In the 1980s, Leona Helmsley became infamous for her extreme narcissism and sense of entitlement. The fabulously wealthy widow of real-estate magnate Harry Helmsley, she was notorious for her abusive treatment of staff, earning the sobriquet “the Queen of Mean.”
For years, Helmsley failed to pay her taxes, memorably declaring that “taxes are for little people.” She ultimately learned otherwise. Convicted of tax evasion, she was sentenced to 16 years in prison (later reduced), served 19 months in federal custody, and paid millions of dollars in fines.
A troubling parallel emerges in Minita Sanghvi’s conduct during her tenure as Saratoga Springs Commissioner of Finance. It has become apparent that Sanghvi treated the position as a vanity title rather than a full-time responsibility. I have documented that her automatic city email reply explicitly stated that she regarded the role as part-time and directed inquiries instead to her Deputy.
Although Sanghvi earned an accounting degree in India, she appears to have had little interest in applying those skills to the actual management of the city’s finances. Instead, she seemed far more engaged in partisan-war issues and running for other offices. According to the city auditor’s findings, the city’s finances were allowed to deteriorate under her watch, with little meaningful oversight.
Sources report that Sanghvi treated employees with condescension and indifference. This management style helps explain not only the disastrous state of the city’s financial records but also the sudden departure of Christine Gillmette-Brown, who had competently managed those records for nearly three decades.
In short, Sanghvi’s gross negligence and arrogant management have left the city’s financial records in disarray. Yet in comments recently made to the Times Union, she appears largely unaware of her own failures.
Minita Sanghvi Claims Everything Was Fine
Former Commissioner of Finance Minita Sanghvi has stated that she does not understand how the department fell into disarray, asserting that when she left office at the end of December, everything was orderly.
“We submitted all reports as required by city and state laws last year,” Sanghvi wrote in an email to the Times Union on Friday. “I provided quarterly reports to council. The only issues the auditors found last year were stemming from other departments handling state and federal grants paperwork and handling of fixed assets—not from finance.”
Times Union, February 7, 2026
The auditor’s comments directly contradict this claim. According to the auditor, the city’s books are in serious disorder. The Finance Director selected by Sanghvi after Gillmette-Brown’s retirement proved incapable of performing even the most basic functions, including reconciling accounts. The extensive list of failures identified by the auditor and reported to Commissioner Kiernan—detailed in a prior post—is deeply disturbing.
It borders on the bizarre for Sanghvi to assert that “everything was orderly” when she left office. Does she truly fail to understand that the mismanagement documented by the auditor extends back at least a full year?
Equally troubling is Sanghvi’s attempt to shift blame to other departments for the handling of state and federal grants. Sources report that Sanghvi limited her staff’s interactions with other departments. This claim reflects either remarkable cynicism or a profound misunderstanding of her own responsibilities. Fiscal accountability for these grants resided squarely within her Finance Department.
Finally, the abrupt resignation—without notice—of the Finance Director hired by Sanghvi to replace Gillmette-Brown, just prior to Commissioner Kiernan assuming oversight of the department speaks volumes about morale, discipline, and leadership within the department.
BK Keramati Rejects Temporary Freeze
Commissioner Kiernan told her colleagues at the Council table that any consideration of creating new positions must be put off until the city can get its finances in order to determine its true state.
Public Works Commissioner BK Keramati responded to the Times Union as follows:
“A lot of these hiring decisions, programs and so forth have come into being for a good reason,” Keramati said. “The reason is to serve the city and if we start delaying these actions, I’m afraid that may wind up costing the city even more.”
BK Keramati ot the Times Union February 7, 2026
Keramati’s concern appears to stem from his desire to create a new managerial position in his department, which is anticipated to cost the city $100,000.
The city has been running a deficit for three years, which is unsustainable. It seems prudent to straighten out our finances to accurately assess where we are before encumbering more obligations. It’s time, after four years of indiscriminate spending, to exercise some discipline.
Saratoga Springs Politics 
Identity politics in action.
She was obviously incompetent, yet she made her identity as a gay minority the focus of her campaign.
And it worked.
The voters need to wake and actually do their homework.
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As a political neophyte I invited BK into the office, provided him a copy of report he used against me, ensured visits to the DPW garage and water treatment plant and then with Gordon Boyd sensationalized the quality of our water claiming we were drinking from a “poisoned mud puddle.” Within a week of being in office BK told the Saratogian the water was “perfectly safe” having changed no expenditures, policies or directives as confirmed by FOIL.
Now, he is saying he needs a position at the garage which no other commissioner prioritized and having nothing to do with water. When told the city didn’t have the money, he blamed the form of government. Fool me once, shame on you; fool me two more times, shame on me.
Having served on the Planning Board for several years and been DPW commissioner for several months the form of government isn’t perfect but it’s the people in government that matter. The reality is you won’t get good people to run when they have to explain to their kids they’re really not poisoning them and adults use words to get what they want.
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BK exemplified the weak character trait that turns off normal people by intentionally lying and willing to say anything in order to win ugly. And his dishonest accomplice Gordon Void relished his own over the top performance.
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As a taxpayer, I think we need an explanation, before we just go and pay someone a $100,000 salary in DPW. if BK is truly a liar (because of false information in his campaign) then I am going to say NO to his request. And I hope our Mayor and Commissioners do the same. As for Sanghvi……I have no words. So sad that voters didn’t do their homework.
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To be clear, BK wanted to bring his own Deputy Commissioner. He felt he couldn’t because he needed someone experienced in the day to day DPW field operations. He and his business manager had no analysis of cost savings for the new position when presented to the Civil Service Commission. The explanation of need seems to be politically motivated. For example, if he was able to hire this administrator level position, he would be free to appoint a Deputy as incompetent as Stacy Connors, for example. Then he would have essentially two Deputies. One in the field and one to sit behind him during City Council meetings texting him during the entire meeting. Maybe that Deputy could fix up documents and boss around employees. With a “Deputy” in the field, DPW business manager, DPW office supervisor, executive assistant and DPW purchasing coordinator, there shouldn’t be additional need for a Deputy to print off his agendas and sit behind him to text. God forbid he would have the freedom to appoint the toxic puppet master Gordon Boyd. The City Council should vote no on this new position should BK present it at a meeting. I assume we are going to see the puppet strings choreographing a show with BK (and Minita) following the charter change script Gordon has likely prepared for them. I expect lies and untruths presented with emphatic emotions in hopes the public will believe the act. Half truths are as bad as bold face lies. The public puts trust in the elected officials. BK has proven he is not trustworthy and he is just getting started.
Watch the video of the Civil Service Commission meeting where BK explains the need for flexibility to bring in a Deputy who doesn’t have to be qualified. BK said he felt “forced” to keep Tad Roemer because essentially he is very good at the Deputy job. Maybe because he is qualified. Imagine that.
Start listening at 3 minutes and 4 seconds. https://saratogaspringsny.new.swagit.com/videos/373459
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All the “reasons” BK said are the qualities that he wants HIS new person to have, are skills that HE is expected to have. Which apparently he doesn’t have
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Here’s what I don’t understand, and perhaps someone in a position of power and authority – (who also possesses the desire to be truly civic minded, and possesses a moral compass) – that would be the people who comprise the Saratoga Springs City Council, can publicly confirm for the residents, taxpayers, and tourists, that today, February 13th, the city’s water supply is not poisoned. Because if it is, then the City of Saratoga Springs, under the direction of BL, should be immediately distributing bottled water. Like, right this minute. It’s a public health issue. Which means it’s a liability issue.
If it’s not poisoned today, then those same elected officials need to publicly confirm that the City’s water supply has been safe to drink every single day of 2025, and every day so far, of 2026. I would think that BL would want to step up to the podium to reassure the citizens, taxpayers, and tourists that the water supply is safe for consumption by the youngest to the oldest, for pets, and for garden use. And then, in the spirit of transparent public policy, and public safety, BL should provide every date in 2025 and 2026 that the water was poisoned. Specific dates, so that in terms of liability, everyone knows what date or dates to circle on their calendars before they call their lawyers.
If none of it was ever true, if it was all a well orchestrated – and to give credit, well executed – faux crisis to create a campaign issue to win an election by deception, essentially a Big Lie, then BL needs to step forward to the podium, admit his significant error in judgment in promoting the Big Lie and apologize to the taxpayers, citizens, and residents of Saratoga Springs; to the people in his party who supported him; and to his opponent.
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Don’t hold your breath waiting for that to happen.
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Deception, intentional deception, is exactly what BK and Boyd did. And he will never admit it because he doesn’t have the good character that’s needed with our elected leaders. He should be ashamed, but he’s not, because power is his only motivation. Not service to the community.
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[A bug in my software will not let Susan post so I am doing it for her]
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from Susan
So now it’s 9AM on Monday, February 16th, President’s Day, a federal holiday, giving every employee of every level of government a paid day off.
My post on Friday at 9:41AM asking for clarification regarding the safety of the city’s water supply has gone unanswered. Radio silence. (I know, they are all hoping that this will blow over. Shhh. Duck down and wait it out.)
Now I know that some, if not all members of the City Council read that post, or had their respective Deputies read the post to them. That’s how it works in government and politics. Saratoga Springs is still a small enough place, where news spreads quickly. Even over a weekend bookended by Valentine’s Day and President’s Day.
So I’ll ask again:
Is the public water supply, today, poisoned, or is it safe for consumption by residents, taxpayers, and tourists?
Which specific dates in 2025 and 2026 was the water poisoned?
Was the poisoned water campaign a hoax, a Big Lie, conjured up as a campaign issue?
Who among those now-seated members of the City Council knew during the campaign that it was a Big Lie promoted by BL, but failed to call it out as such because they lacked the ethical and moral fiber to do so?
And why is it so hard for those folks in power, right now, to publicly respond to these questions?
Either the water is poisoned, as was asserted, or it is, today, was on Election Day 2025, and all the days leading up to Election Day, and all the days since Election Day, safe for consumption.
It’s not complicated. It’s not complex.
Finally, if the people in power are going to deem the water safe, then those people who spread the Big Lie need to step up to the podium, admit their incredible error in judgment in spreading the Big Lie, apologize to the taxpayers, residents and voters, apologize to the members of their party who worked to get them elected, and then resign immediately.
And for those Commissioners who remain silent on this issue, as we all know historically, silence is consent. So by failing to publicly respond to these questions, it makes them appear to either have been in on the Big Lie – essentially acting as co-conspirators, working against the public health interests of the people they maintain they represent- or they lack the moral compass to publicly take a stand.
So let’s see.
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I knew Tom McTygue
Tom McTygue was a friend of mine.
BK is no Tom McTygue.
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