Local News
GENCO: ‘Authority’ never wins for Western New York
Can someone please explain to me how an “authority” ever benefits Western New York?
Long-time readers know of my disdain for the louts at the New York Power Authority.
After all, it takes a special kind of uncaring to sap $1 million per day from a downtrodden regional economy while ensuring its citizens still pay among the highest electric rates in the nation, as the Niagara Power Project does.
I still say the easiest way remedy the situation is to take a big swing of the bat and point out the stakeholders on hand never capitulated to the meager offerings of NYPA during the relicensing because they were not getting a fair shake.
North Tonawanda, Tonawanda, Town of Tonawanda, Grand Island and Buffalo all suffer the negative effects of NYPA leadership without receiving a significant benefit.
The most logical thing would be to band together and use eminent domain to take over, once and for all. The trouble is the powers that be — for example, the Buffalo Niagara Partnership, which should be a regional leader in such matters — are dining at the trough of big government. When an entity like NYPA feels challenged, the first thing that happens is it begins to gather its marbles and go home.
As an example, consider the largess the authority showed in helping out things like Artpark in Lewiston or that fine village’s jazz festival. When an audit last year showed such awards were largely arbitrary, they were ended, not because anything was wrong but because someone dared to challenge.
The Partnership would face the same ugly consequence if it were to stand up for the taxpayers and businesses of Western New York rather than defending the status quo and kowtowing to Albany.
Meanwhile, we have the Thruway Authority. The geniuses there arbitrarily raised the toll on the Grand Island Bridges from 75 cents to $1 recently, with no warning.
Never mind the illogic of a lack of similar charges on other bridges, or the disregard for the fact it costs far less than $1 per car to operate and maintain the bridges. After all, it’s about profit and patronage, not safety or service.
This is the same organization that agreed to take over the State Barge Canal, which will always be a costly burden because of the number of miles of nothing and the fact it can’t generate enough revenue to pay its way.
The canal is an historic monument. I love the new docks in the Tonawandas, but there is a lot of nothingness all along the way and the Thruway Authority should not be in charge of it because it obscures the bottom line — we should understand the cost of the canal, grin and bear it, not see it buried among the roads and bridges of a separate bureaucracy and supported by highway tolls.
From there, we come to the Peace Bridge Authority. How long ago was it they started talking about building a new bridge? Why has nothing ever happened? How does this benefit our region?
Imagine competent leadership and creative solutions. Imagine a new bridge a year away from opening. Imagine the Canadian dollar being worth more than the U.S. dollar and a bright, new easier to cross bridge in place just in time for our neighbors from the north to head across the border to shop and perhaps even live, taking advantage of reasonably priced real estate.
Oh darn. The dollar thing happened but no one built a new bridge.
Meanwhile, the Erie County Water Authority seems to glide blindly along. I know it’s a coincidence, but I have trouble bringing quickly to mind what they’ve messed up lately. Heck, I have to go all the way back to the October Storm in 2005 when our water system almost went dry because they never purchased generators to run pumps if bad things ever happened.
It seems like we should have heard by now about the installation of those generators if they were interested in learning from the past.
Unfortunately, that’s not how big government, or authorities, work.
Thanks for reading.
LM Boyd of the Week: "Second" is of French origin. The English borrowed it. They used to say first, other, third, fourth and so on.
Word of the Week: "Pell-Mell" rushing to and fro at a frenzied pace. Based on an old French game in which participants tried to strike a ball through a hoop at the end of an alley.
Contact Joe Genco at jgenco@localnet.com.
- Local News
-
-
Teens accused of harassing mosque parishioners
Members of the World Sufi Foundation Mosque have experienced harassment in the past, but nothing like what happened earlier this week. The disruption resulted in the arrest of five teens — one of whom is facing criminal charges for allegedly firing a weapon.
-
Dad gets 6 months in child's death
An Orleans County man who pleaded guilty in June to criminally negligent homicide in his daughter’s death was sentenced Monday to serve six months in jail.
-
Teens accused of harassing Carlton mosque
Members of the World Sufi Foundation Mosque have experienced harassment in the past, but nothing like what happened earlier this week. The disruption resulted in the arrest of five teens — one of whom is facing criminal charges for allegedly firing a weapon.
-
Community Action helps children prepare for school
Community Action of Orleans and Genesee completed its annual back to school drive Thursday, helping more than 200 children get supplies.
-
Remembering 9/11
Each year a group gathers in Albion to remember those who lost their lives that September day nine years ago. Holding tributes and candlelight vigils, the Orleans County American Legion has hosted the event to pay tribute to those involved in 9/11.
-
Special gift pushes trust campaign over the top
The Sandstone Trust of Medina has exceeded its 2010 summer campaign goal on the strength of a very special memorial gift which was made public this week. The immediate family of the late Fern J. Blackburn (widow of Paul R. Blackburn) presented a major contribution to the Trust committee in an amount equaling 20 percent of the entire summer campaign goal of $25,000. With this support, the total of summer gifts stands today at approx. $27,000, leaders said.
-
District confirms leave of absence
The Genesee County Sheriff’s Department issued an appearance ticket Aug. 21, requiring a district administrator to appear in Batavia Town Court next month to answer a charge of driving while intoxicated. The Holley Central School District can confirm that the administrator has been on leave since Aug. 3, which includes the alleged time of the incident.
-
Village improves skateboard agreement
The Village of Albion board had good news for skateboarders and Santa Clauses on Wednesday, approving the Town of Albion’s offer to help pay for skate park equipment and offering to assist with the upcoming celebration of legendary Santa Claus Charles Howard.
-
Fifty-six years strong for Camp Rainbow Fund
The Camp Rainbow Fund, which inherited its new name six months ago from the former Journal-Register Camp Fund, continued this summer to do good work on behalf of children in Orleans County. A total of $5,074 was raised from the public to send boys and girls “into the sunshine of Camp Rainbow,” located on Town Line Road in the northern part of Ridgeway.
-
Natale introduces book about spirituality, sexuality
Maintaining a relationship with God can be difficult for anyone who is tempted by the distractions of everyday life — money, sex, addictions. But faith goes deeper than the labels affixed to these indulgences and the churches people go to seeking guidance.
- More Local News Headlines
-
