Special Village Board Meeting - EMS Budget 8/24/09

The privatizers are back.

The Village Board met tonight to discuss the "crisis" with the EMS budget. Chris Thomas explained that because of decreasing volunteerism, the EMS budget would have to see an increase of 25% next year. The likely figure for next year will be $425,000. I'm guessing there are about 8000 people served by the ambulance. (Ulysses, Trumansburg, and parts of Hector and Covert) $425,000 / 8000 = $53/person/year. Please, let me pay it. Don't start billing. Don't get into bed with the damn private for profit insurance companies. I've been telling them for a year, and they still don't get it. If we cost shift part of our $53 tax burden, onto the insurance companies, they will shift it back onto us in the form of higher premiums. The cost to the average family of four for health insurance is currently $13000. It is estimated to double in the next 7 to 8 years. $26,000 is nearly half of the average income of a Ulysses worker. That's a real crisis. 18,ooo people a year die, in the US, because they didn't have health insurance. That's a real crisis. Some of those 18,000 died because they didn't call an ambulance because they couldn't afford it. That's a shame.

There is no crisis in paying for our wonderful single payer ambulance. It's the best value I get for my tax dollar. $53 and we get quick response from trained emt's and nobody gets a bill. My neighbor that doesn't have health insurance doesn't need to fear a big bill when her kid has an asthma attack. If we go to billing, the insurance companies will raise premiums to cover the cost - plus profit! Then not only will the uninsured not call when they need an ambulance, but those of us that do have insurance will become part of the system that allows the insurance industry to make obscene profits.

The Village held a public forum last year to get feedback from the community on wether or not to go to billing. The overwhelming majority said NO! What part of "no" don't they understand?

We have to tell them again and again.

here's a link to the audio

Ulysses Democratic Committee Meeting 8/20/09

The Ulysses Democratic Committee met on Thursday 8/20. As I have reported here before, the committee unanimously opposes my recording these events. I understand some of the reasons, such as it allows a more frank and open discussion, and if anything untoward is said about someone in the community, it need not become public. But, I can't think of anything that was said on Thursday, that would hurt anyone's feelings if it were made available. And I don't understand why we shouldn't take our cue from the Democratic National Committee, who's meetings are often covered on Cspan.

The committee heard from Kevin Romer and Roxanne Marino who are both interested in a spot on the Town Board. That makes three Democratic candidates (including incumbent Lucia Tyler) vying for 2 Town Board spots, at the Democratic Caucus, on August 31st at 7pm at the Fire Hall. (please come)

The presentations by the candidates at the last two UDC meetings, if they were made available to the public, would be the only time before the caucus, that the public would hear from the folks that might make important decisions for the town for the next 4 years. Since this is not allowed, the public won't know that real differences exist, and are therefore less likely to attend the caucus, and without them, democracy suffers.

Allen Carstensen (that's me) and Chris Thomas, will both ask for the Democratic nomination for Ulysses Town Supervisor, at the Caucus. Lucia Tyler and I had already addressed the committee and explained why we wanted to serve, so we didn't speak on Thursday. Roxanne Marino spoke for a few minutes and it's a shame I wasn't allowed to record it. Her knowledge of all the issues in front of the Town Board is voluminous, and she talks so fast, I'd have to listen to it 3 times for it to sink in. Her energy and knowledge would be a real asset on the Board.

Chris Thomas spoke, and took questions. He was asked if billing for ambulance services was still an issue. He said yes, that it was. He pointed out that the budget for the EMS for next year would have to be increased by 25% because of falling volunteerism, and the resultant increase in paid staff hours. I remain completely opposed to billing. There will be a meeting about the EMS budget at the Village Hall at 7pm tomorrow, Monday 8/24 (I think that's what he said - it's not on the online calendar, and I'm not allowed to record these meetings) I'll be there, and I'll be writing more about this soon.

Chris was asked if he was in favor of efforts to bring broadband internet service to more of rural Ulysses. He said that he didn't feel that highspeed internet was really necessary for most people. I disagree. I believe that access to information is critical if we are to have a well informed electorate. If everyone streamed Youtube clips of Jon Stewart every night.....

Chris was asked what he felt should be done regarding water infrastructure. He said that he favors laying pipe into the rural areas of Ulysses in a manner similar to WD5. He said that there was a palpable lack of cooperation during the WD5 years, and that, had there been better cooperation, that a project could have been completed. Some would call it palpable lack of cooperation. I would call it Don Ellis, Roxanne Marrino, and Lucia Tyler, standing on principle, and not allowing Doug Austic and Rod Ferintino to push through a project that was unfair to many, and would have enriched some while putting the Town at risk of unwanted development (possibly including concentrated animal feeding operations) A committee recently completed a survey of the water needs of the town. I look forward to working with members of that committee and the board, to determine the best way to improve access to clean safe water, to as many people as possible, with as few unwanted consequences as possible.

Chris was asked for his thoughts on gas drilling. He said "I'm not inherently opposed to energy exploration but what I am absolutely opposed to, is the use of undisclosed chemicals in the hydrofracturing solutions" Well, it seems that the exploration phase has been completed. The next step is to extract the gas, and I am inherently opposed to the hydrofracturing and horizontal drilling process if it involves large quantities of poisons and carcinogens wether they are disclosed or not. I have brought two resolutions to the Board, which, if passed into law, would deter these corporations from harming the health of our residents and decimating our environment. I believe we have to use every tool available to protect our Town, and if elected that is what I will urge the Board to do.

I have been nominated by the Tompkins County Green Party as their candidate for Ulysses Town Supervisor. I have collected signatures that the Board of Elections requires, so I will be on the ballot on the Green Party line, on Nov. 3rd. I registered as a Democrat in 1970 when I turned 18. I voted for George McGovern in 1972. What a different world it would be! I have always been a Democrat, because I believe that within our current electoral system, the Democratic Party is our best hope, for progressive reform. I have been a registered Democrat for 39 years. Chris Thomas has been a registered Democrat for 3 years ( He was a registered Libertarian prior to running on the Democratic Party line for Village Trustee) The Caucus on 8/31 will be important in determining the future of the Democratic Party in Ulysses. Please come.