Talk:Green Island, New York

Untitled
Green Island is also the origin of the phrase "A Pier Six Brawl". I wonder if I can find enough references to merit squeezing this into the article... anyone? Santavez 04:10, 2 April 2006 (UTC)

Green Island an island?
According to the Green Island Bridge article, Green Island "is no longer an island". To me, this says that it was once an island. Does anyone know anything about this? --Mediabrat 22:59, 3 September 2006 (UTC)

It's almost a year later, but to answer mediabrat's questioin- yes it was an island, and yes it is no longer technically an island, though Center Island is still an island and is a part of the village/town of Green Island. A branch of the Mohawk River used to flow down and cut off Green Island from the mainland, it was the southern of I believe 5 branches of the Mohawk delta that curve around the various islands (Van Schaick, Green, Peebles, Goat, etc etc). A detailed old map can be seen in a book titled hudson-mohawk gateway by Phelan. Remnants of this old river route include a small creek along parts of i-787 and a large pond that can be seen near i-787 and dyke ave. Salt Kill in Colonie used to flow into this branch. Some maps such as mapquest often mislabel these branches of the Mohawk as part of the Hudson, but from the way the water flows it most definitely branches of the Mohawk through its delta outlet into the Hudson.Camelbinky 18:00, 22 July 2007 (UTC)


 * Do you live in the Green Island area? I do. I have seen the creek in person and at platial. Yes, the 787 exists. I have not lived there prior to the completion of the 787. The creek stills flows more-or-less along the 787, from the larger body of water near Cohoes southward. It crosses 25th Street (Watervliet) - Albany Avenue (Green Island). It crosses 23rd Street (Watervliet) - Lower Hudson Avenue (Green Island), and ends at the Hudson River just beyond. I believe that the article should mention that Center Island is in the Hudson River and is owned by Green Island. Jon (talk) 15:15, 29 November 2008 (UTC)

Cleaning up the Green Island mess
This article jumps around so often it fails to appear encyclopedic.

Why is the ZIP code 12183 interjected here? Why is the Town of Webb mentioned? Nobody cares about the largest town, 200 miles away from Green Island and located in the Adirondack Park. The article should focus on JUST Green Island, with a link to NYS Political Subdivisions article for citation puposes.

Also, the category expressly created to pay homage to Congressman Mike McNulty should be relocated toward the end of the article.216.170.144.5 12:52, 2 October 2006 (UTC)

No mention of the Troy dam? Green Island bridge current and previous? Current industrial success in the northern part of the village? What a shame! Camelbinky 18:00, 22 July 2007 (UTC)

Every town, city, village that has residents of note has a section and ince McNulty is probably the only resident of note I see why he's listed (he's a congressman for pete's sake!) and I dont think its only to pay homage to him and find that insulting to say it was! If your congressman was from your town you'd want it mentioned too. Since Green Island is the smallest town it makes sense to me to mention what the largest town is, maybe thats just me but if someone tells me what the smallest of something is I automatically think "whats the largest then?" The ZIP code should be mentioned seeing as how its the ZIP code for just Green Island and nothing else.Camelbinky 14:21, 23 July 2007 (UTC)


 * I agree with you about the zip code. That zip code is for the area of Green Island, between Cohoes, Maplewood (hamlet of Town of Colonie), Watervliet, and Troy. I disagree with you about the largest town. The page is specifically about Green Island. There is no need to mention unrelated places. I believe that Maplewood should be named since it is the part of the Town of Colonie to the west of Green Island (and also to the north of Watervliet). One enters Maplewood (Cohoes Road) by State Route #32 from Watervliet (Second Avenue) to the south, and from Cohoes (Saratoga Street) to the north; signs definitely say that Maplewood is a hamlet of the Town of Colonie. Jon (talk) 15:34, 29 November 2008 (UTC)

No Mention of One-Family Political Machine?
The McNultys have Green Island wrapped around their collective finger lock, stock and barrel. The Green Island Democrats have been led by a McNulty since 1919. John J. McNulty Jr. was first elected Green Island town supervisor in 1949 and continued until the village and town were merged and he took the title of mayor. He was elected to county sheriff in 1972, a position his father held until 1937. During his reign as superviosr, his son Michael was mayor. That same Michael went on to become Congressman. When John Jr. retired as mayor in 2002, his daughter Ellen (Michael's sister) took over. I have never elsewhere seen such a democratically questionable concentration of power in one family before. It is notable. –Cg-realms (talk • contribs) 14:12, 03 January 2010 (EST)
 * Ok, then add that information in a non-partisan NEUTRAL point of view without phrases like "wrapped around their collective finger lock, stock and barrel" and "I have never elsewhere seen such a democratically questionable" blah blah blah. Not only does that mean you've never been to Chicago (or Schenectady or Albany for that matter) but its not true that it is "democratically questionable" seeing as how the people of Green Island VOTE fairly for a McNulty and have had the opportunity to vote against all of them. I happen to like the McNulty's and think they do a good job, but I would NEVER let that affect Wikipedia. Seeing as how they get VERY good coverage in newspapers (which would be the only source to use on them I know of no books or magazines, and blogs arent allowed btw) any coverage of the family is probably going to piss you off anyways because it would be "nice".Camelbinky (talk) 19:51, 3 January 2010 (UTC)
 * I've done my best. My problem is not with the McNultys specifically, but with dynasty politics in general -- a problem that plagues New York State especially but Green Island more particularly. What I find "democratically questionable" is the fact that the family both controls the party apparatus that nominates candidates for office and serves in those positions. All of that being said, the sheer prominence of the McNultys in Green Island political life is more important than my feelings on what that represents. The new section represents the most nuetral possible chronicle of the McNultys in Green Island politics. –Cg-realms (talk • contribs) 16:56, 03 January 2010 (EST)

It’s like simultaneously tiptoeing on eggshells, knowing it won’t get anything done, and misinterpreted as a fight proposition; however, I take the risk in hopes those that read will think about it, do their own research, and form their own and hopefully truthful conclusions.

First, I know nothing of the previous generations of the McNulty family, and have no interest in any politics.

I resided immediately next to Mike and Ellen for a total of 6 or 7 years during the Great Recession. My family also lived next to them for 3 or 4 of those same years. Eggshells; nonetheless, we lived so close to them that if we drooled out our kitchen or attic window, the spit would land on the McNulty’s automobiles.

I’ve encountered some tax records that indicate that property we just drooled on is actually owned by the “Hickmans”. Do the McNulty’s rent? Who are the Hickman’s? Does it have anything to do with the town of Webb or Brookhaven? Not important, I suppose.

The locals accept that this drooled on property is the primary residence of Mike and Ellen McNulty, their name is on the mailbox, and some printed phonebooks confirm the information. I lived next door and can tell you of some of the conversations they’ve had in their driveway and even tell what politicians and bigwigs they’ve had over for dinner.

“… the people of Green Island VOTE fairly for a McNulty and have had the opportunity to vote against all of them. […] Seeing as how they get VERY good coverage in newspapers (which would be the only source to use on them I know of no books or magazines, and blogs arent allowed btw) any coverage of the family is probably going to piss you off anyways because it would be ‘nice’.”

Camel, I am not sure what world you live in, but I lived there, and have read plenty of newspaper articles (Times Union, Saratogian, Troy Record, Gazette) and Business Journals that didn’t have a high regard for something Green Island and/or the McNulty’s did. Do you actually read the newspaper? Business Journals? Have you gone to the library and read the past newspapers?!? Have access to something like JStor? And there is one more very important source: the Village of Green Island monthly newsletter, also known as Ellen’s monthly letter to the residents that only people they want money from receive. I’ll get into this monthly self-publication later.

Camel, do you or have you lived in Green Island? How old are you? I asked because you said, “blogs arent allowed.” Saying stuff like that without further explanation makes you appear to be a youngster living under someone else’s rules and/or what some groups of people would call McBrainwashed, ie. upholds the quote, “The McNultys have Green Island wrapped around their collective finger […] I have never elsewhere seen such a democratically questionable concentration of power in one family before.”

Are you speaking of facespace blogs? Then no, generally they aren’t that reliable as an article citation, but I know of blogs that are syndicated and deemed reliable.

Are you saying that people are not to blog about Green Island? Why not? Is Green Island, NY, USA not under the same federal jurisdiction as the rest of the USA, i.e. free speech? I did not sign or in any way agree to any vow of secrecy when I moved to Green Island.

I mean, seriously upon seriously – if there is some unspoken rule that residents and visitors of Green Island are not to speak or write about Green island on an internet blog, then please do explain. Perhaps this is why I felt chastised in Green Island. I kept a blog while I lived there and spoke honestly. Forgive me if I am being too graphic, but I felt if my child molester neighbor could speak openly about her venereal disease on the world wide web and not be chastised, then I felt I could speak openly about what I felt Green Island and the McNultys where doing wrong as according to what I know of the law and morals.

If you live in Green Island, I think I may know who you are, but that just like Brookhaven and Webb, that’s not relevant here. What is relevant is someone suggesting on a public international forum that talking about Green Island in a blog isn’t allowed.

Free speech is an American staple – sets us apart from some other parts of the world. For most people I know, sacrificing free speech is sacrificing a vote in your favor especially when dealing with political dynasties including McNulty and Bush. Yes, Bush – (king) tut, (king) tut, recount anyone?

I moved to Green Island registered as No Party.

I honestly have ZERO interest in politics. I hate arguing, impassioned or rhetorical beyond anything else. In a world where I don’t have to live near politicians or suffer the after effects of living next to one, the farthest into politics I get is noting when war starts or ends, and when a law or rule changes. I’m the type that there is way too much to think about and do to be bogged down by the menial nature of politics, so much so I haven’t turned on the TV in a month.

I hate when I’m dragged in to politics. Green Island is small in physical area and in my personal opinion, small in personality. Any resident of Green Island lives in close proximity to the McNultys. I hate living near politicians because unfortunately, whether the beef is spoken or passive-aggressive, it DOES get personal, especially when there are obvious, multiple and/or repeated injustices and when making a stink does nothing but start eternal hell. And on the other side you get criticism from acquaintances that don’t seem to understand that you hate politics altogether.

I changed my political party because McNulty polled at my door and sueded me into it. I NEVER voted for McNulty. And while it is illegal to have more than one person in a voting booth, so I can’t say for sure, the only people I know of that voted for McNulty were being McNaughty.

Now, about that monthly self-publication only people that Green Island wanted money from got to read. Heh, it came in the bill with the Green Island Power bill. I am unsure how a town that likes to play pauper so much could afford to print however many of these every month and conveniently not put the same on the internet for the world to see. Nonetheless, available on the Internet or not, it is deemed by most style manuals as an acceptable source for articles and reports.

It started off as a village newsletter. Newsletter on the front of the page, calendar of events on the back. This somehow morphed in a page that started with the date and “Dear Residents,”

This thing is disgusting and its from the horse’s own mouth (or pen, should I say.) I am amazed this darn thin didn’t start a darn war and that fact it didn’t makes me wonder if anyone actually read the thing. I double dog dare anyone to first get their hands on AT LEAST 6 consecutive months of these newsletters mailed out during the Great Recession and read them consecutively in one sitting and not feel nauseated. If not for the blatant abuse of the English language, style and grammar, then going back on their word, arguing a previous month’s information and catching them in obvious lies should be enough to turn the reader’s stomach.

“The McNultys have Green Island wrapped around their collective finger lock, stock and barrel. […] I have never elsewhere seen such a democratically questionable concentration of power in one family before.”

Not exactly neutral wording there, but despite risk of being flamed, I feel it is honest and informative wording. If I knew all that I know now in 2001, I would have never moved to Green Island.

I feel much of Green Island’s Wikipedia current article would fool the less knowledgeable into revering a golden pig, perhaps raping the naive into relocating there to become modern equivalent of an Egyptian slave. I’m not using this wording to be creative, I’m using the kindest wording I can as to fluff that lock stock and barrel.

Their power, literally and figuratively, is not limited to Green Island. The article speaks of hydroelectric generation and Troy, but it omits information about Cohoes and Waterford, and seems to be conveniently hush about anything mentioned in the newspapers concerning Crescent. Forgive me for asking a conspiretical question – do we actually know where the electricity is being generated? Perhaps I’m missing something, but something doesn’t historically line up.

I have lived in two villages on the Hudson River, where electricity was created by hydroelectric. In one of these villages, I received a monthly electricity bill from National Grid; the other, I received an electricity bill from Green Island.

If the power Green Island generates is sold off to the state authority, and Green Island residents receive electricity from National Grid or NY Power Authority, then why do residents pay Green Island for power? Seems a bit convoluted to me, creating a little too much room to be manipulated.

In its many incarnations, some dating as far back as 15 years ago, Green Island’s Wikipedia article discussed some ugly truths that it does not mention today.

I question why these things are omitted. This is an encyclopedia; correct? Why would we not want to know about the people, politics, environment, history, influence and culture of Green Island if we are reading an article on Green Island?

Green Island’s Wikipedia article once had photos of two floods. At least on of which blocked entering all of Green Island, Cohoes Island and part of Watervliet; everything from Interstate 787 to the river was underwater.

Green Island’s Wikipedia article once had photos of what the locals once called the Ford Graveyard, a large lot of abandoned automobiles – Ford and otherwise – sort of reminiscent of Châtillon’s car cemetery meets Cherbobyl’s vehicle graveyard.

The article once hinted at if not thoroughly discussed, and this “Talk” section once created a lot of heat concerning the grit of the Ford manufacturing plant, and other (sometimes repeating) industry in Green Island, including how they effected politics and how they polluted the environment.

The last three paragraphs may or may not be able to be confirmed with the WayBack Machine – I haven’t checked yet.

If you were researching areas to say – purchase a home – wouldn’t you want to know that it may not be the healthiest to go fishing or swimming in that backyard due to polychlorinated biphenyls that are blamed on General Electric although General Electric is all the way in Schenectady and was not the only manufacturer that used or dumped these and other chemicals?

Yet nothing about any of this, or any way to deduce this, in this current Wikipedia article.

Why is this information less pertinent to those wanting to learn about Green Island than some irrelevant flatulence concerning irrelevant towns? Who removed and why was pertinent information removed? Is it because someone wanted this information to fall from public memory or distract the public? Seems conspicuous, like someone’s got a mean nasty trick up their sleeve.

It’s no big secret of how historic large corporations’ manufacturing locations effected the politics and treatment of the people, land and resources in their respective areas. Most of the time it was negative. This is not limited to Green Island. But the secret is that from my personal experience in Green Island, those politics die hard if die at all. I remind everyone, the article has a section coined the “McNulty Dynasty” Bad politics, bad ! Die Nasty, die! Like I said, if knew then, I would not only have never even considered, but literally ran as far away as possible.

But this modern McNulty family appears golden. Good image is easy to maintain when, like aforementioned, there is a stranglehold – stranglehold on timing, stranglehold on resources. It’s also easy to do when, like many politicians, celebs and others in public spotlight, there is an entire willing maintenance team dedicated to that specific purpose. Even easier when you can draft some unwilling ones too. Doesn’t matter how selfish you are, how much danger you are putting someone else in, how much you rip someone else off, or how much you crush one person over the course of eternity, when you got all that in your favor – walk through shit, come out smelling like roses.

Further, what is the property tax rate? How does the property tax rate compare to Webb or Brookhaven or even similarly sized villages that run on hydroelectric right here in NYS?

Don’t get me wrong, I appreciated the McNulty’s cleaned up the plant and graveyard. However, two arguments:

1. As the current wikipedia article alludes, Green Island brought dirt and fill in to sop up bogs and to make more land. From an engineering/construction perspective, how rapid of expansion can land without any real foundation handle? I didn’t hear any pylons being installed during all that expansion; is the ground so soft the process made no sound? Or perhaps the tub/basin method like they do in Manhattan?

2. During the Great Recession, Green Island somehow experienced rapid expansion. Who was funding this rapid expansion? The same groups and schools of political thought that propelled Ford manufacturing plant during the Great Depression? Go without and work longer and faster despite risk for a so-called “greater good” even though you know you get nothing out of it, except for eternally tired and hurt, and your manager owns the laborers tenement you and your family live in? A Dynasty eh? Just like the Bush family: Die nasty, die – I say. Heartburn and repeats from a Gussie Dog hurt less. (Gus’ is a local establishment serving low cost loaded mini hot dogs located walking distance from the center of Green Island.)

Unless they put them in the trash, the village housing office has applications on file dating back to before the beginning of Great Recession. This “in-depth” modern Green Island wiki omits one of the ways the Island expanded is housing, particularly for the aging and disabled. Problem is, if the poor, elderly and disabled (perhaps even working class, of which most of this village is comprised) can’t afford usual tenement rent, what makes authority think they can afford this newly built housing that costs 2 to 3x more and far exceeds HUD’s fair market value. Do they expects hoards or rich old geezers and bitties, some of which already lived through and have the wisdom of the Great Depression, are going to come in and fix the town’s financial problems? *Why do the McNultys play pauper? If Green Island, and by default, the McNultys couldn’t afford to take care of they had, why would they expand?

If you made it this far, god bless you – if there is indeed a god.

Coordinate Location
This village and town has incorrect coordinates that point to a location in Rensselaer County. This village is actually in Albany County. What are the correct coordinates? NewYorkeruser (talk) 01:02, 25 December 2011 (UTC)

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