GLYNN: State fails to live up to its lofty motto

<table width="234" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" background="http://static.cnhi.zope.net/flashpromo/niagaragazette/images/byline_234x60.jpg" height="60"><tr><td><div align="center"><font size="3" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">By Don Glynn</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></font><font size="1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="mailto:don.glynn@niagara-gazette.com">don.glynn@niagara-gazette.com</a></font></div></td></tr></table>
Niagara Gazette

June 24, 2009 04:59 pm

— While the next election for the state lawmakers is more than a year away, the current mood of Empire State voters indicates that many of those office holders could be looking elsewhere for employment.
Residents across the state are understandably fed up with the lack of action on Capitol Hill.
The state Senate circus, as it has evolved, is an embarrassment.
The vital operation to handle the people’s business has been shut down by narrow-minded individuals whose own private agendas are apparently more important than serving the public good.
Many members the Senate or Assembly will undoubtedly find their re-election bids more challenging — you might expect — especially with the Siena College and Quinnipiac University polls showing that 78 percent of the voters consider the present Legislature “dysfunctional.”
Maurice Carroll, the Quinnipiac polling director, said the voter feelings are so strong that “dysfunctional” might become the automatic adjective for Albany.
Despite all the obvious frustration over the inaction, delay and sophomoric approach to conducting the people’s business, the Quinnipiac poll includes another finding that should shock the sensibilities of any clear-thinking individuals: 45 percent of the respondents said they would not hesitate to re-elect their state senator.
That proves that many voters either don’t pay attention or they simply don’t care what’s happening with their state government.
A downstate newspaper editorial notes that upstate, which has been hurting for years, shows no real sign of recovery. Yet, the paper asks, who would even think of investing in a state whose political institutions have broken down so fundamentally?
The present situation in the capital makes a mockery of the state’s motto, Excelsior (Always Upward).
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OFF THE PRESS: “Strange Fatality: The Battle of Stoney Creek, 1813,” by James E. Elliott (Robin Brass Studio, paperback, 311 pages, $27.95) is described as the first detailed account of the virtually unknown battle that impacted the course of the War of 1812.
Ironically, many residents on both sides of the border are generally unaware of the real events during that late night invasion when nearly 6,000 Americans troops aboard 140 vessels routed the British garrison and captured Fort George at Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont.
Elliott’s book is available at the Museum Shop at Old Fort Niagara and at The Book Corner, Main Street.
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SPORTS BOOSTER: The late Bob Lavelle, 60, a former owner of Clancy’s Too restaurant and founder of the once popular NHL Slo-Pitch Tournament that attracted thousands of hockey fans every year to Oakes Park, Niagara Falls, Ont., recently lost his long battle with cancer.
Lavelle was a longtime friend and business partner of Rick Jeanneret, the voice of the Buffalo Sabres.
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IN THE WORKS: Mayor Paul Dyster says the city will soon have a new and brighter message on its Whirlpool Street billboard, directly across from the Whirlpool Rapids Bridge entrance to the U.S. The change has actually been planned for some time.
It was mentioned in an earlier column that the well-worn billboard even showed former Mayor Vince Anello’s name through the whiteout paint.
By the way, the next message will not include the mayor’s name.
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HELPING HANDS DEPT.: If you can afford it, bring some canned food (or a cash donation) to those free Tuesday concerts at Artpark. The collection will benefit the food pantries of Heart & Soul and the Community Missions.
Volunteers also are needed to help collect. Call 205-0287 and leave your name and phone number. You’ll get a call confirming the date you can assist.

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