Ex-mayor calls DEC Commissioner "political hack"

UTICA, February 9, 2010 -- Former mayor Tim Julian said he's frustrated with the political leadership in all levels of government.

"The leadership, if you want to call it that, from the top to the bottom in this area, is almost absent," he said. "And they're so busy slapping each other on the back saying "Hey, great job, great job" and they're not doing the job. 

In wide-ranging interview on the Keeler in the Morning radio show, Julian covered a variety of topics including where Utica needs to go, his frustration with the Department of Environmental Conservation and his political future.

FIRING BACK AT THE DEC

Last week, the Observer-Dispatch ran a story about the announced readiness of the former Matt Petroleum site for development. The site was the third site that officials have announced either was free from or soon would be free from contaminants. The other two were Harbor Point and the former Bossert Manufacturing site.  

In that story, Julian said DEC Commissioner Peter Grannis and Judy Drabicki, the environmental conservation agency's regional director, appeared to blame his administration for the site not being clean. 

"He took a shot at me," Julian said. 

Julian argued that the reasons the perspective development sites being freed-up now are purely political. 

"Pete Grannis is a political hack for the Democratic assembly," Julian said. "That's what he is and he's got to realize that." 

Julian said that he had plans to cleanup some of the various cites and they were rejected by the DEC for purely political reasons. He said that he was mayor when the former Bossert site was cleaned, but the announcement was withheld on purpose. 

"There was not a single change made to that property for the last year that I was in office," he said. "After I left, then they came in and they gave the consent letter that the city could sell it and that it was free and clear of the environmental problems that were on it before. Why? Because the DEC likes to play politics." 

Julian gave an example in which he said that a business wanted to build a facility near Wurz Ave in North Utica. Julian said that the DEC required an unnecessarily expensive cleanup and wouldn't compromise. 

"Right then and there, the New York State DEC killed a deal that would have kept jobs in Utica," he said. "Those jobs moved outside the City of Utica. Luckily they moved to Rome, but it kept the jobs out of the City of Utica. That's what the DEC does every single day to every single city in New York State."  

THE SEWER PROBLEM  

One of the sources of his frustration was what he said was the growing list of debt and problems being thrust upon future generations. 

One example he pointed to is the sewer system, which he said could cost a billion dollars to modernize and would require many of the city's streets to be torn up because of new regulations. 

"You've got this sewer problem thats been festering for years and years and not only do we have this problem, but basically every city in New York has this problem."

HIGH-SPEED RAIL

Julian expressed frustration that the state's high-speed rail project will start most of its construction outside of the area. Too bad, he said, because he thinks the project has merit. 

"Really, if you look at Utica and you look at the Greater Utica area, it's really poised itself as a college-town for years," he said. "A lot of (the students) are coming in from the city. If they can get back and forth from the city a lot quicker, that's going to make a big big difference in the recruitment efforts of these colleges and your going to see their student populations spike."

Julian added the spike in student populations could yield more people who are interested in living in the area. 

ON RUNNING FOR MAYOR AGAIN

After 7 1/2 years as mayor and a failed attempt last election, Julian said he's often asked whether or not he'll run again. He wouldn't offer a definitive answer, but said it would be a stressful job. 

"I tell a lot of people I can think of a lot of good reasons not to, but I can't think of a lot of good reasons to (run)," he said.

Julian did express some sympathy for current government officials, stressing that the economy is difficult to deal with.  

"It's no fun when there's no money," he said. 

However, Julian didn't paint a completely dreary picture for the future. He pointed to what he felt the area's promise was.  

"We don't live too bad here for the money we pay here," he said. "We complain about the taxes, we complain about the high cost of everything but really, for the cost of living here for the quality of living, it's pretty darn good and when you compare that to anywhere else, even like Syracuse or Albany. We're well ahead of the curb." 

  LISTEN TO AUDIO INTERVIEW WITH TIM JULIAN  >>