Tutunjian to sell "Kennedy Park"

It is inconceivable to me that the City of Troy could possibly interpret that the 2+ acre property at the corner of Federal Street and Sixth Avenue is not designated a city park. The attached City of Troy tax map clearly identifies the parcel as "Kennedy Park".

This parcel was constructed by the Troy Urban Renewal Agency back in the early 1960's. The development of Kennedy Towers by the Troy Housing Authority required a three part agreement among the THA, the City of Troy and the NYS Division of Housing and Community Renewal that specified that the corner property was to be park area associated with the construction of the Kennedy Towers.

These facts were identified during the title search associated with the renovation of Kennedy Towers by Omni Development. The fact that the property is designated as a park is commonly known by the Troy Housing Authority.

How then can the City of Troy declare that they can sell this property to anyone without first getting authorization to do so from the New York State Legislature???? (Selling any park land requires State Legislature approval and designation of a separate property of equal size for park purposes.)

I was told that this evidence was presented to the administration. The administration however, decided to ignore the truth and proceed with the plan to sell the property regardless of the legalities. As a result, the City is ignoring the law and will risk the embarrassment of having a major development in the City of Troy fall flat on its face because of it's unwillingness to follow the proper procedure.

It is not my intention to throw cold water on a good development program for the City of Troy. SEFCU's plans to locate in Troy and build a new headquarters in Troy is good news. Such projects should be helped by the administration. But you can't ignore the process. The ends do not justify the means.

I also want to ask - Where is the press? How can they simply accept news releases without curiosity or editorial investigation. Do they believe everything they are told by this administration? It didn't take me ten minutes to check the tax map. Did anyone else - especially the press - even try?

Just like the sale of City Hall, this administration can not sell public assets in a private manner - EVEN IF IT IS A GREAT PROJECT.

My advice is to start again and do it correctly! Get authorization to sell the site from the State, establish the appraised value of the property, conduct a public solicitation of proposals according to the City's existing process and ask the City Council to select the best offer. That's the way it works. Just like the sale of City Hall, they can't cut corners.

Homeless In Troy

Congratulations to Chet Hardin of Metroland for writing a thought provoking in depth article on the conflict which exists between some interests and the many homeless people of downtown Troy. "You Can't Come Here Any More" in the November 29^th edition is a must read. As a Times Union and Troy Record subscriber, I would encourage these papers to take a hard look at their reporting compared to the content within this free publication, most of which I consider superior.

The current administration has conducted a systematic assault on many of the agencies and programs which deal with homelessness in Troy. In fact, the Mayor had to be forced by the threat of loosing federal money before he would agree to sign a required housing assistance plan which included funds for homeless programs. He and his administration have opposed new home projects by Habitat for Humanity and Joseph's House and he has refused to fund the grant writing efforts of the Homeless Collaborative which was successful in raising millions of dollars in homeless program funds. Only during re-election time did the Mayor embrace Habitat for Humanity, for a photo op.

This is illustrative of the "head in the sand" approach of this administration to the complex issue of homelessness in this community. You will not reduce homelessness by ignoring it or by reducing the programs which meet their special and complex circumstances. Some of these circumstances are:

A recent report identified that many veterans are, or will become, homeless.
Most homeless people are women and children.
Many homeless require medical and/or mental health treatment as well as housing.
Many homeless have jobs.

I believe the city administration should rethink its opposition to the Joseph's House proposal for permanent housing on Fourth Street and it should agree to fund the Homeless Collaborative's efforts to find more money for homeless programs and services. People of Troy, even those homeless among us, deserve better.

Where is Troy's Money??

Published reports today showed awards of millions of dollars in environmental grants to Capital District communities for everything from fixing the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception to installing park equipment. Where was the City of Troy? If we didn't submit applications; why not? If we did, what were the projects and how could we not receive an award with all the muscle available to this administration from the State Senate?

I could think of a number of worthy projects - Ingalls Ave. park at the former Jack's Junkyard, the Troy Biketrail, New boat launch and park at 111^th Street or improvements to the Troy Marina just to name a few.

The City Council should insist that the administration provide answers on why Troy was excluded from this funding opportunity. We deserve better.

At the risk of sounding like an "I told you so"

I find reports of several actions recently proposed by the Tutunjian Administration to be the height of arrogance.

First - the raising of the Mayor's salary and the salaries of his staff two weeks after the election.

These raises if planned for next year should have been included in the Mayor's proposed budget. The City Charter requires that raises be included in the budget. I didn't see them there did anyone else? The Mayor is required to swear by oath that the budget he prepared and submitted to the City Council is complete and accurate.

Section C-70 D (15). Budgetary procedure requires the Mayor to submit the following:
A certification, under oath, by the Mayor and the Budget Director that, to the best of their knowledge and belief, the budget recommendation reflects all known or anticipated expenditures and accurately reflects all known or anticipated revenues, and is in balance between total expenditure and total revenues.

It seems as though it was his intention all along to tie his salary to the raises awarded to the Civil Service Employee Union in order to set up a 3.5% annual pay raise for himself and his lieutenants. As a result, the Mayor will be making over $97,000 by the time his lame duck term is over.

Tutunjian was often quoted during the election as saying the race was one of "trust". However, with some races not even finalized yet, this trusted elected official has decided to take the same path as the Republican County Legislature did when they voted themselves an 11th hour raise a couple of years ago.

Not only that, he proposes the absurd requirement that future City Councils need a unanimous vote to change any of these raises. This requirement violates the operation procedures of the City Council, the City Charter and state law and Robert’s Rules of Order. Where is the "open" and "trustworthy" administration this candidate campaigned on!

Second – Didn't the Mayor learn anything from the proposed sale of City Hall?

The proposed sale of two acres of parkland at Kennedy Towers and the proposed sale of the Uncle Sam Parking garage require the same public process required for the sale of City Hall.

The sale of the Kennedy Towers site will require approval by the state legislature and require the City to replace the loss of 2 acres of parkland somewhere else. In addition, the Mayor must go through the same open solicitation for bids for each of these public facilities. Short cutting the process is not an option, even if the proposed projects are good ones - and I believe each could be good.

Both projects also require a competent appraisal of the value of each property in order to evaluate the sales price for each. These steps do not have to be onerous and may not impact the final outcome of the projects but they must be followed. To do less is to violate the Charter and the "trust" of the people.

Thank You!

I just want to extend a personal thanks to each and every voter who chose to vote for me in the recent election for Mayor.

I also want to express my deepest thanks to the many people who gave of their time, energy and money to help me wage an aggressive campaign against a well know, well financed incumbent.

Believe me I would have preferred to win; but, I am very gratified by the fact that our efforts helped support a strong win for the Democratic City Council candidates. For that we can all be proud and thankful.

Please join me in wishing the successful candidates - all of them - congratulations. I hope they will work together to move the City of Troy forward. "We can do better" if we work together.

Best regards,

Jim Conroy

Conroy for Troy - Times Union Endorsement

".... If Troy wants to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past, it will demand a mayor who will be up front with them on every issue. We think James Conroy is that man."

THE ISSUE: Troy voters face a choice between past and future.

THE STAKES: New leadership will help continue recent successes.

read the entire endorsement

Metroland Endorses Jim Conroy Nov 1, 2007

"..we think the former Deputy Mayor Jim Conroy has the will and determination to set some of those issues right." Metroland article November 1, 2007

Jim Conroy for Mayor takes to the airwaves!

If it wasn't for Jim Conroy..

So what do you think about the election for Troy Mayor?

People before politics!

Don't sell the city (Hall) short!

• Harry Tutunjian's short-sighted election year plan is illegal, unfeasible and costly
  
• Even if it made financial sense for Troy, it can't legally be done
  
• Our politicians have to be held to a higher standard. Selling our City Hall can't be done without public meetings and open bidding
  
• There was no appraisal to set the price of City Hall before the deal was made
  
• City Hall is parkland and municipal waterfront property, which will require State Legislative approval to sell
  
• Harry Tutunjian wanted to approve the deal at their October 4, 2007 meeting
  
• This is the Fourth plan to move City Hall
  
• Harry Tutunjian rejected a plan to replace the City Hall roof in 2003 - his neglect has caused the problems in City Hall
  

Troy deserves better

Tutunjian's Plan
Troy Taxpayers will:

• turn over City Hall for $1 per year
• spend $500,000 on someone else’s building
  
• pay rent of $16,000/mo. Or $192,000/yr, to 5 years ($960,000)
  
• pay to demolish City Hall through a grant ($1.2 million)
  
• set the value of City Hall based upon the price paid for the Verizon Building
  
• get their rent back if the deal goes through (could be 5 yrs.)
  
• give up waterfront property for an older building with less parking
  

The proposed project does not have a feasibility study, design, construction documents, cost benefit analysis or permanent financing.

Jim Conroy's Plan

• Jim Conroy will fix City Hall; replace the roof, stabilize the building and make it energy efficient
  
• Jim Conroy will conduct public meetings to discuss the long-term viability of the current City Hall and evaluate options as to its continued use or possible sale
  
• Jim Conroy will follow the law in every respect when it comes to bidding, he won't short cut the process to get a political headline
  

Other articles about sale of City Hall or TU Editorial

Conroy calls for more debates

Last night's debate coverage can be seen at:

Capital News 9

WTEN

"After last night's debate, we know why Harry has rejected repeated requests to defend his administration's record in front of his own constituents through a debate. He has nothing to say.

When asked by a voter what the most important issue facing Troy is, Harry responded with a 90 second explanation that violent crime in Troy isn't really that bad. As proof, he offered that a lot of people have police officer's cell phone numbers. Meanwhile, over three years (a rather long snapshot in time), violent crime in Troy is up 25% and down throughout the state and in the rest of the Capital Region.

When asked about providing assistance for the less fortunate in our City, Harry offered that he wants to move more people out of public housing into other communities and then they can get jobs cleaning hotel bathrooms in the proposed hotel on Hoosick Street or waiting tables at a downtown Troy restaurant.

I guess we'll never understand Harry's answers because he refuses to meet in front of his own constituents again.

There are three weeks until the election. I propose that we meet once a week in a different part of the City so that the voters can really understand the difference between the current administration and my vision for a Troy that is united for growth and prosperity.

I'm sure that my opponent won't join me in the opportunity to speak directly to his own constituents so I will continue my campaign’s efforts to meet directly with my neighbors and discuss the real problems facing Troy and how we can overcome them."

Troy Mayoral Candidates to debate

Conroy: "Harry Tutunjian Must be Getting Nervous That the People of Troy Are Seeing Through His Arrogance"


(TROY, N.Y.) After more than two months and scores of spurned requests, Harry Tutunjian has finally agreed to debate the issues facing the City of Troy in a public forum.

The debate, sponsored by the League of Women Voters, will be held on October 16th at 7:00 pm at the Commission of Economic Opportunity, 2331 Fifth Avenue in Troy.

"Harry Tutunjian has dodged repeated requests to debate the issues facing Troy. Deadlines have come and gone and opportunities have been missed," said Jim Conroy, candidate for Troy Mayor. "He obviously wanted to avoid a forum where he has to answer tough questions about his administration. It's another example of poor leadership. Troy deserves better."

The October 16 debate is still the only debate that Tutunjian has agreed to despite repeated attempts by several organizations to sponsor more conversations with the Troy mayoral candidates. It also comes more than two months since Conroy first requested a debate on August 15.

"I always welcome the opportunity to talk about the future of the City of Troy with Harry Tutunjian. Anywhere. Anytime. I think our neighbors deserve it" said Conroy.

For more information about Conroy and his vision for Troy, visit www.jimconroyformayor.com.

Conroy Demands that Tutunjian Retract Statements

"It's time that someone starts holding Harry Tutunjian accountable for not telling the truth to the people of Troy."

(TROY, N.Y.) Troy Mayoral candidate Jim Conroy today demanded that Harry Tutunjian issue a retraction of his recently released blatant lies.

"Harry Tutunjian knows quite well that I had nothing to do with the treasurer stealing funds while I was helping to lead the City. In fact, I knew nothing about the situation until it was announced; nor should I have, because the treasurer was an employee of the City Comptroller's office, not my office" said Conroy.

Tutunjian also brought up a ten-year-old issue regarding a HUD loan in response to the fact that New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli has endorsed Conroy's campaign.

"First of all, for Harry Tutunjian to bring up this old, irrelevant and untrue allegation proves his desperation and concern about this election," said Conroy. "Secondly, for anyone in the current administration to question anyone's ethics is incredible given this administration's reputation for back room deals, no bid contracts handed out to friends, allegations of employee intimidation, political dirty tricks and ongoing special investigations."

"It's time that someone starts holding Harry Tutunjian accountable for not telling the truth to the people of Troy," said Conroy.

"The situation from ten years ago has been reviewed from every conceivable angle by every conceivable party and in every case I was cleared of any wrongdoing. With that said, though, I regret that I put myself in a situation that caused the people of Troy to doubt my integrity," said Conroy.

"Unlike my opponent I will admit that I can do better. And, also unlike my opponent, I will always tell the truth to the people of Troy."

For more information about Conroy and his vision for Troy, visit http://www.jimconroyformayor.com/.

NYS Comptroller Tom DiNapoli endorses Conroy for Troy Mayor

(TROY, N.Y.) New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli today announced his endorsement of Jim Conroy, candidate for Troy Mayor.


"Troy needs Jim Conroy for Mayor," DiNapoli said. "He has the vision to help grow the Troy economy, and that growth will provide opportunities for lower taxes and more fiscally responsible government. Jim Conroy will build a government that is more transparent, more open and more responsive to the needs of all of Troy's citizens. I can't wait to work with Jim Conroy to build a better Troy."

"Tom DiNapoli and I are going to fight to fix the things that have gone wrong in Troy over the last four years. We're going to bring government back to the people ...all of the people, not just a few cronies. We're going to bring back professionalism and, most importantly, we're going to put our plans into action, not just the newspapers."

For more information about Conroy and his vision for Troy, visit http://www.jimconroyformayor.com/
Times union coverage
.... the truth about Proctors being considered as City Hall - note assessed value of City Hall!

Jim Conroy's comments at the press event.

Conroy questions progress on City Hall Deal

Promised Release of Appraisal Yet To Happen;
Promised Public Meetings Yet To Be Scheduled;
Promised Legal Rulings Yet To Be Seen.

Conroy: "It looks to me like the people of Troy have at least slowed down Halliburton on the Hudson."

(TROY, N.Y.) Tonight's Troy City Council meeting was originally scheduled to be the final vote on Harry Tutunjian's City Hall deal. Instead, there has been no further discussion of the deal since Mayoral candidate Jim Conroy and Troy Democrats threatened to sue over the legality of the sale.

Several issues were raised by Conroy when Tutunjian first announced the deal:

Is the sale even legal under the City Charter?
Tutunjian promised residents at the September 19 public meeting that the proposed swap was legal and that he could provide case law to prove so. He has yet to publicly disclose his legal grounds. Conroy asked that the deal be looked at by the New York State Comptroller and Attorney General for its legality. Has this request been made?

Shouldn't the City obtain independent appraisals of the property to determine if it is getting a good deal?
Fifteen days ago, Tutunjian promised to release the results of the appraisal that the City had done of the property "tomorrow". To date, no appraisal data has been publicly released.

If legal, shouldn't the deal have been put out to public bid, not concocted behind closed doors in the Mayor's office?
At the September 19 meeting, Tutunjian conceded that the deal could be sent to a public bid but, he chose to do it privately, to date, nothing has been heard of soliciting other proposals. Shouldn't there be more than one public meeting?

Tutunjian promised that the September 19 meeting "was just the beginning of the process" and that there would be more meetings. To date, no further meetings have been scheduled.

"It looks to me like the people of Troy have - at least - delayed Halliburton on the Hudson. Maybe now, Harry Tutunjian will try to listen to the people of Troy before he starts selling our property," said Conroy.

For more information about Conroy's concerns and his vision for Troy, visit http://www.jimconroyformayor.com.

Too Good To Be True?

Critics blast the current proposal to sell Troy City Hall as a back-room deal to boost election-year hype .

..There is a habit of making these announcements, Conroy said. We've had everything from a maritime museum on the river, to selling water to adjacent communities, three different proposals to relocate city hall -one to Proctor's, one to sell it to a hotel, and one to sell it for an office building. It is just another headline with no progress whatsoever.

read more of the Metroland article about City Hall Deal

Conroy Criticizes Crime Increase

Violent Crime In City Has Risen 6% In Last Year

Conroy: "The Real Crime is That City Hall is Ignoring the Problem"



(TROY, N.Y.) Violent crime in Troy has risen 5.9% in the last year according to statistics recently released by the New York State Department of Criminal Justice. Statewide, violent crime figures have dropped 6% and the violent crime in many cities of the state has gone down. During the Tutunjian administration, from 2004 until 2006, violent crime in Troy has risen 25%.

"Our neighbors are afraid of what's happening on the streets and in their schools and Harry Tutunjian has stood idly by, hoping that his ignorance of the problem will make it go away," said Jim Conroy, candidate for Troy Mayor. "Issuing press releases won't solve the problem. Troy needs a plan and to rebuild relationships with our neighborhoods and the police department. Why won't Harry Tutunjian fight crime?"

Conroy recently issued a ten point plan to improving public safety in the Collar City. Included in the plan were fully staffing the police department, encouraging more foot patrols in neighborhoods and developing a forum between residents, the Police Department and the schools to attach crime problems head on.

"Crime is on the minds of all of our residents. The real crime is that City Hall is ignoring the problem."

For more information about Conroy’s public safety plan, see 10 Point Safe Streets Plan in Troy - July 19, 2007...

Statement From Jim Conroy - Candidate for Troy Mayor

CONROY ADMITS DESPERATION.... FOR CHANGE

"Every time that Harry Tutunjian is confronted with facts that prove the unprofessionalism and ineffectiveness of his administration, he responds by calling me desperate.

When confronted with the amateurish manner in which he has put together the City Hall deal, he called me desperate.

When asked when he will agree to debate me and discuss the issues, he calls me desperate.

When a news reporter posed questions about allegations that members of his administration intimidated people and forced them to run on minor party lines to dilute my support, he didn't answer the accusations, he called me desperate.

When asked about other ongoing investigations into his administration, he calls me desperate.

For once, Mr. Tutunjian is right. I am desperate.

I'm desperate for the Mayor of our City to discuss the issues that are important to our residents, such as crime and taxes. I'm desperate for Mr. Tutunjian to debate me on those issues in front of our residents.

I'm desperate to see the City of Troy move forward with real progress, not just repeated promises. I’m desperate to have a Mayor that cares more about putting these plans into motion, than he does putting them into newspapers.

Yes, I'm desperate for better government and more effective leadership. I think a growing number of Troy residents are just as desperate."

Fighting City Hall

First published: Times Union - Friday, September 21, 2007

On the surface, the building swap involving Troy City Hall seems like a good deal. The city would move its offices from the riverfront to the former Verizon building at 1776 Sixth Ave., near the county offices. The developer who owns 1776 Sixth Ave. would in turn purchase City Hall, which is in dire need of repair, demolish it and build a mixed-use project in its place. The price would be a wash. The city would have the option to buy the Verizon building for $2.25 million, and the developer would have an option to buy City Hall for the same amount.
So why are some members of the City Council, and more than a few Troy residents, wary? Because they have long memories. They have been through this before, only to see what first appeared to be a golden opportunity turn instead into an economic blunder.

The examples are numerous, starting with City Hall itself. It was billed as a modern office building that would serve the needs of a city for years to come. Today it is in such precarious condition that it makes more sense to sell than to renovate. And then there's the Troy Atrium, which was billed as the answer to reviving the downtown retail economy. It never happened. At least the Atrium occupies a site that had once been an open excavation pit, after the city's highly touted downtown urban renewal program failed to fulfill its promises.

The public has yet to see copies of the City Hall deal, although the city's corporation counsel, Dave Mitchell, says copies will be available in two weeks, as well as an appraisal of the City Hall property by an unnamed company. But why wasn't the appraisal conducted, and made public, long before now? And what if either side, or both, decides against exercising its purchase options?

Little wonder, then, that Jim Conroy, the city's former deputy mayor who is the Democratic challenger to Mayor Harry Tutunjian this year, wants the state comptroller to review the legality of the deal and have the city seek bids from developers other than the owner of 1776 Sixth Ave. And little wonder that other critics find it hard to take at face value Mayor Tutunjian's optimism when he says the deal is "almost to good to be true, but it's real. What they're paying for this property is more than any comparable sale."

Too good to be true? How many times have Troy taxpayers heard that before?

THE ISSUE: Troy may sell its City Hall to a developer.

THE STAKES: Rushing ahead with the deal could be costly

Troy City Council needs to slow down plan to sell City Hall

By FRED LeBRUN First published: Friday, September 21, 2007

Troy wants to sell its city hall, again.

Not Troy exactly. We don't know what Troy wants yet. It's the mayor, Harry Tutunjian, and his corporation counsel, Dave Mitchell, who hatched the idea and now want the City Council to go along with it, and pretty fast.

Since the majority of the council is Republican, as is the mayor, there seems to be a natural receptivity to going along.

Regardless, no matter how good an idea this may be, the City Council should fight the urge for a quick decision, and do its due diligence first. After all, the mayor and corporation counsel do not own City Hall. They are merely temporary residents.

Not that selling Troy City Hall is a new idea, or necessarily a bad idea.
When he was city manager during a tempestuous term more than a decade ago, David Grandeau promoted the same thought. In those highly charged times, anything Grandeau came up with was ripped to shreds by opponents, and even some supporters. But he's being vindicated now. Although perhaps it was an idea ahead of its time, since the value of riverfront property has skyrocketed since.

According to the mayor and others, City Hall's roof leaks, the carpet is stained, the interior is moldy, the concrete downstairs is destabilizing and general restoration would cost upwards of $3 million to $4 million.

Due diligence point 1: How much would it take to restore City Hall into a comfortable working environment for its 100 or so workers? Restoration estimates are at least four years old. If anything, newer estimates would reinforce the need to sell.
No doubt, the property City Hall sits on is incredibly valuable. Everybody says so. Troy would be much better served by putting it on the tax rolls through the hands of a private developer that does a great job.

Due Diligence Point 2: How much is the property really worth? The city assessor came up with $900,000 for the two acres. An independent appraisal is expected today. But shouldn't we have more than one? The mayor insists getting about $1.2 million an acre, which is what his deal would bring the city, is far above anything the city could expect. But how do we know that?

Due Diligence Point 3: What exactly does the favored developer, Judge Development Corporation, have in mind for the site? It has agreed to the $800,000 demolition costs, but no plans are on paper yet for the building of up to six stories that it has in mind.
Shouldn't the city have plans in hand before agreeing to the building exchange?

Due Diligence Point 4: Isn't it simple prudence to seek outside guidance on how appropriate and legal -- these are not the same -- this exchange is? Democratic mayoral challenger Jim Conroy quite rightly raises the notion that a methodical, transparent bidding process, which we don't have here, eliminates even the appearance of impropriety and inside dealing.

The corporation counsel says his approach, which skirts the normal bidding process, is legal. Maybe yes, maybe no. Let the state comptroller offer an opinion. This is not just another municipal building being sold; it's the symbolic first building of the city, no matter how shabby it is.

Which brings us to the other half of the equation, the building that would become the new city hall, the Verizon building on 6th Avenue.

It's actually older than City Hall, but in much better shape, physically, if all you're looking for in a city hall is a plain vanilla office building. Does it say Troy? I wonder. Well, no I don't. Troy is a remarkable little city, charming and easy to walk, full of great little shops, fantastic period architecture and more than its share of good restaurants. I think Troy can do better.

True, unlike Albany with its gorgeous, architecturally significant City Hall just below the state Capitol, and Schenectady's stately old complex that takes up an entire block, Troy has not had a tradition of an impressive city hall. Troy hasn't had a city hall that looks like one since 1938, when that structure burned down. Then Troy didn't have any city hall at all for 34 years until the current one was constructed, or assembled, or whatever.

Now is not a bad time for the City Council to reflect on the image the city ought to be casting as the new Troy. Maybe the city should lease space for a temporary city hall until some hard thought is put into this, and a proper search of available old buildings or potential building sites is explored.

All of which suggests that the City Council should be in no hurry. As more than one City Hall gadfly has observed, if Mayor Harry's deal is really fantastic for the city today, it still will be in six months. But if there's a hole in it somewhere, now's the time to find it, before taxpayers get stuck.

LeBrun can be reached at 454-5453 or by e-mail at flebrun@timesunion.com.

Part Time Pizza Maker Insists He Wants To Be Troy's Next Mayor

Fox 23 Newstory Fox 23 Video

Reported by: Paul Merrill Email: paulmerrill@fox23news.com Videographer: B. Sanders Last Update: 5:18 pm

One of the employees at Jimmy's Pizzeria in Troy is hoping city voters will deliver him to the mayor's office in November.

Twenty-one-year-old Christopher Consuello works part-time at the pizzeria and full-time for Troy's Department of Public Works.

He's running for mayor but his mother tells FOX23 News that he doesn't want the job.

Toni Consuello says, "He was put up to go up for election and he was told that if he didn't do it, he was going to get fired."

The candidate's mother says her son's boss, Public Works Director Bob Mirch, is forcing him to run on the Working Families Party line, specifying that he should not run a campaign.

"In many cases, these minor lines are bought and paid for by political patronage and control and that's exactly the situation we have here in Troy," says Democratic mayoral candidate Jim Conroy.

Consuello beat Conroy on the Working Families Party line by a three-to-two margin.

The Democrat is accusing Mirch of rallying support behind bogus candidates in order to dilute support for those who pose a threat to Republican Mayor Harry Tutunjian.

FOX23 News caught up with Mayor Tutunjian on the streets of Troy after his office initially denied our request for an on-camera interview about the primary candidates.

Tutunjian tells us, "Jim Conroy's a desperate politician that'll say and do anything to try to get votes and make any issue into a political issue so I don't really know what he's talking about."

Conroy says, "I don't take anything away from Mr. Consuello either for his age or anything but if you talk to him, I'll have you make your own assessment."

FOX23 News did talk to Chris Consuello by phone on Thursday.

Contrary to what his family members and coworkers told us, Consuello says he's out of town and unavailable for any interviews about the election.

The 21-year-old who dropped out of high school and later went back for his G.E.D. admits he has little political experience but insists that he does want to be Troy's next mayor.

He says he was not strong-armed by Bob Mirch into running for public office.

Still, the candidate's mother is worried about her son.

"I think it's wrong that Chris would have to be pressured into doing something that he really can't do," she says. "He doesn't have the background."

City workers tell FOX23 News that Bob Mirch is out of town on vacation.

Mirch had not returned a message left on his cell phone voicemail as of 5:00 p.m. on Thursday.

UPDATED 9/21- Conroy and Troy Democrats will work to block City Hall deal until process is reformed

Links to news stories:
Newspapers
**Fred Lebrun 9-21-07 Troy City Council needs to slow down plan to sell City Hall
**TU Editorial 9-21-07 ..Rushing ahead with the deal could be costly

Times Union
Record
Business Review

Television
Capital News 9
WTEN
Fox 23 News
WNYT

Radio
WGY

SUIT TO BE FILED OVER "HALLIBURTON ON THE HUDSON"

(TROY, N.Y.) Jim Conroy, candidate for Troy Mayor, and the Troy Democratic Party, today announced their intention to sue to block the proposed sale of Troy City Hall to a private developer.

"Instead of having a public bidding process, Harry Tutunjian met with six developers in private and chose one proposal. He never asked the people of the City of Troy for their opinions. He never looked at other options. He never showed us what the other proposals or ideas were," said Conroy. "Maybe this is a good idea but the Mayor has to follow the rules and let the process play out. This is America, not a third world dictatorship."

"I don't trust Harry Tutunjian to make that decision by himself and I think the people of Troy deserve better."

Following the public hearing being held tonight (Sept. 19), Troy Democrats will file a lawsuit contending that, among other issues, the City of Troy did not properly obtain proposals for this process or obtain public input.

"Harry Tutunjian has to realize that simply announcing a plan to do something is not enough. To get the job done right, we need professionals in City Hall who care about all of the people of our City, listen to them, and then do things the right way," said Conroy.

"It's time we worry more about putting our plans into action, not just into the newspapers, and showing our concern for all of the people of our City."

TROY DEMOCRATS TO FILE LAWSUIT TO HALT "HALLIBURTON ON THE HUDSON"

NEWS ADVISORY

WHAT: News conference announcing the filing of a lawsuit to block the sale of Troy City Hall because the City did not follow proper procedures for public notification and bidding.

WHO: Jim Conroy, candidate for Troy Mayor, and other local politicians and citizens

WHEN: Wednesday, Sept. 19
6:30pm (just prior to the 7:00 meeting in City Hall on the issue)

WHERE: Outside of Troy City Hall
1 Monument Square in Troy

WHY: Making plans to sell City Hall without a public notification is, at best, unethical. In fact, significant questions remain as to whether City Hall can be legally sold. Once that decision was made, however, ethical problems were compounded by not opening the process up to public bid and scrutiny.

UPDATED 9/20 - Conroy pleased that BID is moving forward...

Troy Record - Downtown collaborative pushes forward TU - BID organizers look to learn from the past


Conroy Calls for Downtown BID

Press Release
Date: 8/19/07
Contact: Jim Conroy

Troy - Jim Conroy, Democratic candidate for Mayor of Troy today called for the immediate establishment of a Downtown Troy Business Improvement District (BID) to build on the accomplishments of business initiated events such as the Chowderfest, River Street Festival, Troy Night Out and the Victorian Stroll.

"The City of Troy has a very energetic and imaginative business community. Imagine the creative things they could accomplish with the money raised through the BID"; Conroy said.

Troy business owners proposed to establish a BID for downtown Troy in 2003; however, differences of opinion regarding weighted voting and procedural omissions as to tenants participating in the vote prevented it from moving forward.

"Since then, Mayor Harry Tutunjian has failed to move the establishment of the BID from the back burner." Conroy said.

Conroy said; "Any problems with the establishment of a BID in downtown Troy should have been remedied through leadership from City Hall long ago."

"Business Improvement Districts are private-public partnerships in which property and business owners of a defined area make collective contributions to the maintenance, development and marketing/promotion of their commercial district. Both Albany and Schenectady have made very good use of their BID’s to promote commercial areas of their cities;" Conroy said

BIDS are authorized by the local government but have their own Board of Directors and allocate their funds as they see fit. The Troy BID was proposed to extend from approximately the Hudson River to Sixth Ave. and from Ferry Street to Hoosick St. It could fund festivals, events, capital improvements, beautification programs such as flower planting and maintenance, street cleaning and other imaginative projects.

Conroy calls for full and public disclosure of proposed Troy City Hall Deal

Calls No Bid Deal "Halliburton on the Hudson"


(Troy, N.Y.) Jim Conroy, candidate for Troy Mayor, today called Mayor Harry Tutunjian's proposal to sell City Hall to a private developer without a public bid process "a complete and utter disregard for ethical processes and not in the best interests of the people of the City of Troy."

"This is another deal that Harry Tutunjian has cooked up in a backroom without any input and public process. There were no public meetings. There wasn't even a bidding process for the deal. Even if the idea is appropriate, what if the City could get a better deal from another developer?" said Conroy.

"This is Halliburton on the Hudson."

Conroy called on the Troy City Council to hold up the proposal until a full and public process can be conducted.

"I want to do what's in the best interest of the people of Troy. That means that such issues are discussed in the open - not in a backroom of City Hall - and we consider the input and views of a wide range of people, not just the Mayor's friends.

It's time we start running the City of Troy with integrity and with consideration for all our citizens and neighborhoods."

State accepts Troy's Letter of Intent

Thankfully, the NY Empire State Development Corporation did the right thing in accepting the "missing" City of Troy Letters of Intent for projects under the Restore NY grant program.

I would hate to think that the people of Troy would be denied two applications for as much as $10 million under the program because the City failed to file the documents properly or failed to assure the delivery was made.

As of August 30, 2007 ESDC could not, or would not, confirm the Troy applications existed. That's ten days after the mandatory deadline for submission. In the end, the state accepted the City's affidavit and allowed the Troy Letters of Intent to be processed. Funny, there were many other communities that submitted the necessary paperwork with no difficulties whatsoever.

What if this issue was not discovered eight days into the process? How much longer would we go before discovering the required Letters of Intent were not received? Luckily, because of some people who care about the future of Troy, we won't have to find out. If the Letters of Intent were not accepted Troy would not be allowed to submit a final application.

By the way, the projects, which for some reason have not been identified, now must be publicized in the legal notices, have public hearings, a vote by the City Council to say they are in conformity with the City's Comprehensive Plan and statements as to Historical and EEO considerations all before submission of the final application on September 28th. Stay tuned!

Conroy blasts Tutunjian for Missing Grant Opportunity

PRESS RELEASE - 8/28/07

Troy - Jim Conroy, Democratic candidate for Mayor in the City of Troy today called for Harry Tutunjian to explain why his administration did not file a grant request under the NYS Restore NY Community Initiatives program.

"Harry Tutunjian needs to fully explain to the voters of Troy why his administration failed to file applications for funding under this state economic development program. I can think of several projects which would be helped by receiving up to $5,000,000 each"; Conroy said.

"Among these programs are: the parking garage for the Hedley District, the demolition of abandoned buildings at the former Perry Warehouse and King Fuel sites, the development of the Car Wash site for the Lower Congress Street project, the stabilization of Proctor's Theater, the clearing and development of the Jack's Junkyard site, demolition for the Rivers and Estuaries site, development of the working waterfront project and many many more"; Conroy said.

Conroy said; "Not meeting the filing date of August 20 for this funding opportunity is a great example of the lack of focus and poor leadership of Harry Tutunjian and his administration. Missing this deadline is inexcusable and he must be held accountable."

"If I were Mayor I would have had that day marked in red on my calendar and nothing would have prevented me from making the submission. Funding opportunities like this only come around once a year. If you miss it - you're dead for a year"; Conroy said.

According to the project description and goals, the Restore NY Community Initiatives program provides grants of up to $5 million for "projects to demolish, deconstruct, rehabilitate, and/or reconstruct vacant, abandoned, condemned and surplus properties. Additionally, funds can be used for site development needs related to the project including, but not limited to water, sewer and parking."

In order to qualify for a grant this year each community needed to submit a Letter of Intent outlining its project(s) by August 20, 2007.

This omission is on top of the loss of $1 million in housing funds to the City of Schenectady earlier this year.

Conroy Challenges Mayor to debate

August 15, 2007

Dear Harry,

As we enter the fall and the November 6^th election, I challenge you to at least three mayoral candidate debates so we can give the voters of Troy a thorough opportunity to judge our positions on the issues facing the city and on our ideas and abilities to meet the demands of the future.

I propose one debate to be organized through the Rensselaer County Regional Chamber of Commerce, one debate organized by the Neighborhood Organization Alliance and one organized by The Record newspaper. The organizers can determine the dates, times and places of these debates. However, I suggest we space them out so as to have one in September and two in October. If, for some reason, these organizations decide not to host a debate I will find alternative neutral sponsors.

Furthermore, I propose that we encourage the organizers of each debate to allow enough time to fully explore the issues and allow follow up questions from the candidates to each other.

I look forward to a spirited campaign and your agreement to these debates so they can be scheduled and advertised. I will make myself available at anytime; I hope you will also.

Sincerely,


James J. Conroy
Candidate for Mayor

The Trouble with Harry

Metroland 8-2-07 - The Trouble with Harry - His administration is dogged by scandal and has a reputation for bullying ...

10 Point Safe Streets Plan in Troy - July 19, 2007

July 19, 2007
Press Release
Contact: Jim Conroy

Troy -Troy Democratic candidates for Mayor, Jim Conroy and the City Council said they are proposing a plan to address the rising crime rate in the City of Troy. Under the current GOP Mayor and City Council violent crime has increased by 25 percent (2004 - 2006) according to records by the state Division of Criminal Justice Services. Additionally, in the past several weeks there have been two fatal stabbings and four people have been shot in the city. The Democratic candidates stated the escalation and frequency of violent crime in Troy is unacceptable.

The current Troy GOP controlled city government has failed to effectively address the outbreak of violent crime in the city, noted the democrats. In fact, the city administration appears to be in denial regarding their own statistics which document the 25 percent increase in violent crime. The democratic candidates said it was time for a plan of action to curtail this ongoing four-year increase in the crime rate.

The democratic plan includes:

10 POINT SAFE STREETS PROGRAM

1. BRING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO FULL STRENGTH - INCREASE MINORITY STAFFING
   
2. INCREASE FOOT PATROLS, WALK AND TALK, STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY POLICING - HOUSE CALLS
   
3. OPTIMIZE COMSTAT PROCEDURES
   
4. ASSIGN TACTICAL UNITS TO HIGH CRIME AREAS
   
5. LEAVE THE MANAGEMENT OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO THE PROFESSIONALS
   
6. ESTABLISH CENTRAL COORDINATION WITH ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS & SCHOOLS TO FIGHT CRIME
   
7. HOLD MONTHLY NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN POLICE AND RESIDENTS - E-POLICING INTERNET LINK TO POLICE
   
8. PUBLISH CRIME STATISTICS QUARTERLY
9. INSTALL CAMERAS IN CRIME AREAS AND COORDINATE WITH PRIVATE SECURITY TO IMPROVE COVERAGE - "EYE ON CRIME"
   
10. THE DEPARTMENT WITH THE BEST EQUIPMENT, TRAINING AND LEADERSHIP POSSIBLE
    

The democratic candidates said as their first order of business on January 1, 2008 they would adopt legislation to implement their plan. Furthermore, they will provide quarterly reports to the public on the status of this ten-point program.

The democrats stated they are committed to taking all necessary steps to fight crime and protecting the quality of life in Troy. The people of Troy deserve safer streets and the hard working men and woman of the Troy Police Force deserve better leadership. Through the ten point plan we pledge to achieve these goals, said Conroy.

Conroy Calls for Improvements to Policing

Press Release

June 6, 2007

Contact: Jim Conroy

Jim Conroy, the Democratic Mayoral candidate, has condemned the existing administration's response to violent crime statistics within the City of Troy. In figures released from the NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services, violent crime increased in Troy by 25% since 2004 while rates throughout the state were down 2%.

Conroy said, "The present administration has focused on political issues dealing with police operations while neglecting the areas of policing which will bring down the crime rate in the City. Specifically, the Mayor has failed to keep the police force at full strength and failed to capitalize on the COMSTAT techniques of crime detection and suppression used effectively in fighting crime in New York City and Albany. Furthermore, the Mayor has de-emphasized Community Policing in our neighborhoods and continues to publicly fight with the PBA president rather than settle their issues through proper negotiation channels. The people of Troy deserve better protection and our police officers deserve better leadership than they are getting from this administration;" Conroy said.

Conroy further noted, "equally concerning is the Mayor's dismissive comments on the findings of the report. As a taxpayer, I was disappointed at the Mayor's indifference about this troubling information, especially because it deals with public safety. Troy needs a change in leadership."

"When I am Mayor I will fully embrace the COMSTAT model of crime intervention and implement it in every aspect of crime prevention. I will get the police force to full strength immediately and deploy them to meet the criminal challenge. I will expand Community Policing and hold my police commanders accountable to PREVENT crime not just respond to it", Conroy said.

Fred LeBrun Times Union: Tuesday, June 5, 2007

First published:
Tuesday, June 5, 2007

Troy politics, what goes around goes around, and around, and around.

Democrat Jim Conroy is looking to displace Republican Mayor Harry Tutunjian this fall, and insiders give him a better than fighting chance. Jim Conroy should be a familiar name to just about any long-term resident of Schenectady or Troy.
He was born and raised in Troy, where he graduated from Catholic Central and worked for years as former Troy City Manager John Buckley's assistant. Politically, though, he was initially best known as the man who didn't quite grab the mayoral golden ring in Schenectady.
That was a decade ago, after he had worked under former Schenectady County Manager Bob McAvoy and served six years as a Schenectady city councilman. Conroy is a professional city planner and manager, with a master's degree in public administration from Russell Sage College.
Conroy lost the mayor's race to Schenectady's native son Al Jurczynski. Conroy then applied to be Troy's city manager, but lost out there to David Grandeau. When the administration changed, he became deputy mayor in Troy under Mark Pattison.
So in terms of both professional credentials to run a city, and the political experience necessary to become mayor in a bare knuckles environment like Troy, nobody can touch Jim Conroy.
But as so often happens in these matters, a long, colorful political career brings with it a train of baggage. Arguably for those with a long memory, fairly or not, Jim Conroy's biggest opponent is Jim Conroy's past.
Not that Harry Tutunjian won't put up a scrappy fight. Harry has powerful friends whose interests are best served by keeping Harry in office. But the feeling among Troy insiders in both parties is that the current administration is stagnant and deeply mired in internal, partisan politics. One veteran Republican told me, "The trouble with Harry is he just listens to the wrong people."
Harry remains a hail fellow well met, a likeable guy and a perfectly competent caretaker mayor. And maybe in the end, Troy voters will say that's enough.
Jim Conroy is counting on voters wanting more from City Hall than a caretaker. But first he has to persuade the electorate that the realities or perceptions -- depending on your point of view -- concerning a notorious federal Housing and Urban Development loan made to his brother Stephen 10 years ago are not a disqualifier.
The $12,500 loan, issued while Jim Conroy was deputy mayor, reeked of insider rigging and profiteering. HUD had given Jim Conroy a conflict of interest waiver and the Troy ethics commission did the same. Stephen Conroy went through the same procedures to get the loan as everyone else. But Jim Conroy was heavily tarred for the loan.
A subsequent HUD investigation concluded that the waiver should never have been granted because key information about ownership of the family estate property had been withheld. Jim Conroy was part owner. Whose fault the omissions were was never established, or whether there was anything in play but innocent error. But by then, with Republicans raising a ruckus about it, Stephen Conroy had paid the loan back in full and the matter died down.
Still, the entire ugly incident has hovered like a black cloud over Jim Conroy's political career.
Conroy, 59, and still living in Troy, has been selling commercial real estate for Prudential since he left office as Pattison's deputy at the end of 2003.
Now he says he's ready to take on both Harry and his own past.
"I'm ready for it," he said Monday, referring to the inevitable questions about the HUD loan. "I understand the concerns, but I feel my voice has not been heard on this."
"I played absolutely no role in granting that loan," he insisted. Any suggestion otherwise was political spin by Pattison administration adversaries intent on creating a scandal where there wasn't one, he added.
"However, the horse is out of the barn on this," Conroy acknowledged. People have already made up their minds. "But those who know me know I'm a straight shooter, and anyone who has dealt with me professionally or politically knows that too."
He also points out that HUD found nothing about the loan transaction illegal, and that no legalities remained once the loan was paid back.
A solid self-endorsement.
But not an entirely satisfying one. I will tell you what I would have liked to hear from Jim Conroy concerning the suspect HUD loan. I would have liked a sense of "upon reflection, we shouldn't have done that." A sense of having learned from a mistake. What happened here was squishy ethics, no matter what the legalities.
In fairness to Jim Conroy, he's not beyond self criticism. "I have a short fuse, sometimes. And I've learned a lot. I'm a different person than I was when I was 35, or 45. I've come to appreciate and value different points of view than mine."
LeBrun can be reached at 454-5453 or by e-mail at flebrun@timesunion.com.