Archive: Opinions

There are a log of heroes in our community.  Volunteer firefighters are at the top of the list, and volunteers of any stripe are big heroes to me.  While they don't receive enough thanks from the community, the most unsung and probably most maligned heroes are our local politicians.

Politicians?!  Aren't they in the top ten on the slime scale?  Well maybe, but first and foremost they are heroes.  They are willing to step up and try to make a difference in our lives.  If we are lucky they effect positive change.

Like when the Village of Lansing Mayor and trustees found a way to redesign Triphammer Road near the malls, easing traffic and making the least village-like village in the county a place where people can walk safely.  Or all those school and fire district capital projects that somehow were funded with money saved, rather than levying additional taxes to fund them.

Our State Senator, Mike Nozzolio, is the most perfect politician I know of.  He has it down pat.  When he comes to town he always comes bearing gifts with a small entourage that always includes a photographer.  He remembers everyone he meets by name.  (As someone who struggles mightily to remember names I was astounded the first time he greeted me by name, actually knowing who I was and what I do.  I don't know how he does it!)

He was here Monday with a check for our library and to rally support for our local economy.  He gathered an impressive array of local leaders from our town, county and community in support of keeping the Cayuga Power Plant open, because closing it will mean onerous property tax rises, lost jobs and local business.  He was humble and focussed on what he believes is best for the Lansing and Tompkins County communities and willing to put himself on the line for it.

Nozzolio is very responsive to local governments that need help on the state level.  When Lansing tried to get legislative permission from the state to hold an early sewer vote, something that people for and against the sewer largely agreed they wanted, he got the job done.  The Senate passed the measure within days of the Town Supervisor's request.  (Unfortunately the Assembly didn't come through, so no vote.)

Even people who stink in leadership positions are heroes for stepping up and at least trying.  Not every municipal or school authority can be a Mike Nozzolio.  But the fact that they are willing to spend a sizable chunk of their lives doing their best to do what they think is right for their communities for little or no compensation is impressive.  Even stepping up just to fill space is impressive on some level.

Every year the Lansing Board Of Education worries there will not be enough candidates to fill the school board seats.  And they are right to worry -- in recent years they have been lucky to have barely enough candidates to fill the positions.  They rarely have an actual competition, and sometimes they simply don't have enough people running at all.  It's a lot to ask of anyone.

I include appointed positions in my heroes list.  I have been sitting in on the sewer committee meetings almost every week for over a year.  I am overwhelmed by the wealth of talent and skill and experience that group represents.  If you don't think they are heroes for stepping up and offering that to you and me for free...

I only use them as an example because I've been observing them.  The agriculture committee, comprehensive plan, Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals... they are all heroes.

Once in office elected and appointed officials have to withstand pot-shots lobbed from every direction.  One local representative recently admitted that it was a relief to be on the good side of a particularly outspoken constituent.  While that wouldn't impact the representative's stands on issues, it is, for now, one less distraction.  One thing that makes me sick about our sewer controversy is that some people have made it personal, attacking people on one side or the other, rather than sticking to arguing the issues.

Here's the thing.  Most people I've talked to argue that they moved to Lansing for two reasons.  First and foremost is our exceptional school system.  Second is the character and quality of life here.  Neither of those would exist without the wealth of local heroes we are so fortunate to have in Lansing.  Without them we'd just be another cruddy town where people just live.

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