UNHINGED

Gee, I keep reading on right-wing Web sites that Democrats have a monopoly on unhinged behavior. So how could this have possibly happened in Ulster County in upstate New York?

Rochester councilman finds nails in driveway

Alex Miller [a Democrat]has been told he doesn't belong in the Town of Rochester, much less on the Town Board making changes.

Sunday night, someone tried to hammer the point home by scattering about 150 galvanized roofing nails at the end of his driveway.

And if that didn't get the message across, the same thing happened to Democratic Supervisor Pam Duke; nails were discovered in her driveway the next morning. Both times he reported the incidents to state police in Ellenville....

Miller was elected to the Town Board in November and took office in January. The election put Democrats in charge of the town for the first time in memory.

Among other things, Duke and the new board replaced longtime building inspector Douglas Dymond with someone new, Steve Fornal. The board voted recently to update the town's 37-year-old master plan and approved a one-year large-scale building moratorium.

The moves have been controversial. At last Thursday's Town Board meeting, a state trooper stepped in to control one upset resident.

"It's been 'I do what I want on my land when I want to do it. How dare you come in here and tell us what to do.' " Miller said. "It seems like the town has been a family business, and the family doesn't like anyone looking at the books or asking questions."...

There's more, according to the Ulster County Press (story not available online):

...In what could be a related event on the night of Feb. 9, another incident took place on Queens Highway at the former home of the vice president of the Rochester Democratic Club, Zali Winn. As yet unkown vandals entered the empty house (recently sold by Winn) by breaking a window, and then placed a wicker basket on the stove, lit the burner and left the residence. In addition, two vehicles parked at the premises had all eight tires slashed.

Fortunately, the home alarm system alerted the fire department and volunteers, in close proximity, who were able to halt a fire that could have potentially destroyed the home....

Creepy.