Let Gaughan Speak

Alright, so Joel Giambra was a bust. He fizzled because of the media coverage, voter outrage, and yes of course because he was kind of a bumbling idiot, at least when it came to red and green budgets. However, he did have at least one good idea, one that shouldn't be buried with his political career. REGIONALISM.

Yes, it is kind of a scary word, especially around Erie County and even more so among town, village, city, and county counsel members. Whaaaa reduce the size of government, consolidate and allow fewer entities to produce the same result as over lapping toe-stepping duplicate agencies currently are doing? Save tax dollars, reduce redundancy, reduce redundance errr and bring Erie Country and all of Buffalo Niagara into the 21st century? Outrageous!

This rant is stemming from this news article, Local governments grudgingly hear Gaughan’s downsizing credo. Yes Kevin Gaughan, the new regionalist! He and his students created The Cost, a study on exactly how much it costs this area to continue its' ways of overlapping bloated government.

The results were alarming if not shocking and certainly eye opening. And, as per usual for this area, no one listened, or at least the vast majority did not listen. Thus, Gaughan decided to go door to door so to speak. Visiting as many town board meetings as possible trying to deliver the message of consolidation and attempt to peel away some of those layers of government. Well whadda ya know, our elected officials don't want to listen.

"Council members spent nearly 15 minutes at a work session last week trying to get Gaughan uninvited to tonight’s regular meeting, citing time constraints and the fact that Gaughan is not a town resident.

When Gaughan prepared to make his pitch before the Village Officials Association of Erie County last week, he recalled, “It was a little colder inside than it was outside.”

Given that the meeting was held in a Hamburg restaurant and no journalists happened to be present, some might have found it impressive that Gaughan was willing to speak before so many elected officials holding knives."

and..

"Two town boards — Cheektowaga and Amherst — have taken a more aggressive approach to dealing with the eager advocate. They reorganized their agendas and left Gaughan’s presentation for last, undercutting his ability to draw an audience."

Rough, they let him in the door, promise him time, and then basically snub him. Well yeah, who would want to listen to someone tell you your job should be not only replaced but eliminated, and that the position is actually a waste. However, they are "public servants" aren't they there to help us, to improve their town/city/village?

The least they could do is take 15 minutes from these "jam packed meetings" to let the guy speak. What is the harm in hearing what he has to say? What if it makes sense, what if it does save the town money? Then again you could be like this asshole Mark Manna who had this to say...

“He wants to be on TV,” Manna said, referring to Time Warner’s cable telecast of regular meetings, but not work sessions. “Let’s be honest here: Why should we indulge him in this? We’re here for Amherst taxpayers, not for free TV time for anybody.”

Give it up pal, resign. Save the residents of Amherst not only the sight of you and your arrogance, but maybe some money along the way. 439 elected officials?!! An economy and population nearly stagnant? Something has to give, and lord knows it can't be the tax payer for much longer.