The Brent Wilkes interview Part2

Well part 1 left off with Wilkes telling me PERMA’s -$28.5 million loss had nothing to do with his sudden resignation as PERMA president. I’ll pick it up from there.

Me. So how long had you been thinking of retiring from the presidency of PERMA?

Brent. At least two years

Me. So just one more time for the record. The loss of -$28.5 million had absolutely nothing to do with your resignation from PERMA?

BRENT. Look the Board of Directors begged me to stay. You can call them if you wish and they will tell you themselves.

Me. Can I have their phone numbers?

Brent. NO

Brent. Look I want to talk about the real issues of Saratoga like the Rec center.

Me. Ok we’ll skip PERMA for now. Why do you have a pathological dislike of the rec center?

Brent. The rec center is a fire trap. Poorly built, with no showers .The entire project is a failure.

Me. I suppose in an ideal world with loads of funding and a large paid staff showers would have been included, but showers even then have drawbacks.

Brent. Like what?

Me. Well you do have children mixing with adults when they are most vulnerable. That calls for professional supervision and then security for the lockers is another issue. Also nether the east or west side fields have showers and people run, play baseball, tennis and other sports without any issues. So what else don’t you like about it beside the fact Johnson built it?

Brent. The building is a death trap waiting to burst into flames. Do you know it doesn’t even have a certificate of occupancy?

Me. I didn’t know that?

Brent. The building is such a firetrap they couldn’t get one.

Me. Look Brent I don’t know Fire Chief Williams but I did know his father, Fire Chief Tippy Williams. He was a friend of my father and assistant Chief under my father when my father was Fire Chief. He became Chief after my father’s death. No son of Tippy Williams would ever let one child into that building if it was the fire trap you claim.

I have since learned that a certificate of occupancy was issued and that Kyle York himself is in possession of a copy. I have also learned that all the building materials used were sent out to be independently tested for their fire resistant qualities and they all surpass industry standards. I also feel quite confident in saying now that Brent Wilkes at the time of this interview was well aware of these facts. With that in mind I am quite confident in saying Brent Wilkes is a liar. Feel free to file libel charges against me Wilkes. But for now I digress.

Brent. I also don’t like your blog. I find your writing one sided and unfair. Why do you hold me to one standard and you never criticize Johnson?

Me. Fair enough Brent. Because I pretty much know Johnson’s life story. How he became wealthy, his fiscal interest in local restaurants and have found them all to be legit. I am also very aware of all his philanthropic pursuits such as donating his whole salary to the Hawley home foundation. This is the same foundation that granted him a scholarship. You on the other hand have a very impressive resume filled with unsubstantiated claims. Frankly I don’t think you have been properly vetted.

Brent. What about Fort Johnson and the way he hires outside attorneys and refuses foil requests.

Me. I have also found Johnson to be very open and forthright. I also believe the City should have the best attorneys possible. The unions always do. As far as FOIL requests, when Val Keehn was Mayor she denied every foil request I ever made.

Me. I have a question for you. I asked you at The Skidmore meet the candidate’s night. “If you were Mayor would you ask the Unions for concessions” after I did read some police salaries that I admit were on the high end. You never did answer, but gave a very misleading response about Police having a base salary of 30 to 40k.That is what a cadet makes in the academy before he is even a probationary patrolmen. Most cops easily make over 70k plus benefits. I tried to correct you but you shut me up, then for the rest of the evening you refused to take my questions and even stopped Chris Mathiesen from taking my question twice. I don’t see how that’s open and transparent.

At this point I’m including the video of me asking the question of “Would he ask the Unions for concessions” Sorry Kyle I was using a $79 Kodak camera and didn’t record myself asking the questions. And frankly Kyle after you wasted my time with bullshit allegations of Rec center building code violations I’m not really concerned what you think.

Again back to the interview.

Brent. John you don’t understand. You can’t go into labor negotiations demanding concessions. You have to have an open mind. Work with the Unions. But yes I would hope for Union Concessions. Again I think you are holding me to a higher standard than Johnson and you’re being unfair and turning this into a negative campaign.

Me. Really that’s funny. Do you see whose sitting next to you?

Brent. Yes my campaign manager Pat Kane.

Me. Do you know who he is?

Brent. Yes.

Me. That’s the Pat Kane who was Skip Sirrocco’s campaign manager 4 years ago when he defeated Tom McTygue. Tell me Pat are you proud of that campaign?

Pat Kane. In retrospect I would have done a few things differently

Me. That was without a doubt the dirtiest campaign this city has ever seen against a man who was a respected Commissioner of Public Works for over thirty years. Don’t ever complain to me about a negative campaign.

Me. You want to talk about rude comments Pat? The other day a comment was left on the Saratogian website “Johnson’s face is always red because his wife Julie slaps him before he goes to work.” At this point Pat starts to laugh. So Pat you think that’s funny? So let me get this right. When someone ridicules your opponent its funny, but when I reticule you candidate I’m being unfair? A bit hypocritical don’t you think Pat?

Pat. I think Brent has to go.

Me. Fine. Brent you are free to write anything you want on my blog. A rebuttal, call me an asshole, whatever. I promise I won’t change a word of it. The only condition is you sent it in a WORD format. I’m just a poor boy with a PC and I’m not an apple baby and I’m not your secretary either. Word format so I can cut and paste and you got it.

Conclusion.

Well it's safe to say me and the Misses won’t be spending Thanksgiving at the Wilkes house this year. But seriously, I don’t trust Brent. I believe he has milked PERMA for his own personal gain at the expense of injured workers. I think he has deliberately misled the public. I think he is simply against the Rec center because Johnson built it. I believe he is a big government kind of guy who believes our taxes are low and his job is to educate the public why they need to pay higher taxes and once again I reiterate. I believe Brent Wilkes lied to me about the rec center. That alone is reason enough to disqualify him for Mayor or even as a legitimate spokesperson for Charter Change

Is that a bit harsh? Yes, but the stakes are high, with the very form of government we have at risk.

I will have many new posts leading up to the election so stay tuned....

Till next time goodnight.

My interview with Brent Wilkes part1; as much fun as a root canal.

Well I was called by Pat Kane, campaign director for Brent Wilkes about meeting with Brent for an interview. OK, I said no problem. So we met Friday at Stewards in town and I will give a blow by blow description.

Pat came in with Brent and they took their place at the table and we all shook hands. So far so good I thought. Now many of you know I have what is commonly called a “wire” to wear for meeting truly felonious characters. In this case thought I put my voice recorder on the table and asked.
Do you mind if I tape this? The reply was icy as he said yes I do. OK so much for open and transparent.So without a voice recorder I will relate our conversation as truthfully as I can recall.

Brent said he had a few questions for me. I said ask anything you want. So he went into he respected my first amendment rights, but then he cut to the chase.

Brent; You have been lying about me on your blog and I believe it is slanderous.

Me; First Brent I couldn’t have slandered you for the description applies to the spoken word so I believe you would like to say I libeled you. But let’s forget that and get on to the accusations that I lied about you. Give me a specific instance where I lied about you.

Brent; you claimed I lived in eight places in 15 years.

Me; I got that off your linkedin page. You have to join LinkedIn as you do Facebook and YOU as the account holder are responsible for what it says.

Brent; You should have called me to verify that info.

Me; I don’t have you phone number and your whole claim is bullshit but I will print a statement.

So here it is.

Brent Wilkes denies he has lived in 8 places in 15 years.

Me; Next lie Brent

Brent; You called me lazy incompetent, and a liar.

Me; I didn’t call you anything. I asked the question are you,
1. Lazy
2. Incompetent
3. Hiding something {I will have much more on that in part2}
I stand by that question Brent. You were late with you Campaign Financial Disclosures for the second time and Saratoga Citizen was also late. So I ask you again Brent what are you LAZY,INCOMPETENT OR HIDING SOMETHING?

I then told him to fucking sue me if you fucking wanted to and go to the back of the fucking line to wait your turn. I also reminded him that he asked to meet me.
Now my turn to ask questions.

You were president of PERMA.

Brent;Yes

Me; With you at the helm Brent PERMA showed operating losses of
2006 = -$4.8 million HERE
2007 = -$3.4 million HERE
2008 = -$375 thousand HERE
2009 = -$6.7 million HERE
2010 = -$28.5 million HERE

Brent: that wasn’t my fault. Workers Compensation Reform Act of 2007 “the act” HERE was to blame.

Me; according to many sources the act was a success. It increased the maximum weekly payout that hadn’t had an increase in 11 years, but also targeted reform of self-insured trusts such as PERMA that had high management fees and high rates of insolvencies. The Governor’s task force wrote In 189 pages of closely reasoned text, that New York abandon this particular model for insurance calling it unsustainable

Brent; That’s not true the act was a failure, our trust was different blah,blah blah.

Me; Next, you are the founder of Northeast Association Management.

Brent.Yes

Me. Is it fair to say you own 50%

Brent. Yes

Me. Is it fair to say you own 90%

Brent. Yes

Me. Is it fair to say you own 95%

Brent.Yes.

Me. So PERMA hired your company Northeast Association Management a for profit company of which you both own and are president of to manage it at a rate of roughly 6 million a year, give or take?

Brent. Yes

Me. Do you see a potential conflict of interest?

Brent.No

Me. Are you kidding me? Your President of a fucking nonprofit who just happens to hire your for profit privately owned {by you no less} company?

Brent. I had nothing to do with PERMA picking my Company the decision is made individually by the board of directors of PERMA.

Me. OK if you say so Brent.Next, is it fair to say that 50% of Northeast Association Management s income is derived from PERMA?

Brent.Yes

Me. 90%?

Brent.Yes

Me.95%?

Brent.Yes

Me. Do have any other clients other than PERMA?{ his resume states about Northeast Association Management NEAMI provides. NEAMI nonprofit services include growing exiting organizations, feasibility analysis, trade show sales and conference management non dues revenue generation, corporate sponsorship programs, advertising sales, visual communications, organizational design, budget management, strategic planning recruitment and evaluation of personnel, event and meeting planning and self-insurance service}

Brent. About 5%

Me. Would it be fair to say without PERMA’s account Northeast Association Management your company would be bankrupt?

Brent. No

Me. Brent the way I understand it most companies seek to grow and expand and diversify their client base. Why for all intent and purposes PERMA your only client?

Brent. We chose to concentrate our attention on PERMA so we could give them better service.

Me. But Brent they lost fucking millions and millions for years and that’s good management service?

Brent. Without me they would have lost more.

Me.So in 2010 PERMA lost -$28.5 million?

Brent. ts not fair to use that number as the 2007 reform act was to blame.

Me. In 2010 in the middle of a fiscal year you resigned as President of PERMA the same year they had a record loss of -$28.5 million?

Brent.Yes

Me. Did that resignation have anything to do with the loss?

Brent.No

To be continued tomorrow…..

Your chance to meet Brent Wilkes

Just in time for Halloween
Saratogians today is your lucky day as Brent Wilkes will be at a house party hosted by Saratoga’s own resident crackpot and retired sex therapist Amejo Amyot from 7:00pm – 8:30pm tonight at 919 Woodlawn Ave. Phyllis{ her name before a Indian spirit visted her and named her Amejo which is the indian name for dildo} Amyot is a rich ultra-liberal who considers herself Saratoga’s celebrity artist or as the cities official "Artist in Residence."

She was a vocal opponent of the city’s 8/11 memorial

Phyllis called the Twin Towers a monument to American greed and went on to disparage her fellow local artists as “embarrassing” Here

Just remember folks vote for Brent Wilkes and these people, you know the Amyot’s Kim’s, Keehn’s, Roache’s and Finneran’s of the city will be running City hall
Fuck Halloween that really is a scary thought

More fun facts about Brent Wilkes Brents boasts on his website in the about Brent section “…nationally, he serves on the board of directors of a national self-insured trust for health insurance."
All I can find is: "NLC Mutual Insurance Company: Member, Board of Directors, 1994-2000"

That was 11 years ago Brent. Not exactly open and transparent.

Federal judge rules against NXIVM;Calls treatment of ex-member deplorable.

Well well some of you think I forgot about Raniere. No such luck Keith, I’m just muti-tasking. I have always had faith in the judicial system and the good guys don’t end up getting screwed. Such is the case in NXIVM’s attempt to disrupt the pending bankruptcies of two its former members, Susan Dones and Kim Woolhouse.
In a 29 page decision that looks like it was written to send a message to NXIVM and its “phalanx of attorneys”, U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Brian D. Lynch has tossed all but one of NXIVM’s causes of action and allowed the women’s bankruptcy cases to proceed to discharge. All that NXIVM “won” in this year long legal battle was a ruling that Dones has to destroy any NXIVM-related materials that she still has in her possession and that she is forbidden from disseminating the infamous videotape where Raniere talks about having had people killed for his beliefs that just happaned to turn up on a russian website




The entire decision is available HERE.

Some of the more notable aspects of the decision:

* The court took issue with the fact that once it was ordered to produce proof of the damages that Dones and Woolhouse had supposedly caused, NXIVM withdrew all of its claims for financial damages. It didn’t help that NXIVM did this just 5 weeks before the start of the trial.

* The court refused to accept NXIVM’s argument that its infamous Confidentiality Agreement precludes anyone who signed it from ever revealing anything about NXIVM. To the contrary, the court specifically ruled that the agreement does not cover “personal or private meetings with NXIVM members or agents.”

* The court also refused to accept NXIVM’s argument that another one of its agreements precludes anyone who has taken one of its intensive courses from ever revealing anything about NXIVM. And the court specifically ruled that the other agreement “does not cover the entire scope of information about NXIVM, its business or its agents and affiliates.”

* The court ruled that there is no evidence to support NXIVM’s claim that Dones and Woolhouse violated their Confidentiality Agreements with NXIVM.

* The court found that Dones and Woolhouse did not attempt to extort money from NXIVM.

* The court decided that even though it allowed NXIVM to introduce several emails that had been illegally obtained from Joe OHara’s private email account, it could not conclude that the attachments to those emails contained “proprietary information” for the simple reason that NXIVM failed to introduce any of those attachments as evidence. (A real nice job by the Stormin’ Mormon on that one!).

* The court ruled that Dones and Woolhouse had not used any of NXIVM’s materials for their own benefit. And it also ruled that the two women had not attempted to lure away any of its NXIVM’s customers and potential customers.

* The court decided that even though Dones (but not Woolhouse) demonstrated animus towards NXIVM, this issue had nothing to do with her bankruptcy case. And it found that NXIVM had not offered any proof that Dones had actually done anything to cause any harm to the child that the court refers to as “G____” and that I assume to be Gaelen.

* The court rejected NXIVM’s claim Dones had filed false claims with local health authorities in New York about potential food poisoning at one of the cult’s events. Although the decision doesn’t specify, I assume this is a reference to the illegal café operation at NXIVM’s headquarters at 455 New Karner Road. (Hello, Albany County Department of Health staff who are constantly reading this blog, can’t you do something about this?).

* The court dismissed NXIVM’s claim that Dones and Woolhouse had failed to disclose all of their assets at the time they filed for bankruptcy, which is the same argument that was used to get Barbara Bouchey’s bankruptcy case dismissed. Oh, and the assets that they supposedly failed to disclose were their potential claims against NXIVM and their list of NXIVM students in Washington.

* The court totally rejected NXIVM’s argument that Dones and Woolhouse had refused to return all of the cult’s materials and pointed out that they had actually tried to turn over all of those materials even before the lawsuit was filed. Or as the court put it, “Dones made repeated, sincere and unsuccessful attempts to return NXIVM’s materials but was stymied by NXIVM’s refusal to accept the materials in a reasonable manner. The court id left with the impression that NXIVM was less interested in getting the materials back than in using the turnover of the materials to gain an advantage regarding its other claims.” Well put your honor if I do say somyself

* The court rejected NXIVM’s request that Dones and Woolhouse be ordered to pay the astronomical legal bill that the cult’s 6 attorneys ran up on this case. Oh, and did mention that Dones and Woolhouse represented themselves in this matter?

* The court concluded its decision with the following observations:
- “While the Court is less than entirely sympathetic with Dones under the circumstances, NXIVM’s claims and litigation tactics were disproportionate and largely lacking in merit.”

- “NXIVM’s pursuit of Woolhouse is another matter entirely and sheds light on its true motivations. Apart from participating in the April 2009 meeting with Raniere and joining in the subsequent email with the other participants, there is absolutely no evidence that she did anything to harm NXIVM. Her ‘sin” was to attempt to walk away after discovering that NXIVM was not what she thought or hoped. In return, she was labeled a “suppressive”, a term that NXIVM applies to former associates who leave the company or whom NXIVM perceives to be its enemies, and subjected to protracted litigation from two large law firms and a phalanx of attorneys. Despite multiple depositions and extensive discovery, they were never able to prove that Woolhouse did anything wrong. NXIVM’s treatment of Woolhouse in this adversary proceeding was, in a word, deplorable.”

So, here’s what I want to know: A JUDGE WHO IS 3,500 MILES AWAY FROM HERE SEE THROUGH ALL THE LEGAL BULLSHIT THAT NXIVM USES TO ABUSE AND INTIMIDATE PEOPLE WHO HAVE STOOD UP TO RANIERE. Time for our local judges to do the same.
My next post will be about the Local election, till then good night

Saratoga Springs Democratic Chairman Thilo Ullmann-Zahn protests against himself.

Well last Saturday I got a real chuckle when I wondered down to the “Occupy Saratoga” protest in downtown Saratoga Springs. The usual group of well-heeled leftists who seem to be mainly retired State Workers were in attendance. North Face jackets along with a Hermes scarf on the well-tanned lady seemed to be the attire of the day. I laughed while government retirees, whose main interest seems to be in stopping anyone from ramming a $5 copay down their throats in violation of the free life time taxpayer payed family health insurance policy claimed solidarity with the globes poor .

But then I saw the aristocratic Thilo Ullmann-Zahn holding up a protest sign. Looking quite dapper, Thilo was proudly holding a sign that read “Save Capitalism from the Capitalist.” Fucking funny coming from a wealthy man whose wife’s pension and his lifestyle is partially derived from stock and bond holding not to mention the man is a olive oil importer and capitalist himself. But after about an hour the wealthy mavens and aristocrats of Saratoga Springs became bored with their little foray in revolution and retreated back to their tanning huts and spa treatments.

So who is this strange man called Thilo that holds the rank of the city’s most powerful Democrat?

Well I first was told about Thilo four years ago. I was a member of the McTygue Democrats called “Democrats United” running against the Keehn faction ”Democrats for Change” for control of the party in Saratoga. I was the Democratic Committee person from district four who was pared with this strange Spaniard against my better judgment. So I carried my little petition for the two member district with Thilo and my name. But the tricky Spaniard had pulled a double-cross. His petition carried not my name but my opponents. Generalissimo Franco would have been proud. So ended by brief attempt at mainstream politics. Now I rely on no one but myself.

But I digress; later that day I made a trip to Albany’s Academy Park to see the Occupy Albany encampment. A little bit different than the well-coiffed Saratoga crowd. Many were long term unemployed that had already lost everything and had nothing else to lose. No money, no job, no health insurance. Their futures looked grim and bleak. They were in it for the long haul and freely talked of having no bathrooms at night and finding the best place to defecate away from the ever prying eyes of the Albany Police who were looking for any chance to drag one away on an indecent exposure charge.

Yes Thilo the real work of the revolution is messy and dirty and mean. These people were from another world compared to the sunshine leftist of Saratoga Springs. Even now Thilo when I envision you squatting in a Public Park I just smile.

More fun facts about Brent Wilkes

Brent on planning for Worker comp issues for PERMA.

"As a result, a majority of our members with June renewals saw their premiums increase substantially. These price increases are due to the uncontrollable costs being shifted onto workers' compensation providers statewide."

"…but we experienced an operating loss in FY09 and may again in FY10 and FY11."

"We can take a few years to restore adequate funding…."

From Frontlines Volume 25, Issue 1

Nancy Goldberg; Worst letter in the world

Well today Sunday the 23 of October lucky citizens of Saratoga were greeted with this charming letter from our own local witch, and star of the new Fox TV reality show "When facelifts go wild" Nancy Goldberg entitled “Time for change on City council ” in the Saratogian HERE.

We all remember Nancy the former chairwoman of the Zoning Board of Appeals who picked up her ball and bat and went home after clashing with Mayor Johnson over the Rec center. I have also had the distinct displeasure of dealing with Nancy myself on occasion and have found her to be one of the nastiest, backstabbing creatures that have ever inhabited Saratoga. A cultural elitist who seems to detest anyone without a PhD or a salary or retirement of less than 100k a year, she has been a vocal proponent of building McMansions in the cities green belt to the detriment of the cities environment and downtown core. Leading the respected Saratogian and renowned author Jim Kunstler to write in his blog Civitas.

“This development led to a bizarre reaction, embodied in the positions of Mayor Keehn and her appointed Zoning Board chief, Nancy Goldberg. They claimed that the new "density" of people living downtown was an undesirable thing.” HERE

Later Goldberg redefined this Keehn/Goldberg vision to a type of economic apartheid to make and keep Saratoga unaffordable to anyone who has a real job. This coupled with her fear that the great unwashed lower classes will rise up against her have driven her to call for greater police and fire protection in the city.

And while local waitress’s tell me she is one cheap women she has no problem buying influence with political candidates either herself or through a proxy

John Goldberg 66 SARAZEN{husband} MADIGAN $500.00 6/14/11

Susan Goldberg 66 SARAZEN [ Family dog?}MATHIESEN $500.00 06/21/11

John Goldberg 66 SARAZEN {husband} WILKES $500.00 6/07/11 12:00

Remember Goldberg is just a symbol of the whole Saratoga Springs Democratic Committees platform of fear. Nancy seems to have a clear political view that Saratoga must become a gated excusive community, run by people who share this view. She will tolerate no dissension, and believes that Wilkes, Mathiesen and Madaigan should be loved and trusted by everyone and questioned by no-one.

More run facts about Brent.

Did you know Brent by his own words was a failed Magazine publisher?

"2005 -2006 Publisher, Northeast Municipal Forum, Danvers, MA

Publisher of a monthly magazine launched in September 2005 for local

officials throughout New England’s cities and towns. The magazine was

designed to be a forum for discussion on municipal management issues

that are common to local governments in all six New England states.

Initial circulation was 7,500. The magazine ceased publication in May

2006 due to insufficient advertiser support."