Ruda still shutting out villagers from easy access to live stream

[GroundControl]

When I watched the first "livestream" of a VOL board meeting I was prematurely happy it had finally got by the heavy resistance the Mayor has put up since her inauguration and had come into true existence.

My bad.

The Mayor once again pulled the wool over the villagers eyes with her typical progressive state of mind when she made sure the meetings could only be seen on the VOL's Facebook site. What?

Her disregard for the older village citizens is glaring. Is it a tough ask of you to mimic your neighboring municipalities and link the livestream to the VOL website automatically so all veiwer's with a computer or newer phone can access the meetings.

If the Mayor has other plan to actually install the REAL livestream and hasn't announced it yet, shame on her. With a website in place information like that should be updated daily. It's part of the job the Mayor owes the people.

I am interested in what your thoughts are on the present accessibility of livestream at the VOL board and other municipal boards meetings Lee.

[Lee Chowaniec]

When I watched the first "livestream" of a VOL board meeting I was prematurely happy it had finally got by the heavy resistance the Mayor has put up since her inauguration and had come into true existence.

My bad.

The Mayor once again pulled the wool over the villagers eyes with her typical progressive state of mind when she made sure the meetings could only be seen on the VOL's Facebook site. What?

Her disregard for the older village citizens is glaring. Is it a tough ask of you to mimic your neighboring municipalities and link the livestream to the VOL website automatically so all veiwer's with a computer or newer phone can access the meetings.

If the Mayor has other plan to actually install the REAL livestream and hasn't announced it yet, shame on her. With a website in place information like that should be updated daily. It's part of the job the Mayor owes the people.

I am interested in what your thoughts are on the present accessibility of livestream at the VOL board and other municipal boards meetings Lee.

Hey GC, my take:

I was pleased to hear that the Village livestreamed its Monday evenings Village Board meeting. Unfortunately, I received a call near 8 pm that the livestreaming was taking place. I went to the Village website and found no access to the meeting – no notice, no link, etc.

I later found out it was being livestreamed through the Village’s Facebook account. Recently getting a Facebook account for reading purpose only, I was able to access the repeat livestreamed video. Anyone not having a Facebook account Monday was denied access. That changed today as there is access to anyone on the Village’s website to view the video of Monday’s Village Board meeting. At least I hope so as it appears to piggyback off the Facebook link.

I would hope that this format would be changed to allow access to everyone to view real-time livestreaming on the Village’s website - for immediate public view and ability to archive the videos for public record and future re-review.

I would hope also that the Village follows the Town format and posts administrative and public communications adding to openness and transparency.

Overall, it was an excellent first livestreaming presentation. Kudos to the Village administration.

[mark blazejewski]

With a website in place information like that should be updated daily. It's part of the job the Mayor owes the people.

A website updated daily?

GC, I would settle for one updated yearly.

As of Monday night, Covid protocols were still prominently displayed. What's that all about?

Village Board

Board Meetings

As of February 14, Village Board meetings are being held in person at the Municipal Building in the second floor Council Chambers. Please click the ‘Meetings Info.’ button for more information.

Masks are optional and we will not be requiring vaccine cards for entry. However, we ask if you are sick and/or are experiencing symptoms to please stay home as a courtesy to others in the community.

Board Meetings are scheduled every 2nd and 4th Monday at 7:00PM. Meetings are located in the Court room at the Municipal Building.

Anyone wishing to address the Board during the meeting should fill out the Meeting RSVP form on this page.

Reference: https://lancastervillageny.gov/village-board-2/

[GroundControl]

Ruda/Sweeney Rule number ONE. KEEP EM IN THE DARK AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE

[mark blazejewski]

Ruda/Sweeney Rule number ONE. KEEP EM IN THE DARK AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE

I understand that one of that Ruda/Sweeney ticket actually reacted and seemingly responded to, some commenters on a social media site yesterday.

In some ways, it was a truly informative experience for the readers and the commentators, and perhaps for the "ticket" member.

A very slight victory for transparency, perhaps under growing pressures?

[GroundControl]

Mark, since I have been paying attention lately and have done quite a bit of deep diving into the VOL politicians and their familiar circle of friends and family and local business owners and I have had my eyes opened up. With not too much trouble records can be found on various subjects pertaining to what I refer to the shady land dealings of the now cemented pact between Mayor Ruda and Tom Sweeney that are incomplete or missing crucial information. A request for public information has been stifled move than once by this duo.

Mr. Allien is one of the longest tenured individual involved in the Shady Deal CDC and should by law have the most complete and informative records available for public viewing, yet it's just the opposite. To Mayor Ruda and Tom Sweeney's liking, Mr. Allien covered their tracks by failing to record State required information on the sale and handling of the property he handed over to his buddy Mr. Sweeney. Where's the VOL board oversight? LOOKING THE OTHER WAY. Who on this VOL board is not under Sweeney's thumb?

[mark blazejewski]

Where's the VOL board oversight? LOOKING THE OTHER WAY. Who on this VOL board is not under Sweeney's thumb?

A recently departed trustee had such idealistic enthusiasm for truth and transparency, that he felt compelled to leave.

In its departure, that trustee shined a very bright light on the questionable ethical direction that the VOL Board was/is pursuing.

Now, with the existing intense public interest in that subject, and if a bit more journalistic curiosity is devoted to it, there is no doubt in my mind that the trustee's words will be equated with a soothsayer's foresight and a statesman's sage wisdom.

I am convinced that the trustee's decision will eventually be regarded as the greatest service that a devoted public servant could render to its constituents.

[gorja]

Off topic here- for the life of me, I can't locate the March 4, 2024 town board meeting livestream on youtube.
Would anyone be able to provide a link?

[mark blazejewski]

Off topic here- for the life of me, I can't locate the March 4, 2024 town board meeting livestream on youtube.
Would anyone be able to provide a link?

Gorja, this is what you may be looking for:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OknbA8q6W0&t=11s

This is a Town Board session, mislabeled as a LIDA session. If you check, it is dated February 13, 2024, and is wedged between a March 6 Planning Board meeting and a February 21 Planning Board meeting, so logic tells me that it is the March 4 session that you are in search of.

It looks as if it is wrongly labeled and incorrectly dated.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OknbA8q6W0&t=11s

[gorja]

Gorja, this is what you may be looking for:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OknbA8q6W0&t=11s

This is a Town Board session, mislabeled as a LIDA session. If you check, it is dated February 13, 2024, and is wedged between a March 6 Planning Board meeting and a February 21 Planning Board meeting, so logic tells me that it is the March 4 session that you are in search of.

It looks as if it is wrongly labeled and incorrectly dated.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OknbA8q6W0&t=11s

Great. Thank you. Then, I guess my mind and eyes aren't quite as bad as I thought.

[GroundControl]

On another off the subject queries,

Is there any news about what next weeks VOL election rematch might bring? Each side has been very low key. I wonder if either candidate is betting on the same turn out? I wonder if Mr. Lista's friends and family voters will stay home or be of an impact and decide to block vote? 248-248 with 32 floating votes? The last election's tie would have so improbable of an outcome on just a general basis but with a write in of 32 who can vote again if they choose in this coming Tuesday's election it make it one very intriguing elections to say the least. If I were either candidate now I would be worried of where those 32 Lista might decide to cast their vote. I wonder if any effort to reach out by either side is happening.

[mark blazejewski]

*If I were either candidate now I would be worried of where those 32 Lista might decide to cast their vote. I wonder if any effort to reach out by either side is happening.

Well GC, I am an unconnected VOL resident in search of change, so I am voting for Schroeder. I am sure that candidate has its own style, and will try to reach out in both overt and covert ways.


Unasked, if I were running, the first thing I would do is make sure my previous voter base was still intact, and then make every effort to expand it.


The second thing, I would then undertake a more high profile campaign and truly push the program I believe in.


Thirdly, I might be inclined to search Lista's Facebook page for those commenters who hit likes on his postings, or otherwise convey encouraging words. I would then target those commenters for a personal contact and speak directly to them; the personal touch always helps.

In the VOL there seems to be an awful lot of political intrigue and possible change in the air with different coalitions quickly being thrown together to help decide the outcome of the special election which was against all odds ended in a TIE! The new election is looming.

I am sure there are also ways to focus on what might be termed "voting blocks."

The one thing I would not do, is to further pursue the implausible possibility that the late special election was somehow brilliantly manipulated, and done so in such a way as to specifically affect a tie election. That theory necessarily would attend a belief that some invisible cabal, somehow, in someway, created a coalition, and then, controlled the votes of both the coalition and its opposition, and did so in such a way as to affect that precise "tie" outcome. "Alex Jones on Line Two."

Such reasoning would be that of an arrogant candidate, who ponders and pursues an unreasonable conspiracy theory, to the exclusion of a constructive, sincere self-appraisal of its own shortcomings.

With all of that said, I suggest that if the conspiracy theory described above is even partially true, Lancaster has an honest to goodness Machiavellian genius within its ranks. Doubtful, highly doubtful-maybe.

Just my two cents.

[mark blazejewski]

I wonder if either candidate is betting on the same turn out?...

write in of 32 who can vote again... it make it one very intriguing elections to say the least...

If I were either candidate now I would be worried of where those 32 Lista might decide to cast their vote.

If the exact same turnout number includes all of the March 18 participants, what if the 32 Lista voters are evenly split?

Indeed, if that is the case, such an election, sans Lista, would truly make for a "very intriguing election."

Yikes, the prospect of a 264-264 tie, just may give some legitimacy to the unlikely idea that Lancaster truly has a Machiavellian genius in its ranks.

If that unlikely possibility is accepted as "a given", and that genius is of the "a pox on both your houses" mind frame, the genius just may prove to be some sort of balance of power. That end product would beg the question, who will the be seated, Schroeder or Santoro?

Perhaps Schroeder and Santoro will sit alternate meetings, eh?

More intriguing, what does such a manipulative genius portend for the 2025 Mayoral race?

VOL voters, perhaps it is time to really fasten your seatbelts?

[GroundControl]

I don't give any credence to the Houdini like trick that would have had to happen to produce the highly unlikely tie in the VOL election last time. Of course I guess anything is possible.

With that said, I have really no way to know for sure.

When I last posted I said all was pretty quiet in the VOL concerning the up and coming re-election and the candidates and their supporters. Well, hold the phone now! Two people have told me a completely new group of those interested in seeing change in the VOL are talking about a run at overturning the entire VOL board at the next VOL election!

Now, because I know some VOL DPW are interested in this Tuesday's election and have been contacted by both candidates, I also know that both sides are worried and don't really have enough of a voter base to win a real mandate from the villagers.

If I can see that from a far removed point of view then I am more than likely to believe this newly forming opposition group may have a real chance to take the VOL board majority and represent all of the villagers, not just the special interests that now commit the board to vote the way of their choosing.

All those involved in this election really have no opposition to where this board is headed or how they are leading. It makes sense for a group to challenge for a complete change with a new option for spending the residents tax dollars.

I guess my point is, THIS ELECTION DOESN'T REALLY MEAN ANYTHING. The next one will really determine if all the voters agree on the present direct of the Ruda administration. They apparently will be given a choice between two very different approaches to the way the government of their own village hears their voice.

[mark blazejewski]

I don't give any credence to the Houdini like trick that would have had to happen to produce the highly unlikely tie in the VOL election last time. Of course I guess anything is possible.

Neither do I, but what do I know?

Now, because I know some VOL DPW are interested in this Tuesday's election and have been contacted by both candidates, I also know that both sides are worried and don't really have enough of a voter base to win a real mandate from the villagers.

MY OPINION:

Perhaps therein may lay the voter base problem(s) with both sides: An indifference to the rank and file VOL voter.

Without intending any criticism whatsoever of the DPW, the current VOL political leadership tends to view the village electorate through the narrow prism of special interest voting blocks. Here in the village, those voting blocks perhaps include the "West Main" voters, the Central Avenue business voters, the DPW membership, and perhaps the appointed employees; the grassroots residents who pay the taxes, support the businesses, and otherwise lift the community, be damned!

Perhaps their narrow focus on certain blocks as opposed to a sincere search for the opinions and input of the entire population, is why things such as the roundabouts, the cannabis opt-in, and the open container law were coldly, if not boldly, imposed upon the residents?

Indeed, were those roundabouts and VOL policies the result of a debt(s) repayment to certain special interests?

In that connection, the current brand of politicos, IMHO, are now perhaps forced to schmooze, aka make deals, with those limited actors in order to ensure a satisfactory election result; another misplaced commitment to the difference of the VOL's parts, rather than a constructive allegiance to the sum of its whole?

Two people have told me a completely new group of those interested in seeing change in the VOL are talking about a run at overturning the entire VOL board at the next VOL election!...

I am more than likely to believe this newly forming opposition group may have a real chance to take the VOL board majority and represent all of the villagers, not just the special interests that now commit the board to vote the way of their choosing.

Yup, and such a movement/group would have a great deal of appeal to this member of the VOL's unwashed masses.