tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3859894191147478362.post1761148119142698141..comments2023-09-01T03:29:34.801-04:00Comments on New Paltz Gadfly: Unhappy GadfliesTPWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03264842579175313715noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3859894191147478362.post-83337733179107442022011-04-19T21:17:46.311-04:002011-04-19T21:17:46.311-04:00I don't think that a consensus has been develo...I don't think that a consensus has been developed; I think that the consensus has been foreordained. It's just a matter of working the reductive process that leads there. I noted a "white paper" being waved around to that effect at the last meeting.<br /><br />All "right thinking" people will absorb the message and respond accordingly.<br /><br />Or the beatings will continue until morale improves.Martin McPhillipshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02702640115003772857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3859894191147478362.post-17340879030366737612011-04-19T16:04:11.902-04:002011-04-19T16:04:11.902-04:00@Martin, I don't necessarily disagree with you...@Martin, I don't necessarily disagree with your assessment of how these things frequently play out. But if you think that committee has developed any kind of consensus on the best way to move forward, you're mistaken.Brittany Turnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02329337890735136976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3859894191147478362.post-26768175409903996592011-04-19T10:00:31.259-04:002011-04-19T10:00:31.259-04:00I would argue that "consolidation" has l...I would argue that "consolidation" has little to nothing to do with either efficiency or effectiveness. It is largely about control and power.<br /><br />But once a civic fad takes hold in the imagination of the "movers and shakers," well, it's like pulling dinosaur teeth with a crowbar to get rid of it. There are, of course, many tough questions that sit, as Camus phrased it, "between yes and no," but those are the wrong questions to leave to professional busybodies to decide. There are people around town who are still committed to the "One-Way Main Street Loop," for instance, despite the fact that it makes no sense at all, and in so many different ways. But present them with those arguments and the essence of what you get back is "we recommend it because we recommend it."<br /><br />The exact same thing is going to happen with this consolidation study. "But we studied it for months, we, the movers and shakers, and it was official, because there was a $50,000 state grant. We recommend it because we recommend it."<br /><br />I certainly have no beef with Fairweather, who is a smart man, but the "movers and shakers" clearly have him surrounded. They'll hold him hostage until they get what they want.Martin McPhillipshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02702640115003772857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3859894191147478362.post-74329076773440089572011-04-14T17:49:14.292-04:002011-04-14T17:49:14.292-04:00Here's a good chart I just came across that sh...Here's a good chart I just came across that shows government efficiency in action, largely at the local level because it reflects spending on schools:<br /><br />http://www.qando.net/wp-content/uploads/ed_cost_vs_perf.png<br /><br />That's the inflation adjusted (to constant $2009) spending per student for a running 13yr total, K-12, along with changes in academic performance. That's a U.S. average. Locally the spending is roughly twice the latest number on the chart. It would be interesting to see a chart like that just for the New Paltz School District, 1970-2011, contrasting spending with performance.Martin McPhillipshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02702640115003772857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3859894191147478362.post-45922373009263916602011-04-13T12:04:49.932-04:002011-04-13T12:04:49.932-04:00Fair enough, but with the exception of West, I'...Fair enough, but with the exception of West, I've never made the mistake of voting for any of them. So your solution that I stop voting for people who don't do anything I want them too isn't particularly helpful. What about those of us who DON'T vote for them and still want to see our government(s) act in the best interest of the community? What should we be doing instead?Brittany Turnerhttp://legislativebarbie.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3859894191147478362.post-59839978902739537172011-04-13T07:25:39.792-04:002011-04-13T07:25:39.792-04:00New Paltz has a longer history than that of govern...New Paltz has a longer history than that of governmental non-responsiveness, Brittany. Toni ignored people on Crossroads, Jason didn't listen when folks protested the proposed mayoral salary increase, and Woodland Pond was built in a wetland. Having two governments is a great excuse to avoid doing anything inconvenient (although it's not the only one), and our elected officials are going to defend it by making the process confounding.<br /><br />I think we need to look at ourselves and ask why we keep voting for people who don't do anything we want them to. This community reminds me of a domestic abuse victim, always returning to the abusers.TPWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03264842579175313715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3859894191147478362.post-58582996918045091602011-04-12T15:14:53.614-04:002011-04-12T15:14:53.614-04:00@Terence, how do you suggest we stop "allow[i...@Terence, how do you suggest we stop "allow[ing] our elected bureaucrats to decide what the process should look like"? I've been raising concerns similar to the ones echoed by KT for well over a year, in every format imaginable - short, researched, written, verbal, in the paper, in private, at meetings, etc. etc. etc. If the "elected bureaucrats" refuse to listen/acknowledge/respond/act, and there is no election available to vote someone else in, what approach have I overlooked?Brittany Turnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02329337890735136976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3859894191147478362.post-91888714330332891892011-04-12T08:52:20.369-04:002011-04-12T08:52:20.369-04:00I have to support Martin's comments . . . I ca...I have to support Martin's comments . . . I can't imagine that anyone in the working group remembered how you began by the time you ended, even if they are open to your excellent points.<br /><br />Simplicity is really a useful concept. I have been scratching my head that in order to ask the question, "Are two governments better than one?" we need to apply for a grant, hire a consultant, and appoint two completely different groups of volunteers.<br /><br />This is another case where the overly-complex process suggests that there's a goal in mind, and your comments about how it's panning out support that assertion. I don't know if the goal is a specific type of consolidation, or the conclusion that the status quo is preferable, but there's no real work going on here, and probably won't be as long as we allow our elected bureaucrats to decide what the process should look like.TPWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03264842579175313715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3859894191147478362.post-40993480241335529102011-04-11T21:12:55.568-04:002011-04-11T21:12:55.568-04:00The consolidation study is likely being smothered ...The consolidation study is likely being smothered in its own process, and that could look like secrecy to someone not at ground zero of the confusion. Ironically, this letter injects more process, and you can tell that because it has a communications value of zero.<br /><br />It's twelve paragraphs long (plus a seven-point postcript). It should be three:<br /><br />1. You're not communicating with us.<br /><br />2. You're not communicating with the public.<br /><br />3. We're not having it.<br /><br />Flesh those out with two or three more sentences each. Maybe it will get someone's attention.<br /><br />My approach to this would be to explode the underlying premise.<br /><br />Government efficiency: There is no such thing. And that's a provable in theory and practice.<br /><br />If the gadflies would actually have a discussion here about it, then they would be out front of the issue instead of clamoring to get inside meetings that inbreed process.Martin McPhillipshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02702640115003772857noreply@blogger.com