Those 3M Post It Notes are piling up with random musings - so here are a couple off the desk:
BIG SHOWING
This column was very critical of the turnout three weeks ago at Cayuga Community College for one of two public forums scheduled by the city of Auburn and its consultants, Saratoga Associates, to work on the city's year long process to create a Comprehensive Master Plan. The day the column ran, the city was holding its second and final session for this part of the process at the Auburn Public Theater and turnout was three times what it was the Saturday before, with more than 100 people taking part in giving their ideas about what the city should look like in the future.
Mayor Michael Quill was in attendance, as were councilors Gilda Brower, William Graney and Matthew Smith. Also in attendance were numerous not for profit and human services representatives. While it was suggested by some that this column may have shamed some of the participants into showing up, it is more likely that those in attendance hunger to be able to have a say in this community's future. That is a good thing.
TWO SECRETARIES
It was suggested in this column just prior to Election Day that Auburn would be smart to go after the local connections it had with both then vice presidential hopefuls Sen. Joseph Biden and Gov. Sarah Palin: staffers Brian McKeon and Meghan Stapleton, respectively. In the case of Palin, it really made sense to land her since this coming year marks the 50th anniversary of Alaskan statehood - it would be foolish not to invite her. Yet, the top of the guest list for such a celebration should be the likely latest successor to the post once held by Secretary of State William H. Seward, who put the deal together that bought the land from Russia in the 18th Century: Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. Like her or not, inviting her to Auburn for a 50th birthday party which, hopefully, is being planned, makes sense and must be a high priority.
LEAD BY FOLLOWING
While a great deal of attention was paid to the Grinch and Santa Claus who made their way through Downtown Auburn during Saturday's Christmas parade, of little note was someone else in the parade who was keeping a low profile. The new superintendent of the Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES, William Speck, was walking among his students and volunteers in the parade, just behind their float. Speck may have been following the old maxim that says that occasionally a top leader also needs to be a good follower - he clearly led by following.
Cosentino is a former mayor of Auburn and can be contacted at cozguytho@aol.com
This column was very critical of the turnout three weeks ago at Cayuga Community College for one of two public forums scheduled by the city of Auburn and its consultants, Saratoga Associates, to work on the city's year long process to create a Comprehensive Master Plan. The day the column ran, the city was holding its second and final session for this part of the process at the Auburn Public Theater and turnout was three times what it was the Saturday before, with more than 100 people taking part in giving their ideas about what the city should look like in the future.
Mayor Michael Quill was in attendance, as were councilors Gilda Brower, William Graney and Matthew Smith. Also in attendance were numerous not for profit and human services representatives. While it was suggested by some that this column may have shamed some of the participants into showing up, it is more likely that those in attendance hunger to be able to have a say in this community's future. That is a good thing.
TWO SECRETARIES
It was suggested in this column just prior to Election Day that Auburn would be smart to go after the local connections it had with both then vice presidential hopefuls Sen. Joseph Biden and Gov. Sarah Palin: staffers Brian McKeon and Meghan Stapleton, respectively. In the case of Palin, it really made sense to land her since this coming year marks the 50th anniversary of Alaskan statehood - it would be foolish not to invite her. Yet, the top of the guest list for such a celebration should be the likely latest successor to the post once held by Secretary of State William H. Seward, who put the deal together that bought the land from Russia in the 18th Century: Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. Like her or not, inviting her to Auburn for a 50th birthday party which, hopefully, is being planned, makes sense and must be a high priority.
LEAD BY FOLLOWING
While a great deal of attention was paid to the Grinch and Santa Claus who made their way through Downtown Auburn during Saturday's Christmas parade, of little note was someone else in the parade who was keeping a low profile. The new superintendent of the Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES, William Speck, was walking among his students and volunteers in the parade, just behind their float. Speck may have been following the old maxim that says that occasionally a top leader also needs to be a good follower - he clearly led by following.
Cosentino is a former mayor of Auburn and can be contacted at cozguytho@aol.com
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showpeople wrote on Dec 5, 2008 12:12 PM:
Over the years, Auburnians have attended these types of "focus group" activities and then have gone away, never to be seen again, but my impression of this years re-incarnation of same is that these folks will actively get involved as many already are. Certainly, a national music festival that is in the wings would be one of the best investments in time and money that we could make for a Auburn Summer even. We have the talent. The Merry-go-round Playhouse and the Auburn Players soon celebrating their 50th continuous year of presenting quality plays and musicals along with the exciting entertainment that Auburn Public Theatre is planning on offering. All are prepared to jump in to help as soon as notified.
During the meeting it was obvious, though, that the attendees were very disappointed in the action that has been taken on the Riverfront Project. "