Troy is at the peak of a cultural renaissance. And if you believe that, I have some oceanfront property in Nebraska to sell you.
Our city has fallen quite far from its glorious past. The prosperity that once characterized Troy, created by the spine-tingling excitement of the iron industry, and the mind-blowing innovation that was the detachable collar, is nowhere to be found. Local politicians are perplexed: Why wouldn’t students want to permanently live in a town featuring problems with crime, vacant storefronts, and the occasional theatre collapsing into the street?
For years, these politicians have been happy to report the enormous potential for success and growth possessed by the city. When properly translated from re-election-speak, this means that Troy is in such terrible shape that things can only get better.
Despite this alleged potential, the quality of the Troy experience has not improved over the past few years. We cannot expect Troy to improve as long as corrupt “business-as-usual” politics pervades city hall as it does now.
I propose that we act to remove the incumbent politicians of Troy at the end of their terms so they might be replaced by citizens with new ideas about how to improve our city. I say this regardless of party affiliation. Republican Arthur Judge in District 3? Toast him. Democrat Bill Dunne in District 4? Show him the door. When one considers the amount of stagnation in Troy, it follows that any change is a good one. I encourage students to register to vote in Troy so we all might start influencing its politics, and encouraging policies to be enacted that will work in our interests.
If we want Troy to be more inviting to us, we must take an active role in changing the way it is run. Start flooding those polls.
