Democratic Chair Schmoozes Developers

It's been a number of years since we have witnessed a party chairman schmoozing openly with developers at a Planning Board meeting. None the less, Jeff Spain the Chairman of the so called "reformed democrats" who narrowly gained control of the town Democratic Commitee, was present at Monday night's Planning Board meeting as the son of former party boss James Germano took a seat on that board and as its Chairman.

Why would Spain be sucking up to developers? Perhaps to garner contributions which he fails to report by State Election Law and perhaps for contributions of another sort. One thing is certain, his presence creates the appearance that he has influence over the outcome of proposals before this town body and that is the wrong message to send.

A new proposal by the owners of the controversial Van Rensselaer Square Mall at the intersection of RTS 4 & 43 was presented Monday night. They purchased the property opposite the mall currently under construction. The site plan was presented to the new Planning Board Monday evening and calls for another big box type store such as Lowes. Granted, the Comprehensive Plan Committee approved of land use on that corner that would permit so called general commercial development such as that presented to the Planning Board. But until the town sees the impact on traffic that the current mall will create, it should move slowly before approving another large project of this nature.

The project already approved was controversial to say the least. Last minute appointments to the Planning Board including the former town attorney who was driven by development, was appointed to that board with the town board vote of one of her husband's employees, Robert Ashe. This fueled community anger and distrust. The approval of the site plan remains a subject of concern since the site was approved with only one exit/entrance in and out of the mall and right where numerous serious traffic accidents and fatalities have occurred. Clearly the jury is still out on the wisdom of this approval even though a verdict in public opinion has clearly been reached on the distasteful political flavor of the approval itself.

With the presence of a town party chairman at Monday's meeting of the Planning Board who is so closely tied to the politics of the past in James Germano, one has to wonder what is really going on behind the scenes.

A hint may come from the indictment of James Germano as to the model of politics he is alleged to have used. He was indicted for what amounted to an accusation he made a deal with the then county executive to give him Conservative Party political support in exchange for Zwack providing a favor in the form of a retest on a failed physical exam for German's grandson.

The quid pro quo would have Germano send his numerous political allies who were registered in the Conservative Party and eligible to vote in a primary for county executive, to the polls to vote for Zwack rather than his Democratic opponent. In exchange, Zwack attempted to influence civil service personnel to authorize a retest on that police exam for Germano's grandson. When Zwack tried to pressure civil service for Germano, he ran into a buzz saw in the county Personnel Director, Christina Mahoney, who refused the request. The pressure continued to the point where employees began secretly taping their conversations with Zwack. Those tapes were later turned over to a Special Agent in the Albany FBI Office.

At the time, the local District Attorney was Ken Bruno who was Zwack's running mate in the election that year. After refusing to recuse himself for another Zwack Scandal involving a no show job in Zwack's office, Bruno managed to indite two scape goats who were bankrupted by the costly prosecution. It was after that trial that the pressure mounted on Bruno who finally did what he should have done in the first place and recuse himself in favor of a special prosecutor. Once appointed to investigate the no show employee, the infamous tapes were provided to the Special Prosceutor after the U.S. Attorney, also under Republican control, refused to act. Those tapes outline the political deal between Zwack and Germano.

So while a jury found the entire crew not guilty, the tapes tell a story of distasteful political wheeling and dealing which cast a pall over Germano and Zwack to this day. So we can only wonder whether the political model used by Germano as documented in the tapes to obtain a political favor from Zwack is also used in other areas of politics? Concern, the Planning Board.

Bottom line for developers is that if anyone in political power from any party suggests that they can deliver a vote on the Planning Board and one feels obligated to provide a contribution reported or otherwise, call the local FBI office in Albany. Of course one of the problems with Jeff Spain, Mark Evers and their allies is that they simply ignores State Laws requiring the reporting of political contributions. Rumor has it that a lawsuit is forthcoming to compel those disclosures which will finally expose the sources of the current funding of the town Democratic Committee and the other committee, Bringing North Greenbush Together, which was created by Evers Desso and Al Spain to input money for their drive for power.