Democracy In Albany

First things first. You don't understand the issue.  The mayor's task force is supposed to address 3 areas, not just business development.   One of those is neighborhood revitalization.   And now Tom Geisel is in charge of revitalizing my neighborhood.  

Have you ever met any high level bankers?   And could they tell their ass from a hole in the ground?  Would you let them babysit your kids? Don't mistake the ability to suck up to other corporate knuckleheads and kiss ass as evidence that someone is a smart person and a good problem solver.  Two different things.  Being a "success" in corporate america most likely means you've never actually taking a stand for something you truly believe in.  Find me a successful small business person and I might be interested in their opinion on my neighborhood.  Maybe they have some ideas on how to revitalize Central Ave (remember that place, Jerry?).   If I was looking for someone to figure out a way to rip off customers by charging them higher bank fees or getting them to take out an interest only loan that they can't afford...I'd give Tom Geisel a call.   Until I take up an interest in usury I don't think he has much to add to the discussion about how to help my neighborhood or city.  And I can only wonder what his ideas on education are.   I doubt he's even a fan of your beloved private schools these days.

I'm not saying we should randomly select Albanians to give input on how to fix the city.  I'm saying we should talk to the people who are already working to make their neighborhoods and city better.  They don't wait for the great Mayor to ask them to do something.  They do it.  They've been doing it.  In my neighborhood, the homeowners pick up the garbage.   These people are a powerful positive force for this city.  A smart mayor would work with them.  Only thing we need now is a smart mayor (see my comment about bankers above.   It applies to politicians as well).  Glad handing and back stabbing doesn't make my streets safer or my schools better.

one last point - blaming the citizens who are working hard to make a difference despite the mayor is like blaming democrats for the problems this country faces.  The republicans have controlled everything for some time.  They have the power.  These problems we have are their creation.   Jennings has all the power in Albany.  Trying to blame the citizens who care for not doing more is just plain dumb.  

one really last point - the mayor sez - "I'm not going to redesign a whole committee just because some people felt they were excluded"