When Will The Cost Be Too Much To Bear?

I received this email last night via Kevin Gaughan’s campaign, The Cost, to downsize local government :

Dear Friend,Last week was a significant one for our cause.  After speaking before the the Village of North Collins, and working closely with its mayor John Mrozek, Kevin successfully encouraged North Collins to take the first steps toward merging its government into its surrounding town. Click here to read The Buffalo News editorial on this historic development.  Then our presentation before the Village of Hamburg was well received, as both citizens and politicians responded favorably to Kevin’s challenge to consider consolidation as well.   Later in the week, in a regrettable and revealing decision, Village of Blasdell Mayor Ernie Jewett banned Kevin from discussing consolidation in his address before Blasdell citizens and public officials.  Jewett’s action reflected fear among some politicians that change is coming, and unwittingly revealed that our efforts continue to gain strength.  Click here for a brief video clip from Kevin’s Hamburg speech, along with his blog on being banned in Blasdell.  The Cost Staff and Volunteers

It’s disturbing to hear that he was BANNED from discussing consolidation by Blasdell’s mayor.  Whatever your politics are I at least commend Gaughan for using his own time and money to suggest a solution to make Western New York self-sufficient.  It’s something.  Unless you just want to wait for New York State to step in and make worthwhile changes?

There’s more and better thought out reactions to this story at the following links:

 

Kevin’s Blog at TheCost.org - “HEARD IN HAMBURG AND BANNED IN BLASDELL”

Buffalo Pundit – “Small Mindedness in Small Doses can have Huge Consequences”

Buffalo News - “Bruce Andriatch: Be careful what you say in Blasdell”

 

I don’t know what the solution is but I like Gaughan’s big picture idea.  People in WNY have a death grip on the idea of maintaining their town, village and city borders.  I say, “who cares?”  But hey, maybe my personal experience dictates that thought? 

Briefly, I was born in Utica, NY, a real spark plug of a town.  Circa 1985 when I was in 2nd grade we moved to, I’ll just say, WNY.  By the time I had graduated high school I had been enrolled in 4 (technically 5 but I won’t bore you) different school districts.  Borders around this area mean nothing to me.  I currently live in the City of Buffalo which gives us great examples of perceived borders.

 

The City of Buffalo has distinct neighborhoods with their own flavour (and signage!):  East Side, West Side, North Buffalo, South Buffalo, Kaisertown, Elmwood Village, Delaware District, Allentown, etc.

 

Consolidating WNY wouldn’t change that for the ‘burbs.  You’d still know when you were in Amherst, Tonawanda, West Seneca, Cheektowaga, etc.  Speaking of the last two, I often find myself buying coffee at the Harlem/Clinton Tim Horton’s.  In that little intersection near 3 borders I will see W. Seneca cops, Cheektowaga Cops and Buffalo Cops.  Is that necessary?

 

Condider the example of the City and Town of Lockport.  Two separate entities is ridiculous in such a small area but at least they share a school district.  That’s where I think the main obstacle of consolidating services in Erie County lies.  Suburban parents don’t want city kids on their border interacting with their children in the same school.  Well they’re doing it up North and by the way, have you seen how less expensive my property taxes are?

 

These are just some thoughts.  I don’t know what the answer is.  I encourage anyone to open up a discussion.   I’m just frustrated that WNY is doomed but it seems if we work together we may have a fighting chance against New York State controls.  Everyone knows this isn’t a great state to do business.  What can WE do to help that? 

 

When will the cost be too much to bear?  When your job, the Bills, the Sabres, your kids are gone?  I love this area.  Two Great Lakes, a river, a natural wonder, Canada, sports, local cuisine, four seasons and supposedly a city full of good neighbors.  Let’s help each other out.  Don’t ban progress.

Tags: Banned In Blasdell, Kevin Gaughan, Short Sighted, The Cost