OUR VIEW: Legislators continue to lick wounds

The Tonawanda News

May 16, 2008 12:36 am

— Once again, Niagara County Legislators are bringing up the Business Council’s giving them a failing grade in economics. It’s only a year later, guys. Get over it and move on.
We used it to question officials and so did constituents at your meetings, but let’s drop it already. To be honest, we hadn’t even thought of it since November.
But now that you brought it up again, let’s talk about real assessments. Those from the taxpaying, voting public.
The last year assessed by the statewide business organization was 2005. We’ve had and election since then and three budgets as well. What’s changed? What do residents think?
It’s true, the Business Council’s F-grade in a 10-year assessment of New York’s economics isn’t good, but what’s worse is what the residents think.
The Republican-led majority will tell you Niagara County has never been stronger with regard to its IDA work and enticing outside businesses. They tout the bond rating. Anyone excited about the bond rating?
Again, the true assessment of how the county is doing is around us. It’s in the voices of constituents. It’s indicated by the “for sale” signs dotting every street in Western New York. It’s in the windows of shuddered businesses and even at the gas pumps. If legislators really want to know how they are doing, listen to those who come to the meetings. Read the letters to the editor.
Resident and taxpayer Richard Marasco questioned AES and a botched HSBC deal. Two items that aren’t exactly in the Business Council’s report and have happened well since that was commissioned. Marasco surely isn’t alone in his questioning.
There may be some good coming from our elected officials, but the bad, infighting and politics outweigh any of that good. That’s what residents would mention, if you asked them for a grade, not a state-wide business organization.
Get over the failing grade and move forward. Make some decisions that affect the residents’ quality-of-life. Bond ratings, while probably very important in getting things accomplished, don’t excite people. Do something residents will be proud of, that doesn’t scream “politics,” and then maybe you’ll get a pass.