beyond, Mayor John Tonello said today. “The governor’s vision is clear and his aim is true,” Tonello said. “He recognizes the problems upstate cities face, and his solutions provide relief and assistance where we need it most.” The mayor’s comments came after the governor delivered his State of the State address Wednesday afternoon in Albany. Click for the full release…

Clear vision? Aim is true? Sigh. Politicians sure do speak purty. How come there never is…

More than likely than not, included in tonight’s meeting on the Elmira City budget is the salary for new but yet to be announced City Attorney, John J.Ryan, Jr.

John J.Ryan, a good friend of City Manager John Burin, was Elmira’s City Attorney during at least some of the ill advised Iraci/Hughes era that landed Elmira in its current financial mess. Some of the legal problems Elmira is now paying for were John Ryan decisions on labor as well as costly handshake deals that were never put to paper.

Appointed to be City Attorney on Friday, January 4, former Elmira School District Attorney Ryan had just resigned without fanfare from his position with the school system on Wednesday, Jan 2 following a very stormy relationship which has created a number of problems for the local school district.

The school district is currently being sued over property that they just took title to…

Elmira man found with gun remains in jail

A judge said evidence Terrance Jackson, 19, had a dangerous, loaded handgun justifies keeping him in jail on $10,000 bail.

I am pretty sure that the police officers who arrested Mr. Jackson were also in possesion of ‘Dangerous, loaded Handguns’ also.  Why the double standard?

Magic-wand school of public finance

http://statepolitics.lohudblogs.com/2008/01/03/magic-wand-school-of-public-finance/

State Senate Republicans today wheeled out a plan that would seem to answer the prayers of property-tax payers around the state. They want to triple the property-tax rebates that were mailed to taxpayers this year, and over five years eliminate all school property taxes for homeowners.

What is the catch, you ask?

Well, there is a minor issue known as cost. The tab would be $11.6 billion after five years.

There’s no indication where the money would come to pay for any of it. A spokesman said it would come “out of the budget.’’ That would be $4 billion to be found somewhere next year, and then an additional $1.9 billion a year for four years after that.

The state is already facing a potential $4.3 billion deficit for the fiscal year that starts April 1.

Tobacco sales out at Wegmans

Wegmans has decided to stop selling tobacco products at all its grocery stores.

I’m of two minds on this, not being a smoker, I could not care less, but I dislike the PC view of the holier than though crowd.  Is Wegmans going to get rid of all the foods with High Fructose Corn Syrup and maybe the entire cereal and potato chip sections?  I think not.

Public asked for budget input

People in Elmira will have the chance next week to share their input on the city’s proposed 2008 budget.  Here is my input guys, open the budget to a random page, tear out the page, repeat 100 times (200 if you want to show you are serious).  Take the torn out pages, strike those items from the budget
, if any of the items run to multiple pages, please go back and tear out those remaining page.  Take the political heat necessary to excise those torn out pages from the budget, citizens then get to bask in the glow of not having a deficit, and their taxes going down by 50 to 75%.

Do you have a better idea?

School Budget

The Elmira School Board did not come up with an answer Wednesday night about whether there would be an increase in next year’s school budget.

These people are pro’s at this, they will be unsure up till the very last minute, then it will truly pain them, but for the good of the chillllldruuuunnnnn, they will unhappily recognize that a tax increase is necessary.  Sure, The holy family school system runs about $5,000 a kid, and the public school is running at about, what, $14,000 a kid, but I am sure the public school is doing oh so much more for the students than Holy Family.  Sigh.  And the really sad part is, people will fall for it.  And guess what, next year, when they do the exact same thing, people will fall for it again.

From WFSB.com (Connecticut)

Sandrama Lamy was charged with 4th degree sexual assault and breach of peace after sitting on Santa’s lap and groping him. The incident occurred at The Danbury Fair Mall. Ms Lamy was released and due back in Danbury court January 3rd.

All I have to say is what is wrong with people??