Tell them to stop raining on our parade

I don’t understand what a small group is complaining about trying to justify changing our form of government. Do they live in a different city?

I love living in Saratoga Springs and don’t recognize their incessant exaggerated complaining which makes it sound as if we’re living in a depressed city that’s about to get even worse.

Who do they think they’re kidding? They must know that Saratoga Springs is a wonderful city with beautiful neighborhoods and a vibrant downtown that the city employees keep safe and clean. Just today, the leaves on our street were picked up by a hard working crew of city employees.

And Saratoga Springs keeps up with the times.

The new solar park is impressive and the highspeed fiber network discussed at the last City Council meeting can make us even more economically attractive at absolutely no cost to the city. The tech company said they found Saratoga Springs because of our Smart City program and approached us as one of the most advanced thinking cities in the country. Nothing old fashioned here despite what the complainers are saying.

I love talking with people about why they chose to live here. Whether they’ve been in town a few months or a few decades, they all rave about how happy they are in Saratoga Springs. And I enjoy telling them how happy I am that I came back home 18 years ago.

I know a city is more than its government. But city hall through its policies, local laws and funds provide the environment for our city’s success. And working with not-forprofit organizations, citizens groups, and the business community with public-private partnerships, the commission form of government continues to work for Saratogians as it did even during the severe recession we’ve almost forgotten.

All these good things have been happening without a tax increase in 6 years.

I’m known as the lady in the front row taking notes of city council meetings. I also went to 38 of the charter commission’s 39 meetings, so I have heard all their complaints and some arguments too.

Unfortunately, since the charter group never surveyed Saratogians, there are no notes about what the charter group learned about how Saratogians feel about how well our government is working for us.

It was obvious that the charter changers really didn’t want our input, which would have supported the commission form of government, just like the 2001 charter group survey found. And they ignored the voters who overwhelmingly supported the commission form of government in both 2006 and 2011.

Fearful of input from residents that would have derailed their push for charter change, they simply ignored citizens who were not considered important enough to bother with.

My impression after listening for many months, the charter commission leaders are positive that their superior judgment is indisputable. Rather insulting, don’t you think?

Luckily, I live here so I know first hand what a great city it is and have not been swayed by their doom and gloom pronouncements. They need to smile more.

Please, before you vote, look around your neighborhood, walk downtown, and compare Saratoga Springs to where you previously lived and vote no on charter change if you prefer living here. I know I do.