July 23, 2008

City of Elmira excluded from local meeting with senate majority leader

Elmira city representatives, including Mayor John Tonello, candidate for the 53rd State Senate seat, were excluded from an important visit to Elmira by one of the state's three most powerful lawmakers Wednesday.

Sen. Dean Skelos is the new leader of the Republican-controlled state senate, one of the three most powerful men in state government, and responsible for helping to set the policy agenda for all New Yorkers.

"Strangely, in setting up Sen. Skelos' visit, Sen. George Winner and County Executive Tom Santulli, [all Republicans] opted not to include the City, its mayor and city manager, and the 30,000 people they represent," Tonello said. "I would have hoped Sen. Skelos would want to hear from as many community leaders as possible. This is a missed opportunity for Elmirans indeed."

"Surely, a meeting in the county executive's office, a mere two blocks from City Hall, is an official meeting and not a political one," Tonello added. "This kind of visit and chance to have in-person discussions on key issues is so important. The City would have made every effort to have representation present for this event had we received an invitation."

"Had we been part of the meeting, we would have discussed such important issues as lagging state funding to cities, the rapid decline of urban manufacturing, costly and inaccessible health care, high taxes, struggling schools, and other issues important to Elmirans and all New Yorkers," Tonello said.