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Hudson’s
Boss Hogg?
To
the Editor:
Even
those of us who have grown accustomed to the antics of Hudson
Mayor Rick Scalera are scandalized by his profane, childish,
nasty, and homophobic comments in your report on the latest
Hudson election scandal [Newsfront, Aug. 21].
Hudson residents aren’t that shocked anymore when Mayor Scalera
uses words like “ass” and “crap” with reporters. It isn’t
out of character for our mayor to be proud of being “devious”
and “hurting [his opponent’s] feelings.”
It comes as no surprise when this divisive and reckless mayor
makes not-so-veiled references to the sexual orientation of
some of his critics.
And we aren’t surprised that Mayor Scalera has no respect
for the law, or understanding of the concept of intellectual
property.
But all that said, as a fulltime Hudson resident and taxpayer,
I must correct two bold lies spread by the mayor in your useful
exposé of his latest outrages.
1. Mayor Scalera pretends to be indignant that his opponent,
Linda Mussmann, and the rest of her “reform” slate did not
come to him on bended knee, asking for his endorsement. Anyone
who knows Hudson politics knows this would have been a complete
waste of time. Indeed, the one local candidate (Colum Riley)
who was not part of Scalera’s good-ol’-boy network, but did
reach out to the mayor about running as a Democrat, was passed
over as expected.
2. Mayor Scalera ends with the outright lie that “no other
candidate has put in their name for the mayor’s race.” In
fact, former Mayor Ken Cranna did file nearly 200 signatures
to run against Scalera—but was legally challenged and knocked
out, much as Scalera is now trying to do to Mussmann.
Mussmann will give Scalera the run of his life this fall.
The immediate question many Hudson residents have is, who
is paying for all of Scalera’s complex legal maneuvers and
TV ads? The sources of his funding don’t appear in his campaign
finance filing, but it is widely assumed that St. Lawrence
Cement has a big hand in these shenanigans.
Sam
Pratt
Hudson
To the Editor:
In
an article from the Register Star dated Aug. 18, 2003,
Mayor Scalera was asked by the reporter, “Are you sorry you
did this?” (referring to taking over the Bottom Line Party
nomination).
“No,
I just wanted to make a point,” said Scalera.
Americans, especially those in the City of Hudson, can only
hope that the judge who handles this matter will also “make
a point,” and dole out the appropriate penalties as stated
in S17-122 New York State Election Laws; any person who:
“Pays or agrees to pay money or other valuable consideration
to any person for his services in canvassing for or otherwise
procuring the signatures of voters to a petition for the designation
of a candidate or candidates for party nomination or for election
to a party position to be voted for at a primary election,
or to a petition for opportunity to ballot at a primary election,
or to an independent nominating petition for public office,
is guilty of a misdemeanor.”
Although Scalera emphatically denies any knowledge of people
being paid to collect signatures, affidavits have been presented
to the board of elections stating that “someone” paid someone
to collect signatures. That “someone” needs to be penalized,
and not with just a slap on the wrist.
The mayor in the same article states he “will not lose any
sleep” if he loses the Bottom Line Party’s nomination. Well
the Mayor may not lose any sleep—but once again the taxpayers
will lose, for it is taxpayer dollars that will now have to
pay for the judicial process in deciding who will be the winner
in Scalera’s “little game of revenge.”
And what of the logo of the Bottom Line Party? Scalera is
quoted in Metroland as stating:
“The
house seems to be more important to Linda because her girlfriend
drew it. Quite frankly, anybody in elementary grade could’ve
drawn it. It was special to them, and it don’t mean anything
to me.”
Coming from Scalera, this statement does not surprise me,
for what does a “house” represent?
In this particular instance the logo depicts a home, not a
house. For most of us, a home represents warmth, security,
love, concern. A home is part of a community. Judging from
Scalera’s actions over the past few weeks, it is easy to see
how he misunderstood what that “home” represents.
(On another note—any elementary-grade student could have put
together a proper sentence rather than, “It don’t mean anything
to me.”)
I am not a resident of Hudson, so one must wonder why would
I even bother to take the time to write this letter to the
editor. Two reasons:
1. Because Scalera’s actions and attitude, (“It was meant
to be devious” was a quote by Scalera from the Metroland
article on his reason behind his actions) are a slap in the
face to every American that believes that they can have and
do have a choice, a voice, and a vote that could make
a difference. Americans expect, and rightly so, that our elected
officials be truthful and follow the rules.
2. Linda Mussmann is my friend, and in my humble opinion you
will not find a better person to help the people of Hudson
run their city. (That’s right, Linda Mussmann believes that
the people of Hudson should be involved in running their city.)
I end this letter with one thought—if this is the sort of
action that Scalera takes against a political rival, who in
his own words has stated “is no threat” to his re-election
as mayor, then what sort of “devious” plot would he be willing
to implement against a council member or other city member
that disagreed with him on an issue? (The name Jayme LaHut
comes to mind.) Now that, people, is a scary thought!
M.
Sanchez
Copake
Metroland
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Metroland reserves the right to edit letters for length; 300
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