FULTON, NY – Oswego County Legislator (22nd District) James Karasek approached the Fulton City Common Council at a regular board meeting held on Tuesday, March 1 to ensure that there is no communication on the county level regarding the idea to dissolve the city of Fulton.
The clarification comes after Oswego County Legislator (25th District) Frank Castiglia Jr. previously approached the council with the idea and suggestion to dissolve the city of Fulton for a multitude of reasons, most notably he targeted the financial burden the city is under.
With the public response varying in degree and leading to some outraged response, Castiglia again addressed the concern in Oswego County Today’s Letter to the Editor submission entitled “The City Of Fulton By The Numbers” in which he provides his own numerical evidence of Fulton’s population, conveniences and city employment that he believes support dissolution.
Castiglia goes on to explain that he believes what is currently happening and has been happening in City Hall in Fulton is not benefiting the city and its residents but instead suggests trying “something new and drastic,” such as his idea to dissolve the city.
According to NYS website, to dissolve a city is when a local government decides to consolidate into a single entity.
Legislator Karasek then addressed the council to ensure them that although Legislator Castiglia is also a county legislator, there is no talk on the county level that involves dissolving the city.
“There is no conversation happening in any committee, leadership or among legislature that encourages the idea to dissolve. One or two people should not come off as though they are speaking for the masses,” said Karasek.
Karasek used a personal recollection to portray his understanding of what has happened based on Castiglia’s claims.
Karasek recalls being in high school when he observed a protest of the Vietnam War while in DeMoine, Iowa. At this protest, he was witness to protesters burning the American flag, a sight that upset him and caused him to inquire with his instructors.
When bringing forth his disdain for this act of protest, it was explained to Karasek that these people have the right to free speech, and that includes their right to burn the flag if they so wish.
Furthermore, they ensured that he didn’t have to support it or agree with it, but he did have to respect their rights as individuals to freedom of speech.
“My dad would call them ‘pot-bangers.’ If you go outside and start banging a pot for no reason, people are going to think you’re crazy. But eventually, people will begin to question why you’re banging that pot, two or three people might even start to support you. Then conversation will start happening, even if it’s conversation that the majority doesn’t go along with,” he explained.
This, he explained, is his concern with the situation surrounding Legislator Castiglia and his recent suggestions.
“That’s my concern, people are making noise, which they have every right, but it’s important to identify yourself as an individual, a taxpayer, not to speak on behalf of a government agency. Then people start thinking ‘Well, the county is looking at this, maybe we should look at it’ when in fact, the county isn’t. That concerns me,” he said.
Common council president, Tom Kenyon was appreciative of Karasek’s reassurance.
“It was nice of Jim (Karasek) to come to the council meeting and assure us that there was no talk of dissolving Fulton at the county level. This subject could have been brought to the mayor’s office instead of a council meeting. The mayor would have explained it in five minutes instead of hitting the papers and getting the city all shook up,” Kenyon said.
As a resident and family that shops, educates, and worships in Fulton, Karasek says it’s his city too and he doesn’t feel that dissolution is the answer.
He suggests instead, the community comes forth with a voice.
“What do you want? Give your requests, your suggestions, ensuring that they’re things that are equitable across the county. These are the conversations that should be happening,” Karasek said.
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I was at the meeting and I have read Mr. Castiglia’s letters. Not once has Mr. Castiglia stated that he was speaking for the county legislature like Mr. Karasek has stated he is speaking for. Also his statement that he is a resident of the city is way off base. Check the tax rolls he lives in Granby…was on a town board of some sort. So his story’s are hard to believe when he lies about where he lives. He has a Fulton address but he lives on Rt. 48 just south of the city line…I wonder why he lives outside the city he loves so much.
Really??? I said I live in the city????? when, where?????
Of course I like Fulton, where do you think I spend my money, make donations, worship, attended social events. The survival of Fulton is important to a lot of people that do not live there. But I do represent part of the city and will continue to work hard to assist it.
Let me clarify, that is not a quote…I NEVER said I live in the city, so you were not there because I made it clear that Fulton is the economic hub for Granby and Volney. I live outside of the city, (within walking distance), because when my wife and I were looking for a home, 20 years ago, we found the one we still live in and surprise, surprise, 20 years ago Granby had the highest taxes in the county,
I do not lie, because then you have to remember the same lie in order to repeat it.You may disagree with me, as is your right, but name calling is beneath you.
“As a resident and family shops ,educates, and worships in Fulton Karasek says it’s his city too” if that isn’t say you said you live in the city I guess I must not know how to read….That statement is more misleading than Mr. Castiglia speaking in front of the CC meeting and saying he was going to go forward with looking into dissolving the city and you and someone else saying he was speaking for the county…but then again you will change it because you are a politician. You are really not the one to tell someone not to revert to name calling after all I just read…Name calling is all you have done in this story I just read. Not one single suggestion to solve the high tax problem my city has….Don’t think you will carry the city again in the fall….
I will not respond to My fellow legislator’s personal ,insulting and negative attack on me in any way. I have said in the past on many posts on fb that I welcome responses either pro or con on the subject of dissolving the city I grew up in and still live in(for 60 of my 69 years not a mere 20 yrs) and want others to have their grandchildren stay here.He is way way out of line. Most of this story was a personal attack on me not on the subject matter.
Hey I live on the Rt. 57 by the race track. I’ m within walking distance of the city does that mean I’m a resident of Fulton….According to Mr. Karasek I can clam I am.