Not just the fire companies that are scrambling for volunteers, EMS squads as well. As we know, it's not about just showing up at a fire or car accident, it's also the enormous amount of training these individuals undertake in order to answer a call. If you've ever had the misfortune to need any of these volunteers you'd know what special people they are.
We're all concerned about air quality until we're asked to change our habits. Every year the voters are asked to approve additional school buses. Why not try an electric bus? Each year the schools celebrate Earth Day don't they? What a good example to set for our students to have an electric bus or two.
People often make bad financial decisions. They fail to calculate the operating costs into the cost of purchase.
Voting for Dan Stec is expensive. You get him at the same cost as any other state Senator but the return on investment is low and the cost of operation is very high. His decisions are bad and his connections to the supply of power in Albany is weak.
He’s like an old vacuum cleaner the designers made extra loud so you felt like it really sucked. And it did really suck but it had little power to function.
Think of it this way, every time you get a franked mailer from Dan Stec it cost about the same as the end cost of one of those electric school buses in Alexandria Bay.
Re volunteerism generally, I am guessing that Covid accelerated the decline. I am not sure whether my situation was typical, but with the advent of Covid, I immediately stopped serving lunch as a volunteer at a DC area shelter. I have not yet gotten around to resuming.
The decline in volunteerism is a national problem across all sectors. Formal volunteering has fallen dramatically since COVID, but it was in decline for a long time. COVID hammered it, though. I run a nonprofit free tax program (VITA, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance). I had over 100 volunteers in 2019, down to 40 this filing season). The COVID hit is short term, I think, but folks who research the nonprofit sector have noted longer trends.
We Americans have always been this interesting combination of individualism mixed with a commitment to the common good. Volunteerism was embedded in our DNA. Since before the country's founding, every time we see an issue, we create an association, whether it is a volunteer fire department, an aid program for immigrants (that's how Legal Aid got its start 150 years ago; German-Americans helping recent immigrants from the old country) programs to support youth, funeral/burial charities, hospitals, programs for servicemen and women. The Knights of Columbus became popular through operating clubhouses for Doughboys in training camps during World War One.
The decline in volunteerism goes hand in hand, I think, with individualism taking first place over our responsibility to the common good. The Atlantic had an article a few years back where the author discussed how the decline in associations harms our democracy. How do we learn to make collective decisions? To work amicably with people we might not agree with? Through our garden clubs and scout troops and civic associations and faith communities and the other organizations where we need to make group decisions. I don't think we have really understood the broader impact the decline in volunteerism will have on our culture.
The goal to replace school buses appears to be 2035. If districts were smart, they would plan that transition starting now and take full advantage of any grant money. This is obviously a political issue now instead of a student safety and environment issue. Children and people driving near the bus inhale these fumes daily and the environment suffers. I think we clearly have gotten to a point where we can divide the parties into those for the people and the safety of our world (Dems) and those who only care about their pockets and their power (Rep.)
I used to think that stec might actually be a smart republican.. or at the very least, an honest guy.
Enter pos_tfnKKK and then he swayed away from common sense. The main thing you have to say about both stec and pos_tfnKKK is: that they are not about solutions, they are about validating 'what we wanna believe.'
• If you want to believe an electric vehicle won't work, they will validate that thought.
• If you want to believe climate change doesn't exist, they will validate that thought.
• If you want.... they will validate.
One of the things I find so amazing about this is how contrarian they are... for years while saying there was no climate change, they would add, "and if there is, American ingenuity will solve it."
Now we have climate change and we are likely past saving the planet (unless you don't believe that, then a gQp will validate your thought), BUT when the ingenuity of electric buses is here to start saving the day. Now we hear: 'electric buses don't work.' I guess the gQp is so much about giving tax breaks to the rich, they forget about the average engineer.
What I find so un-tethered to reality amazing about this is how deep one must put their head in the sand to ignore what is going on. Walk through any parking lot and start counting the Electric Vehicles (from hybrid to all). For the last year I have spent a lot of time in the Adirondack Medical Health Center lot. In just one year, the increase of EV’s.
{There are two things I noticed. More EV’s and more gas-guzzling oversize trucks with FJB bumper stickers. Guess who complains about gas prices, while ignoring climate change? Hint, the gQp validates their crude ignorance (pun intended).}
When the auto industry went on strike, one of the biggest issues revolved around the making of EV’s.
I think a great irony/hypocrisy is we have people who want to be lied to by stec and pos_stfnkkk and in two years won’t remember.
Lake Placid Central School is an embarrassment in the story. They have multiple routes to move kids back and forth, not just from residences but also to the Village’s Catholic school. Without a doubt there are several bus routes that even the most ineffective EV bus would work (and they would get a financial incentive to do it).
It is obnoxious to hear politicians like Sen. Stec saying that they don't oppose climate action on principle (pinky swear) but denounce every concrete proposal out there.
It is also disingenuous to hear people like him complain that we're not ready to make all our school buses electric right now when he knows full well that the legislation does not require 100% conversion for another ELEVEN years: by 2035.
There are always going to be bumps in any major technological transition. That's why smart districts (who are able) are buying a few electric buses now, so they can iron out the kinks on shorter runs and slowly move toward 100%.
I just hope the state fulfills its part of the bargain and properly funds this needed transition. That is one area of suspicion that is perfectly legitimate.
Took some time and read the NPR piece. Came away with exactly the same conclusion I drew a few years back.
The electric buses a very expensive when compared to conventionally fueled buses. The fact there are grants, credits and other State and Federal programs to offset the costs does not change the underlying equation. As is the norm we want to pretend if the money does not come directly from our wallet to the local school district the cost is somehow less. Unless Washington and Albany have Moneytree orchards the fact remains either current taxpayers are on the hook, or worse, future generations are on the hook. It is little more than another government Ponzi scheme.
As an actual fiscal conservative, I would say it is well past time to fess up to the fact we are not lowering costs with these programs. We can then have an honest discussion about their value over time. We need to face the fact these programs are not self-sustaining, that they are bills not investments, and that they are being sold under false financial premises.
I think we need to address carbon pollution. I think we also need to come to grips with how we pay for it. We need to examine actual cost and benefit ratios. Yes I know that will be difficult. If our leaders do not have the gumption to address the issue with honesty, then we need new leaders. As a nation we cannot continue to buy our way out of ongoing expenses with borrowed money. We are building a house of cards that will at some point be blown over by a light wind.
I am not a naysayer on the need to move away from carbon generation. I just wonder if we are kidding ourselves using the current methodology. I wonder the result if these billions were spent on carbon capture research and development. It seems the biggest objection to such a move is a cry that we would still be generating greenhouse gases, and obviously we would. However, if those gases are captured prior to atmospheric emission there is no apparent harm.
I see opportunities to reduce emissions that are not favored that are at least as possible as those more commonly pushed.
I do not believe electric buses will offer much relief in the big picture. They are more show than form.
I also note the comment about sitting behind the big smelly diesel bus. I also note that we are sitting in our gasoline powered auto while doing so. I would wager the herd of autos sitting behind that bus are emitting far more pollution than the bus.
Not just the fire companies that are scrambling for volunteers, EMS squads as well. As we know, it's not about just showing up at a fire or car accident, it's also the enormous amount of training these individuals undertake in order to answer a call. If you've ever had the misfortune to need any of these volunteers you'd know what special people they are.
We're all concerned about air quality until we're asked to change our habits. Every year the voters are asked to approve additional school buses. Why not try an electric bus? Each year the schools celebrate Earth Day don't they? What a good example to set for our students to have an electric bus or two.
People often make bad financial decisions. They fail to calculate the operating costs into the cost of purchase.
Voting for Dan Stec is expensive. You get him at the same cost as any other state Senator but the return on investment is low and the cost of operation is very high. His decisions are bad and his connections to the supply of power in Albany is weak.
He’s like an old vacuum cleaner the designers made extra loud so you felt like it really sucked. And it did really suck but it had little power to function.
Think of it this way, every time you get a franked mailer from Dan Stec it cost about the same as the end cost of one of those electric school buses in Alexandria Bay.
Re volunteerism generally, I am guessing that Covid accelerated the decline. I am not sure whether my situation was typical, but with the advent of Covid, I immediately stopped serving lunch as a volunteer at a DC area shelter. I have not yet gotten around to resuming.
-Dave Nathan
Bethesda, MD
The decline in volunteerism is a national problem across all sectors. Formal volunteering has fallen dramatically since COVID, but it was in decline for a long time. COVID hammered it, though. I run a nonprofit free tax program (VITA, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance). I had over 100 volunteers in 2019, down to 40 this filing season). The COVID hit is short term, I think, but folks who research the nonprofit sector have noted longer trends.
We Americans have always been this interesting combination of individualism mixed with a commitment to the common good. Volunteerism was embedded in our DNA. Since before the country's founding, every time we see an issue, we create an association, whether it is a volunteer fire department, an aid program for immigrants (that's how Legal Aid got its start 150 years ago; German-Americans helping recent immigrants from the old country) programs to support youth, funeral/burial charities, hospitals, programs for servicemen and women. The Knights of Columbus became popular through operating clubhouses for Doughboys in training camps during World War One.
The decline in volunteerism goes hand in hand, I think, with individualism taking first place over our responsibility to the common good. The Atlantic had an article a few years back where the author discussed how the decline in associations harms our democracy. How do we learn to make collective decisions? To work amicably with people we might not agree with? Through our garden clubs and scout troops and civic associations and faith communities and the other organizations where we need to make group decisions. I don't think we have really understood the broader impact the decline in volunteerism will have on our culture.
Timely post, April is Global Volunteer Month.
Caring about fellow Americans is VERY important, starting with our children. This article emphasizes that VERY clearly. Good job, NCPR and Ken!!
The goal to replace school buses appears to be 2035. If districts were smart, they would plan that transition starting now and take full advantage of any grant money. This is obviously a political issue now instead of a student safety and environment issue. Children and people driving near the bus inhale these fumes daily and the environment suffers. I think we clearly have gotten to a point where we can divide the parties into those for the people and the safety of our world (Dems) and those who only care about their pockets and their power (Rep.)
I used to think that stec might actually be a smart republican.. or at the very least, an honest guy.
Enter pos_tfnKKK and then he swayed away from common sense. The main thing you have to say about both stec and pos_tfnKKK is: that they are not about solutions, they are about validating 'what we wanna believe.'
• If you want to believe an electric vehicle won't work, they will validate that thought.
• If you want to believe climate change doesn't exist, they will validate that thought.
• If you want.... they will validate.
One of the things I find so amazing about this is how contrarian they are... for years while saying there was no climate change, they would add, "and if there is, American ingenuity will solve it."
Now we have climate change and we are likely past saving the planet (unless you don't believe that, then a gQp will validate your thought), BUT when the ingenuity of electric buses is here to start saving the day. Now we hear: 'electric buses don't work.' I guess the gQp is so much about giving tax breaks to the rich, they forget about the average engineer.
What I find so un-tethered to reality amazing about this is how deep one must put their head in the sand to ignore what is going on. Walk through any parking lot and start counting the Electric Vehicles (from hybrid to all). For the last year I have spent a lot of time in the Adirondack Medical Health Center lot. In just one year, the increase of EV’s.
{There are two things I noticed. More EV’s and more gas-guzzling oversize trucks with FJB bumper stickers. Guess who complains about gas prices, while ignoring climate change? Hint, the gQp validates their crude ignorance (pun intended).}
When the auto industry went on strike, one of the biggest issues revolved around the making of EV’s.
I think a great irony/hypocrisy is we have people who want to be lied to by stec and pos_stfnkkk and in two years won’t remember.
Lake Placid Central School is an embarrassment in the story. They have multiple routes to move kids back and forth, not just from residences but also to the Village’s Catholic school. Without a doubt there are several bus routes that even the most ineffective EV bus would work (and they would get a financial incentive to do it).
https://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/49542/20240402/ny-schools-have-to-electrify-buses-by-2035-here-s-how-one-district-is-making-the-switch
It is obnoxious to hear politicians like Sen. Stec saying that they don't oppose climate action on principle (pinky swear) but denounce every concrete proposal out there.
It is also disingenuous to hear people like him complain that we're not ready to make all our school buses electric right now when he knows full well that the legislation does not require 100% conversion for another ELEVEN years: by 2035.
There are always going to be bumps in any major technological transition. That's why smart districts (who are able) are buying a few electric buses now, so they can iron out the kinks on shorter runs and slowly move toward 100%.
I just hope the state fulfills its part of the bargain and properly funds this needed transition. That is one area of suspicion that is perfectly legitimate.
Yes!
Took some time and read the NPR piece. Came away with exactly the same conclusion I drew a few years back.
The electric buses a very expensive when compared to conventionally fueled buses. The fact there are grants, credits and other State and Federal programs to offset the costs does not change the underlying equation. As is the norm we want to pretend if the money does not come directly from our wallet to the local school district the cost is somehow less. Unless Washington and Albany have Moneytree orchards the fact remains either current taxpayers are on the hook, or worse, future generations are on the hook. It is little more than another government Ponzi scheme.
As an actual fiscal conservative, I would say it is well past time to fess up to the fact we are not lowering costs with these programs. We can then have an honest discussion about their value over time. We need to face the fact these programs are not self-sustaining, that they are bills not investments, and that they are being sold under false financial premises.
I think we need to address carbon pollution. I think we also need to come to grips with how we pay for it. We need to examine actual cost and benefit ratios. Yes I know that will be difficult. If our leaders do not have the gumption to address the issue with honesty, then we need new leaders. As a nation we cannot continue to buy our way out of ongoing expenses with borrowed money. We are building a house of cards that will at some point be blown over by a light wind.
I am not a naysayer on the need to move away from carbon generation. I just wonder if we are kidding ourselves using the current methodology. I wonder the result if these billions were spent on carbon capture research and development. It seems the biggest objection to such a move is a cry that we would still be generating greenhouse gases, and obviously we would. However, if those gases are captured prior to atmospheric emission there is no apparent harm.
I see opportunities to reduce emissions that are not favored that are at least as possible as those more commonly pushed.
I do not believe electric buses will offer much relief in the big picture. They are more show than form.
I also note the comment about sitting behind the big smelly diesel bus. I also note that we are sitting in our gasoline powered auto while doing so. I would wager the herd of autos sitting behind that bus are emitting far more pollution than the bus.