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Election 2009: Caccamo Sees Solutions in Buying Local
05:20PM / Tuesday, September 15, 2009
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Mayoral candidate Nicholas J. Caccamo says a locally based economy leads to community development and will increase public safety:
Buying local affects our community in three primary ways. A local economy helps stimulate economic growth and stabilize a municipal economy during times of national distress, improves the standard of living for our own residents, friends and neighbors, and helps to foster community development within a municipality.
The economic benefits of a "Buy Berkshires" economy include maintaining job and consumer demand in our own community. An excellent way to support the local economy would be for Pittsfield businesses to join the BerkShares program. The BerkShares project is a local currency program based in Great Barrington. If elected, I would push for more Pittsfield businesses to support the program to ensure that money spent in the Berkshires stays in the Berkshires.
One of the least noticeable, but most beneficial aspects of promoting a locally based economy is the advancement of community development. As individuals become more aware of who they are buying goods and services from, and where those products are coming from, a sense of connection between residents begins to emerge. This connection between consumer and merchant leads to increased unity within a municipality. Economist Richard Layard states "if people are highly mobile, they feel less bonded to the people among whom they live, and crime is more common." We need to make Pittsfield a city where residents form permanent bonds and maintain enduring residence, not just a stopping point.
Furthermore, if elected, I plan to work closely with acting Police Chief Michael Wynn to determine the feasibility of patrol officers "walking the beat" in highly trafficked areas. Working together with the City Council, I will continue to look for and secure grants for additional funding for the Pittsfield Police Department.
Finally, a local economy will improve the standard of living for the citizens of Pittsfield, and help create a tightly knit community. Local businesses will require more support from local labor, thus increasing demand for jobs in the area. A local economy makes the American Dream a more plausible goal for our friends and neighbors, as small-scale production is more viable without the competition from large corporations.
Also, as more residents chose local over global, and small over corporate, Pittsfield will develop a sense of distinctiveness that will generate tourism and foster community development on our streets and neighborhoods.
More information about my plans to help improve the city can be found at my Web site caccamoformayor.webs.com.
Submitted by the Campaign to Elected Nicholas J. Caccamo
A mayor faced with rising costs and shrinking revenues,
ReplyDeleteTo study any proposition, he would not refuse.
"So many think the job of being mayor is such a snap,
But the decisions that I'm faced with are an ugly trap.
With tools, materials and trades that cover total range,
Yet one ingredient is lacking, money to exchange.
If snowstorm hits the city and there are no funds to pay,
What does my council have to do to clear the snow away?
We pledge a million dollar bond to banks to get the cash,
With which we pay the skillful men who clear snow in a flash.
The merchants gladly take the funds for soon they have to pay,
The taxes for the snow removal that was done that day.
But though a million principle was spent, we must request,
That citizens be taxed for principle and interest.
To budget who gets scarce resources isn't ever fun,
But interest on city's debt is always number one.
Whatever rate the bankers set is due amount I pay,
Unhappily, which projects live or die's my only say.
But if it's true Greendollars serve as well as Locals tell:
Why shouldn't government be one to try it out as well?
When another snowstorm hits without the funds to pay,
We'll test to see if LETS Greendollars are a better way.
This time we pledge the million bond to Treasury instead,
And see if use of Green will get us very much ahead.
The merchant should accept Greendollars as another way,
His taxes needed for the snow removal, he can pay.
Again we'll spend a million but the tax to be assessed,
Including only principle without the interest.
Before the budget allocations are completely spent,
Could LETS Greendollars help reverse project abandonment?
If council members for their tax took part of pay in Green,
We'd have some cash left over which is something rarely seen.
If civil service took some Green at least for taxes due,
The extra cash would guarantee that extra jobs ensue.
We'd offer Green to fix a pothole to a company,
Wishing to pay their tax with unemployed capacity.
With Green we'd pay for road repairs and all would gladly take,
Greendollars from the working men so payment all could make;
And we could build our hospitals and all would take as pay,
Greendollars to buy medicine and service they purvey.
Today, in our society, where money clearly lacks,
Who could refuse some paper anyone may use for tax?
Greendollar paychecks could be earned by all desiring work,
The opportunity to pull their weight so few would shirk.
With Green the unemployed around the world will save the day,
Without it they will idly sit and die their lives away.
And best of all we'd have the Green to save environment,
A way to pay to save our lives and make us affluent.
The only question left is how the tax should be assessed,
For goods and services? A simple formula to test.
For services, we'd levy tax at end of every year.
For assets, tax to pay depreciation. It's so clear.
The government that spent the most and had the highest tax,
Would be the government providing citizens the max.
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ReplyDeleteOr just email me at mel@broadsnark.com