In the world of institutionalized or bureaucratic “democracy” Senator Maziarz’s letter to Commissioner Grannis is an obligatory first step. I was happy to see the letter. I wasn’t happy to hear that the Senator found out about this through a newspaper article. Why was that? Is such a decision of such little significance to Grannis that he wouldn’t let Maziarz know personally that Niagara County is about to get dumped on again, literally and figuratively? Is Maziarz so insignificant in such a matter that he need not be told, even as a courtesy?
Nevertheless, Senator Maziarz has said in seemingly no uncertain terms the following:
“Let me be clear that I have no interest in allowing any toxic waste from the Queensbury site to be imported into Niagara County, and I plan on seeking every remedy possible to prevent it.” …
“I’m going to do everything I can to make sure this does not happen.” …
“This is absolutely not right.”
Hopefully Grannis will work with Maziarz. Hopefully this will be settled in a conversation. However the Senator should draw the line at zero tolerance for anymore waste whatsoever coming into Niagara County. He has chosen the bureaucratic path. No big surprise nor however is it unwise to start there. In that world it’s probably quite wise since there is probably nothing stopping Grannis from doing whatever he wants for whatever reason. And a good reason would be to defiantly assert his power if Maziarz pushed to hard. Diplomacy is good for sure.
It seems to me, however, that Senator Maziarz language is far from firm and in fact is a little hesitant if not weak. What does he mean by having “no interest in allowing any toxic waste” enter Niagara County? That sounds absolute enough. He’s going to “do everything I can,” …”seeking every remedy possible to prevent it.” This is good and encouraging as far as it goes.
I would like to suggest that it is however a rather weak ending to conclude that this “is absolutely not right.” Why is this weak? Because this situation at this point is no longer a matter of right and wrong, legal or illegal. This is not even a moral matter. It will however be addressed undoubtedly in administrative-legal language and terms. If for whatever reason Grannis goes through with this plan we have little recourse in the administrative labyrinthe of bureaucracies and legalities. His reasons are likely to not be determined in the field of reason and open rational discussion. It will as usual be the forces of interest and power that will decide.
That is why Senator Maziarz should now make this clearly a political issue. How? He does this by simply stating up front that dumping thousands of tons of waste in Niagara County is absolutely unacceptable and is not an option. It’s not that it is just wrong and we have ‘no interest’ in this. It is that we will never accept any such further violation of our environmental and sovereign integrity. This language is a political decision, the language of decisionism, in the face of laws and a value system that has no interest in the welfare of our county obviously. Such language is to take back local political power. What is reasonable and what is condsidered factual will first be determined by a political decision. Without this decision we are subject to the irrational self-interested rationalism, bureaucratism and administrative fiat of the balance of powers in NYS. As of now the balance is not in our favor. To decisionistically take a stand is to make what we value beyond compromise.
Once that decision is made as a political commitment and led by Maziarz we take a stand for it, then the Senator can still in all good faith work with the Commissioner to deal with the waste issue. If in fact the Senator plans to do everything he can hopefully that means he will not take “no” for an answer. However, one can do “everything he can” and still fail.
At this point in our history Maziarz cannot for our sake be allowed to fail. This community is much too demoralized to be further insulted and suffer such political and environmental desecration. He must do what must be done: Declare Niagara County a Pollution Free Zone. Declare the county Clean Niagara. Declare Niagara a clean county. Then fight for it. As I suggested in my last essay, Senator Maziarz must be the political leader that he is and mobilize this county as if it were a revolution. And it is. It is a declaration for absolute change. It is fighting for the conditions of life that make life in Niagara worth living. Enough is enough and the possibility which he seems to have committed himself to if it is to be unambiguously political begins with the declaration that he will be a living and breathing stand for this possibility: the possibility that Niagara define itself and stand for itself as a world class destination, clean, safe and populated by people who have taken passionate pride in who they are. This is an act of autonomy, self-responsibility and self-determination: a democratic and political act.
I hope I am dead wrong. I hope this matter is already solved. But I fear that anything else than what I've suggested will be business as usual and will result in a bureaucratic brush off after which the Senator will have to save face and end up using the present weak language of his letter and interview as a way out the back door.
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