TRAFFIC LIGHT CAMERAS

One of the many jobs of an elected official, is protecting the public from harm. As budgets tighten and personnel diminished, the duty of protection becomes that much more difficult.

Our police officers cant be in every home or parked on every street corner, but there are ways we can help them do their job.

Acc­ording to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 22 percent of all traffic accidents in the United States are caused by drivers running red lights. You can't say you've never had a close encounter with a reckless driver in Kingston.

If you look at New York State statistics, intersection accidents kill some 800 people every year. What's worse is that these numbers have been on a steady rise for the last decade. Cities like Newburgh, Poughkeepsie and Kingston have followed this trend very closely.

You might think you're cautious and limit your driving to daytime hours, but the overwhelming costs associated with car accidents across the state, forces your insurance company to charge a higher rate for everyone.

So here's the reason I bring this up: Several cities in New York have petitioned our state government to provide funding to install Stop-Light Cameras with the intent to decrease the advent of driving through the RED. Yes, there would be ample warning signage.

They are fully automated and collect all of the evidence authorities need to prosecute light-runners. If a camera catches you speeding through the intersection, you can expect a ticket to arrive in your mailbox a month or two later. [with a picture]

Yonkers, Buffalo, Syracuse, Rochester are first in line. The Assembly has already voted in favor of this pilot program. I want to know how soon after, our Hudson Valley Cities can apply for this funding?

Understand, this tool can also catch those who drive without insurance or unregistered. Oh yes, they could end up pushing rebel drivers to the smaller towns and villages. Good for Kingston, not so good for Woodstock.

Admit it, you are intrigued at the idea of automated law enforcement. Especially with our forces so limited. When's the last time a Kingston officer gave out a speeding ticket? I'll have to ask the chief.

I did have this arguement about over reaching the duties of the camera with some friends, and we decided the prosecution of non-insurance would be limited to Light Runners who were already being processed. This would cut the paperwork down a bit.

As the week goes on, we'll see what the State Senate does with this issue and then I'll follow up with some conversations with Corp. Counsel, our grant writers and our purchasing agent. Who knows, maybe by fall, we could have some bids on the table!

PATERSON UNCORKED A BIG ONE!

The glass is half empty! The glass of wine anyway.

Governor Paterson has proposed in his budget, a provision that would allow wine to be sold in grocery, drug and convenience stores across New York State. He's looking for that one time shot of revenue from the tidal wave of liquor licenses from all those stores to help with this year's financial shortfalls.

What he doesn't understand is that the traditional liquor stores, even if you disagree with alcohol consumption, tends to be small, family owned, establishments in our struggling business districts. Districts we are scrambling to support in these tough times.
[Madden's Spirits on Rondout pictured left]

Imagine a Big Box store having a fine Merlot. Yeah right. now imagine the young, untrained cashiers at WalMart responsible for keeping the goods out of the wrong hands on a Saturday night. It's not going to happen!

What's better; you're expecting someone in the produce section to help you pick the right wine to go with your Duck?

This issue came up at this months County Legislative meeting, where the memorializing resolution to dissuade Paterson from implementing this crazy scheme, got a unanimous vote.

Liquor and wine store owners across New York State have united against this proposition. For a one time $100 million shot in revenue for the state in the first two years, thousands of jobs would be lost and businesses would close as liquor stores became unable to compete with big chain grocery stores.

Gary Bischoff of Saugerties went into a dissertation on this ill-conceived budget proposal, imagining a colorful exchange between he and an employee at Sam's Club and asking about the selection. Jon Decker of Lloyd chimed in saying what selection? It would be all Chinese like everything else in that store.

The place broke out into laughter.

Humor aside, Governor Paterson's attempt to balance this years budget with these thinly veiled gimmicks have got to be an embarrassment to those who saw so much potential in his accidental leadership.

The County may only have authority to send Dave their plea to rethink this one, but at least they are showing us they understand the threat to small business.