Monday, March 22, 2010
Please Reconsider the Garbage Collection User Fee
1:26 AM | 
Posted by
Lance M. Gundersen, Sr.
(Article Linked to the Title)
Let me take a moment to acknowledge the very real possibility that between Facebook and The Leader Herald what has been presented regarding the garbage collection user fee is less than complete. Neither source has the space or format to provide detailed plans. It is beyond the scope of their service.
For that reason, I have my misgivings about city hall providing fodder for controversial stories that can be misunderstood by the paper's readership due to the limitations of reporting and editing. This is not the place to be conducting logical debate for and against such an idea. The Rules of the Common Council clearly include a device called an ad-hoc advisory sub-committee to explore ideas in depth.
Right now, there are quite a few people worried that this method of legislation-by-media will result in a change being rushed through without any consideration for the very real concern that it is tragically flawed.
I make this recommendation for the following brief reasons, that are filled out in rather blunt detail in the linking document at the end of this post:
For that reason, I have my misgivings about city hall providing fodder for controversial stories that can be misunderstood by the paper's readership due to the limitations of reporting and editing. This is not the place to be conducting logical debate for and against such an idea. The Rules of the Common Council clearly include a device called an ad-hoc advisory sub-committee to explore ideas in depth.
Right now, there are quite a few people worried that this method of legislation-by-media will result in a change being rushed through without any consideration for the very real concern that it is tragically flawed.
I make this recommendation for the following brief reasons, that are filled out in rather blunt detail in the linking document at the end of this post:
- By far the most important reason is that the count of available apartments upon which this program is based is wrong - by more than half.
- I disagree with the legitimacy of the community comparisons offered when considering bag and/or tag systems of trash collection. The two offered are completely unlike Gloversville.
- I believe this system will without question lead to a massive increase in blight. Making it harder to get rid of trash can only make a bad situation worse.
- Targeting trash alone misses the forest for the trees. It'll take as much effort to research some form of Rental User Fee or Personal Income Tax as it will to research a garbage user fee. Why not go for the larger goal if ones resources are limited?
- I believe this idea is far more expensive than is realized. Nowhere is the cost of the bags and/or tags considered (especially in relation to the cheaper alternative of a Mud Road sticker), nor the understaffed inability of DPW to execute the current abatement schedule (much less an expanded one), nor the real costs of a dedicated code enforcement office (manpower, material, space, vehicles, etc)
I believe this plan, as presented, suffers from:
- Wrong figures.
- Poor and incomplete research.
- Failure to predict likely outcomes.
- Failure to consider other approaches.
- An inability to look at the big picture and see cause and effect just within the structure of City Hall.
These are all items that should be sending alarm bells to everyone associated with this plan. There is not enough information in what has been presented so far for anyone to make an informed decision. If that information exists, but hasn't been released, then it truly calls into question the methods of communication and planning being employed. I must urge that the city use the process that currently exists to ensure this issue is handled appropriately.
https://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AQo0MK4-PlvFZHdya2ZkN183OHNiNXpxaGM4&hl=en
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About Me
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- Lance M. Gundersen, Sr.
- A lot of authors and bloggers have written about living intentionally. Each define it differently, but the basic gist of the idea is to have a plan and do everything in one's power to make it a reality. My plan was to live debt-free, and then spend my time doing the things I want to do - like finishing at least a Master's in an area I can put to use in my community. I started this process with a Masters in Work and Labor Policy with an Advanced Certificate in City Administration, but then switched to a Master's in Urban Planning focusing on Bike and Pedestrian Infrastructure (and learning a fair bit about environmental planning, Brownfield redevelopment, community planning and more). I have also begun accomplishing a whole basket of cycling, sailing, hiking and personal enrichment goals which are each in various states of accomplishment. Feel free to stop by and read my musings. Comment if you like. Please be respectful, and I apologize that it's even necessary to have to say that at this stage of our existence.
