“The World According to Doctrine” — “It’s not a government – it’s a gang” Bumper sticker

“It’s not a government – it’s a gang” Bumper sticker

From the Federal definition of a gang: An association of three or more individuals whose members collectively identify themselves by adopting a group identity, and whose purpose in part is to engage in criminal activity.

The association may also possess some of the following characteristics: 1. The members may employ rules for joining and operating within the association. 2. The members may meet on a recurring basis. 3. The association may seek to exercise control over a particular geographic location or region. 4. The association may have an identifiable structure.

Part 7c – A Cyclic History: Pollute, Distort, Pacify, Repeat . . . Committees and Cover-ups

Politicians, bureaucrats, and agricultural interests hold hands in committees, while putting on an endless dog and pony show of ineffectual voluntary fixes and do-nothing oversight.

10 years of articles in the Auburn Citizen show that efforts to abate agricultural pollution are at a standstill — the only difference is the date of the article.

Part 7c – A Cyclic History – Pollute-Distort-Pacify-Repeat –Committees and Cover-ups

Continue reading Part 7c – A Cyclic History: Pollute, Distort, Pacify, Repeat . . . Committees and Cover-ups

Part 6 – Sewers of the Land

The influence of rich and powerful interests in maintaining the status quo in the face of an ever increasing destruction of the environment, is nowhere better seen than in Tompkins County’s handling of agricultural pollution.

The Tompkins County Comprehensive Plan’s representation of environmental issues and policies is a careful dance around the facts — Facts that paint a very different picture of the sources of pollution in the county, and expose an elitist policy making agenda.

Part 6 – Sewers of the Land

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Part 5 –Smoke and Mirrors

Participation Circumvention

“The participation of citizens in an open, responsible and flexible planning process is essential to the designing of the optimum town comprehensive plan.” — Town Law § 272-a

Although New York State Town Law stresses the importance of an open and responsibly designed town comprehensive plan, many local officials downplay this document, claiming the local comp plan is only a “guide” — and hide their agenda behind the minimum legal requirements for public meetings and the placement of notifications that exclude the community from participation.

Part 5 – Smoke and Mirrors

Continue reading Part 5 –Smoke and Mirrors

Part 4 – The Road to Hell is Paved with Good Credentials

The rural Town of Lansing is racing ahead to be the “the growth part of the Tompkins County area,” but when you look around, there’s no competition in sight — are we that smart . . . or that stupid?

Part 4 – The Road to Hell is Paved with Good Credentials

Continue reading Part 4 – The Road to Hell is Paved with Good Credentials

Part 3 – “Whose Comp Plan is This, Anyway?”

The Tompkins County Comprehensive Plan is a slick promotional piece, but its bright and shiny surface can’t stand the wear and tear of a real world inspection.

Part 3 – Whose Comp Plan is This Anyway

Continue reading Part 3 – “Whose Comp Plan is This, Anyway?”