Saratoga Springs received many millions of dollars through Joseph Bruno’s office over the years. Those walking on Broadway on a sunny and breezy Wednesday morning expressed mixed feelings about the former senator’s fate, to be decided in federal court this afternoon. Turns out, even some Democrats feel some sympathy toward the man.
“I’m actually pretty torn,” Julie Takac of Milton, sitting outside a coffee shop with a laptop computer. “I think he’s done a lot for the community, but he obviously seems to have done something wrong.” Takac, 34, said, “he needs to be responsible for the actions he’s taken.”(photos by Michael Farrell)
The judge should be lenient in the sentencing because of Bruno’s age, said Arnold Alfert, a retired dentist and “liberal Democrat” of Saratoga Springs. “Most of the politicians have the same problem,” Alfert, 66, said while on a trip to return library books and videos. “He was great for Saratoga. You can see the difference already in town without him. I don’t think we would have these problems with racing if he was still there.”

Bruno did more to grow the Capital Region than any politician, and his age makes jail time inappropriate, said Al Callucci of Saratoga Springs. “What do they want, for him to die in prison,” Callucci, 66, said. He suggested Bruno get a suspended sentence and pay a fine.