Ed Arzouian Posted April 22, 2008 Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 Sent: Monday, April 21, 2008 9:43 PM To: 'Investigations@osc.state.ny.us'; 'andrew.cuomo@oag.state.ny.us' Cc: 'sbodner@pressconnects.com'; 'cstovall@pressconnects.com'; 'froessne@binghamt.gannett.com'; 'catlin@wbngtv.com'; 'moss@wbngtv.com'; 'newstips@news10now.com'; 'jimehmke@clearchannel.com'; 'info@news10now.com'; 'comments@news10now.com'; 'fox40@wicz.com'; 'newsdirector@wicz.com'; 'lizahaines@clearchannel.com'; 'actionnews@wbngtv.com'; 'dschneider@pressconnects.com'; 'Jessica Light'; 'karen.lee@news10now.com'; 'jhill@pressconnects.com'; 'jcrupi@timesunion.com' Subject: Binghamton Water Department concerns & wifi no-bid Thomas P. DiNapoli, New York State Comptroller Office of the State Comptroller Bureau of Investigations, 59 Maiden Lane, 30th Fl. New York, NY 10038 Division Phone: (212) 383-2591 (518) 474-4331 Fax: (212) 383-2594 (518) 408-3364 Investigations@osc.state.ny.us and NYS Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, The Capitol Albany, NY 12224-0341 (518) 474-7330 & 44 Hawley Street, 17th Floor Binghamton, NY 13901-4433 (607) 721-8771 Dear NYS Comptroller DiNapoli, I would respectfully request your office audit or investigate the City of Binghamton and its Water Fund. The Mayor of Binghamton, Matthew T. Ryan has already taken the water rate from $1.65 per 100 cubic foot units to $2.10 per 100 cubic foot units in a year, a 27% increase. He has now voted a 30% increase for August 2008 and another 10% increase in August 2009. In just a little more than two years Mayor Ryan will have raise water rates 81% ($1.65 to $2.99). In a normal situation a city council would provide some checks and balances to the Mayor but in Binghamton the City Council is entirely compose of Democrats supported by Citizen Action of NY Southern Tier Chapter/Working Families Party , just like the Mayor. They are basically a rubber stamp. The day before the vote for the water rate increase Kevin Transue, the Superintendent of the Water Department, and by most accounts a competent man, resigned. (Press & Sun-Bulletin, April 3, 2008 •• 902 words •• ID: bng51100011* BINGHAMTON City water superintendent retires The City of Binghamton's water and sewer superintendent retired on Friday. Kevin Transue's retirement comes about one week after the city announced a 42 percent hike in water rates.) Last Thursday, April 17, a bipartisan group of about 30 citizens including four or five former city councilmen (a lot of people for a small town of 45,000 on short notice with no advertising ) gathered at an open public meeting to voice their concerns and implement a plan of action. They now hope to meet with Mayor Ryan and City Council at an open and televised public town hall meeting at Binghamton City Hall Chambers. You can view TV news coverage of this meeting at: http://www.wbng.com/news/local/17890139.html (CBS affiliate) http://news10now.com/content/all_news/1144...te/Default.aspx (Time Warner 24 Hour news channel) http://www.newschannel34.com/mediacenter/l...&navCatId=3 (NBC/ABC affiliate) Interestingly, the local newspaper The Press & Sun-Bulletin, the only local daily paper in this market, has refused to even mention the meeting or its results, and that despite my speaking to reporter Doug Schneider and the Executive Editor Calvin Stovall calling me the day after the meeting to argue with me and suggest I, rather than his newspaper, should look more closely at this issue. Among some of the more disturbing aspects of this is a shuffling of funds supposedly from the City’s General Fund to the Water Fund and then from the County that collects taxes and delinquent water rate to the General Fund. We have no proof the General Funds is fronting the Water Fund for delinquent payment until the county collects them. We have no idea what is happening to the delinquent payments once they are lumped with taxes and sent to the General Fund by the County. It is an accounting nightmare and one subject to abuse. Thing have gotten so bad the Broome County Executive Barbara Fiala wrote to the Mayor of Binghamton to say that this water payment issue risks cancelling the entire tax collection agreement between the City of Binghamton and Broome County. (Water bills spur Broome-city rift, April 11, 2008 •• 639 words •• ID: bng51360645 County threatens action over $1.4 million in debts By John Hill and Doug Schneider jhill@pressconnects.com Press & Sun-Bulletin BINGHAMTON) Frankly, the concern of many citizen is that Mayor Matthew T, Ryan is raiding the Water Fund to cover other waste and mismanagement. We can see no justification for an 81% water rate increase that will replenish the Water Fund in only one year. The Water Fund which had a surplus of over $1,000,000 just two years ago now has a deficit of $300,000. We are being told that because of that deficit and rising chemicals costs (only $100,000 more) we have to swallow a rate increase of 81% that will generate a surplus of $1,400,000 to $2,231,000 PER YEAR, EVERY YEAR! Also of concern to citizens is a no-bid contract for municipal wireless service that was predicated on a matching NYS grant of $29,000 for a total expense of $58,000. However now, eight months after the City Council vote to match the $29,000, we are told the cost for two years will actually be $98,000 or $70,000 from of Binghamton, all on the contract with no-bid. Frankly, citizens of Binghamton are very concerned. We can no longer believe the Mayor, there is no impartial City Council to oversee him and the local newspaper seems more like an extension of the public relations department of Binghamton City Hall than the Fifth Estate. We would like to see an audit and/or investigation by your office and perhaps by that of the NYS Attorney General. Citizens of Binghamton seems to have no other options. Thank you. Sincerely, Ed not allowed, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted April 22, 2008 Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 "Maybe the NYS Comptroller can help us?" Let's hope somebody can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted April 22, 2008 Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 Wasn't a letter smilarly copied to all local media sent to the Attorney General's Office last year concerning some other issue ? Wasn't an investigation in the offing? Where does that matter stand presently? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted April 22, 2008 Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 I don't know. It doesn't matter. Eventually Ryan's improper and unethical behavior will come back to bite him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted April 22, 2008 Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 This letter should carry more weight. It is unlikey the City's accounting practices would pass an audit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted April 22, 2008 Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 I don't know. It doesn't matter. Eventually Ryan's improper and unethical behavior will come back to bite him. It doesn't matter? How could that be? Wasn't it an important issue? How could a letter from a very important local figure be ignored and not matter? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted April 22, 2008 Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 It doesn't matter? How could that be? Wasn't it an important issue? How could a letter from a very important local figure be ignored and not matter? Who said it was ignored? This latest letter was passed on from Asssitnat Attorney General to the appropriate department in their office. It is only a mtter of time. You cannot be as unethical and behave with such impropriety as does Matthew T. Ryan and not have it come back to you at some point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted April 22, 2008 Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 You cannot be as unethical and behave with such impropriety as does Matthew T. Ryan and not have it come back to you at some point. Very good point. His time is running out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted April 22, 2008 Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 Who said it was ignored? This latest letter was passed on from Asssitnat Attorney General to the appropriate department in their office. It is only a mtter of time. You cannot be as unethical and behave with such impropriety as does Matthew T. Ryan and not have it come back to you at some point. Just because something was passed on doesn't mean it's still active. So, what's the status of that investigation? What department was it sent to? Has there been any follow up to find out? @ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Arzouian Posted April 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 23, 2008 All good questions, why don't you ask the AG? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted April 23, 2008 Report Share Posted April 23, 2008 All good questions, why don't you ask the AG? But it was you that sent the letter to the AG, copied to all local media. You were the contact person, the public's watchdog leading the charge, were you not? So, what is the status of that very important information you brought to the AG and media's attention? Surely, they all thought it was important. They must have. It came from a very important person, and following through is a critical attribute for Kradjians' "Compliance and Special Projects Manager", isn't it? Aren't you going to follow through, and report to everyone that status, oh modern day Thomas Paine? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Arzouian Posted April 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 23, 2008 It was sent today. Let's give it a few hours... Did you except DiNapoli to fly in on a Blackhawk? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted April 23, 2008 Report Share Posted April 23, 2008 It was sent today. Let's give it a few hours... Did you except DiNapoli to fly in on a Blackhawk? We're talking about your 2007 letter to the Attorney General alerting him about Matt Ryan that you similarly copied to all local media. The one similar to the recent letter you sent to the State Comptroller. What is the status of that situation? When can we expect action on your complaint? Surely a man as valuable a source of information as you is kept at least somewhat in the loop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Arzouian Posted April 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 23, 2008 I think I alerted them about Mary Clark and Citizen Action. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted April 23, 2008 Report Share Posted April 23, 2008 I think I alerted them about Mary Clark and Citizen Action. OK, so what's the status. Surely, the AG and media must be relying on you for further information and follow up on your groundbeaking work, aren't they? They wouldn't even think of ignoring YOU, would they? They have had the information since last year. Don't they think it is important like you do? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted April 23, 2008 Report Share Posted April 23, 2008 OK, so what's the status. Surely, the AG and media must be relying on you for further information and follow up on your groundbeaking work, aren't they? They wouldn't even think of ignoring YOU, would they? They have had the information since last year. Don't they think it is important like you do? You should call and ask them: New York State Office of the Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo Charities Bureau 120 Broadway, 3rd Floor New York, New York 10271 (212) 416-8400 (phone) (212) 416-8393 (fax) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted April 23, 2008 Report Share Posted April 23, 2008 You should call and ask them: New York State Office of the Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo Charities Bureau 120 Broadway, 3rd Floor New York, New York 10271 (212) 416-8400 (phone) (212) 416-8393 (fax) Haven't you called lately. After all, you were leading the charge on that Citizen Action/Mary Clark issue, weren't you? Won't they immediately take a call from someone as important as you, who pens very important letters to high ranking officials and copies them to all local media? What's the matter? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R.S. Posted April 23, 2008 Report Share Posted April 23, 2008 Sent: Monday, April 21, 2008 9:43 PM To: 'Investigations@osc.state.ny.us'; 'andrew.cuomo@oag.state.ny.us' Cc: 'sbodner@pressconnects.com'; 'cstovall@pressconnects.com'; 'froessne@binghamt.gannett.com'; 'catlin@wbngtv.com'; 'moss@wbngtv.com'; 'newstips@news10now.com'; 'jimehmke@clearchannel.com'; 'info@news10now.com'; 'comments@news10now.com'; 'fox40@wicz.com'; 'newsdirector@wicz.com'; 'lizahaines@clearchannel.com'; 'actionnews@wbngtv.com'; 'dschneider@pressconnects.com'; 'Jessica Light'; 'karen.lee@news10now.com'; 'jhill@pressconnects.com'; 'jcrupi@timesunion.com' Subject: Binghamton Water Department concerns & wifi no-bid Thomas P. DiNapoli, New York State Comptroller Office of the State Comptroller Bureau of Investigations, 59 Maiden Lane, 30th Fl. New York, NY 10038 Division Phone: (212) 383-2591 (518) 474-4331 Fax: (212) 383-2594 (518) 408-3364 Investigations@osc.state.ny.us and NYS Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, The Capitol Albany, NY 12224-0341 (518) 474-7330 & 44 Hawley Street, 17th Floor Binghamton, NY 13901-4433 (607) 721-8771 Dear NYS Comptroller DiNapoli, I would respectfully request your office audit or investigate the City of Binghamton and its Water Fund. The Mayor of Binghamton, Matthew T. Ryan has already taken the water rate from $1.65 per 100 cubic foot units to $2.10 per 100 cubic foot units in a year, a 27% increase. He has now voted a 30% increase for August 2008 and another 10% increase in August 2009. In just a little more than two years Mayor Ryan will have raise water rates 81% ($1.65 to $2.99). In a normal situation a city council would provide some checks and balances to the Mayor but in Binghamton the City Council is entirely compose of Democrats supported by Citizen Action of NY Southern Tier Chapter/Working Families Party , just like the Mayor. They are basically a rubber stamp. The day before the vote for the water rate increase Kevin Transue, the Superintendent of the Water Department, and by most accounts a competent man, resigned. (Press & Sun-Bulletin, April 3, 2008 •• 902 words •• ID: bng51100011* BINGHAMTON City water superintendent retires The City of Binghamton's water and sewer superintendent retired on Friday. Kevin Transue's retirement comes about one week after the city announced a 42 percent hike in water rates.) Last Thursday, April 17, a bipartisan group of about 30 citizens including four or five former city councilmen (a lot of people for a small town of 45,000 on short notice with no advertising ) gathered at an open public meeting to voice their concerns and implement a plan of action. They now hope to meet with Mayor Ryan and City Council at an open and televised public town hall meeting at Binghamton City Hall Chambers. You can view TV news coverage of this meeting at: http://www.wbng.com/news/local/17890139.html (CBS affiliate) http://news10now.com/content/all_news/1144...te/Default.aspx (Time Warner 24 Hour news channel) http://www.newschannel34.com/mediacenter/l...&navCatId=3 (NBC/ABC affiliate) Interestingly, the local newspaper The Press & Sun-Bulletin, the only local daily paper in this market, has refused to even mention the meeting or its results, and that despite my speaking to reporter Doug Schneider and the Executive Editor Calvin Stovall calling me the day after the meeting to argue with me and suggest I, rather than his newspaper, should look more closely at this issue. Among some of the more disturbing aspects of this is a shuffling of funds supposedly from the City’s General Fund to the Water Fund and then from the County that collects taxes and delinquent water rate to the General Fund. We have no proof the General Funds is fronting the Water Fund for delinquent payment until the county collects them. We have no idea what is happening to the delinquent payments once they are lumped with taxes and sent to the General Fund by the County. It is an accounting nightmare and one subject to abuse. Thing have gotten so bad the Broome County Executive Barbara Fiala wrote to the Mayor of Binghamton to say that this water payment issue risks cancelling the entire tax collection agreement between the City of Binghamton and Broome County. (Water bills spur Broome-city rift, April 11, 2008 •• 639 words •• ID: bng51360645 County threatens action over $1.4 million in debts By John Hill and Doug Schneider jhill@pressconnects.com Press & Sun-Bulletin BINGHAMTON) Frankly, the concern of many citizen is that Mayor Matthew T, Ryan is raiding the Water Fund to cover other waste and mismanagement. We can see no justification for an 81% water rate increase that will replenish the Water Fund in only one year. The Water Fund which had a surplus of over $1,000,000 just two years ago now has a deficit of $300,000. We are being told that because of that deficit and rising chemicals costs (only $100,000 more) we have to swallow a rate increase of 81% that will generate a surplus of $1,400,000 to $2,231,000 PER YEAR, EVERY YEAR! Also of concern to citizens is a no-bid contract for municipal wireless service that was predicated on a matching NYS grant of $29,000 for a total expense of $58,000. However now, eight months after the City Council vote to match the $29,000, we are told the cost for two years will actually be $98,000 or $70,000 from of Binghamton, all on the contract with no-bid. Frankly, citizens of Binghamton are very concerned. We can no longer believe the Mayor, there is no impartial City Council to oversee him and the local newspaper seems more like an extension of the public relations department of Binghamton City Hall than the Fifth Estate. We would like to see an audit and/or investigation by your office and perhaps by that of the NYS Attorney General. Citizens of Binghamton seems to have no other options. Thank you. Sincerely, Ed not allowed, I hope it works and we need it to work for the people of Broome County Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted April 23, 2008 Report Share Posted April 23, 2008 I hope it works and we need it to work for the people of Broome County It won't work. The Comptroller's Office will take one look at that letter, and conclude that the writer is a partisan crank, political groupie and/or stalker. The Attorney General's Office probably came to the same conclusion about Ed's very very important letter he sent them last year about Mary Clark and Citizen Action. That was also copied to all local media in exhibitionist/narcisisstic personality disorder style. Yet, there has been no word from our self proclaimed "modern day Thomas Paine" on what happened with that one, because NOTHING happened. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted April 23, 2008 Report Share Posted April 23, 2008 Hey Ed, Why don't you at least check your grammar when you write an official letter to someone. Nobody will take you seriously if you send letters like this one. I am sure someone who is as educated as you are, would understand how to write proper letters. Maybe you were the "child who was left behind"! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted April 23, 2008 Report Share Posted April 23, 2008 Hey Ed, Why don't you at least check your grammar when you write an official letter to someone. Nobody will take you seriously if you send letters like this one. I am sure someone who is as educated as you are, would understand how to write proper letters. Maybe you were the "child who was left behind"! Why don't you edit it yourself and re-send it? Most of the work has been done for you. In fact, why don't as many people as posible download it, add your own comments and send it to the NYS Comptroller and AG. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted April 23, 2008 Report Share Posted April 23, 2008 Why don't you edit it yourself and re-send it? Most of the work has been done for you. In fact, why don't as many people as posible download it, add your own comments and send it to the NYS Comptroller and AG. Not a very modern day Thomas Paine-like response. What happened to our great visionary leading the way, and copying his very, very important letter to all local media? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted April 23, 2008 Report Share Posted April 23, 2008 Not a very modern day Thomas Paine-like response. What happened to our great visionary leading the way, and copying his very, very important letter to all local media? Well that was done. Somebody was complaining about grammar. It was suggested they edit it and send themselves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted April 23, 2008 Report Share Posted April 23, 2008 Well that was done. Somebody was complaining about grammar. It was suggested they edit it and send themselves. Would the real Thomas Paine ever make such a flip suggestion? No, only a magalomaniacal phony jerk who got called out would. The letter is filled with partisan political rantings, and the only editing that would help would be to throw it away. That is what the State Comptroller probably did with it, just like the Attorney General did with last year's very, very important letter from Ed copied to all local media. @ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted April 23, 2008 Report Share Posted April 23, 2008 Would the real Thomas Paine ever make such a flip suggestion? No, only a magalomaniacal phony jerk who got called out would. The letter is filled with partisan political rantings, and the only editing that would help would be to throw it away. That is what the State Comptroller probably did with it, just like the Attorney General did with last year's very, very important letter from Ed copied to all local media. @ That's megalomaniacal phony jerk, and completely self absorbed loser too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.