Patronage alert: NY State Thruway Authority

Remember when Paul Clark ran the commercial with dozens of Keanes walking around waiting for their patronage jobs? Jim Keane was the candidate that year for County Executive. The voters overwhelmingly chose an unknown opponent over Keane because they wanted change. They knew Keane was all about the Keanes at the expense of the rest of us.

Now, I'm hearing through an anonymous source that Richard Keane, Jr. has just been given an $86,000/yr job with the Thruway Authority. Was this job posted for the rest of us to apply for or was it simply "owed" to one of the the Keanes? I know Richard Keane, Jr. He's a great guy. But how do you hand someone an $86,000/yr job during a recession when the rest of us are struggling to pay our bills? Jobs like this are par for the course for guys like Brian Higgins and Florida resident Jim Keane. They take care of their own at the expense of you and I. Remember, when you pay those outrageous thruway tolls to drive on our crappy roads, you are supporting jobs like this for the Keanes and the pensions that come with them. 1,200 people read this blog every week. I am very grateful to have so many interested neighbors.With friends like this, I have no problem being an "outsider".

Please help spread the word about jobs like this and start holding people like Florida resident Jim Keane and Brian Higgins responsible for them. Remember, when Higgins tells you how much our area needs Tim Kennedy, he really means that he, Jim Keane, and Steve Pigeon need guys Kennedy to continue their bidding. South Buffalo politics is one big charity and the Keanes are the biggest benefactors. Your kids will be forced to leave Western NY soon. Do you think there's an $86,000/yr job at the Thruway Authority waiting for them? I doubt it.

Abuse of Power #214: NY State Thruway Authority

In reading the paper today, I have to wonder in all seriousness if criminals have actually taken over New York state. Disgruntled New York state Thruway Authority/political hack Brian Rusk is now ready to spill the beans on corruption going on at the authority. He claims that William Eagan, a former town of Boston supervisor, is being paid twice the amount he should be. Eagan makes $92,000/year for a job that is described as a "right of way specialist". What does this job title even mean? He specializes in giving people the right of way?

The inspector general recently accused Rusk of making 1079 phone calls for his private PR business while on state time. If he had enough time to do that, what was he actually doing for the state? Most of us in the real world would never have the time to make that many phone calls during work time. I barely have enough time to eat a slice of pizza during my 45 minute lunch break. Rusk was making a paltry $86,000/year from the state to do nothing.

In related news today, governor Paterson proposed the closing of 41 state parks due to the state's budget problems. How can we afford to have parks when guys like Brian Rusk and William Eagan need no-show jobs? I blame you. Voters continue to inexplicably support the machine-backed incumbents while things like this go on on a daily basis.

Rusk fights back, says firing was retaliation : City & Region : The Buffalo News

Abuse of Power #212:Brian Rusk

Looks like $86,000/year wasn't enough for this scumbag. While he was supposed to be working for the New York State Thruway Authority (doing who knows what?), Brian Rusk was doing work collecting money for his "charitable" work. He was collecting tens of thousands of dollars from nursing homes , doctors offices, and health care groups for his work in helping children and adults from other countries disfigured in accidents and birth defects. This is why I never donate to large groups. You know some or all of the money is going to losers like this. Good thing our thruway tolls went up a few weeks ago to pay $86,000/year so scumbags like this can have no-show jobs.
Rusk fired over outside work on Thruway time : Latest Local News : The Buffalo News