I know I get flack for being too pro-Tutunjian but anyone looking at things with a hint of an objective eye really can't help it. I got the same flak for being too pro-Pattison too and he's a Democrat.

Case in point: The Council's inane attempt to shift money from a homeland security grant and from the engineer's office to fund an appraisal of the River Triangle Building and a study to explore the feasibility of turning the Dauchy Building into the next City Hall.

Both make sense and that's why Mayor Harry Tutunjian agreed to find funding to pay for them. But, the council decided to attempt, without letting the mayor, the corporation council or acting comptroller know what they were up to until they introduced it at Thursday's Council meeting.

The Council, as Tutunjian pointed out, wasn't even sure if the grant money had already been spent and while I'm not 100 percent sure, I'm willing to bet the federal Department of Homeland Security won't like spending money to study two buildings in downtown Troy. They probably have more important things to worry about - you know, like terrorists.

Honestly, the Council wanted the studies done, the mayor agreed to come up with the funding yet the Council has to try and stab him in the back and mess with his budget without even telling him. Unlike the part time members of the Council, the mayor and his staff are charged with the day-to-day operations of the city and don't need the Council throwing him curve balls at every turn.

It led to one of the best lines in a while: "You forced me get my Irish up. And I'm not even Irish," an angry Tutunjian told Councilman Bill Dunne, the driving force behind the studies.
Check out the video below and story as reported by Record reporter Cecelia Martinez.