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By Clarke Condé

At a cost to the New York taxpayer of just about half that of the Louisiana Purchase fourteen years earlier, “Clinton’s Ditch” faced the ageless and indestructible rancor of the New York State Legislature and the animosity of the press statewide. It is hard to overstate the impact the investment taxpayers made in building the canal had on the development of Rochester and New York State. Now, it is almost impossible to imagine a project like the canal ever being built in today’s political climate and maybe that is not such a good thing. In this edition of Wear to Where we stop by Lock 33 and ask, “What’s the big idea?”…

Over the past decade, I have been fortunate to be involved with some great projects that never got off the ground because a handful of politicians thought we shouldn’t spend taxpayer’s money on the general principle that spending taxpayer’s money is a bad thing. Going through the political history of the canal, one thing becomes immediately clear – the canal was built at a time in New York where bold leaders had big ideas and were not afraid to spend money to see that idea happen.

It is not that spending tax money was easier in a New York State of DeWitt Clinton , Martin Van Buren and Tammany Hall cronyism, but the notion that big ideas cost money and that big ideas were what New York State needed, was, at that time, something that even bitter rivals could agree on. Too often now it seems that preventing a political rival from executing their idea is just as good as having your own. And that the easiest way to block an idea is to simply say it will cost taxpayer’s money.

To me, the canal is a reminder that we are a better people when we have big ideas. Not considering an idea because it costs money is not really a reason in itself. Even Clinton’s bitter rivals had to admit that instantly cutting grain shipping prices to a tenth of overland transit made the canal a wise investment and populated Western New York. Now, as the state continues to loose population (myself included) to places with warmer climates yet far less developed infrastructure, I want to suggest that it is time to consider investing some real money into big ideas Upstate.

Another nuclear power plant (we have the transmission lines)? High speed rail that connects Rochester to Manhattan in 2 hours (the right-of-way is already there)? How about the five best public high schools in the country? Anybody?

Big ideas change places in ways thrift never can and bold leaders have big ideas. Let’s remember, just like the canal, Rochester, was not created by cheap, visionless New Yorkers. Excelsior .

Model: Natasha Elaine
Clothing: Thread
Bow: Wrapp’d

If you are a local boutique, maker or model that is interested in participating in the Wear to Where series, please contact Clarke Condé at clarke{at}condephotography.com

Tags: Clarke Conde, Clinton’s Ditch, DeWitt Clinton, Erie Canal, Erie Canal Lock 33, Erie Canalway Trail, Lock 33, Martin Van Buren, Natasha Elaine, New York state, Rochester, Rochester NY, Tammany Hall, Thread, Wear to Where, Wrapped

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 17th, 2015 at 10:16 pm and is filed under Art + Culture, Rochester Destinations, Rochester Images, Transit + Infrastructure. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.