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Challenges abound around our town
Editorial
Plans are expected to begin soon on a town-wide school "charity challenge" designed to pit schools against one another in a competition to raise money for the charity of their choice. The competition is likely to include students participating in a range of activities throughout a 12-hour period. The school that raises the most money will be declared the winner for the year, but the real winner will be the charity that receives the financial boost.
We're glad to hear that there appears to be interest from students in participating in the challenge, and wish the local schools well as they formulate their plan and put it into motion. The idea of a "charity challenge" also got us thinking about challenges faced by others around town.
An influx of signs along the sides of local roads has inspired the town board to crack down on the "eyesores" by enforcing a state law that forbids the advertisements. Signs promoting everything from miracle weight loss, to politicians to fire district recruitment, bridal shows, garage sales, estate sales, lawn fetes and Little League registration will be scoured from the public rights-of-way in Cheektowaga. Residents looking to sell that extra davenport will have to find an alternative to posting a sign on the nearby utility pole. Perhaps they'll get building permits to install their very own electronic message boards.
Local Republicans are stinging from their latest defeats in Tuesday's general election. While their distinct disadvantage in political party enrollment is daunting, that is not the sole reason they lose year after year. A little bit of a financial boost wouldn't hurt; you can't win an election with $2,000. Name recognition matters, and with the town planning to crack down on roadside signs, their main source of promotion will dry up. Repetition costs money, but it gets results. The one-track "cut taxes" mantra won't win them many votes, either. While taxes are an important issue, the candidates must demonstrate that they understand a variety of issues in town as important as taxes, good roads and sanitation service as well as those social issues that are often just as important to voters, such as wildlife management.
Speaking of taxes, the town board will face a challenge keeping taxes down in Cheektowaga. Decades of little or no improvements to the infrastructure has given the town a wonderful bond rating. Now, everything is happening at once. Discussions of improvements and additions to Town Hall and the Police and Courts Building are underway. The former incinerator on the campus remains standing despite years of inactivity. The town is under order to improve its sewer system. This is going to cost money. The town had to secure a bond in 2004 to replace several garbage trucks. A system to gradually replace the vehicles is now in store, but we're not sure Cheektowaga will be as lucky with the rest of its decaying infrastructure. It may be a bumpy ride.
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