In the same interview on WGXC on Thursday in which he disparaged Mark Allen's satiric video about the sidewalks of Hudson (he later retracted his statements, saying he was thinking of a different video), Tom DePietro, Common Council president, gratuitously attacked The Gossips of Rivertown, while trying to avoid actually mentioning its name. The same guest who spoke of Allen's video brought up the subject of the haul road and referenced a piece of misinformation that he hadn't read on Gossips. He didn't cite his source. Nevertheless, DePietro responded by saying: "The most frustrating thing about being involved in local politics is it runs on rumor, and if you read that disgraceful blog … you'll see that it's full of rumor, especially the comments, the people who comment on it … just like they'll say anything, and there's no correction. It's not … look, it's called Gossip, and it is gossip because it's not verified … and it's not factual."
You can hear the entire exchange here. It begins at 1:05:38. You'll know when it's over.
Tom is having a Brat Summer [fingernail polish emoji]
ReplyDeleteWhile having a discussion with two others, at 2:00 Tom tries to make a joke about Catskill that only he laughs at. Then he says this: "I've also made it clear that Catskill is where it's happening right now." (Made it clear to whom? Your wife? Your bud Kamal?)
ReplyDeleteShouldn't his statement be printed on a piece of paper and taped permanently to the outside of his office door on the second floor of City Hall that he is can rarely be found in? Ditto for the Mayor's office doors a few feet away. I mean, after all, Tom and Kamal are like a couple of peas in a pod, aren't they?
It may be true that Hudson is dying and that Catskill is rising, but for the Common Council "president" to say this publicly is frightening and so very unprofessional. Perhaps even a betrayal. Would Tom Depietro say the same thing in front of the council if asked to repeat it? Of course he wouldn't! He would come up with some excuse about how his words were "taken out of context," that he was "just kidding," or that he was referring to a different Catskill in some other country.
This guy is making decisions with far reaching consequences for all of Hudson? Why would anyone want to serve on the council if the so-called council president believes Catskill is the place to be and that Hudson is done for?
Carole and the Gossips of Rivertown live rent-free in Tom's mind, no PILOT or Spark of Hudson subsidy required.
ReplyDeleteAs Taylor Swift' sings in "Look What You Made Me Do"; I don’t trust nobody and nobody trusts me. I’ll be the actress starring in your bad dreams.
On a more serious note... Tom (who chose to pursue and hold a public office as President of the Council) can limit gossip and misinformation by engaging the public transparently, writing more publicly, and having fewer one-on-one meetings behind closed doors to pre-decide Council votes.
Tom is probably an excellent writer (didn't he have a whole successful career in publishing?) and no doubt a well-intentioned man. Just think about all the logic, information, and reason that residents (especially those traveling and unable to meet in person) are missing out on because Tom (and the current Mayor) do not write publicly or have Office Hours/Constituent Hours.