Post Vote Musings on the Biggest Vote in Years at the County Legislature

Keep your eye on the ball....That's how any game is won and that is how proponents of the wind PILOT got their eight votes.
No time was spent on folks like the Florist who was against it from the beginning. In fact, Mr. Gray says he never even met the man who at meetings from a few feet away kept his coalition of votes together and in the end flipped the one vote needed for victory.
That would be Big Wind attorney Robert Bergdorf, the bookish-looking behind the scenes Svengali who delivered tens of millions of dollars in tax breaks to his client.
The tick tock of this deal may have to be repeated if the NYS Power Authority's goal of hundreds of wind mills on Lake Ontario is to be acheived.
Meanwhile there is joy in Sackets Harbor with the promise of lower property taxes and more money for the Town of Hounsfield and the local school district.
The prospect of local firms landing contracts for Galloo has excitement in the air and labor leaders were especially happy, as it was them who really provided the push that gave lawmakers the rationale for approving a controversial plan.
One proponent was telling me how full the bars and restaurants in Sackets will be during the construction. That was a great way to win my heart.
You see this issue is the same as all the others. Those who saw a gain for themselves liked the deal...Those who didn't either disliked it or didn't care.
There was little lingering resentment at Pete's as lawmakers gobbled their pizza and wings as they would any Tuesday evening. One opponent was razzing another lawmaker for being the "cabana boy" for IDA and Big Wind attornies. But other than that nothing too raucous, although this debate will have an effect on how elected leaders view workings of economic development agencies for some time to come.....and it should.
From my view, its just the sausage making of the legislative process and those who choose to partake will enjoy eating the sausage more than they enjoyed seeing it made.