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Monday, November 2, 2009

Local Politics


New Hartford is considered a Suburb of Utica New York. I do not understand the criteria for a suburb but I'm sure it requires some type of adjoining Metropolitan municipality. Utica, a city of 60,000 is hardly a Metropolis, which means New Hartford is hardly a suburb.

We are all in this 'Upstate' thing together. The larger more expansive lawns of New Hartford will wilt and dry just like their Utica counterparts if the shared agendas of each municipality is not expressed to our elected representatives.

What do we share?

Between you and me : New Hartford does not share anything with Utica unless it results in an arrest.

We, New Yorkers have opted for aggression (going after the Oneidas for taxes) instead of creativity like consolidating all the redundant services offered by The Whitestown, New York Mills, Whitesboro, Yorkville, New Hartford clusterfuck. Two towns, four villages and five different departments. All sharing parts of one block. All with seperate budgets. Or is it three towns two villages and six departments? The County Executive knows (I hope).

Healthcare reform looks easy compared to this. (consolidation)

It is a perfect example of American waste.

Each department unwilling to concede any authority to adjoining municipalities. New York Mills, with its own Police Department, is a village halfway in New Hartford and halfway in Whitesboro. Last I looked Whitesboro has a Police Department and so does New Hartford. All these towns and villages are in Oneida County so The Oneida Sherriff patrols there as well.

Ridiculous. Just like 1600% tax hike for villagers on the New Hartford side.

How did it happen in the first place?

Fear.

People are afraid around here.

New neighbors are rare. Neighbors that look different rarer still.

At 13 yrs old I was questioned by a Yorkville cop. He wanted to know what I was doing around there. Was I lost or not.

Nothing to fear.

Cops are on the job.

Around here.

A lot of cops are on the job.

And a lot of 'different' people are moving in.
My buddy and colleague, Pete Bianco, conducted an interview of two local Politicians. Listen up.

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