By Ken Tingley Twenty years ago, Mark Mahoney was leading the charge at our newspaper in Glens Falls to have reporters use the Freedom of Information Law as a tool to get information for local government. After spending most of my career in sports, I was learning about FOIL for the first time.
I’ve been branded an “agitator” since my college journalism days, for asking for information that should be in the public domain. Too many of our elected reps believe we serve them, rather than the opposite. We need to continually remind them of their duty. It’s to us, not themselves.
Love the Rockwell quote and you are right, it has a great amount of significance today also. My fear is that our representatives are not necessarily representing us at all any more. Hopefully I'm wrong, but we are watching. The painting is very moving. Such a talented bright man! AI could never compare.
It is disappointing that they cancelled Alaska Daily. I look forward to Glens Falls Daily in the future though:)
I am just writing a simple, THANK YOU like Mr Rockwell would like, for reminding us of what he has done over many years about helping the General Public, Average American getting his thoughts & ideas out there in pictures by him - I always have and likewise always will stand by him and his works for this, so thanks for bringing this out again w/the 2 columns.
I don't like taxes, I don't like paying more, I don't like any more now that I am on a fixed income
--- but manure flows downhill
-- example
about 18 years ago the state said they would save taxpayers money, they would no longer print out Regent Exams Test Practice Books, but send the schools PDFs
They patted themselves on the back.
But schools still needed the practice books...and when they received the PDFs they had to print them out for the students.
a) The costs to print out the books was more expensive for a school than the state, so the state saved an 'x' cost, but it costed the districts more money
b) around the same time, that same state said districts (villages, towns etc) could only raise their budgets a fixed price... but who wasn't included in that limit...? the state.
c) In the name of saving money, the state really just passed costs down to schools, in a least effective way (at the time the state had a printing department). I know of some larger districts that hired a person to make copies
The Republican cuts ransoming our debt ceiling include cuts to education, so New York needs to pick up possible deficit. That being said, the anticipated increase in state aid actually lowered our school taxes by 2%.
I’ve been branded an “agitator” since my college journalism days, for asking for information that should be in the public domain. Too many of our elected reps believe we serve them, rather than the opposite. We need to continually remind them of their duty. It’s to us, not themselves.
Love the Rockwell quote and you are right, it has a great amount of significance today also. My fear is that our representatives are not necessarily representing us at all any more. Hopefully I'm wrong, but we are watching. The painting is very moving. Such a talented bright man! AI could never compare.
It is disappointing that they cancelled Alaska Daily. I look forward to Glens Falls Daily in the future though:)
Great series on Rockwell. Planning my trip to the museum this summer for sure. Thanks, Ken.
I agree about school taxes, you can just about guarantee that the taxes are going to go up each year. Fortunately there is a cap.
Also disappointed that Alaska Daily has been cancelled, I thought it was very good and shows what is happening to small newspapers.
I am just writing a simple, THANK YOU like Mr Rockwell would like, for reminding us of what he has done over many years about helping the General Public, Average American getting his thoughts & ideas out there in pictures by him - I always have and likewise always will stand by him and his works for this, so thanks for bringing this out again w/the 2 columns.
From what I have learned about schools
And anyone who knows about towns, villages, etc
there are things that come up over and over.
1) unfunded mandates
2) insurance costs
3) labor is often 70% of the budget
I don't like taxes, I don't like paying more, I don't like any more now that I am on a fixed income
--- but manure flows downhill
-- example
about 18 years ago the state said they would save taxpayers money, they would no longer print out Regent Exams Test Practice Books, but send the schools PDFs
They patted themselves on the back.
But schools still needed the practice books...and when they received the PDFs they had to print them out for the students.
a) The costs to print out the books was more expensive for a school than the state, so the state saved an 'x' cost, but it costed the districts more money
b) around the same time, that same state said districts (villages, towns etc) could only raise their budgets a fixed price... but who wasn't included in that limit...? the state.
c) In the name of saving money, the state really just passed costs down to schools, in a least effective way (at the time the state had a printing department). I know of some larger districts that hired a person to make copies
Thank you for those Rockwell quotes.
The Republican cuts ransoming our debt ceiling include cuts to education, so New York needs to pick up possible deficit. That being said, the anticipated increase in state aid actually lowered our school taxes by 2%.
God love that man. The more I learn about him, the more I love him. Thank you for enlightening me about him.
Great thoughts on school taxes. Yes, I noticed the new turfs too. Keep up your great vigilant work!
I am happy to learn about this period of Norman Rockwell's work. It appears his words as well as his brushwork are noteworthy. Thank you.