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Thread: 2 Words-Kevin Gaughan

  1. #16
    Member dtwarren's Avatar
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    I have asked this before ( http://www.speakupwny.com/forums/sho...ter#post560891 ), why do people believe that downsizing the council will have any substantive effect on the ills they complain about?

    Unlike a Town the citizens of a City like Lackawanna can amend by petition (and in fact the same process to reduce/change the makeup of the Council) to address the very ills they complain about?
    “We in America do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate.” ― Thomas Jefferson

  2. #17
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    The population's risk adverse, change adverse mindset cannot possibly attack what needs attacking first and most importantly...they have to chew in small bites.

    The politicians with the above qualites will continue to be elected because of a poor voter turnout due to complacency, apathy, ignorance, and the natural selection of intelligent young motivated people moving out of state.

  3. #18
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    Quote Originally Posted by la14218 View Post
    I agree it should be done. but I'M in my late 60's and can think of 3 times it was tried before. The same problem " I can't do the work of two people" and that was in the 70 when people worked for a living. now days they can't do the work of ONE unless it for dobble the pay.

    Down sizeing does not work. You take someone out someone has to step in. Look at the fire dep. they cut them to the bone, now there is a fire they have to call in help. Then yell about overtime. Or better yet call in buffalo or some one elce and pay them top dollar for there help

    I rember Blasdell police being run by Hamburg police. That did not last long it cost to much and took to long to get help.
    I agree with you the work ethics these days are not the same.Everybody is doing more with less why can't government.A lot of the reasons why none of this works is certain people just like status quo and will not change a thing.My problem is most of our elected officials just don't get it. They do not work for the "party" and their agenda they are supposed to work for the people they represent. Government is supposed to be accountable to its people.
    We don't need that many legislators if most of them were really working and doing their jobs we can probably get away with half of the number we have.It's all about jobs for friends and family etc. not about good government or accountability.Think about it on the county and state level all these guys have offices and staff who pays for them? The taxpayer. The system is rigged to keep status quo.Example: like a state senator he gets x amount of dollars to dole out to his district around election time. Then you see him giving all these organizations money and a nice big check and his or hers picture with the group. Does anyone ever question what this particular group does with "our" money? That's how these guys stay in power handing out money to all these different groups so that they can pick up votes. Then when it's all gone you won't see them till the next election cycle. We can change the way we do things here in NY or we can be the first state to go bankrupt something has got to give. Doing nothing is not an option.So at least give Mr. Gaughan some credit for trying to do something.

  4. #19
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    School Districts.
    School Districts.
    School Districts.
    School Districts.
    School Districts.
    School Districts.
    School Districts.
    School Districts.
    School Districts.
    School Districts.
    School Districts.
    School Districts.
    School Districts.
    School Districts.
    School Districts.
    School Districts.

  5. #20
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    Speaking of school districts there should be one for whole county not like we have now. It's a joke. Millons being wasted on duplication of services etc.Maybe the city of Buffalo can have their own and the rest of county their own just a thought. This idea worked pretty good in South Carolina when I lived there.Most of the money went to kids not political jobs etc.

  6. #21
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    Then parents would have even less control than they do now.

    In researching my book, I came across a study that concluded that counties with multiple districts had better outcomes. Since this was not the point of my book, I didn't pursue it. But this is consistent with other research that shows that, contrary to the popular mythology around WNY, that decentralized local government yields better results than consolidated metro government.

    Please, people, take a scientific (facts and logic) approach to reform. Have some facts to back up your views. We can't afford another 50 years of decline.

  7. #22
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    Parents do not have any control in Lackawanna never have. It's just one big political quagmire.Do we really need all these districts. Maybe 4 or 5 tops not like we have now. Seeing how this worked in South Carolina and compared to the bureaucracy we have now can't see why we couldn't atleast try to change things.The state mandated stuff doesn't help either it actually ties the hands of those attempting to improve things.
    Last edited by DennisMulqueen; January 9th, 2010 at 11:56 AM.

  8. #23
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    Sure they do, just pull your kids out.

  9. #24
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    LOL that's about it....and that is what a lot of people here do that can afford it. I myself went to catholic school till 8th grade then went to Lackawanna for high school but how many people can even afford to do that these days. I wanted to go to catholic high school but the tuition even back in the 80's was sky high and mom and dad couldn't afford it. I can not imagine what it is now.
    Last edited by DennisMulqueen; January 9th, 2010 at 12:04 PM.

  10. #25
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    Or move to a different town.

    With countywides, no can do.

  11. #26
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    Why move? How about taking over the existing district???? Some people can't afford to move or just like where they are at.Just about everyone I know that moved from Lackawanna did so because of the schools. That says alot.

  12. #27
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    You can't take over the existing system because POLITICS IS RIGGED!

    For the details, see this totally ignored Free NY study.

    http://freenewyork.org/articles/news...0districts.pdf

    Free New York News Alert No. 14

    Special Districts Favor Special Interests

    A Proposal to Eliminate School Districts

    By James Ostrowski

    November 12, 2006

    New York State has too many government agencies employing too many workers making too much money.
    Some have proposed centralizing government functions into county, regional or state agencies as the best means to reduce bureaucracy. However, historically and in theory, centralization does not make government smaller, just more distant and unresponsive. You end up being ruled by highly-paid strangers in distant capitals.
    1
    The challenge is reduce the number of government agencies without centralizing power or removing local control. For the fourth time,1 Free New York has found a way.
    In New York State, there are 705 school districts. In Erie County, there are 29 separate school districts, each a government unto itself with elected officials and in most cases with budgets approved at special elections. In large cities such as Buffalo, voters choose board members but do not approve budgets. With exception of New York City, these districts are, in effect, separate governments run by elected schools boards.
    The school boards are chosen in special elections with very low turnouts. Most of the voters have a special interest in the outcome, for example, school district employees and the parents of students. The general interests of average citizens are not a significant factor in these elections.
    The results are predictable: bloated payrolls and some of the highest property taxes in the country. The Tax Foundation recently concluded that Niagara County, for example, is the highest taxed county in the nation, relative to assessed valuation.2 Schools districts account for fifty-five percent of that tax burden.3
    Giving voters the right to approve budgets has utterly failed to restrain spending. Again, such elections are dominated by special interests which favor higher spending. On occasions when budgets are defeated, similar budgets are often re-submitted until the opposition is worn down.
    Another deterrent to competitive elections is the artificial nature of the school districts. In 2005, we saw almost every incumbent Erie County Legislator re-elected whereas several incumbent town board members were defeated. It is easier for challengers to defeat incumbents when they are running in their own communities as opposed to special districts which cobble together different communities or neighborhoods.
    The electoral history of Erie County shows a clear pattern: incumbents are most vulnerable in small districts that correspond to organic
    1 Public Authorities Have Failed the Public; Should We Revive the Old Board of Supervisors?; Comptroller’s Audit Proves IDAs Must be Abolished.
    2 http://www.niagara-gazette.com/weeke...293233337.html
    3 http://www.niagara-gazette.com/local...313205202.html
    2
    communities, for example, Buffalo council districts, rather than larger districts which combine different neighborhoods, for example, the Erie County Legislature.
    The present regime allows special interests to use special districts and special elections to control the schools for their own purposes at the expense of the general public which is largely irrelevant to the process.
    We propose to eliminate all these school districts insofar as they constitute separate governments. We propose to eliminate all the elected school boards and special budget elections.
    Under our plan, each city or town will have its own school district. Why elect a board to run the schools when there is already a municipal legislature in each municipality? Responsibility for the schools would shift to the existing town boards, mayors and city councils. Each town board would appoint a superintendent to run the schools on a daily basis. In cities, the mayor would nominate a candidate for superintendent subject to the consent of the council.
    In sparsely populated rural areas, perhaps five or so towns could cluster together to form a district with each town’s supervisor serving on the school board.4
    This alternative system has many advantages. First and foremost, the voters in general elections will elect the policymakers who run the schools. Special interests will be less likely to dominate elections when the turnout goes from 10 percent to 60 percent. All of the costs associated with special elections and with maintaining separate school boards are eliminated.
    Finally, when the schools become a department of the existing municipal government, consolidation of non-educational functions can occur. The existing parks department can replace the groundskeepers who maintain school sports fields. The public works departments can replace the
    4 One critic of a draft of this paper posted online for comment, pointed out that some rural districts are already consolidated. First, that means that this proposal will cause them minimal disruption or cause for complaint. However, the comment overlooks the essence of this proposal, which is to put control of government schools in the hands of municipal officials chosen at general elections. 3
    school building engineers and so on with each and every expensively duplicated function.
    All in all, this proposal would eliminate 203 elected officials in Erie County alone and thousands statewide.
    In sum, costs will be reduced and the grip of special interests will be loosened, which can only lead to a greater focus on educating students which is after all supposed to be the point of it all.
    4

  13. #28
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    Trust me I ran for office I very well know it's rigged. Problem is our current city people are not in control of board and the current board is not hiring as per friends and family plan. Which is a good thing. You hire who is most qualified not a city resident or a friend. So if the current city council runs the show instead of current school board how is this better? They already are trying to take over the LMHA is this a good thing? I do not think so. To much power consolidated in the hands of the same people = corruption.In this city it is all about jobs and not what is right or good for the taxpayer.Every person that wants to run for school board in this city with support from city hall has some job agenda behind them.
    Last edited by DennisMulqueen; January 9th, 2010 at 02:05 PM.

  14. #29
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Ostrowski View Post
    You can't take over the existing system because POLITICS IS RIGGED!

    For the details, see this totally ignored Free NY study.

    http://freenewyork.org/articles/news...0districts.pdf

    Free New York News Alert No. 14

    Special Districts Favor Special Interests

    A Proposal to Eliminate School Districts

    By James Ostrowski

    November 12, 2006

    New York State has too many government agencies employing too many workers making too much money.
    Some have proposed centralizing government functions into county, regional or state agencies as the best means to reduce bureaucracy. However, historically and in theory, centralization does not make government smaller, just more distant and unresponsive. You end up being ruled by highly-paid strangers in distant capitals.
    1
    The challenge is reduce the number of government agencies without centralizing power or removing local control. For the fourth time,1 Free New York has found a way.
    In New York State, there are 705 school districts. In Erie County, there are 29 separate school districts, each a government unto itself with elected officials and in most cases with budgets approved at special elections. In large cities such as Buffalo, voters choose board members but do not approve budgets. With exception of New York City, these districts are, in effect, separate governments run by elected schools boards.
    The school boards are chosen in special elections with very low turnouts. Most of the voters have a special interest in the outcome, for example, school district employees and the parents of students. The general interests of average citizens are not a significant factor in these elections.
    The results are predictable: bloated payrolls and some of the highest property taxes in the country. The Tax Foundation recently concluded that Niagara County, for example, is the highest taxed county in the nation, relative to assessed valuation.2 Schools districts account for fifty-five percent of that tax burden.3
    Giving voters the right to approve budgets has utterly failed to restrain spending. Again, such elections are dominated by special interests which favor higher spending. On occasions when budgets are defeated, similar budgets are often re-submitted until the opposition is worn down.
    Another deterrent to competitive elections is the artificial nature of the school districts. In 2005, we saw almost every incumbent Erie County Legislator re-elected whereas several incumbent town board members were defeated. It is easier for challengers to defeat incumbents when they are running in their own communities as opposed to special districts which cobble together different communities or neighborhoods.
    The electoral history of Erie County shows a clear pattern: incumbents are most vulnerable in small districts that correspond to organic
    1 Public Authorities Have Failed the Public; Should We Revive the Old Board of Supervisors?; Comptroller’s Audit Proves IDAs Must be Abolished.
    2 http://www.niagara-gazette.com/weeke...293233337.html
    3 http://www.niagara-gazette.com/local...313205202.html
    2
    communities, for example, Buffalo council districts, rather than larger districts which combine different neighborhoods, for example, the Erie County Legislature.
    The present regime allows special interests to use special districts and special elections to control the schools for their own purposes at the expense of the general public which is largely irrelevant to the process.
    We propose to eliminate all these school districts insofar as they constitute separate governments. We propose to eliminate all the elected school boards and special budget elections.
    Under our plan, each city or town will have its own school district. Why elect a board to run the schools when there is already a municipal legislature in each municipality? Responsibility for the schools would shift to the existing town boards, mayors and city councils. Each town board would appoint a superintendent to run the schools on a daily basis. In cities, the mayor would nominate a candidate for superintendent subject to the consent of the council.
    In sparsely populated rural areas, perhaps five or so towns could cluster together to form a district with each town’s supervisor serving on the school board.4
    This alternative system has many advantages. First and foremost, the voters in general elections will elect the policymakers who run the schools. Special interests will be less likely to dominate elections when the turnout goes from 10 percent to 60 percent. All of the costs associated with special elections and with maintaining separate school boards are eliminated.
    Finally, when the schools become a department of the existing municipal government, consolidation of non-educational functions can occur. The existing parks department can replace the groundskeepers who maintain school sports fields. The public works departments can replace the
    4 One critic of a draft of this paper posted online for comment, pointed out that some rural districts are already consolidated. First, that means that this proposal will cause them minimal disruption or cause for complaint. However, the comment overlooks the essence of this proposal, which is to put control of government schools in the hands of municipal officials chosen at general elections. 3
    school building engineers and so on with each and every expensively duplicated function.
    All in all, this proposal would eliminate 203 elected officials in Erie County alone and thousands statewide.
    In sum, costs will be reduced and the grip of special interests will be loosened, which can only lead to a greater focus on educating students which is after all supposed to be the point of it all.
    4
    I just read your post, and after reading it, I just get madder at the parasites that are killing this area.

    The people are being parasitized.......... period.

  15. #30
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    I see your theory but not sure if it would work. We have a dpw head that only wants to maintain "one" playground can't see him doing any more work than he is doing now. The people in charge will always find something to fault.

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