This is the time
A Call for a Referendum
on the
Cottone Field Proposals
"Where has Dr. Ken been?"
So asked one poster (in another thread) who noticed that I had not recently contributed to the "discussions" (my term) of the Cottone Field issues (really three, not just one).
In the last two weeks, no meaningful 'discussion' has taken place. Almost everyone has settled into one of two camps. The voices of the middle ground have been drowned out by the thunder of ridicule on one side and of derision on the other. No one seems to be willing, at this point, to calmly offer high quality facts, figures, and insights to support his position. Testostone reigns. The adversaries just thrust poniards at each other. Still others here have noted that the two, large (Cottone) threads had devolved into a hellish mess. I decided I did not want to sully myself by mucking in that mire? Good points have been raised on each side, but probably not in the way that the two camps would select them.
What has become crystal clear is that a fair, open, and equitable solution to these questions must be sought. The only way that will happen is to put the question or questions to the public, all of the public, in the form of a referendum. Since each "side" feels that it will prevail, let the public decide.
For the Morin majority on Council and the Hodges majority on the BOE, a referendum will provide them with the opportunity to prove that they were indeed right - that the "public" really wants the entire project completed in the way which they have advocated.
For the WTXA and the rapidly growing neighborhood groups (and perhaps even coalitions), a referendum will provide the opportunity to prove that they, instead, were right - that the "public" really did not want this project to proceed in the manner advocated by others.
If the Morin Majority, et al., were to try to "end run" around the public, by configuring the annual price tag for the project to be less than the $100,000.oo manditory-referendum trip-wire, they would be branded as undemocratic and disingenuous, considing their contention that this is what the public wants.
In all likelihood, the WTXA, pro-neighborhood groups, et al., will be true to their words: they will force this to referendum - if not to litigation - if the council tries such an end run.
Granted, if the public, in referendum, decides in favor of the proceeding with the Cottone field project as envisioned by its proponents, this would not eliminate the now likely threat of litigation by the neighbors to enjoin it. On the other hand, if the public decides against proceeding with the envisioned project, the issue would be dead, at least for now in its present configuration.
Again, both sides are confident they will prevail. Neither side at this point is going to succeed in convincing the other side otherwise.
This is the time to end the bickering.
This is the time for decision making.
This is the time for leadership.
This is the time for Mayor Russell Morin to marshall the positive and healing powers of his "pulpit" - to urge that a majority on Council assures the public that a referendum shall be held and then to follow through with that promise.
To do so would be not only the expedient course of action, it would be right course.
This is the time for a commitment to a referendum by BOTH "sides."
(List of Contacts and Resources)
