Comments for NYCO's Blog

Comment on Upstate’s missing man by Simon St.Laurent

Simon St.Laurent — Thu, 15 May 2008 17:03:34 +0000

Sorry - I hadn’t noticed the firther comments on the trucks.

I can see why JS might think this is just about Skaneateles, but it definitely isn’t. There’s plenty of garbage truck traffic on other roads, through communities that aren’t nearly as wealthy. (I don’t believe I have these trucks on the road in front of my house, but State Highway 366 is loaded enough with gravel and concrete trucks that it’s easy for me to sympathize.)

As far as enforcement goes, this gives local officials a means of enforcing residents’ complaints. I don’t know what the details are on how high the fines will be or how they’ll be split local/state, but hopefully enough of that will go local to keep enforcement in motion.

I’d like to see these trucks re-route to the place they belong - the Thruway.

And yes, sending Downstate trash to Upstate - way Upstate - isn’t the smartest thing I’ve heard of, or that likely to create friendly relations. I don’t think we’ll see Fresh Kills, the best-named garbage dump I’ve ever heard of, reopening, though.

Comment on Truckin’ by Simon St.Laurent

Simon St.Laurent — Thu, 15 May 2008 16:56:40 +0000

You know, it might make sense for the truckers to pass the increased costs on to their customers. The customers pretty well knew that would happen, which is why the Assembly was so opposed to this. Since it’s a state regulation, everyone’s in the same boat, so there shouldn’t be a way for their customers to dodge that bullet, except maybe by producing less garbage.

The truckers’ problem isn’t this issue specifically - it’s that they keep getting squeezed in the middle by people who don’t want to pay much for transportation, and hope that they can take that hope out on the truckers.

Comment on Truckin’ by threecollie

threecollie — Thu, 15 May 2008 13:55:52 +0000

What a great idea! I hate seeing the expensive to maintain canal system used for nothing but recreation.

Comment on Truckin’ by Gag Halfrunt

Gag Halfrunt — Thu, 15 May 2008 13:37:28 +0000

How about FGLK? Rail would be a good option too…..

Comment on Upstate’s missing man by Ellen

Ellen — Tue, 13 May 2008 21:41:53 +0000

Phil: Bring back the steamroller?

Ah, I knew he’d be showing up any time now - Spitzer’s Ghost!

His political body may be mouldering in the grave, but his Truth is marching on…

Comment on Upstate’s missing man by JS

JS — Tue, 13 May 2008 19:01:42 +0000

I agree about the non-income quality of life issue, but I’d bet good money that these trucks just re-route around communities with the resources to enforce the law.

Or the final rule creates certain accepted paths or protects only certain areas…

The more fundamental issue is the accepted reality that trash flows upstate. Kinda makes you question the whole gratefulness that we’re told we should feel for NYC helping us out.

It feels alot like thanking the King for the chance to be a surf on his land…

Comment on Upstate’s missing man by Robinia

Robinia — Tue, 13 May 2008 17:59:59 +0000

Agree with Ellen that the most eco-friendly way to transport the trash to Seneca Falls may be by barge; unfortunately, our private-enterprise (or is it mobster oligopoly?) in the trash area has a business model that hires trucks. We aren’t in much of a position to influence their decisions. But, as KAZ points out, it is more than a quality-of-life issue, as it is costing municipalities big-time for the wear on the roads that were not constructed to have constant big-rig traffic on them.

I’m very happy that Paterson is moving to work on this.

As for the logo, KAZ, I think some bluebirds (STATE BIRD!) at least might have been warranted. What would really help upstate tourism is not a logo-makeover that looks like kindygarten art, but a solid federal-state-private partnership to improve, expand and promote intercity passenger rail. NYC is getting more and more international tourists due to the falling dollar. If they could get to us via reliable and affordable train connections, a lot more would visit.

Comment on Upstate’s missing man by KAZ

KAZ — Tue, 13 May 2008 14:53:08 +0000

In Simon’s defense, the truck thing is about noise pollution, unwarranted traffic, and excess wear on small county and town roads, which are being used as bypasses to keep truckers from having to pay state tolls. I have friends who are backed up for 15 minutes in the morning trying to get off their rural road and onto Rte. 38 to get to work in Ithaca. We’re not Skaneateles. It’s not a Richie Rich v. The CB Set situation.

As for deconstructing the logo, I think the squirrel they used is modeled on the Fordham black squirrels in the Bronx, and are we really known for our butterflies? Maybe a waterfall–or something they don’t also have in Central Park–would’ve been better symbolism. The grass is just scary.

Comment on Upstate’s missing man by Phil

Phil — Tue, 13 May 2008 13:37:06 +0000

As for real issues:

Ellen, I don’t subscribe to your deconstruction of the new I heart NY ad campaign. We are more rural upstate, we have grass and critters. It’s part of our appeal and what they’re trying to sell. You see unsettling, I see bucolic.

Economic development, feh. Handing tax breaks around hoping they’ll stick somewhere. In a language downstaters may be able to understand: fuhgeddaboutit! Invest in my schools, my roads and fix the energy business in the state and we’ll be beatin’ them off with sticks–businesses, not critters.

Isn’t the legislation about all big rig trucks, not just garbage trucks? I’m with JS on this one, rich folks don’t dig truckers.

Comment on Upstate’s missing man by Phil

Phil — Tue, 13 May 2008 13:28:21 +0000

Bring back the steamroller?