The Secret Cornell

If it’s your actions that define you; then it’s fraud, misconduct, and cronyism that defines Tompkins County’s planners and policy makers.

Self-interest is the basis of every Cornell planned policy, and the raison d'être of the county’s authorities and office seekers. When sacrifices need to be made: they never ask “what” – they always ask “who” — and it’s always someone else.

“THE TOMPKINS COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN presents a vision for the future of the community. It is based on a set of principles that reflect the values of the community as expressed by the County Legislature they have elected. The Plan seeks to foster a place where individual rights are protected while recognizing the benefits that can accrue to community members from common actions. It largely focuses on voluntary collaboration between the public and private sectors, but also supports the role that local regulation can play in addressing key issues impacting the entire community and helping people to live together in harmony. Where regulation is required, it should balance the burdens placed on individuals and businesses with the restrictions needed to protect or otherwise benefit the larger community. In most cases the Plan seeks to expand individual choice in terms of where and how people live their lives.”

At first glance; Cornell’s Tompkins County “vision” reads like a Visitor Center brochure — but a more thorough inspection reveals its authoritarian boot marks among the carefully worded phrases:

• It reflects the “values of the community” but only “as expressed by the County Legislature.”
• It claims to “foster a place where individual’s rights are protected” but in the same sentence subordinates them to “common actions.”
• It “focuses on voluntary” but “supports the role of local regulation.”
• And while the “County’s” Plan states: “Where regulation is required, it should balance the burdens placed on individuals and businesses with the restrictions needed to protect or otherwise benefit the larger community” – It nowhere indicates that there will be any public participation in what these “regulations” and “burdens” are – or how they will be implemented.

By removing those portions of this “vision” statement that are negated by qualifiers; we arrive at a more straightforward disclosure of intent:

"This plan is based on values that reflect the principles of the County’s Legislature. In serving this agenda; we will choose what burdens we will place on individuals and businesses, and decide whom we will restrict in their choice of where and how they can live."

The Tompkins County Comprehensive Plan is as compassionate as putting a flowered border on a Foreclosure Notice.

In this Plan’s “vision for the future”: the rural community no longer exists.