More video from the Rochester forum that Robach skipped

This video has Rick Dollinger speaking about property taxes:

Video of Dollinger at last night's forum, the one Robach skipped

Robert Harding was at the forum that Joe Robach was too chicken to attend last night in Rochester. Here's what he saw and some video too.

Last night's town hall meeting with Democratic candidate Rick Dollinger was informative and gave voters an excellent chance to talk to Dollinger and get his thoughts on issues impacting their community, including many issues that impact the black community, the urban areas of Rochester, among others.

Republican Sen. Joe Robach was missing in action, as expected. According to people with knowledge of the invites sent to Robach, there were at least two letters delivered to Robach inviting him to the event. There was no response and as Stlo7 of Rochester Turning pointed out, there was an empty mic stand filling in for Robach.

...snip...

Dollinger followed by giving some introductory remarks before taking questions from the audience.

"I think there is also a political problem," Dollinger said. "That is, under the current leadership in the New York State Senate, the quick fix solution has been too often the way they approach the violence in communities."

Dollinger continued: "What they don't do is look at the heart of the problem."

Dollinger mentioned a statistic that is shocking. According to Dollinger, 45 percent of the people in Rochester live in areas having chronic poverty. That covers five zip codes in the city and are all areas where people can qualify for the earned income tax credit - a sign of poverty.

Dollinger also brought up Robach's support for a law school at St. John Fisher College. Dollinger made a simple point: You need to graduate high school first before you go to law school. That point was intended at driving the point home that the money dedicated to a law school at St. John Fisher could go towards improving our high schools and making sure more children get a better education.

"You can't grab a gun if you can grab a book or hammer," Dollinger said, referring to the importance of education and employment instead of violence.

Here's Robert's video:



Will Robach debate at all? Does he really believe that the people in this district don't deserve to hear both of the candidates?

Dollinger will hold forum without Robach

I never though there was much of a chance that Joe Robach would ever actually agree to debate Rick Dollinger. He'd get eaten alive and he knows it. That's not stopping Dollinger from going ahead with his first forum without him though. It happens tomorrow night in Rochester says Rochester Turning.

Dollinger blasts Robach on special session

From tap

"As the working and middle class families of upstate New York continue to be devastated by skyrocketing property taxes, the increasingly burdensome cost of day-to-day living, and a lack of sustainable good paying jobs, Republicans Joe Robach and Jim Alesi are participating, while on the public dime, in a special session of the state Senate that has served as nothing more than a political public relations gimmick meant to bolster a fading Republican Senate Majority.

"Republicans Robach and Alesi have flip-flopped on putting a stop to unfunded mandates, have sidestepped a real solution to the property tax crisis facing New Yorkers, and have cut-and-run without addressing the need for a circuit breaker. The time for excuses is over - we need real leadership in Albany that will get the job done."

Dollinger is right.

Hitting mailboxes soon - "Joe Robach is hurting our families"

This is so awesome. I have been waiting for this and I thought I would never see the day that someone would finally tell it like it really is about my craptastic state senator. That day is finally here. This is from The Albany Project site via Rochester Turning:





Hat tip to Rochester Turning and The Albany Project.

Robach running scared from debates

Joe Robach won't agree to debate Rick Dollinger. That's pretty weak tea. Here's a video of Dollinger calling him out on it.



What's the matter Joe? Chicken?

Three debates, Joe. Can you handle it?

Rick Dollinger is challenging Joe "two black eyes" Robach to not one, not two but three debates. Think Joe will agree? Me either. From the Rochester Turning blog.

Citing that Republican Joe Robach has routinely been missing in action when it comes to addressing the issues that are affecting the middle class and working families of Monroe County, and now again by failing to participate in a public discussion on those issues, Democrat Rick Dollinger followed up at a press conference today on his invitation, sent two weeks ago, that invited Republican Joe Robach to participate in a series of debates. Joining Dollinger was Assemblyman David Gantt and supporters of these debates at Baden Park in downtown Rochester. Robach has yet to reply.

Here’s Dollinger’s proposal for the first three debates:

1. August 14th - Guns & Crime

2. August 28th – Reforming Albany

3. September 2nd – School Funding

Let’s hope that Robach takes Dollinger up on these debates. One of the biggest problems with Albany is lack of debate on the floor. The least our representatives can do is give us some campaign debates.

I really hope these debates happen. No way Robach can hold his own.