Right now, literally as I write this, Congress is doling out billions in the lame duck spending spree and there are hundreds of "earmarks" - the nice new term for pork barrel spending. Seems odd that there's not even a whiff of money for the I-98 project.
Wasn't Sen. Gillibrand supposed to announce new funding a few months ago? Must be lack of any real opposition in the election made the announcement politically unnecessary.
And where's Sen. Schumer? The Number Two guy in the U.S. Senate is unable to snag a billion or two for the Rooftop Highway? Is it unable or unwilling?
Lastly, couldn't Rep. Owens at least put a few million in the I-98 pocket as Rep. John McHugh did from time to time?
If we've made such great progress over the past few years and "everyone" is steadfastly behind this effort, why is no money forthcoming?
Oh, I forgot. This portion of New York State really doesn't matter when it comes time to tally up votes in November. Isn't that the real reason Sen. Schumer and Gov. Patterson took our steel mill to the Buffalo area?
Hope I'm not being too negative here, but I try to be realistic. True support for the highway project is manifested in funding to make it a reality. Despite huge local investments of time and money, the project remains on the back burner in Washington, if it is still on the stove at all.
Again, one has to ask who you are serving and how much of your own cool aide are you drinking. Stop and think of all the irresponsible damage you are doing to the Massena Community when you take such a narrow minded approach to Economic Development. If the I98 never gets built the jobs and monies that would be poor into the local economies for environmental studies, architectural designs and many other aspects of funding that would help stimulate our local economy.
ReplyDeleteOutside research companies hired by large retail and industrial firms look at communities in many different ways and one is the negative aspects of leadership and government. You seem to have burr up your ass about Jason Clark and that has fogged your sense of responsibility to the community that elected you.
Start acting like the Town Supervisor and stop acting like the head of the Republican party, no one in Massena cares about the politics, they care about the jobs and taxes.
Joe... I don't understand Jack R's comments. Reading your comments gave me the impression you would like to see some funding for the I98 corridor. I guess some people would rather spout off than actually read what was written.
ReplyDeleteYou are absolutely right that this project gets no attention because it is in north country and not in the part of the state that will get Chuck and Gilly re-elected. You would think Representative Owens would try to help the north country, but that isn't where the bulk of his campaign funding comes from.
BR Richards
You're right BR. I too would like to see the thing funded. But if you dare question anything, you're labelled as an opponent, a critical naysayer and all around ne'er-do-well by people whose only focus is preserving the staus quo no matter how dysfunctinal it is.
ReplyDeleteNow to Jack's comments....
Jack, Jack, Jack. You've been laying the same criticism on me for years. It's still inaccurate and wholly ineffective.
I do represent the Town of Massena and I was elected to do so - with a lot of votes from members of numerous political parties. You need to get past your myopic view that everything is driven by party affiliation. That's what is killing our country, state, region, county, town.
I have only stated the truth as I see it. The party in power, and the Senators and Congressman who represent us, have failed us once again.
It nothing new and not unique to one party. Al D'Amato could have funded this thing when he was the big man on Capital Hill and Republicans were in charge. He didn't do it either. McHugh at least made an effort.
This thing is a lot like the RVRDA power contract. Why hasn't the governor signed it? More importantly, why aren't our state Senators and Assembly members screaming about it? Where the hell are they?
Apparently the Governor didn't even know what the reporter was talking about when he was asked why it hadn't yet been signed. There's no excuse for that.
I blame both parties. And now, unlike you Jack, I am free to speak my mind and criticize everybody.
I no longer work for politicians and I'm not
trying to get a government job other than the one I was elected to hold.
So, I will continue to speak my mind and tell the truth. As a brave man once said, "Damn the Torpedos!"
I think the resistence is in our own back yard. Read some other blogs and you'll learn about the opposition. Jason seems to be pushing this pretty hard.
ReplyDeleteThe problem is in Canton. You should direct your energies there.
I have met Mr. Clark a few times while has been stumping for local democratic causes. He seems like a really nice guy. My problem is that the ED of the BDC SHOULD be politically neutral, Mr. Clark is so far in the pockets of Mark Bellardini and other county Dems that he has forgotten where his bread is buttered which is by the citizens of Massena. This highway if it were ever going to be built would have been built when the North Country had something to offer the rest of the country- cars, alum. and glass, now we have nothing but colelges and health care who needs this highway? I would like to see Mr. Clark put his considerable talents to use on bringing cottage industries to Massena instead of all of his eggs in one basket which will eventually whout a doubt break-
ReplyDeleteWhy do so many of you use the I-98 debate as a means to attack your political opponents? Do you think you are doing any god for the people of Massena? The same people who are claiming to support the I-98 initiative attacked Jason Clark for spending too much time and effort on said project. Promoting economic development in the North Country requires the commitment of all parties. When the far right is obsessed with cutting spending, including infrastructure, any funding faces great obstacles. It requires steadfast support by our "leaders", not the flip flopping that I am seeing. Some matters are too important to play politics with.
ReplyDelete