sailor308
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No knowing the specific species of the Manlius pair, it's impossible to conclude their eventual fate. If they are native trumpeter swans, they enjoy special protctions under the Migratory Bird Act (CFR 50). If however they are mute swans, a non-native species introduced from Eurasia, the birds are not protected by federal legislation. Individual states decide the fate of mute swans. But trumpeter or mute, I like the birds. If I'm duck hunting and a small flock of swans lands nearby, their presence is a delightful distraction. Then it's back to the duck calling. Even if it WAS legal, I don't think I could bring myself to shoot a swan. I hope Faye lays a few more eggs and that the cygnets survive, but that pond is likely to get crowded if the survival rate is 100 percent. Swans are BIG, and some species consume as much as 8 pounds of vegetation every day. By summer's end, that pond could be a swan poop cesspool.
Erik;
2400 - perfect score on the SAT! That's an accomplishment in and of itself. J-D may not rank students individually, but smart money says if it did, you'd be the valedictorian and good for you if you are. Good luck at Princeton. Just hittem' long and straight and try not to make the rest of the Princeton frosh feel inadequate. You're gonna go places boy - I just gotta feeling.
Two items pop out of this story. First, why would anyone knowingly buy a house in a FEMA designated flood zone? Second and probably more importantly, based on the appraised values of the homes cited as examples, the city has pumped property values well beyond their actual market value. Mr Zielinski is a prime example. If he's correct in his assessment of his two rental properties, the city bases his taxes on a "value" 2 1/2 times what the houses would probably sell for.
Based upon Paul Reide's excellent reporting, the owners of every affected property in the FEMA flood zone should immediately challenge their property tax assessments.
Two items pop out of this story. First, why would anyone knowingly buy a house in a FEMA designated flood zone? Second and probably more importantly, based on the appraised values of the homes cited as examples, the city has pumped property values well beyond their actual market value. Mr Zielinski is a prime example. If he's correct in his assessment of his two rental properties, the city bases his taxes on a "value" 2 1/2 times what the houses would probably sell for.
Based upon Paul Reide's excellent reporting, the owners of every affected property in the FEMA flood zone should immediately challenge their property tax assessments.
Mr Rubin;
As usual your comments are spot on, and this op-ed is no exception. However, I would point out one inconsistency. The instant judge Hedges stepped down from the bench, he became a private citizen. As such, he was under no obligation to comment about the reasons for his abrupt departure. For while the press needs access to public officials, public documents and how government spends the public's money, private citizens also enjoy First Amendment rights of free speech. In the case of former judge Hedges, his right NOT to speak is just as importantant. As for the other members of the Family Court, their decision not to comment may come down to the simple fact that they didn't know why judge Hedges left so suddenly. Distrust of all levels of government is inherent in the American psyche and I for one don't trust ANY government official. But sometimes, maybe in the matter of judge Hedges, no one save the man himself has anything to add or insights to share. You cannot castigate people for what they DON'T know. And like it or not, any employee private or public still enjoys the freedom to say "take this job and shove it".
Geez Louise, people are being stabbed in Syracuse every day. That's no reason to move a bus stop.
Like wild turkey's, Faye won't sit her nest until she's finished in the egg laying department. In this fashion, all surviving cygnets will hatch at the same time; greatly increasing their chances of survival. For the life of me I can't fathom why anyone would want to disrupt the lives of these beautiful birds. If I'm hunting ducks in Dexter Marsh and swans fly in, it's a sight to behold. One the wing, they look like small planes. Waterfowl have a weird pecking order too. Canada geese hate ducks and will drive them away. Swans hate Canada geese and will drive them away. But swans and ducks get along just fine together. Go figure.
Hey P-S;
What's a story about a crime committed in Wayne County doing in the Cayuga County News? This isn't the first time the P-S has done this. Is it that you folks don't have a map? Or, as I suspect, if a story has even a remotely rural flavor you just automatically dump it into the Cayuga County pile. So here's a thought, just to level the playing field, why not automatically post all stories of murder, shootings, stabbings, assaults or violent acts in the City of Syracuse section? After all that's where most of the crime in central New York occurs. Right?
Jim;
Good job of reporting the facts. But listing the entire story TWICE does not double its impact. "Oh nurse - is there a proof reader in the house?"
I can't think of a better way to end racism that by racing plastic ducks in one of the most polluted bodies of water in North America. Why not call it like it is - Sewer Fest!
I would think many TRW workers would welcome the opportunity to work 4, 10 hour days as opposed to 5, 8 hour days. Fourty hours equals 40 hours, but 4, 10's equals a 3 day weekend. What's wrong with that? Sadly, with nationwide unemployment at 8+ percent, the union has little true bargaining leverage. And, as other wise posters have noted, there's nothing stopping TRW from closing up shop in Auburn and moving production to either a right-to-work state or China. What Local 192 and most unions fail to understand is that if a company cannot make a decent ROI (return on investment), it fails. Conversely, what many unionized businesses fail to recognize is moving a plant to China is expensive and runs the risk of producing an inferior, lower-quality product. But, there's an alternative to this mess.
Having worked jobs as a union member and years later as a manager in a non-unionized company, my sincere hope is that both parties cool down the rhetoric, moderate their negotiating positions and compromise. Auburn needs the jobs and TRW doesn't need a production halt. If both parties compromise, everybody gets something. If both stick to their guns, nobody gets nuthin'. And 50 percent of something is a heap sight better than 100 percent of nothing.
Ms. Green;
Instead of suggesting New York State avail itself to yet anoher opportunity to quite literally "nickle and dime" its residents with another fee, you could do any of the following.
* Shop at Sav-A-Lot. The store does not use plastic bags, shoppers place their purchases into used cardboard cartons provided by the store. And cardboard is easily recycled.
* Shop at Price Chopper. For every cloth grocery sack a shopper provides, the store issues a 3 cent credit for a plastic bag it did not use. The customer SAVES MONEY and the state don't get squat.
* After unpacking them, put your cloth grocery bags back in you vehicle. I realize this tremendous individual effort lacks the sizzle and sexiness of a state-mandated fee, but it's actually a fairly simple task to perform, trust me on that one.
Additionally, the logic of your suggestion is seriously fawed. Once the state has collected millions in plastic bag fees and every park, scenic overlook and community "gateway" is buried in additional signage, the state will divert the purportedly "dedicated" bag funds into that financial sinkhole known as the General Fund where it will be pi$$ed away on God only knows what by the most dysfunctional legislature in the entire nation. Not only that, but virtually every retailer will be saddled with additional administrative costs as each sequesters the bag fees before sending them to Abany. According to a poll released on May 3, New York already ranks 49th as a business-friendly state, this additional tax/fee/cost will do nothing to move the state up in the rankings. Proposing another new tax to New York State is the fiscal equivalent of giving a vampire/leach/parasite directions to the blood bank!
What is a story about a $hit digester located in Wayne County doing in the Cayuga County news? It seems that whenever any farm related news item is posted regardless of where the event occurs, it's automatically posted in the Cayuga County news. Why is that? Is it that the P-S is so cash strapped that it can't afford a map? Is it because the editors are so lazy or somehow labor under the gratitutious assumption that any "farm related" story can be tossed over the transom of the Cayuga County news? Smart money says most P-S editors couldn't find their way to Cayuga County; even following a trail of bread crumbs. So please, stop dumping every "farmy" related news item into the P-S section which should be devoted solely to the "bread basket of New Yrok State.
Glen/Marnie;
Terrific reporting on a story with a boatload of twists and turns - kudos to you both. I don't reside in Onondaga County, so I'll watch the OCC/SRC funding donnybrook from afar, but one thing is certain. Unless/until OCC makes public the financial details about the SRC arena, the county legislature is definitely in the driver's seat. In matters of this type, there is nothing more powerful than the "power of the purse". This situation is gonna be as entertaining to watch as the J-E school board mess was last year!
Lemme get this straight. The parade blocked a "honking" bus? Now that's what I'd call bravery, courage and dedication to social justice. Not just any run-of-the-mill bus, but a honking bus? Why just imagine the fanatical fervor it must have taken to endure the honking. But tell me Occupiers, was it "fair" to goad the bus into honking?
As a smoker, I'm on both sides of this issue. Smoking is legal and a park is an outside venue; exposed to the air supply of the entire planet. Strictly as an example, NY's Central Park is 2 miles deep. What nonsmoker is going to experience second-hand smoke from a smoker located maybe a mile away? But, to accommodate my nonsmoking friends, I have designated one area of my farm as a nonsmoking area. It's located in a swampy spot about 400 yards from the house and is chockablock with mosquitos and non-poisonous snakes. You'd be amazed how quickly nonsmoking women get used to inhaling second-hand smoke as opposed to traipsing out there every time I decide to light up. My turf - my rules. But "public property" belongs to every member of the public and banning a legal substance is just plain wrong. So c'mon occupiers, where's the "fairness" in that?
A couple of quick points. First, because of America's involvement with other countries, teaching American history exposes students to a decent slice of world history as well. Second, and I believe more importantly,is given that the passing grade on Regent's tests has been dumbed down to 55%, what's the point of teaching world history to begin with. Worse still, according to stories in the P-S, Regent's tests are now graded on a curve meaning that a passing grade might be as low as 40%! Yikes. So do away with world history as a Regent's exam. I doubt it will affect NY's graduaton rate which ranks 38th out of 50. As other posters have noted, maybe the entire Regent's exam program should be abolished along with the Board of Regent's and its minions. With test scores and student achievement already so low, how much worse could it get?
Dave;
Thanks for a terrific analysis/possible explanation of CNY's changing snowfall patterns. I grew up in Rochester during the 50's, and can remember Halloween nights with several inches of snow on the ground, as well as snow falling on Memorial Day 1976 (enough to douse the fire in my charcoal grille). So what's happening snow-wise in CNY seems more like a long wave weather pattern than merely a decade-long trend. Either way, your article was terrific - thanks again.
For the record, Robin Dropkin has been Executive Director of Parks & Trails New York since 2003. So for the last 9 years the care and feeding of the parks network has been under her direct control. Now, after 9 straight years mismanagement, she expects the taxpayers and the people she charges park admission fees, to help sweep out the privvy she has soiled?
Ms. Steinbach;
Your passionate comments notwithstanding, you've missed the point. Calves, hogs and other agricultural livestock are raised specifically to be eaten. More to the point, there are millions of each of them. Swans on the other hand, were hunted to the brink of extinction not for food, but for their plumage (for SCSD grads, plumage means feathers), simply to decorate ladies hats. I might also point out that the nests of most wild fowl are subject to predation from foxes, raccoons, coyotes and other bird species. What happened in Manlius is an aberation - not the norm. And it's disingenuous to somehow equate an isolated act of profound stupidity with feeding the human race sufficient quantities of protein.
What a deliciously ironic situation. Schumer, a big government liberal if ever there was one, is complaining about the actions of the bloated, bureaucrat loaded and intrusive government he's spent a "career" helping to build, maintain and expand. Chuck, to paraphrase Walt Kelly; creator of the comic strip "Pogo"; "I has met the enemy and he is ME"!
That's right pilgrims, tax billboards (the private sector) for the $$$ to erect public art. What a stupid idea. If it comes to fruition (for SCSD grads that means if it happens), billboards will begin disappearing in favor of empty space, much like 1/3 of the city's population "disappeared" once taxes got too high and SCSD achievement levels got too low. Besides, what's to "beautify" in downtown anyway? Maybe the "artsy" crowd could bronze some of the litter, burned out street lights or malfunctioning parking meters that line the broken, poorly maintained streets. Ooooh, I've got it, bronze all the manhole covers along the Connective Corridor. There's something which will instill local pride in the city's crumbling infrastructure. Take it from me, as long as public art is financed with tax money from the private sector; it will be wasted.
With an estimated North American population of some 60 million, shooting a few thousand geese will hardly dent their overall numbers. It's fast, effecient and cheaper than bird RADAR or fixing damaged aircraft. Just once it would be nice to think that the government is more concerned about the lives of the traveling public than a few stinking geese!
This intersection is located in South Hannibal, which is in Oswego County. Why would an article about an Oswego County intersection be posted in the Cayuga County news section?
There's an old southern expression that goes like this; "You get a lot more respect with a gun and a smile than you get with just a smile." Go gittem' grandma! It will be interesting to see on which side of this incident the Brady Campaign and N.O.W. come down on. Does a woman have the right under the 2nd Amendment to protect her own life, or should she have surrendered and possibly been killed? So c'mon anti-gunners let's have a big cheer for the armed bad guys and plenty of condemnation for a legally armed citizen. I dares ya'.
Sean;
The emphasis of your piece focuses on the "public spaces" within the city, and that's good. The public spaces; the highways, sidewalks and parks are under the direct command and control of the city government. By right of eminent doman, the city "owns" these assets in trust for the mutual use and benefit of the publlic. The public in turn surrenders day-to-day control of these spaces to the city and through the payment of taxes, has a legimate right to expect the city to maintain them. This is one of the clauses of something commonly referred to as "the social contract". In legal terms, a contract binds two or more parties under mutually agreed to terms. For a contract to remain binding, each/all parties must honor its obligations, terms and conditions. IMHO, it is the city, not its residents whch has failed to fulfill its responsibilities of this contract. The city has failed to maintain its existing infrastructure; meaning both its outward appearance (litter) and its physical condition (road paving, street light repair, etc).
At its peak in 1950, Syracuse had a population of 220K. The city built out infrastructure to support this population and its corresponding industrial base. As of 2010, the population has decreased by approximately one-third (145K) and the once thriving industrial base, the source of local wealth and taxable assets has virtually disappeared. Now, in a desperation borne from rapidly approaching bankrupcy and financial destitution, the city almost demands that its residents not only pay taxes, but perform the city's work too?
As I have written on prior occasions, the state of destitution is the time when "the copper phone wires are torn down and beaten into bracelets". That time is almost upon the city. What does the city do in the face of impending fiscal ruin? It builds additional infrastructure (creek walk, connective corridor) when it cannot maintain the existing infrastructure - absurd.
Before the city crumbles; after the grant $$$ all dries up, Syracuse needs to accept responsibility for the litter and PICK IT UP THEMSELVES! Failing that, the grand social contract is broken. Expecting volunteers to do the city's work for it, is the equivalent of asking the passengers on the Hindenberg to man the fire extinguishers.
John;
Just a simple question. When did Waterloo become part of Cayuga County?
As soon as I stop laughing, I'd ike to ask the New York State Department of Education a queston. Tell me oh wise Albany drones, how can a math question have two correct answers? And BTW, when you're not writing test questions, do you help Andy add up the numbers in the state budget? I can't stand it, and these morons are in charge of education in New York. NOW I understand why NY is 38th in academic achievement.
To have a 90 percent chance of escaping a life of poverty a person need only do three things.
1.) Graduate from high school
2.) Take a job (any job) and keep it until a better one can be found
3.) Avoid having children out of wedlock
In many cases, second and third generations have lived exclusively off welfare, food stamps, free housing, medicaid and other entitlments. These folks have no concept of work or improving their individual situations, and why should they? Each is comfortably cradled in a safety net of benefits, collectively referred to as "entitlements". And it's a well known fact that any time an activity is subsidized, it results in more of it.
These words do not represent my conclusions, demographers, social scientists and educators figured out this stuff 30 to 40 years ago. In their 1992 book "The Great Reckoning", authors James Dale Davidson & Lord William Rees Moog (internationally recognized economists) describe at great length the entitlement culture and the development of a permanant underclass. Conclusions 1 through 3 are drawn from their research.
With an SCSD graduation rate of 48 percent and an even lower level of core competency/literacy, it's small wonder 1/3 of the people living in Syracuse live in poverty. Over 50 percent lack the motivation to even finish a free high school education. And of the 48 percent that DO graduate, on 9 percent are capable of performing college level work. Considering that SCSD grads might qualify for a free college education courtesy of "Say Yes", then clearly they simply don't care about lifting themselves out of poverty. If this is not the fault of the students and their parents, then whose fault is it?
Douglass;
I suspect something is wrong with the 2010 vs 2011 crime stats. Check out the "Larcenies" row. 2010 vs 2011 shows 3140 vs 3091 or a decrease of 49. How does this equate to a 21% drop? My math says a 1.6% decrease, but then I'm not an SCSD grad. The point is, that if this stat is incorrect (and it is) can the rest of the numbers be trusted? Not your fault, all you can report is what Fowler regurgitates over the transom.