Weak Turnout at the Republican Election Party

November 4, 2009


There was no disguising the weak turnout at the Republican Election Night gathering at the OnCenter Tuesday night. You could count the people gathered around the small table of food on two hands. Most of the chairs and the tables were empty. "The local towns always have their own parties," said New York State Senator John DeFrancisco, R-Syracuse.

What he left out is that the GOP gathering usually draws a much bigger crowd anyway. He did not mention that Steve Kimatian took the Republican nomination away from Otis Jennings in a primary, so each had his own party somewhere else. Maybe Kimatian would have come if he won.

So You Think You Can Dance played on a TV screen in the ballroom until 15 minutes after the polls closed. Candidates looked for results on a computer in the next room.

"It's a little upsetting because we came expecting a big screen, which we've had in the past," said Jim Corl Sr., Chairman of the Cicero Republican Committee. "We had to physically call in a kid with a lap top. It's embarrassing."

It seemed County Legislature Chair William Meyer, R-Cicero had bigger problems than event attendance. He found himself behind and declined to talk with reporters about it.

"He's a good, level-headed guy," said Mike Radziewski, a member of a Republican Party committee. But, his opponent Ed Szczesniak "definitely does have some name recognition."

Meyer eventually secured a win and the Republicans did gain a seat in the County legislature. But few seemed in the mood to celebrate.

Kimatian never showed.

Man Accused of Breaking into Home and Stealing $500

November 17, 2009

Lissette Tejeda's hands shook in Onondaga County Court this afternoon as she accused Eric Moore of breaking into her home, binding her with duct tape, and stealing $500.

Moore, along with two other men, entered her home through a basement window around 3 a.m., on August 19, 2008, Tejeda said. He sat on top of her as the two other men ransacked her room.

When Moore turned his head, the bandana tied around his face slipped, and she recognized him, Tejeda said. "Eric, why you doing this to me?" she asked. "My name isn't Eric, bitch. That's not my name." she said Moore responded.

Tejeda told the jury that Moore was a friend of her spouse, who was in prison last August for violating his parole. In the week leading up to the robbery, she said Moore asked her how long her spouse would be gone.

Before Tejeda testified, Moore told reporters outside the courtroom today, "I've got nothing to hide. I'll tell you whatever you want to hear after this is all over whether I'm at the Justice Center or on the street." No DNA or fingerprint evidence places him at the scene that night.

Eric Moore's brother, Charles Moore, pleaded guilty to the burglary last Thursday, but is not expected to testify for the prosecution. He will receive the minimum sentence of five years.

Tejeda said she recognized Charles Moore by the way he walked. Tejeda was unable to identify the third man.

Once her two daughters entered her bedroom that night, Tejeda said she told the men they could find $500 under the carpet in her closet. "I would've given them anything. I just wanted them out of my house."

Republican Election Night Gathering Turnout is "Embarrassing"

Written November 4th, 2009

There wasn't much grand about the Grand Old Party's Election Night gathering at the OnCenter Tuesday night. A couple dozen Republicans found themselves in a ballroom with plenty of empty seats and a couple of TV sets to watch the returns on. “I’ve been to election nights where there were big screens and lots of people," said Linda Dudzinski , wife of Cicero Town Supervisor Chet Dudzinski, who was running for re-election. "It’s usually a much bigger event.”

“This year is different,” Jim Corl Sr., the GOP Town Chair in Cicero, said, "We had to physically call in a kid with a laptop [to get election results.] It’s embarrassing.”

State Senator John DeFrancisco, R-Syracuse, said the low attendance was because there were “about six [other] parties going on,” and the lack of a presidential election made people less interested in attending. He left out the fact one of those other parties held elsewhere was for Steve Kimatian, the Republican candidate for Syracuse mayor who was given little chance of winning.

The polls closed at nine and returns started coming in, but a crowd never materialized. Gathered around a table in a corner of the ballroom, Matt Rayo and his family celebrated his election to the Syracuse Common Council. Republicans gained another seat on the Onondaga County Legislature as Chairman William Meyer hung on in a race so close he wouldn’t talk to reporters until it was over. It was more relief than celebration.

Chet Dudzinski didn't need to see the results on a big screen. He'd been clobbered.

Now that's Using Your Noodle

Written November 3rd, 2009


They sat together in the jam-packed cafeteria of Our Lady of Pompei School - two 86-year-old women straining to hear each other over Augie and Rocco's Italian music (and the chatter of hundreds of politicians.) Jane Pigott, 86, of DeWitt, and Anne Clarke, 86, of Jamesville, said they attend because of what they call “good company and good food,” but also because of their passion for politics and obsession with voting.

“I never have missed out on voting,” she said, “I feel in my conscience that it’s my responsibility to find the best people and put them on the job.” Her time as a student at Syracuse University during the 1940s taught her the importance of community involvement, a dedication that has not gone away. Pigott was given an award by the St. Thomas More Foundation in Syracuse for her community efforts in the area.

The two gray-haired women spent the afternoon crouching at a table listening to over 250 politicians, parents, students, and hungry citizens talk about meatballs and the upcoming election. Jane Pigott says she has gone to every election day pasta dinner at Our Lady of Pompei School, and Anne Clarke enjoys every one she attends. “I love to have the chance to hear what people have to say, and I know Jane does too” Mrs. Clarke said, “Now if we could only get these music guys to quiet down just a bit, we could actually start talking to people.”

Miner Elected First Female Mayor of Syracuse

November 3, 2009

The Sheraton ballroom broke out in a roar of applause at 11:00 p.m. Tuesday when Stephanie Miner approached the podium to accept her role as the first woman mayor of Syracuse. During her victory speech, Miner said her work has only begun.

“Tonight we have convinced people that we share the power in believing we can make this city better,” Miner said to a ballroom full of supporters. “But together we have tremendous obstacles to overcome.”

Miner made winning look easy. Initial returns showed her with 52- percent of the vote in a three-way race, and while they watched the numbers come in supporters talked about what the expected from a Miner administration.

Miner’s media consultant, Paul Novak said he was glad Miner recognized the ties between education, public safety and the economy. He pointed out one cannot be fixed without fixing the others.

Timothy Jennings-Bey, member of the Syracuse Model Neighborhood Facility, has spoken to Miner about the violence the community faces and said he is confident that she will do everything in her power to improve the situation.

At the end of the night, Thomas Young, former mayor of the city of Syracuse, introduced Miner and said he is confident she can rise up to the challenges that lie ahead of her.

“Stephanie Miner has the intellect, the energy, the determination and the devotion to lead Syracuse in the challenging years ahead of us,” Young told the crowd. Music blared, that roar of applause began and out strode Stephanie Miner.

Concern over raucous Mayfest partying remains

November 3, 2009

The traditional Election Day Spaghetti Supper at Our Lady of Pompei School is not meant to be a place for debate. But if you ask a politician or government employee for an opinion about something, you will be sure to get a response. Take Mayfest, for instance. Ten days ago SU announced that it would hold classes on what used to be a day off. What was meant as a day for celebration for student achievement has become a raucous off-campus drinking party for many students.

While standing in line for pasta, mayoral candidate Otis Jennings (right) was asked about Mayfest. "I'm all about young people so I think it's critical that we have those events," he said. Jennings suggested moving the festivities to Walnut Park and adding fair-like activities such as "dunk a professor." He said that if Mayfest became an area for family and children, "the community won't have such a strong push back."

Others will always see the event as dangerous. "Mayfest creates some significant safety concerns each year for my office and it takes a tremendous amount of effort to make sure that someone does not get hurt," said Tony Callisto, the Chief of the Department of Public Safety.

When asked if Walnut Park would be a better location for the event, "Same thing, different place," Callisto said. Nothing would change with a different atmosphere. "The excitement comes from the alcohol."

Students are trying to negotiate with University officials. In an effort to keep their special tradition, they have suggested two days for Mayfest - one for academic purposes and a second day to party. Otis Jennings fully supports this idea. His only suggestion: "Make sure it has a vibe!"

Victim Gives Tearful Testimony Against Accused Robber

November 18, 2009

On the witness stand in Onondaga County Court, Lissette Tejeda took a moment to regain her composure before identifying Eric Moore as one of the three men who broke into her home at 2012 Bellevue Ave., more than one year ago. Tejeda said the three men stole $500.

Tejeda said she was woken up at 3 a.m. on Aug. 19, 2008 and saw a man climbing on her bed towards her. She said the man sat on her and quickly duct tapped her wrists and mouth. She said she could feel him put a gun to her head when he covered her face with a pillow.

At first, Tejeda was not able to recognize the men. It wasn’t until the man who had her pinned to the bed removed the pillow and turned his head that she said she recognized him as Eric Moore.

“I said ‘Eric, why are you doing this to me?’” Tejeda said. “Then his eyes got real big and he said ‘My name is not Eric, Bitch.’” She said she had seen Moore many times before because he was a friend of her spouse who was in prison at the time.

Tejeda said she recognized Eric Moore’s brother, Charles Moore because of the way he walked. Last week, Charles Moore pleaded guilty to a lesser charge in exchange for a sentence of five years in state prison. Tejeda was not able to identify the third man.

During a break before Tejeda's testimony, Charles Moore told reporters "I've got nothing to hide."