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Road ‘Deal’ in NH
This past week more information was revealed about the new office park going up in New Hartford behind (west of) “The Orchard.” What at first seemed somewhat objectionable as another example of Urban Sprawl is now starting to look like taxpayer subsidy of a private developer.
First we find out that Oneida County will give a PILOT for the project: reduced property taxes for several years, and a $700,000 sales tax exemption. This ostensibly was for the purpose of retaining existing jobs at “The Hartford” in New Hartford.
Then we find out that New York State will give Hartford Financial a $500,000 grant (our tax money) to locate in the new office park.
While NO new jobs are to be produced, the area requiring police and fire protection will be expanded, as will the demand for water and sewer services and need for storm water control — costs that will fall on the tax and rate payers in general (many of whom live in Utica).
But it’s for job retention . . . That makes it OK . . . Right?
Now we find out that in addition to the PILOT, the County, the Town of New Hartford, and the New Hartford School District will take the already reduced PILOT payments and dedicate a significant portion of them to improving the “country” (it did not say County) road to accommodate more traffic.
Clearly, the road deal is unnecessary to retain the jobs at “The Hartford.” The PILOT and Grant accomplished that, and the company’s new building is already well under construction.
As for the proposed hotel and medical office complex, these will likely draw upon existing demand within region. While some jobs may be created at this location, the project will likely result in job losses elsewhere in the region. The market for these services is only so big (and here, it is shrinking). But, free market competition is a pillar of our society, so that is OK. Traffic at this location, however, will increase, and that will be something the public will have to cope with. But since the Town will be the ultimate tax beneficiary, it will have the funds to take care of the traffic.
This is not a County industrial park, so why Utica taxpayers should be asked to pay for road improvements there through their county taxes is unknown. There was no County help for the Utica Business Park.
The deal with the New Hartford School District seems questionable. What does developing a road have to do with education?
Is it not New Hartford’s policy to require payments from developers to mitigate the environmental impacts of their projects? Here, New Hartford should be getting payments from the developer to improve the road, not (effectively) the other way around.
Plenty of questions arise the more you think about this one. Why the unusual deal here — and not elsewhere?
Reverso Wheel of Fortune . . .
The Observer-Dispatch is hosting a new game on its on-line forum: “Reverso Wheel of Fortune.”
You know Wheel of Fortune, that 7PM staple on WKTV where contestants take turns guessing the words behind the lines of blank squares . . .
The O-D game is the opposite. You guess which words will produce a line of blanks when you put them into a posting! So far the contestants have come up with one word: “sales.”
Of course, the other name of this game is “Censorship.” The O-D apparently has software that sniffs out certain words and prevents them from being used. Many readers won’t put up with scatological words and will just stay away from forums where they are used. And if the O-D is trying to promote an intelligent level of discussion — which it seems to be doing — such censorship is appropriate. After all, their reputation is on the line.
But “sales?” One has to wonder what/who is intended to be protected by screening out that word.
It’s all rather amusing . . . until one thinks about the implications!
The internet has been a liberating force for self expression – - but our ever increasing dependency on it for our information also opens an unprecedented opportunity for malevolent forces to control what we see, say, and even think. In Utica, we seem to have a renegade programmer — or a glitch — that doesn’t like the word “sales. ” Funny. In China, Google has cooperated with the Chinese government to screen and filter the results of internet searches — to return only “government approved” results. Not So Funny.
Now consider what is going on in our schools. “Knowledge” is deemphasized in favor of subjectively judged “performance.” It’s been years since kids had to memorize anything — but they are encouraged to look up the “facts” on the ‘Net. In an era of “find and replace” programming, history can be rewritten in a few key-strokes — or entire ideas — such as “sales” — can simply disappear. Programmers — or their handlers — rule.
Today’s reality is fast becoming Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451” and Orwell’s “1984.“
Putting the Foxes in Charge of the Hen House . . .
That’s the impression you get when reading of Gov. Spitzer’s plan to “study” Hinckley Reservoir.
With the exception of DEC and SEMO, the other parties named to the study group have a vested interest in what goes on at Hinckley — which may be OK if ALL the interested parties were represented in the group. They are not. There are riparian landowners along West Canada Creek who are not represented. Herkimer County has an interest and is not being represented. And Greater Utica residents are not represented because MVWA has been behaving more like a private company or an Oneida County agency than a municipality looking out for the future well being of its residents.
How about a truly INDEPENDENT study of Hinckley Reservoir, INCLUDING where Hinckley fits into the context of all the water supply resources and needs of Oneida and Herkimer Counties?
What are they afraid of?
No Plans in New Hartford
The voters have spoken and have apparently rejected all 8 bond proposals in the Town of New Hartford. The reaction of Earle Reed:
“When I was elected, I hoped I could better the condition of the town,” he said. “But voters have spoken. We have no plan B.“
This sums up Town Government’s problem with these issues: no plans. Few people like to vote for a “pig in a poke.” They like to know what they are getting for their money. But the propositions dealing with storm water management, the proposed police building, and sidewalks all suffered from a lack of plans. One would not expect a bank to loan money without plans and specifications. Why should the town government expect its taxpayers to accept less?
Mr. Reed’s implication is that in order to better the condition of the town, he has to borrow money. That’s just nonsense. Maybe what is needed is smarter regulation of what goes on in the Town . . . and consolidation with neighboring communities for certain services.
For example, how many developments have been permitted without storm sewers and retention basins. The more developed acreage, the greater the runoff. It’s calculable, and manageable . . . but only if you require it. Stop developers from creating problems and then expecting all town residents to pay to fix what they created.
Police services … how about an inter-municipal agreement with Utica? It makes no sense to constantly expand Town government when the population is declining.
The Town has problems because its leaders do not think carefully about what they are doing and are unwilling to encourage a dialog with residents to determine what is best.
There is no true leadership … just ‘know-it-all’ arrogance.
Post Script: What’s the story with the absentee ballots? Why could they not be counted along with the rest of the votes? To have to wait until the next day to count 110 votes is simply ridiculous … and it also raises suspicions. Where have the ballots been for the last 24 hours? (Sorry, but this town government has not earned the public’s trust).
Utica Rising . . .
Signs of Utica Rising near Oneida Square!
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Utica was truly one of America’s important cities. That era produced a lot of imposing structures: the Savings Bank (with the Gold Dome), Union Station, and Rutger Park homes to name a few.
When the weather warms up in a few days (hopefully), take a walk between Downtown and the Oneida County Historical Society on Genesee Street. You will see many examples of this great architecture — some in good repair, some not, but now, thankfully, some being brought back to life.
In the block south of Oneida Square, there are two old sandstone buildings that show a lot of craftsmanship in the stonework. [Hopefully we'll get some pics up when the weather clears.] Always interesting to view when walking by on a sunny day, they are now being renovated for apartments by a husband and wife team, Gary and Jennifer Wereszynski, along with Jennifer’s mother, Nolita Johnson. According to their website, UticaLofts.com, one of the buildings is already fully rented, but there is still space in the second. There will be a grand opening on March 30.
The Oneida Square neighborhood has a lot of potential. (Check out the “Comstock Block” just to the west, across from Plymouth-Bethesda Church — talk about charm — you would think you were in England.) This new development is much better for Utica than any townhouses at Valley View discussed last week. It does not expand the city’s infrastructure, nor does it destroy valuable parkland. Rather, it makes more intensive use of the infrastructure already in place.
We would like to see more of this. Rather than giveaway programs, developments like this can be nurtured by the city taking better care of and maybe upgrading its own facilities … How about getting rid of the spaghetti around Oneida Sq. and putting the utilities underground ? .. maybe new period lighting? … cobblestones? If the city can’t afford these, how about more plantings? Just keeping things clean and neat, and well policed, can do so much.
Regardless, we applaud the vision of the Wereszynski-Johnson team, and wish them the best of luck.
The More the Merrier!
Wow, another new regional blog: “CNY Snakepit: A great, squirming mass of reptilian rage.”
Yikes! Sounds scary. Definitely not for the squeamish . . . but Definitely entertaining.
Welcome to “Cog Of Zanzibar” (how’s that for a handle?) and CNY Snakepit!
A New Blogger on the Block …
The regional conversation widened again this week with the arrival of Justice Denied 13501 on the scene. The first post was only 4 days ago but already 29 items are up and counting! (Does this guy or gal sleep?? or eat??). PLENTY of interesting/controversial reading here . . .
Anyway, a big WELCOME to Justice Denied 13501.
New Bloggers on the Block
Sometimes things in CNY seem like a circus . . . and that is the premise behind Paul Ennis’ CNY Circus Blog. A Big Welcome to Paul as he jumps through hoops to comment on life and trends in our region… An entertaining read that has been added to Fault Lines’ Blog List.
UticaSux.com, is an animal of a different sort. It’s not really a blog, but a website that is still developing … so we’re not quite sure what will become of it. We’d offer a Welcome, but no one has stepped forward to take responsibility (hehehe). But what is there is a very active forum that is “no holds barred” and offers promise of fumigating all the political BS that permeates Utica. We only hope that UticaSux gets regionalized — because there is plenty of BS in the region to go around. Anyway, a link is being added on Fault Lines’ Forums List for this “must visit” site.
The Blogger Ranks Thin Again
After a brief awakening and some quick-fire, well-written posts, the Mohawk Valley View Blog is no more.
Blogging is time-consuming, and can interfere with other endeavors (including mundane things like paying bills, doing laundry and balancing the check book). We understand why Mrs. Mecomber has decided to close her blog.
Nonetheless, her entertaining posts and insights will be missed.
Good luck to you, Mrs. Mecomber, in whatever you do.
This is sad, not only because we will miss her posts, but because there is strength in numbers, and the numbers have decreased. Politicians tell us that people “are clamoring” for this or that — but often the impression is false, and is given to implement some private agenda. Blogs help expose what the public really feels . . . but for that to be accurate, the more bloggers the better.
Additionally, everyone has a unique perception of the events of the day. Some through specialized knowledge, their station in life, having a special interest and a willingness to do research, or just being in the right place at the right time, may have a perspective that others can benefit from. Blogging can be an outlet for that.
Hopefully more bloggers will rise from the ranks to take Mrs. Mecomber’s place. If you are blogging about Utica-Rome-Mohawk Valley news and views, Fault Lines will provide a link to help you get started with some traffic.
Join the regional conversation.
