Residency Law Passed.

[bobbbiez]

Sorry but got to hit and run to work.

Just very happy this law was passed. ;D

Hey, if you want a job in this city, you should be willing to live here and pay some taxes back to the area that is putting food on your table. Plus, one takes pride in the area you live in. If you live in N. Hartford, Whitesboro or where ever, you aren't going to care what happens in Utica. It's human nature to think that way.

Now in reference to the two policemen who pushed this issue.
They signed a contract stating if they got appointed they would move into the city. They both got appointed so what's their beef.
It's as simple as this, they should honor what they promised and in writing.

Plenty of Officers in the past honored that contract when they were appointed including my two sons. One of which this month just brought a new home and "yes" he purchased it in Utica.
Now, would it be fair to those in the past if these two Officers were given special privileges? I think not!

[kim]

I don't agree. Here are my thoughts on that...this is the comment on left on Strikeslip's blog:

The problem, though, is that the Utica area is fairly small. People who live in the Utica suburbs are only a few minutes away from Utica and consider Utica (area) to be their hometown. When people ask me where I'm originally from I usually tell them Utica even though, technically, I'm not. I'm from Clinton. But it's only a 10 minute drive from my parents house in Clinton my my in-laws house in Utica. It takes me almost 20 minutes to drive from my house now to Costco and my house and Costco are in the same city! And what about new hires who have a home outside of Utica? Will they be expected to sell that home and move to Utica? That might be tough, and I don't think it makes financial sense for the new hire. I mean, let's say you have a house that's been in your family for 100 years and you live in Clinton. The house is paid for, but you've lost your job. You have a job offer in Utica but you're told you have to move to Utica to be hired. So now you have to sell your paid for house which is only a few minutes away from Utica, in a housing market that is bad, and move down the road a small bit and either take on a mortgage (which you probably won't be able to get because you've been our of work) or start having to pay rent. Maybe you keep the house but you'll still have to technically live in Utica, so you'll have to pay rent somewhere in the city....eh. I can see problems with this.

[lilbump1980]

I am also so happy the law passed.. I feel if you are paid by UTICA taxes. you should live in Utica, My friends and cousins that are all Utica Police Officers live in Utica.. THey have NO problem with it. They take pride in their city.. and also followed the Contract they signed many years ago

[denise]

I'm sorry that the law passed. I feel it is very short-sighted on the part of the residents of Utica who voted for this law, and it makes me glad I don't live there anymore. I just can't understand why anyone would want residency to come before qualifications.

[Swimmy]

I do. You make your living based of Utica residents' taxes. You should live in the city to spend and re-invest into the city. Also, someone who does not live there might not be as totally committed to SERVING the Utica community and do a lesser job than a possibly lesser qualified person who does live in the city.

It's an archaic rational for a time long gone. The city will never be the apple of the region like it once was. We have corrupt politicians to thank for that, and a populace too stupid to vote out incumbents. Of course the latter part of that pertains to state officials too!

[WestmoGuy]

I'm happy it passed too. Too bad that UFD negotiated an exemption in their last contract.

[lilbump1980]

I was curious on that as well. It doesn't apply to UFD. Thanks for clarifying why. I missed that.. Thanks westmoguy

[kim]

A residency requirement might make more sense in a large city. Boston, for example. But in such a tiny city like Utica it just doesn't make sense to me at all. Utica, Clinton, New Hartford, Westmoreland, Whitesboro, Yorkville, New York Mills...they're all basically the same area and could be the same city if there were some way to merge all that. As long as I can remember I've but still have the distinct areas (the villages) as part of the city.

I live in a city with a population of 250,000 and we don't even have residency requirements for city employees.

[clarencebunsen]

I thought it was state law that exempted firefighters, a state law that they can be required to live in the county where they are employed but not restricted to the municipality.

A question for those who see this law as a positive: What is wrong with Utica that a coercive law is necessary to force people to live in the city? I don't think most municipalities find this necessary.

[bobbbiez]

Clarencebunsen, no one is forcing anyone to live anywheres. Point is, if you want to work for Utica then you live in Utica. If not, then you just don't apply for the job.

Kim, the purpose is for Utica to collect taxes from those who want to work for the city. Why should we hire people from Clinton or where ever and have them collect their pay from us and turn around and pay their taxes to another area? Makes no sense to me.

Denise, I'm positive we have highly qualified people who live in Utica. We don't need to look out of the area for good qualifications.

And when I said it boils down to taking pride in where you live, that is so very true. I have been in circles of people who work for Utica but in discussion concerning the cities problems I have heard the non-residents state, "thank God,it doesn't affect us."
Needless to say, I have had some pretty heated arguments with those public servants who are more then willing to take Utica's money and then run in another direction when it comes to helping with the cities problems.

My theory is, "don't sh*t where you live and be willing to be loyal to who is putting food on your table and a roof over your head!"
It's as simple as that.

[Swimmy]

Nov 6, 2008 22:43:42 GMT -5 bobbbiez said:

Needless to say, I have had some pretty heated arguments with those public servants . . . . (emphasis added)

That's the point, I think, of having a resident law. It is a public service job and should be filled with someone willing to serve the public that employs them. By not living in the city you serve, as I stated on strikeslip's blog, you have people with no concern or desire to actually improve the city, just collect a paycheck. And from Bobbbiez's post, that is the case with these current PUBLIC SERVANTS! They serve the public and the public has demanded that they do their bidding while residing in their city. Simple situation, move to Utica, or find other employment.

[clarencebunsen]

The Libertarian in me says that any law that restricts freedom of choice is coercive. Then again I consider most laws coercive.

Thankfully it doesn't apply to me. Although I have been considering the attractions of Schuyler Commons when the real estate market improves. I don't have school age children anymore, which eliminates one of Utica's large negatives.

Now, I have to consider that the citizens of Utica have acknowledged that for some people the negatives of living in Utica outweigh the positives and rather than addressing the negatives they have resorted to coersion.

[Swimmy]

While I would tend to agree with you about the libertarian aspect, I disagree in this instance. When you are a public servant, you serve at the people's will, not your own. When you have public servants gald that Utica's problems are not their problems, you have a flawed public servant who needs to be replaced with someone who actually cares about fixing those problems and can fully understand those problems. Public servants serve the public.

[denise]

Maybe they should make them grocery shop and clothing shop only within city limits and only patronize Utica restaurants as well. Don't let them buy gas outside the city either. Just corral them and pen them all in! ;D

[kim]

Nov 7, 2008 7:38:11 GMT -5 denise said:

Maybe they should make them grocery shop and clothing shop only within city limits and only patronize Utica restaurants as well. Don't let them buy gas outside the city either. Just corral them and pen them all in! ;D

Exactly Denise! My in-laws live in Utica. Do you know where they shop? New Hartford. My parents live in Clinton. Do you know where they shop? New Hartford. Utica is a small city in a small area. I think the entire area would be better served if all the towns in the area worked together as one. Perhaps then not as many people would think it better to leave the area completely.

My mother worked for more than 20 years for Madison County, but she lived in Oneida County. I'm so glad Madison County didn't force her to move there even thought her pay was paid for by the Madison County taxpayers, not Oneida.