How (Not) to Generate State Revenue

Close popular camp sites that have traditionally been so heavily used that reservations are required for camp sites. Refund money already in hand. Turn away tourists who want to come to your area to visit and spend money and pay sales tax on everything they buy....



Close popular and important historical sites fondly remembered by generations of school kids who visited on school trips and touched a bit of real history of the region. One of the most important and oldest sites in our region is on the chopping block list, something which appalls many of us in the area.
I have been awed every time I visited Johnson Hall, the home of Sir William Johnson, and ran my hand down the banister where the Iroquois left tomahawk marks during a battle there. Now the down state geniuses who are looking for ways to punish upstate taxpayers save money are closing it, along with a large laundry list of other parks and historical sites beloved by upstate folks.

As a family we do very few recreational things...we don't go anywhere much, we don't play very much. The Johnson Hall Market Fair has been one of the few activities we rarely miss and always love. From the salt potatoes to the cannon fire, from genuinely costumed Revolutionary War reenactors both Indian and English to the opportunity to purchase real, homemade soap and rare herbs for my herb garden, it has been a delight. Not so long ago my folks often attended wearing their full Scottish garb and participated in the fun. Here is a petition to save it.

Now, thanks to fiscal stupidity misfortune neither we nor anyone else will enjoy our parks and monuments any more. (I am sure denying kids yet another place to play outside and exercise will do wonders for obesity.) Area Chambers of commerce are appalled. They know that tourists equal economic activity. Private parks and campgrounds will not be able to take up the slack...

Petitions to save our parks will not be enough either. We need to do more to fix this situation. Lets do it! November is getting closer by the minute. When you go into the voting booth this year think about the kids that missed out on sunny beaches, seeing wildlife, enjoying birds and opportunities to learn the history of our once great state.

Throw the bums who are doing this right out and hire us some new ones...preferably a few who don't come from NYC and who have perhaps actually visited a park (other than Central Park), sometime in their lives. Preferably a few who are interested in serving the taxpaying public rather than lining their pockets and practicing for higher office. It's time.