“Stimulus” comes from the verb stimulare, which is Latin for “transfer massive sums of money from what remains of the dynamic sector of the economy to the special interests of the Democratic party.”
-Mark Steyn at National Review On Line
Saturday, January 31, 2009
THE VIEW FROM BEHIND THE TINTED GLASS
Many years ago, a great deal was made of George Bush (41) marveling at an electronic scanner in a supermarket. The spin was that candidate Bush, apparently not familiar with how an average supermarket functioned, was hopelessly out of touch with the average American.
That story comes back to mind as we consider the current flap over Cabinet nominee Tom Daschle’s failure to pay over $100,000 in taxes for a private car and chauffer he ha been using for the last four years. After leaving the Senate, Daschle apparently took a high paying position with a New York investment firm headed by a long time campaign contributor. Among the perks was a car and driver…a perk that Senator Daschle had apparently also enjoyed at taxpayer expense when he was the Majority Leader. Like Treasury Secretary Geithner before him, Daschle apparently only paid the back taxes after he was nominated to the Obama Cabinet.
To me, more important than the tax issue, is what it says that our Senator and now presumed Secretary of Health and Human Services has been traveling in a cocoon all theses years. Personally, I think there is something to be said for waiting in the rain or snow for your bus or train. It’s a small point, but it’s those kinds of thing that keeps you in touch. It seems to me its tougher to “feel their pain” from the back seat of a chauffer driven Town Car.
That story comes back to mind as we consider the current flap over Cabinet nominee Tom Daschle’s failure to pay over $100,000 in taxes for a private car and chauffer he ha been using for the last four years. After leaving the Senate, Daschle apparently took a high paying position with a New York investment firm headed by a long time campaign contributor. Among the perks was a car and driver…a perk that Senator Daschle had apparently also enjoyed at taxpayer expense when he was the Majority Leader. Like Treasury Secretary Geithner before him, Daschle apparently only paid the back taxes after he was nominated to the Obama Cabinet.
To me, more important than the tax issue, is what it says that our Senator and now presumed Secretary of Health and Human Services has been traveling in a cocoon all theses years. Personally, I think there is something to be said for waiting in the rain or snow for your bus or train. It’s a small point, but it’s those kinds of thing that keeps you in touch. It seems to me its tougher to “feel their pain” from the back seat of a chauffer driven Town Car.
Friday, January 30, 2009
THE BLAME ALBANY GAME IS GROWING OLD
Tonight’s combined meeting of the Education and Intergovernmental Relations Committees was well timed, falling as close as it does to “Groundhog Day”. Like the Bill Murray movie of the same name where every day just repeats itself, we were treated to two hours of the same old same old. How a roomful of appointed and elected officials living in the midst of the worst economy in memory in a state that is all but broke could spend well over an hour making the same tired arguments is beyond me. Once again the old song was being sung: the only answer to projected education funding shortfalls is the argument we’ve made for decades - that Yonkers is shortchanged under the State formula.
When I pointed out that there was no reasonable expectation that an argument that had failed for decades would suddenly prevail in the next two months nobody had an answer. When I asked the Superintendent what “Plan B” might be, he offered only the annual dire predictions of massive layoffs.
Its time for tough decision making. Albany is not, realistically, going to save Yonkers from pain anymore than it can or will spare any other municipality. We live in a State that grew its budget year in and year out based on a tax base 20 to 25% dependent on Wall Street. Given that fact in these times, the party is over and difficult decision making, creativity and shared pain are the order of the day.
I don’t pretend to have all the answers, but relying on tired blame games and unrealistic hopes is no longer an option. All stakeholders must seriously reexamine their priorities and rethink how we are operating our schools (and our city) if we are going to make it safely through this storm.
When I pointed out that there was no reasonable expectation that an argument that had failed for decades would suddenly prevail in the next two months nobody had an answer. When I asked the Superintendent what “Plan B” might be, he offered only the annual dire predictions of massive layoffs.
Its time for tough decision making. Albany is not, realistically, going to save Yonkers from pain anymore than it can or will spare any other municipality. We live in a State that grew its budget year in and year out based on a tax base 20 to 25% dependent on Wall Street. Given that fact in these times, the party is over and difficult decision making, creativity and shared pain are the order of the day.
I don’t pretend to have all the answers, but relying on tired blame games and unrealistic hopes is no longer an option. All stakeholders must seriously reexamine their priorities and rethink how we are operating our schools (and our city) if we are going to make it safely through this storm.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!
Tonight was something of an anniversary for me...the sixth year in a row that I cast the Council's lone vote against installing "Red Light Cameras" on Yonkers' streets.
Despite all the claims of traffic safety, the truth is that Red Light cameras have nothing to do with safety and everything to do with raising revenue. They are just another way for government to take money out of people's pockets under the guise of public concern (think taxing soda pop).
The fact is study after study, including a study by Congress after extensive hearings, has demonstrated that the cameras actually increase accidents, particularly rear end accidents. Think about it, you're aproaching an intersection. At the last second, the light goes yellow. Right or wrong the fellow behind you anticipates you'll proceed. You see the camera or, your a local and know it is there. You slam on the brakes. Bam!
The fact is that intersections with a high incidence of red light infractions usually have other underlying issues, bad site lines, mistimed lights etc. If the issue is safety, then address that problem. If the issue is generating revenue for City Hall, then have the courage to say so and vote for taxes...or better yet have some real courage and vote to cut spending.
Despite all the claims of traffic safety, the truth is that Red Light cameras have nothing to do with safety and everything to do with raising revenue. They are just another way for government to take money out of people's pockets under the guise of public concern (think taxing soda pop).
The fact is study after study, including a study by Congress after extensive hearings, has demonstrated that the cameras actually increase accidents, particularly rear end accidents. Think about it, you're aproaching an intersection. At the last second, the light goes yellow. Right or wrong the fellow behind you anticipates you'll proceed. You see the camera or, your a local and know it is there. You slam on the brakes. Bam!
The fact is that intersections with a high incidence of red light infractions usually have other underlying issues, bad site lines, mistimed lights etc. If the issue is safety, then address that problem. If the issue is generating revenue for City Hall, then have the courage to say so and vote for taxes...or better yet have some real courage and vote to cut spending.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
NEW YORK STATE SHOULD REQUIRE SPECIAL ELECTIONS TO FILL VACANCIES.
I used to live in a representative democracy. For years, I voted in an election and someone picked by the voters then represented me. Today, three fifths of the stateside officials governing New York were not elected to the offices they hold. Our Governor, our State Comptroller and, now, our junior Senator were all put in office by accident or by other politicians. It doesn’t have to be this way. Nothing prevents state law from calling for special elections so that the voters can choose their leaders. The usual excuse offered by the politicians, the expense of a special election, doesn’t hold water. Tw o regularly scheduled elections will have come and gone before we get to vote for Governor. There is no reason Governor Patterson could not have been forced to stand for election this past November or this coming November. There is no reason that newly hand picked Senator Kirsten Gilibrand should not have to stand for election this November rather than November 2010. For example, in the event of a Senate vacancy require either a special election or a vote at the next regular election.:
California -- "An election to fill a vacancy in the term of a United States Senator shall be held at the general election next succeeding the occurrence of the vacancy or at any special election. This gives the governor the option of calling for a special election.
New Jersey -- " If a vacancy shall happen in the representation of this state in the United States senate, it shall be filled at the general election next succeeding the happening thereof... unless the governor of this state shall deem it advisable to call a special election therefore, which he is authorized hereby to do.
Hawaii -- The law directs that "the governor shall make a temporary appointment to fill [a U.S. Senate] vacancy by selecting a person from a list of three prospective appointees submitted by the same political party as the prior incumbent."
Utah -- "The governor shall appoint a person to serve as U.S. senator until the vacancy is filled by election from one of three persons nominated by the state central committee of the same political party as the prior officeholder."
Wyoming -- This extremely detailed law says "if a vacancy occurs in the office of United States senator ...the governor shall immediately notify in writing the chairman of the state central committee of the political party which the last incumbent represented at the time of his election ..... The chairman shall call a meeting of the state central committee to be held not later than 15 days after he receives notice of the vacancy. At the meeting the state central committee shall select and transmit to the governor the names of three persons qualified to fill the vacancy. Within five days after receiving these three names, the governor shall fill the vacancy by temporary appointment of one of the three to hold the office."
Eight states call for a special election to be held to fill the vacancy. Here, omitting some of the fine-point calendar details, are those laws:
Alabama -- "Whenever a vacancy occurs in the office of senator of and from the State of Alabama in the Senate of the United States more than four months before a general election, the Governor of Alabama shall forthwith order an election to be held ...to elect a senator of and from the State of Alabama to the United States Senate for the unexpired term."
Alaska -- "When a vacancy occurs in the office of United States senator, the governor may, at least five days after the date of the vacancy but within 30 days after the date of the vacancy, appoint a qualified individual to fill the vacancy temporarily until the results of the special election called to fill the vacancy are certified.....The governor shall, by proclamation, call a special election to be held on a date not less than 60, nor more than 90, days after the date the vacancy occurs."
Massachusetts --"The governor shall immediately ... call an election ... not more than 160 nor less than 145 days after the date that a vacancy is created.... If a vacancy is created for senator in congress after April 10 of an even-numbered year, the (vote shall take place at) the biennial state election ballot in that year.
Oklahoma - "Whenever a vacancy shall occur in the office of a member of the United States Senate or United States House of Representatives from Oklahoma, such vacancy shall be filled at a Special Election to be called by the Governor within 30 days after such vacancy occurs."
Oregon -- "If a vacancy in election or office of Representative in Congress or United States Senator occurs before the 61st day before the general election, the Governor shall call a special election to fill that vacancy. "
Vermont -- "If a vacancy occurs in the office of United States senator or United States representative, the governor shall call a special election to fill the vacancy. ...The special election shall be held not more than three months from the date the vacancy occurs, except that if the vacancy occurs within six months of a general election, the special election may be held the same day as the general election.
Washington -- "Whenever a vacancy occurs in the United States house of representatives or the United States senate from this state, the governor shall order a special election to fill the vacancy. ...Within 10 days of such vacancy occurring, he or she shall issue a writ of election fixing a date for the special vacancy election not less than 90 days after the issuance of the writ, fixing a date for the primary for nominating major political party candidates for the special vacancy election not less than 30 days before the day fixed for holding the special vacancy election."
Wisconsin -- "A vacancy in the office of U.S. senator or representative in congress occurring prior to the 2nd Tuesday in May in the year of the general election shall be filled at a special primary and election. A vacancy in that office occurring between the 2nd Tuesday in May and the 2nd Tuesday in July in the year of the general election shall be filled at the September primary and general election."
New Yorkers deserve no less than the same right to choose their own leaders and the legislature should address this issue immediately
California -- "An election to fill a vacancy in the term of a United States Senator shall be held at the general election next succeeding the occurrence of the vacancy or at any special election. This gives the governor the option of calling for a special election.
New Jersey -- " If a vacancy shall happen in the representation of this state in the United States senate, it shall be filled at the general election next succeeding the happening thereof... unless the governor of this state shall deem it advisable to call a special election therefore, which he is authorized hereby to do.
Hawaii -- The law directs that "the governor shall make a temporary appointment to fill [a U.S. Senate] vacancy by selecting a person from a list of three prospective appointees submitted by the same political party as the prior incumbent."
Utah -- "The governor shall appoint a person to serve as U.S. senator until the vacancy is filled by election from one of three persons nominated by the state central committee of the same political party as the prior officeholder."
Wyoming -- This extremely detailed law says "if a vacancy occurs in the office of United States senator ...the governor shall immediately notify in writing the chairman of the state central committee of the political party which the last incumbent represented at the time of his election ..... The chairman shall call a meeting of the state central committee to be held not later than 15 days after he receives notice of the vacancy. At the meeting the state central committee shall select and transmit to the governor the names of three persons qualified to fill the vacancy. Within five days after receiving these three names, the governor shall fill the vacancy by temporary appointment of one of the three to hold the office."
Eight states call for a special election to be held to fill the vacancy. Here, omitting some of the fine-point calendar details, are those laws:
Alabama -- "Whenever a vacancy occurs in the office of senator of and from the State of Alabama in the Senate of the United States more than four months before a general election, the Governor of Alabama shall forthwith order an election to be held ...to elect a senator of and from the State of Alabama to the United States Senate for the unexpired term."
Alaska -- "When a vacancy occurs in the office of United States senator, the governor may, at least five days after the date of the vacancy but within 30 days after the date of the vacancy, appoint a qualified individual to fill the vacancy temporarily until the results of the special election called to fill the vacancy are certified.....The governor shall, by proclamation, call a special election to be held on a date not less than 60, nor more than 90, days after the date the vacancy occurs."
Massachusetts --"The governor shall immediately ... call an election ... not more than 160 nor less than 145 days after the date that a vacancy is created.... If a vacancy is created for senator in congress after April 10 of an even-numbered year, the (vote shall take place at) the biennial state election ballot in that year.
Oklahoma - "Whenever a vacancy shall occur in the office of a member of the United States Senate or United States House of Representatives from Oklahoma, such vacancy shall be filled at a Special Election to be called by the Governor within 30 days after such vacancy occurs."
Oregon -- "If a vacancy in election or office of Representative in Congress or United States Senator occurs before the 61st day before the general election, the Governor shall call a special election to fill that vacancy. "
Vermont -- "If a vacancy occurs in the office of United States senator or United States representative, the governor shall call a special election to fill the vacancy. ...The special election shall be held not more than three months from the date the vacancy occurs, except that if the vacancy occurs within six months of a general election, the special election may be held the same day as the general election.
Washington -- "Whenever a vacancy occurs in the United States house of representatives or the United States senate from this state, the governor shall order a special election to fill the vacancy. ...Within 10 days of such vacancy occurring, he or she shall issue a writ of election fixing a date for the special vacancy election not less than 90 days after the issuance of the writ, fixing a date for the primary for nominating major political party candidates for the special vacancy election not less than 30 days before the day fixed for holding the special vacancy election."
Wisconsin -- "A vacancy in the office of U.S. senator or representative in congress occurring prior to the 2nd Tuesday in May in the year of the general election shall be filled at a special primary and election. A vacancy in that office occurring between the 2nd Tuesday in May and the 2nd Tuesday in July in the year of the general election shall be filled at the September primary and general election."
New Yorkers deserve no less than the same right to choose their own leaders and the legislature should address this issue immediately
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
PRESIDENT OBAMA RIGHT ON OPEN GOVERNMENT
In remarks delivered today at the swearing in of his senior staff, President Obama set a standard for open government which should serve as a model for elected officials at every level.
Obama declared that “transparency and the rule of law will be the touchstones of this presidency”. Referring to the federal Freedom of Information Act, President Obama added “the Freedom of Information Act is perhaps the most powerful instrument we have for making our government honest and transparent, and of holding it accountable. And I expect members of my administration not simply to live up to the letter but also the spirit of this law”.
In New York, elected and appointed officials at the state and local level are bound by the State Freedom of Information Law. Too often, when citizens seek information under that statute, it becomes a game as the government seeks to exploit any exception or loophole at its disposal to avoid disclosure. Too often, what should be full disclosure becomes a game of “gotcha” with government departments and officials straining to figure out how not to comply with disclosure.
Recognizing this problem on the federal level, President Obama today remarked that “for a long time now, there's been too much secrecy in this city. The old rules said that if there was a defensible argument for not disclosing something to the American people, then it should not be disclosed. That era is now over. Starting today, every agency and department should know that this administration stands on the side not of those who seek to withhold information but those who seek to make it known”.
Good government demands that every citizen have available the information that allows him to make informed decisions and to judge the wisdom of the decisions being made by those who govern. Particularly as we enter a budget season that promises to demand hard choices which will directly impact the life of every resident of New York, officials at every level of government would do well to heed the spirit of the new President’s remarks.
Obama declared that “transparency and the rule of law will be the touchstones of this presidency”. Referring to the federal Freedom of Information Act, President Obama added “the Freedom of Information Act is perhaps the most powerful instrument we have for making our government honest and transparent, and of holding it accountable. And I expect members of my administration not simply to live up to the letter but also the spirit of this law”.
In New York, elected and appointed officials at the state and local level are bound by the State Freedom of Information Law. Too often, when citizens seek information under that statute, it becomes a game as the government seeks to exploit any exception or loophole at its disposal to avoid disclosure. Too often, what should be full disclosure becomes a game of “gotcha” with government departments and officials straining to figure out how not to comply with disclosure.
Recognizing this problem on the federal level, President Obama today remarked that “for a long time now, there's been too much secrecy in this city. The old rules said that if there was a defensible argument for not disclosing something to the American people, then it should not be disclosed. That era is now over. Starting today, every agency and department should know that this administration stands on the side not of those who seek to withhold information but those who seek to make it known”.
Good government demands that every citizen have available the information that allows him to make informed decisions and to judge the wisdom of the decisions being made by those who govern. Particularly as we enter a budget season that promises to demand hard choices which will directly impact the life of every resident of New York, officials at every level of government would do well to heed the spirit of the new President’s remarks.
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