Mayor Kim Lays A Heavy Hand On 9/11 Commemoration

I received the following press release from Mary Beth Delarm. I previously covered her appearance before the Saratoga Springs City Council when she thoughtfully expressed her disappointment with the way Council meetings were being conducted.

Link to Ms. Delarm’s commentary to the Council.

Ms. Delarm was a Red Cross volunteer on 9/11 at the Twin Towers following the collapse of the buildings.

As she explains below, she served on the committee organizing this year’s 9/11 memorial event in the city assisting in planning the program which is set for tomorrow (this is being written on September 10, 2023). Apparently, Mayor Kim did not forget her remarks to the Council, however. The Mayor participated in a live meeting via zoom of the 9/11 committee and stripped her of her role on the committee and from participating in the program where she was scheduled to speak.

“Cruel politics overshadows 9/11responders

After misleading Red Cross volunteer Mary Beth Delarm who donated countless weeks tending to other responders following the World Trade Center 9/11 attacks at Ground Zero, Saratoga Mayor Kim kicks her from the 911 commemorative ceremony, dissing her 911 response role as mediocre.

Kim’s latest power move came after requesting Delarm donate two weeks to helping Saratoga plan the remembrance program, gather speakers and to speak about her own 911 experience. Delarm said “ The mayor blindsided me at a final 9/1 recorded 911 committee zoom meeting saying “no one wants to hear another responder’s story as Red Cross volunteers weren’t really official /important responders”.  Delarm said “He didn’t just stun me. His words shocked everyone, particularly the core of every volunteer responder on earth.” “You couldn’t hear a pin drop, except for my sobbing hearing such hurtful remarks.” She tried to reply, but Kim firmly said “his decision is final!”

Evidently Kim was retaliating, Delarm said. The mayor pointed to an August 15 City Council meeting public comment where she requested  “ during the city’s  9/11ceremony, the city should focus on responders and respect for those who are lost, not politicians”. Mary Beth also requested “the city get back to business and focus on respect for fellow citizens concerns, rather than free-for-all disruptions that have been occupying government efficiency for almost a year.“ (reflecting similar concerns June 20).

Delarm and other community responders reeling from the mayor’s comments, encouraged her to respond to Kim at the last City Council meeting September 7.  But during open public comment, as Delarm walked to the mic, Kim prevented her from speaking, yet allowed another uncontrollable outburst from BLM activists.

Delarm’s response she planned on submitting to Mayor Kim follows:

“Mayor Kim, please tell the Public and myself,

1) What has my past public comments on decorum in City events and meetings to do with me as a World Trade Center responder sharing my personal Ground Zero experience on a day to honor responders and remember those who have died?

2) “Why did you invite me to help organize and speak at a 911 event you don’t believe respects and honors ALL in our all inclusive city?

“That I’m  ‘just another responder’s story and some responders are not as important as others’ is heartless and immoral. Your disrespectful behavior is precisely what our City Hall leaders should not be displaying.”

“You’re implying ‘Red Cross as UN-important responders with the same old story’ is just wrong. Red Cross continues disaster response in unsafe areas across half the nation right now as the main organized charitable volunteer group without pay. All responders reach into our hearts because we want to help others. Our common bond is kindness qualified with heartfelt support to others from around the world. No matter belief, gender or faith, we insure respect for all!”

“No responder is mediocre. We all bring a willingness to serve. Red Cross and thousands of other responders sacrificed time away from family on 911. No matter our title or capacity: WE all shared different emotional experiences which got us through to the next dawn. We all breathed the same toxic air, suffered massive health repercussions and we all have the 911 cough if even blessed to still be alive. Whether they wore a helmet or not, one could not sustain work without Red Cross volunteers day and night caring for everyone as they left cindered piles covered in debris.”

“On 911, the most important thing is to commemorate each and every responder who proudly served in NYC, and keep your petty politics out of it. And especially not forget the courageous who rushed to help in an unsafe environment where people jumped from skyscrapers, because that was their best out.”

“It is attitudes like yours that fail to recognize and appreciate all responders and veterans, forgotten except one day a year, that causes many to commit suicide. 9/11 Responders and those who helped unofficially as volunteers are still dying every day as a result of their fearlessness. Forgetting us and those aging out of the 911 era cheats people and their families who may not be here next year to memorialize the experience. It turns an emotional event many are proud to have served to betrayal and disrespect. The exact things which caused 911.”

“You may try to rob or censor my freedom of speech (as you indicated in your follow-up email), but you will not steal my memories. DESPITE your dishonor and hurt to all who risked their lives, my mission to represent the many people and their families who struggled alongside me in the ashes of 911 will never wane.

“I encourage you & your Commissioners to put aside your negative politics and biases and demonstrate a new generation of kindness, respect & humility to everyone, as all responders did during 911.”

Mary Beth Delarm 

Sept 7, 2023 (City Council Planned speech)

Since 911 Mary Beth continues to represent the Red Cross in volunteer response to disasters locally and nationally with mass relief efforts feeding, sheltering, mobil ERV emergency needs, disaster assessment, pet sheltering and services to Armed Forces. She is currently on call down for hurricane Lee as it barrels up the coast if the response need arises.

Mary Beth also volunteers in many other capacities donating her time and resources to charities such as veterans organizations, pet shelters, Saratoga friends bookshop and as a health patient advocate for seniors and vulnerable. While wearing any hat serving another, Mary Beth says the most important thing is respect.

30 thoughts on “Mayor Kim Lays A Heavy Hand On 9/11 Commemoration”

  1. I felt badly for Mary Beth. I know that she wanted to speak about this during the last City Council meeting but Ron was pretty abrupt when he closed Public Comment without asking if anyone else wanted to speak. I had hoped that he might have re-opened Public Comment after the Council returned from executive session but he didn’t.

    Chris Mathiesen

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  4. How many voters beyond this blog know what a mediocre mayor Kim has been? So far, there haven’t been any published public polls and if there have been any private ones, they haven’t been leaked. Other media coverage about the issues highlighted here has been minimal.

    It won’t be long before letters to the various editors, composed by the Kim campaign, start dropping. If you’re a regular reader of any of the regional papers, pick an issue and start writing. Ditto with social media. Though it’s common courtesy to ask first, I suspect that John will allow you to quote from his exposés freely.

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  5. Just when I thought Mr. Kim could go no lower, he proved me wrong. This kind of petty response to someone who dared to challenge you is about as low as you can go. As a proud Democrat, I am so less than proud of Mr. Kim and his self-aggrandizing, caustic behaviors. He seems to have become the Democratic equivalent of Trump at the city level.

    As someone who was working in NYC on 9/11 and volunteered at NYU Hospital every day, I cannot even begin to put into words the emotions that were involved and the strength required to be a helper on a day of such horror yet with so many needing support. To denigrate the sacrifice and fortitude of anyone who volunteered or worked during this time is to demonstrate one’s own blind self-serving, vindictive predilection. This is not a pretty picture for any person much less one in the position of power.

    To Ms. Delarm, thank you for all you did at this horrible time in our history, and please, no more tears. Remember, to be disregarded by someone for whom you should have no respect, has no reflection on who you are and what you did.

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      1. This is regrettable. Horrors of 911 are not forgotten. The role of responders is not forgotten. Kim rudely cuts commenters off The agenda is convoluted , so the public comment is confusing.
        I’ve been commenting on my situation since the 2022 fall meetings. I signed up to speak at the 2nd comment period. I was 2 hours trying to view the meeting. I signed into the chat room earlier but didn’t know I was booted out.
        The council knew I was signed up to speak. This is a kangaroo meeting in my opinion.

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  7. Ron Kim: Mean-Spirited, malicious, malevolent and malignant. Can he go lower? Not sure he has a bottom. Not sure what his appeal is other than to some of the fringe element he allows to disrupt Council meetings. Let’s hope the electorate is paying attention and supports a decent and fair person, Chris Mathiesen.

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  8. Can someone please explain why Mayor Kim as presiding officer repeatedly allows the same group of mostly non-residents using abusive language to continually dominate City Council meetings to the point that Saratoga citizens are not allowed time to make civil comments or ask questions of their representatives. And why do Sanghvi, Moran, and Golub sit there and watch this happening meeting after meeting and not offer any objections? Does no one care about the free speech rights of anyone other than BLM?

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  10. From one grudge to another.

    When this blog was brought to my attention, my first response was to take it with a grain of salt because of a grudge towards Ron Kim. This blog always has negative Ron Kim stories, not the positive ones like working to resolve the homeless issue, the parking garage issue, affordable housing progress, etc.

    After reading, if it’s plausible that this happened as presented, then that’s “another grudge” causing unnecessary bad publicity and feelings out of the Mayor’s office.

    Unfortunately, responding to situations because of a grudge does nothing for anyone to move this city forward.

    As former Democratic chair, navigating unnecessary grudges made it difficult for us to conduct business, gives city government a bad name, and made it hard to get people to join the committee.

    But, either I have a great imagination, or a lot of hope. As a city we can rise above the personal and put the grudges behind us as no time in history has this been more important. We must just stick to issues and get what needs to be done, done!

    A local election is coming up. Let’s look at the records of our electeds. If voter’s believe nothing is getting done, they can say so with their vote. But please vote!

    And I certainly respect that.

    Pat Tuz

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    1. Sometimes, Pat, when someone’s behavior is so unpleasant and distressing, any good that person may have done gets buried. Perception is in the eye of the beholder and Mr. Kim has done little with his hideous treatment of anyone who dares to disagree with him or call him on his lack of due diligence does little to inspire positive perceptions. To blame John for sharing facts does little to engender that either.

      Again, I repeat what I said above. Mr. Kim mirrors so many of the attitudes and behaviors of Donald Trump, that I’m embarrassed to include him in my Democratic party.

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    3. This is why I fear Mayor Kim will be reelected, blind party loyalists who have no common sense or sense of decency.

      John has merely documented an individual who as Gayle said mirrors Trump. (with video!)

      The council meetings were a mess with both the Saratoga BLM hate group and the nasty council member disagreements. Add in all the errors and mistakes with their basic job duties, all documented.

      The homeless issue is worse, growing and will be insanely expensive per person will no end in sight.
      Affordable housing is: apartment with roommate(s) outside the city, then starter house outside the city and then after you and your spouse work their butts off, a nice house in the city. (if you earned it)
      The garage issue was not enforcing the law, period.

      The council meetings got better after Mary Beth Delarm rightfully called them all out. She did a brilliant job in her comments at the June meeting. Now we add her to the list of people they have disrespected or gotten rid of. It’s a long list.

      Pat, to defend Ron Kim’s actions over the past 2 years is insane. (review the videos of his council meetings)

      Vote for Chris Mathiesen if you value our city, please.

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    4. Ms Tuz- if anyone has a grudge it would seem to be Ron Kim against Ms. Delarm. I agree that “responding to situations because of a grudge does nothing for anyone to move this city forward.” Good advice that I hope Mayor Kim will take to heart.
      I am also very tired of Ron Kim being given credit for things that he has had little if anything to do with as you have done. Apparently, this is a useful campaign strategy that works on those not paying attention which unfortunately seems to be too many Democrats in this city.
      One more time for the record: Please do not give Ron Kim credit for working to resolve the homeless issue and the parking garage issue. Let’s give credit where credit is due. All Ron Kim did was raise his hand to vote for a solution that former Mayor Meg Kelly, Sonny and Julie Bonacio, and the folks at RISE put together. As I recall Kim couldn’t even get the resolution written correctly to make this happen.
      Sadly, Kim has two opponents who will probably split the vote and usher him back into office albeit without a majority but only a plurality. In my opinion either opponent would be better than Kim. I can only hope that one of his opponents will put the good of the city ahead of his personal desire to win and drop out and throw his vote to the other so we can be rid of truly the worst mayor this city has ever seen.

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  12. There is a toxicity in City Hall since Mayor Kim took office. There is toxicity at the Council table among Commissioners and their interactions with the Mayor. It has been on full display from the beginning of the terms of these novice politicians, and it shows. Ask any employee in City Hall, they are dumbfounded by the way are being treated.

    Mayor Kim needds to go. No matter how Ms Tuz candy-coats it, the homeless situation is only a little better because of private ideas and private money.

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  15. 9/7 public comment period 24 minutes
    8/15 public comment period 42 minutes
    8/1 public comment period 66 minutes

    There seems to be valid concern that others were not allowed to speak 9/7 considering the abrupt end to a very short public comment period. Let those numbers sink in.

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  17. Ron Kim is an absolute disgrace as a leader of Saratoga Springs I hope and pray that the people of Saratoga Springs see him for who he really is his behavior weather be at city, Council meetings or in City Hall has been an absolute disgrace and since it’s an election year, I wouldn’t ask him to be removed but I hope the hell he is voted out of office. He is a major problem of why the city is in the condition that it’s in. He is a racist and and he needs to go for the good of the city.

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  18. So apparently you took my post off so much for freedom of speech I will just say Ron Kim is not the right person to be mayor of Saratoga springs if you seen his behavior at city, Council meetings, and in City Hall, you would definitely agree with me. Please do not remove my post. I understand the truth is difficult to hear sometimes. which give this John Stafford a shot.

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  19. The priority here was to recognize and respect the dwindling numbers of surviving emergency responders, those who died on scene Sept. 11th and since, their families and friends all but family. Those who choose to put themselves at risk up to death to serve others in need, usually do so for strangers they will never see again. If public servants can not respect, support, and prioritize this for the good of the community they lead they discourage such service to the detriment of their community. Is their priority the best interests of those they serve, and those who serve under their guidance or petty shows of power and privilege? Shouldn’t those who sacrificed, their survivors, and discouraging future possible volunteers be priority concerns?
    .

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  20. Rose Tait says: “I was 2 hours trying to view the meeting. I signed into the chat room earlier but didn’t know I was booted out.
    The council knew I was signed up to speak. This is a kangaroo meeting in my opinion.”

    No one commented on her posting, which is above. I do not know Rose, but from viewing the City Council meeting videos, I feel like I do know her. I know that she waits patiently to speak at every public comment period,
    at every Council meeting. She has lost income during the racing season, because she wants to park cars in her Lincoln Ave. parking lot, which is located near Siros Restaurant.

    But a former Public Safety Commissioner decided to make Lincoln Ave. a one-way street, but only in the section of the street that is in front of her parking lot. Rose has repeatedly asked for relief from this decision to make her section of Lincoln Ave. a one-way street/section.

    However, when she presents her dilemma during the public comment period, the Council sits stone-faced, listens to Rose, and then the next person in line talks about a different topic. This episode has been repeated over and over again, with no relief for Rose. What a shame.

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    1. @Henry37 It is terrible behavior on behalf of the council to have Ms. Tait have to come back over and over again to consistently get stonewalled. There is no excuse for it.

      There is also no excuse for this treatment of Mary Beth, which I find absolutely reprehensible. When Mayor Kim disrespects your service volunteering after 9/11, he disrespects everyone touched by our national tragedy. You deserve a public apology from the Mayor, at a minimum.

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    2. The former Public Safety Commissioner who changed the traffic patterns in front of Rose Tait’s parking area during the racing season, with the approval of the rest of the Council, was me. I did so because the traffic division of the SSPD and the Code Enforcement Officers who were responsible for controlling traffic and keeping pedestrians safe at the NYRA Clubhouse Gate were very concerned about the situation. They had been requesting that traffic in that loop, which includes the most eastern block of Wright Street, all of Frank Sullivan Place and the most eastern block of Lincoln Avenue, be restricted to one directional travel only during the racing season. Previous Commissioners would not agree to the change. I did. Once enacted, the change was dramatic. Traffic flowed much more readily. Parking for taxi’s, limo’s etc. was set up in an orderly manner. Pedestrians were safer when crossing. NYRA was relieved to have the traffic mess of pervious years cleared up. It was the proper thing to do.

      Rose Tait and a manager from Siro’s were not pleased but Siro’s continues to do well. Rose Tait may have seen an impact on her parking lot business. Unfortunately for Rose, this is a ‘greater good’ issue as many are. Rose’s continued criticisms about 3 hour trips to get to her property are simply not true. I have continuously observed that traffic. All vehicles have a much quicker trip through that loop because of the one-way traffic pattern. No one is being delayed by three hours, or two hours or one hour. It might take slightly longer to get to Roses property during the one hour before then first race when traffic is heavy but that is it. It would be terribly irresponsible for the Council to reverse course and go back to the Clubhouse Gate traffic problems of the old days.

      Chris Mathiesen

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  21. These people need to GO AWAY! They are not serving the City of Saratoga Springs in any contructive manner. They are an embarrassment. Ron Kim and his cohorts are a joke and their council meeting antics should be brought up to an ethics committee for review. God bless you Mary Beth for your unselfishness amd compassion.

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