|
Published: September 29, 2007 11:32 pm
LUCINSKI: Economic wisdom from the Island
By Dick Lucinski/lucinskid@gnnewspaper.com
Niagara Gazette
NIAGARA FALLS —
Greater Niagara Newspapers publishes the Niagara Gazette. As many of you know, GNN is a group of four daily newspapers in Niagara and Orleans counties: The Gazette, the Lockport Union Sun & Journal, the Tonawanda News and the Medina Journal-Register.
The company also distributes a number of weekly papers, one of which is the Grand Island Record. It goes to every home and business on the Island every Saturday.
The reason for this rather lengthy set-up: I’d like to introduce you to Doug and Polly Smith. The Grand Island couple writes a weekly column for the Record called the Isle File. Doug also writes a column for our sports department known as Base Paths.
The Isle File is famous for its insight and knowledge of life on the Island. But in Saturday’s edition, the couple tackled an issue that affects not only Islanders, but all of us who use the New York State Thruway: Talk about another set of toll increases.
Here’s what Doug and Polly had to say:
•••
Suppose you’re a Grand Island merchant and not selling quite enough of your product to cover your costs. What now?
Right, take an ad in the Record, but what’s your pitch?
How does “Try our lower prices” sound? Works for us.
So leave it to the New York State Thruway Authority to demonstrate the difference between free enterprise and a government monopoly.
While waiting in 10-deep traffic at the South Bridge about 3 p.m. Tuesday, Isle File heard that fewer people are using the Thruway. Therefore, the Authority plans to raise tolls to pick up the slack.
The Authority says higher gas prices are reducing automobile travel. Every survey Isle File’s seen suggests most folks are shrugging off the pump gouge. It couldn’t possibly be that more people are “shun-pikeing” to avoid the toll increase that just went into effect, could it?
Or could it be that drivers are fed up with paying premium price for a high-speed ride and getting bogged down in construction? Isle File encountered four delays during last week’s jaunt to Cortland. This is classic bait-and-switch, charging full price for a 65-mph ride and then delivering a five-mile parking lot. Any private business owner who practiced such tactics over the past eight years would have been wearing Eliot Spitzer like a cheap suit.
In another bait-and-switch, the Authority proposes to cut the discount for E-Z Pass holders, many of whom were lured into the program by the promise of savings, making it easier for the Authority to lay off live collectors.
Speaking of tollbooth personnel, pardon our parochialism, but Grand Island’s ultra-helpful and friendly collectors are the exception to the rule. Most downstaters Isle File encounters act as if they’re doing community service against their will, belligerently clueless when asked for a little guidance (“right or left to Lyons?”) or the state of construction itself.
If the Thruway were a business, when receipts slid, it would offer, then provide, lower prices and better service rather than shaking down its captive audience. What a concept!
On second thought, how about “Under New Management"?
— Doug and Polly Smith; the Isle File, Sept. 29
•••
Now I don’t know if Doug and/or Polly have had any formal economics education or training. It probably doesn’t matter. Their argument oozes so much common sense, fancy book-learnin’ isn’t really necessary. Increase the cost of something, people will use less of it or try to avoid it.
The Thruway Authority can invoke the high gasoline price bogeyman all it wants. The fact is, it increased the tolls and miscalculated the drop-off in traffic. So its solution to the problem: Increase tolls even more.
That’s the same kind of logic state officials have used for decades when it comes to taxes: When revenue drops off, raise them even more, then express astonishment when more and more New Yorkers become North Carolinians to follow the jobs that were driven out of state because of the high taxes.
It’s getting harder and harder to love New York.
Dick Lucinski is the managing editor of the Niagara Gazette.. His columns appear on Wednesdays and Sundays.
|
|
|
|
 |
Warehouse
Warehouse, Assembly Production & Cleaning 1st, 2nd & 3rd shifts Sanborn, Grand Island Amherst & Tona...>MORE
Grill Cook
GRILL COOK & Waitresses, exp only, full time. Apply within 2021 Main St. Nia Falls ...>MORE
Cook
COOK full time. Apply in person only, Augie’s Diner, 2470 Military Rd. ...>MORE
Dental Reception
Maintenance Supervisor FT Maintenance Niagara Falls YMCA. HVAC, electr., plbg, carpentry, cleaning, pool. $13....>MORE
EEO Compliance & Workforce Diversity Coordinator
Equal Employment Opportunity Compliance & Workforce Diversity Coordinator City of Niagara Falls Immediate...>MORE
SHIPPING CLERK
Shipping Clerk, p/t, 30-35 hrs. wk., exp. in warehouse environment, knowledge of Word/Excel, data entry, UPS, freight ch...>MORE
Private Investigator
Private Investigator Proven ability and equipment to conduct surveillance, background inquires and searches. 1-5 ye...>MORE
DRIVER
Driver, light pick up & delivery, need own car, no WNY, valid NYS driver lic., good pay 694-1251...>MORE
Adult Residential Services Administrator
HUMAN SERVICES Progressive Niagara County Agency serving adults with psychiatric disabilties seeks an Adult Reside...>MORE
Retail Manager
RETAIL Manager needed, exp needed, full time. Fax resumes to Hyde Park Laundry 285-8677....>MORE
See all ads |
Chevy 1994 High Topper Van
CHEVY 1994 High topper van, high road miles, mechanically sound, $900 or bo, 716-510-8105...>MORE
Nissan 1993 4x4
NISSAN 1993 4x4, extended cab, bedliner cap, $1200 or best offer, 715-2450...>MORE
Chevy 1995 Pickup
CHEVY 1995 Pickup truck, 4WD, 5 speed, must see, never had plow on it, $2800 bo, 804-5579...>MORE
Ford 1999 Windstar
FORD 1999 WIndstar, LX, fully loaded, 38k miles, $3850. Excellent condition 860-4747...>MORE
Ford 1998 F150
FORD 1998 F150, standard cab, 4wd, excellent shape, $3495. 716-525-2889...>MORE
Monte Carlo Z24 1998
MONTE CARLO Z24, 1998, runs good, average miles, excellent shape, $1800 , 990-2303...>MORE
1999 Dodge Caravan
DODGE 1999 Caravan, 33, V6, auto, A/C, 99k miles, good cond., runs great. $1950. 525-7796...>MORE
Dodge 1993 Dakota 4x4
FORD 1999 WIndstar, LX, fully loaded, 38k miles, $3850. Excellent condition 860-4747...>MORE
1984 Cadillac Eldorado
CADILLAC Eldorado 1984, runs, inspected, $500. 283-3552....>MORE
Ford 2001 Taurus
Ford 2001 Taurus Station wagon, well maintained, 112,000 miles Siver ext. 4 dr, auto, asking $2800/BO. 716-772-2454....>MORE
See all ads |
|
 |
|