Adapt, or die
So, do you ever get the feeling that we would have done so much better with Bill Johnson for county executive? We were all so scared of those “Pac Man” commercials. OOOH-metro government-I’m frightened, I could loose my little fiefdom. Pac Man’s gonna eat it allll up!!
Bill Johnson’s ideas for metro-government were met with scorn and ridicule. But, was he crazy, or just extremely foresighted? Now that we’re facing massive deficits at city and county level-it’s not looking so crazy, is it? Today, the D&C writes this (emphasis mine) :
Faced with gaping holes in their budgets, Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks and Mayor Duffy are having to make some unexpected adjustments. Amid the current fiscal crisis, they must not tip-toe around possible long-term solutions that require exceptional leadership and political courage.
[snip]
Brooks’ budget was in the clear until the state appeals court struck down her F.A.I.R plan nine days ago. Now she may have to give suburban schools the $29 million she took away from them to help balance the county’s budget.
Brooks, who blames the state for pushing costs onto counties, is wisely working on a “Plan B” budget. Duffy, too, isn’t just going after the low-hanging fruit such as cell phone expenses. He’s targeting city services and layoffs.
To Duffy’s credit, he’s also talking about finding ways to achieve future savings from major government consolidations. Brooks, who rode into office in 2004 on the promise of collaboration and a willingness to seek viable consolidations, needs to join Duffy’s conversation with a new openness to government restructuring.
Hmmmm, where have I heard this idea before???? (here’s a hint, April 24, 2004):
I came into office 10 1/2 years ago as a supporter of metro government. I proposed merging the City of Rochester with the County of Monroe and creating what I call ‘voluntary service districts.’
[snip]
When people ask me the value of a consolidated government for Rochester and Monroe County, I mention such benefits as:
Broadening our vision (we know in our hearts that we’re more than a little parochial).
Following a single agenda instead of the often competing agendas of the mayor and county executive.
Eliminating a lot of the hoops citizens and businesses have to jump through.
Having more clout to lobby the state.
Projecting a strong, confident image to the wider world, as Louisville and Jefferson County did when they merged.
And, saving tax dollars by streamlining services. In Monroe County, for example, we have 31 highway departments with 31 highway garages and 31 highway superintendents. Does this make any sense?
In order for this to happen, we need strong, competent visionaries. We need honest communication and cooperation between all levels of government. We have an opportunity here to make history and a responsibility to the people of these communities to make it so. I see Duffy as having this potential. I question Ms Brooks ability to adapt to this kind of change. The proof, as they say, will be in the pudding.
Now, let’s talk about the villages and towns….
I wouldn’t want Bill Johnson back as dogcatcher, much less county exec. He was the man in the drivers’ seat of two major boondoggles during his term: High Falls and the Fast Ferry. Both were ill-conceived projects that stuffed money in the pockets of a few already rich and powerful people in Rochester, while creating long-term debt shouldered by the taxpayers.
I know many will jump down my throat on this one, but I’m one of “those people†who feel we never really gave the fast ferry a chance. Yeah, the way it was implemented was poorly thought out, but the idea was a good one.
I’m afraid that I am not at all versed on High Falls, but I’m sure you’ll give me your version, Rotten. And I’m sorry that you didn’t run for exec. You would have had my vote. In the absence of that, I’d take Mayor Johnson over the Queen of Hubris any day.
But, really, we’re getting off topic here. The bottom line is, metro government is not a bad idea. It’s something that will need to be considered and acted upon to some degree for this community to grow and thrive. It will take vision, courage, commitment and collaboration between the political parties to move forward with it. To fail, is to fail.
I’m not against Metro Government. But I’d be concerned if Bill J were the man executing it.
There’s nothing complex or subtle about High Falls. All the empty former bars and restaurants there were recipients of government financing, and most of the money went to out-of-town or out-of-state corporations. Like the Ferry, Bill and his administration decided that HF must become an entertainment center, and it must do so with the aid of massive government funding. Both HF and the ferry were the opposite of economic development — they were massive transfer payments out of the area.
Complaining about those projects isn’t just crying over spilled milk. We’re seeing some of the same behavior in the Ren Square project, and we need to be sure that we aren’t repeating the mistakes of the ferry and High Falls.
So, sorry that Bill J is a red flag, but for me, he is. He seems like an honorable and intelligent man, but his track record on managing big projects (which metro gov’t would be) is poor.
Got it. Thanks for the low-down.
Metro government is a horrible idea! Consolidation of “services” can be beneficial, but not at the risk of total control.
Jiminy:
Please tell me you are just being facetious about not supporting metro government.
The idea that you and I may agree on something is almost more than I can stand!
I’m dead serious, but I’ll guarantee you our reasons are as different as black and white.
if you don’t support metro gov’t then you don’t really support lower taxes. it is that simple. and if you southern state lovers don’t agree then look at louisville.
I don’t know the southern state reference or even the Louisville reference (links please). Lower taxes can be a byproduct of Metro Government but what are taxes?
Funding sources pooled together to provide a service that individuals cannot effectively provide by themselves.
Seems to me that for Metro Government to work - the people who have to give up their self-determination (core to every American) need to be convinced, assured, whatever that the Metro government entity will provide for their needs.
Now look at Monroe County. Not anywhere else-
Are we in a position in Monroe County where the divisiveness of City vs Suburbs, Schools vs Towns, (heck toss in a little race as well) can be easily overcome?
Someday I hope so so we can gain the efficiencies of a metro government but right now I don’t see it.
it starts by getting people involved and demostrating that they have a stake in it and it can really reallly meet their needs - not from some leader on high pushing it.
Ladkiddo is right - vision is required. A vision to get people involved, get their buy in and hopefully this can be a reality some day.
Mayor’s Neighborhood Summit
For the first time in the community’s history, representatives of all neighborhoods, incorporated cities and unincorporated areas were invited to an all-day workshop to learn about Metro Government, network with other neighborhood leaders, and to exchange tips on successful neighborhood organizing. Some 200 citizens were expected – an overflow crowd of 500 attended, and a number of new neighborhood organizations are being formed as a result. The Summit has become a yearly event.
This from Dennis’s first link. (thanks Dennis) That sounds like community involvement.
i will try to find some links, but in general louisville switched from a county/city gov’t similar to here to a metro county gov’t. it reduced overall tax rate, but more importantly bumped them from the size of buffalo and us to a top 20 city for economic development purposes because now the entire county counted as louisville. it just seems to me that when the subject of cost of living comes up, anti nyers point to southern states’ practices as the solution to all our issues.
here is a link that gives some of the vitals of the move:
http://www.louisvilleky.gov/YourGovernment/Merger.htm
some more:
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2004_Nov_9/ai_n6338307
http://www.soldbyjennifer.com/jefferson-county-kentucky-2007-tax-bills-sent/
of course it is not a totally consolidated gov’t like philadelphia is, but it merged with a goal of increased economic development cooperation so that the city and the county weren’t competing against each other. and since jobs cure most other problems, it is worth a serious look.
Well Dennis they can start small, like with trash and see how it works.
And when “reverse” metro consolidation is approached here, all hell breaks loose, i.e. Webster wanting to dump County Sheriff coverage or the reverse instead of paying both.
When the GOP remain control of the consolidated end result, everybody is supposed to be happy. Take a nip at her tuck, and you’ll pay with full wrath.
The trust that has been broken in this community cannot be repaired. There is no way this discussion will go any farther than the time taken to type our responses. And rightfully so.
i think police would be a great start. do east rochester, brockport and fairport really each need a police chief at nearly 6 figures? i suggest no, but maybe they could be a little lower in the ranks and when they retire the pay grade goes down to that of a patrol or zero if they don’t fill it.
this discussion will go nowhere, i agree, but we can still learn while we have it. its all about public discourse to better our community, after all. maybe consolidating gov’t doesn’t do much in the end, but we don’t really know if we don’t get informed.
You should post up the crime stats for each Dennis. I believe ER’s crime rate is high. I am not sure about Fairport or Brockport. I know the MC Sheriff’s substation is right on Linden Avenue practically in ER.
Then we’d have to look at the County price tag. Perhaps increasing local police would be the route to go.
If what you saying is true, it would be whichever can provide the best level of protection at the greatest savings. And I think towns want to retain control over their safety and well being.
Here you go Dennis…looks like ER needs more like a full time SWAT team…
http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/cius2006/data/table_08_ny.html
I’m glad that ladkiddo brought this up, but no discussion of consolidation would be complete without addressing the real barrier to consolidation in Monroe County.
Everyone knows that if their village or town or school district is forced to give up any portion of their God-given right to local control it will result in David Gantt or some black Democrat politician giving more Medicaid stamps to welfare queens to buy beer and drugs and drop out of school to have babies and abortions, standing on the corner committing crime closer to their house.
3+, you took the words right out of my brain.
Thank you
So visionaries need not apply then?
Is there a way to turn this around?
31 highway superintendents don’t want visionaries to fire them.
So we are doomed. Great thanks for playing.
I suppose the next question is why bother…
The great thing is that we are actually in good shape. Most of the pessimists moved away, leaving primarily optimists and a few complainers.
If we can find a way to shut up the complainers, it would be surprising how quickly problems start to work themselves out.
Why bother? We live here.
Ouch - Well +++ thanks for you wisdom,and insight.
Yep I feel the optimism here…
Do you think they would be in favor of the white Democrat politician giving more Medicaid stamps to white welfare queens to buy beer and drugs and drop out of school to have babies and abortion and get them off the corners where they commit the crimes in their neighborhood?
Racist statements such as yours are the real barrier to all things Monroe County.
Shame on you for believing that one color, one race and one people are the cause of all things bad.
Corporate welfare and the mentality that it is the God-given right of ANY politician to serve themselves, and not the PEOPLE is where you need to concentrate your skillset next. “God” knows you’re needed!
“Racist statements such as yours are the real barrier to all things Monroe County.”
Exactly.
3+’s comments were totally tongue in cheek, Jiminy. I’m not exactly sure where he stands on Metro-gov, but I do know that he was just giving us the reasons that it probably won’t fly here in Repo land.
Sorry Ladkiddo - this isn’t solely Repo issue. To get people to sign on they need to be assured they will receive the same level of services they receive now - it won’t happen. That cuts across all lines.
Regarding +++ being tongue and cheek. Maybe. I didn’t see it as that. Obviously Jiminy didn’t either.
I’m not saying that it is a totally Repo issue-I was just explaining where I thought +++ was coming from. I’m surprised that you didn’t grasp the sardonic nature of the comment.
Medicaid stamps?
exactly
Surprised eh? Sorry to disappoint.
My point was this isn’t a “Repo land” issue it cuts across “Dem Land” too. But not problem - Maybe we are all agreeing with different words.
The fact that +++ can type and post that statement and some of the brighter minds can’t differentiate between perception and truth says alot.
And even using statements like that in fun convinces others to believe it to be truthful.
I would never wear racism on my sleeve, nor use it as the catalyst of trying to make a point AGAINST it.
And it’s not a GOP or DEM issue - it’s a HUMAN issue. And it’s been on the rise rapidly and dramatically ever since a man named Obama decided to run for President. It’s like a disease, and it needs to be stopped at every opportunity, and never used to raise argument to make a point.
And I can imagine the “medicaid stamps” is a terminology somewhere in the ignorant mind of segregation.
Please don’t yell “fire!” in a crowded room. This community has and is going through a LOT.
Jiminy - Well said.
Game, set, match.
Sadly, Monroe County faces a barrier to metro government that many other places simply haven’t had to contend with to this degree. Our geography over the past 40 years has been increasingly defined along racial and class lines, with virtually no immigration to mitigate this polarizing effect.
Our collective history holds that the city is a dangerous place that those that could moved out of years ago. It has driven deep the idea that local control of suburban municipalities provides a buffer to that danger and that any move to reduce that buffer will only bring danger to their community.
Until the people of one municipality stop being openly hostile to the people of another, no one is going to give up any local control because they don’t trust that someone else will govern in their best interest. A house divided just isn’t getting built.
It does cut across party lines, but Republicans have made a cottage industry out of exploiting this divide. Want to do something about it? It is just like kindergarten- try making friends with your neighbor.
Totally agree, although I am a Finger Lakes region distant-neighbor. Do believe that U of R could back some of this through policies in 19th ward, which has history of integration. Or does it just look that way? Certainly the points about Johnson’s projects above are well-taken– economic development has not been focused on projects like those at Brooks Landing, which try to integrate people and land uses across the dividing lines.
if we are afraid to fire people, and want ‘local’ control, then we will always have a high cost of living. period. and look at webster’s pd. they claim ‘local’ policing. their chief lives in victor and of the 30 patrolmen 17 live outside of webster. i agree that there is a barrier, but i think it is socioeconomic-ism, not entirely racism. it tends to happen that class breaks down ethnically, but not always. it is about hating the poor. green is the color of discrimination in america today.
You guys are leaving a big piece out of the equation, namely service.
It may be true that consolidation will save money in some situations, but it will be at the expense of service. As an example, in the Town of Gates, we currently have 4-5 police cars on the road per each 8 hour shift. That won’t be the case with a metro police department.
And you like to talk about the “31 highway superintendents”. OK, but when there are no town highway departments, whose streets are going to get plowed first? Will my street in Gates get as much attention as it gets today? I doubt it.
You elitists who know better than we unwashed, push metro because you have decided how much service we should have. What ever happened to the consent of the governed? If we want our own police and highway department in our towns, and we’re willing to pay for that, why can’t we have it?
We are clearly overtaxed in New York but its not because of local government waste. Its Albany that’s the black hole sucking the life out of the State economy. Meanwhile the local government consolidation movement is really not about our costs, its about shifting resources from the suburbs to the City of Rochester which can no longer afford the services it desperately needs (like the “zero tolerance” program). You can talk all day about the savings but there won’t be any. Its about shifting resources not saving taxpayers money.
cutting administration cuts costs. even the private sector knows that. the point is simple. we liberals are ‘tax and spend’ liberals. when we offer ways to cut spending, it is disregarded as elitist (because no republican has EVER gone ivy league) and in the name of local control. what do you want? higher costs or local control? we have lost the balance towards higher costs and in tough economic times, unfortunately we must trim gov’t. does the state waste money? sure. and when they cut jobs and you get an 800 number at the dmv do you say, this is great because its cheaper than paying someone 25k? or do you complain about not getting a real person? maybe you don’t complain, but i know 50 who do.
Interesting John - maybe there is hope for you yet for conversion. Every single question you ask, from “when will my street get plowed?” to “consent of the governed”…
If you had take me up on my offer to attend one of those County Legislature meetings, I could have had you receive your answers through the eyes, ears and mouths of the oppressed.
There are others under the current administration, which does nto impact your life, who are hurting, who are discriminated against, who have a voice that is not heard. They’d like to have answers to the same questions you have asked, but because of their political party affiliation, the color of their skin, their personal wealth and position in the county, their religion, or their choice in happiness of their own personal marriages are denied the simple right of asking your questions.
I would change my mind in a heartbeat against Metro Government if it meant natural lessons in community development to the “rest” of those who sit safely in their armchairs making opinions on “bad people” based on the broadcast to their home, directly to their minds.
I say I have hope for you not as an insult - but for the first time I see that you are capable of asking the questions that others are crying.
Yes - there is hope for you John. And have no fear, if they take too much from you, we’ll all fight for your rights too. Not because at that point you’re “one of us”…but because you have always been “one of us”. We are ALL equal. And we all deserve to be treated equal - and fairly.
Mr. DiCaro, while I do believe that closer government means a more responsive government, local government can also be wasteful.
Here in my own Town of Perinton / Village of Fairport, both have independent DPW departments. In fact, both saw the need to build brand-new DPW garages in the last couple of years. Both govt’s were run by the GOP at the time the build decision was made.
So do you think a Perinton / Fairport combined DPW would be an attempt to shift the costs of poor urban Fairport village residents on the backs of the wealthy Perinton suburbanites?
[...] couple of days ago, I addressed the issue of consolidating services and metro-government. Apparently, others are seeing this option as a [...]
Additionally, we already have a taste of “Metro-style” government. You’ve been around long enough to remember John, when if you wanted a Gates police officer to respond to your home, you picked up the phone and called a local number, and the dispatcher sent the officer to your home. With the 911 dispatch center, the COUNTY now controls the call to your local police, the same police that YOU pay for, with an additional fee paid to the County for the “consolidation” of emergency services to your community and every community in Monroe County.
It was done to make it easier, safer, faster, for you to contact the authorities. In a severe situation, back-up could easily be controlled and county and/or state police dispatched if required.
But in light of the recent 3 shootings, and a very good report I watched on Channel 8, City of Rochester residents are stating that they HAVE been calling 911 to report the illegal activities, and that when they hear gunshots and call, no one responds.
Thats because at the 911 Center, there is a heirarchy in place to “rate” the importance of the emergency received. It makes perfect sense until you are the recipient of an unanswered 911 call to YOUR home.
Another example is when you go to Wegmans to purchase your milk. Do you scream to the store management about the price? No…you sadly may comment about the increased expense you must pay to have your milk, but you know that the GOVERNMENT essentially controls the economy. So there is “nothing” you can do, “nothing” the store can do, and “nothing” the farmer can do. So you make a choice. You drink less milk, use it sparingly, or stop drinking milk altogether.
The old “RG&E” - Energy East situation is another example. How is it that we have no “real” competition for services, and yet we in this area pay some of the highest energy costs in the nation? When you write that check out every month, you may question “why” it’s so high, and look forward to summer if for no other reason than to have the reduction in energy costs for your home naturally reduced because you won’t need the heat. And who regulates the rates? The government. They’re doing a good job so far, yes? Unless you live in Fairport, who manages to run and operate a utility with a positive financial impact on their community (with people paying less than $100.00 a month for their TOTAL utility costs in the winter in Rochester)…how are they able do so, and yet the County can’t keep their hands out of the Water Authority because SOMEONE in SOMEONE’s family needs a job. Don’t we all. And what would be the TRUE cost of water if we were NOT paying the high salaries of people like Maggie Brooks current husband to work for the Water Authority (unsure if it’s #2 or #3)? …my money (literally) says we would pay less - much less.
Now take garbage collection and handling. I save the $20-30 dollars a month by consolidating trash at the county level. The same collectors will be providing the service, but now their profits are now reduced because “fees” must be paid to the County to operate and control and oversee the service to the residents. And how do they complain? Go out of business? Agree to participate and cut jobs or services or equipment to make up for the loss? And what happens when the county decides that Maggie needs a kickback to her campaign coffers to make certain she is reelected and that they can continue to be a provider of services?
Enter Rural Metro Ambulance and the war for legal competition led by Monroe Ambulance. Everyone knows that Rural Metro has allowed the GOP to create positions for GOP electeds…look no further than the former “Mayor” of East Rochester David Bonachhi, the “Director” of Security for Rural Metro with a nice fat salary. Don’t tell me this isn’t the way the system works. It is.
And that is just the tip of the iceburg. Because the more government controls, the more opportunities there are for corruption. And this administration has proven time and time again that they CANNOT be TRUSTED. Those two words don’t even belong in the same sentence when talking about Brooks and Minarik.
The PD selection, MCC President selection, the so-called FAIR plan, the Water Authority, COMIDA…and those are just the ones that are out there in the face of the people. And because of discontent within the ranks in an attempt to flee like rats from a sinking ship, the REAL mandates on all of these employees under the control of Brooks/Minarik is coming out. The mandatory participation in parades in the summer, the payment of dues for jobs received, the mandatory use of “certain” services and businesses so that in turn those businesses can pay their dues is all coming out. It’s interesting times indeed.
So when all is said and done, there will be alot more than just your street plowing issues. But as long as you stay on the “good side” of the powers to be, and give your monthly dues to the :Friends of Maggie” Club, you will have nothing to fear - of that I am CERTAIN. Just remember - eventually they will tire of you too. Like a dirty shirt, they’ll toss you in the pile.
[...] Complacency never solved a problem, my friends. If you don’t like the idea of consolidation, come up with another solution. My vote is with consolidation [just don’t call it metro-government.] [...]