Why didn’t the Legislature, many months ago, say a referendum on nursing home was illegal?

Posted 9 November 2013 at 12:00 am

Editor:

Orleans County legislators sure lowered the boom on the “Concerned Citizens” and “Save Our Nursing Home” supporters.

At the close of the Orleans County Legislature’s meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2013, Chairman David Callard, for his non-gavel-pounding finale, stated that a referendum to be held for a vote in favor of or against The Villages Nursing Home remaining under county control, is against a New York state law.

Was this law put into effect at 4 p.m. on Oct. 9, 2013? How long did the Orleans County legislators know about this? If they had been in possession of this information for the past year, without releasing it, and have allowed the “Concerned Citizens” and the “Save the Nursing Home” supporters (one and the same, I suppose) to march, carry signs, and cling to the hope that in some fashion, The Villages could remain under county taxpayer control, they should all be voted out of office taking the CAO with them. If it was a case that the county attorney had not researched this until lately, he had not done his job, and likewise should be replaced.

Also, at this meeting my friend Paul Lauricella brought up his concerns, and I might add that they should be every U.S. citizen’s concerns, about Resolution 335-1013 authorizing the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office to apply for the FY2103 Tactical Team Targeted grant “through the New York State office of Homeland Security.”

This $86,000 is to be used to fund equipment for the Orleans County SWAT team. “What!” With Homeland Security buying hundreds of thousands of rounds of hollow-point ammunition, and most police agencies assuming paramilitary characteristics, and in that respect dealing unconstitutionally with American citizens (my opinion), notwithstanding the passage of the bill H.R. 347 “Federal Restricted Buildings and Grounds Improvement Act of 2011.”

This bill passed Feb. 27, 2012, in the U.S. House of Representatives and unanimously in the U.S. Senate on March 1, 2012. Not a single Democratic politician voted against this bill and only Ron Paul and two other Republicans, despite their posturing, voted in lockstep with the Democrats. We can thank our unrepresentative for stripping us of our First Amendment rights, and the news media for creating a blackout to keep us in the dark as to the U.S. government’s efforts to destroy the Bill of Rights.

The Orleans County legislators, with Chairman Callard in the lead, just roll their eyes, and lack the patience to listen to my friend Paul’s concerns. Without any solid U.S. representation in our area, we are on our own. Everyone should show their concerns by attending the local meetings and pay attention.

With the bill H.R. 347 in place, the individual who called President Obama a traitor twice, as Obama was speaking in Buffalo, was eligible for a fine and up to one year in prison, or both. Where is that person now? Google H.R. 347, and check the restrictions.

Have a good day.

Al Lofthouse
Kendall

(Lofthouse is chairman of the Orleans County Conservative Party.)