The Saratoga Springs Democratic Party has sent out their final campaign mailer. Interestingly, it doesn’t tout their platform or even mention who their candidates are. No, the message the local Dems want to leave their audience with is its phony claim that One Saratoga is a tool of the MAGA GOP. This is the local Dems oft repeated big beautiful lie that they hope will win them this election. The Dems do not seem to realize that this kind of over-the-top attack only serves to damage their local committee’s reputation and their endorsed candidates. If they would lie so blatantly in this kind of mailing, how can people trust what their candidates will say if they are elected/re-elected?
The best antidote to this kind of campaigning is to share with the public who One Saratoga is. So here are two members of One Saratoga who the local Dems want you to believe are really MAGA operatives. You decide.
Saratoga Springs Politics 
Joe Ogden has a good letter to the editor in this week’s Saratoga Today which addresses the claims made in this political mailer paid for by the New York State Democratic Committee. I have been a Democrat all my life but I am beginning to question my allegiance to my party. In the past, it was the other party that employed the strategy of spreading misinformation with last minute mailers.
Chris Mathiesen
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m sorry you see it this way. Have you seen the most recent mailer and text sent by the Republican Committee recycling a doctored 2012 clip because they have nothing real to say?
At the recent CBS6 debate, Michele simply said what everyone already knows — the city’s parking rules are confusing and inconsistent — and Saratoga deserves a clear, fair system that works for everyone.
In more than a decade of public service, she’s never proposed, supported, or discussed any paid parking plan — and she’s not calling for it now.
Meanwhile, John Safford sits silently on the sidelines while his MAGA team does his dirty work.
LikeLike
I didn’t see that flyer but I saw some body cam footage on instagram regarding an incident with Michelle Madigan. Was that AI?
LikeLike
No. Not AI.
LikeLike
I think that paid parking in our downtown is a very bad idea. It has the potential to undermine much of the progress that has been made to resurrect our vital urban core. I did not hear Michele say that she opposes downtown paid parking. I heard her say that she favors a less confusing system where everyone pays the same. In my opinion, both John Safford (and the rest of the current City Council with the exception of Chuck Marshall) and Michele Madigan are wrong on this issue.
Chris Mathiesen
LikeLike
The clios and quotes are not from 2012, they are from 2019 and 2025. She openly advocated for on-street paid parking then and she does now. Even after the backlash she refuses to take it off the table.
LikeLike
The argument over paid parking is ridiculous and has gone on for ages. Every tourist town has paid parking of some kind. I thought the plan was a little confusing at first, but I figured it out and the fees were very reasonable and residents did not have to pay. We can’t continue to fund the city budget with increased labor costs, especially now with a 4 man engine in the fire department, as well as our streets and infrastructure costs without either raising taxes, paid parking, or some other revenue source.
LikeLike
fiwheat states that every tourist town has paid parking of some sort. I couldn’t agree more and I have every expectation of having to pay to park when visiting Lake George Village. Saratoga Springs isn’t a tourist town. It is a city that enjoys a level of tourism greater than most small cities. The success of our downtown is due to year long business activity supported most significantly by area residents who travel from up to an hour away. They are not tourists. Sales tax revenue continues to climb due to both the tourists and these area residents. Turning our backs on regular patrons every summer makes little sense in the long run. We want those customers spending as much time as possible in our downtown all year around, not rushing back to their cars because of parking fees or finding other places to spend their time and their money.
During the recent Democratic primary debates for mayor of Albany, two of the four candidates suggested bringing new life to downtown Albany by eliminating paid parking. That is something that Saratoga Springs did decades ago. It worked.
As far as paying for the four man staffing levels for the three engines of the SSFD, it should be noted that our fire/EMS department is producing greater revenue than ever due to fees realized from ambulance service and fire inspections. There should be no reluctance on the part of City taxpayers to support this department with the help of these fees and the significant revenue raised by sales tax generated year round by downtown merchants.
Chris Mathiesen
LikeLike
You can’t slam Trump or his press secretary for smearing all Democrats as evil and then turn around and claim every GOP candidate is MAGA. If blanket demonization is wrong, it’s wrong no matter who does it.
You can’t demand nuance for Democrats while refusing to give any to Republicans. That double standard wipes out your credibility and hands the other side an easy argument.
If you want to push back against extremism, the only effective way is to call out specific candidates and actions—not lazily lump one party into one caricature. Further, many of your city Dem candidates are so weak (found to have intentionally violated FOIL laws, used city resources for personal purposes, politicized religious high holidays, supporting terrorism by taking working families line from those who screamed antisemitic chants down Broadway right up to the jewish temple, etc). You better look in mirror before you throw stones!
LikeLike
Certainly not every GOP candidate but those who choose to be quiet while the head of the Committee follows the MAGA agenda, it says something about that candidate.
LikeLike
Gayle, you literally stalked me and tried to contact my employer because you’re so crazy. I had to contact the police to finally get you to stop.
LikeLike
[JK: Gayle, I am approving these two comments but please dial back the crude stuff in the future.]
Since it seem Mr. Brandi has made it impossible to respond directly to his posts: (so much for open dialog or transparency)Yes, I did contact what I thought to be your employer. I though they should know that you had a serious ethical issue with lies and innuendos that you could not prove. If you consider that stalking then perhaps you should be more careful who you decide to lie about. And, I never heard from any police, only a narcissistic BS letter directly from you.You have a serious problem where you can dish it out no matter how illogical, vitriolic or untrue but become a whining weenie when you get some back. I’m not crazy just really pissed when some parasite goes after someone I like and respect. So, try growing a pair and man up! Get a life! You are shameless!
LikeLike
Again, Mr. Brandi
“She openly advocated for on-street paid parking then and she does now. Even after the backlash she refuses to take it off the table.”
Are you really so desperate that lying just comes so easily to you or are you completely delusional or maybe you don’t know how to read.
YOU are what is wrong with the Republican Party here in Saratoga Springs. It is just so unfortunately that John Safford (and others) are too weak to stand up to you ad let you continue to lie.
Sad for you and others,
LikeLike
It’s no wonder the local Democrats prefer to focus on their fake MAGA narrative rather than on their candidates. Let’s look at their slate.
At the top of their ticket for Mayor is Michele Madigan. One only has to read her social media posts to conclude that this is a person in emotional distress who needs to immediately pay attention to personal issues and not take on the responsibilities of running the city.
Then there is their Finance Commissioner candidate, Shafer Gaston. He not only has no financial credentials (as opposed to the One Saratoga and Republican candidate JoAnne Kiernan with her CPA credentials and experience), he has also defaulted on the mortgage on his home.
Then there is their Accounts Commissioner candidate, Dillon Moran, of course. Where do we start? Maybe with his conviction for unlawfully obstructing public access to records. Let’s remember that he is the official steward of the city’s records. Then there are the lawsuits from his employees and his attempt to get the city to pay outrageous lawyer bills. Etc,etc.
Finally, there is Public Works candidate BK Keramati who has decided to hitch his campaign wagon to Gordon Boyd and combine false MAGA claims with phony accusations about the alleged perilous condition of the city’s water supply.
Let’s not forgot they are also backing current Finance Commissioner Minita Sanghvi for Supervisor who will be leaving the city in perilous financial condition after three years of mismanagement.
Quite the line up.
LikeLiked by 1 person
One Saratoga clearly has the best candidates and should coast to an election night victory. This will be a wake up call for the Saratoga Springs Democratic Party Committee and expect changes in their leadership.
LikeLike
not fake
LikeLike
Thank you, Jane and Courtney for your volunteerism and civic engagement!
LikeLike
Again, I disagree with Chris. We most definitely are a tourist town and I hope I’m wrong, but I believe our City budget will not be sustained for the long term with just ambulance fees, unless we increase taxes, have paid parking or some other sources of revenue.
LikeLike