Metro Government – Let’s Get Started

By Strikeslip

Every now and then, something comes along in the Observer-Dispatch on the subject of consolidation of regional services or “Metro Government.” Usually promoting the regional agenda of our “powers that be” that already control things  (you know, the people who always seem to manipulate government to wind up on the receiving end of the taxpayer’s largesse), Sunday’s “editorial” entitled “Time to talk about metro government” is no exception.

The editorial gives three examples of businesses that have been/are being moved to Rome from Utica with county taxpayer (i.e., including Utica residents’) participation. These moves manifest the “regional agenda.”  Those who call these moves “hijacking” are dismissed by the O-D as “parochial.”

From the O-D: “The silly turf wars need to stop. We must see ourselves as a region . . .”

I agree. The question is, is the Observer-Dispatch serious about our creating a true regional government that will REPLACE our current patchwork, or does the O-D want just enough “consolidation” to continue implementing its friends’ current policies which have promoted one unit of local government cannibalizing another (with Utica seemingly always being the one eaten).

The O-D needs to be reminded that these policies have created sprawl and given us a public infrastructure that far exceeds the needs and ability of our stagnant regional population to sustain.

To be Fair to the residents of the municipalities involved, “Metro” needs to be an “All, or Nothing at all” proposition. Responsibilities for both the good and bad in the region must be shared. One community should not be built up at the expense of another.

So, Observer-Dispatch, when you use these examples of businesses moving from Utica to Rome and promoting “Metro” government, are you ready for a merger of Utica and Rome and environs? Though more ambitious than what this blogger has proposed in the past, I actually think that would be a great idea! That way, when former-Rome’s tax-base gets augmented while former-Utica’s declines, some of that money will find its way back to pave roads in former-Utica… and it will come back because more than 2/3 of a Utica-Rome Metro Council will be from former-Utica and vicinity.

The “devil” is always “in the details,”  isn’t it, O-D?

Somehow I don’t think the Observer-Dispatch is really interested in Metro government, at least not one where ALL participating residents will share the benefits, ALL will share the burdens (including the cost of negative results such as declining tax base or incomes), and ALL will share in the decision-making.

The O-D has always been there to demand that Utica “share” its benefits with the region, but has never demanded that the region share Utica’s burdens. The region’s principal city, Utica, is always left to fend for itself. Like the pot calling the kettle black, perhaps the O-D is the one that is being “parochial.”

But I could be wrong.   This is 2012 and some say the world as we know it is about to end.  If so . . .

Metro Government: Let’s Get Started.

By Mark Ziobro