29
The groups opposed to a landfill or incinerator are highly motivated to find the
appropriate lever and elected officials find themselves subject to significant political pressure
even with a public authority in place. One Herkimer County protestor said to his county
legislature about the Oneida-Herkimer Solid Waste Authority:
Perhaps you thought we would accept the premise that you are not
responsible for the deeds of the monster you helped to create. But
just as a manufacturer is liable for its products’ faults, and just as a
parent must pay for the damage done by a child, so too, are you
responsible for the havoc wrecked by your offspring. (McGraw
1989)
Yet, finding a lever does not mean that pulling it will produce the desired action. Here,
the solid waste public authorities stand in contrast to the public authorities frequently examined
in the literature. Public authorities such as the Triborough Bridge Authority and the Port
Authority of New York and New Jersey may have generated significant negative effects on
surrounding neighborhoods, but they also served highly motivated constituencies concerned with
economic development and finance. For instance, when Moses’ power was challenged, he could
call on unions, bankers, and businessmen to defend him.
13
In keeping with this pattern, the one solid waste public authority that successfully
completed a solid waste facility from start to finish is the Development Authority of the North
Country (DANC). This public authority was tasked with the development of water lines, sewers,
roads, and housing to support the development of a major military installation in the area – in
addition to the development of a landfill. It is likely that this gave the public authority some
political capital to overcome pressure from opposition groups.
14
13
For instance, see Caro’s description of the effort of New York City Mayor Lindsey to capture the resources of the
Triborough Bridge Authority.
14
The DANC case is also described in detail in the author’s dissertation.
Convention