Editor:

After years of taking a hard look at workforce development in New York state and how that landscape has changed in light of the global Covid-19 pandemic, I am pleased to share that the task force I convened on this topic has now put out its report.

Our report is filled with comprehensive solutions to make our state economy more competitive, enable businesses to better partner with schools and institutions of higher learning and— most importantly—prepare students to pursue meaningful pathways for professional careers they will enjoy and give them the financial independence they need to pursue the American Dream in close to the communities they call home.

Here in Western New York, people work hard and I wanted to showcase our determination and innovative spirit to inspire the future of workforce development. After creating the Assembly Minority Conference’s Task Force on Learning for Work, I made sure we kicked it off right here at the Orleans County BOCES’ Niagara Career and Technical Education Center.

This event was held on Oct. 15, 2019 to shine a light on the wide array of technical skills students can acquire through the BOCES program. Part of our goal is to change the typecast that some may still have when it comes to BOCES. This is a state-of-the-art apprenticeship program that prepares young people for trained, professional skills careers. These jobs are in demand right now and rewarding.

Our task force brought together students, lawmakers, educators and employers to discuss what was working and what wasn’t. After this event, I toured the entire state—all the way down to Long Island—to hold similar forums with stakeholders in each region, see other training programs, and hear what people had to say.

The pandemic was something we could not have foreseen and, as you know, it changed everything in terms of education and how people do business. We reached back out to stakeholders and revisited our findings.

The results are compiled into a 28-page report (click here to see it). Some highlights from our plan include:

• Enhancing BOCES;
• Expanding P-TECH;
• Explore changes in higher education;
• Remove bureaucratic barriers;
• Allowing for college credits for students in apprenticeship programs; and
• Ensuring students of all socioeconomic backgrounds are eligible for youth apprenticeships by providing transportation, equipment and other materials.

The plan has been shared with Gov. Hochul and all legislative leaders. I hope they will take action to make these recommendations a reality.

I am immensely proud of this work, and the patience and perseverance of the participants. This plan is stronger and will make our workforce and economy much stronger as a result.

The pandemic has reminded everyone of the importance of family. Ultimately, that’s what our plan is about. Enabling today’s students for rewarding, financially-viable careers that will allow them to stay in the communities they love, close to family, and continue to call home for generations to come.

Assemblyman Mike Norris

Lockport

Editor:

The Republican entertainment industry and Republicans in Congress find themselves on opposite sides of the fence over the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It will be interesting to see how long that will last and who will win?

Ukraine is a resource-rich country and like NATO a barrier to Russian expansion and domination. Make no mistake that this is serious stuff and it’s not a time to base serious decisions based on newsy versions of Saturday Night Live.

Putin and our fifth column press calls the US, our partners, and Ukraine Nazis and says Ukraine’s Russian speakers want to live in Russia. That makes as much sense as saying Mexicans want Mexico to take over the United States or that the majority of voters which voted for Clinton and then Biden are racist.

Fortunately, there is another news station which is hosted by a former Republican: 1) Party Chairman, 2) Former press secretary to Republican Sen. John McCain, 3) Tea Party Congressman, 4) Bush administration official, and also a former chief of staff of the Senate Finance Committee, by a former Bloomberg expert, and by Dr. R. Maddow,  an acknowledged defense expert.

It’s nice to hear from qualified quests like real historians, former US prosecutors, former CIA directors, and 3-, 4- and 5-star generals and admirals.

The Republic entertainment industry churns, bringing in viewers with drivel claiming school shootings being staged, vaccines causing us to grow horns, masks are a protected personal liberty no more effective than seat belts and now reporting a fictional version of real war.

We should be very glad real news people labor on. The Hub is news. Real news does not make as much money but unbiased reporting has been fundamental since Thomas Paine and his little pamphlet called “Common Sense” were the voice of the American Revolution.

Putin is a despot whose recent and unhinged comments demonstrate clearly he is our mortal enemy. Sadly political entertainment which supports Russia is an enemy of freedom to. At times like this find a new channel and watch the news.

Conrad F. Cropsey

Albion

Editor:

President Biden will only offer economic sanctions – President Trump would have been right on the hotline to Putin, telling him he was going to send in U.S. troops.

At which point, Putin would thank him for the offer, but tell Trump he had more than enough Russian soldiers to take care of things without our help!

Tom Taber

Albion

Editor:

The Orleans County Conservative Party has endorsed Chris Jacobs for Congress. Chris reached out to us for our endorsement and we feel he has done a good job representing us here in Orleans County.

He endorsed President Trump in the last election and voted against the sham impeachments. He has voted against all the reckless spending of the Biden administration. Is a strong supporter of the second amendment and voted against the Democrats’ gun control bills, H.R.8 and H.R.1446 .

He has been given an A rating by Gun Owners of America. He’s been a strong supporter against vaccine mandates and removing CRT from our government and our schools. He supports parents’ rights. He is a strong supporter of our law enforcement and is against Biden’s reckless open border policies and a strong supporter of the Hyde Amendment. He is apologetically pro-life and protects the rights of the unborn in the womb. There are many other key votes that he has been on the right side of for the working class in this country.

I believe Mr. Jacobs has earned our endorsement. Senator Rob Ortt has not once ever reached and sought our endorsement. We look very hard at voting records maybe that’s why. I will leave it at that.

Assemblyman Steve Hawley has reached out to us in the last two election cycles. We support him and we are glad for most of the things he does for us. Unfortunately we can not endorse. Our committee adopted in our Rules and Regulations some years back that we “Term Limit” all politicians to 12 years in any one position. Those 12 years in most cases is way more than the public can stand of any politician. There are some rare cases but not many.

The politicians talk of term limits but are not serious. We are.

Paul Lauricella

Orleans County Conservative Party Chairman

Editor:

I feel that it is important to outline some of the goals I would like to accomplish if I am elected Mayor of Albion on March 15, 2022.

I intend to make all Village operations and finances as transparent as possible. Community members should be able to look at the Village budget and understand where their money is spent. The Village website should clearly and concisely explain how your tax dollars are allocated. If more specific information is needed, the tools to retrieve that information should be provided there as well.

The Village website will be a resource with not only fiscal information, but as a way to showcase all our Village has to offer. All aspects of Village operations will be easily accessible and easy to understand. This includes the budget, upcoming community events and being used as a resource for a new potential business.

I support the Police. Public safety is the most important responsibility of the government.. The result of the misguided efforts of those not supporting law enforcement is chaos. Effective and accountable law enforcement has been a hallmark of our Village and I will continue to support our Police Department. Defunding the Police is not an option.

If elected, I will not take a salary from the community. I believe if people work together and put the public good before anything else, we can make our Village a better place for ourselves and our children. Albion has all the ingredients needed to make a vibrant community. We need a long-term vision and perseverance, and that’s what I will bring to the table. My plans for the Village are proactive and positive.

I have visited the various departments in the Village of Albion, and have spoken with the Department Heads. These are hard-working individuals with a wealth of knowledge. Working in the private sector has exposed me to other ways of approaching a problem. I think that offering more effective options to the departments will improve the results. While it is important to be fiscally responsible, there are certainly areas where there needs to be investment.

My family and I have invested in Albion. It is an important commitment. I believe the Mayor and the Board need to lead and promote our community revitalization. I understand what it takes to build a business, and work is what it will take to make Albion a thriving community. That leadership has to be Village wide with both the business community and the residential neighborhoods being addressed.

I, like many others, care deeply about our community. I intend to spend the rest of my life here. That is the reason I am stepping up to serve the community and help the Village prosper. I have prepared myself for this responsibility by attending Board Meetings for months and getting the perspective of a variety of stakeholders in the community. I will continue to listen, this is our Village.

Please consider voting for me on March 15, 2022. I am on the ballot on the Republican and the Better Together/Albion Strong lines. I am here to serve everyone and would appreciate your support.

Thank you

Angel Javier Jr.

Albion

Editor:

A writer to the Orleans Hub complained that I misinterpreted Congressman Chris Jacobs’ position on bail reform.

So I want to make my position clear. If there is any evidence that the bail reform law makes citizens less safe then the law should be changed. To date there is no such evidence.

We all want safe communities. We also all want equal justice. Bail is a set of conditions to assure future court appearance by someone accused, not convicted, of a crime. In this system those with means are set free, those without means are held in jail. This establishes unequal justice.

The writer makes the following statement: “These politicians and political organizations that spread the message of hate towards police officers are undoubtedly largely responsible for the 346 law enforcement officers shot in 2021, and 115% increase in ambush-style shootings of law enforcement officers in 2021 that Congressman Jacobs referenced.”

I know of no politician or political organization that spreads a message of hate towards police officers. Perhaps the writer could provide some examples. To be clear any politician that disrespects police officers, or any public servant, should not hold office.

The writer also makes the following statement: “The bottom line is when an individual is arrested and released on an appearance ticket (when under previous bail laws, they would have been off the streets), and then commits more crimes, those crimes could have been prevented.”

I agree 100 percent. If we could detain those who will commit future crimes than we should. However, that information is unavailable to us mortals. Both the Constitution of the United States and our basic sense of justice prevents us from locking up individuals for crimes they may commit in the future.

Mr. Jacobs has no anti-crime policies so he is scapegoating the bail reform law to create a sense of fear in the electorate. We elected Mr. Jacobs to help make issues, like crime, better for all of us.

Instead Mr. Jacobs is using fear to obscure and confuse the issue. This area need a representative. Mr. Jacobs is not that person.

William Fine

Brockport

Editor:

Let’s be honest here. Bail reforms were desperately due and fundamentally made good sense. I am not going to repeat the obvious.

But here, there and every where it 1) overshot by a wide margin and 2) was underfunded.

Where is the money for ankle monitors, for extra pre-trial supervisory staff, for mental health for those who need it, for job training for those that could use it?

Bail reform is just one part of fixing problems and it pushed the time to start forward and increased the number we had to try to reach.

Pointing fingers is counterproductive when we should be figuring out what worked, what did not, and make changes to do it better. Taking sides or overstating pros and cons is foolish – typical politics.

All need to roll up their sleeves and make the changes needed to make it and a healthy  society work.

Democracies evolve or they wither and die. It’s the defining question in this alt right era. It’s time to discuss and pull together.

Conrad F. Cropsey

Albion

Editor:

When will this craziness REALLY end? So, over a week ago Ms. Hochul announces an (overdue) end to the statewide indoor mask mandate. However this does not include certain facilities, most notably our schools.

So, are we supposed to be happy or satisfied with this? I am not! This situation has gone on long enough, is beyond being ridiculous and just needs to end.

Consider the following; we have vaccines available, a variety of treatment options/therapeutics available, including two new post-infection treatments that if given within a few days reduces hospitalizations by close to 90%. You add to this, the fact that schools and school sports settings have not been identified as major vectors for, or super-spreaders of Covid-19.

Did children get infected with this virus, yes. However, the chances of serious health impacts and death for basically healthy kids is statistically zero.

So why are kids still being forced to wear masks in school? Once they leave school buildings no kids or parents are required to wear them anywhere else as they go about their life and from my basic observation no one is or has for quite a while. I am asking why school superintendents, school boards, local elected officials, and most pointedly Ms. Hochul are keeping this policy in place?

Most recently Ms. Hochul stated that there is no “aha moment” that will happen where she will remove the school mask mandate and she will keep evaluating the data and vaccination rates. Is she serious with this, since when does one person have this kind of authority, this broadly, over all of New York State?

By the way a downstate judge said she didn’t have this authority, this was appealed, and where are the judgements on this? I believe it still sits with the NY Supreme Court Appellate Division and Justice Robert Miller.

I am anxiously awaiting his verdict. It is interesting that the US Supreme Court found it important enough to hear some pretty important similar cases and reach a verdict in an expeditious manner. Not sure what the holdup is on this?

With respect to Ms. Hochul’s approach on this issue, it seems to me like she is beholden to some other interest other than families and specifically the children of New York. I will leave it to everyone to figure out what that is on their own.

I want to applaud Senator Ortt, Assemblyman Hawley and all of the representatives who are involved in the “Take Back New York” campaign. Please keep pressing for all New Yorkers to get their freedoms back.

I would also like to applaud the numerous School Superintendents from Orleans and Genesee counties and surrounding areas who penned a letter to Ms. Hochul asking for an end to the mask mandates in schools.

My only criticism of this letter is that it didn’t finish with an “or else” clause, such as “rescind your school mask mandate OR ELSE we are ending it.” I am baffled why school administrations, politicians, other local leaders are still compliant with this craziness. There should be no requirements for Covid-19 vaccines for kids or masking mandates forced on our children, period. This nonsense needs to end now, not when Ms. Hochul feels like it. It is past time to pushback.

Brian Sorochty

Batavia

Editor:

Congressman Chris Jacobs voted, along party lines, against H.R. 4521, the “America COMPETES Act of 2022.”

This legislation provides $52 billion for micro-chip research, development and private sector investment of manufacturing of micro-chips. Micro-chips are essential for our economic and national security interest.

Furthermore, this legislation provides $45 billion to strengthen our supply chain by acquisition of critical goods and equipment necessary for our national security and economic vitality. This legislation provides good jobs with competitive wages.

That is why this legislation has the support of the AFL-CIO, the United Steel Workers and the Alliance of American Manufacturers among others. While the Republican Party’s objective is to block Democrat success, Mr. Jacobs obligation is to the citizens he represents.

The poverty rate in Orleans County, Livingston County and Niagara Counties is greater than 10 percent, (U.S. Census report July 1 2021). Improving economic activity should be job one for Mr. Jacobs. Mr. Jacobs’ cynical opposition shows his devotion to national party politics not to the citizens he represents. We need a representative not a party bureaucrat.

William Fine

Brockport

Editor:

Tens of thousands of individuals, families and children of all ages and faiths rely year-round on the support provided by the Appeal through Catholic Charities.

We launched the 98th Appeal last month with a $9.5 million goal. Our team is reinvigorated, optimistic and already hard at work. Results from some early efforts on behalf of the Appeal have proven fruitful. Thanks to many generous donors, we are off to a terrific start with $1.2 million already raised.

With the pandemic still a driving force, a variety of challenges continue to surface for many individuals, children, and families in our community. These effects won’t go away soon and only point to the ongoing need for the critical programs and services Catholic Charities provides. Last year alone, the annual Appeal brought help and HOPE to more than 125,000 Western New Yorkers through Catholic Charities’ 57 programs and services across dozens of sites in the eight-county region.

For nearly 100 years, Catholic Charities has been a beacon of HOPE for the most vulnerable and most in need in our community, providing a multitude of services for those who are struggling to make ends meet or facing challenges impacting their health and well-being.

Community support through the annual Appeal provides HOPE to so many. It has helped provide food through Catholic Charities’ nine pantries and emergency assistance for basic needs such as clothing and restarting households.

It has supported families through mental health counseling and substance use treatment, as well as intensive therapy for families with at-risk teens. School-based counselors help to remove obstacles to learning for students, and education and vocational programs get young adults on track who need a high school diploma and a career start.

It has helped refugees forced to restart their life in a new country and those young at heart who need a friendly call or visit. Funds raised through the Appeal are crucial to ensuring these programs and services can continue.

The Appeal also benefits the Fund for the Faith, which supports such diocesan ministries and programs as campus ministry, Catholic education and spiritual renewal in parishes. Donors can designate their gift by giving to the Appeal, which benefits both Catholic Charities and the Fund for the Faith; giving to Catholic Charities only; or to the Fund for the Faith only.

We hope and pray that those who are able and who have given previously will join us again in 2022. No gift is too small.

Through the dedication of our Appeal leadership team, parish volunteers, Catholic Charities staff, and the generosity of Western New Yorkers, we are committed to reaching the Appeal 2022 goal. Thank you for your continued support.

Thomas Beecher, Jr. and Nancy Nielsen, M.D., Ph.D.

Co-chairs of Catholic Charities Appeal 2022