Dunne

de Seve

I’m not sure where this email exchange started but near as I can tell it had something to do with knocking some buildings down on King Street to accommodate the proposed Bomber’s Burrito place. I’m a fan of keeping old buildings standing, provided they’re not allowed to sit there and rot. If someone has an idea for a re-use more power to them. If not, and someone wants to use the land for something else minus the building … more power to them too. It’s common sense, really.

Knocking buildings down does get people riled up, though. Some want to knock everything down while others wouldn’t knock down an outhouse.

Jim de Seve fits the latter category and I’m guessing Bill Dunne, the city’s head of planning, falls somewhere in the middle. Either way, de Seve didn’t like something Bill Dunne said about him, and never let it be said de Seve s one to hold his tongue when he sees or hears something he doesn’t like – which is a compliment – and he pretty much lets loose on Dunne. The “not hold your tongue” characteristic same can be said for Dunne, though he has been quiet since he was appointed to his latest gig and this exchange isn’t any different in that we don’t hear from Dunne directly. Maybe he realizes anything you put in an email has the potential to come back and bite you.

As a side note, I didn’t include some of the emails that were forwarded to me because I wasn’t cc’ed on them and neither was the entire world so I didn’t think it was appropriate. Another side note, de Seve’s mom Geri, a longtime Troy activist who handed down the “not known to hold their tongue” gene to her son, also gets into the mix. I wasn't around when what she is talking about transpired, but I heard a direrent version.

Anyway, without further ado, here is some more email fun:   

From Jim deSeve on June 1

Wow Bill - 

You are trying to defame my character by pointing people to a post that has a downright lie in it.  Wow.  This is what an Economic Development coordinator does?  You don't like my reasoned argument so you try to enable libel against me?

You are a true piece of work.  

Let's remember when you did whatever you did at the Dormitory Authority and the Republicans ran all over you.  They did the Tanya phone call.  People like me defended you because we believed in your politics and that you were  a good person.

I am going to join the chorus of people asking for your removal from the city government.  

You have questionable credentials for the job, you don't play well with others, you have anger and power issues that cloud your judgement and performance and you spend city time spreading lies about people because they critique like your official policies.

So disgusting and unprofessional I can't believe it.

Lou, Peter, please fire this creep.

Thanks,

Jim

On Jun 1, 2012, at 1:29 PM, dunne4troy@aol.com wrote:

http://www.fridaypuppy.com/index.php/2012/05/30/troy-parking-lot/
Michael Cocca's comments are enlightening.

From Jim de Seve on June 2

Yesterday Bill Dunne sent a link to a posting by Michael Cocca claiming that he had sold me property in the 'Burgh that i did not maintain.

Cocca was in error.  I have never had any business dealings with him and have never met him.  I have never owned property in Lansingburgh.  He has since removed the post and apologized.

Dunne sent this link out calling it, "enlightening."  Dunne's apparent intent was to defame my character because I have been lobbying against the demolition of the King St. properties. He sent out this link during city time and on the taxpayer's dime.  His actions are completely unprofessional.

My husband Kian and I have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars renovating buildings in Troy.  We keep our properties in excellent condition and pride ourselves in being preservationists and active in the community.

I have ask Bill for a public apology for his stunt.  He has not responded. 

Is this the sort of behavior we pay taxes for? 

Thanks for reading.

Jim de Seve

From Mark McGrath on June 3

Just got home from DC, I didn't see in the previous email where Bill disparages you. Was this on facebook (which I refuse to join) ?

From Jim de Seve on June 3

Hi Mark -  Michael Cocca had sold property to my brother and was ragging on him - calling him a liar and a slumlord on Matt Baumgartner's (Bombers) blog.  (Unfortunate wording, since my brother put  $300,000 into the place and has since gotten hit hard by the economy.)

Cocca confused my brother and me saying  I was a liar and slumlord.   I've never met the Cocca. Never bought anything from him.    Cocca has removed the post and apologized profusely even offering to take me for a drink.

 Bill sent out a link to all the big listservs pointing to the original link and saying: "Michael Cocca's comments are enlightening."  

So Dunne is not only trolling blogs during work time, he is actively seeking to defame peoples' characters - on city time.

I have sent several emails demanding a public apology.

Nothing.

I will not let this rest.  The man is hard to deal with, stubborn as hell, and of questionable moral character.  He is supposed to be spending time encouraging economic development and helping manage the city.  Instead he's surfing the net and  looking for ways to insult taxpayers like me.

He needs to go.

Dunne is not part of the solution.  He is a huge part of the problem.

Lou and Peter - he helped you guys get elected, so you may feel allegiance to him.  But your first duty and loyalty is to the city and the taxpayers.  

Get rid of Dunne.

Thanks,

Jim

From Geri de Seve on June 4

I got home from visiting my family in New York and NJ and have spent the last hour reading all this crap which was spawned from the fact that some dinky burrito joint wants to move into our town and wants to tear down a whole row of historic buildings or they'll take their retried beans somewhere else.  Are we that desperate that we have to cater to some burrito mogul - offering him deals to come here?  

If the city"planners" have their way, we'll go back to having a big hole in the ground as we did after the urban renewal fiasco which practically destroyed our city.  We've spent a long time recovering from that debacle and part of that recovery was due to the renovation of many of our beautiful and historic buildings, which, at the time were crumbling and decaying.  

Some of you may remember that the preservation of the McCarthy building, the Keenan building and the Market Block took place because of the commitment of the de Seve family to saving our city- the city where we grew up.  We did it without any IDA's or Pilot programs, but with funds from outside investors and the investment of our own money-what a concept!  

Many millions of dollars were spent on these projects and none of it was taxpayer money. Unfortunately, when we did need assistance from the City, we were refused.  And then vilified and lied about when the projects could no longer continue because the tax laws had changed giving no incentive for investors to put their money into preserving Troy.  That was in 1986.

Fast forward to now.  My son Jim and his husband took two condemned building which were filled floor to ceiling with junk and garbage and turned them into two amazing and lovely properties - on which they pay taxes.    My son Mike bought a once beautiful house in Lansingburgh from Michael Cocca - who had gutted most of it.  Mike has poured money tons of money into trying to undo the damage done.  If Michael Cocca wants to call it a slum, it was a slum of his making, not my son's.  

I guess the old saying "no good deed goes unpunished" must have originated in Troy.  It seems those who try to be honest and do good things for their community are given the shaft, while the carpetbaggers who come in with their hands out are given the red carpet treatment and plenty of money to go along with it.  

So now the IDA - whoever they are- will reward this crybaby Boyajian by not only allowing, but paying for the demolition of our historic buildings, which Boyajian allowed to deteriorate.  they'll give him a big tax break for 25 years because he's bringing in a burrito joint that will be surrounded by asphalt, or maybe a by a lot overgrown with weeds.  Did someone say slum?