The Fecal Follies Continue

Those big meanies at the DEC still think dumping human feces into the Mohawk River is a bad thing. That has Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente hopping mad.

The ban on new development in parts of the county because of a major sanitary sewage problem was kicked around at a meeting Friday between the county executive and three developers.
"The DEC (state Department of Environmental Conservation) is literally shutting down development in this county," County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. said after the session. "It’s handcuffing this county’s ability to grow."
The moratorium would be in affect while the situation is being corrected, and that’s not acceptable to Picente.

Mr. Picente seems to be confused about the chain of cause and effect here. The only roadblock to Oneida County's continued development is...Oneida County's refusal to take responsibility for it's continued development.

Friday’s meeting followed the county receiving a reply Wednesday from DEC in response to the county’s earlier comments to the state concerning its initial proposed consent order.
"They haven’t really budged on anything," Picente said when asked whether the state offered a new deadline for ending the discharge of raw sewage. He declined to give details about the state’s answer. The proposed order won’t be public until both sides sign it.
He has no interest in signing a consent order containing fines or an unrealistic timetable for a final solution, in addition to having to cope with the ban on new sanitary hook-ups in certain areas.
Picente hopes to set up a meeting of state and county officials early next month to talk face-to-face.

Hmmmm....the state won't budge on it's demands that Oneida County quit dumping billions of gallons of untreated sewage into the river. Mr. Picente won't budge on his demand that the state just ignore the whole thing.

Gosh, I wonder who's going to win this fight?

It's becoming increasingly obvious that Mr. Picente simply refuses to accept that contaminating surface water with human waste is a bad thing. Then again, from his viewpoint the problem may not exist. If the information in this NYS Board of Elections report is accurate Mr. Picente lives at 110 West Oak Street in Rome, which just happens to be miles upstream from the gushing fountain of filth flowing into the Mohawk River.

Does anyone think he'd be so cavalier about this issue if he lived downstream from all the crap?

Update: Perhaps Mr. Picente would be singing a different tune if billions of gallons of sewage were being dumped into Delta Lake. From this Google Maps view it appears his home is only 800 meters west of the Lake's primary outlet. The Mohawk River, the part of it that isn't filled with sewage from Oneida County, is over five kilometers directly south of his home.

That does kind of put things in perspective, doesn't it?

When Can We Expect The Pylman Report?

On February 23, 2007 the Utica Common Council heard testimony from it's final witness for it's investigation of Utica Police Chief C. Allen Pylman.

It's now been over three months since that inquiry effectively concluded and the Council still refuses to issue a final report, citing seemingly insurmountable problems with "transcribing" witness testimony.

The Council has yet to make a clear statement about what exactly it was investigating. More intriguingly, the embarrassing delay in issuing a final report raises the question of what they're now trying to hide.

No, Really, This Time I Mean It

Yes, I've been slacking off. After enjoying an incredible vacation that included everything from plotting solar incidence charts for arcologies to a mass gathering of hot women, including my Significant Other, dressed as Slave Leia, I need to get back to work. That's why I forced myself to attend tonight's Saranac Thursday kickoff.

After an extensive investigation I've determined that Saranac Thursday is a lot of fun. The beer was cold and plentiful, the badge carriers kept the vibe upbeat, and everyone had a great time. I think "The Bomb" is an all-too-aptly named band, but that's a matter of musical taste.

Onward we go!

Arcuri Stabs Troops In The Back

Last night Congressman Michael Arcuri voted along with Speaker Nancy Pelosi to cut off all funding for the troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Luckily, the bill passed by a wide margin, but Mr. Arcuri's action leaves no doubt about just how much he supports the American military.

As of yet he hasn't seen fit to explain his vote.

Note: I'm currently on my way home from vacation. I expect I'll have a lot more to say about this when I get back.

The Economy Is Excellent, Comrade

Here's an interesting look at why upstate New York is so economically hopeless.

“We simply cannot continue to increase taxes and increase public spending even as our population declines, unless we want to continue to depress economic growth and drive our children from our doors,” said the Buffalo banker, who is widely known for taking a public stance on regional economic and political issues.

“Most countries in Eastern Europe had a socialist government and their economies were stuck in the water,” Wilmers said. But now, “the economies of Poland and the Czech Republic are some of the most dynamic in the world, and there’s no reason we can’t be like that.”

Take a moment, if you will, to let that sink in.

We're aspiring to be as successful as countries that spent decades under the boot heel of a totalitarian regime committed to idealogical purity at all costs. Places where the majority of the population struggled through their daily existence while a ruling elite enjoyed luxurious lifestyles beyond the dreams of avarice. Nations where central economic planning produced a nightmarish landscape of insipidly bland concrete towers connected by pothole filled roads and a tangled web of sagging power lines.

Come to think of it, it's a pretty apt comparison.

Running The Numbers

If you want to get a feel for just how out of whack Oneida County's sales tax is take a look at this report from the State Comptroller. Just as a heads up, since I know some computers choke on the damn things, it's a PDF file.

If you're a stat geek you'll find all kinds of interesting tidbits, including the actual dollar figures showing how dependent local municipalities have become on sales tax revenues to meet basic budgeting needs. Oneida County is particularly vulnerable to this trend because so much of the real estate is owned by the government or non-profit groups, making it tax exempt. That means property taxes have to jump by huge percentages to produce the kind of income our bloated government is demanding.

One radical idea did cross my mind while reading the report. None of the proposed economic revitalization programs of recent years, including Bruno's vague "Upstate Now" idea from earlier this week, would provide nearly as much benefit as removing the state's share of the sales tax altogether. That generates about $51 million in revenue annually, a relative pittance compared to Oneida County's share of Bruno's proposed $3.7 billion dollar program. I know it's never going to happen, but it would be an interesting economic experiment to see what would happen if the state just waived it's 4% for five years.

One Step At A Time

It's a small step, but it's a start. New York Sen. Charles Schumer pushed a provision through the Senate to have the Army Corp of Engineers study Oneida County's abysmal sewage system.

U.S. Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., announced today the U.S Senate passed a provision he authored requiring the Army Corps of Engineers to conduct a comprehensive study to evaluate the waste water drain and disposal crisis in the Utica and Oneida County area.

Schumer called for a similar study last week.

The legislation cleared the Senate late Wednesday night and was passed as part of the Water Resources Development Act. The full legislation will go to a joint House-Senate Conference before final consideration by Congress.

Due to outdated infrastructure and limited capacity, untreated sewage from the sanitary and storm water sewage disposal is being dumped into the Mohawk River from the county sewer district, which consists of 13 towns and villages.

I appreciate Sen. Schumer's attention to the problem, but I sincerely hope we'll have a solution to the problem sooner rather than later. We're dumping a quarter of a billion gallons of untreated sewage into the Mohawk River, and by extension an entire network of waterways across the area, every year. The more we delay fixing the problem the more we contaminate the area's surface water supply.

Update:A helpful reader pointed out that Congressman Arcuri has been silent on this issue. That's of particular note since he holds a seat on the Water Resources and Environment subcommittee of the House, which specifically handles wastewater infrastructure improvements.

We're Here To Help You

Strikeslip beat me to the punch on the state Senate Republicans offering up a 4 billion dollar plan to save upstate.

Sorry, Republicans, especially Mr. Bruno . . . You have lost all credibility as to your ability to straighten out the Upstate Economy. What exactly did you accomplish in the last 12 years for attracting jobs while you controlled both the Senate and the Governor's Office? In CNY alone in just the last 5 years: Ethan Allen, Oneida Ltd., Carrier, Union Fork, LaSalle Labs . . . . . gone or severely downsized.

I've been a Republican my entire adult life, but I'm increasingly thinking that the party, or at least the New York version of it, has turned into something I can't support. I take cold comfort in the fact that many of my Democratic friends feel the same way about their party.

The Game's Afoot

Joe Politics has a nice summation of the increasingly interesting lineup of candidates for the fall follies.

The surprise comes from Mr. Trevisani. He and Julian are boyhood friends, but only worked together for a few months. The public story of his brief tenure was that he was offered an opportunity that was too good to turn down at the Masonic Home. The back story is that Julian wanted Trevisani to go to a few meetings and represent the city, but have no real role in running the city. He challenged the Mayor who did not back down and a lesson was learned: don't work with someone you want to remain friends with. It appears that Trevisani, (who has never made secret his desire to be Mayor) has not gotten over it. My belief is that in this one, Trevisani ultimately backs away and makes plans to run for Mayor in four years.

Don't forget.. Robert Palmieri is still lingering out there, yet to make a formal decision.

Be sure to read the part about Leon Koziol. Last night someone sent me an email regarding his run that I thought was a joke. It wasn't.

The email, I mean.

(rimshot)

A Poem

Haiku For a Rainy Day in Oneida County,
With Special Attention to a Defective Sewage System,
in the Style of Buson (1716–1783)


Grey sky, falling water
Basin fills, then overflows
Sewage gushes forth

Feel The Pride

Once again, New Yorkers can proudly say "We're number one!"

According to the study by the Business Council of New York's Public Policy Institute, per-capita state and local taxes in New York led the nation in 2005.

It comes out to a whopping $5,770 for every man, woman and child - 36 percent more than the U.S. average, and 7 percent ahead of the next-most-taxed state, Connecticut.

Indeed, Tax Freedom Day - a concept crafted by the Tax Foundation - is itself a measure of New York's pain.

The date shows how late into the year the average person must work to satisfy the Tax Man, and it varies from state to state. This year, New York has the second-latest date in the nation - May 16.

Feeling proud yet? Neither are we.

Once More, With Feeling

Anthony Picente's battle to give Oneida County one of the highest tax burdens in the state, and hence the nation, continues.

Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente said Tuesday state representatives will likely support his proposal to reduce the county sales tax to 8.75 percent.

Once again, Mr. Picente is not reducing the county sales tax. The "emergency", "short-term" sales tax increase that was passed back in 2005 ends on November 30, 2007. By law, it's over. Done. Finished.

What Mr. Picente wants to do is pass another sales tax increase that takes effect on December 1, 2007. Yes, it's at a slightly lower rate than the tax we have now, but it is most assuredly a new tax. Tellingly, you'll note that he isn't even bothering to characterize it as a short-term measure.

State Sen. Joseph Griffo, R-Rome, the former county executive who implemented the 9 percent sales tax, will support the new legislation, said Ryan Nobles, director of communications and research for Griffo's office.

"After reviewing the information provided in (Tuesday) morning's meeting, the senator is prepared to honor home rule legislation once the requisite paperwork is provided," Nobles said.

He would not comment further.

Picente also said Griffo was committed to helping get the bill passed.

Mr. Griffo doesn't really have a choice in the matter, since a refusal would bring into question his own rationale for passing the original tax. The best thing he can do right now is keep his head down and hope the spatter from the soon-to-erupt crapstorm over the county's abysmal finances doesn't splash him too badly. I think that's an empty hope, to say the least. He's done more than enough to claim his fair share of credit for the tax hike already.

State Assemblywoman RoAnn Destito, D-Rome, who also was present at one of the Tuesday meetings, said she does not have a position at this point and is still reviewing the information Picente gave her.

An optimist could take this as a sign that maybe, just maybe the Democrats have decided to put some chips on the table after all. Mr. Picente has tried to bluster his way through the tax hike like an enraged bull, debuting the idea publicly for the first time last Thursday and immediately demanding that representatives decide on the issue within a week. That's a classic example of governance by crisis and he deserves to be called on it.

Picente said state representatives seemed to understand the need to change the tax rate to 8.75 percent, rather than let it drop to the scheduled 8 percent.

Er..but I thought Mr. Picente was reducing the sales tax? Looks like someone forgot the narrative. Heh.

He said the county can't afford to lose the millions of dollars in revenue that would result from dropping the rate lower.

"I really don't understand what the alternative is," he said. "I think they recognize the significance of having the tax."

Well, perhaps Mr. Picente could enlighten the rest of us as to what's actually going on. Up to this point he's been remarkably vague about what, if any, efforts he's undertaken to cut county government. I'd feel a lot more comfortable with his tax jihad if he'd taken the time to explain why there's not another dollar to cut from the county budget. One almost gets the impression he hasn't even bothered to try.

Update: Picente was supposed to address the county legislature about the tax hike at 2PM, but as of yet there isn't any word about what was discussed.

Imagine That

While Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente is in Albany desperately trying to get sponsors for his proposed hike in the county sales tax at least one county legislator is saying there's another way.

County Legislator Michael J. Hennessy wants to see a greater effort aimed at cutting the cost of county government as County Executive Anthony J. Picente’s sales tax extension proposal comes up for consideration.

Hennessy, D-2, Sherrill, says there are three main areas where savings can be achieved:
• Consolidation of the county’s finance and audit and control functions.
• Possible elimination of the Youth Bureau.
• Cuts in discretionary spending,
Additionally, he wonders if towns could take over some of the work now done by the county Department of Public Works and whether the county is overestimating how much it has to contribute to the retirement system.
"The bottom line is there’s many ways of cutting this budget, in my opinion," he said.

It's good to see someone is considering the possibility of cutting the budget, but it's a huge disappointment that more legislators aren't speaking publicly about the issue. Then again, maybe they are and we aren't hearing about it. I know that most of them rely on the area's traditional media, the Observer-Dispatch, the Sentinel, and what passes for news departments at the local broadcast outlets, so there's a good chance their message isn't going out. Not because of any idealogical conspiracy in the media, although I know a certain amount of that goes on, but because there simply isn't enough airtime or column inches to cover every single political item that gets faxed in.

But I digress.

Meanwhile, Picente and other county representatives were in Albany this morning meeting with the county’s state representatives in hopes of lining up their support for his sales tax plan. Board of Legislature Chairman Gerald J. Fiorini, R-20, Rome, was part of the county delegation.
"I’m waiting to hear from them," Assemblywoman RoAnn M. Destito, D-116, Rome, said of her scheduled late morning meeting.
State authorization — approval by the state Legislature and enactment by the governor — is required before a county can implement a sales tax.
If Picente can get state lawmakers in both houses to introduce the necessary legislation today or tomorrow, the issue is expected to come up at the county Board of Legislators’ meeting Wednesday afternoon. A simple majority — 15 — of the 29-member county board must vote for the resolution asking state lawmakers to enact legislation authorizing the county to enact a .75 percent sales tax.
The issue is time sensitive because the state Legislature is slated to end its session next month. If the state gives the go-ahead, the county legislature would then vote on the tax a second time.

It would be a terrible, terrible thing if the vote in the county legislature came down on party lines. I'd hate to think of the political fallout if every single Democratic representative followed Mr. Hennessy's lead and voted against the tax increase while the Republicans all voted for it. Sure, it would still pass, but then the local Republicans would own it. I'd hate to see any challengers rubbing their noses in it this fall during the elections.

Heh.

Presto!

Over the weekend I had a great time at magician Leon Etienne's benefit show at New Hartford High School. He did a pretty standard mix of sleight of hand and stage magic, but I thought two segments in particular stood out. The first was a tight sequence of rope tricks that he blazed through with an amazing amount of skill. It was one trick after another, rat a tat tat, and his patter and coordination was phenomenally good.

The second was a very polished presentation of the "Metamorphosis" illusion, popularized by Harry Houdini, that has the magician changing places with an assistant locked in a trunk in the blink of an eye. You've probably seen the trick on television, including a segment in one of Fox's "Masked Magician" specials that revealed how it's accomplished, but seeing it done live is a totally different experience. I'm familiar with the mechanics of how the trick is done and, if anything, that made his performance of it even more impressive.

Ready For Launch

It's a beer! It's an energy drink! It's Moonshot!

You won't find many mentions of it on the website, but this is one of F. X. Matt's newest contract beers.