Both the Buffalo News and LUSJ reported:
The $5.8 million sports complex project appeared to be headed toward defeat Tuesday, but district personnel were still counting votes at press time.
With 4,678 votes cast Tuesday, 2,365 voted against the project and 2,313 voted in favor of it, meaning the project would have been defeated by 52 votes. But there were still just over 100 absentee ballots to count.
District personnel were still counting those absentee ballots at press time with the measure still losing by 9 votes.
But as evenly split as the community was on the sports complex, it was clearly OK with the $79 million budget, selling DeWitt Clinton School to Niagara County Head Start and the other project on the ballot. That is an $18.9 million capital improvement project that will address needs in a number of district buildings.....
The turnout was great. I'm amazed at how close the sports complex vote was and the increased number of voters participating. I believe it would have been great to have though it was not a necessity. With the fund raising effort promised and 93% reimbursement I'd find it hard to pass up. But it seems just less than 50% did.
The bigger issue is looming next year. $2.9 in unfunded (reserves were used) benefit increases in this years budget will need funding next year. That is in addition to any other contracted increases next year. Hopefully the new and existing people on the board will start thinking now on what to do. Big cost structures still need to be changed.
122 comments:
So glad this is going to be defeated. Lockport needs to do more with the downtown area, making it actually fun and interesting for citizens and visitors to come. Nice restaurants, downtown Chamber of Commerce get-togethers during the spring and summer, fairs, carnivals and of course the great Molson Concert Series. All of which bring people downtown, how to bring them back is what the politicians need to work on.
I have seem MANY small towns concentrate on revitalization and gain huge growth due to it. Yes, a sports complex would be great a few times a year. However as the original post stated it's not a necessity.
You conveniently left out the next sentence about the state providing the money for the complex whereas with your fantasy of an upgraded downtown there isn't any financing available, nor will there be.
Why should any young people stay in Lockport? I have advised my kids to make sure they don’t plan to live here, and when I can retire in a few years we will definitely be moving too. Are there any good reasons to stay here? We are rapidly becoming a ‘ghetto’, full of low income apartments, non-working people and drug users. The biggest year round event downtown is drug court days when it is tough to get parking spaces. We have the concerts, but at the expense of cutting the parks program budget in half. We have Applebee’s, but that’s it as far as youthful restaurants (i.e. Fridays, Red Robin, etc.). We don’t have a cinema, but we are getting a super Walmart (wow!). We don’t have any great prospects of jobs, and the ones we do have are for high school graduates – we really don’t have any jobs for college grads. Our taxes are crazy, especially in the city. We have an empty lot where a Y was supposed to be built (though it should have been downtown) and an empty building where a hockey rink was going., but both appear to be dead due to lack of funds. The other reason not to stay in Lockport is how bad the schools are getting, but it is NOT the fault of the administration or teachers, it is the fact that almost every class now includes so many kids with parents who just don't care. Most of these kids are from area's such as genesssee St, Strauss Rd, trailer parks, etc. You can't learn in a classroom when a teacher has to spend their day disciplining kids, and right now that is the state of our schools.
Again, why stay here? Why not move to an area where the majority of the parents really care?
Now we turned down an opportunity for a sports complex we could have been proud of at no cost, but…
So I ask again, why should any kids live in Lockport? What future do you see for them? Working as a canal guide at the locks?
Sorry to be so discouraged today, but after seeing the new, beautiful auditorium at the high school and seeing all the young people voting I was very encouraged - the vote was a big disappointment.
And I do think all the grandparents that don’t have kids in school and that voted no should remember that grandparents without kids paid school taxes to support your education, your no vote just hurt your grandchildren, and is a factor (but definitely not the major cause) of the rapidly escalating downfall of Lockport.
re-posted from vote topic)
I honestly don't believe that this was going to be the big deal that it was claimed to be. So say a "no" vote hurt the future of kids is ridiculous. If Lockport NEEDS a sports complex to save itself there are BIGGER issues that need to be addressed.
In response to revitalization... why do companies leave WNY? State taxes are high and every politician in the area gets involved and wants a piece of the action. Bottom line something or someone always messes something up.
How's this sound people voted no because the state is nearly bankrupt & we want to spend 6 million on a luxurious sports complex when the state money is intended to upgrade infrastructure
When a vote is as heavy as last night's vote was, and the result is a 9-vote difference, that is not an overwhelming majority...
Last time, the Sports Complex failed by 300 votes, this time it failed by 9...
I plan to keep talking to people and in 2 years it will pass...
So let the state decide that, if they are letting other communities do it why not us? If you don't like that the state offered us the $6M, vote them out not the ones who want to use it.
And it's not totally a matter of hurting the kids, this would have been something we could have been proud of in Lockport, as there really isn't much to be proud of here, unless you count the lines in front of the soc services building.
"How's this sound people voted no because the state is nearly bankrupt & we want to spend 6 million on a luxurious sports complex when the state money is intended to upgrade infrastructure"...
Um... did you even listen to a single argument in favor or against? Did you pay attention to the community's discussion?
The state is not bankrupt - it will spend over 2.6 billion dollars on school improvements this year alone...
That money can not be used for downtown, it can not be used for infrastructure, it can not be used for anything but a sports complex...
Next time (when this comes up again in 2 years) you should pay attention to the facts and not listen to the talk-show-hosts on WLVL...
I still don't get how having a Sports Complex guarantees anything for Lockport. Yes, it MAY host some events. But when it doesn't I am sure it's on the city to maintain, etc.
I understand people wanting something... anything positive for Lockport which is why the subject has been thrown down peoples throats for years. May be are voting yes, just so they don't have to hear about it anymore.
Civic structures should be a source of community pride. Be it a beautiful Main St, park system, monuments, schools, etc. We took the state funding to redo Main St. We chose not to take it for athletic feilds. This money is dedicated to school system structures and nothing else at the state and local level so saying we need to fix other things, while true, really doesn't apply and just deflects the debate from relevant points.
A lot of issues are brought up to be partisan and rile up people's emotions. Group mentality of the sake of belonging to a group and shifting blames to other sides and usually for someone to make money. Point fingers and lay blame instead of coming together on something that although not necessary, would have been a very nice addition to our community.
And like I said above 93% reimbursement plus those involved dedicating to raise a potion of it was a no brainer, at least to me. Did anyone offer to raise money for the auditorium redo?
Those voting no should just state it was a symbolic vote at best. At worst it was taking a side on something that I consider to be needlessly made a wedge issue. The money will still be spent on roofs, parking lots, pools, auditoriums, classrooms, athletic fields, etc across the whole state. We just said no thank you when the dessert tray passed by for better or worse.
Not the end of the world but a bit sad. If this were a vote on a new progesive zoning system, legally binding city planing document, etc I'd be a lot more crushed at the missed opportunity to move forward around here. But then again we don't even have any of that in the pipeline to vote on.
The state allows you to use it for athletic facilities, if they didn't it wouldn't even have been up for a vote. If you voted yes on 3 and no on 4 then you are just plain stupid
3 is a need, 4 is a want !
The needed 3 costs us $1.9M locally (but I don't begrudge it, it's needed), the wanted 4 would have cost us $0!! And lowered on going maintenance costs.
and by defeating it will will now pay out of our taxes for the required tennis court repairs plus access paths to all the fields!
Maintenance costs? Cutting the grass like rest of the school needs
Duhhh - intelligent people don't cut, water, fertilize or line artificial turf.
wow this post should be deleted for pure ignorance:
"That money can not be used for downtown, it can not be used for infrastructure, it can not be used for anything but a sports complex..."
No, we voted NO and the State will keep the money and when another district passes a project improve their infrastructure it will be given to them. If Lockport determines to make more improvements, like making buildings more energy efficient we are just as welcome to the money as anyone else.
And to say the Sports Complex would not cost the District anything and Prop 3 would, is completely false too.
"Proposition 4: Would allow the use of $211,232 from the capital reserve fund to undertake a capital upgrade of the district's athletic facilities totaling $5.9 million.....The state would contribute about $4.9 million in the form of building aid. In the event of changes to the state's building aid formula, the district would expend up to an additional $530,000"
So prop 4 would have taken $211k or up to $530k out of the same fund that the $1.9M is coming from for prop 3.
This was my favorite note from all the budget discussions in the area. This is from Niagara Wheatfield the fastest growing district in Niagara County:
"* Noteworthy: A reduction in state aid of more than $4 million for next school year has forced the first job eliminations in a number of years. Slated to be cut are 11 teachers, four school-related personnel and two administrative positions, including the athletic director. Superintendent Carl Militello has taken a voluntary 3-percent pay cut and removed the mileage clause from his contract."
What a great idea, eliminating an AD and a Super taking a paycut!!!!
I don't it costs us a million dollars every ten years to get the grass cut,which is the high end of turfs life span! Duhhh!
Sorry doesn't
I think your intelligence shows with your post and even it's correction.
I'll bet there weren't any drunken phone calls last night about someones people getting elected!
I bet if they proposed at it emmet belknap would have easier time passing
why? even less parking there. also the field isn't big enough for soccer. plus you would have conflicts with track and lacrosse.
Still not over,gotta wait to see if more absentee ballets come in today that were post marked by yesterday
I am glad that the sports complex didn't pass.
Especially if the same people who designed the driveway are in charge! Last night, I had to drive through the new driveway on Locust Street and almost traded paint with the two cars on either side. Then I parked in the diagonal spaces and was thankful that no one parked behind me or I never would have been able to get out... Not a very well thought out plan. But, I am not an engineer or anything.
I do have to say though, that it was BRILLIANT to have everyone in the town vote right across from the new auditorium...
I imagine they'll figure a way find some "extra" votes in favor
Auditorium did look really nice
X-Man above said it all.
questions??? 93% of the sports complex was to be paid for by the state, right? Does the state really need to spend that money given the shape NY is in? It would have been nice, yes, neccessary, no. Even if it had passed, wouldn't we have added expenses for upkeep every year down the road? Times are tough, unless you can afford it you don't need to eat filet mignon right now...
I am a grandparent who voted for the sport complex! It is truly a shame that it was voted down. It would have brought revenues to area restaurants and hotels if we had an A-1 sports complex to host tournaments here. Shame on the people who did not support this.
questions??? it's too late to try and explain to you in little words what has been written for months about the money already allocated by the state and the ongoing costs should be lower than current costs. Times are tough, and unless you are intelligent enough to take advantage of money being given to you by the state you will always just eat your mac and cheese!
and to think they wanted the whole district to vote at the high school. CRAZINESS....Just like Joy I kept thinking to myself that whoever designed the driveway should have made it atleast 6 feet wider. The congestion was awful!
just wondering why no thank yous from those that ran and were not elected havent been posted.i know all three have read and posted on this site.being gracious and having good taste are free. show that you were worthy of support,and a note; negative may work on a larger scale but not at this level. when you have interacted through the years with people and know them outside of the board.i would heed this or it will be 1 smith down 1 to go...
when is the final annoucement if pass or fail ? christmas ?
Looks like alot of cars/people at the Board of Ed...the lot is packed.
I'm doing my celebration dance and laughing at all the bad sports above after seeing the final tally of votes against the sports complex.
So in two years, the project was defeated twice. I guess the people have spoken. The democratic system has worked its magic and the people have had their say. NOW can we let this idea go to it's grave until the state AND the district is in a better financial position. And that doesn't mean I want to vote again in two years. It's over. Face facts. Let it go.
Go ahead, tell us again how Westchester will get the money. How "stupid" we were to vote no. Apparently none of this bothered the majority of Lockport voters.
Gloating....just a little bit.....
You are stupid
MJ, X-Man, and grandparent in the district:
All well said however, I believe that this sports complex is essential for growth and development of the school district. Students need sports and physical activity daily. Look at our U.S. population: 30% overweight. This sports complex can support students in their daily workouts and also provide an arena for competitive sports. The current sporting facilities now are antiquated, at best, and will require upkeep and repair that comes from the school budget.
Think of our youth who are the future of our good city. How many of them will want to raise families here with old-fashioned, out-of-date school district facilities? I think this is a serious consideration. Our young people are moving from the area after high school. This could've been the first step in keeping them here.
Glad you're gloating Phantom after voting NO - well the students at LHS were pretty beat down this morning - it was becoming an exciting thing for the whole school, actually having a legitimate sports complex at the actual high school.
We haved saved nothing by saying No, only passing up a tremendous opportunity to enhance our community and school district just like the majority of others districts in WNY already have and will continue to do. Go to Starpoint , Medina, N.Falls etc. So enjoy your night while the kids in Lockport lose again.
How much did it lose by?
No class....
You no voters.. just don't get it...
Short sighted...narrow of mind.
Phantom - you are a true jerk. The majority was by 9 votes, not exactly a mandate. Hopefully the recount and enough absentee ballots will come in to overturn it and make you look especially stupid.
But don't worry, plans are already being made to bring it back to another vote!
Ha! Just what I expected. Can you not just accept the results without stooping to name calling and judgements about my character??
One of the reasons you wanted the sports palace was to instill good sportsmanship and the values of winning and losing, and so far, those name callers above are demonstrating none of the values you sought for.
Yes, the majority was 9 votes, but in my book, that is still a victory. If you lose the Super Bowl by one point, guess what?? You still lost!
And regarding the students at LHS this morning. They wouldn't be in school long enough to see this thing built, so I can't imagine the disappointment was that wrenching. Now maybe they will see that the taxpaying citizens of this community cared enough to have their say and go out and vote. The results don't always go your way, and instead of sour grapes, accept defeat gracefully and move on.
A teachable moment by my standards.
Yep, call me a jerk, moron, short sighted whatever. Just remember I was just one vote. Over 2,000 people voted no with me.
True democracy at its best if you ask me....
The reason you are such a jerk was the tone and taunting of your message, which is definitely penalized in sports. But I doubt you ever were in sports, so I am sure you don't have a clue what I am talking about.
Democracy will be in action when it comes up for another vote!
Phantom... the students " wouldn't be in school long enough to see this thing built."
The "teaching moment" is what YOU can learn from the students Sir. If you care about something and believe it is for the general good of the community, you work toward that goal and the legacy of having accomplish it. THAT is the reward. You don't have to play on the field to feel good about leaving it for others to enjoy. If you can't understand that we certainly don't expect you to understand why they might be disapointed.
If its brought to another vote I am sure lawsuits will be filed!
Phantom, it cracks me up when I hear people like u say "the people have spoken" last time I checked there were around 23,000 people living in this town and the 2,300 or so that voted no are not the voice of Lockport. The sad thing is that I can't even tell u how many people I talked to just today who said they didn't vote because they thought it was a "no brainer" or they didnt even know there was a vote! Sad because people like you thrive off of things like this so to me it looks like everyone that lives here and didn't want it voted. Definitely not the voice of the people!
You can't just keep wanting to bring it to a vote everytime you lose,if it were passed the people who voted it down couldn't get a devote,you people are really ridiculous
Majority rules
OK settle down....it's back to the assembly line tomorrow...
Nope no work too wet to cut grass
Disappointment is a part of life. This is only one of many in their road of life. I think they'll get over it. Life isn't always fair, and you can't always get what you want. They must learn this also.
As for my tone, how could you ever attest to my "tone" in a post of words. You, are just a poor sport yourself. When you win the Super Bowl, do you just walk off the field and go home? No. When time expires on the ice and you win the Stanley Cup, do you just skate off and go home?? No. You celebrate. You jump up and down, yell, hug each other and celebrate.
So, be a good sport and allow me to have my moment. I'm sure if this had passed, you would have been high fiving each other and congratulating your fellow voters.
As for your comments Guy, I also believed that defeating this WAS for the general good of the community, and I worked towards accomplishing my goal of defeating it. So, sorry that you don't agree with my point of view but the entire district had a choice, and they made theirs.
And enough with the talk of a revote. It's over!
Phantom..I respect your view...but mocking the high school students is really low..don't ya think?
stick to insulting the adults.
If NO MEANS NO then I hope idiot Black doesn't attempt to run for the BOE again. He obviously was not the voice he thought he was...or was that Ulrich who was the voice and he was a puppet?...
I want to go to Riu...
Phantom - it will be back for another vote. You and your friend Luisa can start saving up your money for lawyers now.
And winning by 30 votes out of 5000 votes is not a clear no, it's a maybe!
The weather is supposed to be better, hopefully the garbage cans won't be filled with water much longer for you to lift!
I hope it does come up for a vote again, hopefully the elderly and ignorant will have passed and this will get approved
Nice guy!!
The elderly and the ignorant will have DIED leaving you to get what you WANT?!?
And we wonder why the "Baby Boomers" are ridiculed by everyone older, and younger than they are?
SHAME on you!
I voted yesterday convinced that all 4 Proposals would be defeated and that my kids would be attending a school district with no librarians... coupled with another 30 layoffs of local people.
I am THRILLED with the way the votes came out. Lockport citizens approved 3 out of 4 Proposals, despite constant negativity on the part of Paul Black and his Posse, the local paper and the local radio station.
The Athletic Complex failed by over 500 votes last time, and it was just 38 votes this time. Next time (and, yes, Phantom, there WILL be a next time) it will pass.
I plan to keep talking to people until they truly understand the issues they are voting on.
Not only that, but the candidates that called themselves "Tax Reformers" LOST (yes Phantom... LOST). 3 out of 4 were told to take a hike. And they not only lost - they were trounced.
Molinaro, Nemi and Fiegl, big supporters of school projects, were all elected (or re-elected).
By my count, people in support of the local school district WON 6 out of 7 issues before them... and the 7th will be decided at a later date.
kind of ironic that Joe O. didn't support the complex but beat out Nemi and Fiegl in votes.
amazing that over 2000 votes for each in their support means take a hike... I hope you didn't get taught math and statistics in Lockport.
To the people who have argued over and over on here is a little stupid. About as stupid about the comment for the driveway being wider. Its someone like this who probably voted no to Prop 4 and who complained at town meetings that Super Wal Mart will create a traffic problem. There is a correlation there but anyway the driveway isnt a parking lot. It doesnt need to support 2 lanes of parking and a through lane all at once. It was planned for people to use the new area so that they could see the improvements being made to the school.
As for prop 4, the school district had free money to use, but only to use for a sports plex that is designed to draw sectionals to lockport, a field big enough for soccer and lacrosse, and improvements to our existing garbage tennis courts and football field. If sectionals came to Lockport wouldnt that stimulate restaurants and businesses in the area. Im sure sales from concessions at the sectionals would put money into the schools pocket. The people who voted against this didnt either think of the positives or just arent educated to know the significance of it. Similar again to Super Wal Mart. The big complaint is traffic, well these same people dont complain about the traffic leaving Lockport to go spend money in Erie county because our regular Wal Mart is the only show in town.
Phantom,
Maybe the kids that are distraught over the no vote have pride in their community and their school and thats why they were upset. Maybe its people like you who think that voting no and not passing this is comparable to winning the Super Bowl or Stanley Cup. Seriously a budget is equivalent to someones lifelong dream of winning those. You must have SOME life. Im envious that you have reached your lifelong goal of voting no in a school budget and with that accomplished NOTHING except hurting the community that you live in and may or may not have any pride in.
here we go again, using the poor kids as pawns, if these adults didn't put them in the middle of this issue over and over perhaps these "poor kids" wouldn't fee so sad... It's like terri carbone said, this community needs to go forward and heal. i'm hoping all you complainers here move on and stop perpetuating this back and forth nonsense. I really hate to admit this but I have to look at this as karma. maybe if the game was followed by the rules, you would have gotten it.
btw-the sports complex was not a big issue for me either way, but when I saw and heard some of these adults that were heading it up act like spoiled brats, it was a real turn-off.
How did anyone act like brats? Just wondering... What exactly was the turn off for you?
Im just glad it didn't pass,who knows what the traffic would have been like with the walmart supercenter & the traffic after a game
Still waiting for a statement of thanks from those that were not elected.Show us you lost and are not losers. Your posts were always here prior to your run at public office.Does it hurt you to be gracious? Has your poison pen run out of ink? Remember good taste doesn't cost a thing.
Awww.. Carbone didn't get her sports palace and now she's taking her ball and going home.
Don't let the front door hit you on the backside as you leave.
What rules were broken? And do you really think traffic would have been an issue? Its never been a problem for residents near Emmett, and I live by the high school and would have welcomed the stadium
It's interesting that Anthony Molinaro was a big supporter of the Athletic Complex... and he got the most votes of all...
self-center, self serving..what a great place to live!
Lockport IS a great place to live... Unfortunately, the local paper does this community no good at all - and neither does the local radio station...
The radio station is the worst,it's terrible enough to listen to the same miserable callers day in and day out, but having a host agree with them everyday is even worse. Nothing worse than having a station be so far to one side
DING DONG TAC IS GONE!!!! BEST NEWS YET!
Now lets to the right thing and get the best Super possible and break up her coven over there on beattie!
Coven?... Huh?...
Sounds like the people that voted down the sport complex did not understand where the funding was coming and how the funding works. Sad that ignorance won out. NYS is giving us money that can only be used for a sports complex, and NYS already has the money set aside, yet we still turn it down. Makes no sense at all.
Lol anon 10:08 aren't you the pot calling the kettle black,the money is the same fund that the renovations to the elementary schools are coming from,its not just for sports complexes,WOW!
I think that if there was as much enthusiasm for EDUCATION as there was for the SPORTS COMPLEX, we would be better off as a community! I think that parents need to be involved in their children's education and see it as their job to help their kids succeed in school. Take education seriously...
...True...
And at last night's Board Meeting, 3 Lockport students were honored for having averages of OVER 101!!!
The last time I had anything of 101, I had mono...
"Lol anon 10:08 aren't you the pot calling the kettle black..."
I get it! You mean like Paul Black, right?
Maybe if education was made to be as entertaining/rewarding/interactive/etc there would be more enthusiam for it.
It's a little hard to get excited over sitting in a desk for 40 minutes at a time having someone recite information to you. It puts me to sleep in my 30's going to boring seminar just as much as it did in my teens sitting through a boring class.
Education needs to be made relevent. Students need to go home feeling like they have learned some usable skills. Maybe then we'd see more excitment for it.
Could you stop with the rhetoric. We are using our fair share over and over...Please people, remember we just spent $23M on renovations and just approved $19M+ in the near future. Please stop sounding so ignorant.
Exactly!
I am all for improving schools and classes offered. I feel the focus should be on academics and not athletics. When I was in school over 30 years ago, we had many more choices of classes to take. Prepare our kids for college and the real world. These are the reasons I voted no. Also remember...FREE money is never truly free. If this complex had been built, where would the money have come for upkeep and maintenance? The taxpayer of course. We are in trying fiscal times, there is no extra for luxury imo.
"Sounds like the people that voted down the sport complex did not understand where the funding was coming and how the funding works."
Translation : If you voted this down you are Stoopid! Sooo Stoopid!
to Anon 12:27- I couldn't agree more. Where were the hard numbers of maintenance and costs in the future? Why were there blank faces when those questions were asked? I would have voted differently if the answers were out there.
Yes- it would have been nice to have, but not if it is going to fall into disrepair and then money to maintain it would come from the academic funds. No one ever talked about who would be the one to promote the field to host competitions. They don't just show up on the doorstep.
-Oh 12:27 you are so full of it. You obviously didn't learn reading comprehension in school. As has been stated many times upkeep and maintenance would have been less than the current fields are costing us. Plus, there are a ton more classes offered in the schools then there were 30 years ago, thats ridiculous to say there used to be more. In my opinion, thats one reason our taxes are so high, we are actually offering to many. If we are going to offer college classes we should charge college tuition!
-Joy - check your facts. There are many studies that while kids participate in sports there grades are higher than other semesters. We need to encourage g3tting the fat a$$ kids out of chairs and into sports.
- making fun of Carbone is funny, considering she is going out on such a high with the improved graduation rates and getting the budget passed in such a tough year.
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For those who say Lockport is a great place to live, let me repeat my post. Didn't get many comments about it-
Why should any young people stay in Lockport? I have advised my kids to make sure they don’t plan to live here, and when I can retire in a few years we will definitely be moving too. Are there any good reasons to stay here? We are rapidly becoming a ‘ghetto’, full of low income apartments, non-working people and drug users. The biggest year round event downtown is drug court days when it is tough to get parking spaces. We have the concerts, but at the expense of cutting the parks program budget in half. We have Applebee’s, but that’s it as far as youthful restaurants (i.e. Fridays, Red Robin, etc.). We don’t have a cinema, but we are getting a super Walmart (wow!). We don’t have any great prospects of jobs, and the ones we do have are for high school graduates – we really don’t have any jobs for college grads. Our taxes are crazy, especially in the city. We have an empty lot where a Y was supposed to be built (though it should have been downtown) and an empty building where a hockey rink was going., but both appear to be dead due to lack of funds. The other reason not to stay in Lockport is how bad the schools are getting, but it is NOT the fault of the administration or teachers, it is the fact that almost every class now includes so many kids with parents who just don't care. Most of these kids are from area's such as genesssee St, Strauss Rd, trailer parks, etc. You can't learn in a classroom when a teacher has to spend their day disciplining kids, and right now that is the state of our schools.
Again, why stay here? Why not move to an area where the majority of the parents really care?
Now we turned down an opportunity for a sports complex we could have been proud of at no cost, but…
So I ask again, why should any kids live in Lockport? What future do you see for them? Working as a canal guide at the locks?
Sorry to be so discouraged today, but after seeing the new, beautiful auditorium at the high school and seeing all the young people voting I was very encouraged - the vote was a big disappointment.
And I do think all the grandparents that don’t have kids in school and that voted no should remember that grandparents without kids paid school taxes to support your education, your no vote just hurt your grandchildren, and is a factor (but definitely not the major cause) of the rapidly escalating downfall of Lockport.
Mr. X-man...
Why are you so discouraged?
Last time, the vote failed by 500 votes, this time - with a record-number of voters - it failed by 38 votes.
Next time, it will pass... And, yes, there will be a next time. With a record number of voters, 38 votes is not exactly a resounding mandate to kill the idea forever... With such a small margin, it sounds to me like the discussion should continue...
Also, you say you want good schools and a place where parents care?
Well, 4 candidates were running on platforms of Taxes, Negative, Angry, Cut, Cut, Cut... Three of them were defeated... It was an impossibility for all 4 to lose - we were going to get one of them anyway... but that's all we got - just the one...
Of the 3 candidates who were vocal about being supportive of the schools and the Athletic Complex, ALL THREE of them were elected (or re-elected)...
All in all, people like you and me WON 6 out of 7 of the issues presented to the voters... Frankly, not a bad night...
... and Mr. X-man...
I would like to add that the biggest supporter of the Athletic Complex was Anthony Molinaro... and he got more votes than anybody else...
Teachers cut...declining student population. How long do you think people are going to stay in Lockport? Its gonna be a ghost town soon, overun by drug dealers and gangs. Too bad, used to have a nice small town feel.
I ignored the first "tell my kids to move". It's an old negative story and one which I grew up with. How do you expect a place to ever turn around if you raise you kids to loathe the place the live and encourage them to take their talents elsewhere? Or give up when something does not turn out as desired?
People at the top should be setting policies, planning etc which promotes investment and growth (and yes they struggle there). But it is up to every resident to give it there best. 10,000 people trying to make a place great will do more than 10 at the top thinking up silver bullet projects. Even Harrison started out as a small factory. Who will we inspire to possibly start the next one here?
Like a tree businesses grow and die. You can exponentially spend your time and money trying to move large 100yr old trees in or planting 50 1 yr old trees and watch some of them grow.
"Teachers cut...declining student population" So when there's a declining student population, we should hire more teachers? What a drama queen.
And again, everyone here is back and forth on the sports complex. A 93% reimbursed, fund raiser backed capitol issue which may or may not have seen some maintenence cost. Should have been a simple issue.
Yet everyone is glancing over the issue in the main post. $3m in one time funded beneifit increases this year and I would not be surprised to see an additional $3m next year. Where are we going to cut that from next year? When will there be a discusson on controlling these exploding benefit costs?
Is it because it is not a simple yes-no issue? Is it because it will not make someone's street busier 4 nights a year? All this noise about about not being able to "afford" something that was going to be amost all paid for and we are ignoring a vastly larger number that directly affects our tax rate and staffing ability.
The dollar amount next yeat which may equal the whole sports complex cost, and none of it being reimbursed or fund raised. Chew on that for a few and then explain why its being ignored for the sports complex debate.
It doesn't matter if it were 6,38,or 500 it still got defeated !
The vote-this time-was as close as it was because the administration ginned up the kids and their parents to vote yes. If there hadn't been a lot more 18 year olds voting "yes" this year it would have been a much wider margin.
I'd like to know what Mr. Burke will do now that his project is off the board for, at least, a year or two? Perhaps he'll spend some of his valuable time on the "regular" students - those who aren't first string and need his attention MORE than the top jocks.
I'm pleased that there will be some newcomers to the Board and hope that everything it does will be open to the public from the word "go." and not hidden away until the last, possible moment when the taxpayers are smacked in the face with another tax increase. I wouldn't have been disappointed if all four were filled by new people, but you can't have everything.
Most importantly, when New York State stops funding this type of luxury, we won't be stuck with a huge hole in the ground which we haven't the money to complete.
Patti:
I agree with you that there were a lot more 18 year olds that voted in this election.
But I have to say that there were also a lot more Senior Citizens that voted in this election than in the past.
Most of the time, a School Board election is decided by 1,000 people. An incredible number of people came out to vote and the reason was to cast a vote on the Stadium Complex issue - whether yes or no. It broke all records for voter turnout...
I agree that Mr. Burke spent a lot of time and effort on this issue.
That's his job - we pay him to try and manage the athletic department and continually seek for improvements. In fact, he got no money from working a lot of extra hours on this issue... but again, that's why the community pays him.
I once met with Mr. Burke in his office for an hour. We were continually interrupted by students that came to see him about something. It was a continuos stream of students that he would help - whether it be for a hall pass, a uniform order, paperwork for a physical, information on a contest that was rained out, bus schedules and other such items. To say that he needs to spend more time with the students is unfair. From what I saw, he meets with students all day long.
I'm also pleased that there are newcomers on the Board... fresh ideas are always good.
New York State will never stop funding these "luxury items." That seems to be what the State does best.
Wow - I can't believe our 'almost' Olympic star Patti still can't get over Pat Burke! Do you have a secret crush on him or something that you are so fixated on him? Is your husband aware of your obsession for him? Did you ever go get the help that was suggested you need?
Give it up, Burke does a good job. With over 1000 kids participating in athletics at the high school I am sure he works with more than the 'top jocks', but of course I don't stalk him....
Say what you want about Burke, but he is the hardest working administrator we have. He gets there early each morning and stays until the last game is over each night, usually between 7-9:00 pm.
He worked on the sports complex, FOR THE KIDS. It wasn't going to give him anything extra.
I would never go to Riu! The places are all dumps.
I don't know Mr. Burke, nor do I know what he actually does - other than he was the front man for the complex.
I'm pleased to hear that he is available to the kids and that he works very hard - although I never thought he didn't. I simply expressed my concern that he wasn't spreading himself around to help those children who aren't varsity athletes. Thank you for clearing that up.
As far as the "stalking" allegations go - get over yourself. I don't live in the past - why do you insist on doing so?
The voters who showed up to exercise their right to vote are the heroes here - not anyone else, either in the District offices or without.
Wouldn't you agree that being in third place in the nation is better than not being in third place? Sounds like a very strong case of jealousy to me.
Just because someone takes a leadership role in a cause does not necessarily mean they are neglecting other duties. Especially when they cause is directly related to them. I have seen no complaints from kids saying he was inaccesible. No more irrelevent Burke bickering please.
Stop deleting my Riu posts you jerk off!
I agree with you MJ. My problem with Mr. Burke was not with him personally - I don't know the man. It was with the number of times he was pressed into service to present the "for" side of the Sports Complex while those who were against it had 3 minutes and did not have all the facts because no one would provide them.
In this regard he was doing his job - doing what he was told to do.
Who cares about the sports complex. I'm more concerned with the fact that my daughter is going to have to switch schools every two years. Doesn't any one teach here. Continual upheaval results in lower learning. Screw the sports educate the BRAIN!!! That's what will get you a job not whether you played in some stupid sports complex in high school. You seem to have lost touch with the real losers the young students who are being jipped out of a quality education not jipped out of a sports complex.
Go on YouTube and search rude voicemail left by David ulrich
Nothing there
Just search David ulrich it will show up
Nope it doesn't. Post the link to it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zn5V5uEzLo
That's hilarious. How low can Ulrich go? What a petty person. I really hope this is saved forever in case he ever runs for anything, or tries to influence anything.
Who cares?
Just shows what an ahole he is and proves he privately funds candidates for personal reasons. Who do you think paid for that 4 page ad
the only thing it shows is that he's an ahole to people who are aholes to him. and everyone who funds politics does for personal reasons. again, who cares?
I would have thought he would try and have more class than that. It shows he really is a petty little boy spending his daddies money.
just as much class as you are showing, saint anon?
Are you really trying to defend him?
What about the Teachers Union??? I saw the letter with their endorsements and they gave each candidate $400 for their ads that ran 4-5 days....Shouldn't we be complaining about that?
I'm sure they called each loser and profanely made fun of them for running and losing!
You are missing the point. The supposed #1 leader of Lockport called and left a message like a little kid on a losers telephone gloating. Do you trust this man?
Why should you complain about the teacher's union endorsing candidates? It's their money.
So he's candid in a private message? That's your beef?
So why should it matter if anyone in the town/city wants to endorse candidates and help pay for their advertising? It's their money.
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