OSWEGO, NY – Tempers boiled over at Thursday night’s Oswego County Legislature meeting as the Democrat representing Fulton nearly came to blows with his likely GOP (Conservative) challenger in this fall’s election.
At the end of the meeting, Marc Holliday spoke at the public session.
“I’m here today to speak about Michaud. Frank Castiglia is my representative for the 25th District. I am running against Frank. However, that’s not why I’m here,” he began.
At that point, Legislator Dan Farfaglia (D-24th District) of Fulton jumped up and accused Holliday of campaigning on the floor of the legislature.
Holliday apologized saying he wasn’t campaigning.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know the policy. I didn’t mean to upset anybody. I’m asking…” Holliday began.
“He’s campaigning!” Castiglia interrupted.
“That’s not what I’m here for,” Holliday replied. “I’m here to invite everybody. I put this rally together to save Michaud. I came here tonight to reach out to all of you for bipartisan support. 113 professionals are going to lose their jobs; 65 elderly are going to be displaced.”
He said that he has spoken with Terrence Gorman, CEO of St. Luke’s (owner of Michaud) and was told they need $5 million to keep the facility open.
“Whether or not we get it, I hope we do, wherever it comes from, state or federal, to keep these jobs,” Holliday said. No other information regarding the rally was offered.
“He’s been campaigning for five minutes,” Castiglia complained.
Chairman of the Legislature Kevin Gardner called the next scheduled speaker to come to the podium, thereby cutting off Holliday’s remarks.
As Holliday walked past Castiglia, he said something to the legislator.
“Hey!” Castiglia yelled, jumping out of his chair. “What did you say to me? Say it out loud! Say it to my face!”
Immediately Legislator Jacob Mulcahey and others rushed in between the two men to keep them separated.
“Frank, take your seat,” Chairman Gardner ordered as he banged his gavel repeatedly. “Gentlemen. Please, take your seat. We have two more speakers and then we’re done.”
Holliday left the Legislature Chamber without further comment.
Castiglia claims Holliday called him a derogatory name as he left legislature floor.
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Making headlines everywhere I go. It’s kind of hard to give details to the county legislature when you’re being shouted down while you’re trying to tell them the details. The entire Democratic caucus acted like a bunch of crazed animals. Nothing more than political theatrics. Extremely unprofessional and very childish on their Part. Clearly the reporter couldn’t hear me over all the Democrat screaming. The rally is July 18th at 3 p.m. at Michaud for those who care. Please come and show your support for the 113 employees and the 65 residents of Michaud. Let them know you care.
Correct … I never heard the time and place. Thank you for clearing that up.
So this guy wants to be part of the legislature but he doesn’t understand the rules of the legislature (sounds like he still doesn’t) and then while he’s there he uses language I wouldn’t use in front of my grandkids? Were there women and children around?
Until that county and this state stops letting the Democratic Party destroy jobs and hinder progress , Oswego county will remain the welfare capital .
These are the best choices that District can come up with? Those poor people.
Democrats doing what they do best in this case helping the Fulton downward spiral to ghost town status. Keep voting Democrat Fultonians “You get the Government you Deserve”.
Sounds like Holliday is not well informed on procedures, let alone basc civil behavior in public. Also apoears he likes to throw gas, light a match and snidely walk out the door. Won’t get my vote!
Fulton is a dying city, We let our citizens live in filth, offer our children nothing but high tax burdens if they choose to stay here. No pools, no parks that have a single park rec councilor.. We have high end retirement packages ..Thats it.. The city of Fulton believes that if you have hot water and a working stove then its good enough for code enforcement .. Mold , vermin , roaches and dog feces embedded into floors is OK for folks to live in. We need to take back our city. These bad policies need to end . Lets make Fulton Great again!!!
Before taking interest in the Michaud closing (definitely a worthy cause to fight for our neighbors), Mr. Holliday has mentioned around town that he became interested in running for the legislature because he has an axe to grind with the family courts. Even if he has a 100% legitimate argument with that, it seems like the wrong motivation for becoming a public servant.
He did not have to mention at all that he was Mr. Castiglia’s opponent. To me, it seems like he did that to bait the man and cause unnecessary drama. He should have just stated the concerns related to the closing, who he has contacted already for support, information about the rally and asked for bi-partisan support from our local officials.
I do not like that he is basically generalizing the behaviors of the whole dem caucus, which is hard to believe (I would be equally bothered if the same generalizations were made about our many fine republican legislators). I also dislike his immature name calling both here and on his campaign page. Very unprofessional.
If Fulton is going to stop the decline, it needs a program the generates jobs and tax revenue. Every problem is met with the solution of more government assistance. The next political representatives need to be able to forge a public private partnership. If not, it’s time to move to Texas.
Lynn you are correct that we are a dying city. It is to bad because we had a great city at one time. Welfare moved in and ruined much of the beauty in the city. They do not care about anything but making babies, taking heroin and collecting the monthly check. Stop saving these people! Until the administration takes action we may as well shut off the lights. Let the NYSP take over law enforcement and move to a volunteer fire department. This will save the taxpayers thousands of dollars and help reduce property tax in hopes of bringing in businesses. Also as side note Marc Holliday changed his name from Marc Aldash. Hmmm wonder why the change in last name?
Isn’t St Lukes run by the Roman Catholic Church? If so let them come up with the money..
Michaud closing is a business decision on a losing facility ,and I believe it is run by St Lukes ,The county sold a few years ago because it wasn’t sustainable then ,now because of under-funding from the Government and I don’t care which one and only around 60% capacity the owners of the facility filed closure proceeding and this must be followed. I was told most workers would be offered jobs in other facilities. Marc Halliday and Frank Castiglia have a primary for the Conservative slot on the ballot,remember Conservatives in the 25th District. to vote September 12th
Ok…Lets get the facts out on the table. It is Mark Aldasch not Marc Holliday..He may have changed his name but it doesn’t change who he is..All but maybe 10 workers have jobs within the St. Lukes facility.By giving the clients false hope may cost them the ability to get into the home they want . Mr. Aldasch doesn’t care about them. This is political posturing. Senator DeFrancisco is not attending. I’m sure more will drop out as the facts become more clear. Mr. Aldasch has a storied history both here and in Oneida. Neither one are good. The point about him campaigning is true. As soon as he said he was Frank’s opponent he was campaigning and when he kept saying I did this and I did that …in front of a group that is campaigning. He should have been stopped at the start. If he wants to promote something let him pay for advertisement .
It’s a rotten shame that one of three things aren’t happening: #1. Why can’t Fulton and Oswego be run by Billy Barlow. Now there is a young man with a brain and is sensible. #2. Wouldn’t it be less expensive instead of having welfare recipients all over Oswego County, to put them in one place? Where Fulton is already broken down, put them all there! Makes more sense to have them where a majority of slum lords and dilapidated houses are, then throughout the whole County. #3. Last is what no working man wants, bring the Federal Government into Fulton to clean it’s financial mess!
This sounds a bit like the part where “the talking trees” start throwing apples at “the scarecrow”.
First off, his last name is Aldasch. What are you hiding from that you changed your name? You’re saying you want to make improvements to Fulton yet your house is on the market and has been for years. Google his address you’ll find it on zillow. Also heard he’s living off of tax payers money on disability. Looks very able bodied to me!!
Perdiem…Now lets bring a few more things to the table. Mr. Aldasch has at many open meetings complained about the Elected officials of the City govt. and said he doesn’t want to live here he has his house for sale. He has said that the city has to dissolve it’s public safety departments. All of this has been said in open meetings and reported in the paper. He called them the 800 lb. gorilla. Were as Frank has tried to form a county wide fire district to try and save the taxpayers millions of dollars and save lives. He has asked to have two police officers ride in a car. Saving money for gas and on cars and keeping the officers safe. All of these things are public record by looking at news releases…If everything is on the table Mr. Aldasch’s side doesn’t look very appealing now does it. Remember you can put a dress on a monkey but it still a monkey. Changing a name doesn’t change a thing. Only mislead . I may not live in Fulton anymore but my heart will always be there.
so reading all the comments, a lot of mentions of the word “welfare” and vilifying those on “welfare” (which was reformed by Democrat in name only Bill Clinton and the Republicans in 1996 … so what are people even talking about when they use that word?).
so all the “welfare” mentions but not one mention of capitalism. Not one mention of the systematic destruction of the American middle and working classes over the past 40 years.
Nobody thinks it’s worth pointing out the capitalist system we all live under? The one which concentrates wealth and power in the hands of fewer and fewer people over time? That system doesn’t have anything to do with the decline of Fulton? People are so eager to blame and denigrate “people on welfare,” people who are themselves victims of the worst inequality this country has seen since the 1920’s.
Until we all unite, Democrats, Republicans, Independents, whatever, behind a political movement like that of Bernie Sanders … a politician with actual integrity who is talking about the real root causes of all the social misery we the people have to endure … we’re going to keep having these same stupid arguments about “welfare” and the rest.
Single-payer healthcare would solve all the Michaud-like situations here and everywhere. Healthcare as a human right, like all the other industrialized nations in the world. No hospital bills, no bankruptcies, no insurance company denial of care, no inequality.
like i keep saying,fulton nobody cared or rallyed when millers or nestles left,get a grip this city once known as fulton is done,waste milloions of dollars trying to clean a lake ,then millions more cleaning up nestles,forget the investment on the lake ,clean up nestles so aldis will come here,REALLY then buy a dredge and ask for volenters to run it,im done,ill shop else were,my money is being sucked out of me quicker than the kirby works,ha have fun with mayberry,oh ,last one out ,dont forget to shut the lights off
I love the fact that democratws being blamed foe Fulton’s problems. Last i recall the republicans control the city and county officea. Maybe out maybe the republican mayor should go to Albany.. You want something done then vote out rhe samw ol aamn hd8fo
re: M….Actually, it’s starting to sound like YOU’RE the one “campaigning” here. Your idealistic view of things may have some merits, but certainly the benefits aren’t as black and white as you make them out to be either. You forgot to mention things like long wait times to see doctors, who the “final decision makers are” concerning extended health services for the very ill and elderly, and so on and so forth. As for “welfare recipients”, let’s face the fact’s…while Fulton may have once touted the slogan “The City with a Future”, there are very obvious demographic changes happening in the Oswego county area from years ago. If you don’t think that’s having any negative consequesces, think again. Certainly, loss of industry accounts for some of it, but there are other things as well. Just something to think about.
re: M…One last thought I forgot to mention. Maybe you can explain WHY so many people who were not born and raised in Oswego or Fulton who are either drug users or social services recipients would intentionally move to an area of little employment opportunities and high taxes. Not just there, but elsewhere as well. Sure, many lifetime residents have been affected by lack of employment opportunities and still live there, but many have also left as well to find greener pastures. The question is, “who is taking their place”?
I see Mark Aldasch says that he thinks this reporter did a great job reporting the news. He is right. But no-one is using his name. It is Mark Aldasch. He should have been removed from the podium as soon as he said he was someone’s opponent those are rules here as well as in Oswego county. The Chairman was not doing his job. It could be because the Chairman is a Rep. and so is Aldasch. Surprise, Surprise.
Repurposing this Nursing home to an Opiod and Drug Treatment Center may bring the town some Federal and State Grant money as it seems to be the popular “Buzz” word in politics these days. We don’t ever seem to win the normal grant money, this may work to keep the jobs and preventing overdoses all around the town.
Widowand mother here, work 12-15 hr days 5 or 6 days a week. Im not all that political. But i keep myself well read on our issues. Im what many are commenting on as a ” welfare person”! You judge and point fingers weather it be our voted in officials or us welfare people. Everyones to blame but ourselves. I raised my 2 children and now my grandson on a single income. I also live in Fulton. Why is it all i ever hear is what others are at fault for? Never do you hear what can we do as a community together to make things right in our city. Lets hear about that for a change ! Then maybe the scumlords will end, more business will appear witch will bring more jobs and less of us welfare people.