Remember comedian Rodney Dangerfield's old shtick: "I get no respect I tell ya, no respect at all!" Well now I know how he feels, thanks to my buddies at the New York Power Authority.
In a post the other day I lamented NYPA's lack of respect toward local government officials in the recent RVRDA "negotiations." Well, at least they're consistent in their disrespect.
Today, NYPA President and CEO Richard Kessel hosted a signing ceremony for the RVRDA agreement. Now this agreement is between NYPA, the town and village of Massena, the town and village of Waddington, the town of Louisville, the town of Lisbon, St. Lawrence County and the County's Industrial Development Agency.
So, wouldn't you think that the focus would be on local governments and NYPA? Well, if you thought that then you'd be "thinking screwball" as my father once told me.
Instead, Mr. Kessel emceed a lineup of state officials: Sen. Joe Griffo, Sen. Darrel Aubertine, Assemblywoman Addie Russel and Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava; NYPA Trustee Eugene Nicandri; and County Treasurer Bob McNeil who wears a total of three hats as treasurer, Chairman of the Local Government Task Force (although he's not really a local government official), and Lisbon's representative on the RVRDA (although all parties agreed beforehand that no "politicians" would be appointed to the RVRDA).
The way people chose to seat themselves may have been telling about NYPA's attitude toward local officials. The county IDA, legislators, and a lawyer and his wife sat toward the front. Local government officials sat in the back. Don't know how it worked out that way, it just did.
With what I affectionately call the "Uncle Richie Show" in overdrive, Mr. Kessel lauded the Albany pols for all they did to bring about the RVRDA (still scratching my head on that one because I don't recall the Albany guys and gals driving the car on this one) and piled praise on Mr. McNeil, IDA honcho Ernie Labaff, and Task Force Attorney Eric Gustafson (the only guy getting paid for the work he did on the RVRDA.)
Sounds good, right? Except that nobody even bothered to introduce the local government officials - mayors, supervisors, deputy mayors, councilmen and trustees - who were present.
Ask any of us to speak? Heaven forbid! Thank the locals who spent countless hours over the last few years putting this thing together? Didn't hear any gratitude for that forthcoming.
In my head I heard Rodney say, "No respect I tell ya. We get no respect at all!" I had to stop myself from laughing out loud.
But that's okay. We all had a yummy, catered lunch beforehand to soften us up. Hey can't blame NYPA. After all, those three years of free lunches did wonders to soften up local officials during the re-licensing negotiations!
In the sake of fairness, I must point out that when the time came - after the free lunch, the Uncle Richie Show and the Albany politicians' and Mr. McNeil's speeches - to sign the documents, each of the local town supervisors and village mayors were called forward, by name, to put our signatures on the agreement.
I, too, dutifully stepped up when my name was called to sign on behalf of the town of Massena. Out of respect for the democratic process and the will of the majority of the town board, I picked up my pen and signed my name.
But I must admit, I kinda had to bite my lip to keep from writing "Rodney Dangerfield" in the allotted space.
We get it already. For whatever reasons you have, you hate the NYPA. Nough said. Jeeze. I would respectfully submit that if you can't stand politics so much that you feel compelled via this blog to whine about your own dissatisfaction, then you probably should have never run for public office. NYPA, like any other govt agency, including the town & village of Massena, is political by nature. All I know is my wife has worked for NYPA 25 years this year, and they are pretty much the only employer in town offering a decent wage and benefits. How about spending some of that time and energy trying to bring some private enterprise back into the area, non or at least less political, instead of whining about your chosen field of office/employment?
ReplyDeleteDear Anon. 8:23: Actually I don't hate NYPA. And I have given them credit many, many times for the jobs they provide and the impact they have on our economy. NYPA jobs are the best jobs in the North Country in my opinion - snd I have several relatives and a number of friends who work there. But NYPA's not perfect and my beef isn't personal. I'll leave it at that. Thanks for your comments.
ReplyDeleteMr. Supervisor - Right on with your latest blog. You hit the nail on the spot and Annon 8:23 needs to get his head out of the sand. He, of course, admitted his paycheck comes from his wife's NYPA resources. At least he was straight forward with that. Unfortunately, he has no clue how NYPA has used the North Country for all these years - and his wife's pittance salary has little to do with the overall well-being of our communities.
ReplyDeleteKeep up the good fight and always, always question. Don't end up being just another NYPA sheep, like Mr. LaBaff and Mr. McNeil. MMMMM, I wonder who will be working at NYPA next? One of Ernie LaBaff's relatives or McNeils?
Joe, all of the people I've spoken with are thankful that you have and continue to fight this. The way the politicians around here are thanking nypa up and down for this "gift" is making many people sick! And being afraid to stand up to them only shows them for the cowards they are. Kudos to you and the Waddington supervisor for being more concerned with the future of our communities. Massena did the right thing electing you, so please keep doing what you're doing!
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