Oversight Committee for Renaissance Center should have citizen representative

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 "Harry Davis volunteers for seat on Renaissance Square Oversight Committee"  As a citizen of <city w:st="on" />Rochester</city />, I have studied the plans and attended meetings of a citizens group concerning the proposed underground bus terminal/college/arts center in <city w:st="on" /><place w:st="on" />Rochester</place /></city />.Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Upon hearing that the County Legislature Democrats called a hearing to solicit the publicâ€™s views, I felt skeptical but remained receptive to hearing all sides. However, I am convinced that this hugely-expensive yet murky concept, including its environmental impact and the long term disablement of downtown <city w:st="on" /><place w:st="on" />Rochester</place /></city /> are so consequential that I must take a more active role. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â It is incumbent upon citizens to challenge the authorities and supporters of expensive and far-reaching projects. It is the duty of the mass media to thoroughly ventilate the cost and consequences of every project that entail such public expenditures.Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â The cost of the Renaissance Square is at least $230 million but who can trust initial estimates or timelines of any public project? Why must this single-mode facility be built underground, immensely multiplying the costs? The planners are also proposing an arts center above the busses. Where will the bus fumes go?Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â How long will construction take, disrupting a downtown that is already on life-support? There is no reason why the bus terminal should be developed underground. An inter-modal facility at another location would be preferable. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â The question is:Â will authorities take into consideration the critiques of all the governmental and non-governmental groups, including citizensâ€™ groups, which are opposed to this patently political and anti-environmental project?Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Rochester City Councilman Tim Mains recently spoke for a preponderance of grassroots opponents in characterizing the project as â€œa stupid idea.â€Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Coupled with New York State Comptroller Alan Hevesiâ€™s challenges to state funding, added to opposition of a local public interest citizensâ€™ committee, plus deep, consequential environmental and traffic challenges,Â this project is leftâ€¦ both metaphorically and actuallyâ€¦ â€œjust a hole in the groundâ€.Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â This plan will use Federal Transportation Act (TEA-21) money which includes specific provisions such as efforts at improved traffic flow and air quality. <city w:st="on" /><place w:st="on" />Rochester</place /></city /> must have a better bus system that will reduce sprawl and encourage its citizens to actually use public transportation. I am concerned about the oversight of the proper spending of the TEA-21 money.Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â I am skeptical toward the composition of the supposedly objective oversight committee appointed by County Executive Brooks. It has no citizen representation. It is a conflict of interest to appoint Mark Aesch, the CEO of the RGRTA, the developer of the project, to this committee.Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â A major redesign of our transit system is in order. The age of cheap oil is ending. Economically competitive cities will be those that reduce automobile dependency. A downtown station can play a role in that redesign, but it has to be done in such a way that helps increase the efficiency and attractiveness of the transit system and our city rather than reducing it.Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â This month I will meet with a member the oversight committee. I will urge the committee to consider citizen input to this committee. I will volunteer to be a representative of all of the citizens of <city w:st="on" /><place w:st="on" />Rochester</place /></city />. Determined to be independent as well as non-partisan, I fully expect to make environmentally-friendly and non-partisan decisions and to keep the public, which will ultimately pay, informed of these decisions. 
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 "Harry Davis volunteers for seat on Renaissance Square Oversight Committee" As a citizen of <city w:st="on"></city>Rochester/>, I have studied the plans and attended meetings of a citizens group concerning the proposed underground bus terminal/college/arts center in <city w:st="on"></city> <place w:st="on"></place>Rochester/>/>. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Upon hearing that the County Legislature Democrats called a hearing to solicit the publicâ€™s views, I felt skeptical but remained receptive to hearing all sides. However, I am convinced that this hugely-expensive yet murky concept, including its environmental impact and the long term disablement of downtown <city w:st="on"></city> <place w:st="on"></place>Rochester/>/> are so consequential that I must take a more active role. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â It is incumbent upon citizens to challenge the authorities and supporters of expensive and far-reaching projects. It is the duty of the mass media to thoroughly ventilate the cost and consequences of every project that entail such public expenditures. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â The cost of the Renaissance Square is at least $230 million but who can trust initial estimates or timelines of any public project? Why must this single-mode facility be built underground, immensely multiplying the costs? The planners are also proposing an arts center above the busses. Where will the bus fumes go? Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â How long will construction take, disrupting a downtown that is already on life-support? There is no reason why the bus terminal should be developed underground. An inter-modal facility at another location would be preferable. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â The question is:Â will authorities take into consideration the critiques of all the governmental and non-governmental groups, including citizensâ€™ groups, which are opposed to this patently political and anti-environmental project? Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Rochester City Councilman Tim Mains recently spoke for a preponderance of grassroots opponents in characterizing the project as â€œa stupid idea.â€ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Coupled with New York State Comptroller Alan Hevesiâ€™s challenges to state funding, added to opposition of a local public interest citizensâ€™ committee, plus deep, consequential environmental and traffic challenges,Â this project is leftâ€¦ both metaphorically and actuallyâ€¦ â€œjust a hole in the groundâ€. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â This plan will use Federal Transportation Act (TEA-21) money which includes specific provisions such as efforts at improved traffic flow and air quality. <city w:st="on"></city> <place w:st="on"></place>Rochester/>/> must have a better bus system that will reduce sprawl and encourage its citizens to actually use public transportation. I am concerned about the oversight of the proper spending of the TEA-21 money. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â I am skeptical toward the composition of the supposedly objective oversight committee appointed by County Executive Brooks. It has no citizen representation. It is a conflict of interest to appoint Mark Aesch, the CEO of the RGRTA, the developer of the project, to this committee. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â A major redesign of our transit system is in order. The age of cheap oil is ending. Economically competitive cities will be those that reduce automobile dependency. A downtown station can play a role in that redesign, but it has to be done in such a way that helps increase the efficiency and attractiveness of the transit system and our city rather than reducing it. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â This month I will meet with a member the oversight committee. I will urge the committee to consider citizen input to this committee. I will volunteer to be a representative of all of the citizens of <city w:st="on"></city> <place w:st="on"></place>Rochester/>/>. Determined to be independent as well as non-partisan, I fully expect to make environmentally-friendly and non-partisan decisions and to keep the public, which will ultimately pay, informed of these decisions. 
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