Latest / The Hot Line w/ Jeff Graham / December 12, 2025

Transcript

December 12, 2025 · The Hot Line w/ Jeff Graham

0:00
[SPEAKER_09]: This is CBS News on the hour sponsored by Steel.
0:15
[SPEAKER_16]: I'm Steve Kathan, opponent's president Trump's big White House ballroom project of Gondecourt, as we hear from CBS's Linda Kenya.
0:22
[SPEAKER_12]: The first major lawsuit has been filed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and names President Trump and others, including Interior Secretary Doug Burgham.
0:31
[SPEAKER_12]: The lawsuit argues the administration failed to undergo legally required reviews, or receive congressional authorization for the project.
0:38
[SPEAKER_12]: The president had said the ballroom would be near, but not touching the White House structure.
0:43
[SPEAKER_12]: Then later demolish the entire East Wing.
0:45
[SPEAKER_16]: Democrats on the House oversight committee have released another batch of photos from the estate of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
0:53
[SPEAKER_16]: CBS's Jake Rose
0:53
[SPEAKER_27]: So these photos show anyone from former President Bill Clinton, President Trump, former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, filmmaker Woody Allen, in addition to Bill Gates, Richard Branson, and Prince Andrew.
1:05
[SPEAKER_16]: Republicans on the committee accused Democrats of cherry picking photos, CBS's Scott McFarlane.
1:10
[SPEAKER_21]: Democrats would argue it brings a lot of value.
1:12
[SPEAKER_21]: It underscores the importance of releasing the full Jeffrey Epstein case files because it shows that Jeffrey Epstein was operating.
1:18
[SPEAKER_21]: in some very powerful circles, and that maybe those case files show something the public needs to know, without defining what that something is.
1:26
[SPEAKER_16]: A federal judge has blocked ICE from redetaining Kilmar Abrago Garcia saying she feared they might take him into custody again hours after she ordered his release.
1:35
[SPEAKER_16]: Simon Sandoval, Motionberg, is his attorney.
1:38
[SPEAKER_14]: He's heading back to Prince George's County to be with his family, with his child, with his wife and her friends.
1:45
[SPEAKER_14]: everyone is extremely extremely happy about this.
1:49
[SPEAKER_14]: Obviously everyone knows that it's not the of the story.
1:51
[SPEAKER_16]: A breakout García faces federal human smuggling charges.
1:55
[SPEAKER_16]: Days of torrential rain in Washington states caused historic floods, stranding people on rooftops, washing over bridges, forecaster Jessica Birch says there is no real lead-up.
2:06
[SPEAKER_23]: Monday afternoon, more showers expected to push not only from the Pacific Northwest, but this time it's making it's way all the way down to the Bay area as we head into Tuesday morning.
2:14
[SPEAKER_23]: So wet conditions from San Francisco all the way back up in a Seattle that's already seen so much so far.
2:19
[SPEAKER_23]: And then we're not out of the clear yet.
2:21
[SPEAKER_16]: earlier this week Marie Steinberg got into her car to drive to work in Eden to North Carolina.
2:26
[SPEAKER_16]: She spotted a man in the back seat.
2:29
[SPEAKER_25]: He looked so cold and so scared, I thought, well, I'm not going to try and provoke him.
2:35
[SPEAKER_25]: I'm going to try and be very, very nice and pull the mother act down him.
2:38
[SPEAKER_16]: The mother act seems to have worked.
2:40
[SPEAKER_16]: Turns out the man was in a scape inmates.
2:43
[SPEAKER_16]: He was taken into custody without incident.
2:45
[SPEAKER_16]: Checking Wall Street, right now the Dow is down 239 points.
2:49
[SPEAKER_16]: The S&P is down 77 NASDAQ down more than 400.
2:54
[SPEAKER_16]: This is CBS News.
2:57
[SPEAKER_09]: Check off the wishlist with instant savings in free battery offers on select steel tools.
3:02
[SPEAKER_09]: Shop online at steelusa.com or in-store.
3:08
[SPEAKER_22]: We all hear the radio ads about the IRS.
3:10
[SPEAKER_22]: They tell you to be afraid to be scared.
3:12
[SPEAKER_22]: And they try to frighten you into calling.
3:14
[SPEAKER_22]: I'm not here to do that.
3:15
[SPEAKER_22]: Tax relief advocates is different.
3:17
[SPEAKER_22]: TRA is here to tell you that if you owe money to the IRS whether it's 5,000, 50,000, or 500,000, we have a solution.
3:24
[SPEAKER_22]: It doesn't matter if you're sitting in your car at work or with your kids, no matter where you are.
3:29
[SPEAKER_22]: Call now.
3:29
[SPEAKER_22]: 800-497-0593.
3:32
[SPEAKER_22]: Don't lose hope.
3:33
[SPEAKER_22]: TRA can eliminate or reduce what you owe to the IRS.
3:37
[SPEAKER_22]: Generous programs are now available that can give you a fresh start.
3:41
[SPEAKER_22]: Our passion is taxes, and helping individuals fix their IRS problems.
3:45
[SPEAKER_22]: We have over 1,000 five-star reviews on Google and in eight plus with the better business bureau.
3:50
[SPEAKER_22]: You don't need to be afraid of the IRS any longer.
3:52
[SPEAKER_22]: End your tax nightmare today by visiting us online at TRA.com or call 800-497-0593.
4:00
[SPEAKER_22]: That's 800-497-0593.
4:02
[SPEAKER_22]: Tax relief advocates, real solutions for real people.
4:10
[SPEAKER_16]: There's a warning for mushroom lovers in northern California.
4:13
[SPEAKER_16]: They can heal you, they can feed you, they can kill you.
4:15
[SPEAKER_24]: Health officials are urging people not to forage for wild mushrooms after an outbreak of poisonings in the San Francisco Bay Area.
4:23
[SPEAKER_24]: They say one person died another underwent a liver transplant.
4:27
[SPEAKER_24]: One year old child was hospitalized but has since recovered.
4:30
[SPEAKER_24]: The death cap mushrooms with a greenish yellow or off white cap and a ring underneath.
4:34
[SPEAKER_24]: Look and taste like other edible varieties, but experts say they contain amy toxins that can cause liver failure even after their boiled cooked or dried, eating just a mouthful of the mushrooms can be fatal, Deborah Rodriguez, CBS News.
4:48
[SPEAKER_16]: The online forum read it has filed a court challenge to the law that bands Australian children younger than 16 from having accounts on social media platforms.
4:58
[SPEAKER_16]: It's also been challenged by a Sydney-based digital freedom group.
5:02
[SPEAKER_07]: I'm Steve Kathan, CBS News.
5:22
[SPEAKER_19]: While new car pricing increase, Winter Guadal Seals has five, 2023 Ford F-150 XLT's for just $36.99.
5:30
[SPEAKER_19]: JD power retails these at $44.99.
5:33
[SPEAKER_19]: But at Wittrick's, they're just $36.99.
5:35
[SPEAKER_19]: They have three, 2024 RAM SLTs marked down to $31.99.
5:40
[SPEAKER_19]: Plus three, all wheel drive Nissan Rogues for just $21.498.
5:44
[SPEAKER_19]: Save money for the holidays and a truck or SUV now.
5:47
[SPEAKER_19]: At Wittrick Guadal Seals, they use car leader on Ado Washington Street for a long time.
5:52
[SPEAKER_07]: Happy Holidays from Herendris Contracting, the people who call you back.
5:57
[SPEAKER_07]: Herendris Contracting wishes you and your family a joyous holiday season, and a very happy new year.
6:07
[SPEAKER_10]: The Accua of the forecast is sponsored by Watertown Appliance, your locally owned appliance store that takes care of you seven days a week.
6:14
[SPEAKER_15]: Factory Street Watertown This afternoon, expect mostly cloudy skies and milder temperatures compared to yesterday with a few snow showers possible the high will reach 29 degrees.
6:23
[SPEAKER_15]: Tonight, skies will remain cloudy with some light snow leading to an accumulation of a coating to an inch.
6:28
[SPEAKER_15]: The low will drop the 23 degrees with your Accua of the forecast.
6:37
[SPEAKER_10]: Now, AM-1240-WAT and presents the Hotler, sponsored by Herringers Contracting, the roof people who call you back, LA Quarry, the destination for all your crushed limestone in the North Country, and Watertown Appliance, the proud studio sponsor for the Hotline with Jeff Graham.
6:57
[SPEAKER_06]: Well, good afternoon here, one and all, I'm Jeff Graham, I'm not a newsman, I'm not, I really shouldn't even be reporting this.
7:03
[SPEAKER_06]: I shouldn't be doing this.
7:05
[SPEAKER_06]: No, I'm not a licensed newsman.
7:09
[SPEAKER_06]: No, not.
7:10
[SPEAKER_06]: But anyway, um, earlier this morning about nine o'clock, the Board of Ethics Medit City Hall under the tutelage and supervision of one Stephen Jennings.
7:23
[SPEAKER_06]: And after about 12 to 14 minutes, they came out of cloister with this opinion.
7:30
[SPEAKER_06]: I'll read it.
7:32
[SPEAKER_06]: The city of Waterjown Board of Ethics finds no conclusive evidence from a complaint filed November 18th, whereby City Council Member Lisa Regiro violated the City Code of Ethics.
7:44
[SPEAKER_06]: However, the Board of Ethics issues no finding and considers the matter and reference to Council Member Regiro closed.
7:51
[SPEAKER_06]: Now, it did.
7:51
[SPEAKER_06]: There was a separate opinion about Cliff Olney.
7:54
[SPEAKER_06]: Again, it's finding no significant evidence of wrongdoing, but sort of, you know,
8:02
[SPEAKER_06]: lighting them up a little for so many emails and blind carbon copies.
8:06
[SPEAKER_06]: Remember I told you the other day on this show of shows?
8:10
[SPEAKER_06]: City Hall's got to grow up with this use of email.
8:13
[SPEAKER_06]: Everybody send an email to everybody, oh cursed, and what do you think?
8:17
[SPEAKER_06]: Now, she sends back what she thinks and builds it for three quarters of an hour or something.
8:21
[SPEAKER_06]: And then you have to share it with others.
8:23
[SPEAKER_06]: Oh, that's an ethical, no, stop.
8:25
[SPEAKER_06]: Stop.
8:28
[SPEAKER_06]: It's way too much of it.
8:30
[SPEAKER_06]: Too many, I've seen them all.
8:31
[SPEAKER_06]: Sometimes I get blind curve, copied.
8:33
[SPEAKER_06]: I've been blind copied on ones that was supposed to go to Miss Dr. Kimball.
8:37
[SPEAKER_06]: I didn't ask for them, but I got them anyway.
8:40
[SPEAKER_06]: So my point is, they got to grow up at City Hall on use of emails.
8:45
[SPEAKER_06]: You don't just keep sending stuff in your ass lawyers' questions because it costs money.
8:50
[SPEAKER_06]: Half the advice they give you is bogus anyway.
8:52
[SPEAKER_06]: And who comes out looking bad in this thing?
8:56
[SPEAKER_06]: This thing was cut and dried three weeks ago when it was brought before the Board of Ethics, cut and dried with the word juiced.
9:03
[SPEAKER_06]: Cut, dried.
9:06
[SPEAKER_06]: Yeah, we have to look up the expression and then they find nothing.
9:09
[SPEAKER_06]: That wasn't because Lisa was Jarrah hired an attorney.
9:13
[SPEAKER_06]: Big long island attorney.
9:15
[SPEAKER_06]: Uh-huh.
9:17
[SPEAKER_06]: I may have to use that attorney too.
9:19
[SPEAKER_06]: Hmm.
9:21
[SPEAKER_06]: See if I can get some justice because I'm not getting any in this state.
9:27
[SPEAKER_06]: I just, I just looked at this and I said, well, why did we do all of this?
9:32
[SPEAKER_06]: At the last minute, last sort of a denue mode to the, in terms of these people, they'd already been voted out of office.
9:38
[SPEAKER_06]: Why did we do it?
9:39
[SPEAKER_06]: And then we find it isn't cutting dry, there's no meat on that bone.
9:46
[SPEAKER_06]: And who pays the price for it?
9:49
[SPEAKER_06]: Why did the city manager have three police officers at a Board of Ethics meeting the other day, because Cliff Holden at 70-year-old Cliff Holden was there?
9:58
[SPEAKER_06]: Yeah, why?
10:01
[SPEAKER_06]: Why did they have those state police?
10:04
[SPEAKER_06]: Common era meeting, keeping it secret for everyone, but, well, a couple of people.
10:12
[SPEAKER_06]: Now I've said many times I didn't agree with the whole Gulf Cup machinations.
10:18
[SPEAKER_06]: I've said I think these people are crazy the way they email each other.
10:21
[SPEAKER_06]: I said I didn't agree with the Marseille pool and then closing to one of the fairgrounds.
10:30
[SPEAKER_06]: But disagreeing with those things doesn't mean that I think there's some cut and dried criminality that went on.
10:38
[SPEAKER_06]: Who the hell's going to run for office after this mess?
10:41
[SPEAKER_06]: Who would in the right mind?
10:45
[SPEAKER_06]: And then Monday, City Council will approve a new contract for Eric, he's a mountain man, he's a hell of a guy.
10:51
[SPEAKER_06]: He was in on most of this.
10:58
[SPEAKER_06]: He knew about the state police coming in.
11:02
[SPEAKER_06]: Sure, you know, I mean, he must have authorized the attorney to scour all these emails and come up with her conclusions.
11:08
[SPEAKER_06]: You know, the whole thing stinks to I have it.
11:12
[SPEAKER_06]: Yeah, I wish they were all out of office the first of the year, you know what this city needs for a mayor.
11:18
[SPEAKER_06]: Me.
11:19
[SPEAKER_06]: You know that about it.
11:21
[SPEAKER_06]: Um.
11:27
[SPEAKER_06]: Hmm.
11:27
[SPEAKER_06]: Somebody texted and stopped your criminal activities if you know what criminal activities are those.
11:34
[SPEAKER_06]: Punk.
11:35
[SPEAKER_06]: Listen, here's the deal.
11:36
[SPEAKER_06]: I've had to cut back on the amount of comments of my blog.
11:39
[SPEAKER_06]: I put an additional filter in.
11:42
[SPEAKER_06]: uh... because you know these people are just slanderers now they're crazy let's go on out there so anyway i feel bad i feel bad about everything again i didn't you know one can a good one can look at public policy and say that's a greasely bad and it was but there i think it was cut and dry that they should be locked up and what was the end result of this let's say the board of ethics that come out and i think they were going to
12:12
[SPEAKER_06]: if they had come out and said that it's cut and dried they did this or that what's the end result nothing nothing though i don't know i don't know somebody checks in they thought clear for the packing heat mayor i got that i doubt they really believe that you know how that should have been handled Monday
12:43
[SPEAKER_06]: What I would have done if I were a city manager and I felt it just wanted to be extra safe.
12:47
[SPEAKER_06]: I would have had a senior police management up there just for a coincidental meeting in my office.
12:52
[SPEAKER_06]: And if there was any issues, you know, they could admit, but they don't do that.
12:58
[SPEAKER_06]: Three officers, three hours, real crime going on out there, and what it all need to do, Monday, nothing.
13:05
[SPEAKER_06]: Nothing.
13:07
[SPEAKER_06]: What happened today?
13:08
[SPEAKER_06]: Nothing.
13:09
[SPEAKER_06]: But what's going to happen, Monday?
13:12
[SPEAKER_06]: What is going to happen Monday at that council meeting?
13:16
[SPEAKER_05]: Do you really think we're Jaros going to sit down and say, oh, it sits, it's been so nice working with you.
13:22
[SPEAKER_05]: And the holiday season is so joyous and, oh, can we all sing Kumbaya and ain't going to happen?
13:30
[SPEAKER_06]: Channel 7 should broadcast that meeting live.
13:33
[SPEAKER_06]: Yeah.
13:34
[SPEAKER_06]: I don't think it's going to be pretty.
13:36
[SPEAKER_06]: They'll have to have five officers at that one.
13:40
[SPEAKER_06]: Yeah.
13:42
[SPEAKER_06]: Well, anyway, this was not cutting dried and it kind of ticked you off and you'll read about it.
13:47
[SPEAKER_06]: I know, I don't want to talk about it too much because some people don't like that.
13:52
[SPEAKER_06]: Some people don't like it.
13:55
[SPEAKER_06]: Oh, let's see what else is going on.
13:56
[SPEAKER_06]: We got to get some in the world.
14:02
[SPEAKER_06]: I don't know.
14:03
[SPEAKER_06]: There's not much cover.
14:03
[SPEAKER_06]: Oh.
14:06
[SPEAKER_06]: Good afternoon around the air.
14:09
[SPEAKER_08]: How do you deal with the mayor?
14:10
[SPEAKER_06]: Hey, what's up?
14:12
[SPEAKER_08]: I'm a little bit curious here to say this up there.
14:15
[SPEAKER_08]: What's going on through recycling now?
14:17
[SPEAKER_08]: Oh, God.
14:18
[SPEAKER_08]: Everything is all mixed up.
14:20
[SPEAKER_06]: I don't know what's going on.
14:23
[SPEAKER_08]: Because we got a notice that we're in the flats and they were supposed to pick up for recycling a day on Thursday and then they ended up picking it up today.
14:34
[SPEAKER_08]: So seems like very confusing.
14:37
[SPEAKER_06]: Yeah.
14:37
[SPEAKER_06]: Hey, listen.
14:39
[SPEAKER_06]: Councilwoman Regeros going to stop by and see us.
14:42
[SPEAKER_06]: So that's going to be nice.
14:43
[SPEAKER_06]: You know another thing that I've read on Channel 7 news in Earth Country's window on the world, there was a fire on CIO street yesterday.
14:53
[SPEAKER_08]: You know my window on the world.
14:56
[SPEAKER_06]: Yeah.
14:57
[SPEAKER_06]: Well, last night there was a fire on CIO street, off Arsenal.
15:00
[SPEAKER_06]: And fortunately, the homeowner escaped injury.
15:04
[SPEAKER_06]: Thank God.
15:06
[SPEAKER_06]: But the lead of the story was buried.
15:09
[SPEAKER_06]: it said in the channel seven story fireman found one hydrant not working and another one frozen well there's some spleen in the do there i mean it's a hotel just silo street yeah it's like a were in the specific palisades or something they missed the lead out that's the lead because there was another instance with that fire on temple street where there was some debate over water adequacy
15:38
[SPEAKER_06]: water adeclency and work down yeah i know on these fires and i i just look at i'm gonna ask the council about it but uh... i hate to say this but is it too much to a last might not be all this for the snow yeah uh... i don't see any water uh... problems with water adeclency i know this is going to a noise and people is it too much to ask the fire chief uh... this uh...
16:05
[SPEAKER_08]: it's fully in route the recycling is that could follow me i don't think he has anything to do with it show you the truth okay that may be all right okay thank you have a good weekend by no yeah only has no power over anything nothing
16:25
[SPEAKER_06]: They're lucky if he gets to use the bathroom at City Hall, I'll tell you.
16:29
[SPEAKER_06]: No, I just think with these hydrants, if there's something wrong, is it too much to expect the fire chief to have to bring me drive in from a fire drill or the city manager to come on in from Shemore on these other people who run things, but they live elsewhere.
16:43
[SPEAKER_06]: Yeah, boy, I shouldn't be saying that.
16:46
[SPEAKER_06]: I shouldn't be saying it.
16:48
[SPEAKER_06]: I don't know.
16:48
[SPEAKER_06]: Hey, Councilwoman Regero is here.
16:50
[SPEAKER_11]: Why don't we take a break so she can get situated and we'll be back with more in a moment.
17:14
[SPEAKER_28]: Hey, it's Nigel Spar here at FX to Prairie Honda.
17:17
[SPEAKER_28]: And if you're in the North Country, you know what's coming.
17:19
[SPEAKER_28]: Windwater.
17:21
[SPEAKER_28]: So let's talk about trucks.
17:22
[SPEAKER_28]: The kind that don't place when you snow piles up.
17:25
[SPEAKER_28]: We've got wild trucks, four by fours, and heavy duty pickups, who's all the biggest names.
17:31
[SPEAKER_28]: Chevy Four.
17:32
[SPEAKER_28]: RAM, GMC, Toyota, and of course, 100 range lines that handle winter-like throws.
17:39
[SPEAKER_28]: And we make it easy.
17:41
[SPEAKER_28]: Come shop inside our heated carbune area and delivery bags.
17:46
[SPEAKER_28]: So you can stay warm while checking up trucks that'll keep you moving.
17:50
[SPEAKER_28]: You've got over 700 vehicles available, including low mileage, pre-owned trucks and SUVs.
17:55
[SPEAKER_28]: All tuned up and right old rolloff before the next storm is.
17:58
[SPEAKER_28]: And FX Capura Honda, we pride ourselves on great service, fair prices, and smooth process that makes buying your next truck easy.
18:07
[SPEAKER_28]: So before winter berries your driveway comes to me, not just far, and FX Capura Honda, Bradley Street Watertown, right off I81.
18:15
[SPEAKER_17]: want to maximize your reach with marketing that actually works at Kaufflin, we help you reach your audience twice and make it stick.
18:22
[SPEAKER_17]: Go to Kaufflin.co slash marketing to see how the staying power of print marries with the instant reach of digital from postcards to brochures to email blasts and websites.
18:31
[SPEAKER_17]: The combination of print and digital ensures your customers see your message and remember it.
18:36
[SPEAKER_17]: Visit Kaufflin.co slash marketing to learn more or call 315-7888560 Kaufflin.
18:43
[SPEAKER_17]: your trusted partner for cross-media marketing.
18:45
[SPEAKER_17]: Print is tangible.
18:46
[SPEAKER_17]: Digital is instant.
18:48
[SPEAKER_17]: Together, they connect, reinforce, and convert.
18:51
[SPEAKER_17]: Add QR codes to print pieces that drive traffic to your landing page to generate leads and sales.
18:56
[SPEAKER_17]: Pair custom promotional prints with a website optimized for SEO so qualified consumers can find you.
19:02
[SPEAKER_17]: When you integrate thoughtfully,
19:03
[SPEAKER_17]: Your campaigns don't just show up.
19:05
[SPEAKER_17]: They stick, leaving an impression that lasts.
19:07
[SPEAKER_17]: Visit callfland.co slash marketing for cross-media solutions that deliver results.
19:12
[SPEAKER_17]: That's callfland.co slash marketing.
19:15
[SPEAKER_30]: Everybody, it's Derek and Kevin over resource, super water town.
19:17
[SPEAKER_30]: Kevin, it's December, and it's my favorite event.
19:20
[SPEAKER_30]: Share the love.
19:21
[SPEAKER_02]: It's right, Derek.
19:22
[SPEAKER_02]: Now through January 2nd with every new, Subaru purchase you can choose to donate $300 to one of five different charities.
19:30
[SPEAKER_30]: whether it's animals, kids, or the forest.
19:33
[SPEAKER_30]: You can donate to one of five charities, as Kevin says.
19:36
[SPEAKER_30]: But I want to talk about one special one, which is our hometown charity, which is USO Fortrom.
19:40
[SPEAKER_30]: That is something we've been doing now for 10 years.
19:42
[SPEAKER_30]: So we're going to make sure with every single new Subaru purchase, you get to choose, but let's try to get as much money as we can for the USO Fortrom.
19:49
[SPEAKER_02]: Derek, it's the event that we love the most.
19:51
[SPEAKER_02]: And we're looking forward to setting a record month with our best interest rates in the year.
19:55
[SPEAKER_02]: Exceptional least deals in the best trade-in values around.
19:58
[SPEAKER_30]: folks, it's all happening during December right here if you silo Subaru a water town, during again my favorite event share the love.
20:04
[SPEAKER_02]: So come visit us until January 2nd if you silo Subaru, we're here 7 days a week, even on Sunday from 10 to 5.
20:11
[SPEAKER_02]: If you silo Subaru, where we will make you huge.
20:15
[SPEAKER_11]: just don't say it off and enough.
20:17
[SPEAKER_11]: Thank you for listening to the station that listens to you.
20:20
[SPEAKER_11]: The news in talk authority, WATN, AM-1240.
20:25
[SPEAKER_06]: May I'm 1240, WATN.
20:26
[SPEAKER_06]: Good afternoon, you're one at all.
20:28
[SPEAKER_06]: I'm Jeff Graham, and joining me is Councilwoman Lisa Regero.
20:32
[SPEAKER_06]: How are you today?
20:33
[SPEAKER_29]: Good.
20:33
[SPEAKER_29]: How are you?
20:34
[SPEAKER_06]: Good.
20:34
[SPEAKER_06]: Very Christmas, isn't it?
20:35
[SPEAKER_06]: Can I say Merry Christmas?
20:37
[SPEAKER_06]: Yeah.
20:37
[SPEAKER_06]: Christmas parade tonight, right?
20:39
[SPEAKER_29]: Yeah, it is.
20:40
[SPEAKER_29]: Yeah.
20:40
[SPEAKER_29]: Whether it's going to be decent, I think.
20:44
[SPEAKER_06]: great night to celebrate it is a great night to celebrate uh... lots of things going on uh... this morning the board of ethics uh... came out with a decision saying in your case no findings of wrongdoing but even though i think the mayor has come out with a statement saying even though there were no findings that doesn't mean something didn't you know that's typical of her you know all we need to turn a page on this chapter will guess what
21:11
[SPEAKER_29]: the black eye and the toxicity on this city started when Jeff Smith became mayor and it's continued through her mistransparency but yet all you know we need to do this in executive session and that in executive session the same one who claims executive session meetings are
21:31
[SPEAKER_29]: backdoor meetings, the same person who was okay, they voting on van duzy street purchase in executive session, but not the golf course, which also we discussed in executive session.
21:43
[SPEAKER_29]: I mean, we discussed an executive session and came out to vote on it.
21:47
[SPEAKER_29]: This is all because they can't get over a vote from three years ago, but
21:55
[SPEAKER_29]: because I voted one way, they voted another way.
21:59
[SPEAKER_29]: It's a personal vendetta that has gone on all this time.
22:02
[SPEAKER_29]: And I want to get this out there.
22:04
[SPEAKER_29]: And I set it to the mayor pierce.
22:06
[SPEAKER_29]: I think back three years ago, well, Jeff Smith was still mayor.
22:12
[SPEAKER_29]: And I said,
22:14
[SPEAKER_29]: you know people talking about bribes her father was out there publicly telling people and one of my friends told me they heard it directly from her father that
22:27
[SPEAKER_29]: we all got $50,000 for bribe money to go with the purchase and I confronted her and meeting and she never said a word.
22:36
[SPEAKER_29]: I mean, if you want to go back and look, that is probably where all of this started and it is continued and even when the investigation, the police investigation, which she orchestrated, she tipped off Jeff Smith weight, was that a
22:57
[SPEAKER_06]: about your body, the city manager.
22:59
[SPEAKER_06]: He was in on that police thing with me.
23:01
[SPEAKER_29]: I tell you, I am just, I have been so fed up, I'm tired of being bullied by men.
23:07
[SPEAKER_29]: Seriously, whether it's Jeff Smith, whether it's Kimball telling me, well, if you would shut your mouth and then, you know, Ben, I mean, I don't know how these people
23:17
[SPEAKER_29]: got suckered into thinking that these were ethics violations.
23:21
[SPEAKER_29]: My attorney, Steve Leventhal, is an expert on ethics.
23:25
[SPEAKER_29]: He teaches it.
23:27
[SPEAKER_29]: He writes policy for cities.
23:31
[SPEAKER_29]: I mean, he's the ethics advisor to the United Nations.
23:35
[SPEAKER_29]: And I believe next week, he's been chosen to be a judge by the state in a hearing against former governor Andrew Cuomo.
23:42
[SPEAKER_29]: This guy knows his stuff and when he read everything, he's like, I cannot believe that these people think that these are violations and he said everybody up there needs training.
23:54
[SPEAKER_29]: He goes, you guys don't know the difference between a violation and not a violation.
23:58
[SPEAKER_29]: So I'm fed up and I put up with this.
24:02
[SPEAKER_29]: And for years, I've tolerated it, yeah, people go, well, how can you be so nice?
24:07
[SPEAKER_29]: It's because the job is serious for me to do my best, and I try to put politics and personalities on the side and do my job.
24:18
[SPEAKER_29]: But these people, these are the ones that are corrupt, that they wanted to push through something like this.
24:26
[SPEAKER_29]: There was even one, and maybe that did it for the board.
24:30
[SPEAKER_29]: There was one.
24:32
[SPEAKER_29]: part of an email that Kristen Smith must have sent in.
24:36
[SPEAKER_06]: But she didn't want to.
24:38
[SPEAKER_29]: Well, she, the attorney said he attorney.
24:39
[SPEAKER_29]: She.
24:40
[SPEAKER_06]: What's her role in this?
24:41
[SPEAKER_06]: Why is she gathering?
24:42
[SPEAKER_29]: We don't know.
24:43
[SPEAKER_29]: It, because we have a, an, a full person on the third floor.
24:49
[SPEAKER_29]: Why she was reviewing it?
24:51
[SPEAKER_29]: I don't know.
24:52
[SPEAKER_06]: But don't you agree with me that there's just too damn many emails, too many BCCs, too many too much of all of this and I'm going to ask Kristen what, you know, what I should have for dinner or something and then she builds your book.
25:04
[SPEAKER_29]: No, actually I asked her about it was back in September of last year.
25:08
[SPEAKER_29]: I asked her several questions about ethics.
25:11
[SPEAKER_29]: If there was a statue of limitations who can file and she contradicted what attorney belarts said, belarts said,
25:17
[SPEAKER_29]: Nobody from the public can file she said people from the public should be encouraged to file and then she back Can I file one?
25:25
[SPEAKER_06]: Huh can I file one
25:27
[SPEAKER_29]: Well, she backtracked and then said that it was up to council to decide, um, and so I shared her opinion with everybody on council.
25:37
[SPEAKER_29]: Unfortunately, somehow I went to Mr. Somail and she said that I inadvertently sent him and that it was privilege information.
25:45
[SPEAKER_29]: I replied back and said, by the way, I'm the one who originated this email, you only gave the legal advice to me, so it's
25:56
[SPEAKER_06]: most of this advices and worth the papers printed out.
25:59
[SPEAKER_29]: She still included that as an ethics complaint, even though we see her.
26:04
[SPEAKER_06]: Why is she generating the ethics complaints?
26:07
[SPEAKER_29]: I don't know, but I maybe she is tired that she thinks we want to get rid of her.
26:13
[SPEAKER_29]: But I think she does that.
26:14
[SPEAKER_29]: We.
26:15
[SPEAKER_29]: There's three people that voted for her firm and the first place, but she's been so conflicted.
26:21
[SPEAKER_29]: I mean, her firm handled the purchase of the golf course.
26:25
[SPEAKER_29]: They handled the lawsuit against the city for the purchase of the golf course.
26:29
[SPEAKER_29]: And uh, here she is.
26:30
[SPEAKER_29]: Oh, I got to recuse myself.
26:32
[SPEAKER_06]: That's bond-shanicking King.
26:33
[SPEAKER_29]: Yeah.
26:34
[SPEAKER_06]: They're good at billing bad results.
26:35
[SPEAKER_29]: Oh, I'm sure.
26:36
[SPEAKER_06]: Yeah.
26:36
[SPEAKER_29]: I'm sure.
26:37
[SPEAKER_29]: But here's the thing.
26:39
[SPEAKER_29]: The email thread was about 11 pages.
26:42
[SPEAKER_29]: She only sends in the paragraph where I had to say, hey, Mr. Simeo, would you please delete this email?
26:50
[SPEAKER_29]: And then I hit, like I said, my attorney said, but you waive privilege so therefore it was not, you didn't violate anything.
26:58
[SPEAKER_06]: We got a call coming in.
26:59
[SPEAKER_29]: I want to take it.
27:00
[SPEAKER_29]: This is what your headphones on, please.
27:02
[SPEAKER_29]: Your phones are not on.
27:03
[SPEAKER_06]: There you go.
27:03
[SPEAKER_06]: Can you hear it?
27:04
[SPEAKER_06]: Yeah.
27:05
[SPEAKER_06]: All right, go ahead.
27:05
[SPEAKER_06]: You're on the air.
27:09
[SPEAKER_03]: Why are we giving the city manager a 2% raise for one and two?
27:19
[SPEAKER_03]: Why did the council go ahead and prove $10,000 per door that wasn't needed up in the third floor for the mayor of the city and also why wasn't that money spent better on the infrastructure problems that need to be addressed like sidewalks in the city.
27:40
[SPEAKER_06]: okay thank you now there's city manager contract has been talked about for weeks but it's not right so he mentioned to what we have not voted on that yet have you seen it yes so what else is in it that's basically it any residency no what about medical no any compensation for
27:59
[SPEAKER_06]: not using the city medical plan.
28:02
[SPEAKER_06]: No, okay.
28:02
[SPEAKER_29]: No, but it's it's out there and so we haven't voted on it yet.
28:06
[SPEAKER_29]: Now as far as the 10, 10, I said well, let me answer the callers question.
28:11
[SPEAKER_29]: You know, he said, why did we approve the $10,000 door?
28:14
[SPEAKER_29]: Unfortunately, Council did not approve it.
28:16
[SPEAKER_29]: We didn't even have a say in it.
28:18
[SPEAKER_29]: That was the city manager that took it upon himself to do.
28:23
[SPEAKER_29]: And I, you know, look, I
28:25
[SPEAKER_29]: I, you know, I tried to pride myself and get it along with everybody, but that $10,000, we didn't approve it was just oh here it look it's done.
28:35
[SPEAKER_29]: So we should have, well, apparently for the police too.
28:41
[SPEAKER_29]: But anyway, so no, it should have come before Council to vote on as a, you know, because it's a spending, it was a spending issue that we should have at least voted on.
28:52
[SPEAKER_29]: So I don't know about budget that came out of.
28:55
[SPEAKER_29]: So unfortunately, city council had nothing to do with that.
29:00
[SPEAKER_06]: Well, you know, I don't know what to say.
29:02
[SPEAKER_06]: I'm more concerned about the nonworking fire hydrants because I'm an old person.
29:06
[SPEAKER_06]: I might, my house might be in fire.
29:08
[SPEAKER_29]: Well, you know what, I did not know that until just walking in here, you said it.
29:13
[SPEAKER_06]: In fact, I think it was... Well, I only knew it because I just happened to read the story on Channel 7's page.
29:20
[SPEAKER_29]: Well, I've been a little busy this morning.
29:22
[SPEAKER_06]: Yeah, yeah.
29:23
[SPEAKER_29]: I've heard the ethics board, but I, so I did not know that there was a hydrant issue, but it needs to be taken care of right away.
29:30
[UNKNOWN]: Hmm.
29:32
[SPEAKER_06]: Well, I'll tell you, at least, at least your photos didn't come out with the upstream files or anything.
29:39
[SPEAKER_29]: Here's the thing.
29:41
[SPEAKER_29]: People asked me, well, why did you hire an attorney?
29:44
[SPEAKER_29]: Because I read what they considered violations.
29:50
[SPEAKER_29]: And there's simple emails with nothing confidential in it.
29:54
[SPEAKER_06]: But who's going to run for office in the future when they know you can, if you're on the outs with the, the majority, they can inflict this kind of pain on you.
30:03
[SPEAKER_06]: Right.
30:04
[SPEAKER_06]: In conjunction with the city staff and attorneys and everything else, you've been put through a lot.
30:10
[SPEAKER_29]: And you've had to answer things and you've had to be embarrassed and you've had to family derided and defamed on my reputation and what are you going to do about that does that matter or do you just say I'm a public figure and they can defame me if I want to know I actually have been consulting with my attorney about some options and actually even this morning how I had that discussion so we're going to see we're going to see what happens I've
30:40
[SPEAKER_29]: The thing that I blame, the people that I blame are other than not cliff only, but the current city council members who stalled with cliffs ethics charge, what two years now.
30:54
[SPEAKER_29]: And you know, you got, councilman Kimball, who's all, you know, for 23 months, 24 months has talked about ethics.
31:02
[SPEAKER_29]: What are we doing about cliff or is brought up and so forth?
31:05
[SPEAKER_29]: for two years but this one all we're going to ram it right through it and like I heard you on the way over about this being caught in dry my attorney even said it's further from the truth and when he went through it he thought it was how they will say that that's semi-o is a attorney
31:23
[SPEAKER_29]: no I hired him I have a letter of engagement and I wanted somebody who actually knows about ethics and he does I don't know any other attorney that knows well listen as you well no a lot of these agencies or government entities
31:40
[SPEAKER_06]: You can accuse somebody can accuse you, and it's accepted as fact in the face, and you're screwed.
31:46
[SPEAKER_29]: Well, look what you allowed Jeff Smith on here, and that's what all he does, even when you were not working and he was filling in every day.
31:55
[SPEAKER_29]: It was bashing me, my business, my reputation, everything, and for what?
32:01
[SPEAKER_29]: Because he did not like the fact that the city bought the land.
32:05
[SPEAKER_29]: That's what this is all about.
32:07
[SPEAKER_29]: He is the one you want to talk about on ethical.
32:10
[SPEAKER_06]: Hmm, oh, well, that's not slander anyone else.
32:13
[SPEAKER_29]: He encouraged people to sue the city.
32:17
[SPEAKER_29]: And what do you call that?
32:18
[SPEAKER_29]: That is unethical.
32:20
[SPEAKER_29]: Could you imagine you be in mayor and say, well, I hope somebody who's the city over this, please, you know, and then I don't think he was honest about whether he contributed because he said he didn't personally what about his business?
32:32
[SPEAKER_29]: Did he donate?
32:33
[SPEAKER_06]: I don't know anything.
32:34
[SPEAKER_06]: You know,
32:35
[SPEAKER_06]: When you're in one of these things you live and breathe at every day and you obsess on it, most of the public doesn't give a damn.
32:41
[SPEAKER_29]: Oh, I know.
32:41
[SPEAKER_29]: But think about how I feel.
32:43
[SPEAKER_29]: Think about what my family has been put through.
32:46
[SPEAKER_29]: I'm not looking for sympathy at all.
32:48
[SPEAKER_29]: I mean, people, I've had people say, I don't know why you just didn't even quit and get out of there.
32:54
[SPEAKER_29]: I'm not a quitter.
32:55
[SPEAKER_06]: Well, what about Monday?
32:56
[SPEAKER_06]: You got a city council.
32:58
[SPEAKER_06]: Let's take a break and then we'll talk about Monday.
33:00
[SPEAKER_06]: Got councilwoman Lisa Rejero on the air stick around.
33:04
[SPEAKER_11]: or interesting talk around the clock.
33:07
[SPEAKER_11]: Depending on the news and talk authority, WATM-1240.
33:13
[SPEAKER_19]: Don't miss the duly pianos holiday show at the Strand Theatre Thursday, December 18th, at 8 o'clock.
33:18
[SPEAKER_19]: Buffalo's own Paul A. and Ryan will perform your favorite holiday songs in classics tickets to $30.
33:24
[SPEAKER_19]: Or you can make it a night out with dinner for two at the Bad Apple Downtown or at the Bad Apple Social for $140 per couple.
33:30
[SPEAKER_19]: All proceeds
33:33
[SPEAKER_19]: sponsored by Wichigoddo Sales, Jade Stone Engineering, Jake Johnson Properties, and Watertown Appliance.
33:39
[SPEAKER_19]: It's the dueling pianos holiday show Thursday, December 18th, at the Strand Theater.
33:43
[SPEAKER_19]: We all have cans and bottles, so it makes sense to bring them to the Make-Sense Redemption Center on Loray Street and Watertown.
33:49
[SPEAKER_19]: only fully automated redemption center in the area.
33:51
[SPEAKER_19]: Your account is done fast, right?
33:53
[SPEAKER_19]: Before your eyes, so you're on your way, quicker.
33:55
[SPEAKER_19]: Depend on the team of dedicated employees who do this as efficiently as possible because this is what they do so you can get in and on your way without the hassle.
34:04
[SPEAKER_19]: Make sense redemption center is open Monday through Saturday on the Race Street water town with speed, service, and savings just makes sense.
34:10
[SPEAKER_19]: Bring your cans and bottles today.
34:11
[SPEAKER_19]: They do the rest.
34:12
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm Franny Weir with the Northern New York Community Foundation Youth for Land 3 Council.
34:16
[SPEAKER_00]: The holiday season is a time of giving, sharing, and coming together for good.
34:20
[SPEAKER_00]: Since 1929, the Community Foundation has worked with donors to strengthen our communities by supporting local nonprofits that address the needs of our region.
34:28
[SPEAKER_00]: Our hearts are filled with gratitude for the many ways you share your generous gifts.
34:32
[SPEAKER_00]: Together we're helping to build a brighter future at home.
34:34
[SPEAKER_00]: Your gifts inspire people of all ages and touch our region and broad and deep ways.
34:39
[SPEAKER_00]: Because of you, students, youth, and young professionals learn the values of civic engagement and community.
34:44
[SPEAKER_00]: Thank you for the vital role you play to help make Northern New York a more vibrant place for all.
34:48
[SPEAKER_00]: Please consider joining us with a gift to the friends of the Foundation Community Betterment Annual Fund.
34:53
[SPEAKER_00]: Visit nNYCF.org to help make an enduring difference today.
34:57
[SPEAKER_00]: Again, please consider joining us with a gift to the friends of the Foundation Community Betterment Annual Fund.
35:02
[SPEAKER_00]: Visit nNYCF.org to make a gift today.
35:05
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm Franny Weir from Waterton High School and we wish you and your loved ones a joyous holiday season filled with warmth, love, and gratitude.
35:12
[SPEAKER_00]: Thank you.
35:14
[SPEAKER_11]: The news and talk authority WATM-1240.
35:19
[SPEAKER_06]: Get into it and you'll be amazed what you get out of it.
35:24
[SPEAKER_06]: We're back on the hotline here with Councilwoman Lisa Reshero, cleared a quitted if you will, is that all right, where do you want to say it.
35:33
[SPEAKER_29]: But the thing is, I knew going in and I'm glad that I had my attorney because like I said, he pointed things out.
35:42
[SPEAKER_29]: He's appalled that even in ethics or even in cliffs ruling because he said either it's an ethics violation or it's not.
35:52
[SPEAKER_29]: And he thinks that they made up a new category of an ethics violation in their ruling.
35:56
[SPEAKER_29]: But anyway, but I do think the ethics board and their decision and I certainly think might have.
36:03
[SPEAKER_06]: Well, a lot of people, a little one person text in would be way further off if we had no city council at all.
36:10
[SPEAKER_06]: I mean, people are tired of it.
36:12
[SPEAKER_29]: I don't blame them.
36:12
[SPEAKER_29]: I'm tired of it.
36:14
[SPEAKER_29]: I'm sick of it.
36:15
[SPEAKER_29]: You know, we should be concentrating on the projects that we have that's been going on in the city.
36:22
[SPEAKER_29]: And yet there's so many distractions of its personal vendetta.
36:27
[SPEAKER_29]: The mayor certainly has one.
36:29
[SPEAKER_29]: And I'm just shocked that she somehow convinced the other two to go along with us.
36:34
[SPEAKER_29]: But we know where this came from.
36:35
[SPEAKER_29]: This came
36:37
[SPEAKER_29]: He was on recently so he's your buddy and he called for this foil request so he can't Technically file it another charge because he's a member of the public now and so he pushed the mayor the current mayor to do it
36:56
[SPEAKER_29]: That's where this is all coming from.
36:58
[SPEAKER_29]: The two of them have caused a black eye on this city.
37:02
[SPEAKER_29]: And I mean, you look at all the complaints.
37:04
[SPEAKER_29]: It's a wonder this stuff is not on national news.
37:07
[SPEAKER_06]: Oh, this goes on everywhere.
37:09
[SPEAKER_29]: Well, and it shouldn't.
37:11
[SPEAKER_29]: And I hope that this is a lesson to the council members and any future people that I hope that you have money when you come into the position, because when you have people like this, they played their hand and lost.
37:24
[SPEAKER_06]: They filed frivolous for a day or should they get out of office the three of them?
37:29
[SPEAKER_29]: Yes, how could they think that that was an issue?
37:33
[SPEAKER_06]: And why are you going to vote Monday on this city manager renewal?
37:36
[SPEAKER_29]: I haven't decided.
37:37
[SPEAKER_06]: Why not move to table that?
37:39
[SPEAKER_06]: Let the new council vote.
37:40
[SPEAKER_29]: I have not decided yet what I'm going to do.
37:42
[SPEAKER_06]: But if you two, your terms ended.
37:44
[SPEAKER_29]: I'm not hired of these people all knew what was going on.
37:52
[SPEAKER_29]: Kristen Smith, they all knew that this was going on and kept us out of it.
37:57
[SPEAKER_29]: And I, I truly believe now.
37:59
[SPEAKER_29]: Well, what about on that we would be arrested?
38:01
[SPEAKER_29]: I think that's what they were hoping for.
38:03
[SPEAKER_06]: Of course they were.
38:03
[SPEAKER_06]: That's why they hosted the state police in the areas of it, but here is the deal.
38:07
[SPEAKER_06]: What's going to happen Monday?
38:09
[SPEAKER_06]: Should Channel 7 carry that meeting live because of the fire?
38:12
[SPEAKER_29]: Well, because you don't know.
38:13
[SPEAKER_29]: I'm, I'm, I'm trying to decide.
38:15
[SPEAKER_06]: Well, they have to have more than three police officers.
38:17
[SPEAKER_29]: No, because I think people know me that I, I, I,
38:22
[SPEAKER_06]: I can't speak for him.
38:24
[SPEAKER_29]: He is his own.
38:27
[SPEAKER_06]: He's his oldest.
38:27
[SPEAKER_06]: I am my God.
38:28
[SPEAKER_29]: He is his own person.
38:30
[SPEAKER_29]: But I think that they need to know and I think the incoming council members need to know what they're going to be up against.
38:37
[SPEAKER_29]: Basically it's either you vote our way or we'll file ethics charges against you.
38:43
[SPEAKER_29]: Well, well, police investigation.
38:45
[SPEAKER_29]: You know, one thing that people don't even talk about.
38:47
[SPEAKER_29]: When I went through their deposition, Sarah's and Jeff's depositions.
38:52
[SPEAKER_29]: There were at least three or four false statements in there.
38:56
[SPEAKER_29]: Can they be arrested for filing a false statement?
38:58
[SPEAKER_06]: No.
38:59
[SPEAKER_29]: Why not?
39:00
[SPEAKER_29]: What?
39:01
[SPEAKER_29]: You think so?
39:02
[SPEAKER_06]: You gotta find somebody willing to prosecute it and there's nobody.
39:06
[SPEAKER_06]: No, again, I don't think people are that concerned.
39:09
[SPEAKER_06]: I think this whole board of ethics thing has been overblown my person They shouldn't have this kind of authority or sway they're just there as sort of a hey, what do you think of this type stuff not Holding a defacto hearing
39:21
[SPEAKER_29]: think that having having my lawyer there, I mean, he went through each complaint.
39:26
[SPEAKER_06]: Not everybody can afford a lawyer.
39:27
[SPEAKER_29]: Well, but you know what?
39:29
[SPEAKER_29]: It was important enough to me to clear my name once and for all.
39:32
[SPEAKER_29]: I tired of being attacked for things I didn't do didn't say never would have thought.
39:38
[SPEAKER_06]: But what's Monday going to be like, is it going to be raucous?
39:40
[SPEAKER_06]: Is it going to be?
39:41
[SPEAKER_06]: Are you going to settle the scores?
39:42
[SPEAKER_06]: Or what are you going to do?
39:43
[SPEAKER_29]: I don't know.
39:44
[SPEAKER_29]: I've got the weekend to think about it.
39:46
[SPEAKER_29]: Don't I?
39:46
[SPEAKER_06]: I guess.
39:48
[SPEAKER_06]: And I'm here as a tendency to want to settle those scores on the other hand, what's it get you in the end?
39:55
[SPEAKER_29]: Set as faction, maybe.
39:56
[SPEAKER_06]: Okay.
39:58
[SPEAKER_06]: Well, the ruling stone said I can't get no satisfaction.
40:01
[SPEAKER_29]: That was not, this is not going to be after a rolling stone song.
40:06
[SPEAKER_13]: Okay.
40:06
[SPEAKER_29]: But I think it's just, I think, I think people really need to know, and I, again.
40:12
[SPEAKER_29]: they ought to go back to where all this originated and the problem is people don't watch the meetings they don't pay attention to the news so they don't really see what goes on they believe you know i was talking i was talking to somebody other day that in the modern world we live in news desert up here a lot of things don't get covered as they're just aren't any news people and
40:34
[SPEAKER_06]: Particularly, the newspaper God bless him, but the idea of editorials, even somebody as blow-heating is Bob Gorman or something, at least it was a sort of a control mechanism on craziness.
40:46
[SPEAKER_06]: and it would get rain to back in.
40:48
[SPEAKER_06]: But there's no editorial anymore.
40:50
[SPEAKER_06]: There's no oversight.
40:51
[SPEAKER_06]: There's no nothing in this community.
40:52
[SPEAKER_29]: No.
40:53
[SPEAKER_29]: No.
40:54
[SPEAKER_29]: And that's that said.
40:55
[SPEAKER_29]: And I actually mentioned this.
40:57
[SPEAKER_29]: I think just recently to Craig Fox.
41:00
[SPEAKER_29]: I said, I missed the editorials because somebody, if John Johnson was still there, he would have written about this ethics thing.
41:07
[SPEAKER_29]: And it probably would have been
41:11
[SPEAKER_29]: if he wrote it and you don't have that you don't have and it's it's actually it's sorely missed because so everything depends on what the lawyer says but the lawyer isn't really well I hate to say it but the fact that Kristen Smith went through this and found one
41:28
[SPEAKER_29]: that she was involved with in the email.
41:30
[SPEAKER_29]: And she saw, she omitted the part where I said, that I way of privilege, she'd left that part out.
41:37
[SPEAKER_29]: I brought the whole thing to my meeting on Monday to share with Ethics Board.
41:41
[SPEAKER_29]: And I said, why did this attorney omit that?
41:45
[SPEAKER_29]: Did she do with that intentionally hoping that little parents were in?
41:48
[SPEAKER_06]: But now they've got RFPs out for another law firm to do just the meetings and stuff, because she doesn't.
41:56
[SPEAKER_06]: bond doesn't want to do that anymore because it's too much controversy.
41:59
[SPEAKER_06]: So you get somebody else in there doing the meetings.
42:03
[SPEAKER_06]: They aren't going to have a feel for the community or the people it's just just a turning process to, you know, build hours and all.
42:10
[SPEAKER_29]: Fortunately, that won't be my problem.
42:12
[SPEAKER_06]: uh... i i really hope this new council's got a whole list of problems well that that's what they ran on and they got to decide what to do the hydro thing which they can't deal with it and the lawyers you know the thing about and i don't know how much i know they redact all the bills that we never really know
42:30
[SPEAKER_06]: And I was back when I was in office.
42:32
[SPEAKER_06]: I thought, he was spending an awful lot of money on slide.
42:36
[SPEAKER_06]: And I always tried to like not make too many calls or anything.
42:39
[SPEAKER_06]: I never made emails.
42:42
[SPEAKER_06]: And I just asked questions at the meeting.
42:44
[SPEAKER_06]: And or when he was in the office anyway or something like that.
42:47
[SPEAKER_06]: But this now, I just look at the sheer volume of emails.
42:52
[SPEAKER_29]: Well, you know what it must be the current a huge bill the current attorney basically told us She did not want to be blindsided at the meetings and ask her a question a legal question because she Didn't want she didn't think she would be prepared to answer it Rather she would rather go back and research it and get back to us I don't have that many emails with the attorney that was one that was one from September of last year and
43:22
[SPEAKER_29]: I waived, I waived privilege because it only involved me.
43:26
[SPEAKER_29]: I was the client.
43:28
[SPEAKER_29]: I was the only council person on that email But she left all of that out conveniently.
43:34
[SPEAKER_29]: So it again How did she decide and she's an lawyer couldn't she decide?
43:40
[SPEAKER_06]: Well, that's not that's not an ethics violation Well, I just don't I don't know was you if your lawyer is going after you you might on a different lawyer
43:50
[SPEAKER_29]: we need one we i mean i hate to say it but she should be gone now this is this is terrible i mean the the i think that the ethics board saw through that too uh... because i did concentrate on that and my attorney did a follow-up letter to everybody on the ethics board on Tuesday and he cited that and the fact that i way of privilege because i said to him that should not have even gone and he said
44:16
[SPEAKER_06]: Now, just to put it perspective, because I don't know Mr. Leaventhall, but I looked at his letterhead.
44:22
[SPEAKER_06]: It's from Rosalind, New York, that's on Long Island.
44:25
[SPEAKER_06]: I assume he's getting $400 or $500 an hour.
44:29
[SPEAKER_06]: And I'm looking at your case, and there's got to be 15 hours in that or something.
44:35
[SPEAKER_06]: You're probably looking at north of five close to 10,000 just for you to get through this little hearing here out of your pocket.
44:45
[SPEAKER_29]: Yeah.
44:46
[SPEAKER_29]: Yeah.
44:47
[SPEAKER_29]: Imagine that.
44:48
[SPEAKER_06]: That's money and sort of caught me a Christmas gift with it.
44:50
[SPEAKER_29]: I would have.
44:51
[SPEAKER_29]: I would have.
44:52
[SPEAKER_29]: And so I think maybe people thought I would just roll over like, you know, they probably figured, oh, Cliff can't get an attorney.
45:00
[SPEAKER_29]: So.
45:02
[SPEAKER_29]: whatever, however you want to say it, but I was fed up.
45:06
[SPEAKER_29]: I mean, this was it.
45:07
[SPEAKER_29]: It was like, you know, they've tried to tarnish us and tar and feather us really about a vote.
45:15
[SPEAKER_29]: They've said everything that they could think of and they're all lies.
45:20
[SPEAKER_29]: Absolute lies Now somebody check it on something and that we believed in and we really believe that the city should have that land Regardless of whether it was gonna be a golf course or not.
45:32
[SPEAKER_29]: It was the land And that was the value and yeah, why I yeah, there's there's times that I talk to Mr. Lundey Mr. Samail about golf course operations and to see how that matched up with staff I even asked staff and what's going to happen wait
45:49
[SPEAKER_29]: Okay, I said even asked staff before we vote in on it.
45:52
[SPEAKER_29]: Do you think that you are able to run this as a golf course?
45:56
[SPEAKER_29]: If that's the direction it went.
45:58
[SPEAKER_29]: I mean, there was a lot that went into asking Does anybody know what happens to golf course in 2026?
46:04
[SPEAKER_06]: I don't care about that.
46:06
[SPEAKER_29]: Well, that would be nice to know, but you know,
46:09
[SPEAKER_29]: There was a meeting recently that they have was some gold call back said let's go forward with the the the same model that it is now having the tournaments.
46:17
[SPEAKER_29]: I think somebody I think lifted to but all of a sudden that was early last month of course now it's not on the agenda no discussions so they're going to leave it up to the new council members to decide in three weeks.
46:30
[SPEAKER_29]: Right.
46:32
[SPEAKER_29]: Okay.
46:32
[SPEAKER_06]: Right.
46:32
[SPEAKER_06]: All right got a call.
46:32
[SPEAKER_06]: Yeah, good afternoon around the air.
46:36
[SPEAKER_06]: How are you doing sir?
46:37
[SPEAKER_06]: Good.
46:37
[SPEAKER_06]: Go ahead.
46:38
[SPEAKER_20]: today.
46:40
[SPEAKER_29]: Good.
46:40
[SPEAKER_29]: How are you?
46:41
[SPEAKER_20]: Oh, he's so great.
46:44
[SPEAKER_20]: I just want to say congratulations.
46:46
[SPEAKER_20]: And I'm thankful things came out the way that they'll get for you.
46:50
[SPEAKER_29]: Thank you, and I know that you do, and I do too, I did, I did pray, I mean, we can talk religion here, but I did, but I did, I really, you know, pray for the right decisions to be made, and, you know, and for the right words to say, to basically to get through this, I, you know, I put my faith in God, but I also put my faith in the ethics board that they would look at this and realize what it was, it was nothing.
47:19
[SPEAKER_29]: as somebody would say it's a nothing burger.
47:22
[SPEAKER_13]: Mm-hmm.
47:22
[SPEAKER_20]: Amen.
47:23
[SPEAKER_20]: Amen to everything that you just said.
47:25
[SPEAKER_20]: And, you know, I just, I have to admit, this is your jail.
47:30
[SPEAKER_20]: I even have to give you a cut-out for being as smart as you are because some of the things that were going on, you know, you were taking a beat and then, you know, you just tapped your mouth shut.
47:40
[SPEAKER_20]: And I was like, what is she doing?
47:42
[SPEAKER_20]: You know, like, what is she going to start fighting back here?
47:45
[SPEAKER_20]: She didn't do anything wrong.
47:47
[SPEAKER_20]: You know, in the whole time you had this little plan on your own, you know, and I'm just happy for you, and you know, you can hear it in your voice today, and I'm just really thankful for God and for everything the way that it came out, you know, I think that everybody should reflect, even the ones that came against you, they should reflect on this and take, wow, this is just,
48:07
[SPEAKER_29]: No, you're right.
48:08
[SPEAKER_29]: You're absolutely right.
48:09
[SPEAKER_29]: I think maybe they should think about taking up a different hobby instead of bashing and making fun of people and their spouse's health.
48:17
[SPEAKER_06]: All right.
48:18
[UNKNOWN]: Right.
48:18
[UNKNOWN]: Amen.
48:19
[UNKNOWN]: I'm thankful.
48:19
[SPEAKER_06]: Have a good day.
48:20
[SPEAKER_06]: Thank you, Rhino.
48:21
[SPEAKER_06]: Okay.
48:21
[SPEAKER_06]: Well, yeah, you mentioned faith and so on as an element of this, um, you think there was divine intervention or something.
48:35
[SPEAKER_29]: maybe.
48:36
[SPEAKER_29]: I mean, I think back in September, I had dinner with the bishop.
48:42
[SPEAKER_29]: And he knew that I was going to be ending my term.
48:46
[SPEAKER_29]: And he said, you know, God always has a plan and when one door closes another one opens and keep the faith and believe in how things happen.
48:57
[SPEAKER_29]: But he said, you know, God has a plan.
48:59
[SPEAKER_06]: So there's that plan for you to run for mayor next time.
49:03
[SPEAKER_29]: Well, I don't know, I mean, I think people would say, have you had enough of politics and, you know, I didn't run for having all this.
49:14
[SPEAKER_29]: Well, my first two years were perfect.
49:17
[SPEAKER_06]: I guess it's always been caddy and nasty, but it's gotten worse even when I was in there.
49:23
[SPEAKER_06]: You know, with some of the media stuff and all of that, it's got your time.
49:27
[SPEAKER_29]: Oh, it's worse now because I'm I'm telling you you look at what former mayor Smith did and and the attacks Now some people say I just there's a guy who says I should hang my head and shame for continually putting him on the air.
49:41
[SPEAKER_29]: Yes.
49:43
[SPEAKER_06]: He's a blanking blank.
49:44
[SPEAKER_29]: He is.
49:45
[SPEAKER_06]: Yeah, you see that he used to like a blanking mule.
49:49
[SPEAKER_06]: Oh, a mule.
49:50
[SPEAKER_29]: Not a sticker mule, but a sticker mule.
49:53
[SPEAKER_29]: But a different kind of mule.
49:55
[SPEAKER_06]: There you go.
49:56
[SPEAKER_06]: I don't know what to say.
49:57
[SPEAKER_06]: We got another crawl right here.
49:58
[SPEAKER_06]: Good afternoon, you're on the air.
50:01
[SPEAKER_04]: Good afternoon, Mayor.
50:02
[SPEAKER_04]: Good afternoon, Councilman for Jereal.
50:06
[SPEAKER_06]: Hello.
50:07
[SPEAKER_06]: Say something.
50:09
[SPEAKER_04]: You may recognize my voice, Councilwoman.
50:12
[SPEAKER_04]: I wanted to congratulate you.
50:14
[SPEAKER_04]: I've known you for at least 20 years.
50:16
[SPEAKER_04]: You and your husband.
50:18
[SPEAKER_04]: And I know you had to be a very ethical person.
50:23
[SPEAKER_04]: And I'm congratulating you on the outcome of this ethics complaint.
50:34
[SPEAKER_29]: Thank you.
50:35
[SPEAKER_29]: Bob, right?
50:36
[SPEAKER_04]: Yeah, I thought so.
50:39
[SPEAKER_29]: Thank you.
50:40
[SPEAKER_29]: I appreciate that it means a lot.
50:42
[SPEAKER_29]: My phone has been blowing up today, and I think that's the thing.
50:46
[SPEAKER_29]: I think people who know me believed in me, and that's the main thing, even my attorney.
50:52
[SPEAKER_29]: I'm like I said, he when he went through this whole thing, he was astounded that watertown, New York is dwelling on something like this.
51:06
[SPEAKER_29]: Well, I did get, I did get my first bill and it was a lot less per hour than his letter of engagement.
51:13
[SPEAKER_06]: So, oh, that's nice.
51:14
[SPEAKER_29]: I'm happy.
51:14
[SPEAKER_29]: Well, because he sees this as, I mean, he said this whole area needs ethics training.
51:21
[SPEAKER_29]: He said the council, the ethics board, he said city employees, they all need it because he said if they think that this is an example of an ethics complaint or an ethics violation, he said then they really don't know.
51:34
[SPEAKER_06]: Well, he's from Long Island.
51:35
[SPEAKER_06]: They do a lot of ethics violating down there.
51:38
[SPEAKER_06]: Okay, listen, we're going to take a break and we'll be right back.
51:40
[SPEAKER_01]: The Manor House, more than just a beautiful wedding venue.
51:44
[SPEAKER_01]: With stunning indoor and outdoor spaces, it's the perfect setting for any private event.
51:49
[SPEAKER_01]: From lush private gardens to the open air cocktail patio and elegant grad ballroom, the Manor House offers the ideal backdrop for moments that matter.
51:58
[SPEAKER_01]: post your next charity gala, corporate function, baby shower, birthday, graduation or retirement celebration in a venue that's as unforgettable as your event.
52:09
[SPEAKER_01]: Their experience event team is ready to help every step of the way, making your planning process seamless and stress-free.
52:18
[SPEAKER_01]: make your event the talk of the town.
52:21
[SPEAKER_01]: Visit the Manorhouse1.com that's the Manorhouse and the number one.com or email events at the Manorhouse1.com that learn more and schedule your private tour today.
52:36
[SPEAKER_11]: The Manorhouse where events become unforegetable events.
52:48
[SPEAKER_11]: The news and talk authority.
52:50
[SPEAKER_28]: Hello, my friends.
52:51
[SPEAKER_28]: Not just far here.
52:52
[SPEAKER_28]: FX Paraganda.
52:53
[SPEAKER_28]: And listen, when winter hits the North country, it doesn't pass permission.
52:58
[SPEAKER_28]: It just shows up with snow, slush, and black ice.
53:01
[SPEAKER_28]: And a general reminder that your old two-wheel drive might not be up.
53:04
[SPEAKER_28]: for the adventure, which is exactly why I've been spending a lot of time at FX Capura Honda.
53:10
[SPEAKER_28]: They put together one of the most impressive selections of reliable all-wheel drive winter cars I've ever seen.
53:16
[SPEAKER_28]: CRV, HRV, pilot, passport, plus a lineup of low mileage all-wheel drive trades for every budget.
53:25
[SPEAKER_28]: And here's where it gets even better.
53:27
[SPEAKER_28]: You can get a low monthly payment.
53:29
[SPEAKER_28]: You can get peace of mind on those snowy morning commutes.
53:33
[SPEAKER_28]: You don't have to make first payment for 90 days, three whole months.
53:38
[SPEAKER_28]: Just think, not having a car payment for three months around the holidays could really be a game changer.
53:44
[SPEAKER_28]: So do what I do every single day and head to FX Corporation on Bradley Street in Watertown, or browse the entire winner-ready lineup online at FXHonda.com.
53:54
[SPEAKER_24]: Honey, I'm almost done just moving this last box of tile.
53:58
[SPEAKER_12]: You know, there's a better way to do this.
54:01
[SPEAKER_18]: Ah, the joys of a do it yourself project.
54:03
[SPEAKER_18]: We've all been there.
54:04
[SPEAKER_18]: You have a vision, but you're back, and your floors have other ideas.
54:08
[SPEAKER_18]: You need to call in the pros, not just to do the work, but to help you get the right stuff.
54:12
[SPEAKER_18]: The family owned Abbey Carpet of Watertown have been helping folks like you with their flooring fiascoes for almost 40 years.
54:19
[SPEAKER_18]: They're not just some local shop.
54:20
[SPEAKER_18]: They're part of a nationwide buying group of over 800 stores that make those big box stores look like a bad comedy routine.
54:27
[SPEAKER_18]: from the first time do it yourself or to the seasoned contractor and designer.
54:31
[SPEAKER_18]: They'll make sure you get the best product at the right price.
54:34
[SPEAKER_18]: So you can make your home look amazing without breaking your back.
54:38
[SPEAKER_18]: No!
54:38
[SPEAKER_18]: Stop struggling and start building.
54:40
[SPEAKER_18]: Abby carpet your hometown floor store on court street in downtown Watertown and online at myabicarpet.com Call 315-7-824-261 to schedule a free consultation.
54:54
[SPEAKER_17]: Customers don't live in one space.
54:55
[SPEAKER_17]: There's analog and digital, unplugged and online.
54:59
[SPEAKER_17]: That's why Conflin connects your marketing across every platform.
55:02
[SPEAKER_17]: We blend print and digital to reach your target audience.
55:05
[SPEAKER_17]: Boost engagement and stretch your marketing dollar.
55:07
[SPEAKER_17]: From inbox to mailbox or pixels to print, we help your brand stay consistent and compelling across all your customer touch points.
55:14
[SPEAKER_17]: your trusted cross-media partner to learn more visit coughland.co slash marketing that's coughland.co slash marketing these days your customers live at a world that's both digital and tangible so your marketing should too just imagine your brand catching their eye and their inbox and on their doorstep.
55:33
[SPEAKER_17]: A sleek email links them to your website.
55:36
[SPEAKER_17]: A beautiful postcard reminds them your local, real and ready to serve it.
55:40
[SPEAKER_17]: Partner with Coffland to harness the power of cross-media marketing, where print meets digital to get noticed, build trust and drive results that stand out.
55:48
[SPEAKER_17]: Visit Coffland.co slash marketing or stop by 210 court street in Watertown.
55:54
[SPEAKER_11]: The North Country spells news.
55:56
[SPEAKER_11]: AM 1240.
56:00
[SPEAKER_11]: Watertown.
56:02
[SPEAKER_11]: Depend on it.
56:04
[SPEAKER_06]: Good afternoon here on the show.
56:06
[SPEAKER_06]: Lisa was here.
56:07
[SPEAKER_06]: You know, I hate to talk about issues, but in all this discussion the last few weeks about this and that has anything been talked about about.
56:14
[SPEAKER_29]: identifying cuts for next budget session because no you know and that's that's the problem that's what we should be discussing but you know for the last two years all we've heard about is the golf course ethics you know cliffs ethics is there going to be a hearing no hearing how many attorneys do we have you know this I think that's what happened this latest attorney miss cumeral
56:37
[SPEAKER_29]: Yeah, we never saw her, this is what's really alarming in my attorney said that that Monday's meeting where he was he spoke, I spoke answered questions that that assigned attorney was not there so so the other sport operated without an attorney weird weird and I don't know who that attorney is because we've never met her during any of the ethics things about Cliff so she's she's a new additional attorney.
57:04
[SPEAKER_06]: she's a mystery attorney.
57:06
[SPEAKER_29]: So you look at the cost of cliffs so far as well over what 70 it's probably eight thousand now I think.
57:14
[SPEAKER_06]: And we look at like issues like Thompson Park, which is still nothing addressed on my idea, it really comes off of what the mayor said about a reimagining, but the idea of a unified park command, one person in charge of everything and not this conservancy, this friends of this and the golf club and a separate,
57:33
[SPEAKER_06]: And figuring it out, making it a regional attraction, but nobody's interested in that.
57:37
[SPEAKER_06]: It's just this Balkanization up there.
57:40
[SPEAKER_29]: And, Well, unfortunately, dealing with different personalities and opinions.
57:45
[SPEAKER_29]: And the thing is, if you close one thing up there, then you're going to decrease the attendance to the part of the general.
57:52
[SPEAKER_06]: Oh, I don't know if I close anything.
57:53
[SPEAKER_29]: You know, I look.
57:56
[SPEAKER_29]: I've learned a lot about golf.
57:58
[SPEAKER_29]: I don't, I'm not an expert about what works, but we should have already started booking the tournaments for next year.
58:04
[SPEAKER_29]: But staff were told not to at this point.
58:08
[SPEAKER_29]: And we discussed it even a month ago that, yes, let's stick with the same model that's working.
58:15
[SPEAKER_29]: You know, they showed what a loss of, I mean, it was minimal.
58:20
[SPEAKER_29]: It was the best season ever.
58:23
[SPEAKER_29]: And you know, I think it was what 30, I don't know what it was.
58:28
[SPEAKER_29]: It was good.
58:30
[SPEAKER_29]: So it shows that it can work.
58:33
[SPEAKER_29]: And I think that if they start implementing other ideas that can raise money.
58:39
[SPEAKER_29]: for the golf course operation, I think it will be a success.
58:43
[SPEAKER_29]: You know, they've only, look at all the negativity that we've seen over the last two years from everywhere.
58:50
[SPEAKER_29]: Why do you think he's going to do it this far?
58:52
[SPEAKER_29]: Who's going to be doing it this far?
58:53
[SPEAKER_29]: Because they don't want to deal with the negativity.
58:55
[SPEAKER_06]: Who at this point is going to resurrect the city's rather Toddree image as a governing body.
59:01
[SPEAKER_06]: At this point, I mean, the two new council members,
59:05
[SPEAKER_29]: No, no, and actually it's going to take a lot longer than that.
59:10
[SPEAKER_29]: And I know someone who has teaches classes on bullying and said, water town, and she said, no wonder they have, you know, coined it, hayed or town.
59:21
[SPEAKER_29]: And I said, that's what I came up with two years ago.
59:24
[SPEAKER_06]: city with no pity right well it's it's terrible it's going to take years uh... i think to bring it back but the people you have to think is smith and pierce because and they are the ones who have always and all of these other people are welcome on the show i guess uh... just say things different i've got a run going to be in five i thank you man for coming in today we appreciate it
59:49
[SPEAKER_06]: And that's our show for today.
59:51
[SPEAKER_06]: You've been listening to the hotline always a font of information and inspiration at times right here on A. I'm 1240 we are WATN water.