Another troubling series of articles appeared in the Utica OD this week and also on the WKTV Website (links below) which somehow gives the feeling that the region (and probably Utica in particular) is about to get shafted - again - by our political elites who are only looking out for themselves. According to the articles, County Executive Griffo is pushing for merging MVCC and SUNY-IT. Reading the articles gives the impression that students and faculty and certain academic leaders think this is a good thing. One has to ask "WHY?"
What is the County Executive's motivation in involving himself with college academics at a State Level? Deleting MVCC's lines from the county budget, and thereby enabling a tax break (and favor from voters) could be a reason. Currying favor from State Level officials, who apparently bungled when they decided to make SUNYIT a 4 year institution (given its declining enrollment) could be another.
The head of SUNY-IT may be trying to save his hide because he and his predecessor have been unable to grow that college as planned. Or, because he only holds his position temporarily, he may be protecting someone higher up the line. Regardless, lumping MVCC's numbers with SUNY-IT's would make the latter's statistics look better.
Faculty and MVCC adminstrators probably are expecting better pay, benefits, and opportunities for advancement from a merger, so those who are "connected" with no worry of losing their jobs could be expected to support a merger.
Students are mainly concerned about their own personal academic futures, and a merger would ensure the transferability of credits because there would be no transfer of institutions. The students interviewed have already benefitted by the current system being there for them. Will there be a system in place to benefit those students who come later? It is at the student level where the "answers" to whatever "problems" a merger would allegedly solve will play out.
In contrast to talks of "merger" in the OD articles, the official pronouncement from both institutions is quite different. (See MVCC, SUNY IT Explore Closer Collaboration). No where is "merger"mentioned.
The series of OD articles jumbles (intentionally? for what purpose?) the concepts of collaboration and merger together. SUNYIT was originally the Upper Division College -- a place intended for community college graduates to continue their educations. Given the fact that Utica-Rome had been the only metropolitan area in the state without a place for students to complete a 4 year degree at a state institution, the need for such a college was clear. It was obtained only after years of long and intensive lobbying. The articles, including the official one from the institutions, imply that SUNYIT has not fulfilled its original intent -- that both institutions still need to collaborate to fulfill the promise of an opportunity for local students to complete a 4 year degree.
Collaboration is different from merger. Collaboration, not only with MVCC but HCCC as well, should give local students all the security they need in planning their studies.
Merger, however, would potentially harm not only students but the region as well because the region would lose control over the institution to the State University. Just like our unelected Water Authority, we cannot assume that those running SUNY-IT will always act in the region's best interests or act competently. As easily led as it seems to be by the local political elite, the County Legislature, at least in theory, has sufficient control over the community college to ensure that local educational needs are met . . . and if the public does not think so, they can make themselves heard at the voting booth.
Collaboration: YES, of course! Merger: NO! The public needs to resist any further loss of control over its institutions to an unelected elite.
SUNY-IT And MVCC Merger In The Works - Griffo Asks Schools To Think It Over
MVCC, SUNYIT to discuss futures Colleges study merger
Students, faculty optimistic
SUNYIT hopes merger would boost enrollment
[For FOLLOWUP COMMENTS see Utica Area Discussions]
Technorati Tags: Mohawk+Valley Education Government Utica
Sunday, June 12, 2005
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
Rhinos now asking state for $15 million
Check out this article in the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle on how the Rochester Rhinos are getting $$$ from us taxpayers to build a stadium which THEY will own. I don't understand how public funds can be simply GIVEN AWAY like this and believe it to be unconstitutional under Article 8 of the State Constitution. (but then, again, what's constitutional is only what the powers that be want it to be -- like when the courts say that gambling in the form of video lotteries is OK.) While I question the wisdom of spending State $$$ on a local sports facility, the State could at least own the shares representign the value of what it contributed.
Hey - why not a Soccer Team for Utica? With our large immigrant population for whom soccer is the major sport, a soccer team in Utica could be a resounding success.
[For CONTEXT and FOLLOWUP COMMENTS see Utica Area Discussions]
Technorati Tags: Mohawk+Valley Economic+Development Government Utica
Hey - why not a Soccer Team for Utica? With our large immigrant population for whom soccer is the major sport, a soccer team in Utica could be a resounding success.
[For CONTEXT and FOLLOWUP COMMENTS see Utica Area Discussions]
Technorati Tags: Mohawk+Valley Economic+Development Government Utica
Thursday, February 24, 2005
Infighting bad for locals
I don't think the politicians are really interested in hearing what people think unless it is agreement with their viewpoint on things. The "infighting" that is going on over the sales tax makes great theater, but it is going nowhere. Utica and Whitestown's fight with the county may make their leaders "heroes"to their local constituencies, but they are not solving the real problems of the area: The area is uncompetitive with other parts of country. Government at all levels in NYS charges far to much in taxes and fees -- and life is made too complicated -- for companies to want to locate jobs here. The only answer government comes up with is more government in the form of special incentives and programs -- which creates more taxes and complications and drives more away!
I actually like seeing some of the fighting -- unfortunately there is not nearly enough to thoroughly air the issues. We are controlled by an elite that thinks it has all the answers -- and is too arrogant to listen to dissenting voices (or does things too quickly, or in secret, before dissent can develop) and consider that it might be on the wrong track.
The airport move I believe is one example of an issue that has not been thououghly aired. Is it really worth spending millions of taxpayer money to abandon a perfectly good and appropriately sized county airport -- placing at risk the jobs and investment in infrastructure there -- and move it to Rome to support Empire Aero (who has received millions in taxpayer subsidies already). If EA does not succeed, what have we accomplished? Simply spending millions to duplicate something we already have -- and -- maybe saddling ourselves with something that is too big to be practical -- doesn't seem smart. I would rather they take the millions of federal funds and try to turn Griffiss into something completely different from what we now have -- a cargo port to serve the Northeast. A Gamble to be sure. But if the money turns out to have been wasted there, at least we would not have destroyed the nice airport we now have.
As far as Genesis goes, I was inspired to join them when I read that they had sponsored a speaker who proposed turning griffiss into a cargo port.. I thought -- Wow, finally a group of people with new fresh ideas ... and willing to seek out experts in the field to get sound advice ... Well, it really hasn't gone very far since. Genesis has sponsored some nice events, and they are nice "cheer leaders" for this community which needs and deserves an accent on the positive -- but after having attended 2 years worth of meetings I'm frustrated that there is no reaching out to the intelligence in the room to get them to work on identifying and solving the region's problems. There is far too much fear of "stepping on toes" of elected officials or various groups or organizations. Our region will not move forward by merely putting on rose-colored glasses and chatting up the positive.
[For CONTEXT and FOLLOWUP of this post, see The Pulse]
Technorati Tags: Mohawk+Valley Government
I actually like seeing some of the fighting -- unfortunately there is not nearly enough to thoroughly air the issues. We are controlled by an elite that thinks it has all the answers -- and is too arrogant to listen to dissenting voices (or does things too quickly, or in secret, before dissent can develop) and consider that it might be on the wrong track.
The airport move I believe is one example of an issue that has not been thououghly aired. Is it really worth spending millions of taxpayer money to abandon a perfectly good and appropriately sized county airport -- placing at risk the jobs and investment in infrastructure there -- and move it to Rome to support Empire Aero (who has received millions in taxpayer subsidies already). If EA does not succeed, what have we accomplished? Simply spending millions to duplicate something we already have -- and -- maybe saddling ourselves with something that is too big to be practical -- doesn't seem smart. I would rather they take the millions of federal funds and try to turn Griffiss into something completely different from what we now have -- a cargo port to serve the Northeast. A Gamble to be sure. But if the money turns out to have been wasted there, at least we would not have destroyed the nice airport we now have.
As far as Genesis goes, I was inspired to join them when I read that they had sponsored a speaker who proposed turning griffiss into a cargo port.. I thought -- Wow, finally a group of people with new fresh ideas ... and willing to seek out experts in the field to get sound advice ... Well, it really hasn't gone very far since. Genesis has sponsored some nice events, and they are nice "cheer leaders" for this community which needs and deserves an accent on the positive -- but after having attended 2 years worth of meetings I'm frustrated that there is no reaching out to the intelligence in the room to get them to work on identifying and solving the region's problems. There is far too much fear of "stepping on toes" of elected officials or various groups or organizations. Our region will not move forward by merely putting on rose-colored glasses and chatting up the positive.
[For CONTEXT and FOLLOWUP of this post, see The Pulse]
Technorati Tags: Mohawk+Valley Government
Tuesday, February 08, 2005
County Airport Move
Perhaps I'm the only one who feels this way, but I really have to question the wisdom of spending millions to move the county airport to Griffiss.
First of all, there is nothing wrong with the county airport as it is now. It is truly a beautiful, well kept facility. If market conditions were right, it is capable of supporting scheduled passenger service. It is appropriately sized for this market since Utica-Rome doesn't generate enough traffic to fill 747's. It has spawned an adjoining industrial/commercial area that supplies 100s of jobs.
So, if the current airport isn't "broke" -- why "fix" it?
Sounds like the county doesn't want the "albatross" of having to maintain two airports, so it does away with the smaller one. But the larger one is clearly OUTSIZED for this area -- far too big for passenger, charter, or cargo service.
The county needs to recognize the value of its existing airport, and treat Griffiss as a completely separate issue.
It is wasteful to spend millions to duplicate what we already have. It also is extremely risky because there are a lot of businesses dependant on the airport which might not tolerate the disruption of having to move. It will saddle the county with an abandoned facility to dispose of. It will depress the values of surrounding properties until disposition is resolved.
Griffiss has to be recognized for what it is -- a facility sized to provide international service. Utica-Rome does not have the population to make this go -- but all of Upstate does. While passenger service is already taken care of, cargo service may not be. There was talk several years ago about expanding Hancock in Syracuse for this, but there is no room there.
The county is taking risks anyway -- I'd rather take a risk on losing money in trying to establish a cargoport at Griffiss (hopefully to create an economic engine that will spawn 100s of jobs), than on losing the nice airport we have now just to avoid taking care of two airports.
http://www.uticaod.com/archive/2005/02/08/news/19570.html
[For FOLLOWUP COMMENTS see Utica Area Discussions]
Technorati Tags: Mohawk+Valley Economic+Development Government Rome Utica
First of all, there is nothing wrong with the county airport as it is now. It is truly a beautiful, well kept facility. If market conditions were right, it is capable of supporting scheduled passenger service. It is appropriately sized for this market since Utica-Rome doesn't generate enough traffic to fill 747's. It has spawned an adjoining industrial/commercial area that supplies 100s of jobs.
So, if the current airport isn't "broke" -- why "fix" it?
Sounds like the county doesn't want the "albatross" of having to maintain two airports, so it does away with the smaller one. But the larger one is clearly OUTSIZED for this area -- far too big for passenger, charter, or cargo service.
The county needs to recognize the value of its existing airport, and treat Griffiss as a completely separate issue.
It is wasteful to spend millions to duplicate what we already have. It also is extremely risky because there are a lot of businesses dependant on the airport which might not tolerate the disruption of having to move. It will saddle the county with an abandoned facility to dispose of. It will depress the values of surrounding properties until disposition is resolved.
Griffiss has to be recognized for what it is -- a facility sized to provide international service. Utica-Rome does not have the population to make this go -- but all of Upstate does. While passenger service is already taken care of, cargo service may not be. There was talk several years ago about expanding Hancock in Syracuse for this, but there is no room there.
The county is taking risks anyway -- I'd rather take a risk on losing money in trying to establish a cargoport at Griffiss (hopefully to create an economic engine that will spawn 100s of jobs), than on losing the nice airport we have now just to avoid taking care of two airports.
http://www.uticaod.com/archive/2005/02/08/news/19570.html
[For FOLLOWUP COMMENTS see Utica Area Discussions]
Technorati Tags: Mohawk+Valley Economic+Development Government Rome Utica
Tuesday, February 01, 2005
The Elite taking care of their own
Saw the article in this AM's paper about Ryan Nobles being appointed to head the Youth Bureau at $55K. While I liked Mr. Nobles as an Assembly Candidate ... this really smacks of the " Elite" taking care of their own. Of course this follows on the heels of the last director landing a job with the Utica School System ... Certain people with connections always seem to be taken care of.
And what do the taxpayers get? More taxes!
I was interested in reading that the chairman of the OC Legislature pockets at cool $21K for a part time job. Assuming that he puts in 10 hrs /wk, his pay rate would be the same as someone making over $80 k!.
COME ON -- These people are not worth their pay.
In fact, WHY DO WE PAY LEGISLATORS AT ALL? At one time local legislative positions were unpaid. I'm sure there would be plenty of volunteers willing to do it for nothing. .. willing to do it for the satisfaction of helping their home towns. PAYING LEGISLATORS ONLY MAKES THEM BEHOLDEN TO THE POLITICAL LEADERSHIP rather than to their constituents.
And we wonder why this area and this state an economic wasteland!
[For FOLLOWUP COMMENTS see Utica Area Discussions]
Technorati Tags: Mohawk+Valley Government
And what do the taxpayers get? More taxes!
I was interested in reading that the chairman of the OC Legislature pockets at cool $21K for a part time job. Assuming that he puts in 10 hrs /wk, his pay rate would be the same as someone making over $80 k!.
COME ON -- These people are not worth their pay.
In fact, WHY DO WE PAY LEGISLATORS AT ALL? At one time local legislative positions were unpaid. I'm sure there would be plenty of volunteers willing to do it for nothing. .. willing to do it for the satisfaction of helping their home towns. PAYING LEGISLATORS ONLY MAKES THEM BEHOLDEN TO THE POLITICAL LEADERSHIP rather than to their constituents.
And we wonder why this area and this state an economic wasteland!
[For FOLLOWUP COMMENTS see Utica Area Discussions]
Technorati Tags: Mohawk+Valley Government
Wednesday, December 22, 2004
Questions arise about new club in New Hartford
Saw this article in today's OD about a new club being approved by the NH school board which had no student interest so far.
Questions arise about new club in New Hartford
Who came up with the idea of such a club if there is no student interest?
Most districts pay a stipend to teachers who are club advisors. How much is NH paying these advisors to a club in which there is no interest?
Could this just be a back door way to give some favored individuals more money at taxpayer expense?
[For FOLLOWUP COMMENTS see Utica Area Discussions]
Technorati Tags: Mohawk+Valley Education
Questions arise about new club in New Hartford
Who came up with the idea of such a club if there is no student interest?
Most districts pay a stipend to teachers who are club advisors. How much is NH paying these advisors to a club in which there is no interest?
Could this just be a back door way to give some favored individuals more money at taxpayer expense?
[For FOLLOWUP COMMENTS see Utica Area Discussions]
Technorati Tags: Mohawk+Valley Education
Sunday, November 14, 2004
Sales Tax Collection -- Sales Tax Rate
Have the County leaders bothered to calculate the sales tax collections LOST because the State refuses to enforce the law regarding sales in the Oneida Nation?
If the county was able to collect its normal share of sales tax, would it be able to avoid the so-called medicaid sales tax increase?
It seems that our county leadership, by enacting a sales tax increase, is making it easy for our State leaders to avoid their responsibilities.
Maybe what the county should do is to budget based on sales tax estimates which include indian sales, then bill the state for what was not collected.
The casino and state failures place Oneida County in a unique position in the state where the county would be justified in demanding money from Albany.
Why isn't anyone doing this?
County Govt. is making it easy on our State level leaders by making it hard on taxpayers
[For FOLLOWUP COMMENTS see Utica Area Discussions]
Technorati Tags: Mohawk+Valley Government
If the county was able to collect its normal share of sales tax, would it be able to avoid the so-called medicaid sales tax increase?
It seems that our county leadership, by enacting a sales tax increase, is making it easy for our State leaders to avoid their responsibilities.
Maybe what the county should do is to budget based on sales tax estimates which include indian sales, then bill the state for what was not collected.
The casino and state failures place Oneida County in a unique position in the state where the county would be justified in demanding money from Albany.
Why isn't anyone doing this?
County Govt. is making it easy on our State level leaders by making it hard on taxpayers
[For FOLLOWUP COMMENTS see Utica Area Discussions]
Technorati Tags: Mohawk+Valley Government
Thursday, March 04, 2004
Who is the Wagering Board Protecting?
Did anyone catch the series of three editorials in the rome paper about placing the blame for Vernon's track denial on management?
While there are problems with management, you have to question just whom the Board is protecting. The Sentinal (3/1) says "The Racing and Wagering Board would do a disservice to employees, vendors who provide products and services to the track, and more than 500 investors of Mid-State Raceway if the state board did not protect their interests."
Funny, I don't hear the employers or venders complaining, and I've only heard of one shoreholder complaining
Like any corporation, there are laws to protect shareholders. This corporation is no different than any other in that respect. If the corporation is being abused, the recourse is under the corporation law - any "protection" afforded by the Wagering Board is duplicative.
Venders know they are taking risks dealing with a track that may be insolvent. They can protect themselves by not delivering goods without first getting payment. And if the track is insolvent, isn't that a matter between the corporation and its bankers to resolve? Why does the Board need to get involved?
There have been no complaints about employees not being paid.
So just WHO IS THE WAGERING BOARD PROTECTING by denying the track a license? One can think of competitors locally and in the Albany area who would immediately benefit. (Have you heard all the local commercials for Saratoga Racino?) Anyone else? Who is the Board kidding? And who are our "powerful" local reps kidding?
If I had horses I'd parade them down to the state office building in protest over this travesty.
[For CONTEXT and FOLLOWUP COMMENTS see Utica Area Discussions]
Technorati Tags: Mohawk+Valley Economic+Development Government
While there are problems with management, you have to question just whom the Board is protecting. The Sentinal (3/1) says "The Racing and Wagering Board would do a disservice to employees, vendors who provide products and services to the track, and more than 500 investors of Mid-State Raceway if the state board did not protect their interests."
Funny, I don't hear the employers or venders complaining, and I've only heard of one shoreholder complaining
Like any corporation, there are laws to protect shareholders. This corporation is no different than any other in that respect. If the corporation is being abused, the recourse is under the corporation law - any "protection" afforded by the Wagering Board is duplicative.
Venders know they are taking risks dealing with a track that may be insolvent. They can protect themselves by not delivering goods without first getting payment. And if the track is insolvent, isn't that a matter between the corporation and its bankers to resolve? Why does the Board need to get involved?
There have been no complaints about employees not being paid.
So just WHO IS THE WAGERING BOARD PROTECTING by denying the track a license? One can think of competitors locally and in the Albany area who would immediately benefit. (Have you heard all the local commercials for Saratoga Racino?) Anyone else? Who is the Board kidding? And who are our "powerful" local reps kidding?
If I had horses I'd parade them down to the state office building in protest over this travesty.
[For CONTEXT and FOLLOWUP COMMENTS see Utica Area Discussions]
Technorati Tags: Mohawk+Valley Economic+Development Government
Friday, February 13, 2004
Expansion in Unemployment Benefits
Article in Newsday today that
"In a reversal, the Pataki administration has agreed to grant unemployment benefits to gays and unmarried heterosexuals who quit their jobs when they relocate with partners who are hired to work in another state"
Here we go again. Businesses already pay enough for Unenp insurance in NYS -- driving many of them out of business or out of state. Now the gov insists on expanding benefits (to buy political support from certain pressure groups) when the state is in a hole.
But what really gets me is that I never realized that this benefit was given to spouses who voluntarily quit their jobs to follow their wifes/husbands move to a new job. Why are we doing this? Why should employers be required to provide a "safety net" for changes due the purely personal decisions of their employees? The employer pays twice: (1) in increasing premium costs for UI and (2) having to retrain a new person to replace the employee who leaves.
This is nonsense and this is why NYS is uncompetitive.
[For FOLLOWUP COMMENTS see The Pulse.]
Technorati Tags: Government
"In a reversal, the Pataki administration has agreed to grant unemployment benefits to gays and unmarried heterosexuals who quit their jobs when they relocate with partners who are hired to work in another state"
Here we go again. Businesses already pay enough for Unenp insurance in NYS -- driving many of them out of business or out of state. Now the gov insists on expanding benefits (to buy political support from certain pressure groups) when the state is in a hole.
But what really gets me is that I never realized that this benefit was given to spouses who voluntarily quit their jobs to follow their wifes/husbands move to a new job. Why are we doing this? Why should employers be required to provide a "safety net" for changes due the purely personal decisions of their employees? The employer pays twice: (1) in increasing premium costs for UI and (2) having to retrain a new person to replace the employee who leaves.
This is nonsense and this is why NYS is uncompetitive.
[For FOLLOWUP COMMENTS see The Pulse.]
Technorati Tags: Government
Friday, January 09, 2004
Chip Fab
I know i've harped on this subject before -- but it's time to do it again.
An article appeared today in the Capital District Business Review titled
" Rally held to oppose Luther Forest tech campus" -- in a nutshell, there is local opposition out Saratoga way to their tech park which appears to be beating us to landing a chip fab even though we got started much much earlier and supposedly had a "shovel ready" site in Marcy.
Read the article at:
Our EDGE people seem to be asleep and they need to wake up .. and be more AGGRESSIVE....
While it might seem unseemly to point out another area's shortcomings, our EDGE officials should at least be there making a pitch to the chip manufacturers who have already toured and tentatively selected Luther Forest -- no community oppostion here ...
...Or is this too much to expect?
See prior posting at
[For FOLLOWUP COMMENTS see Utica Area Discussions]
Technorati Tags: Mohawk+Valley Economic+Development Government
Monday, December 08, 2003
Cooperative efforts bearing fruit?
Anyone see the column in this morning's OD by our collective economic development "leaders" about how their cooperative efforts are "bearing fruit"?
Given our population loss does anyone really believe them? (Unemployment rates drop not only when people get jobs -- they drop when the unemployed leave the area.)
If the public could see results for itself there would have been no need for the column.
Their talk about "confidentiality" in dealings is a smokescreen for doing next to nothing. We read how other communities have gone after Wall St. back offices, gone after large companies like GEICO, and have obtained interest from chip manufactrers. No such reading here .... Their trackrecord of feeble accomplishments speaks for itself. Frankly, I think they are only interested in protecting their jobs.
Lets get rid of them all, and give ourselves a tax cut.
Read the article at:
http://www.uticaod.com/archive/2003/12/08/opinion/21568.html
[For FOLLOWUP COMMENTS see The Pulse]
Technorati Tags: Mohawk+Valley Economic+Development Government
Given our population loss does anyone really believe them? (Unemployment rates drop not only when people get jobs -- they drop when the unemployed leave the area.)
If the public could see results for itself there would have been no need for the column.
Their talk about "confidentiality" in dealings is a smokescreen for doing next to nothing. We read how other communities have gone after Wall St. back offices, gone after large companies like GEICO, and have obtained interest from chip manufactrers. No such reading here .... Their trackrecord of feeble accomplishments speaks for itself. Frankly, I think they are only interested in protecting their jobs.
Lets get rid of them all, and give ourselves a tax cut.
Read the article at:
http://www.uticaod.com/archive/2003/12/08/opinion/21568.html
[For FOLLOWUP COMMENTS see The Pulse]
Technorati Tags: Mohawk+Valley Economic+Development Government
Sunday, November 23, 2003
Geico considers Albany area for regional center
Geico, the nation's largest direct marketer of auto insurance, is continuing to study potential sites in the Albany, N.Y., Rochester and Buffalo areas for a new regional sales and servicing center. .... is expected to have an initial 300-member work force that is expected to grow eventually to 2,500....
See complete article at Capital Dist Business Review:
http://albany.bizjournals.com/albany/stories/2003/11/17/daily53.html?jst=b_ln_hl
This came up during the campaign, but it is still an issue. .. What, if anything, are our economic development people doing to attract these people here? We certainly have a workforce that is highly trained in the financial services area ... Or are our politicians unwilling to permit competition with local enterprises?
[For FOLLOWUP COMMENTS to this post see The Pulse]
Technorati Tags: Mohawk+Valley Economic+Development Government
See complete article at Capital Dist Business Review:
http://albany.bizjournals.com/albany/stories/2003/11/17/daily53.html?jst=b_ln_hl
This came up during the campaign, but it is still an issue. .. What, if anything, are our economic development people doing to attract these people here? We certainly have a workforce that is highly trained in the financial services area ... Or are our politicians unwilling to permit competition with local enterprises?
[For FOLLOWUP COMMENTS to this post see The Pulse]
Technorati Tags: Mohawk+Valley Economic+Development Government
Saturday, January 18, 2003
State woos firm for Griffiss
Per this AM's O-D, it's nice to see that our state legislators, including Sheldon Silver of Manhattan, have become involved in industrial development at Griffiss, taking a trip to Israel to offer taxpayer money to Israel Aircraft Industries to get them to build an aircraft maintenance facility here.
While their interest in this area's economic wellbeing is welcome, what they are doing is questionable.
First, you've gotta question Sheldon Silver's motives because he really has shown no interest in helping Upstate before, and his liberal policies over the years of more government programs and spending is what has brought Upstate to its knees.
Second, the constitutionality (under Art 8 of NYS Constitution) of giving away taxpayer money is doubtful -- although this hasn't stopped any politician of either party in recent years.
Third, we are paying these legislators to make policy and laws that serve the people -- not to go out and pursue specific businesses (that's what we have "EDGE" and other agencies for -- even though they seem incompetent). Simply put, this is not a legislator's job.
The last paragraph in this AM's article identifies the crux of the issue:
"While few firms relocate from Florida to New York, one official said the firm wants to expand but found the cost prohibitive in Miami, and the package of government assistance being offered makes New York attractive"
Essentially, things are so bad here that NYS has to offer public assistance to make it feasible for companies to survive in NYS. Sheldon has found a new constituency for his ideas! Lets get everyone on the dole.
Instead of traipsing off on junkets overseas, our legislators should stay in Albany and identify those policies that THEY'VE CREATED which drive business out of New York, and to ELIMINATE THEM. That's the kind of economic help this area needs from legislators. Maybe then we'll get good businesses locating here who won't leave as soon as the public $$$$ runs out.
[For FOLLOWUP COMMENTS see The Pulse]
Technorati Tags: Mohawk+Valley Economic+Development Government Rome
While their interest in this area's economic wellbeing is welcome, what they are doing is questionable.
First, you've gotta question Sheldon Silver's motives because he really has shown no interest in helping Upstate before, and his liberal policies over the years of more government programs and spending is what has brought Upstate to its knees.
Second, the constitutionality (under Art 8 of NYS Constitution) of giving away taxpayer money is doubtful -- although this hasn't stopped any politician of either party in recent years.
Third, we are paying these legislators to make policy and laws that serve the people -- not to go out and pursue specific businesses (that's what we have "EDGE" and other agencies for -- even though they seem incompetent). Simply put, this is not a legislator's job.
The last paragraph in this AM's article identifies the crux of the issue:
"While few firms relocate from Florida to New York, one official said the firm wants to expand but found the cost prohibitive in Miami, and the package of government assistance being offered makes New York attractive"
Essentially, things are so bad here that NYS has to offer public assistance to make it feasible for companies to survive in NYS. Sheldon has found a new constituency for his ideas! Lets get everyone on the dole.
Instead of traipsing off on junkets overseas, our legislators should stay in Albany and identify those policies that THEY'VE CREATED which drive business out of New York, and to ELIMINATE THEM. That's the kind of economic help this area needs from legislators. Maybe then we'll get good businesses locating here who won't leave as soon as the public $$$$ runs out.
[For FOLLOWUP COMMENTS see The Pulse]
Technorati Tags: Mohawk+Valley Economic+Development Government Rome
Tuesday, October 08, 2002
Campaign silence
t's less than a month before the election ... where are the discussions of issues? What do the candidates stand for?
All we seem to hear lately is how they will spend our money. The governor is going around showering almost every community with promises of millions for this or that special project, McCall wants to spend more on education (which is already receiving more than ever with dismal results), and now even Golisano is proposing a new giveaway program of college scholarships ... Meanwhile Oneida County taxpayers will be forced to ante up 16% more to cover expanded social programs imposed by the state -- other counties face even steeper increases!
It's clear with a state and local property tax burden more than 50% higher than the rest of the nation that NYS cannot compete for jobs -- that something needs to be done to bring the cost of government under control.
Unfortunately all our candidates do is propose/create more programs to buy votes keep in office or get themselves elected .. creating more government, driving taxes even higher and more jobs out of state.
At the rate we are going it won't end until everyone is either a government employee or on the dole.
Might as well stay home on election day. There are no real choices.
[For FOLLOWUP COMMENTS see The Pulse]
Technorati Tags: Mohawk+Valley Government
All we seem to hear lately is how they will spend our money. The governor is going around showering almost every community with promises of millions for this or that special project, McCall wants to spend more on education (which is already receiving more than ever with dismal results), and now even Golisano is proposing a new giveaway program of college scholarships ... Meanwhile Oneida County taxpayers will be forced to ante up 16% more to cover expanded social programs imposed by the state -- other counties face even steeper increases!
It's clear with a state and local property tax burden more than 50% higher than the rest of the nation that NYS cannot compete for jobs -- that something needs to be done to bring the cost of government under control.
Unfortunately all our candidates do is propose/create more programs to buy votes keep in office or get themselves elected .. creating more government, driving taxes even higher and more jobs out of state.
At the rate we are going it won't end until everyone is either a government employee or on the dole.
Might as well stay home on election day. There are no real choices.
[For FOLLOWUP COMMENTS see The Pulse]
Technorati Tags: Mohawk+Valley Government
Tuesday, September 17, 2002
Center for Brownfield Studies - Smoke and Mirrors?
According to the 9/15/02 O-D a "regional state-of-the-art brownfields training and research center ultimately destined for Utica's Harbor Point has close to 100 students ... 'We're making progress. It's becoming a reality,' said State Sen. Raymond Meier."
However, a visit to the websites of the five involved institutions reveals very little on this "center." The Utica area institutions MVCC and HCCC don't even mention the brownfields program, and SUNY Tech only mentions its participation and posts what appears to be an 11/01 press release. You have to visit Morrisville and the College of Environmental Science and Forestry at Syracuse University before you can pull up course descriptions that are supposedly linked to the center.
Reading over the course list, there does not appear to be much conscious effort to design a curriculum that would give one a sound academic background to deal with brownfields problems. One gets the impression that someone merely went through existing course offerings at the institutions, picked those that appeared relevant to brownfields remediation, and stuck them in a brochure. There doesn't appear to be anyone in charge of the program (no "center"), since 6 contact persons (one at each institution and one at Niagara Mohawk) are mentioned in the only documentation that could be found.
Are the 100 students mentioned in the OD article consciously working toward a concentration in brownfields related courses (the implication), or did they merely happen to pick those courses?
According to the article, a Niagara Mohawk official said the center is submitting a grant proposal to the Federal Environmental Protection Agency for money to inventory and prioritize brownfield sites state-wide. That is interesting because the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation has ALREADY inventoried all of the state's contaminated sites and prioritized them for cleanup.
Like the "Emperor's New Clothes," the reality of the Center appears to be that it doesn't actually exist. Utica is given the impression that it is getting an educational institution (without really getting one). NI-MO looks like it is helping the environment (while Harbor Point is still contaminated DECADES after the problem is known). And the State University has an excuse to apply for Federal Grants (to duplicate work already done).
Smoke and Mirrors! The only beneficiaries of this "Center" appear to be the politicians and NiMo who can claim they are doing something, and the insiders who can apply for grants. The local taxpayers are left with what they've always had .. nothing.
[For FOLLOWUP COMMENTS see The Pulse]
Technorati Tags: Mohawk+Valley Economic+Development Government Utica
However, a visit to the websites of the five involved institutions reveals very little on this "center." The Utica area institutions MVCC and HCCC don't even mention the brownfields program, and SUNY Tech only mentions its participation and posts what appears to be an 11/01 press release. You have to visit Morrisville and the College of Environmental Science and Forestry at Syracuse University before you can pull up course descriptions that are supposedly linked to the center.
Reading over the course list, there does not appear to be much conscious effort to design a curriculum that would give one a sound academic background to deal with brownfields problems. One gets the impression that someone merely went through existing course offerings at the institutions, picked those that appeared relevant to brownfields remediation, and stuck them in a brochure. There doesn't appear to be anyone in charge of the program (no "center"), since 6 contact persons (one at each institution and one at Niagara Mohawk) are mentioned in the only documentation that could be found.
Are the 100 students mentioned in the OD article consciously working toward a concentration in brownfields related courses (the implication), or did they merely happen to pick those courses?
According to the article, a Niagara Mohawk official said the center is submitting a grant proposal to the Federal Environmental Protection Agency for money to inventory and prioritize brownfield sites state-wide. That is interesting because the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation has ALREADY inventoried all of the state's contaminated sites and prioritized them for cleanup.
Like the "Emperor's New Clothes," the reality of the Center appears to be that it doesn't actually exist. Utica is given the impression that it is getting an educational institution (without really getting one). NI-MO looks like it is helping the environment (while Harbor Point is still contaminated DECADES after the problem is known). And the State University has an excuse to apply for Federal Grants (to duplicate work already done).
Smoke and Mirrors! The only beneficiaries of this "Center" appear to be the politicians and NiMo who can claim they are doing something, and the insiders who can apply for grants. The local taxpayers are left with what they've always had .. nothing.
[For FOLLOWUP COMMENTS see The Pulse]
Technorati Tags: Mohawk+Valley Economic+Development Government Utica
Wednesday, June 05, 2002
Where's Our Chip Fab?
According to the Albany Times Union on 6/4, a $2 Bil, 2000-employee chip fab plant is expected to be the first tenant in the proposed Luther Forest Technology Campus, according to plans submitted by the Saratoga Economic Development Corp. Four to six companies have expressed an interest in locating at the campus site on the Malta-Stillwater town line if the planned development district is approved. According to the article, the two town boards must still approve a development district for the development to happen.
I believe that Lurher Forest has rather limited water supplies -- a necessity for a chip fab.
We are way ahead, it would seem, on getting a chip fab here .... at least in so far as having a site ready to go. And there is no question that we have adequate water supplies.
Haven't heard a thing about companies showing interest here, even though we have more to offer.
EDGE needs to jump on this -- ferret these 4-6 companies out -- and beat out Saratoga!
[For FOLLOWUP COMMENTS see The Pulse]
Technorati Tags: Mohawk+Valley Economic+Development Government
I believe that Lurher Forest has rather limited water supplies -- a necessity for a chip fab.
We are way ahead, it would seem, on getting a chip fab here .... at least in so far as having a site ready to go. And there is no question that we have adequate water supplies.
Haven't heard a thing about companies showing interest here, even though we have more to offer.
EDGE needs to jump on this -- ferret these 4-6 companies out -- and beat out Saratoga!
[For FOLLOWUP COMMENTS see The Pulse]
Technorati Tags: Mohawk+Valley Economic+Development Government
Thursday, May 16, 2002
Changes Needed for Hockey to Return?
oday the O-D ran an editorial stating that changes were needed to the Utica Aud before professional hockey would return -- that more money would have to be spent on the building. Their logic runs something like this: We've had 4 hockey teams come and go in the last 10 years ... The Aud "looks foreboding from the outside" (their opinion) and "isn’t particularly charming on the inside" (again their opinion) ... ergo, the condition of the building must be making the teams fold and keeping the fans away. Really?
In the same editorial the O-D admits that the arena was upgraded for the Devils 10 years ago (yet the Devils still left). Furthermore, O-D admits there is a successful promoter prepared to place a team in the Aud NOW. These pieces don't seem to logically fit with their theory. [The real reason for the failures is probably traceable to our poor economy with less discretionary income available to fans -- and fewer fans -- but this would admit to the failure of local policy makers who seem to include the O-D editors]
Essentially the O-D really seems to be saying: "We've failed for the last 10 years .. let's not run a risk of failing again ..."
With that kind of attitude no progress will be made! The worse that could happen is that area hockey fans will have a couple more years of professional hockey. What's so bad about that?
One suspects the O-D may be discouraging professional hockey to protect the vested interests of their "friends" at Utica College.
This is the old story in Oneida County -- the well connected use the taxpayer's $$$ to their advantage -- and keep away anyone new that might offer some competition.
The O-D is right ... Changes ARE Needed:
A CHANGE IN ATTITUDE.
[For FOLLOWUP COMMENTS see The Pulse]
Technorati Tags: Mohawk+Valley Economic+Development Government Utica
In the same editorial the O-D admits that the arena was upgraded for the Devils 10 years ago (yet the Devils still left). Furthermore, O-D admits there is a successful promoter prepared to place a team in the Aud NOW. These pieces don't seem to logically fit with their theory. [The real reason for the failures is probably traceable to our poor economy with less discretionary income available to fans -- and fewer fans -- but this would admit to the failure of local policy makers who seem to include the O-D editors]
Essentially the O-D really seems to be saying: "We've failed for the last 10 years .. let's not run a risk of failing again ..."
With that kind of attitude no progress will be made! The worse that could happen is that area hockey fans will have a couple more years of professional hockey. What's so bad about that?
One suspects the O-D may be discouraging professional hockey to protect the vested interests of their "friends" at Utica College.
This is the old story in Oneida County -- the well connected use the taxpayer's $$$ to their advantage -- and keep away anyone new that might offer some competition.
The O-D is right ... Changes ARE Needed:
A CHANGE IN ATTITUDE.
[For FOLLOWUP COMMENTS see The Pulse]
Technorati Tags: Mohawk+Valley Economic+Development Government Utica
The "Safe Schools" Project -- What's the real intent?
The UCSD has launched another expansive project with the help of a federal grant -- The Utica Safe Schools/Healthy Student Partnership. The purpose stated in the incorporation certificate is, essentially, to help kids who may be exposed to/prone to violence. UCSD documents posted on-line, however, imply that the project is much larger in scope. The project involves the establishment of a new bureaucracy that is independent of the control of elected officials, the creation of vast databases with unprecedented collection and sharing of personal data about students and their families, the creation of its own law enforcement unit (including a SWAT
team) and the use of school district resources to
funnel students and their families to the services of "partner" agencies.
Rather than places of learning, schools apparently are to become marketing tools to ensure a steady flow of clients (and government funds) to "partner" agencies -- further fragmenting and diluting time and effort directed toward academics. Since a sound education usually results in higher family incomes
and fewer social problems, you have to question the wisdom of this -- we could wind up with more problems that we began with.
The extensiveness of the programs, the data collection and sharing, and what appears to be intrusion into private family life, almost gives the impression that a separate government is being formed -- one that is not subject to democratic rule.
The manner in which this program came about and is being implemented also raises questions.
(1) Government agencies can only exercise those
powers provided by statute. There is nothing in the NYS Education Law that authorizes the UCSD to form a not-for-profit corporation to administer a program -- but they did it anyway. Why?
(2) Public funds will be administered by a
corporation that is controlled by a separate board of directors unelected by the public. Why was this form of administration chosen?
(3) The corporation's board of directors initially was to include Superintendent Lowengard and Board of Education President DiMeo. This was later expanded to include School Board Members Pellegrino and LaPolla in return for their support. Why did the discussions of this take place during an Executive Session of the School Board -- out of view of the public -- when the the Public Officers' Law does not authorize executive sessions to discuss such topics?
Doesn't this create a potential conflict of interest for these persons with the school district?
(4) Inspite of repeated promises by Board Member
Pellegrino to have (a) the actual Grant Application and (b) the study by Ms. Mammone that persuaded him to support the project published at the UCSD Website, why are they still not there months later? Why is the public being denied the information used by their elected officials?
Going through the documentation that already is
available on-line (particularly "goals and objectives") should raise more concerns.
See:
http://www.uticaschools.org/safeschls/safeschls.html
Given the lack of public debate by the School Board, I come back to my overriding question:
What's the REAL intent?
Technorati Tags: Mohawk+Valley Education Utica
team) and the use of school district resources to
funnel students and their families to the services of "partner" agencies.
Rather than places of learning, schools apparently are to become marketing tools to ensure a steady flow of clients (and government funds) to "partner" agencies -- further fragmenting and diluting time and effort directed toward academics. Since a sound education usually results in higher family incomes
and fewer social problems, you have to question the wisdom of this -- we could wind up with more problems that we began with.
The extensiveness of the programs, the data collection and sharing, and what appears to be intrusion into private family life, almost gives the impression that a separate government is being formed -- one that is not subject to democratic rule.
The manner in which this program came about and is being implemented also raises questions.
(1) Government agencies can only exercise those
powers provided by statute. There is nothing in the NYS Education Law that authorizes the UCSD to form a not-for-profit corporation to administer a program -- but they did it anyway. Why?
(2) Public funds will be administered by a
corporation that is controlled by a separate board of directors unelected by the public. Why was this form of administration chosen?
(3) The corporation's board of directors initially was to include Superintendent Lowengard and Board of Education President DiMeo. This was later expanded to include School Board Members Pellegrino and LaPolla in return for their support. Why did the discussions of this take place during an Executive Session of the School Board -- out of view of the public -- when the the Public Officers' Law does not authorize executive sessions to discuss such topics?
Doesn't this create a potential conflict of interest for these persons with the school district?
(4) Inspite of repeated promises by Board Member
Pellegrino to have (a) the actual Grant Application and (b) the study by Ms. Mammone that persuaded him to support the project published at the UCSD Website, why are they still not there months later? Why is the public being denied the information used by their elected officials?
Going through the documentation that already is
available on-line (particularly "goals and objectives") should raise more concerns.
See:
http://www.uticaschools.org/safeschls/safeschls.html
Given the lack of public debate by the School Board, I come back to my overriding question:
What's the REAL intent?
Technorati Tags: Mohawk+Valley Education Utica
Monday, May 13, 2002
The Millenium Project -- Who benefits?
Last fall Utica's local newspaper, the O-D, gave a ringing endorsement to the Millenium Project, calling it "progressive education" and a "Giant Step." Please excuse me, but given the experimentation and lack of results produced by "educrats" over the last 30 years, why should we expect anything different for 37 million more of our dollars? Project descriptions are long on rhetoric and short on detail. And the few details given - after some "critical thinking" - are troubling!
The Project will create 4 themed "houses" to "personalize" education. Students have always completed a "core curriculum" that is "personalized" by electives - so what makes the Project better? Perhaps there will be more "specialized" coursework. The Project's segregation is new, with "finance/business" types going to one "house," the "science/techs" to another, "health" to a third, and "human/public services" to a fourth. What will be the result? Expect health providers that are illiterate in broad science/technical issues, scientists who don't understand the impact of their discoveries on society, and public servants who don't have a clue about their effect on business. The logical result of encouraging students to specialize before they develop a broad knowledge base in common with others is a fragmented society -- one unable to communicate with itself.
Students must select their "theme" before entering high school. Given the difficulty a lot of college students have in picking their major, asking an 8th grader to do so seems rediculous. Forcing an 8th grader to make what may be a career-determinative choice before we've given him or her a solid foundation of knowledge is unjust. The choice will likely be made or strongly influenced by "counselors" who can only have limited knowledge of each student's true potential. The end result: Many will wind up in jobs they hate, and without a strong broad foundation that would otherwise enable them to easily retrain for something different.
Each house will have its own administrative and support staff to create "smaller schools." While there may be some studies that suggest smaller schools can help student achievement, it is the subject matter presented and how it is taught that is more important. This is where the real beneficiaries of the Project become apparent. In an era where public funds are becoming scarce, we are spending 37 million dollars to create a facility that will require administrations in quadruplicate -- ensuring that more funds will be required for administrators and support on an annual basis. Administrators and support staff don't teach. The end result will be a more expensive system with no return for the investment.
Class and "work place learning" will be connected through "focused" courses and "mandatory internships." This begs the questions "What workplace?" "What is the focus?" "Who will get the interns?" Workplace learning is labor intensive specialized learning. It is what normally happens when one starts on the job. Since this is going to happen anyway -- with the student's first "real job," which might not even exist in this area -- what purpose is served by a "mandatory" internship? Time in high school is precious -- the last opportunity for many to take purely academic pursuits. The time should not be wasted by forcing students to take jobs they don't want.
Don't expect the Millenium Project to accomplish anything for the students. Do expect it to create jobs for those already milking the system.
[For FOLLOWUP COMMENTS see The Pulse]
Technorati Tags: Mohawk+Valley Education Utica
The Project will create 4 themed "houses" to "personalize" education. Students have always completed a "core curriculum" that is "personalized" by electives - so what makes the Project better? Perhaps there will be more "specialized" coursework. The Project's segregation is new, with "finance/business" types going to one "house," the "science/techs" to another, "health" to a third, and "human/public services" to a fourth. What will be the result? Expect health providers that are illiterate in broad science/technical issues, scientists who don't understand the impact of their discoveries on society, and public servants who don't have a clue about their effect on business. The logical result of encouraging students to specialize before they develop a broad knowledge base in common with others is a fragmented society -- one unable to communicate with itself.
Students must select their "theme" before entering high school. Given the difficulty a lot of college students have in picking their major, asking an 8th grader to do so seems rediculous. Forcing an 8th grader to make what may be a career-determinative choice before we've given him or her a solid foundation of knowledge is unjust. The choice will likely be made or strongly influenced by "counselors" who can only have limited knowledge of each student's true potential. The end result: Many will wind up in jobs they hate, and without a strong broad foundation that would otherwise enable them to easily retrain for something different.
Each house will have its own administrative and support staff to create "smaller schools." While there may be some studies that suggest smaller schools can help student achievement, it is the subject matter presented and how it is taught that is more important. This is where the real beneficiaries of the Project become apparent. In an era where public funds are becoming scarce, we are spending 37 million dollars to create a facility that will require administrations in quadruplicate -- ensuring that more funds will be required for administrators and support on an annual basis. Administrators and support staff don't teach. The end result will be a more expensive system with no return for the investment.
Class and "work place learning" will be connected through "focused" courses and "mandatory internships." This begs the questions "What workplace?" "What is the focus?" "Who will get the interns?" Workplace learning is labor intensive specialized learning. It is what normally happens when one starts on the job. Since this is going to happen anyway -- with the student's first "real job," which might not even exist in this area -- what purpose is served by a "mandatory" internship? Time in high school is precious -- the last opportunity for many to take purely academic pursuits. The time should not be wasted by forcing students to take jobs they don't want.
Don't expect the Millenium Project to accomplish anything for the students. Do expect it to create jobs for those already milking the system.
[For FOLLOWUP COMMENTS see The Pulse]
Technorati Tags: Mohawk+Valley Education Utica
Utika's step backward ...
Utica (Utika?) took a giant step backward this week with its major newspaper, the Observer-Dispatch, eliminating anonymous postings on its internet forum. While the O-D is certainly within its rights to do this, it has a chilling effect on free-speech.
There are various reasons why posters choose not to reveal their identity. While some may have evil intentions, the majority do not. Some may be public employees who would like to "blow the whistle" on wrong doing without jeopardizing their job. Others may want to debate issues with their friends without destroying good friendships. Still others may want their ideas judged by their content rather than by the reputation of the poster. It has been said that anonymity may be the greatest form of altruism.
Although there are anonymous posters who abuse the priviledge, most do not. And of the few who have made inappropriate postings .. many get retracted when others point out the error of their ways.
Given that the Syracuse newspapers and the New York Times -- with much larger readerships than the O-D -- allow anonymous postings on their websites, there clearly is no good journalistic reason for the O-D to forbid them.
The O-D has long been perceived as the organ of the Utica area "elite" -- the "movers and shakers" who act behind the scenes to ensure that their "vision" is implemented (assuring themselves of power and their cronies of high standards of living). Of course, we have seen where the "vision" has gotten us.
The entity who should be screaming the loudest for open government -- who should be going to court when government boards go into illegal executive sessions or fail to disclose information under FOIL -- is strangely silent ... except, of course, when it is necessary to serve its "vision." The entity knows that knowledge is power, and that the easiest way to control people is to control what they know. The entity now moves to ensure further control over the populace by eliminating anonymous postings.
It is only through (1) comprehensive knowledge by the people, (2) the free flow of ideas, and (3) political leadership with consensus building skills that this area will progress. The newspaper should provide #1 -- anonymous forums will encourage #2 -- and maybe, if more people become involved through ##s 1 & 2, the leaders for #3 will emerge.
The O-D's action demonstrates what's been suspected all along ... they are more interested in playing politics than reporting it.
Fortunately ThePulse is an available alternative ... I hope Vito advertises this forum and people come together here to discuss the issues.
[For FOLLOWUP COMMENTS see The Pulse]
There are various reasons why posters choose not to reveal their identity. While some may have evil intentions, the majority do not. Some may be public employees who would like to "blow the whistle" on wrong doing without jeopardizing their job. Others may want to debate issues with their friends without destroying good friendships. Still others may want their ideas judged by their content rather than by the reputation of the poster. It has been said that anonymity may be the greatest form of altruism.
Although there are anonymous posters who abuse the priviledge, most do not. And of the few who have made inappropriate postings .. many get retracted when others point out the error of their ways.
Given that the Syracuse newspapers and the New York Times -- with much larger readerships than the O-D -- allow anonymous postings on their websites, there clearly is no good journalistic reason for the O-D to forbid them.
The O-D has long been perceived as the organ of the Utica area "elite" -- the "movers and shakers" who act behind the scenes to ensure that their "vision" is implemented (assuring themselves of power and their cronies of high standards of living). Of course, we have seen where the "vision" has gotten us.
The entity who should be screaming the loudest for open government -- who should be going to court when government boards go into illegal executive sessions or fail to disclose information under FOIL -- is strangely silent ... except, of course, when it is necessary to serve its "vision." The entity knows that knowledge is power, and that the easiest way to control people is to control what they know. The entity now moves to ensure further control over the populace by eliminating anonymous postings.
It is only through (1) comprehensive knowledge by the people, (2) the free flow of ideas, and (3) political leadership with consensus building skills that this area will progress. The newspaper should provide #1 -- anonymous forums will encourage #2 -- and maybe, if more people become involved through ##s 1 & 2, the leaders for #3 will emerge.
The O-D's action demonstrates what's been suspected all along ... they are more interested in playing politics than reporting it.
Fortunately ThePulse is an available alternative ... I hope Vito advertises this forum and people come together here to discuss the issues.
[For FOLLOWUP COMMENTS see The Pulse]
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