Who's watching you?

One of the more bizarre moments from last week’s town board meeting came when former GOP councilman Joe Styzcnski demanded Jim Mihalko’s resignation after accusing him of moving out of town. Talk about cheap shots and this one is a beauty!

For the record, Mr. Mihalko has not moved out of town or changed his legal residence. He is registered to vote here and lists North Greenbush as his address on all legal documents, including DMV. What really disturbed people with a sense of social conscience was that Joe managed to claim the exact address in Saratoga County where Mr. Mihalko was allegedly living. This of course created images of dirty tricks and invasion of privacy as someone had to be following Mihalko around to have obtained the address of his fiancee.

Members of the audience were none too pleased with the low ball tactics, but some of these folks have never demonstrated an understanding or respect for ethics or privacy when it comes to getting folks they don’t concur with. (We’re being kind.) The question is whether there are people in North Greenbush who would stoop so low as to follow and stalk someone in order to attempt to embarrass them?

The answer appears to have been provided thanks to the former GOP councilman who may now gain the reputation of “political stalker” in addition to the other labels earned before being sent packing by voters in 2005.

The professional rumor mill which operates out of town hall is already buzzing that a lawsuit will be filed to attempt to remove Mihalko from the Board on these specious grounds of residency. Just another in a series of tactics that keep the pot stirring with about as much substance as clam broth.

Nonetheless, it clearly says a lot about the character of people who are trying to take charge of town government. There are as there were in their 2005 campaign, no rules, no boundaries of decency. When it came to winning, this crew broke every acceptable standard. Just recall their absentee ballot caper when more people apparently voted absentee because they were supposed to be, but really weren’t, out of town, than those who actually showed up at the polls.

Lou Desso, Bob Ashe, Leon Fiacco and their Victory Lane sponsors hand carried at least 120 absentee ballots into the Board of Elections covering the minor party primaries. They told many of the voters it was all right to engage in the illegal practice. After being impounded in a lawsuit, the ballots were opened and to the surprise of no one who knows what they were up to, 100% were for their slate of candidates. Not one deviation and a complete contradiction of the machine counts where voters did not have a candidate intimidating them or standing with them as they cast a vote. On the machines, their opponents won hands down.

And let's not forget the arson at Dan Ashley's business in Troy. No one was ever arrested for the attempt to burn down his place of business using an accelerant on the side of the building. It was a not so subtle message from someone who would stop at nothing to get what he wants. Know anyone with a criminal back ground who might engage in such horrific stuff? Troy PD would like to hear from you, especially if you're running for elected office.

So start looking over your shoulders if you oppose the corrupt forces who purge those they fear and see North Greenbush as a huge financial windfall if you control town government, its town board, planning board, assessor’s office and building department. The guy in the car with the zoom lenses and dark glasses is just trying to make a living.