This, despite the fact that 11 years ago many of the same participants made the same exact argument to spend $140,000 for a nearby piece of land for the same "water access" and "open space" purposes. Of course, that deal was nothing more than an imaginative ruse considering "public access" was (and is) limited to paying the seller five bucks to use his adjacent, privately-owned boat launch.
Not surprisingly, the so-called Ramsdill purchase was followed some years later by the $2,000,000 acquisition of the City's proposed waterfront park on Saratoga lake....a short paddle from? You guessed it, the outlet of the Kaydeross. Fortunately, eager paddlers need not wait for funding of the park because there already exists yet another public access point a short paddle away at the terminus of Arrowhead Road. Most of these access points are wonderfully described on Saratoga PLAN's website. A curious fact considering most if not all of the participants mentioned in the Saratogian article are past or present PLAN members. We could go on to discuss the the State boat launch on Saratoga Lake and at least two other access point just outside the City but it seems the real point is to attach "city-owned" to otherwise worthless property in an effort to waste city/state tax dollars and needlessly encroach upon our friendly woodland neighbors.
It should come as no surprise that the Saratogian fails to mention any of these facts because, well, they're the Saratogian. Regardless, the question that needs to be asked is: How can these fucking morons buy more land for purported open space and water access purposes when they cant even afford to improve property they've already purchased and set aside for the same reasons? Furthermore, how can they justify disturbing wetlands and other valuable flora and fauna when at least a half-dozen other access opportunities are within a short distance.
The answers remain elusive...
Good to see you haven't mellowed in old age
ReplyDeleteSo Yepsen is in favor of this Land grab?
ReplyDeleteYes
DeleteSo it's Yepsen now trying to tap into the Lake for the city water supply. Boy this sounds like a bad dream that is trying to resurface. She must be doing an end round for the McTygues!
ReplyDeleteThe only reason yepsen was all wet for the lake option was because she simply wanted to torpedo Luther forest by denying it water. Since that horse is out of the barn there's nothing left to do outside of paving critical frog habitat and marching in parades.
ReplyDeleteSurprise Yepsen has the time to wade in the waters. Looks like she just started her fifth business - in as many years.
ReplyDeleteIsn't Yepsen running for mayor next time around
ReplyDeleteYes, if by running you mean losing.
DeleteWho will beat her. Anyone else out there
ReplyDeleteYknow, I'm really not sure who may beat her. Saratoga voters have a propensity for going through stupid cycles. See Val Keehn.
ReplyDeleteI guess that is true. Hope we don't make that mistake again.
DeleteHere's what I don't get - we're talking about less then $100k here. I'm not saying that's small change, and it's certainly not small change to a city with budget woes like ours, but it's pennies compared to what was put together for the 9/11 memorial. Can't these people come up with a way to swing this thing on their own, and gift it to the city?
ReplyDeleteIf the REAL goal is to open up wetlands access to the Saratoga Lake, come up with a way to get the land and look for volunteers to build the boardwalk. Once the city buys it, it's gonna be a DPW project, and Skippy is gonna tell us how he's gonna need teams of guys, working around the clock, cashing OT the whole time, just to get the ball rolling. Remember how long those Congress Park Bathrooms at the old library took? Handling this thing privately, through a Non-Profit, and then turning it over to the city. You're looking at $60K in expenses, TOPS.
This isn't about opening wet lands, it's about Yepsen looking for something the Mayor is handling, but has shelved because it's not shaping up to be feasable, and trying to make it an issue. This is the same Joanne Yepsen who was harping about how "Unfunded Madates" were what's killing the County taxes on her Saratogian web chat a few weeks ago. However, when asked how pushing these expenses back to the state level did anything other then shift the burden to the tax payer in their State taxes, vs. their county taxes, she had no response. The woman has no idea how to get things done that doesn't involve spending too many tax payer dollars, and even then, it seems like she never really seems to accomplish much of anything.
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ReplyDeleteI'm just thinking, maybe most people looking at your blog, "just don't get it"
ReplyDeleteI have to admit, it is a bit difficult to navigate.....
Another blog is saying that this deal was initiated by Lew Benton, and now Yepsen is following up to get the deal done.
ReplyDeleteWhy is the city so interested in buying wetlands? I would like to know if someone has a long-range plan for the wetlands, or are we just wasting more money?
Benton wrote the grant because he simply has nothing better to do. Yepsen has been touting open space for her entire non-career. As to your question. The entire eastern portion of the City is one big wetland. Therefore, it cant be developed and any money spent purchasing said wetland is a waste.
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