Raising taxes
TO THE EDITOR: While the federal and state governments are drowning in massive debt which robs our children and grandchildren, while our friends and neighbors are losing their jobs and homes, the Plattsburgh Town Board has raised taxes and spending, enlarged government and enriched themselves.
Consider the following: For the year 2010 the Town Board declined to partially fund the Highway Department from the general fund as has been done for decades, preferring to keep the money to justify new spending. They then instituted a new highway tax, paid by you and me, to help fund the highway.
For the year 2010, when the federal government denied senior citizens COLAS, the Town Board felt entitled to a 3-percent raise. Most other town boards in Clinton County did the morally correct thing and took none.
The Town Board voted to give Marty Mannix (an already well-paid elected official) an additional raise of $12,000 a year for being on call as deputy supervisor, whose only legal role is to fill in when the supervisor is absent or unable. This was after the final budget had clearly stipulated the salary for councilor/deputy supervisor, which even Mannix voted to approve. Mr. Mannix, as councilor/deputy supervisor earns more than any supervisor in Clinton County except Bassett.
Bassett earns $68,000-plus per year, three times more than any other supervisor in Clinton County. However, by his own account, he needs a deputy supervisor to work 20-30 hours to free him up to pursue "funding opportunities" (more tax dollars) and a part-time bookkeeper to help him do his work.
The list goes on and on but my space is limited. So I ask again:
Is it time for a Tea Party in the Town of Plattsburgh?
John St. Germain
Cadyville
Great idea to fruition
TO THE EDITOR: On Saturday, Feb. 6, I had the privilege of participating in the curling competition at the American Legion Post 1619's annual Winterfest. During a lull in the contest, I took the opportunity to observe the surrounding activity, such as a hockey tournament in progress, as well as a broomball tournament, the curling competition, a constant stream of kids sliding down and up (via rope-tow) the hill of donated snow, a beautifully carved ice-sculpture of a war hero, an array of winter outfits, a bonfire, a man playing fetch with his dog, but mostly I saw a mix of North Country people, having a great time, enjoying a beautiful winter's day, and that just describes the outdoor activities.
Inside, you had shuffleboard, $1 food served quickly and efficiently, by a plethora of volunteers, music, raffles, give-aways, caribou, beverages of all sorts, and friends and families, laughing and carrying on in a warm, congenial atmosphere. Keep in mind, I only experienced day 2 of a 3-day event. I understand there was a very respectful opening ceremony, which honored our veterans and current soldiers, which was well received.
I write to commend Dave Mayette and the other volunteers too numerous to mention, for bringing a great idea to fruition.
In our long and arduous winters, many people choose to take refuge in their cozy homes for weeks at a time. Though there's nothing wrong with that, I highly recommend loading the kids and grandkids into the car and heading to the 2011 Winterfest, as an excellent way to break the monotony of winter's grip.
I'd be willing to bet, next winter's celebration will be the best yet. Hopefully, we'll see you there.
Thomas E. Perkett
West Chazy
No new energy?
TO THE EDITOR: No wind turbines on my windswept mountainside or ocean coastline. No hydropower on my river disturbing my fish, blah, blah. No global warming, clean coal in my air. No nuclear power plants near my neighborhood. Too dangerous, blah, blah.
Solar? Off the grid? What? Can't have power companies lose money, blah, blah. Don't burn wood, save the trees, blah, blah.
Just shut the bleep up, buy a "gun" and be prepared to fight for "oil."
By the way, we could mount .50 calibres on all those "grocery bag" hummers. Yeah...
Walt Latour
Southeast Beekmantown
IDA: Pay difference
TO THE EDITOR: A very well-written article in Watertown Daily Times. I read the article on IDA's upset by new state tax, by writers Nancy Madsen, Elizabeth Graham and Steve Virkler, Times staff writers for Watertown Daily Times.
IDA officials say not fair for agencies a 4.72 percent assessment on gross revenues has been levied by the State Department of Taxation and Finance. The IDA people in charge are crying not fair.
I say where was the IDA of Clinton County mind set. When I asked them in a meeting on taxing the Noble Wind Company 100 percent. Instead, they accepted a peanut's amount pilot program. I asked for 100 percent tax assessment of each wind turbine as we, the homeowners, are taxed 100 percent. So we, the homeowners, again take up the slack in taxes not paid. It's about time you IDA officials pay. Also, you give out these tax breaks. So you should pay also, the tax gap you make.
No sympathy given out here. I say pay up.
Chad H. Garrow
Chateaugay
Secession again?
TO THE EDITOR: The South Rises Again. The words of today's self-appointed "conservative" spokespeople echo those spewed forth by instigators of the secession movement in southern states, 150 plus years ago.
Perhaps we should have let the confederate states leave, to form their own sordid country.
This would have avoided the slaughter and devastation of the Civil War and also provided a convenient destination for today's "tea partiers," who so hate life here in our USA.
Glen Robinson
Plattsburgh
Fragility in region
TO THE EDITOR: Every day we juggle things; they're all up in the air.
Every day it seems there's more, how did they get there?
Some of them are made of rubber, if we drop them that's OK.
But some of them are fragile things, once broken they go away.
The trick to all of this, you see, is to know which one is which.
Look at each one carefully before we start to pitch.
We know the bridge was made of glass, it shattered when it fell.
We know the jobs the prison held are fragile, we can tell.
The forts we know and love so dear are on that horrid list.
If they close the doors of this great place, they smash it with a fist.
Our valley has been hit so hard, first one, then two, now three.
The juggler surely doesn't know how much this means to me.
Everyone who lives here has been juggling for so long.
We know these things will smash to bits if we all don't stay so strong.
So keep on going and find the strength to not let this all pass.
Don't let the juggler close it all, this valley made of glass.
Jean Arleen Breed
Crown Point
Opinion
March 8, 2010
Letters to the Editor: March 9, 2010
- Editorial
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Editorial: No raise for state legislators
This is not the year for state lawmakers to look for a raise.
- Editorial: A pair of aces among the Cards
- Editorial: Nurses, aides: a breed apart
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Editorial: No raise for state legislators
- Cheers and Jeers
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Cheers and Jeers: Feb. 13, 2012
CHEERS to Peru High School teacher Kathleen Roach and Cardinal Points.
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Cheers and Jeers: Feb. 13, 2012
- Letters to the Editor
- Speakout
- In My Opinion
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In My Opinion: E'town water, sewer essential
Elizabethtown has a history of economic ups and downs, Town Supervisor Margaret Bartley writes.
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In My Opinion: E'town water, sewer essential
