Utica School Nonsense . . .

It was interesting to listen to Mr. Pellegrino this morning on WIBX’ “First Look.” Listen to him and you would think that the management of the school district is entirely different. . . . that they are not going to put up with any nonsense any more from contractors . . . and that they are going to be tough and press for criminal charges with the DA for the malfeasance on the roofs that are now leaking. The $8 million bond for repairs was not properly managed – - but the Board is going to insist that things be made right . . . Bravo.

I don’t know about you, but I am not convinced that management people, styles or attitudes are significantly different from what Uticans have put up with for years.

What IS significantly different now is that a bonanza is about to be literally dropped into their collective lap — some $300 million in state funds — more money in one shot than the school district has ever received – - – AND THEY DON’T WANT TO LOSE IT.

While Mr. Pellegrino might have sounded tough, I heard posturing and desperation. He so wants to convince you that the Utica City School District has changed . . . that it can now be trusted with your tax dollars. . . . SO YOU WILL APPROVE THEIR SPENDING PLAN . . . And to prove it they make the show of toughness on the leaking roofs.

But what about the $37 million Millenium fiasco? From the stories emanating out of Proctor, people are suspicious that perhaps that money might not have been well spent either. That project never quite seemed to work as intended, with personnel seemingly shuffled more than a deck of cards in a poker game. Remember the scheduling nightmare? And did Proctor ever find its text books?

And how about that Krazy Kernan Skewl with its Kollege Daze? and Yoga Klasses? and seminars on Kommunity service . . . and Health Klinics. Anything but Reading ‘Riting and ‘Rithmatic!

The Utica public has put up with years and years of watching its school district’s incompetence, nonsense, and waste. UCSD knows it. So now UCSD fears that the voters may reject the $300 million even though it will be entirely state funds.

After wasting millions already given, why give these people more? They will probably bite off more than they can chew, saddling the taxpayers with unneeded facilities to maintain. The kids will see no results anyway.

Payback would be soooo sweet.

New New Hartford Nonsense . . .

You gotta give a lot of credit to Cathy at New Hartford Online for persistence in tracking down the whereabouts of New Hartford’s official license plates . . . and then explaining to us the significance.

It seems that the Town has been selling “surplus” vehicles, with at least one sale made following questionable procedures. But the license plates from the vehicles have not all been turned in . . . Eagle-eye Cathy spotted one on a former-Town vehicle parked at the mall. When Cathy FOILed the receipts for the plates for vehicles sold, she got 29 — all indicating that plates had been surrendered in March ‘07– for vehicles supposedly sold as far back as 2003!

If the plates were not turned in until March ‘07, it raises the question whether or not the town has been insuring the vehicles attached for years while in private ownership.

Read all the details in “Case of the Missing FS-6T Receipts . . . contd.” An amazing story!

What’s He Talking About?

Yeah, New York is falling apart at the seams, it seems. . . . So Mr. Schumer is proposing to send more federal funds our way.

Great! We’ll take all the help we can get! . . . . But . . .

“We just had a terrible situation where Lowe’s wanted to put one of its major warehouses in Oneida County. And they couldn’t come because there was no water or sewer and there was no money for water or sewer to build what was necessary. To build this major warehouse that would have employed eight hundred to a thousand people,” said Schumer.”

Now where does that story come from? Rome has plenty of water, sewer and space . . . so there should have been no problems in locating in Oneida County.

If the Loews planned to use the Sauquoit Creek Sewer Line of the O.C. Part County Sewer District, or MVWA water outside of MVWA’s current service area . . . there might be problems. But those would have nothing to do with the lack of funds and everything to do with local incompetence and mismanagement.

Who is feeding Mr. Schumer such a tale?

Cheerleading Sprawl

Just when you think the O-D finally “gets it” with the headline “Growth must compliment existing uses,” the details tell you it has not.

“Route 840 was built with the idea that it would help invigorate economic growth.”

Where did that idea come from?

“Development in these areas must be encouraged.”

WHY?

” . . . we also have the obligation to protect the prospective developer.”

Since when? . . . and from what?

The editors seem to be working from a set of preconceived notions about the “benefits” of “development.”

If New Hartford can be used as an example, residents and taxpayers will pay the price in forms such as (1) bond issues to remediate storm water problems, (2) extending services, (3) traffic congestion, (4) more town government, (5) loss of crop land, and (6) the loss of the semi-rural character that brought them to the town to begin with.

“More” is not always good.

“Gender-Neutral” Housing

Growing up is one thing. Putting kids into an emotional pressure cooker is something else. Does anyone remember the book, The Harrad Experiment? It’s not an experiment any longer.

Per the Post-Standard, “Gender-Neutral” housing is the latest trend on college campuses. Cornell, Colgate, and Ithaca are considering it.

The term “gender neutral” comes from advocates for students who are transgender who don’t consider themselves completely male or female. That applies to just a few students who might be uncomfortable being required to live with someone of the same sex.

But the result is that if rooms or suites are designated as gender neutral, it takes coed living to a level not seen yet on Central New York campuses: Men and women could be roommates. [emphasis supplied]

It’s hard enough to leave home and go to college to master the academics while dealing with new people at a volatile time in one’s life. Shoving sex under everyone’s nose only complicates things further.

Is it any wonder why college graduates these days seem to know so little, and why this country is not self-sufficient in the more academically “difficult” professions such as medicine or engineering.

That Essential Ingredient . . .

Joe DiMaggio’s cousin has opened a pizza restaurant in Florida, has plans for a chain there. . . and the world.

“. . . we bring our dough in from Utica, N.Y. . . .”

This guy knows what he’s doing!

Better Late Than Never . . .

Griffo: Stop Thruway toll increase.

Calling on the Governor to stop the increase is a step in the right direction. But how about supporting Mr. Valesky’s proposed legislation that will require the Thruway Authority to get legislative approval before any increases?

Is it too much to ask that you cooperate with the other party to accomplish something for your constituents?

“Thank yous” will be reserved pending success.

Mr. Griffo and Airline Passengers

Mr. Griffo is co-sponsoring a law to protect fliers stranded on planes in New York.

This is an interesting display of priorities when Oneida County (and, therefore, his Senate District) has NO scheduled airline passenger service, having lost it three or four years ago.

Mr. Griffo, if you want to do something meaningful for your constituents, why don’t you co-sponsor Mr. Valesky’s legislation to require the Thruway Authority to get legislative approval before every toll hike? Or is party loyalty more important?

Open Republican Caucus . . .

The Republicans are opening their county caucus to the public. . . . a baby step in the right direction. But this does not mean that we will hear any actual debate on issues or understand the rationale of their decisions. In days of cell phones and e-mail, there are alternative ways of communicating on issues outside the public view.

We will wait and see if this is a meaningful change . . . or mere window dressing.

Speaking Out Against the Toll Hike

The Observer-Dispatch has challenged readers to speak out against the proposed Thruway toll hikes.

Pressure works. Governor Spitzer just postponed a bus and subway fare hike in New York City in response to the Daily News’ “Halt the Hike” campaign. Ahh . . . the power of the press . . .

Senator Valesky has met the O-D’s challenge by proposing a law that would require legislative approvals of all toll hikes.

But Mr. Valesky is part of a minority party in the Senate.

Where are Sen. Griffo and Mrs. Destito on this issue? They are members of the controlling parties in their respective houses.

Does their silence mean they have been bought and paid for by their party leadership … which benefits from the Thruway Authority patronage mill? When will we hear from them?