After a performance last year that actually makes the Syracuse Football Team look competitive, Robert Ament has returned to the grand stage of Irondequoit electoral politics. This time, he’s set his sights a little smaller and is running for a seat on the West Irondequoit School Board.
I won’t get into the many reasons why Bobby will almost certainly lose again. I will point out that the two incumbents have quite a record of service for the Town of Irondequoit, and should be commended to taking on this thankless, pro bono work on behalf of our schoolchildren.
I also didn’t know there were 30 not-for-profits in the Town of Irondequoit for Bobby to donate to. I’m guessing the Irondequoit Community Cupboard was not one the many benefactors of his generosity, since Ament believes it is a terrorist organization that hates the elderly, poor people…and dogs.
Here’s what drew my attention, and probably that of Town Supervisor Mary Joyce D’Aurzio, as well.
“…utilized my international development skills to plan and organize complete renovations of Pauline Evans and Helen McGraw branches of our public libraries to be completed in June and September of this year through donations from local businesses and materials supplied at cost - solved a problem that has plagued this town for twenty years.”
First of all, the likelihood that Bob Ament has somehow spearheaded any renovation effort of our libraries is about equal to the likelihood that Hannah Montana will headline the Summer Gazebo Concert Series at Town Hall.
But if Bob Ament actually feels this is a possibility, then there are many questions that arise:
1) Has Mary Joyce D’Aurizio authorized someone who doesn’t work for or represent the Town of Irondequoit to oversee a project of this scope. A “complete” renovation of the Town’s two libraries would likely include a new roof and HVAC systems. Are we allowing an International Man of Mystery to spearhead this? Shouldn’t the Town Board be doing this?
2) If Bob Ament really is driving this project, just as he allegedly was building two ice rinks at Camp Eastman, does that mean he has been empowered by the D’Aurizio administration to serve as a community development czar? Is Bob Ament an agent of Mary Joyce D’Aurizio, or, is he acting as a rogue agent?
3) Most importantly (removing Ament from the equation ), what does this mean about the future of the libraries? Supervisor D’Aurzio, who already has made a habit of waffling on major Town issues, such as whether or not Medley Center should house a Broadway-style theater, may be reneging on a campaign promise if she decides to simply maintain the two libraries, and not explore the possibility of a consolidated facility.
Let’s look back to 2009 and see where she stood on Medley, among other town issues.
Messenger Post (10/24/2009): “Consolidation of the libraries is an emotional and economic issue and should be considered if community discussion and consensus supports the project. One facility for the libraries and community center can offer benefits from economies of scale. The public would vote on options with associated costs after extensive community planning.”
Messenger Post (11/3/2009): “D’Aurizio, who called herself a coalition builder, ran on a platform of needing “fresh leadership” in Irondequoit and called for a multi-year budgeting plan, forums for residents to discuss problems and concerns without time restrictions, better marketing of the Medley Centre redevelopment project, and a public vote on a community center and consolidated library.”
As I’ve discussed in earlier posts, I think that Bob Ament is probably a royal pain in the arse for MJD, and she probably deeply regrets forming their campaign alliance in 2009. But Ament seems dead set on pushing forward his agenda, and Town residents are right to wonder: “who did I pull the level for on Election Day?’
Has “Bob the Conqueror” (as he is now calling himself) captured control of the Republican agenda at Town Hall?
