Arsteca.net

This site is awaiting the development of a second generation community site for artists and their art.  The site will be based on the latest principles of knowledge representation and information discovery.  In the meantime, you might find some links to technical ideas in software development, and possibly musings on philosophy, economics, and politics.

Some Links

• Topic maps viewer -- A topic maps engine that reads topic maps data directly from xtm format files. Not scalable, of course. Can switch to dbms backend for that. Just an exploration of what's possible. Written in PHP.
• facetEngine -- A test implementation of a faceted classification navigation engine, written in PHP.
• Game Theory engine -- Uses the constraint processing of facetEngine for strategy navigation.
• Cyber Telepathy -- New Technology makes mind reading across the Internet possible.
• Grand Cafe Restaurant Project -- Unfortunately, the city (property owner) favored another developer. Here's an external link to current and archival images of the building: Salt City Playhouse
• Syracuse Community Broadband Initiative -- Telecommunications is community infrastructure, like roads and schools. The current private and monopolistic control of our telecommunications is costing us 10s of millions of dollars extra each year, locally, and generally undermines functional democracy. Public broadband, as with public power, is a natural utility. We aim to create one for Syracuse, NY. If you are a local resident, please visit the website and sign the petition http://syracusebroadband.org.
• I-81 Redevelopment Project — "Two Boulevards and a Bridge" and other proposals to NYSDOT for an "Efficient Streets" alternative to rebuilding I-81 within Syracuse.

Opinion

2024

• A more efficient design for South I-81 junction re-alignment — Post-Standard letter
  Consolidate the current split junction design to Brighton Ave, making the new Brighton Ave bridge/roundabouts design into the full Double Roundabout junction that it virtually is
• Roundabouts are solution to I-481/Genesee Street/Lyndon Corners traffic — Post-Standard letter
  Dewitt's traffic problems are endemic to Dewitt's poor street design amid increasing growth.

2023

• Raise or remove railroad bridge over Onondaga Lake Parkway — Post-Standard letter
  It's high time to face the facts; the bridge is to low, and dozens of warning signs east and west have—for whatever reason—failed to resolve the high accident problem.

2022

• I-81 Project will not increase traffic in Dewitt — Post-Standard letter
  Dewitt Spervisor Mickalenko should recognize that his concerns are actually today's problems, and that a better street-grid in Dewitt is the solution.

2021

• "Community Grid" plan needs our help — Post-Standard letter
  A street-grid solution is good; but the NYSDOT "Community Grid" Plan is a highway solution with a viaduct removal option. We can do much better for the cultural and economic prosperity of Syracuse.

2019

• "Iconic bridge" wouldn't make I-81 function better for Syracuse — Post-Standard letter

2018

• Rep. John Katko voted to lower internet privacy bar for all — Post-Standard letter
• New stadium downtown would be a waste — The old stadium is fine and there are better ways to stimulate economic development.
• Let's fire National Grid — The City has the contractual right to takeover local operations of its own franchise.
• New stadium downtown would be a waste — The old stadium is fine and there are better ways to stimulate economic development.
• Syracuse street lights purchase — City doesn't need to purchase the street lights from National Grid; we already own them.
• PSC creates opportunity for community-owned broadband — But municipalities must initiate their own complaints and not rely on Charter Communications getting kicked out of New York State.
• A note on free public transit — We cannot build our way out of congestion; urban areas have inherent limits on road space; additional growth requires public transit.
• How to stop 485-a exemption law abuse — The City has the authority to set higher requirements.
• Response to Ed Michalenko's opinion on keeping I-81 through the city — I think many of the assumptions are mistaken, and the concerns unfounded.
• ReZone Syracuse: need more parameters to distinguish R1 from R2 character — R1 zoning should protect owner-occupied, family-oriented neighborhood character.
• Open Letter to IWF, IOC, USAW on New Weight Classes — Recommend to adopt the same set of classes; adopt no less than 8 classes; broaden the class range upward; and have common mens and womens classes where their ranges overlap.

2017

• A proposal to the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) on how to deal with prohibited PED violations (pdf) — Keep it simple: disqualify athletes' competition result; do not ban athletes as punishment or deterrence from repeating the offense; and test only at competitions. Don't try to be policeman, judge, and jury. Stick to being referee.
• Are older cities necessary? — Of course they are; suburbs don't exist without them.
• I-81: An open letter to Vito Sciscioli — In his Post-Standard commentary, the arguments for retaining I-81 through Syracuse downtown are unfounded.
• Municipal consolidation should focus on good governance and electoral reform — Post-Standard letter.
• State Legislature to reject nuclear industry operating subsidies — Post-Standard letter.

2016

• Open letter to U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx regarding the I-81 project. — A full South Side and North Side street-grid solution is critical for the future prosperty of Syracuse.
• Interstate 81 undermined economic growth of Syracuse — Post-Standard letter.
• A proposal to the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) for revised weight classes (pdf) — Create equal number of classes for men and women, and make them equal where the range of classes overlap. This is fair, and is useful for comparisons of men and women lifters in scientific research.
• Lord Overpass to boulevard — An alternative take on the boulevard plan for the Lord Overpass, Lowell, MA.
• Uber/Lyft Are Taxi Services — Access via mobile app doesn't change that fact.
• Merger Plan: blueprint First, Then Vote — It would be an example of poor governance to do otherwise.
• Thoughts on the Consensus Report — The rush to a county-city merger without a plan raises suspicion.

2015

• New Area Code Not Needed — Only a 1/4 of area phone numbers are in use.
• Special Lighting District Proposal — A project intended to account for and collect unpaid fees instead shifts costs to residential customers.
• Thoughts on Community-owned Broadband — "Open access", Google's prices, network building expertise, organization and financing, profitability, and community network competitive advantages.
• How To Clear Sidewalks — Pay city workers to do it.
• Need Community Initiative on I81 Redevelopment — Otherwise, distant bureacrats will decide for us.

2014

• Post-Standard "bonus" Edition Not Free — Deceitful language raises question of trust.
• Stephen Kimatian Takes the Easy Road — Blames everything on the Democrats.
• Edward Snowden Needs No Pardon — He has not been convicted of anything.

2013

• Government Pensions Protected in Bankruptcy — Municipal bankruptcy court has very limited powers.
• Van Duyn Nursing Home Economics — It's worth far more than County is selling it for.
• Occra Gives Away Incinerator to Covanta — Incinerator was paid for with grants and operating revenue.
• I81 Boulevard Option — It would serve well beyond "beautification".

2012

• Doug Southerland Says: DestinyUSA, Opportunity Squandered — Not! DestinyUSA got all it asked for.
• No Tax breaks for SU Bookstore Building — 30 year tax breaks for private developers is absurd.

2011

• A Syracuse Philharmonic Orchestra Cooperative — Orchestra members should reorganize as cooperative entity.
• Making the case for Syracuse Harbor Downs — In-city racetrack for greatest economic development.

2010

• City should buy, not lease, former Syracuse Developmental Center — Reduce costs and control long-term site development.
• National Grid Attempts Swindle — Trys to extend its surcharge forever.

2009

• CNY-Speaks Downtown Revitalization Issues — Summary view of the major issues defined by CNY-Speaks for downtown revitalization.
• SIDA Kowtows to Pyramid — Required start date for Phase II Carousel Mall expansion should not have been extended.
• Carousel Tax Breaks Hurt City — We should investigate the legality of the tax subsidies.
• Reasons To Remove I81 in City — Letter to Dick Case's Post-Standard column
• Don't Outsource Traffic Enforcement —Not needed and it privatizes law.
• Facade Grants Useful — Real improvements versus marketing.
• Syracuse Should Sponsor Empire State Games — Make this valuable franchise our own.

2008

• Renovate Blodgett School — Revitalize near west side by aiding existing residents.
• On The Drinking Age — Better to lower it than to raise it.
• Help The Poor, Not Subsidize Developers — Syracuse's vacant properties renovation program subsidizes developers rather than helps poor working families become homeowners.
• Repair Westcott Reservoir — New expensive towers not needed.
• Convention Hotel Giveaway — County should build and own hotel.
• More Defense of Preservation Law — On the separate powers of the Zoning and Preservation Laws.
• Preservation Law Misinterpreted — Law was misconstrued as subordinate to zoning law.
• Stimulus Plan Won't Keep Economy Afloat — On spending choices to stimulate the national economy.

2007

• Corridor Millions — On spending choices to stimulate economic development.
• On Government Consolidation — Comments to the Syracuse 2020 forum.
• Media Icons Rule — How media icons transform our culture.

2006

• Verifiable Elections — Verified voting is just one step to verifiable elections.
• The Syracuse Promise — Free college tuition for Syracuse high school graduates.
• Healthy Cities Through Cultural Development — Culturally rich cities attract diverse people.  People spend primarily where they live, not where they work.  Businesses follow people.
• Suggestion To Educate Residents On PILOT -- A letter to Syracuse Common Council.
• Mr. Smith Is Not Pyramid — A dialog on Tax Increment Financing.
• Clarify PILOT Agreement — Post-Standard letter.
• Appeal Judge Centra's Decision on DestiNY — The decision seems poorly defended.
• County Paying For Convention Hotel — Subsidies approaching 75%.

2005

• Tech Park in an Urban DestiNY — An open letter to Bob Congel.
• John Roberts Unacceptable, Unqualified — It should be obvious.
• Shock Big Oil — Don't let oil companies profit from hurricane Katrina.
• Einstein Economics — On how our economic/political system is on a destructive course.
• Supreme Court On Eminent Domain — Limits to eminent domain use now unclear.

2004

• Abu Ghraib and International Law — U.S. commits torture crimes.
• About That Democracy Thing... — Maybe we should get more involved.

2003

• On Voting Machines — Simple voting machine may be best.
• Why Destiny is Bad For Syracuse — Total public subsidies will outweigh any possible benefits.

For more info, contact Carlo Moneti: ten.acetsra@itenom