[Photo by BF / Utilized with Permission]I'm not doing real well of late; and I apologize, openly, for any meetings I have missed (Ms. Provenzano) - commitments (Kathy / City of Kingston) I have had to cancel - and phone calls (Cahills office) that have not been returned.
I do what I can where I can, but the stress of the current socio-economic situation - the multitude of perceived (or real) threats that I (I'm not alone in this) deal with - and the weight of "What is the use?" all huddle together and get the best of me sometimes...
In yesterdays and todays "Daily Freeman" there are articles (starting on the front page of both) regarding people leaving the City of Kingston (and some other smaller cities, as well?) at what are apparently uncomfortably high rates.
Why might that be?
Of course, the property tax increase is at issue...
The fact that there is very little employment (that pays enough to sustain an apartment, mortgage, food, utilities, insurance, etc.) here is at issue...
The fact that the crime rate once again "appears" to be climbing (Is it going to be worse this Summer?) is a likely issue...
Housing prices, etc., etc. are undoubtedly issues...
But I think there is more to it even than that...
Including (my opinion):
Some unaddressed or inadequately addressed (here and there) corruption issues; and...
A refusal (I've been saying this for at least two years now...) to examine (and address) the root causes of the problems (You can't just chase problems from neighborhood to neighborhood and expect things to get better... You can't just toss out candy at a parade...) that exist.
Along with the fact that newcomers into the quasi-political arena in the City of Kingston appear to be operating on enthusiasm and best guesses - rather than informed knowledge --- a lot of the time; as apparently, although Kingston has more than its share of lawyers (including its own Corporate Council) --- not one of them is available to answer (for no fee) pertinent (whatever the situation may be) questions...
"We the people" - to some degree or another - generally know what the "US Constitution" and "Bill of Rights" have to say.... But I think a lot of us are wondering where and when these are really being honored?????
For example, what exactly is our Human Rights Commission doing? [You are welcome to comment here!] Maybe the FOPA and KAPA issue is one that those Commissioners (What do they do?) should check out?
There are some brilliant people (although some of these have left, as well...) in this City - many of whom skirt the outskirts of politics either by choice and/or by someone else's (a best guess...) design (?)
What happened to the spirit of this City - the integrity of this City?
Has it been taxed out and/or snuffed out?
Frankly, I'm feeling more than a little of both - and considering a move (I'm sure this will make some of the "snuffers" happy) - out of town, sight and mind - myself.
To someplace where one can walk out the door without the fear of being mugged or raped or attacked by someone's 200 pound sharp toothed big-jawed "pet"...
To someplace where one can sit in ones yard without the fear of ditto...
To someplace where dread doesn't hide in the coffee grounds, making your first sip of the day bitter...
As you choke down the latest news of chaos here - chaos there - chaos everywhere...
I have always (in my way, which is generally through writing) been an advocate for the poor (which is bound up in my own history) --- but it "does" seem like this City has gone too far in coddling / providing for (in the sense of ENABLING...) the poor
--- and has not gone nearly far enough in recognizing and responding to the issues of its working class citizens, middle class citizens and aging population.
As far as the youth go?
Yes, there are some great - fun and healthy - programs out there for them - and I applaud these efforts! But would one actually expect them to stay here? Do you think parents and grandparents - many of whom now stand to loose everything they have worked for - are encouraging their youth to stay here?
One adult child that I have left the City of Kingston a couple of years ago - and he is the ONLY adult child that I have who was able to find a good paying job - where he is treated with respect - that he actually enjoys!
Are the other two children any less intelligent? NO. Are they hard workers (each in their own way)? Absolutely. Can they get a solid grip (meaning a "living wage") here in the City of Kingston? Absolutely not.
Is some of this an issue throughout New York State? My oldest brother says yes (and has a whole lot more, unprintable, to say on the topic...).
Why is that?
Why is it that Texas did so well under Bush/Cheney... and New York (am I misreading things here, do you think?) really got the "shaft?"
It is my opinion that it will take time - if even possible - to recover from the mess left by the last Presidential Administration...
And a whole lot of effort --- one every one's part --- as well.
Can we - are we able to - stand up to all of this (stress on top of stress on top of stress) without cracking? I'm starting to SERIOUSLY wonder...
I once read something to the effect that if you put a frog in warm water and turn up the heat ever so slowly... the frog will not even know that it is being boiled to death...
Think about it.
Find a way to turn down the heat.
Look for root causes.
Weed the garden.
Nurture what is healthy.
After all, if you don't take care from the very start, a garden (at least in the sense that one has planned it out) will not grow - or provide the nurturing environment intended...
Truth, Love, Equality and Humane Justice,
NS
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