Truck group, task force don't reach agreement on protest convoy

By: The Citizen staff report

Thursday, November 20, 2008 3:38 PM EST

Representatives from Truckers and Citizens United won't have to wait for a deadline they set of Tuesday to find out if local officials will meet their demands in order to call off a convoy protest scheduled for Friday, Nov. 28 in Skaneateles.
"In this day and age, they should know better than to try threats," Owasco Supervisor John Klink said Thursday after a meeting of the Upstate Safety Task Force -- which includes representatives of municipalities from Cayuga, Onondaga and Tompkins counties -- local haulers, truck companies, the state Motor Truck Association, and Truckers and Citizens United, the national organization planning to roll hundreds of tractor-trailers through Skaneateles on Route 20 the day the village's Dickens' Christmas celebration begins.

Protest organizer Vincent Gramuglia told the task force he wanted to resolve the issue of what he called overzealous truck enforcement so he can call off the protest.

He demanded the village of Skaneateles, which has become the icon of this truck traffic issue, park indefinitely the commercial vehicle enforcement truck the village bought in September with state grant money.

Secondly, Gramuglia told the task force to table the proposal the Department of Transportation drafted that would keep the trucks off certain rural roads and on highways, except when making local delieveries.

He told the task force they had until to Tuesday to meet the demands, or else the protest would proceed.

Task force member Barb Clary said the task force and government leaders have worked too hard to find a solution to reduce the amount of garbage trucks traveling along scenic byways and side roads throughout the Finger Lakes to stop their efforts now.

For more from Thursday's meeting, read Friday's edition of The Citizen.

The Citizens' Say

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There are 7 comment(s)

Farmer's Gal wrote on Nov 21, 2008 8:50 AM:

" Doesn't exactly have much in the way of diplomatic ability, does he? Used to getting his way through threats and bull-boy tactics. The rest of the truckers around here should dump him as their mouth-piece because he is already making enemies of those who might have been sympathetic.

But that's just fine with me. "

brew1234 wrote on Nov 20, 2008 11:55 PM:

" He has already committed a crime by threatning to committ illegal acts. Book 'em Danno! "

james_13021 wrote on Nov 20, 2008 8:52 PM:

" Horray, for the Trucker!!! "

nature lover wrote on Nov 20, 2008 6:20 PM:

" FG its too bad u dont have a TV tonight to c this Vinnie dude talk - omg. He is definantely from the city and the way he talked down to the camera saying such things as his truckers ya know, this is a no no for his truckers ya know...what a loser. Perhaps where he comes from threats work and I hope our officials here are smart to his game playing. "

Farmer's Gal wrote on Nov 20, 2008 5:35 PM:

" If I were a trucker from upstate, I would be embarrassed to be associated with guys like this.... "

Farmer's Gal wrote on Nov 20, 2008 5:35 PM:

" Sounds like he is used to making offers that can't be refused, LOL! Demands? Who does he think he is?!??

You know, my ex was living in NYC when I met him, and you'd see these truck drivers on the streets -- and hear the stories of how they bullied and threatened -- and followed through with beatings and vandalism and worse -- to extort businesses. It was understood and accepted as an evil with which you just had to live -- you had to pay off hauler and you had to use them for your business and not try to use anyone else (like someone honest). This was back in the 80s. Sounds like it's business as usual and they think they can export their way of doing "business" up here the same as they ship out their refuse.

A sharp come-uppance is sorely overdue. "

nature lover wrote on Nov 20, 2008 4:55 PM:

" Hmmm...Vincent Gramuglia...now is he from NYC and what are his ties to the trash haulers that rake in massive quantities of cash for trucking trash up here? I say bring em on Vinnie cuz I am sure the police agencies here will have every available unit ready for 'overzealous truck enforcement' with fine books and pens for us to rake in massive quantities of cash ourselves!! "

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