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ImageI have to admit I really liked the joint TCCOG (Tompkins County Council Of Governments) / County press conference yesterday.  The purpose was to announce that in a mere two weeks that 16 local municipalities had come together and collaborated to produce a united front to the New York State and federal governments insofar as priorities for local projects that could be funded by the federal stimulus package are concerned.

In this day and age of fierce partisan politics, corruption, and politicking, it was almost like stepping into an alternative universe where legislators from competing municipalities work together pro-actively in an optimistic and positive manner to make things better for everybody. 

What universe is this?  It was bizarre!  But it shouldn't have been.  That's what made it so great.

TCCOG Chairman (and Caroline Town Supervisor) Don Barber went out of his way to stress that egos were put aside and that the economic stimulus package gave legislators a chance to work together to basically get its ducks in a row so that county municipalities will be uniquely positioned ahead of time to impress state legislators who will be doling out the money.

"This will meet today's economic challenges and provide a meaningful difference for our residents' lives," Barber said.  "To turn today's economic challenges into opportunities for productive change communities must be prepared to respond surely and knowledgeably, taking action now to plan for the future.  We are confident that we are ideally poised to forge ahead with valuable initiatives that will meet our community's needs, create jobs, and strengthen our state's economy."

Legislators are certainly not going to agree on policy and philosophies all the time.  But all too often, especially in state and national politics they refuse to agree even when they agree.  They seem to think it will do their parties some good, but most people don't see what good it does to anybody.

That is why yesterday's press conference was truly remarkable.  To see that level of cooperation not just among the members of one legislature, but among the members of 16 -- well, you just don't see that every day!

It would be great to see more.

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