Per YNN: Stakeholders give feedback about Arterial
Utica and the Department of Transportation are in the final stages of planning the $62 million North-South Arterial project. ... And to help them decide on the finishing touches, the D.O.T has pulled together a stake holders committee. . . ..
It's a committee of 17 people who represent numerous organizations throughout the city, including the police and fire departments, Holy Trinity Church, the Chamber of Commerce and even the historical society. Their responsibility is to give feedback, specifically about the aesthetics.
But just who does DOT think are the real stakeholders? Check out DOT's list at left. Where are the people who live within a couple of blocks of the arterial who will have to walk out of their way to see their neighbors? Where are the businesses along the arterial (the ones not getting special treatment such as a parking lot) whose customers may get lost trying to find their shops after the arterial is finished?
DOT ignores the people and businesses most affected, while giving a seat at the table to "regional" groups such as the Mohawk Valley Chamber of Commerce and Genesis.
And where is the City on this? It's with the regional groups rather than its own residents!
Until government starts paying attention to how its actions affect individual people and businesses, economic activity will continue to be taken elsewhere.
8 comments:
One GLARING error I see is the omission of The Landmarks Society of GREATER Utica on that list of stakeholders. Moresoa stakeholder than OC Historical Society.....
I don't see the Utica Chamber of Commerece on the list. How come?
Always stirring the pot, aren't you, anonymous! :-)
There IS NO UTICA C of C.
Why is there no Utica Chamber of Commerce? Almost EVERY municipality in this area has a Chamber of Commerce representing its commerce interests. You would think that the largest municipality would have one. Who does this sort of thing on behalf of the businesses in the Utica Area? EDGE??
You're joking, right? The Chamber operates under the illussion that it is a regional chamber since I think it calls itself the Mohawk Valley Chamber. But, all that is regional about it is that its members, at least the majority, do not reside in Utica. Many have businesses in the city, I think. The EDGE is a regional development group. The city has a development department. They all are charged with working on behalf of business, what little is left here.
UGH... Anonymous: I'm not surprised that the Landmark Society was in on it as well... can someone please kick them in the crotch? They've done more harm than good, and should repay the 90k loss that they forced the Utica Rescue Mission to take in 2010.
For the record, as of July 14, 2009, the Rescue Mission became an illegal use under the City zoning ordinance.
By its expansion over the years from an “Alcohol Crisis Center” -- focused on the short-term intake and near immediate reassignment to other, long-term facilities of individuals suffering from alcohol abuse problems -- into some kind of residential prisoner re-entry program coupled with medium - to long-term residencies, the Rescue Mission improperly expanded, and consequently lost its status as, a legal nonconforming use under the City’s 1994 zoning ordinance.
The Rescue Mission is, therefore, an unpermitted, illegal, renegade use of land now existing within the city of Utica’s most important and historic Zoning District.
A Supreme Court decision on the Rescue Mission’s appeal to this 3 year old ruling against them, and a ruling considering the Rescue Mission’s and the City’s attempted “end run” around that ruling is expected soon.
Michael S. Rizzo
michaelsrizzo@aol.com
Hi Mike -- Not sure how your post is germane to the topic, but since it seems to be an important bit of info and because you have put your name to the post, I will leave it up for public consumption.
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