Troy Story: A Podcast for the Collar City

25: To Abstain, or Not to Abstain


Listen Later

On June 16, 2025, Troy’s city council gathered at city hall in the historic Hedley Building, located along New York's iconic Hudson River in upstate New York, to consider legislation which allows the city to borrow money for investments in Troy’s fire department.

While the council ultimately approved nearly all the borrowing requests that evening, Troy's mayor Carmella Mantello decided to single out a council member for their decision to abstain from votes due to a potential conflict of interest.

Using public records, videos of public meetings, and news reporting from the last decade, we scrutinize the mayor's claims and take a closer look at her own rationale for abstaining from votes when serving as council president between 2016 and 2023.

Episode Notes:

  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GX01VLzhfY (Council Meeting, June 16, 2025)
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kislTE9xI_w (Council Finance Committee Meeting Aug. 1, 2019)
  • https://www.youtube.com/live/_EaCER9Ji88 (Regular City Council Meeting, Aug. 1, 2019)
  • Troy Record: Troy City Council reluctantly signs off on new police contract (Oct. 19, 2017)

Credits:

Produced, edited, and hosted by John Salka
Theme music by Steven J. Goldman, Four Legs Records

Visit troystorypod.com for upcoming episodes, guests, and bonus content.

Connect with Troy Story on:

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Threads
  • YouTube
  • Bluesky

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Troy Story: A Podcast for the Collar CityBy John Salka