Column like I see ’em – Commentary from Saratoga Report Founder/Publisher Dan De Federicis

Let’s call this the holiday edition. Here we go:

I’ve been to the Congress Street CVS seemingly every 12 hours for the last few weeks with illnesses in my family. That pharmacy is as busy as Grand Central Station and yet it’s quick, efficient, accurate and the staff is even friendly. I swear I’d lose it from stress if I worked there. Kudos to all of them.
Speaking of Congress Street, I noticed that the Plaza on West Avenue (I guess it’s technically West Hill Plaza) sort of reminds me of what Congress Street Plaza was 15 years ago when I first moved here. Not quite forlorn like Congress Street Plaza was, but with a Family Dollar, a discount mattress place and “Super Smoke N Save” vaping shop amongst its tenants, the west side strip mall is a bit more gritty – or perhaps value driven – than the rest of Saratoga. The salient point here is that in recent years that neighborhood, which was once thought of as “affordable”, underwent a bit of a residential housing boom, with 2 bedroom condos on West Ave selling for $620K (!). Much like the Congress Street Plaza was reborn via demolition and a nice hotel, I can see the West Hill Plaza looking completely different in a few years. Heck it might also be demolished and be that neighborhood’s latest multi-story residential building with retail on the first floor. I’m guessing it won’t have a vape shop.
Count me as interested as to what Commissioner-elect Jim Montagnino will say next week about Darry Mount and the circumstances surrounding his injury and ultimate death. Some people I’ve been in contact with have indications as to what he will communicate, but since I haven’t heard anything directly I’ll wait to hear.
Continuing with local politics, Ron Kim took heat for announging that he would not reappoint city attorneys city attorney Vincent DiLeonardis and longtime assistant city attorney Tony Izzo. People I respect communicated, both publicly and privately to me, that they were very good attorneys and Kim was making a mistake. I don’t doubt those longtime public servants’ attributes, but it’s Ron Kim’s show and he gets to pick the leadership team he’s comfortable with. My point is not that he’s the king therefore he gets to lop off heads. Instead it’s that he’s going to be held responsible and accountable for results, and unless he starts singing a certain Johnny Paycheck tune in 2023, he’ll be up for reelection in a short 22 months. Challengers, some perhaps from his own party, will start lining up about a year from now. Ron Kim – not me, not you, and not the consensus – is holding the bag and he gets to pick his leadership team. If his choices end up being bad and his administration falters, we will show him the door in 2023. Leadership 101.
One refreshing change with Ron Kim coming in as Mayor vs. Meg Kelly is that Ron will (at least mostly) engage with the press. I don’t know how many times I read in news articles “Mayor Kelly did not return calls for comment”. I experienced that myself in a simple request for very basic information from the Mayor’s office. For the most, part she just wouldn’t answer press questions, even when they were puffball types such as “Hey Mayor, what do you think of that beautiful weather forecast for this Saturday’s Travers?”. I just never understood her reluctance to talk to the press and at times it was quite maddening.
There’s a new movie that will be released nationwide in “early 2022” called “Jockey”. It’s about a Nascar driver (pause for chuckle). As best I can tell it’s a realistic story about an aging jockey trying to navigate trials and tribulations through the twilight of his career.

For horse racing fans, or anybody who likes good drama I guess, it looks pretty good and focuses on the backstretch of a B-list thoroughbred track. If you’re looking for “Seabiscuit” or picturesque shots of Saratoga and Del Mar, look elsewhere. Here’s the trailer, and here’s a good news story about it. It’s one of those low-budget, low profile movies with actors you won’t recognize, so I am guessing you won’t catch it at Bow-Tie. Here’s hoping it’s available somewhere locally when it’s released nationwide.

The Saratoga Springs Wellnow location on South Broadway was closed “temporarily” on Tuesday of this week, and perhaps it was closed earlier than that, but it opened back up Wednesday. There was a sign on the door indicating the closure and it was noted on Wellnow’s web site as well, but no reason was given. I reached out to Wellnow and someone did get back to me but they did not have an answer (yet) about why it was closed. I am interested to know why and will post it when I find out.
OK, it was greasy chicken and salty turkey, but there were times when Boston Market, which was in that South Broadway building prior to Wellnow, was Johnny-on-the-spot for a quick $9 meal – with actual vegetables. Vegetables!
How did I initially miss that penis statue story in Wilton earlier this month? A penis statue??? Locally???? From the standpoint of a news web site aggregator striving for clicks, that’s gold, pure gold!
Here’s hoping the Wilton Mall JC Penney sticks around for another year. Other than the holiday season, there are more people in your average Stewart’s than there are in the Wilton mall location of what was once a retail powerhouse. I understand JC Penney is not a mall tenant but actually owns that portion of the building, which I guess is a significant factor in the company’s decision making. Even so… See Roebuck, Sears.
Hey New England Patriots fans, how did your day go last Sunday? I am a Saratogian, but also a native Buffalonian. Sorry to those of you who aren’t football (or Bills) fans, but after 20 years of getting pounded by that franchise I need to gloat while I can.
Speaking of The Saratogian. Nah – Never mind.
Adam Israel – I’ve left you several messages. What does a guy have to do to get a return call?
I said this was the “holiday version” of my column so guess I better write something about the holidays. I read that Albany’s Holiday Lights In the Park attraction will cease to exist after this year, at least in Washington Park.

I would suggest for it to be moved to the Saratoga Spa State Park, as they certainly have plenty of room there, but since the Albany event is sponsored by the Albany Police Athletic League, that obviously doesn’t make sense. Still, nothing says Saratoga couldn’t do its own holiday light show in the park or something similar. Yea, it would be cumbersome and expensive, but would sure bring a lot of shoppers and diners and be a nice night for those of us that live here. Just a thought.

And continuing on with winter activities in Albany, have you ever seen the outdoor ice-skating rink in Empire State Plaza?

I’ve taken my daughter there and it’s a pretty neat thing, and brings an outdoor vibrancy that is often lacking on cold winter days. Tell me why we can’t do something like that in Congress Park. Again, something for those of us living here all winter plus the added benefit of more shoppers and diners – and perhaps even some hotel stays. Are you reading this Todd Shimkus?

OK folks, that’s it for now. This was longer than I anticipated but Saratoga Springs is a dynamic community with lots of things to communicate about. Happy New Year!