Letters to the Editor: Nov. 21, 2009

Legislators suggesting
TO THE EDITOR: Contrary to what you read (in an editorial Wednesday, Nov. 18), there are legislators in Albany making suggestions on how to balance this year's budget. The Assembly Republican Conference, of which I am a member, submitted specific non-partisan suggestions to Gov. Paterson and the Assembly and Senate Majorities on Oct. 13. These cuts total $3.5 billion and wouldn't have affected schools, local government assistance or health care mid-year. There was no response up or down on these ideas. Not a single indication that the governor had even looked at them.

Yesterday the Republican Conference again submitted to the leaders our acceptance of $2 billion of the Governor's Deficit Reduction Plan recommendations. We suggested $1.6 billion in new ideas to cover the school, local government assistance and health care portions of the DRP. Some of these suggestions include saving $24 million from state land purchases, $300 million from contract balances, $924 million from consolidation of state agencies, and $280 million in agency efficiencies.

I believe we should avoid mid-year cuts to schools, local government aid and health care. If we were to make those cuts, the property taxpayer will most likely be expected to make up the difference!

I agree with the Press-Republican that during next year's budget process we must make hard choices irrespective to the fallout from special interest groups. We were sent to Albany to work for the people, not to perpetuate our jobs.

Teresa Sayward

113th Assembly District

Glens Falls

President failing
TO THE EDITOR: It's hard to believe that we have that many people in upstate New York and Clinton County that think a 2,000-page, $1 trillion health-care bill funded by money we will borrow from our dear friend China is a good idea.

Nancy Pelosi is ecstatic that we gave her another "yes" vote.

I am amazed that you want to pass another $1,000,000,000,000 debt on to our children and grandchildren and you care little that the money you put away in savings is losing a greater value then the interest it is accruing.

Our president told us if he didn't get his stimulus bill passed the unemployment rate could go as high as 8 percent; we acquiesced, and today our unemployment rate is 10.2 percent.

We gave first-time home buyers an $8,000 tax credit, car buyers $4,500 and we senior citizens $250 each and parents money to buy pencils for their children attending school. The printing press can't keep up with us. Hopefully, they also have a cup to hold those pencils when our grandchildren stand on the corner.

You note our president mostly uses the words "I and my," seldom, "our or we" except when something he signs into law backfires, then that was Bush's fault.

I do agree with one thing our president said; "It's time for change."

Nicholas A. Masters

Cumberland Head

Thanks for soccer help
TO THE EDITOR: The Town of Plattsburgh soccer program has just come to an end and once again, it was a huge success. There were 11 teams consisting of girls and boys ages 6 to 14 years that participated in the Clinton County League and two mini-mites groups for 5-year-olds that met once a week for skills and small-sided games. All the children were taught the fundamentals of soccer in practices and put them to the test in some friendly, participation-based games against teams from all around the county.

As the program coordinator for the town, I know that there are many people out there who made great contributions towards the success of this program. First of all, an enormous thank you goes to our area coordinators: Joanne Zucker, Skip and Cindy Riley, Chuck Kostyk and Ralph Cross. These folks schedule officials for their areas and serve as our "eyes and ears" in each community, helping out the coaches and parents when needed.

Secondly, I want to thank all the volunteer coaches for their time and expertise. They are the folks who really make the program as fun and enjoyable as it is. Jen Drollette-Lottie, Mike Kimball, Joe Casey, Jason Heber:, Beth Stanton, Karrie Dessureault, Dan Madden, Carol Hack, Regina McIlwain, TJ Myers, Heidi Freeman, Melanie Wheaton, and Blair Villemaire all provided a fun, safe and most importantly, a positive environment for children to learn and enjoy the game of soccer.

Lastly, thanks to those that helped out as assistant coaches, referees and timers. I hope to see you all back next year.

Janet Sosnicki

Recreation program coordinator

Plattsburgh

Vigorous sentencing
TO THE EDITOR: If he is found guilty, authorities should throw the book at the upstate New York man who is accused of hanging his girlfriend's kitten with a belt and making a video of the animal struggling (AP story).

Animal abusers are cowards who take out their issues on "easy victims, often, including members of their own species. The FBI has found that a history of cruelty to animals regularly appears in its records of serial rapists and murderers. The standard diagnostic and treatment manual for conduct disorders also lists cruelty to animals as a diagnostic criterion.

People who hurt animals need prison time, counseling, and a ban on contact with animals, for everyone's safety. To learn more about the animal-human abuse connection, visit www.HelpingAnimals.com.

Martin Mersereau

Director

Emergency Response Team

Cruelty Investigations Department

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)

Norfolk, Va

Lost opportunity
TO THE EDITOR: It makes me sick to see how Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava was treated during the rat race for New York's 23rd Congressional District position.

People labeled her "too liberal and too moderate" even when she stood behind her beliefs. She dropped out of the game because she was outspent (15-1), but largely because she supported equal rights for all: a mother's choice, gay marriage and union rights. Even in 2009, it comes as a shock to me, boggles the mind even, that people who haven't developed a thick layer of comfortable skin still believe that a same-sex couple in a loving, healthy relationship does not deserve the same rights as everyone else. It is also a shame that the National Republican Congressional Committee refused to support a woman who stood firmly behind what were once core values of the Republican Party: rights of the individual, small government and states' rights. What happened to the real reason for the race in the first place: the issues?

If politicians cannot work together in a bipartisan way, then how are today's issues ever going to be confronted? It is a scary reality to think that people's fears are holding them back from being opened to new ideas. If issues like gay rights are going to be brushed under the rug and ignored, then how are the politicians running the world, and society at large, ever going to deal with life's realities?

My partner and I had the pleasure of meeting Assemblywoman Scozzafava when she attended the debate forum at SUNY Plattsburgh on Oct. 28. During that experience, I observed a realistic, caring, intelligent and determined individual who was ready to take charge on today's issues. She approached us with an enthusiasm I have yet to see from her opponents. She cares about people and our future. Dede would have made positive change, too bad she was silenced by the far right's interminable ignorance.

Thomas Grant Bruso

Plattsburgh

Opinion

Search Results

Discussion

Site Map

Contact Us