Council now to vote on waivers!!!!

[lilbump1980]

are you kidding me? The people of Utica have spoken and WANT utica police officers to live in UTICA.. now the common council is going to vote on if they can do waivers.. This is ridiculous.. Roefaro get some guts and say this is it.. the residents have spoken.. NO waivers.. UGH why bother putting it on the ballot then



www.uticaod.com/news/x1720676916/Residency-waivers-to-go-before-council

[Clipper]

I saw this coming when they reaffirmed the law. You didn't think they would have such a law and not have a provision for East Utica politics to continue with the bullshit nepotism and patronage did ya!

Personally, I think the answer to different politics in Utica, is the same thing that is happening on a national level. Elect a black mayor or a Bosnian and watch the city progress and pride come back to the people. A person doesn't have to be American born to be mayor. When the pride is restored, the neighborhoods will be self policed and much of the crap will be taken care of.

It is time for people like Larry Jr to shake up the county, and someone like him to shake up the city. It is time for the good old boys pandering to the real estate developers and friends of their friends, and relatives of relatives, to be gone from the political scene, and for HONESTY and true dedication to the city as a whole to take office. I thought Roefaro would bring a breath of fresh air, but the wind still blows from the sewer plant. Politics still stink in the city.

Waivers should not even be considered if they want to stick to their original rhetoric and insistence on residency. If waivers are to be a sad reality, then they need to be approved by the whole council and not available for the Mayor to misuse, as Julian did.

While I am against the residency laws, I have to admit that if I were a fully trained police officer, I would not even think about jumping into the cesspool that is Utica politics anyhow. We have a wonderful city that is run by self interest and family interests, and it is flushing our hometown down the pipe, financially and culturally. There is a chance to take the newfound diversity and promote a wonderful new atmosphere of cooperation to bring back the neighborhoods, and all we are continuing to do is pander to county government and give away the city a piece at a time. It all started with Hanna and teh water board, and has progressed to where the city mayor simply sits back and allows the county exec to decree that OTB will continue to reside in Utica, but NO money will be given to the city.

Stand by for more. Roefaro has his feet planted now, and he will continue to play the game that has always been Utica politics, run from the East end. Don't expect much unless you are one of the one's that "oils the machine".

[denise]

What can I say? I laughed when I read that article.

[dgriffin]

Reminds me of the BS I've been reading about "property tax relief" proposals from the governor and the tax relief committee. There is always a way for the powerful to do what they want. Devil's always in the details.

[WestmoGuy]

Dec 3, 2008 9:48:47 GMT -5 denise said:

What can I say? I laughed when I read that article.

Same Here!

What a bunch of crap.

[lilbump1980]

I mean I can't say anything about East Utica, I grew up there. My mom actually went to school with Roefaro.. However, He needs to stand up for the people.. HE seems to want to how do i say this as my grandma says..."keep them stupid and happy" Seems like that is what he is trying to do to Residents.. Let me just see how they vote to make them think I care!!! What next?

[Swimmy]

I hate to say that I warned people what kind of "mayor" roefaro would make. I agree with Clipper, 100%.

[tanouryjr]

This is absoluetly a slap at the taxpayers and voters. Whether you agreed with the law or not, democracy has spoken and the voters approved it in a landslide. The law hasn't even taken effect yet and they alreay want to side step it? Not to mention that the law that they passed on to the voters was already on the books since the 60's. The voters spoke and now the politicians need to enforce the law. I can't understand these people. Even if they wanted to do this, who sits in their office and says "hey, let's just go propose this blatant slap at the voters?" Doesn't the Mayor have any advisers that have one ounce of political savy or PR skills?

[golden]

LMAO on this too! Angelo would have probably made a better Mayor! The village (Ilion) that I live in has Police Officers from outlying areas but they are still dedicated to the Village! As Dave would say "thats a moot point". What an Idiot!

[Clipper]

I just read on the OD homepage that the issue of residency waivers was tabled until the 17th of December. Maybe they are having second thoughts after reading the OD comments as well as reading here. I am sure that we have gained enough creedence, that we warrant a quick read every day from local politicians.

I wish a few more would develop the courage to join Larry here at the corner and chat with us. I highly respect the fact that Larry puts himself up for criticism or whatever, and is not afraid to put his feet to the fire on the forums.

Politics would probably run smoother if politicians actually sampled the waters a little more often on forums like this one, and found out how the voters and citizens REALLY feel about the issues. Citizens would probably have more respect and understanding if they were able to exchange words with elected officials, as we do with Larry. It would be very helpful to both sides.

[lilbump1980]

Why bother voting if the common council was going to let waivers be? Does Dave think the residents and voters are stupid.. They will remember this when the next election comes around... and he wont get votes from me!

[Clipper]

Well, I guess in Utica, you vote for an "administration" and get a "regime". That is nothing new for the city. It has gone on for years and it isn't going to stop until someone runs that actually doesn't have a "personal" agenda, and preferably an orphan with no known family to appoint, hire, or give lucrative contracts to.

I would be really enthused if a hard working, economically intelligent, Bosnian, black or hispanic were to get their feet under them and find the support to run and win. LOL. Take politics away from the usual suspects and give it to someone that APPRECIATES the American way of life, and has a genuine desire to enhance life in our city. Without pointing fingers at any individuals, it is a "machine" in the East end that runs the political machine in Utica. It is NO different than it was in the days of Rufe, and Uncle Henry's Pancake House except for the names of the players and the location of the round tables. Hell, I don't even know the names of the players any more, but I do know that the machine still exists and that it is well oiled and efficient to their cause.

[lrtill]

Clipper - I think you should move back and run for mayor! LOL

[Clipper]

Jeez, I would lrtill, but I am holding our for a cabinet position, so I can't fool with local politics at this time. The retirement is much better, haha.

I want the job that can direct all the federal moneys away from street scapes and store front awnings, and into affordable housing and job training.

If Roefaro wants to move the statue into the middle of Oneida Square, he will have to do it with funeral profits, and a few of the good ole boys with jacks and a sturdy snowmobile trailer, LOL. (Did that ridiculous idea fall by the wayside, or was THAT tabled until the 17th of December also???)

I doubt that I would find much money for revitalizing buildings to hold loft apartments, while the storefronts downstairs on the street sat vacant, while the moneys to build the lofts came from government grants and tax breaks.

I have this ridiculous idea that in order to revitalize "downtown" we need to start on the outlying neighborhoods and work our way into the downtown area. When the neighborhoods are liveable again, there will be interest in downtown again, with the revival of interest in the city as a whole.

[lilbump1980]

larry why dont you run??