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I posted a simple, really not negative (as negative goes) story on Lenny Ricchiuti’s campaign the other day. I got a call at my office phone. A robocall. Only person who uses that number for political stuff is Jerry Jennings and his endorsees. It’s not a leap to think that Jerry is quietly endorsing Mr. Ricchiuti. Jennings knows that a public endorsement from him often proves poisonous to a campaign.

So I find this comment waiting for approval on the Albany Observer:

If I catch anyone stepping foot on my property distributing the type of “TRASH” I found on my steps two days ago, I’ll break their/your legs! If I don’t catch them, I’ll blame you.

It was a comment in response to the Ricchiuti / phone number story.

First, I rarely distribute political literature. I get one of the kids to do it. If I drop it, it’s positive and of someone I admire. Here in Albany, as you can imagine, that is a rare event.

Clearly, this is a Ricchuiti campaign person because, frankly, no one else would care. Was there a negative piece of literature? Maybe. I have no clue. If they want to scan a copy and send it to the Albany Observer, we’ll take a look.

Now what I’m trying to decide is if I should send the whole thing to the police /DA. What do you think?

You see, the Internet, with all it’s seeming anonymity, isn’t. Do I know who wrote that? No. Can it be found out fairly easily? Yes. Everyone leaves a footprint when they visit a website.

What do I know? I know that the person used an aol email address, but they weren’t using AOL as their ISP, nope. They were on Verizon. I know the time. I know all of that. Law enforcement and people like that can trace a post right to your computer.

“GiffGerl”, here’s your identifying information. I’d like an apology and an assurance that you’re not going to assault me, with a real name.

• Visit type: Logged-in user – GiffGerl
• IP: 96.236.9.237
• Hostname: pool-96-236-9-237.albyny.east.verizon.net
• Url Requested: /wp-comments-post.php
• User Agent: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 7.0; Windows NT 5.1; GTB6; Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows NT 5.1; SV1) ; .NET CLR 1.1.4322; .NET CLR 2.0.50727)
• Referrer: http://www.albanyobserver.com/?p=758&_login=aac41d4e4a/
• OS: WinXP
• Browser: IE 7
• Locale/Language: us
• Wassup ID: eb3e43cb211399e2ea97350d0b6e029c
• End timestamp: 2009-09-11 17:49:53 ( 1252691393 )

A few years ago, I wrote a letter to City Hall on business. Hey, think I get paid for doing this? In sending the letter, I made a mistake. I accidentally included my private office phone number instead of the one I give out publicly. You’re probably saying, “Yawn, who cares?” But, you see, there’s more to the story. Today, I was at work. I checked my phone messages and guess what? Lenny Ricchiuti was on my private phone number telling me all this garbage about Carolyn McLaughlin. Yes, it was another negative robocall.

Why might this be newsworthy?

Lenny Ricchiuti has been very busy telling everyone how independent he is. How unconnected he is from Jerry Jennings and the corrupt city machine. Guess what? Lenny Ricchiuti has Jerry’s phone list.

Again. Ricchiuti has Jennings’ phone list. With my private number on it. It’s a unique phone list.

Lenny Ricchiuti? Not as independent as he claims. A Jennings guy. If you want to see the machine and corruption linger on for thirty more years, he’s your man.

For the people he has deceived, I feel badly.

We Twittered our endorsements to Albany the other night, but for those of you still living in the stone age of blogs, here they are:

• Mayor of Albany: Corey Ellis
• Albany City Treasurer: Kathy Sheehan
• Albany City Auditor: Leif Engstrom
• Common Council President: Carolyn McLaughlin

Common Council Endorsements:

• First Ward: Dominick Calsolaro
• Third Ward: Lisa Pfeaster
  
• Fourth Ward: Barbara Smith
• Seventh Ward: Cathy Fahey
• Tenth Ward: Leah Goldby
  
• Eleventh Ward: Luke Gucker

An article in the Times Union confirms a story that, sadly, has been floating around Albany for some time. The story is that Lenny Ricchiuti, well-known in PAL circles, was accused of sexual harassment a while ago. The article tells the story. Lenny Ricchiuti is running for president of the Albany Common Council.

Ex-Police Athletic League employee says director made suggestive remarks

We are hoping the story about the missing P.A.L. money is not true as well.