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Major
local, national and international news has been breaking
with such urgency, several smaller stories that call
for remark have fallen by the wayside.
One such
development comes from Troy, where Mayor Harry Tutunjian
and Department of Public Works Commissioner Robert Mirch
have put a number of people receiving public assistance
to work keeping Troy more clean, and thus, more liveable.
The program has the hearty endorsement of County Executive
Kathy Jimino, and we believe it is a solid, creative
way to get more done without expending more of Troy's
most precious asset - cash.
For more than a month now through an agreement with
the Rensselaer County Social Services Department, Troy
has been using several individuals in need of Social
Services to work on sanitation routes.
One of Tutunjian's main campaign promises was to clean
up Troy's streets without depleting the treasury. He
has already used task forces and stiff fines to clear
especially littered areas, and this program is an excellent
way to deal with the daily nitty-gritty.
If this trial program works well, Mirch says more recipients
will be utilized, and tasks will expand to such matters
as clearing snow from sidewalks, cleaning alleys and
mowing grass.
The benefits are twofold. Primarily, of course, Troy
in general can begin to look as good as its most beautiful
areas.
But of great importance also is that some of the people
recruited will be able to convert to full-time jobs
as soon as finances allow, based on their work records.
The whole goal of Social Services in these cash-strapped
times should be to help people through rough times while
preparing them to become contributing members of the
work force.
Work programs such as the one already in place can serve
as perfect transition programs from assistance to productivity.
Some might argue it lacks compassion or is doctrinaire
and undignified to "force" people to work.
We don't see it that way. Financial assistance is a
program of compassion, not an entitlement.
More important, it is a basic truth that there is never
anything undignified about an honest day's work for
an honest day's wages.
We hope the program delivers on its potential and is
expanded as far as feasible.
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