10/16/2026
A statement from the Chair:
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
Last year, I spoke publicly about the increasingly toxic political climate in Niskayuna. I never imagined I would be sitting here a year later having to say many of the same things, because the game group of individuals appear determined to perpetuate a cycle of personal attacks, degradation and humiliation.
But here we are.
The AI-generated images circulating of our Town Supervisor are humiliating, degrading, and frankly, disturbing. Look at them and really look at them.
And for what? To make a political point?
Then make your point.
Disagree with the budget. Challenge tax increases. Question spending. Attend Town Board meetings. Hold your elected officials accountable. Run for office! That is democracy, and it is your right.
But there is something called civil discourse. And somewhere along the way, we seem to have forgotten what that means.
This isnât Washington, D.C. This isnât some distant political battlefield. This is Niskayuna, a town of roughly 24,000 people.
We live here. We work here. We raise our children here.
We see each other at the grocery store. We sit next to each other at restaurants. Our children attend the same schools, play on the same fields, and grow up in the same neighborhoods.
We are neighbors.
When did we become so comfortable humiliating one another?
And letâs be clear: there is a real human cost to this behavior.
In 2024, former Town Supervisor Jaime Puccioni resigned. She publicly spoke about threats, verbal hostility, and fears for her personal safety as factors in her decision to leave public office.
That should have been a wake-up call.
Instead, two years later, we are still having conversations about personal attacks, degrading imagery, and the increasingly hostile environment surrounding local government.
At what point do we stop accepting this as normal?
And perhaps more importantly, who is going to want to serve this town if this is what they have to endure?
Iâm not just talking about Democrats. Iâm talking about Republicans, independents, and anyone who genuinely wants to make their community better.
Why would someone with a family, a career, and a sincere desire to help their neighbors willingly subject themselves to relentless personal ridicule?
What happens when good people on all sides decide that public service simply isnât worth the personal cost?
What kind of leadership are we going to be left with?
As Chair of the Niskayuna Democratic Committee, I understand that politics involves disagreement. Sometimes passionate disagreement. I donât expect everyone to support the same candidates, share the same values, or agree on every decision.
But I do expect us to recognize one anotherâs humanity.
And I expect those of us in political leadership, on both sides of the aisle, to take responsibility for the standards we set and the conduct we are willing to tolerate.
We should be encouraging more residents to participate in local government, regardless of party affiliation, not creating an environment that makes people afraid to get involved.
If you disagree with the direction of our town, get involved. Join your committee. Attend meetings. Ask difficult questions. Run for office. Advocate for change.
Thatâs how a community moves forward.
Not through humiliation. Not through personal cruelty. Not by turning our neighbors into caricatures for social media entertainment.
We are adults. This is our community. Our children are watching.
If we want to teach our children respect, empathy, accountability, and kindness, then we have a responsibility to demonstrate those values ourselves.
Public service should require accountability. It should require transparency. It should invite scrutiny.
It should not require someone to surrender their dignity.
I am tired of seeing this behavior normalized. I am tired of hearing that itâs simply the price of being involved in politics.
It doesnât have to be.
We can disagree fiercely without being cruel. We can challenge leadership without dehumanizing people. And we can demand better government while still treating our neighbors with basic respect.
Enough is enough.
And Iâll leave everyone with this:
If we teach our children that bullying is unacceptable, but excuse it among adults because we disagree politically, what exactly are we teaching them?
Allison Marinucci, Chair Niskayuna Democrats
