Revisiting Roby Politi’s role representing Saranac Lake

Last week, I blogged about North Elba town supervisor Roby Politi’s controversial vote against additional funding for capital improvements at North Country Community College.

I noted that Politi is a great town supervisor for the Lake Placid side of North Elba.

But I questioned whether he can be expected to adequately represent those of his constituents who live miles away in Saranac Lake and — taken separately — would make up one of the larger communities in Essex County.

In an interview with WNBZ this week, Politi fired back:

“I do think about Saranac Lake. I was instrumental in bringing sales tax back to Saranac Lake,” he said.

“To come to some conclusion based on a single vote is narrow-minded on one individual’s part. That’s just the way it is.”

Politi rejected the idea that Saranac Lake should have some sort of at-large representative in Essex County looking out for the community’s interest.

Obviously, I disagree.

Before I explain why, let me say again that I think Politi is an honest, ethical and thoughtful elected official. I think he’s representing his community with vigor and passion.

I just happen to think it’s inappropriate that all other “towns” in Essex County have their own version of a Roby Politi, going to bat for them, fighting their fights, while Saranac Lake has none.

It’s hardly controversial to point out that Politi lives and works in Lake Placid.  Lake Placid and Saranac Lake are two very different communities, with two very different sets of needs.

Does it matter that “our” town supervisor is rooted in another community?

I think the evidence that it does matter can be seen in the contrast between two of Politi’s most recent decisions.

Last week, Politi voted to reject additional bond funding for the community college, arguing that taxpayers simply couldn’t afford the additional investment at this time.

Fair enough.

But this week, when New York state announced that it had canceled a $100,000 annual payment to North Elba, earmarked to support Lake Placid’s Olympic venues, Politi promptly argued that the town should simply make up the difference.

According to the Adirondack Daily Enterprise, Politi acknowledged that reducing the ORDA payment “might be the right thing to do from a business perspective.”

But he went on to add, “I don’t think it’s the right thing to do from a partnership standpoint.”

Now, it’s perfectly reasonable for Politi to argue that Lake Placid needs those Olympic venues to be in good shape. They’re a major tourism draw, and a big part of Lake Placid’s civic  life.

They may well deserve a bigger chunk of local tax monies each year.  (Including, it’s only fair to note, more tax monies gathered from the Saranac Lakers who live in North Elba.)

Politi is taking exactly the kind of stand here — looking out for his community’s interests and assets — that locals in the North Country properly expect from their leaders.

But shouldn’t someone be doing the same for Saranac Lake?

Shouldn’t there be someone going to bat impulsively for an asset like North Country Community College, arguing that it’s the right thing to do “from a partnership standpoint”?

The bottom line is that Politi should be commended for the savvy and intelligence that he shows in representing Lake Placid.

It’s not his fault that the political boundaries were drawn in the most undemocratic possible fashion, dividing the Adirondack Park’s largest community and splintering its political representation.

But it’s hardly narrow-minded to talk about the problem or suggest that we look for solutions.

One interesting side-note in the WNBZ report was Randy Douglas’s response to this discussion.

Douglas, who represents the town of Jay and serves as chairman of the Essex County board of Supervisors, had this to say:

“I know [Saranac Lake village Mayor] Clyde Rabideau and I know [Saranac Lake village manager] John Sweeny personally,” he said.

“I wish they would come to one of our meetings and discuss what it is they want from Essex County. Maybe it’s time to negotiate and see what their wants and needs are.”

That sounds like a great start to me.

Tags: adirondacks, politics