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.<\/p>\n
I noted that Politi is a great town supervisor for the Lake Placid side of North Elba.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
In an interview with WNBZ<\/a> this week, Politi fired back:<\/p>\n “I do think about Saranac Lake. I was instrumental in bringing sales tax back to Saranac Lake,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cTo come to some conclusion based on a single vote is narrow-minded on one individual\u2019s part. That\u2019s just the way it is.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n 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.<\/p>\n Obviously, I disagree.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n It’s hardly controversial to point out that Politi lives and works in Lake Placid.\u00a0 Lake Placid and Saranac Lake are two very different communities, with two very different sets of needs.<\/p>\n Does it matter that “our” town supervisor is rooted in another community?<\/p>\n I think the evidence that it does matter can be seen in the contrast between two of Politi’s most recent decisions.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Fair enough.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n