Statement from Bethany town supervisor on governor's government consolidation proposal
Statement from Bethany Town Supervisor Carl Hyde:
As a Veteran, a taxpayer and a lifetime resident of New York I find it very unsettling that Governor Cuomo wants to dissolve local municipalities into a single County government.
First off he (the Governor) would like to remove “Home Rule” from our communities.
For those that don’t know what “Home Rule” is, it is the right to local self-government including the powers to regulate for the protection of the public health, safety, morals and welfare, to license, tax and incur debt. The freedom of choice, non-interference, non-intervention, political independence, self-reliance and self-subsistence.
So ask yourself why does the Governor want to do this?
The Governor is also trying to extort our municipalities into consolidation by withholding $715,000,000.
In AIM (Aid & Incentives for Municipalities) funds unless the municipalities have a plan to consolidate services by August 1, 2017 or it goes to a voter referendum at November’s election. If it doesn’t pass the Governor wants Municipalities to try it again in 2018.
Can a Governor be so out of touch with the Municipalities in his State you may wonder? Yes he is. The Municipalities already have shared service agreements to help each other in times of need. These agreements have been in place for several decades! And there is NO duplication of services.
There are 58 Counties in the State of California (for example) and only 1 County (Colusa) has kept their “Home Rule.” All the other Counties have to ask permission from the Governor to do anything. See how that’s working for them or should I say NOT working for them.
The Constitution was written by the people for the people to eliminate Kings, Queens and Dictators.
Go to your Town Board meetings, your Board of Supervisor meetings and your County Legislature meetings. Call or visit your Assemblymen and women and your Senators.
Ask questions and get informed as to what is going on in New York State.