City Council

Samanta R. Mykoo From: John Mootooveren Sent: Saturday, October 01, 2022 9:19 PM To: Samanta R. Mykoo Subject: Fwd: RACE-BAITING CREATES CONFLICT, CONTROVERSY, AND DIVISIONS IN A CIVILIZED SOCIETY — The public should be able to expect a sense of decorum from our elected officials at Schenectady City Council meetings — NOT accusations of racism made by newly ele... Get Outlook for iOS From: David Long Sent: Saturday, October 1, 2022 11:03 AM To: David Long <davelong104@gmail.com> Cc: Omar Sterling McGill for Schenectady County <omarforschenectady@gmail.com>; Donna J. Moore Nicolle Harris Richard Parsons ; Miki Conn ; Rev. Hamilton Richard Harris ; STEVEN MCCOY ; kevinphourigan Marion Porterfield <MPorterfield@schenectadyny.gov>; John Mootooveren <JMootooveren@schenectadyny.gov>; Ashley Kahler McLeanford Karen Cummings David & Tammy Mills Matt Stromberg Lyn Gordon ; Daniel Carlson Heather Scribner ; James Gonda ; Barbara Mancuso ; Bill Ward Linda Ward Matias, Gino & Eneri ; Fernando Shin, Win Pastor Anthony ; Campise, Elder George ; Pastor George Yurick ; Tom Johnson Pastor_Frank Richard Soedler Richard Scheenstra Richard Frank ; Seeds of Abraham Rabbi Steve Feldman ; Betters, Stan ; Davis, Steve Omega Reeves Matt Whelan Craig Cardinal ; Dave KING pastor Joseph Mastroianni ; Gary McCarthy <GMcCarthy@schenectadyny.gov> Subject: RACE‐BAITING CREATES CONFLICT, CONTROVERSY, AND DIVISIONS IN A CIVILIZED SOCIETY — The public should be able to expect a sense of decorum from our elected officials at Schenectady City Council meetings — NOT accusations of racism made by newly elected ... CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Greetings! 1 The public should be able to expect a sense of decorum from our elected officials at Schenectady City Council meetings — NOT accusations of racism made by newly elected and seasoned councilors... Schenectady City Councilor John Polimeni and I have had a number of great conversations. John has NEVER shown any signs of racism towards me or disdain for me as a registered Conservative (Moderate)... In fact, John Polimeni visited our home while canvassing for Democratic candidates. I invited him inside, and we sat down together and discussed politics and religion (lol, but proper). I've studied many religions of the world and was a double major in psychology and religious education. For the last fourteen years, I've been writing Christian apologetics to try and help people heal and become more unified in purpose and thought (1 John 3:15; 1 Corinthians 1:10; Matthew 5:43‐48; 1 John 1:8‐10; 1 Corinthians 1:26‐29; 2 Corinthians 5:11‐21)... Exposing the truth requires discernment (EPHESIANS 5:10‐11). For the purpose of better community bipartisanship, in this post, I'm gonna discuss "Christian Identity" politics that seems to have created a divide in America between citizens and some denominations — especially among far‐Left and far‐Right‐leaning people. Public Servants must be willing to act professionally, be respectful of others' opinions — and must be willing to make concessions on a community's comprehensive plan without harboring hatred in their hearts, casting ignorant (misinformed) insults, and unfounded accusations. Here is a HOLY BIBLE Scripture to consider... 1 John 3:15 • New Living Translation (NLT) 15 Anyone who hates another brother or sister is really a murderer at heart. And you know that murderers don’t have eternal life within them. I shared The Message below as a Comment on a Schenectady Republican Committee controversial Facebook post that EXPLOITED differences between Democrats, but they DELETED my comment. So, I reposted it on my main FB Profile here: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0o97FJ4ae7UkxdNyW7GgSrS2By5JnokCexxzV rYKhYLd3cjxf6RkkUu276zi1cZq8l&id=100010238987320 RACE‐BAITING CREATES CONFLICT, CONTROVERSY, AND DIVISIONS IN A CIVILIZED SOCIETY I have always enjoyed John Polimeni's candor, and his honesty and practical approach as a Democrat who also believes in Christian Conservative values. Besides, John Polimeni told me that he does NOT plan to seek re‐election. So, why was it important for a certain politician to try and exploit the differences between Democrats on the Schenectady City Council now that Schenectady as a whole seems to have calmed down — having weathered the storm? WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO READ AND SEE DURING THE MID‐TERM ELECTIONS SEASON is less 2 mudslinging from all political parties — no deception and propaganda — less finger‐pointing — NO race‐baiting to try to DIVIDE & CONQUER to win votes — and MORE focus on each party's own campaign platform and promises. Recently, I had the opportunity to talk with New York State Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara after years of a dispute over our trademark. However, when we met at the Order of the Sons of Italy Festa, the topic of our trademark did not even come up in our conversation... I've reached out to Angelo for years... WE FINALLY MET, AND ANGELO SANTABARBARA AND I PUT THE PAST BEHIND US FOR THE SAKE OF OUR COMMUNITY. Angelo knows that I am a registered Conservative (Moderate) and that my fiancée is a registered Democrat... Angelo and I had a great conversation... The point is that we believe we're AMERICANS first and foremost ‐‐‐ not polarized political drones doing Yoemen's work for the sake of party bosses and partisan politics. My late US military veteran parents were Catholic and Protestant and were married for 39 years — mom, Sheila E. Long, served in Frankfurt, Germany, and dad, David Johnson Long, Sr., served in Sicily, Italy — they NEVER discussed DOGMA ("AM god" backward) or doctrine in our home. Instead, we were taught to LOVE GOD and EVERYONE equally. Mom was the director of the City Mission Bible Club in the 1970s and 80s... She and our dad also owned and ran Little Sprouts Daycare Center and taught many of today's adults of Schenectady County. *NOTE: The Lord DOES NOT have "favorite politicians" (Romans 2:11‐16) ‐‐‐ and all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God (Romans 3:20‐23; 1 John 1:8‐10) — please, please, please Google RULE 62. I've read a few articles about Michelle Ostrelich that I felt it necessary to go and research the facts for myself. I did not see "a conflict of interest" in Mrs. Ostrelich's choice of hire... People, get rid of your evil "HIT LIST"! Anyway, before you respond please stop and first Google 1 TIMOTHY 2:8 • New Living Translation (NLT)... For God does not show favoritism... (Romans 2: 11‐16) ... 16 And this is the message I proclaim—that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life. (Romans 2 verse 16). Jesus Christ NEVER spoke ill of the government and present administration of His time — and I think we ALL (including myself) need to try and do WWJD. The ELECTORATE wants to hear what is your PLATFORM and campaign PROMISES that you hopefully plan to fulfill if you are elected. Wednesday, September 28, 2022, OUR DAILY BREAD Christian devotion was titled, "OUT OF THE HEART" — and the Holy Scripture was MATTHEW 15:12‐20... Here was the theme Scripture verse: "Out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander (Matthew 15:19). 3 If you believe in God (Good Orderly Direction, or better yet the Creator who teaches us to LOVE OUR ENEMIES in Matthew 5:43‐48), then why not stick to your own campaign platforms ‐‐‐ and let the ELECTORATE know what you plan to do on Day 1, if you and your political Party (left or right) candidates get elected. THE HOLY BIBLE DOES NOT SAY THE PRESENT WORLD IS GOING TO BECOME "BETTER" OR "MORALLY RIGHT" (if you don't believe me, please read and internalize Revelation 13:16‐18; Revelation 14:9‐13, cf. Revelation 20:4, Revelation Chapters 9, 17, 18, 19, and Revelation 20). JESUS NEVER SPOKE AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT... INSTEAD, CHRIST ONLY SPOKE AGAINST THOSE WHO WERE SELF‐RIGHTEOUS WHILE HARBORING ENVY & HATE IN THEIR HEARTS... Here's Wednesday, September 28, 2022, OUR DAILY BREAD Holy Scriptures for ALL of us to read and heed... Matthew 15:12‐20 • New Living Translation (NLT) 12 Then the disciples came to him and asked, “Do you realize you offended the Pharisees by what you just said?” 13 Jesus replied, “Every plant not planted by my heavenly Father will be uprooted, 14 so ignore them. They are blind guides leading the blind, and if one blind person guides another, they will both fall into a ditch.” 15 Then Peter said to Jesus, “Explain to us the parable that says people aren’t defiled by what they eat.” 16 “Don’t you understand yet?” Jesus asked. 17 “Anything you eat passes through the stomach and then goes into the sewer. 18 But the words you speak come from the heart—that’s what defiles you. 19 For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander. 20 These are what defile you. Eating with unwashed hands will never defile you.” https://odb.org/US/2022/09/28/out‐of‐the‐heart Here is a HOLY BIBLE Scripture to consider... 1 John 3:15 • New Living Translation (NLT) 15 Anyone who hates another brother or sister is really a murderer at heart. And you know that murderers don’t have eternal life within them. 4  I shared The Message below as a Comment on a Schenectady Republican Committee controversial Facebook post that EXPLOITED differences between Democrats, but they DELETED my comment. So, I reposted it on my main FB Profile here: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0o97FJ4ae7UkxdNyW7GgSrS2By5JnokCexxzV rYKhYLd3cjxf6RkkUu276zi1cZq8l&id=100010238987320 Therefore, let's come together as Americans, and Eat & Be Merry at least before going to the polls on November 8th. You'll find out the results "soon after", or later (if the election results are contested, LOL). Finally, let's put aside our differences... Come out to the NON‐PARTISAN Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Pasta & Pizza Event and Best‐Made Pizza Contest on Saturday, October 22, 2022, from 12 Noon to 3:00 pm at 609 Draper Avenue, Rotterdam, NY 12306... If you want to BATTLE AND COMPETE join in THE PIZZA GAMES at the VFW Pasta & Pizza Event for a chance to win tons of prizes... Angelo Santabarbara is an Army Reserves veteran, and he and I are looking forward to clean, good fun without partisan politics on Saturday, October 22, 2022, in Rotterdam. Alexandra Velella, Schenectady County Legislators Eric Hess and Josh Cuomo, Joe Mastroianni, New York State Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara, Schenectady County Legislator Richard Ruzzo, Tony Simone, and many other VIPs will be there in a NON‐PARTISAN compacity to help people have fun ‐‐‐ 100% of the proceeds benefit VETERANS in the surrounding communities. * FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT https://518BESTPIZZA.COM ‐‐ David J. Long Jr., 5 Samanta R. Mykoo From: noreply@civicplus.com Sent: Tuesday, October 04, 2022 5:32 PM To: Marion Porterfield; Samanta R. Mykoo Subject: Online Form Submittal: City Council Privilege of the Floor Submission Form City Council Privilege of the Floor Submission Form First Name Rev. Sara Last Name Baron Address City Schenectady State NY Zip Code 12308 Phone Number Field not completed. Email Address Privilege of the Floor CITY BUSINESS Register to Speak during the City Business - items not on the Council Agenda Council Meeting Comments Thank you, to the Council, for your work on our behalf, and your continued attention to the needs of the city. The media has been reporting on struggles within the Council, and varied interpretations of what that struggle means. Not being within any of you, I can't speak to what motivates you, what frustrates you, or what intentions you bring to your work and interactions. I can, however, speak to the fact that racism exists. I can note that racism exists in our city. And I can note that studies say that the people most skilled at identifying racism are people of color and the people worst at identifying racism are white people. I'm a white person. So, I have to consciously take a step back when someone tells me there is a racial element to an interaction and I don't see it. I have to start with the assumption I'm missing something, even 1  when it is in my own behavior. This is really hard. I'm not great at it. I get defensive fast, and I learn slowly. I err, I get ashamed, I want to lash out, and then I have to listen anyway. It is profoundly uncomfortable. It is also imperative. We live in the United States. Given the history of our country, we know racism has had profound impact, and still does. Our society is awash in bias, biased policies, and mechanisms of harm for people of color. I don't want that to continue to be true. I want to live in a city, a state, a country, and a world where the full humanity of all people is seen and valued, and justice abounds. But the way to get from here to there is to see the problems that exist, talk about them, and change them. Which means we have to talk about racism. And, for white people, I would recommend bringing a hermenutics of suspicion to our own assumptions, and a willingness to listen to what people of color are saying. Thanks for doing hard work. May it move us all towards justice. Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. 2