By Hans Wilder, West Palm Beach, Florida
Buckle up, folks, because Watertown RINO City Mayor just gave us the political dumpster fire of the decade. Here’s the play-by-play: the New York State Police show up unannounced at a council meeting, demanding phones like they’re TSA agents at a cellphone convention. And leading the resistance? None other than Councilman Cliff Olney, the guy who smelled the bullsh*t and called it out loud enough to echo through Jefferson County.
The Ambush
Council members thought they were heading into a quick office meeting. Spoiler alert: they were wrong. Mayor Sarah “Transparency is My Middle Name” Compo Pierce knew about this ambush for over a year but conveniently kept everyone in the dark. That’s right, folks—a year.
Once inside, council members were grilled without legal counsel, while the city attorney was babysitting from a monitor out front. Yes, you read that right. The lawyer, instead of being in the room, was on a monitor, presumably counting ceiling tiles or perfecting their Solitaire game.
Cliff? Oh, he wasn’t buying it. “They tried to take my phone, and I told the investigator, ‘You’ve heard of the law, right?’” Olney asked. When the investigator said they could get a warrant, Cliff replied, “Then get one.” Mic. Drop.
Mayor Compo: The RINO Queen of Watertown
Let’s talk about Mayor Sarah Compo Pierce. This “Hochul Girl” had the audacity to prepare a resolution beforehand—ready to strip away the rights of the current council and every council before them. Transparency and integrity, she says? Sure, if by transparency, she means keeping secrets, and by integrity, she means railroading her colleagues.
“She knew for a year and didn’t tell us,” Olney said. “Then she talks about transparency? Bullsh*t doesn’t even begin to cover it.”
It’s no secret that Compo Pierce is cozy with former Mayor Jeff Smith, the puppet master behind the curtain. Olney isn’t afraid to call it like it is: Watertown deserves leaders, not lapdogs for old political machines.
Cliff: A Councilman With a Spine
While others handed over their phones like kids caught with candy in class, Cliff took a stand. “We were ambushed,” he said. “And there was nothing we did wrong.” That’s leadership—refusing to bow to political games and defending the people’s rights.
When Olney went live on Facebook to tell his story, supporters rallied behind him. “Cliff’s the only one looking out for us,” said one resident. “He’s not playing their game, and that’s what we need.”
The Bigger Picture
This isn’t just a story about phones and shady resolutions. It’s about standing up to power when the deck is stacked against you. Cliff Olney is proving that leadership isn’t about going along to get along—it’s about fighting for what’s right, even when it’s uncomfortable.
As for the rest of the council? They could take a page out of Olney’s playbook: less compliance, more courage. And Mayor Compo? Maybe it’s time she learns that being a “Hochul Girl” won’t save her from the court of public opinion.
Watertown, take note. Cliff Olney isn’t just your councilman—he’s your voice in a room full of whispers. And he’s not backing down.
I don’t live in the city and never have but as an outsider looking in I believe that the city, who is on the State Comptrollers list of cities in distress (meaning income from taxes is rapidly reaching (or has reached the legal limit) has more places for their cash than the continued payment for legal expenses for such a silly cause.