This year’s village election offers an interesting look at a
pervasive aspect of small town politics _ newcomers versus
native sons or daughters.
The Republican ticket has three native son candidates
running against three Democrats who are not Cooperstown
born and bred.
During the Candidates’ Night Monday, Republicans frequently
offered reminders of their heritage as if it bestowed
upon them a better understanding of the village. While they
may have a better understanding from a historical perspective,
it does not necessarily mean they are better prepared
to cope with the issues facing the village today and the in
the future.
The dichotomy that exists in small town and villages is not
hard to understand, but is a deterrent to building a cohesive
community. The fact that someone was born and raised in a
community should not mean that they have a standing that
cannot be attained by someone who is a newcomer, but
that is often the implication.
People have fond memories of growing up in small,
tight-knit communities where everyone knows everyone
and nothing bad ever seems to happen. As people age,
they often have a nostalgic yearning for earlier times when
life seemed simpler and more meaningful than it does in
today’s fast-paced digital world.
They wonder what happened to the good old days and
why things aren’t the way they used to be and frequently,
the blame is laid at the doorsteps of all the newcomers in
the community.
The truth is, it’s not the newcomers, but the ever-changing
world in which we live. Things aren’t the same, no matter
where you are.
Cooperstown has Bassett Hospital, the county’s largest
employer, and is home to some world-class museums.
Those institutions and many of the village’s other attributes
attract numerous professionals whose skills represent an
enormous resource to the community.
An excellent example was seen recently when Deputy
Mayor Jeff Katz worked with his neighbor Chuck Knull, a
trademark attorney, to establish a program for licensing
the use of Doubleday Field and its new logo and charging
location fees for the use of the field. It is a program that is already
bringing in new revenue. Knull provided his expertise
at no charge to the village; asking only that the village pay
filing fees.
And there many more examples of newcomers who voluntarily
contributed time, energy and skills by working with
village government or one of the village’s many community
organizations. Those contributions go a long way to making
the village a better place to live.
There is nothing wrong with being proud of one’s heritage,
but it should not be viewed as some sort of entitlement.
It is time to erase the dividing line and work to build a
stronger more cohesive community with the realization that
we’re all in this together.
