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7 pointsThe voluntarily homeless could alleviate a lot of the problem if some of them were willing to do this: There are numerous programs (aside from temporary shelters) that provide housing, assist with job placement, offer mental health and substance abuse help, and assist in applying for public assistance services. The recipients of those services just need to be willing to follow rules and put at least some effort into behaving like a civilized human beings. I've known far too many people facing "hard times" (including myself). There is help. New York State is abundant with help. But it's not (and shouldn't be) unconditional help. Whether the "hard times" are partially due uncontrollable circumstances, or purely from poor choices.....making more poor choices will never improve the situation. Not accepting help because one refuses to agree to the "conditions" (basic human behavior, in a civilized environment) is a choice. Well, just off the top of my head....I don’t dump trash and noxious waste into the river every day as a lifestyle. Instead I reuse/recycle whatever possible, and properly dispose of other trash. And whenever I can, I also make an effort pick up trash that people with no respect toss on roads and other public places. OH...And when a horrific fire breaks out, I don't make wild false accusations about local government "burning" stuff.
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7 points“Rain, rain go away.” “I don’t want to friggin’ mow my lawn again today!” I’ve been uttering that ditty all summer and fall because of all the !@^%$! MOWING I’m doing because of all the !@^%$! RAIN. (Editor’s note: Upper case letters and exclamation points signify that the writer is really @^%$! PISSED OFF!!!!!) My lawn has more mow lines then the outfield at Fenway, and they are deep enough to grow corn. My life revolves around a series of repeated lawn aggravations: Mow. Wait for rain to stop. Mow. Repeat. I have a double lot, and the adjacent lot is nothing but grass. I call it the “North 40,” but of course it’s not really 40 acres. (It’s more like 38-39 acres). It also has a hedgerow that is so long it covers two time zones and takes me four time zones to trim it. My lawn is so large, that when I’m done mowing the last of it, I have to go back and mow the first section, because the grass grows so fast. The high and thick grass hides the gazillion piles of dog poop from my dog, neighborhood dogs and even dogs from outside the hood, who bus in just to do their business on my lawns. It’s a regular poop-o-rama. I mow with a TORO self-propelled push mower. What I need is a John Deer S690 combine and thresher. My TORO is a mulching mower. It cuts the grass into tiny pieces and deposits them back into the lawn. All that mulched grass has increased the height of my lawn so much, that when I mow, I can see the curvature of the Earth on the horizon. I used to reward myself with a cold beer after mowing, but not anymore, because I can’t afford to buy that much brew and my liver can’t afford any more cirrhosis. To get a better idea of my mowing blues, here is the ten-step procedure I endure each time I mow: I search through the garage clutter for the gas can, only to discover that it’s empty because I neglected to fill it the last time I used it. So, I have to go get gas, but first I have to refinance my home to afford the ridiculously high price of gas. I try, but can never, fill the mower gas tank without spilling it over the mower, my hands and my sneakers. For the rest of the day, I smell like a Molotov Cocktail. As I try to weave the mower out of my cluttered garage I clip bikes, a gas grill, a kayak and a recycling bin, tattooing them with dents, twists and scrapes. My mower, like all mowers, is designed to never start until I pull the cord so many times, my arm falls off. (It is during this “yank period” that I unleash my most torrid, raw and venomous string of cussing. Sometimes I kick the mower, stub my toes and dance about in pain.) The triceps in my right arm are three times the size of their left arm counterparts. Once I regain feeling in my arm, I yank away at the starter cord until it breaks (swearing, kicking and dancing in aggravation) or the engine eventually turns over. My mower has a deadman safety lever, on the handle, that I must hold closed while mowing or the engine will stop. As I move the picnic table, lawn furniture or neighbor kids out of the mower’s path, I must lift them with my right hand, because I’m dragging the mower (with lever held tight) behind with my left. My left arm is now three inches longer than my right. (Yes, I know I should move those obstructions prior to mowing, but that’s not how I do it, OK! If you don’t like it, you do it, you snotty-nosed know-it-all!) It rains so often, that the grass doesn’t have time to dry. Wet grass and dog poop clogs up the underside of the mower until it’s too heavy to push and the rpm’s drop so low that the grass actually giggles from the slow-turning blade tickling it. To remove the clogged grass, I turn the mower on its side, gasoline leaks all over the hot muffler until it smokes or bursts into fiery explosions. I have to go to the garage to get a screwdriver, skin my shins on the “who left this damn kayak in the middle of the floor?” return to the mower, use the screwdriver to stab away at the thick carpet of congealed mower grass and leave behind a steaming wet pile of clippings large enough to ski down. At least once, while mowing, I mow over a hidden tree root or rock and the mower blade screams out in a shrill and loud metallic pain or stops all together. (I also mow over the screwdriver that I forgot and left lying in the grass). The blade has more nicks in it than my shins. 10. When done, I return the mower to the garage, leaving behind a trail of wet grass and dog poop skid marks, from the mower’s wheels, on my driveway, sidewalks and garage floor. 11. Wait. I forgot. There is one more step in the process. My once-white sneakers are dyed chlorophyll-green and covered with sticky wet grass clipping, dirt, dog poop and screwdriver fragments. If I forget to remove my sneaks before I go in the house, the remainder of my day will be spent sweeping, scraping and vacuuming up the grass while listening to my wife explain, in minute detail, why I am such a moron. I’ve read about homeowners using goats to maintain their lawns. I’m going to do that. As soon as it stops raining. Jim Pfiffer’s humor column is posted every Sunday on the Jim Pfiffer Facebook page and the Hidden Landmarks TV Facebook page. Jim lives in Elmira with his wife and many pets and is a retired humor columnist with the Star-Gazette newspaper.
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6 pointsnot much any County Legislator can do. you and as many neighbors you can muster, need to show up to meetings, with facts and numbers, and put those you all feel are in need of replacement on record for their positions. Once you have this, you can also choose candidates to replace them, and work hard at it, do not take one vote for granted. may not happen first election cycle, learn from it and plan for the following
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6 pointsJust to be clear….is “Efficiency” of County Government Operations supposed to be a dog whistle for concentrated power and doing away with those tedious and “inefficient” checks and balances?
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5 pointsCHEMUNG COUNTY - Local author Chris Sherwood is pleased to announce that his newest novel, In Times of Trouble: Crossroads, will be released on November 12, 2024. This latest book is the third and final in a post-apocalyptic trilogy. The story follows the people of Hammond’s Corners as they struggle to survive a cataclysmic event that leaves the United States without modern conveniences such as electricity and automobiles. And while it may be hard to imagine living in such circumstances, the stories take place in a fictional world many Chemung County residents may recognize. “When it came time to create this world, it seemed only natural to use a place I’m most familiar with,” Sherwood said. “Many locations throughout the book are inspired by actual places here in Chemung County. However, I did take some creative license, particularly when it came to distances and names. Even then, many of the towns are identified in the book by their historical names.” A fan of post-apocalyptic fiction himself, Chris says that ideas for the story came to him in 2016 while walking the family’s dog. “I was reading some great books at the time, stuff by William Forstchen and G. Michael Hopf, to name a couple. And while the dog and I were walking, I’d get to thinking, ‘What if that happened here?’ My imagination kicked in, and a story began to take shape. A couple of friends encouraged me to start writing them down, and the next thing I know, I’m creating this new world with a whole cast of characters. It was kinda crazy.” But it wasn’t until 2020 that he decided to publish it. “So COVID came along, and like many others, I had more spare time on my hands. So I dug it out and decided to put it out there for the world to see.” The book was met with positive reviews from readers. “To say I was nervous releasing it would be an understatement. But the feedback from readers was overwhelmingly positive. I received messages from people I hadn’t seen in years telling me they read and loved the book. It meant so much to me.” Spurred on by readers and the fact he’d already added a sneak preview that hinted at a sequel, Chris immediately began working on the follow-up, In Times of Trouble: Aftermath, which he released in 2022. “I’d kind of painted myself into a corner, so to speak,” he says, laughing. “I had added that little thing at the end, teasing a sequel, with no clue what would happen.” The second book ended in a way that could either be the final end or leave room for Sherwood to write more. “I pretended I wasn’t sure there’d be a third, but the truth was I knew there would be. I’d already imagined the ending of it; I just needed to come up with a story to get there.” Chris says he knew the third book could perhaps be more difficult and take longer to write, but there were times he wasn’t sure it would happen. “This one definitely fought me,” he says. “And I had already told myself this would be the last one. So I needed to come up with a story that left not only the reader satisfied but myself as well. So I was more than a little worried about whether it would work or not.” According to Chris, the beta-reader response let him know he had nothing to worry about. “The first one told me, ‘You did it!’ and then when the other two got back to me with similar responses, I thought, ’Holy ( expletive deleted), apparently I did!’” Sherwood says that once the new book is available, he plans to focus more on marketing and attracting new readers. That includes some promotional sales on all three titles that will be announced on his Facebook page and website. As for his next writing project? “Right now, I’m taking a little break to focus on getting these books into peoples’ hands. But I do have some ideas in a notebook, including some short stories, so we’ll see.” For more information or to order the In Times of Trouble trilogy, simply CLICK HERE
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5 pointsMy opinion: The emerging house hunting demographic is Gen Z. Millenials are pretty much established in the housing scene but they can be characterized by the following thoughts too. These generations are not really looking for that white picket fence, that ownership responsibility, the stay at a job for 30+ for the sake of loyalty and the retirement at the end where then they will travel and see the world. These generations are looking for someplace affordable to live in an area that calls to them on a different level. It isn't work/live/play as it was in my parents generation and mine to an extent. But it has become play/live/work. They are looking for areas where they can travel to and enjoy life now. They see the fleetingness of life and want to enjoy all there is to offer. They go to work to have money to spend on the fun. Yes, the needs but mainly they work for the weekend. If they find a location that they love to be at for the "play" then they might decide they want to live there and then find a job to go along with it. Rather than basing where they are going to live on the work they do, they base the work on where they decide to live based on loving to be there. With this in mind, affordable/market rate housing is what they are looking for as a "starter" home. These "kids" (anyone younger than me is a kid. I've gotten old lately) are also carrying with them some crazy college debt. My generation (I JUST make the Gen X generation category and I'm very happy for that) was one that was greatly pushed into college. That was the only way to go and you were throwing your life away if you didn't go (words spoken to me when I chose not to go to college after highschool but instead got married at 19 and started my family). The millenials to follow me and early into the Gen Z generations greatly continued that trend (thankfully the country is waking up to the great need of skilled trade workers). The credit worthiness and generational ties to the community that my fellow legislator aspires to have as a benchmark for how we do housing, simply does not speak to those entering the housing market search. They just want someplace they can lay their head that isn't going to cost them the opportunity to travel. They might not be able (nor want) to go to the bank and get that 30 year mortgage because they have the student loans coming along with them. 30 years ago....wait....that was 1994.....50 years ago, a 30 year mortgage was as much as these kids are carrying with them from college. They also are not looking for housing in the community they grew up in. The generational ties are not a driving force for them. I speak from the standpoint of having 2 children head off to college (they had very specific career goals that aligned with getting a college degree) and while I would love to think maybe my eldest will come back in the next couple years, she and her fiancee are looking at locations all over the country. They are looking for the place they WANT to live based on what it has to offer and then going to find the job. The ties of coming back home are not as strong as they use to be. Travel is easy. Keeping in touch with family is easy. There's no reason to simply come back to the ties because of nostalgia. We as a community have to rethink our approach. We have to build a community that draws people in and gives young adults and families things to DO. Once they find the area attractive, they then have to be able to find those affordable housing areas and fullfilling jobs. If we want our kids to stay/come back, we have to give them a solid reason. Building these affordable housing complexes is not a bad thing. (There are always going to be residents that don't want "X Y or Z in my back yard" no matter what is proposed.) Affordable housing does not mean crime ridden tenants or scum landlords. It can mean quality community members who are wanting to contribute to the area by being productive laborers and volunteers and board members and promoters. Its all about how WE present the community. If we provide the quality community to live in, we will attract the quality relocating neighbors.
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5 pointsCPR certification is just 1 part of being a certified lifeguard. Harris Hill and West Elmira are having issues finding certified lifeguards. It's actually a nationwide issue. They need to be able to know the difference between actual drowning which is quiet and oftentimes hard to see and a kid playing around. The insurance cost for a community pool using volunteers to watch swimmers versus certified lifeguards would be astronomical if they could even find coverage. I have fond memories of going to Brand Park and swimming as a child, but I wish they would hurry up and tear it down so I don't have to hear about it anymore.
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5 points
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5 pointsThey won't. They need civilization. They need access to stores' dumpsters, redeemable 5 cent cans, copper pipes they can cut up and sell, same as bikes. Even the most drugged-out individual needs food. Hiking a mile to the nearest housing development (in search of something to steal and pawn) is not high on their list. Wisner Park gazebo squatters should not yell at and/or threaten me if I walk too close to either structure. I should not fear for my life if I use the hiking path on the north side of Chemung River. I should also not be told that "if you don't like that the homeless live there, don't go there." And yet, we are encouraged to "show them respect/compassion," whatever that means.
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5 pointsThis topic began with thoughtful, reflective questions of how to get more black people involved in their community: It's unfortunate that, in two weeks’ time, it’s transformed into declarations that white privilege is so entrenched in the Twin Tiers (and presumably the entire country according to Rev Jim Wallis)....that black people are helpless in any attempt to elevate themselves. I’m hearing that you believe that white privilege is an immutable condition. That it’s the cause of all problems for all black people? And for someone not to judge others based on race, to not see color as a factor... is a “white trash answer”? It makes me curious why you’d try to brainstorm ideas to improve black communities (or even join an all-white church) looking for solutions, if the problem is insurmountably baked into everyone’s skin color (which none of us have the power to change). Let’s just rewind the whole conversation..... Unless the systemic racism you assert is the root cause of black struggles is somehow escalating over time (rather than being alleviated by the 14th Amendment, the Civil Rights Act, Affirmative Action etc), it doesn’t explain your observation how/why the sense of “community” among blacks has declined. If we want to revisit that discussion of comparing and contrasting various “communities” (past and present --because as I said before, white "communities" have suffered significant decline over the years as well) to identify helpful ideas, then I’ll be happy to weigh in. I really would like to talk about ways to revive lost sense of "community.....but I don't see how a white woman like me in the rural outskirts of the county simply "accepting" the idea that whites are bad will make much progress in getting black people in Elmira more engaged in their communities.
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5 pointsIn another topic recently ("Chemung County Asks For Public Input On Future Plans"), I posted some of my thoughts on the Medicaid mandate. Here's the gist of that: We frequently hear local officials lamenting that the NYS (constantly growing) unfunded Medicaid mandates are the costliest burden on the county budget (I believe over 55% of the County’s overall tax levy). The Legislature regularly passes resolutions “urging Albany” to reverse the economic damage these mandates create without more state funding. Obviously imploring Albany to stop the mandates just falls on deaf ears, so we need to find ways to reduce the impact of mandates at the county/local level. Plan for FQHC (one that’s run by effective management – which Arnot has proven not to be) would help alleviate the costs to taxpayers for Medicaid services. Hooray. However, instead of just focusing on ways to reduce the healthcare costs of Medicaid recipients.....it’s just way more logical to reduce the number of Medicaid recipients in the County.....by fostering solid "living wage" job opportunities (particularly at HS/GED education and/or entry levels). With that in mind, why do we allow taxpayers (through tax breaks, incentives, etc) to subsidize businesses that perpetuate the need for Medicaid and other assistance? Why do some elected officials continue to shower praise onto STEG/IDA and other ‘negotiating’ entities for securing deals that “create jobs”.....that are beneath subsistence level, instead of providing fulltime, living wages with health benefits that would bring residents off the Medicaid rolls? The retail/service jobs rarely offer fulltime. Even many employees at some of the “manufacturing” employers in industrial parks around HHDS/Big Flats (Demets Candy, CemeCon, etc) rely heavily on short-term employment and/or hiring through Addecco/Manpower temp agencies with no benefits. Unless it’s doctors, RNs or other positions requiring a degree.....most jobs that Arnot health has posted online at the HS/GED level (CNAs, Patient Asistants, etc) are at or below $16/hr. And if health benefits are offered, it’s often sort of pricey for the wages in question. At $16-17/hr, the majority with any dependents (or single individuals working less than full time) are eligible for Medicaid. So after we've thrown bundles of money at companies to "create jobs", the county still incurs the cost of healthcare for their workers. The economic development agencies like STEG and CCIDA need to be persuaded to recruit businesses that will offer wages/benefits above the Medicaid levels instead of subsistence level or below. Unfortunately, the boards of those agencies have members who are “business leaders” that may not want to face wage competition if they bring some higher paying industry to the area. For example: The CEO of Arnot Health is on the STEG Board of Directors. How would he retain the HS/GED employees currently working for them at $15.50/hr (and likely eligible for Medicaid) if STEG was able to bring a warehouse to the area that would pay $22/hr ?
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5 pointsThis right here. Now I can think of THREE candidates who are vocal and, judging by their social media posts, have a lot of ideas about how things should be done. So the obvious answer would be for at least one of those people to throw their hat in the ring. I'm gonna assume you meant they said "there never used to be." Which, of course, is a cop out used by municipalities across the county and beyond. I can't tell you how many times I've heard, "Well the way we've always done it..." That's great, but that was 20-50 years ago. Times change, let's do something different, especially if the old ways aren't working. All the more reason to run for their positions.
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5 pointsWelcome back! This place doesn’t have as much 'action' as some FB groups...but for me, the absence of drama and negativity is well worth it! I'm wishing you all the best for vanquishing the malignancy. I know how those clumps disrupt every life they touch.
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5 pointsThis was the headline that got my attention: Source He sounds like a scorned lover. I have a solution. How about we stop funding BOTH!
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5 pointsThank you @Lawana Morse I truly hope that the IDA provide the transparency and accountability that we all expect and deserve. Including a past accounting of their use of taxpayer money to give the Legislature and the public a full context. Okay, we can all agree that the misguided decision to “invest” $1.25 million into the (then) “City of Elmira’s” hockey arena was made by county Legislators who have all since ‘left the building’. Even in 1999, that decision was not without controversy (I believe a 10-5 vote). However, a number of our current legislators were in office by the time the last "private" owner (current Aviation Director, Tom Freeman) occupied the Arena. All of the Legislators who have currently held four or more terms of office voted for a 25yr commitment (2014 – 2039) to provide $103,000/yr of Room Tax Revenue to the IDA for the Arena....as well as in 2016 when the IDA made the decision to “assume temporary ownership” of the Arena and the Legislature voted to also funnel $1 million in Casella funds to the IDA’s acquisition of the Arena. (That 25yr Room Tax commitment makes one wonder just how “temporary” the arrangement was intended to be. We’re 10 years [over $1 million] into it with another 15 years [1.5 million] to go.) And in the last 2 years... the $875k in ARP funds. I can’t be certain that other county tax money hasn’t been spent (it’s quite likely I’m unaware of some). But those I’ve noted amount to over $2.9 million paid to the IDA in last 7 years.....and another $1.5 million committed through 2039. Room tax (2014-2024) $103,000x 10yrs: $1.03 million Casella funds (June 2016): $1 million ARP funds: $875,000 Still promised, Room tax (2025-2039) $103,000x 15yrs: $1.545 million And then there is whatever Donner may or may not have deposited into that wonderful “capital” account that the latest (Nov 2021) IDA lease required. That agreement was made under the current IDA leadership – no passing the buck to “past actors” who mismanaged the situation. That provision “guaranteed” a minimum of $125k per year from Arena revenues (with promises that it would likely be at least twice that amount). How much had Donner put into that ‘kitty’ in the 20 months before the lease was terminated? And where is that money? If that amount is anything less that a quarter million dollars....can we have some explanation from Margeson/Roman why they abjectly failed to hold Donner to that agreement (and some justification on why/how we should trust them now?
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5 pointsHere is a publications regarding the background of the IDA. It is from May of 2006. Industrial Development Agencies in New York State: Background, Issues and Recommendations (ny.gov) The IDA is not a county entity. The IDA organization is a state creation. They have oversite from the OSC. Each IDA has a governing board and a director that is in charge of the day to day operations. "Industrial Development Agencies (IDAs) are public benefit corporations originally authorized by the Industrial Development Agency Act of 1969 and governed by the provisions of Article 18-A of the General Municipal Law. Since that time, 177 IDAs have been legislatively authorized and 115 remain active today." (At time of publication of above document) The county gives organizational funding to the IDA each year just as funding is given to CCE, STC, Soil and Water, etc. (You can see this information on the budget overview portion of the 2024 county budget.) IDAs receive funding from the state. They also can issue bonds, hold a lease, and "typically maintain their operations by charging various fees to the businesses that participate in their projects". I am unsure if the IDAs are able to go after grant funding themselves also but they do work with other organizations that can obtain project grants. I fully admit that I am still learning and gathering information on the IDA organizations across the state and how they have actually helped the communities. Anyone that has resources and articles that give the facts of the IDAs across the state, please feel free to email me links.
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5 points
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5 points@Elizabeth Whitehouse: While I wouldn’t necessarily think “this kind of comment” should get you expelled from a site, I do wonder what purpose you intended for it to accomplish. Long before Social Media facilitated “instant reaction” to written material, we all managed to be exposed to ideas that may or maynot fit our own beliefs....through radio, TV, magazines, newspapers and books et al. And, since the invention of Guttenburg’s printing press, there has never been (and still is not) any imperitive to challenge the author(s) directly. We are fortunate in some nations (like the US) to have the choice of what media we want to consume (or choose not to). It seems like a tragic waste of ones time to seek out content we disagree with for the sole purpose of offering an antagonistic response. I’m curious how you felt that your reply was beneficial to anyone. It’s doubtful you will gain any understanding of Linda’s perspective by replying as you did. Nor is it likely that your curt and disparaging remark will sway Linda or any of her readers to your perspective.
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5 pointsRemember the horror we all felt when Columbine happened? Now something like this barely gets a reaction out of many of us. Just another day in America. This nation has been rotting from the inside out for decades. Focusing on and making laws based on what feels “good” vs what feels right. This is the result. But the cries will sound, blaming the inanimate object because that’s the easy thing to do. Far easier than looking in the mirror and realizing the real problem is us.
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5 points
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5 pointsDoes Mr. Brennan always spend that much time on his cell phone during meetings? Can any of our neighbors tell us why they would want to reelect him? My husband and I will be voting for Mr. Bond.
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5 pointsSo...the take away I'm getting is that facility (as it sits) is not good for concerts, which in all likelihood would have more demand. But, as a sports venue, there is not enough demand. So...whether the answer is renovations that would improve sound quality, or razing the place to build whatever is in demand ......those changes should be made by (and expenses incurred by) whatever private entity decides to take on whatever private enterprise that may be successful in that space. Government (local or otherwise) should not exist to prop up private enterprise.
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5 pointsMy bride and I just left there! What a place, they took the former Newberry's dept store and made it into a antique store. It is broken down into sections and a different person rents each section. The best part is you only pay at one location for everything instead of paying at each booth. They have almost everything you need and tons of stuff you don't need, but want. We got out of there relatively easy on the wallet. Since each section is owned by a different person some prices are reasonable, some seemed high. My wife found a mug that she liked for $6 in one location and then she saw the exact same mug in a different location for $18. Plan on spending a number of hours there because it is 2 floors of stuff. They have something for everyone. https://www.earlyowego.com/
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5 pointsI read on here something about the Catskill Game Farm and I have to say, it was a fun place to go when I was a child back in the 50s and 60s. My parents took us kids there 3 or 4 times and it was cool. We even took our kids there a few times in the 70s and 80s but I must say, we stopped going there because it was starting to get somewhat run down. However, if you want to share the animal experience with your kids or grand kids - I would recommend the Animal Adventure Park in Harpursville - north of Binghamton off I-88. This past year was hard for the Park because no one was traveling or going out much (which of course means no tourism dollars). You may remember April, the giraffe, had a baby 3 or 4 years ago - it was on the tv news - and the park had the April-cam and you could watch on the internet to see how she was doing.......... anyway you really should take the children up there - you'll all have a good time there, I'm sure.
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5 pointsThose are very good insights, Kathleen. Your interest and analysis affirms the position that independent-minded people from the community have a lot to add to this discussion and are a necessary component. I hope the legislators selected to sit on the Committee are not so committed to their viewpoints that they cannot step back and consider what so many members of the public - like you and others on this thread - have offered so far, but I unfortunately don’t have a lot of faith that will be the case.
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5 pointsFor the past few years I looked at the year 2016 as one of, if not the worst we have had to endure. I’ve long since forgotten most of my issues with that particular trip around the sun, with the exception of our family having to endure not one but two burglaries barely six months apart. So from that alone you can understand why I was happy to see 2016 ride off into the sunset. Or to Hell, it didn’t matter to me. Then 2020 came along and said, “Hold my beer.” Now, I knew 2020 was going to be a challenging year before it even arrived. By this time last year we knew Ginger, our adopted beagle was going to be leaving us. When we visited the vet that week before Christmas I got the news and the advice of, “When it’s time, you’ll know. Call us.” And yeah, we knew. But there was no was in hell we were going to give our sons that news right at Christmas. Doc said we should be able to get through a few more weeks, and we got through the holiday. Shortly thereafter, it was time. On January 17th, 2020 Ginger left us, wrapped in a warm blanket and her belly full of treats. She could be a pain in the ass, but she was our pain in the ass. Additionally, I’d begun mentally steeling myself for the day when our oldest went off to college in the Fall. Granted, he’d only be a couple hours away, but still, there was sure to be an adjustment period as the ‘ol nest half emptied out. There were some good things on the horizon though. Our band was scheduled to headline a major event in Scranton again after several years of not playing there. We’d get to have a big graduation party come Summer. A bunch of other things I can’t even remember at the moment. If this post had a soundtrack, right here is where you’d hear the needle dragged across the record ( “vinyl” as the kids call them these days). That little virus we now all know and hate so well made its debut. Life as we knew didn’t just become crap, it swirled the bowl a few times before becoming a clogged toilet. Event after event was canceled. In fact, life itself seemed to become canceled as shutdowns happened across the nation, including here in Chemung County. "Ready to go to Wegmans?" I’m sure I don’t need to write a list of ways 2020 sucked. ( “Oh 2020, how do I hate thee? Let me count the ways.” ) We all know what happened. A pandemic, a year of heightened civil strife, a contentious election cycle, businesses shut down for way longer than we ever thought, etc. Here on the home front, we knew things would suck and we prepared for it, as much as anyone could that is. Some things threw us for a loop but for the most part we managed to hold it together with each passing month, largely by trying to find the silver lining in those depressingly dark clouds. It missed both the building and my head, so I had that going for me. High school graduation managed to happen, albeit differently than any class before them. Freshman year of college would start online, but hey, it beat having to go back and bring him home after a major outbreak closed the campus down less than two weeks into the first semester. I spent a lot of time at home and when I returned, things at work changed in ways that really make a job I love a little less enjoyable. But it’s temporary, and at least I’m still employed. The holidays weren’t what we wanted them to be, but as I told myself repeatedly, maybe they were the “holidays we needed.” Quiet, subdued, and affording time to reflect. Yet, if you’ve guessed by this point I am Pollyanna-ishly optimistic about the coming year, you guessed wrong mein freund. I will consider it a minor miracle if things stay steady early in the coming year. I think any plans for the next six months need to be made with a huge frickin’ asterisk next to them and written in pencil. Things in the “new normal” ( tired of hearing that yet? ) are going to be different on the other side of this thing, and I just hope they’re different in ways that are good. Because let’s face it, many aspects of the old normal weren’t working so well. James Taylor sang, “The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time,” and if ever there was a time to enjoy changing the calendar, it’s now. I just don’t think I’ll be getting my hopes up too high for what’s to come. Keep the bar set low, and then maybe be able to celebrate the minor victories as they come. And they will, eventually... someday.... maybe....
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4 pointsSo this guy buys their kid a gun after law enforcement investigated threats he allegedly made online? Yeah I’m not too heartbroken about charging the parent in a case like this.
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4 pointsFrom a compassionate human standpoint, I think all of us want to help those less fortunate. Reality is, there are those that want help and they seek the programs and are willing to follow the rules of those programs and get serious about getting out the of the situation they are in. Then there are those that simply do not care. No amount of facilities or programs will be able to help them if they don't want the help. Those are the ones that need the "tough love" of being either forced to get clean in a mandatory rehab facility or else need to be in another type of facility that will protect the rest of the community from them. There are those that are dangerous or if not dangerous, simply do not have any respect for their fellow humans. I see many call for a shelter. That we don't have enough shelters. So let's get hypothetical - because I would truly appreciate the feedback and civil conversation about the problem we have in this county - state - country. I am open to realistic ideas. (And just because it really was a slap in the face hearing comments from last week's city council meeting, I would like to remind anyone reading this that I did request the city council come speak to the county legislature and when Mayor Mandell came to present the struggles the city is facing with the homelessness, I asked point blank what can we as the county do to support the city. The answer was "I don't know. Our hands are tied. It's a nationwide epidemic." - or something along those lines. So if anyone would like to suggest again that we don't care, that we haven't had conversations, please feel free to reach out. Just because we don't all advertise everything we do off camera for the community doesn't mean we are sitting back doing nothing. End rant.) Back to the hypothetical. Let's say we take all the remaining ARP money in the county and surrounding municipalities and build/renovate a building for a homeless shelter. Enough space for every homeless person in the county. Grand idea. This would be a county facility. Now what? There will have to be security because we know from experience without proper security, there are issues which is why Catholic Charities closed down the shelter a couple years ago. There was safety concerns with the staff. Many of those seeking the shelter don't want to follow the rules, which is why some (not all) are in the situation they are in. They don't want to be productive in the community. Next, it will have to be staffed. Even if there are no programs run from that facility, there has to be staff - janitorial. Food service. Medical possibly. Secretarial type. The building has to be maintained. Plumbing. Heating. AC. Regular repairs. Where is the funding coming from? Again, we can use ARP money to start, but that's not going to keep things going for long. How much are you willing for your taxes to go up for the county to run these facilities? Or the city? It is better for us to support the non-profits who have the organization structure and programs to handle these shelters. They are better suited to go after non-direct taxpayer funds and grants from philanthropic types. They are also less bound by certain policies that have been put in place than a gov't entity would be. The county, the city, the police forces are bound by these policies that say we can do X but not Y when it comes to the individual rights. Whereas, a private facility that someone goes to voluntarily can make it a condition of the stay to go out on litter detail for example. If a group of people have a vision, get together, start a non-profit, go after funding, make it happen. Stop demanding that the government do it all and then have a fit when taxes go up. The government *should* be there to keep order and protect citizens from threats, domestic and foreign. Period. The church and philanthropic entities *should* be there to support the community in all other ways. Since the day of the government taking over the welfare aspects of society, it has been a disaster. This is not a left/right, blue/red thing. It comes down to wanting the idealistic in a very non-idealistic world. No matter the desire to help, there are limitations.
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4 pointsI remember in school when I used to talk about Mr Rogers fighting for our rights to educate ourselves and it seems like we've lost that ability to do so but we've gotten lazy news isn't reporting news anymore they're just reporting opinions.
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4 pointsForget a splash pad it should be set up as a safe space for drug users to get fresh needles and have a safe place to use I hear Ithaca has these places maybe we should to.
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4 pointsI don't understand everyone these days. The article got posted on FB and people are demanding Elmira fund and fix up a "historic" landmark that they do not even own, but have an absolute fit about fixing the clock tower, also historic, that they do own.
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4 pointsAs it was stated on EiC, Totally.
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4 pointsThe problem with this statement is the belief that because one is white, they are immune to the effects of racism. A quick Google search gives the following definition: Racism-Noun - prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism by an individual, community, or institution against a person or people on the basis of their membership in a particular racial or ethnic group, typically one that is a minority or marginalized. To answer your question, yes, I have experienced racism for simply holding a young black man to the same standards as everyone else in the group. He didn’t like the rules, didn’t feel he had to follow them and immediately accused me of treating him differently based on his skin color. Not “whoops I’m sorry,” not “oh I should follow the rules like everyone else,” even as I tried to explain the reasoning for them. Nope, “I think you’re racist.” And then proceeded to do something that could have been both dangerous and disastrous for me and/or my family here in the community and I had to take actions to protect them as well as myself. The assumption was because I was white, I must be guilty of being a bigot. All because some young man didn’t feel like he should have to follow the rules like everyone else. Now, I understand your experiences with racism may be different than mine or other white folks here. But that doesn’t mean we can’t experience it in some way. Therefore it’s not unique to one ethnic group or another.
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4 pointsNo, I wouldn’t. I am who God intended me to be. I applied for a job, was hired for that position, then I was told I couldn’t have that job because I was the wrong color. I was a white woman and the organization had to hire a black woman. I can truthfully say I was disappointed but I didn’t get angry. I had already learned that life isn’t always fair no matter who you are. Another time, the President of the company I was with at that time once told me he didn’t want to hire me because I was fat and fat people were lazy but the Vice President saw something in me. People of color aren’t the only ones to experience discrimination because there will always be someone who has biases no matter who you are. What matters is how you handle those situations and yourself. You can’t let someone else’s ignorance be the deciding factor in how you live your life, you keep trying.
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4 pointsAll good question! Of course, it's also a challenge for any residency for the 'unhoused' to balance residents' freedom/independence against basic rules of safety and conduct. Many choose to remain unhoused rather than be subjected to policies that prohibit drugs/weapons, etc. (And no one can be forced to accept services for drug treatment or mental health). Also, the fact that New York State own the property. Local communities have no authority to decide the fate of closed prisons....and NYS takes years and years to approve any use for them. Bayview (prime Manhattan real estate off Chelsea Pier) has sat empty since 2012. Warren Buffet's family foundation couldn't get approval to invest $50M to use it to offer services for formerly incarcerated women. In our own backyard, Monterey Shock facility has languished to the elements since it closed in 2014.....with NYS declining all kinds of proposals over the years to purchase it for anything from rehab facility to tourism.
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4 pointsLook, even if it comes back guilty they’re going to appeal, giving him time to get back out on the campaign trail. The whole thing is a joke. The court, the political system, all of it.
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4 pointsI absolutely don’t think the Republican have the best interests of any voters. Nor do I think the Democrats do. Both ‘major’ parties are basically corrupt conglomerates using whatever tactics they have available to sow divisiveness and retain power.
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4 pointsHow long has it stood there, unoccupied? Every structure needs periodic maintenance; has the owner done anything? Note that the listing contains only one image. The price went down from $275K to $195K, which is disconcerting. I'm afraid to think what condition is the theatre in.
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4 pointsThey have been here for years. That's why fast food is cheaper than healthy food gotta fatten up the lil piggies to make them taste better.
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4 points
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4 pointsYes. It's frustrating watching from the outside and frustrating seeing it more in depth from the inside - especially when you're damned if you do - damned if you don't. I saw on another forum someone playing the party blame game "This wouldn't be happening if partyX was in control". All I can say to that is a big ole' "B-S". This isn't a party issue. It's a personality issue. An issue of forgetting - or never even caring - why you are elected in the first place. There is blame on both sides and nothing is going to change unless the desire for complete control is abandoned.
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4 pointsI would love to hear some feedback from more in the community regarding the resolution we passed through committee last night that supports an end-to-end audit of the NYS voter rolls. I have heard a few voices for and a few against and all are very passionate in their stance. I voted it through the committee and am most likely going to vote it through on the floor for a few reasons: I see this resolution as a show of support to those in the community who feel like something is off with our voter rolls in the state. I honestly don't think that resolutions from the counties and towns do much to sway the state floor. During Covid, one of the biggest frustrations for me was feeling like concerns were simply swept under the rug. I remember conversations with school officials that I left feeling like I wasn't taken seriously and that I was given a pat on the head and told to run along rather than having my concerns actually addressed. Those interactions made me think there was some stuff going on that shouldn't be. If there's nothing to hide, will it really hurt to put the concerns and fears to bed? I don't see how asking for confirmation that all is well feeds into the "misinformation." I appreciate all the work our county BOE does (there are things they go above and beyond to do that are not required to help ensure our county rolls are accurate), but as I saw while out campaigning, there is cleanup needed. I like to think I am an honest person with integrity and that I don't have a scammer's imagination, BUT I can think of at least 4 different ways how I could commit election fraud. I can't even begin to imagine all the ways someone with bad intent and lots of resources could do so.
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4 pointsA side note related to this, there has been a bill that keeps trying to go round at state level to stop elected officials from holding a place on the IDA boards. Legislator Chalk spoke to me a few meetings ago and told me that he specifically asked to be on the IDA board because he too was concerned with the amount of time the meeting went to executive session and because he has a desire for the transparency to be there. There are a few members of that board that are new as of 2023. I believe they are seeking the greater transarency, accountability, and to make positive changes, but it is slow going. It is not easy to come onto a board and implement changes. It takes some time. The frustration on the public side is the lack of communication. If the new members would just say "hey, this is what changes I'm working towards and this is what is being accomplished" it would go a long way to create some trust from the public ESPECIALLY when the prior leadship of an organization has caused a lot of mistrust.
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4 pointsThe old Macy's is currently being utilized as an event space. There were several "community gardens" started over the years. I know there was on in Elmira. There was one up here in Erin where I live. Interest in them lasted 2 or 3 years.
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4 pointsJust makes you wonder whose buddy is fixing the clock tower so many better ways to spend that 3.5 million. Most people can only read digital clocks these days anyways
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4 pointsSince we are rehashing old posts. I was very disappointed to see him go. Id happily pay 32.00 for a good fresh steak but I am a quality over quantity person.
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4 pointsI see that Kanye West legally changed his name again, this time to “Ye,” with no middle or last name. For real. He said he did it because Ye is the most common word in the Bible, as in “Yo Ye. Thou art a narcissist.” Most rap and hip-hop entertainers change their birth names, like J-Z, Dr. Dre, 50 Cent, Eminem and my main man Snoop Dogg, whose many monikers helped him go from rap star to Martha Stewart to the pinnacle of stardom, TV beer commercials. Snoop was born Calvin Broadus Jr., and went by prior names of Snoop Doggy Dogg, Snoop Lion and just Snoop. (Truth: His mom called him Snoopy because he loved Snoopy in Charlie Brown cartoons). Why do they do it? According to my Internet research, hip-hop’s first artists were in gangs, which gave out street names to create a bond and protect identities in times of crimes. (I’d need a sick load of aliases to cover-ID all my stupid stunts, capers and pranks). Real names aren’t always catchy or easy to remember. Ice Cube is easier to recall than, O’Shea Jackson Sr., his birth name. It’s not just rappers who name change. Retired NBA player, Ron Artest, rebranded himself “Metta World Peace.” (Metta gotta a lotta work ahead of him). Some stage names are creative and reflect the artist’s desire to quickly roll in the bling, as in “A$AP,” whose birth name is Rakim Mayers. (He could have changed his name to “Rakim-In-The-CA$H,” and it would have been just as dope). Names are important. They elicit images, can make life difficult or embarrassing, reflect your lineage and can just be plain dumb, like Richard Head (real name of a kid I knew in my youth). His parents must have been huffing glue when they named him. I’m happy with being James Michael Pfiffer, although my last name is pronounced “Pie-fer,” not “Fife-er,” as it’s spelled. I’ve been called “Pa-fifer,” “Piper” “Pisser” and “Pie face,” by my good friend, Stoney, when he’s had a few beers. I’m a man of many names, most of them bestowed upon me by schoolteachers. I liked to have fun, create laughter, play the dare devil and generally be the center of attention. My classmates called me “class clown.” My teachers called me “a future drain on society.” Don’t get me wrong. I loved Southside High School in Elmira. It was six of the best years of my life. I found it odd that I repeatedly got sent to see the principal, Mr. Harrigan, for “being smart,” as in “don’t get smart with me, mister!” Isn’t getting smart the purpose of education? When a teacher told me to stop being “smart,” I cleverly replied, in a low and slow voice, “Duhhh. I’ll try to be dumber in the future, teach.” That resulted in a trip to Harrigan’s office, where I was a regular. Had my own desk and chair. The office secretary asked me why I was there, again. I sarcastically explained that I was “guilty of being smart in class.” She glared at me, and even more sarcastically, retorted “Are you, some kind of a wise guy?” So, you see, I was right back where I started from – too smart for my own good. That’s why teachers routinely labeled me: “troublemaker,” “immature,” “instigator,” “incorrigible” and “the F#!@>* reason I’m quitting teaching and joining the F#!@>* French Foreign Legion!” My favorite moniker was “rambunctious.” I thought it meant I was joyful and lively. I looked it up and discovered it means “uncontrollably boisterous” (see: “fidgety loudmouth with ADD”). Bummer. An English teacher called me a “provocateur,” which I liked because it had a savvy French-sounding sassy sound. I even wore a beret to better provoke. A visibly angry and shaking substitute biology teacher told me that I was “waaay out of line.” I replied, “Whaaat line should I be in?” Another visit to the principal. I didn’t know the meanings of many of the labels affixed to me, like pernicious, truculent and insolent. I assumed they all meant bad things, so I didn’t look them up. I’ve had enough given names. Now it’s my turn. I’m considering adopting a hip-hop street moniker. A good columnist needs to keep current and hip to the slangy language of the people. A totally coolio name might attract younger readers. Know what I’m sayin’? I checked online to learn the latest hip-hop lingo. I think I got it down pat and won’t sound like a Boomer when I rip-rap this riff: “I was a high school pranksta’, Not a ballin’ gangsta’. Teachers didn’t know me, Tried to mofoe me. Gotta see the principal again, Rap some more with Harrigan. Don’t matter, cuz nothin’ t phaze me. I’m not lay-Z or cray-Z. I’m flexin for ‘shizzle, Off da hook in da drizzle. I’m stillin’ ‘n’ ‘trillin,’ Cuz I’m willin’ and chillin’.” You feel me? I’m going to initially change my name to “Pfif Daddy.” Has a nice and easy to remember three-syllable cadence. When my column goes viral, I’ll change it to “P. Daddy,” “P. Diddy” or maybe “P. Diddy Daddy.” When I publish my first book, I’ll shorten it to “PD.” When I shoot my first rap video, I’ll cut it to “P,” which is what I must do now cuz I drank too much green tea. Word! Jim Pfiffer’s humor column is posted every Sunday on the Jim Pfiffer Facebook page, Hidden Landmarks TV Facebook page and TwinTiersLiving.com. Jim lives in Elmira with his wife and many pets and is a retired humor columnist with the Elmira Star-Gazette newspaper.
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4 pointsDown in The Valley, Waverly to be precise, there is a hidden little gem of store/bakery/pizza place/a whole lot of stuff. I discovered the Sopranos about 9 years ago while working and needing lunch. I challenge anyone to walk into this place and not buy something. Lunch time is always a magical time there. They have daily specials on top of a full hot and cold sub menu. At least 6 different types of pizza. They also sell fresh pasta and pasta take and bake dishes. I am also told they have great veal cutlets. Finally the bakery with fresh breads, cookies, brownies, pies, cupcakes and more. Finally onto my lunch. Country fried steak and gravy with a double helping of mac & cheese. At the time of the picture it was cooled down because I couldn't get to it right away. Even reheated this was delicious the gravy was nice and peppery the steak still nice and tender. The mac and cheese as always on point. I prefer the orange cheese over white. It was an internal struggle to not eat the whole thing. However I now have a delicious lunch tomorrow. Sopranos in Waverly you are Fat Guy approved!
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4 pointsOK…I finished the audio from the advisory committee meeting (2/22). The participation from CGR representatives and the members’ questions to them were worth listening to. As Exec Moss pointed out, these consultations historically result in “nicely packaged study of what the legislature, who commissioned the study wants outlined in the report”. With that in mind, the discussion in yesterday’s meeting certainly did not contradict Moss’s hypothesis…. It’s perhaps worth noting that the backgrounds of half the members of the CGR team are in journalism and sociology. That fact does seem to insinuate that “messaging to the public” is a significant priority for the $48k service. It is also a bit concerning that the CGR lead noted [at around the 50 minute mark] that the committee will receive a Draft Report that is not subject to FOIL until…. “we make sure that it’s an accurate reflection of the work you’re expecting from us”. In other words, “the committee can withhold any data that doesn’t support their agenda” from the final report and public hearing presented by CGR...and the public will never be given access to that, even if they try to request it via FOIL. If a redacted version of the report can be offered, then all the oozing about “ensuring transparency” by an independent study is nothing more than posturing….no matter how professionally prepared and expertly messaged the report CGR presents is. The last 10-15 minutes sounded like a lot of lip-service for the tape recording. While I’m sure some of it was sincere….the assertions that ‘it’s all for the good of everyone in the county’ and ‘no politics are involved’ fall flat in contrast to the earlier declarations that some have zero interest in any concerns that aren’t from “their” voters. And speaking of committee members only feeling compelled to consider “their own” constituents.... They may claim not to have been contacted directly by “their constituents”, but at least one of the letters read aloud at the full Legislature meeting on 2/8 and listed in the minutes looked like it might be from a citizen in one of the districts represented on the committee. Even if the public comment has been from outside their respective districts.....it still raises a few points for me: 1) The excuse that “I have not been contacted by constituents expressing XYZ position” is hollow unless they can argue that they have been contacted by constituents supporting the opposite position. Otherwise, they’re really just speaking on their own behalf – not for any of their constituents. 2) Since part of the conversation included them all acknowledging that their districts will likely change, “no one from my district has contacted me” is pretty short-sighted anyway. Someone who may not be “their constituent” today…could very well become part of "their" district once this project is complete. During a campaign can be an awkward time to suddenly "care" about someone whose concerns you contemptuously dismissed in the past.
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4 pointsa more advantageous move would be to legalize Hemp. Commercialize it and it could be a boon to central/southern tier/finger lakes regions. Commercial hemp production could help revitalize economies across the State, and have a positive impact on the Environment.