Maxwell testimony continues tonight

Trial very unusual for Palermo

By Tyler King, NCC News

PALERMO, Fulton County -- When the Maxwell child endangerment trial continues tonight at 7 p.m., Erin Maxwell's stepmother Lynn Maxwell will continue her questioning by defense lawyer Salvatore Lanza. She will then be cross examined by Assistant District Attorney Mark Moody.

Rumblings around the court area, which doubles as the Palermo Town Hall, were that Lanza will then call her husband, co-defendant Lindsey Maxwell. This cannot be confirmed, however, on account of a gag order which prevents the lawyers and other key parties from talking to the media.

Night trial due to part-time Judge

Some have wondered why a trial of such significance is taking place exclusively at night. The explanation for this is a simple one; the presiding judge, Town Justice Robert Wood, has a day job. This is a part-time job for him, and indeed this is only one of the many ways in which this trial is out of the ordinary for the small town of Palermo.

Courtroom hastily assembled

Those who see the makeshift courtroom in the Town Hall will not balk at the use of the word "makeshift." It is the room in which the town board usually meets. Folding chairs and folding tables have been set up for the prosecution and defence, with paper placards to identify Moody and Vanza. These features make very clear that Palermo does not see trials like these often.

Moody rested the prosecution's case last night and Vanza then began his defence, briefly calling Palermo's dog control officer to testify that he did not know of laws restricting cats and birds in a household. He then called his client, Lynn Maxwell, whose testimony will continue tonight at 7.

No frontrunner for 23rd district Democrats

By Tyler King, NCC News

SYRACUSE -- Now that 23rd district representative John McHugh is almost guaranteed his confirmation as Army Secretary, Governor David Paterson will likely soon call a special election to fill his vacated seat.

No Democrat Yet, No Frontrunner

While district Republicans have already nominated their candidate, the Democratic Party has yet to announce whom it will field to try and wrench back the now-Republican district in a wide-open race. On Monday, Democratic Committee chairs from all 11 counties in the district will meet to determine who their candidate will be. Sue Montgomery Corey chairs the Essex County Democrats; she says there's no frontrunner for the candidacy.

"Initially, we all talked about the importance of not endorsing people early," she said. "We want to get the best person."

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She says she has been impressed by all of the candidates who submitted their qualifications to the chairs via email in advance of the Monday meeting. Each candidate will be interviewed by the chairs before they make a decision.

A Fighting Chance

Montgomery Corey also believes her party has an excellent chance of retaking the district from the incumbent Republicans, on account of historical voting patterns in the area.

"You know, in this district, the voters are a very independent bunch, and they tend to look across party labels when they vote at the local level," she says. "And we believe that this time around there are a number of folks that we've talked to who're willing to do that with the congressional race."

The 23rd district includes much of Central New York, including Oswego, Madison, and Jefferson Counties. Montgomery Corey expects a Democratic candidate to be nominated by Monday evening at the latest.

King: Canada is not a Hell-Hole

By Tyler King

The so-called Americans for Prosperity Foundation, not to be confused with the many Americans who oppose prosperity, is warning this country of an immense danger. That danger -- being more like Canada. The lobby group recently created a new agency with a well-sounding name; Patients United Now, not to be confused with those who intend to divide patients later.

They've run television ads in 11 states and the District of Columbia warning of the horrible consequences of a public healthcare system like that of America's neighbors to the north. A popular ad tells the story of Shona Holmes, a woman from Waterdown, Ontario, who was supposedly diagnosed with a brain tumor yet placed on a 6-month waiting list to see a specialist. Instead of waiting, she spent $100,000 of her own money to get treatment at the Mayo Clinic - had she not done that, the ad says, she would surely have died. But oh, how the truth so stubbornly gets in the way of political manipulation. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation recently revealed that Holmes did not have a brain tumor, but a lesser condition known as a Rathke's cleft cyst. It's a condition nobody has ever died from in Canada.

But that doesn't fit the horror story that this propaganda foundation would have unsuspecting television viewers believe. Instead, the buzz phrases are "deadly delays," "less liberty" and "more taxes." Patients United Now also says bureaucrats will supposedly make all the decisions, just like they do in Canada. Another reality check; under every provincial healthcare system in Canada, doctors decide on treatment; bureaucrats make sure it's paid for. The television ads also have you believe that vital treatments and procedures are denied in Canada, because, quote - "government says patients aren't worth it." What they don't explain is why a recent Harvard Medical School study shows Canadians outliving Americans by an average of two years. It also shows Canada accomplishing this while spending almost $3,000 per person less on healthcare than the United States does, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

There's no question that public healthcare is far from perfect; but maybe if this healthcare debate was centered on reality and fact instead of manipulation and lies, we'd all think a bit more of the politicians who are currently debating it.

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After 14 years, Onondaga County Parks Commish to Retire

By Tyler King, NCC News
July 29, 2009

SYRACUSE -- Bob Geraci has worked with Onondaga County parks for 31 years. For the past 14, he has held the position of Parks Commissioner. But this fall, that tenure will come to an end. Geraci announced his pending retirement today, but says he leaves the county parks system in an enviable condition:

"We get lots of peer reviews and questions from around the country," he proudly stated, "[asking] how do you do this? How'd you do that? [Saying] my goodness, that's fantastic. And we're well-known in the community of Parks and Recreation Departments."

He also had a simple answer when asked to name his biggest accomplishment as Commissioner.

"Every single park was renovated during these last 14 years," he said, adding "why I'm proud of that is because parks are timeless."

Geraci said that his eventual successor's greatest challenge will be the ever-shrinking budgets for parks; though the department's increasing success in drawing private financing has mitigated that handicap. The next Onondaga County Parks Commissioner has not yet been named; that will be up to County Executive Joanie Mahoney.

Councillor says much work to be done on Syracuse roads

By Tyler King, NCC News
July 28, 2009

SYRACUSE -- On Sunday, the New York Times reported that this state's roads ranked 43rd in the nation in quality. Common Councillor Van Robinson doesn't see Syracuse as an exception.

As the chair of the city's planning committee, Robinson deals with poor road conditions on a regular basis. He believes the weather provides a natural handicap for state roads:

"We use salt to clear the ice and snow away, which has a deteriorating effect upon concrete and asphalt," he explains. "We have frequent freezing and thawing periods which does damage to our roads. So, climate-wise, we're not in the best area for highways."

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For that reason, Robinson believes there's no time like the present to tear down I-81, a plan he has long been associated with. He continues to believe that there is reason to be optimistic about his proposal:

"I believe we are number six or seven, nationally, for highways that are to be seriously considered for demolition."

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The study ranking New York 43rd in road quality was carried out by the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials.

Ford on the rise nationally, and locally

July 27, 2009
By Tyler King, NCC News

SYRACUSE -- The Ford Motor Company surprised a bevy of analysts when it announced more than $2 billion in second-quarter profit this year. At a time when American car manufacturers have become legendary for their struggles, Ford has emerged from the red far quicker than most expected.

At Koerner Ford of Syracuse, Sales Manager David Allsop isn't surprised by his company's national success.

"Everything's been fantastic," he says. "We can't keep our vehicles in stock, and that's one of our issues; we don't have enough vehicles!"

But it hasn't been a simple matter of marketing cars; Allsop says tough choices were required for Ford to emerge so strongly.

"Ford has done a lot of realignment," he admits. "They've taken some serious initiatives to cut back in personnel, cut back in production, putting a fantastic product on the market is really key to it."

Nonetheless, Allsop has appreciated the media's surprise at Ford's comeback; alongside good ratings for Ford's vehicles, the positive financial news has effectively been free publicity.

"Ford is in the limelight ... Consumer Reports is on our side, we have some fantastic press - we're completely out of the category of Chevy and Chrysler."

He says there's a simple reason why buyers have returned to Ford, but not to its American counterparts.

"There's a lot of fear factor in doing business with them, 'cause they don't know where they're going."

Ford was the only one of the "big three" American automakers that did not declare bankruptcy or accept government aid.

Ex-Chief Halladay's journey a difficult one

By Tyler King, NCC News
July 14, 2009

SYRACUSE -- When former Syracuse Chief Roy Halladay takes the mound for the American League All-Star team tonight (8pm, FOX), it will be the latest stage of a voyage highlighted by both great expectations and great disappointment.

Halladay, a star prospect when he made his full-season debut for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2000, struggled mightily at the outset, setting a Jays record for highest earned run average by a regular starting pitcher. Toronto in response sent Halladay back to the minor leagues to recreate his game; a path he finished in 2001 with the Chiefs.

“It was just a matter of getting his command,” former big-leaguer Steve Grilli, the Chiefs’ television color commentator at the time, recalls, “and mechanically, they just kind of broke him down and rebuilt him.”

Since being rebuilt, Halladay has gone on to win a Cy Young award as best American League pitcher, and placed 2nd and 5th in two other years of Cy Young voting. Tonight will mark the sixth all-star appearance for the former Chief now frequently referred to as one of the best in baseball.

Related:
Roy Halladay’s Career Stats from baseball-reference.com
Roy Halladay’s Minor League Statistics from baseball-reference.com