While the next election for the state lawmakers is more than a year away, the current mood of Empire State voters indicates that many of those office holders could be looking elsewhere for employment.
Residents across the state are understandably fed up with the lack of action on Capitol Hill.
The state Senate circus, as it has evolved, is an embarrassment.
The vital operation to handle the people’s business has been shut down by narrow-minded individuals whose own private agendas are apparently more important than serving the public good.
Many members the Senate or Assembly will undoubtedly find their re-election bids more challenging — you might expect — especially with the Siena College and Quinnipiac University polls showing that 78 percent of the voters consider the present Legislature “dysfunctional.”
Maurice Carroll, the Quinnipiac polling director, said the voter feelings are so strong that “dysfunctional” might become the automatic adjective for Albany.
Despite all the obvious frustration over the inaction, delay and sophomoric approach to conducting the people’s business, the Quinnipiac poll includes another finding that should shock the sensibilities of any clear-thinking individuals: 45 percent of the respondents said they would not hesitate to re-elect their state senator.
That proves that many voters either don’t pay attention or they simply don’t care what’s happening with their state government.
A downstate newspaper editorial notes that upstate, which has been hurting for years, shows no real sign of recovery. Yet, the paper asks, who would even think of investing in a state whose political institutions have broken down so fundamentally?
The present situation in the capital makes a mockery of the state’s motto, Excelsior (Always Upward).
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OFF THE PRESS: “Strange Fatality: The Battle of Stoney Creek, 1813,” by James E. Elliott (Robin Brass Studio, paperback, 311 pages, $27.95) is described as the first detailed account of the virtually unknown battle that impacted the course of the War of 1812.
Ironically, many residents on both sides of the border are generally unaware of the real events during that late night invasion when nearly 6,000 Americans troops aboard 140 vessels routed the British garrison and captured Fort George at Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont.
Elliott’s book is available at the Museum Shop at Old Fort Niagara and at The Book Corner, Main Street.
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SPORTS BOOSTER: The late Bob Lavelle, 60, a former owner of Clancy’s Too restaurant and founder of the once popular NHL Slo-Pitch Tournament that attracted thousands of hockey fans every year to Oakes Park, Niagara Falls, Ont., recently lost his long battle with cancer.
Lavelle was a longtime friend and business partner of Rick Jeanneret, the voice of the Buffalo Sabres.
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IN THE WORKS: Mayor Paul Dyster says the city will soon have a new and brighter message on its Whirlpool Street billboard, directly across from the Whirlpool Rapids Bridge entrance to the U.S. The change has actually been planned for some time.
It was mentioned in an earlier column that the well-worn billboard even showed former Mayor Vince Anello’s name through the whiteout paint.
By the way, the next message will not include the mayor’s name.
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HELPING HANDS DEPT.: If you can afford it, bring some canned food (or a cash donation) to those free Tuesday concerts at Artpark. The collection will benefit the food pantries of Heart & Soul and the Community Missions.
Volunteers also are needed to help collect. Call 205-0287 and leave your name and phone number. You’ll get a call confirming the date you can assist.
Columns
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GLYNN: State fails to live up to its lofty motto
A Line or Two
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HAMILTON: Dandelions, parades, broken poles and people
There are still those remnants of the fading bouquets of floral tributes that still hang at that base of a tree on city hall’s lawn. It is near where, last year, from his shiny silvery cart, Melvin Johnson sold hot dogs and sausages to both city employees and passerbys while his tiny white dog excitingly yelped at anyone that came near.
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GLYNN: Gillibrand seeks help for prime bread-winners
A recent report shows that working mothers across the Empire State earn nearly 15 percent lower pay for the same work as men.
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BRADBERRY: There really are spirits in the water
Over the centuries since it was “discovered” hundreds of millions of people have traveled from every corner of the world to visit Niagara Falls making it the most visited of the great waterfalls on the planet.
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CONFER: The reality of rationed health care
The ongoing debate over Obamacare has brought to light the concept of rationed healthcare. Opponents of health care reform keenly point out that while the bill never explicitly calls out rationing, it features certain provisions that will lead the markets to adjust to strict federal demands and, therefore, dispense certain procedures in smaller amounts or not at all. Because of it being the first time that the subject has really come up in public circles, most people, especially on the right, believe that rationing is something new. It’s not. The free markets have been practicing that for quite some time. I should know; with a 4-inch long, 1-inch wide scar running south of my belly button – and a couple of related scars around my groin – I could be the poster child for rationed health care.
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CITY DESK: A regrettable error
We owe Carol Sensabough an apology.
Several weeks ago, the long-time reader and Niagara Falls resident sent a letter to the editor explaining that she took offense to some of the things written by a syndicated columnist, Stephen Dick. -
HIGGS: Niagara Falls' own West Side story
Trusello’s Bakery was on Elmwood behind the family home at 840 19th St. The family, Richard, William (Billy) and Sam along with two sisters, lived in the house.
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GLYNN: Falls, Ont., rolls out red carpet for Wallenda
Before Nik Wallenda even started practicing his high-wire routine in downtown Niagara Falls, state Sen.George D. Maziarz, R-Newfane, had noted the warm welcome the tightrope walker received across the river.
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HAMILTON: Civic ‘ParticipAction’ can work too
Back in the 1970s, our Neighbors to the North ran a national campaign called ParticipAction to encourage Canadians to get off their butts and do things for the sakes of their bodies.
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GLYNN: Graduates find they’re in staggering debt
Countless senior citizens often gripe about something, sometimes even with good reason. Perhaps they should consider themselves fortunate, compared with the younger generation.
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