Governor’s Vision For Upstate Will Benefit Elmira, Mayor Tonello Says
Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s plans to pump more than $1 billion into the Upstate economy, commit 200 state troopers to help local police fight crime, cut taxes, reduce state mandates for municipalities, and make New York a stronger draw for business and young people will benefit the City of Elmira in 2008 and beyond, Mayor John Tonello said today. “The governor’s vision is clear and his aim is true,” Tonello said. “He recognizes the problems upstate cities face, and his solutions provide relief and assistance where we need it most.” The mayor’s comments came after the governor delivered his State of the State address Wednesday afternoon in Albany. Click for the full release…
Clear vision? Aim is true? Sigh. Politicians sure do speak purty. How come there never is any follow through? How come we still have parking meters downtown? How come there is a cost associated with using the parking lot? How come there is a 90% vacancy rate in storefronts? This is not a vision thing, this is a “Somebody take charge and do something thing”. How come our Mayor isn’t doing anything?
ETA: Local officials talk of hope, skepticism Amazing, but to me, it sounds like they all got their talking points. How about Less talk and More DO?
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And the money will help….the Riverfront Project and rejuvenation of downtown.
How about spending more on the streets, the out of date sewer system, the out of date water delivery pipes? The entire infrastructure of the city is screaming for repairs and updating but we’re planning on spending on the Riverfront Project and rejuvenating the downtown area.
WHAT is the Mayor THINKING?
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Wouldn’t a single term term limit take care of this problem? I know, that would lead to a whole lot of inexperience, but experience hasn;t done a single thing for us, so whats the difference? Get something done, get out. Sounds good to me.
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One of the worst things to happen to Elmira citizens occurred when terms were expanded from 2 years to 4 years. The ‘excuse’ given at the time was that 2 years wasn’t adequate time for a newly elected person to ‘learn the ropes.’
In real life, if someone can’t learn their job in fewer than 2 years, they would be discharged.
IMHO, many of our City Fathers simply are not what the City really needs at this point in time yet we stood by and allowed them to increase their terms and, worse yet, reelected the ones who have been there since time immemorial and got us in the financial bind we’re currently in to start out with!
The problem: Few in Elmira are willing to stand up and challenge the system. Those of us who do are called hurtful names.
Well, sticks and stones…….
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If you can’t learn the ropes in a couple of weeks, let alone months, I have no use for you, you are a waste of space and a waste of resources.
Sure it takes time to work out the interpersonal stuff, you know the graft and bribe thing, I understand that, but cant they get any of the peoples work done in between that?
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To be fair, the quote was:
“This is money that might be used for downtown revitalization, site preparation, riverfront development, and infrastructure improvements,” Tonello said.
…the “infrastructure improvements” could cover street improvements and sewers and pipes and such.
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One can always hope.
Downtown sure could use some revitalizing too, IMHO.
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How hard is that?
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Smooth & Bill, I’m thinking that isn’t exactly what they have in mind when they speak of downtown revitalization. I believe when Mr.Tonello, et al, speak of downtown revitalization they have in mind rejuvenating the buildings….an activity that I consider to be primarily the responsibility of the owners of those buildings.
I can’t imagine our current leadership making the downtown area more ‘business friendly.’ I don’t believe that they think in such terms.
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