This really stinks

I see that the city of Schenectady is preparing to take over operation of the sewage treatment plant, and hopes to save a million dollars doing it. The plant's neighbors have expressed reservations about the ability of the city to control noxious odors from the plant. Some say it has been better since an outside operator took over, while others say that problems, while fixed quickly, are still common.

Odor has been a problem elsewhere in the region in the past, there was a time when the Albany dump would make nearby Washington Ave nearly unbearable when the wind blew the wrong way. Small recurring problems really anger people more than a major problem which happens only once. A single big problem makes people angry and provokes a reaction which fades with time, and eventually becomes a "Remember the time when..." story, A small problem which happens over and over is like the famous Chinese Water Torture, where the discomfort is small but repetition breeds desperation, you seethe in anticipation of the next time, and often develop a "This is never going to stop!" feeling.

Consider the neighbor's dog who comes into your yard, digs up your flowers, and uses your wading pool for a commode. If it happens once, the anger fades, the damage gets fixed, and life goes on. But if that dog barks under your window in the middle of the night almost every night, disturbing your sleep time after time, eventually that is likely to bring out a reaction which might make the newspapers. The constant anticipation of something unpleasant never lets you have a "Glad that's over" moment, and you get madder and madder.

Suggestion of the day: When the city takes over, put some serious effort into problem prevention, and be proactive rather than reactive. Eliminating a problem which has been driving people crazy will probably save money in the long run and generate a lot of good will.