This'n'That; January 6th[Paterson;Rochester;Thruway;artist;Kansas]

Guard Your Wallets, He's Coming! Instead of giving an upstate State of the State address as his predecessor did last year, Gov. David Paterson is choosing to hold town-hall style meetings across the region. Spitzer was the first governor to hold two State of the State addresses: the traditional one in Albany and then one in Buffalo a week later. The intent was to offer specific initiatives that would help upstate, instead of folding those ideas into the traditional speech. The town-hall approach will allow residents to ask questions and interact with the governor on the ideas he lays out in the State of the State address, set for 1 p.m. Wednesday in Albany. Paterson committed Monday to doing at least four town-hall meetings across upstate, starting Sunday [01/11] in Watertown. Other events are tentatively scheduled for Feb. 4 in Binghamton, Feb. 11 in Rochester, Feb. 12 at the State University College at Geneseo and Feb. 18 in Buffalo. Times and locations have not been finalized. Paterson has moved away from Spitzer's plan to split up some state duties, particularly economic development, into upstate and downstate branches. Paterson has argued that New York is one state with a united purpose. This, most probably, will be just another photo-op; breeze into town, act concerned, take some photos, breeze outta town-all on the "taxpayers' dime." Don't fret tho' Guv, we're very well used to it; "Geeze-Louise" Slaughter, "Chucky-Cheese" Schumer, Hillary "Rob'em" Clinton and Princess "You know" Caroline do it on a regular basis. If you four political midgets stopped doing this, the federal and state coffers wouldn't be depleted as quickly..... and the result would be the same: NO CHANGE!! Rochester's "Hand" Is Out Mayor Bob Duffy has unveiled the city's official request for federal economic recovery funding. The request, which has been submitted to Governor David Paterson, US Rep "Geeze-Louise" Slaughter and co-senior Senators Charles "Chuckie-Cheese" Schumer and Hillary "Rob'em" Clinton, begs almost $51 million. It would fund a wide range of capital improvement projects specifically identified as "ready to go" before the end of the 2009 construction season. These include improvements to the Port of Rochester and the Genesee River waterfront in downtown; road and sidewalk improvements and reconstruction; and streetscape redesigns to create more pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods. It also includes replacing heating and cooling systems at the Rundel Library and other city buildings with high-efficiency equipment; upgrading the city's streetlights with systems that improve lighting and reduce energy usage; water-quality improvements at Durand Eastman Beach and revitalizing urban parks. Capital improvement projects, while they may have miniscule long-range benefits, are essentially "make-work" projects like those which prolonged "The Great Depression" of the 1930s. The employment gains associated with these capital projects are temporary at best. When the project is completed the well-paid construction workers [and their paychecks] will be gone, looking for work elsewhere. In their wake, minimum-wage, lower-tier jobs will be left to pad the employment/ unemployment statistics. Incidently, who's gonna fill these jobs? Not the welfare rats; It's too cushy living on "the public dime." Maybe this'll be a magnet for more illegals.... then we can listen to the fruit growers whine that they have no labor pool to draw from. Most of Mayor Duffy's proposals appear to be concentrated in the downtown area. The downtown area has been "dying" for several years; about all that's left are the loitering thugs and hoodlums, trash and debris blowing through the canyons that were once vibrant city thorofares-teeming with pedestrians and vehicles alike. While you're at it Mayor, why don't you try for more "good money" to throw after the "bad money" already committed to the "Renaissance Square" fiasco?? Quite frankly, the city needs more than a monument to [Monroe] County Executive Maggie Brooks-It needs clean, safe streets; it needs profitable, sustainable employers and retail businesses. I'm not sure that the city and county political hierarchy realizes that the mega-corporations are essentially...... GONE!!; Kodak, Xerox, Bausch'n'Lomb, et al, are but mere skeletons of their former selves!!! S-h-h-h-h-h!!! Don't Tell The Guvner!!! [I found this in my daily email newsletter from Keith Goble, State Legislative Editor for Landline Magazine. { www.landlinemag.com }] A Kansas state senator wants to charge higher tolls on the Kansas Turnpike based on vehicle speed. Sen. David Haley, D-Kansas City, has prefiled for consideration during the upcoming session, a bill that would allow the Kansas Turnpike Authority to charge drivers extra if they speed on the road. Drivers’ speed would be determined by looking at the time vehicles entered and exited the turnpike. A new fee structure for affected drivers would be determined by the Turnpike Authority. The speed limit on the 236-mile roadway that extends from Emporia to Kansas City, KS, is 70 mph. Opponents say the effort unnecessarily meddles in turnpike board business. The turnpike authority primarily relies on toll collections to pay for roadwork and repairs. One advantage touted by advocates for the effort is that a lower toll rate for law-abiding drivers could promote fuel economy. The legislation would not interfere with the Kansas Highway Patrol’s efforts to patrol the turnpike. Haley’s bill – SB4 – is awaiting assignment to committee for the session that opens Jan. 12. Gawd!!! The Guvner could have huge fun with this one!!! I see it as America's truckers once again "takin' it in the financial shorts!!" I can't remember Kansas' fee structure for trucks; I DO REMEMBER New York's...... Yup... I'm one-a those!!! Those dam' truckdrivers-the ones that're always in your way, leave tire chunks everywhere, belch black smoke allatime.... but stop to help other motorists, indicate emergencies ahead with their 4-way flashers-incidents you can't see cuz you're sittin' on the ground while he[she]'s on "the second floor;" lead travelers through blizzards and whiteouts with their 4-way flashers [more of the "second-floor effect"-the driver can see OVER the blowing snow]; just stuff like that.....but-I digress!! The vast majority of trailers you see on America's highways are 53' long, up from the 60s standard of 48'. The weight limit on most states' highways remained the same for both trailer sizes [80,000lbs]; thus one does not do any more damage to the road surface that does the other. In New York's infinite wisdom, the Thruway charges twice as much [drivers get two toll cards] for a 53' as they do for a 48'. NY could add the speed toll to the already usurious rate they charge for the longer trailers. YOU-the consumer will ultimately pay the toll.... in increased prices at checkout!! Before I Fergitit............. Those of you who like beautiful wood, ya gotta check out another blog: http://dougswood.blogspot.com . This guy has talent you won't believe!! He does turnings in "plain-ol' wood" as well as some of the more exotic species. Til Nex'Time........