Editor:

In the past I have condemned Trump for pardoning convicted criminals. Now, we find Biden has pardoned his son. A black mark has now been entered into his presidency.

Read any history of former President Bill Clinton, and they all contain a reference to his disastrous pardon of Marc Rich, a fugitive from justice whose former spouse made donations to Clinton’s Presidential Center. A stain on Clinton’s record, and now one on Biden’s record.

Voters sometimes do not have good memories for political acts. Historians, on the other hand, make it their business to remember and then they write books about it.

Jack Capurso

Albion High School 1960

Ashburn, Va.

Editor:

The President-elect has stated that on “Day 1” he will begin massive deportation of undocumented people residing in the United States. This will have a major impact upon Orleans County, particularly agriculture, but more generally the entire economy of our county, because these 2,000 people buy products and services within the county from the wages that they earn. Grocery stores, general stores, auto services, churches and more would be affected.

I would point out that many of the people who are loosely considered “undocumented” are actually “documented” because they have official papers relating to their work or refugee status and have applied for asylum, green cards or citizenship.

The President-elect’s plans for deportation make little distinction between these categories. The farm workers I know are scared out of their wits. Many of them have worked in our area for decades, contributing to a robust agricultural sector, putting food on our tables, filling our churches, and sending their children to our schools.

There may be as many as 2,000 immigrant workers in Orleans County. Has the Orleans County Legislature considered the actual impact of the deportation order that is planned?  I hope it has, because “Day 1” is coming up very fast!

How will area farmers survive without workers? How will they be able to afford the wages that would make this kind of employment attractive to citizens who have shown little interest in this seasonal, hard, low-wage work?

If farms are to survive, the prices for their products will have to be much higher to wholesalers and consumers. Has the Legislature considered what will happen to the price of food if these deportations go forward?  “No farm workers = less food = higher prices” seems like a losing strategy for our county.

I wonder if deportation would push some farm operations over the edge, either by shutting down entirely, or by not planting some or all fields in the spring? Has the Legislature considered what it will do about this?

And who would lead or participate in a deportation effort in Orleans County? The Sherriff’s Department, the local courts, jails or school officials? What would be the cost to the county for this?

As a taxpayer I am shuddering to think of this cost to the county, almost immediately and in the long-run. This looks like an unfunded mandate, the kind of thing that the Legislature likes to pin on Democrats in Albany. Will my local tax bill now break out the cost of deportations in Orleans County?

As you can tell, I am very opposed to deportations on the scale that the President-elect has described. The impact that this will have on Orleans County and its taxpayers will be significant.

Is the Legislature planning for this? Are farmers thinking about this? Does anyone have a plan? “Day 1” is fast approaching!

Sincerely,

James R. Renfrew

Clarendon

Editor:

On Monday, November 11th, the 230th Commemoration of the 1794 Canandaigua Treaty was held at the Ontario County Courthouse in the city of Canandaigua.

Every year, this commemoration is held to “polish the chain of friendship, symbolizing the relationship between the (at the time) new United States of America and the Hodínöhšö:ni’ Confederacy,” a people of whom I am proud to be of.

This “chain” is held onto by both ends by both parties, and the responsibility of upholding this promise belongs to both. It was made to create a “firm and permanent friendship” between our Nations, and stands as a monumental agreement to this day, but the WNY STAMP mega industrial site represents a violation of this agreement and an erasure of this treaty.

The Science, Technology, and Advanced Manufacturing Park in Genesee County is an economic development zone which promises to bring high-tech manufacturing to Western New York. As of this writing, there are two tenants: Plug Power, and Edwards Vacuum.

This site is being built on our reservation border with only a 400’ buffer between it, and that place we call the “Big Woods.” The site poses runoff, explosive, noise and light pollution risks to our territory. Should any spills occur, we are close enough that contaminants could find their way into our wells and eventually, our people.

I’ve enjoyed the life of a Tonawanda Seneca citizen on the Tonawanda Seneca Territory. I’ve lived here all my life, learning our traditions, enjoying our customs and usage as did many who’ve grown here. I’ve spent time with my father gathering medicines in an area we call the “Big Woods.” Others hunt, source what they need for their craft there, and they’ll come from nearby territories.

We are very protective of these woods and our lands but share it with the rest of the Hodínöhšö:ni’. We’re a small community, but we’re among those fortunate enough to have kept our original Chief system under the Great Law of Peace alive with no other systems imposed upon us from American interference. In the Great Law, it is one of the duties of our leaders to make decisions thinking of faces not yet seen. However now, there is a fear of what might be brought by the STAMP site.

The Canandaigua Treaty ensures that the Hodínöhšö:ni’ remain sovereign and ensures “free use and enjoyment” of our lands. Last I had known, it’s enshrined in the U.S. Constitution that “all treaties are the supreme law of the land.”

There is no distinction between types of treaties or nations. If they would not be so quick to break the Treaty of Paris, or the Treaty of Versailles, then why would it be acceptable to break the Treaty of Canandaigua. Our leadership, and our people, call upon the Federal and State Organizations to respect the Tonawanda Seneca Nation’s right to thorough consultation, to engage in Nation-to-Nation conduct, and to hold up their end of the chain.

Grandell Logan

Basom

Editor:

President-elect Donald Trump and his Republican accomplices relentlessly attacked the rule of law, a basic foundation of our Constitutional democracy.

Mr. Trump argued, without any evidence, that the justice system is already politicized because of all the criminal charges brought against him, and his conviction on 34 felony counts. In fact, the Justice Department indicted at least seven Democrats, including President Biden’s son. If the Justice Department were politicized, as Mr. Trump claims, none of these prosecutions would have occurred. In fact, the Justice Department went after these people, including Mr. Trump, because they had evidence of criminal activity sufficient to present in a court of law.

Going after political enemies without evidence, only because they are perceived as opponents, would politicize and e the Department of Justice.  Doing so would undermine the rule of law and our Constitutional Democracy.

Mr. Trump nominated Matt Gaetz as Attorney General, despite the fact that Gaetz’ only qualification is his loyalty to Donald Trump. It is Mr. Trump’s intention to politicize and weaponized the Department of Justice, thus undermining the Rule of Law and our Constitutional democracy.

Mr. Trump’s other nominees, Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense, Tulsi Gabbard for Director of National Intelligence and Robert Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services also have no experience and no expertise of those departments.

Replacing knowledgeable experts with complete novices and worse, political sycophants undermines the effectiveness of those agencies and puts the national security in jeopardy as well as the health and welfare of the nation.

In fact, this is a recipe for failure. But that was a campaign promise of Mr. Trump; to destroy the deep state.  Even though that “deep state” was developed to keep Americans safe, healthy and prosperous.

Undermining the rule of law, our Constitutional Democracy, the security of the nation and health and welfare of the United States is the goal of Mr. Trump’s administration.

William Fine

Brockport

Cecily Guzzetta Molak

Honeoye Falls

Editor:

I am writing on behalf of the Orleans County Deputy Sheriff’s Association, representing the dedicated men and women of the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office Road Patrol and Criminal Investigations Division.

First, I want to acknowledge the excellent work of the Village of Albion Police Department (APD) in serving the Village of Albion. Our agencies share a strong working relationship that benefits both the Village and Town of Albion.

However, we have learned that APD is seeking to expand its patrols into the Town of Albion, primarily to focus on violations of the Vehicle and Traffic violations and “low level” offenses. The Orleans County Deputy Sheriff’s Association formally opposes this proposal.

We understand that APD’s justification includes frequent assistance with calls outside the Village. However, the data between January 1, 2024, and November 14, 2024, shows that OCSO assisted APD in the Village 117 times, while APD assisted OCSO or NYSP in the Town of Albion 39 times. During this period, OCSO handled 1,767 calls in the Town of Albion as the primary agency.

We believe that an excessive number of patrols focused primarily on traffic violations could frustrate town and village residents, harming the public relations we have worked hard to build. Additionally, APD has indicated that this would be a trial program. Therefore, it is reasonable to conclude that it could lead to additional costs for our residents if it becomes a permanent measure. The APD would need to issue an unreasonably high number of tickets to sustain this initiative.

Given the central location of the Public Safety Building, the Town of Albion benefits from the fastest response times from our deputies, compared to other towns. Based on the data, and totality of the circumstances, we believe OCSO should remain the primary agency for all calls in the Town of Albion.

We are proud to serve all residents of Orleans County and see no reason to change the current arrangement.

The goal of law enforcement is to maintain a safe community, which the Sheriff’s Office has successfully achieved and continues to uphold.

Thank you for your time.

Respectfully,

Torry N. Tooley

President, Orleans County Deputy Sheriff’s Association

Editor:

In a letter to the editor on November 11, a gentleman from Knowlesville stated  the legal charges against Trump were completely fabricated stories including their favorite lies about Trump.

Perhaps he has forgotten the: (1) rape conviction in NY City, (2) the allegations of rape by 23 women, (3) his conviction in NY City on 32 counts of fraud, (4) the trial in Washington DC on his effort to overthrow in the 2020 election, (5) the state charges in Georgia on his effort to unlawfully influence the 2020 election results, and (6) the Federal charges in Florida on his illegally keeping Top Secret US documents.

MAGA people appear to wish the above facts would go away. They will not. Our legal system is not based on hopes and wishes, but facts and the truth.

Jack Capurso

Albion High School, Class of 1960

Ashburn, Va.

Editor:

I read with interest the recent Letter to the Editor wherein The Author referenced the former President’s 2024 victory as being “elected (by a landslide).”

The term “landslide” has several connotations; one being a mass wasting, rockfall or mudflow which is a geologic event and can be tragically devastating to life and property.

However, in this case The Author was referencing a political victory which is one whereby the winning candidate achieves a decisive victory by a large margin. Some might say that this type of landslide could also be “tragically devastating to life and property.”

A classic example is when President James Monroe defeated John Quincy Adams, as he received 78% of the popular vote in the Presidential Election of 1820. Certainly, this was a “landslide” victory.

Remarkable as that was, American historians have identified 10 Presidential “landslide” elections; the most significantly noted was the election of George Washington in 1788-1789 and 1792. As we all know he was victorious in both cases and received 100% of the votes in both elections.

You may not want to be too impressed by this as he ran unopposed. In the research notes it states that he received 43,782 popular votes out of the 43,782 which were cast by the voters. Given today’s political climate, a very envious political achievement! And, to the best of my knowledge, not a single person challenged that outcome.

In more modern times, modern being a relative term of course, Richard Nixon defeated George McGovern in 1972 and received 61% of the popular vote. And in 1984 Ronald Reagan opposed Walter Mondale and received 59% of the popular vote. Both elections are included in the historian’s election analysis which I referenced earlier; President Nixon’s was the sixth largest landslide victory and President Reagan’s was fifth.

As of Thursday morning, the popular vote for the 2024 Presidential Election stands at 50.2% for the former President and 48.1% for Vice President Harris; that margin is 2.1%. Given the precedents previously discussed regarding historically verified “landslide” victories, I truly doubt that history will ever record this election as a landslide.

Thank God, facts and the truth still matter to some!

Doug Miller

Albion

Editor:

In the aftermath of any election before a new Administration starts, all that can be said is some of the new President’s  supporters will be pleased with some things and displeased or surprised by others. We will have to see what positions he was serious about and which versions he proposes.

Historically adherence to the Rule of Law and Constitutional Order leaves open honest discussion on grave matters.

These elections proved that elections were, and always have been, well conducted and accurately counted. On this, this time, all have agreed and accepted the Rule of Law and  Constitutional Order. So will discussion be permitted or will we find ourselves in a maze of one-way streets?

Should we be encouraged that we no longer have a big Bull elephant in the room which distracted and divided us? That elections were rigged.

The baseless election integrity ploy (which was resulted in so many convictions, disbarments, and several more still pending state fake electors cases) was there, in part, to keep us from trusting and listening to one another. Will we talk like adults now?

At least the vote and soon the certification process have started out well as they should in any real democracy.

Conrad F. Cropsey

Albion

Editor:

Thank God for saving us from the campaign of evil hatred led by Kamala Harris. She and her evil friends were sent packing by Common Sense Americans who believe in Jesus and his teachings.

Her campaign was based on the Democrats’ pure and undeniable hatred of Donald Trump, while his campaign was based on patriotism and love of our country.

The entire campaign of lies began in 2016 with Hillary Clinton’s infamous Russian Collusion lie followed by completely fabricated stories including their favorite lies about the President of the United State on Jan 6. And they are already writing stories for 2028.

Kamala was counting on the gullible voters who will believe any lie about our duly elected (by a landslide) President.

Thank goodness for Trump and the Republicans, the party of common sense.

God Bless Donald Trump and the newly defined USA!

James Anderson

Knowlesville

Editor:

On Saturday morning I watched President-elect Trump inform us about his gender reassignment legislation.

In my opinion, Trump will send millions back into the closet. The debate surrounding gender reassignment surgery for minors, particularly in Republican-led states, highlights the tension between parental rights and the autonomy of young individuals.

Under current laws in many areas, children under the age of 18 cannot undergo gender reassignment surgery without the explicit permission of their parents or guardians. As a health professional, children can’t get aspirin without permission from a parent.  This requirement reflects a broader conservative perspective that emphasizes parental control over healthcare decisions for minors, especially when it involves significant medical interventions like surgery or hormone treatments.

Moreover, this regulation echoes a general principle observed in pediatric medicine: minors are typically unable to give informed consent for medical procedures, including the administration of medications. Just as parents have the authority to make decisions about vaccines or other medical treatments, they are similarly positioned to make choices regarding gender transition therapies.

This framework is often justified by the belief that children may not possess the emotional or cognitive maturity to fully understand the lifelong changes of such a decision. Proponents of these laws argue that they protect children from making irreversible choices before they are fully prepared to comprehend the long-term consequences. So, my fellow Republicans, what are you going to tell your children? Because now how you sexually identify is a crime.

So, how many teachers will be left after this starts going into effect? I’ll wait.

Sincerely yours,

Patricia Dunbar

Albion

Editor:

Allies of the Tonawanda Seneca Nation, staunch defenders against the STAMP project currently being built in Genesee County near Orleans on indigenous land, are asking community members to attend the 230th Anniversary Parade and Commemoration Ceremony of the Canandaigua Treaty being held Monday, Nov. 11 in Canandaigua.

This treaty, as detailed on their Instagram page @alliesoftsn, “upholds Haudenosaunee sovereignty by establishing a ‘firm and permanent friendship’ between the Haudenosaunee and the United States, and enshrines the right of the Haudenosaunee to the ‘free use and enjoyment’ of their lands.”

The back half of this quote is of most importance to this organization, as currently, the STAMP project is the antithesis of the sentiment.

The STAMP project is an ecological nightmare masquerading as an environmental and economic improvement to the area, as the construction, lacking many permits needed to complete the project, is still underway.

The lineup for the parade begins at 12:45 p.m. at the Canandaigua Elementary School Parking Lot. The address is 90 West Gibson Street, Canandaigua, NY.

The Commemoration Ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. in front of the Ontario County Courthouse, which is located at 27 N. Main Street, Canandaigua, NY.

The event is free and open to the public. Signs are encouraged.

If you are unable to attend, or otherwise want to get more involved with this initiative, information can be found on the Allies of the Tonawanda Seneca Nation website.

Devin Hogan

Buffalo, formerly of Medina

Editor:

Thanks to the dedicated volunteers, vendors, and students from across Genesee, Livingston, Orleans, and Wyoming counties, the 6th annual GLOW With Your Hands: Manufacturing was once again another successful demonstration of hands-on career exploration for local students.

This workforce development program is designed to educate the next generation of employees in the skilled trades, advanced manufacturing, agriculture, and food production workforces.

The 6th annual event on September 24th welcomed 1,100 students and chaperones from 30 school districts across the GLOW region who connected with 200 representatives from more than 70 agencies, trades groups and businesses in hands-on activities and demonstrations that provided an exploration into careers and pathways into them.

Launched in 2019 with 800 students, GLOW With Your Hands Manufacturing has grown into the premier workforce development program in the region and continues to grow. With the addition of GLOW With Your Hands: Healthcare, a hands-on medical careers program held annually in March, more than 5,000 students have participated in GLOW With Your Hands events since 2019.

With the mounting student debt, it is essential that we educate students on cost-effective pathways into careers.

GLOW With Your Hands introduces students to careers that can be entered immediately after high school, as well as economical ways to pursue careers that require post-secondary training and education.

We continue to witness a significant influx of private sector investment across the region, fostering growth and innovation that is bringing in-demand, economically rewarding careers right to our backyards. This surge not only creates jobs but also enhances local economies, encourages workforce development, and attracts talent, ensuring that our communities thrive in an increasingly competitive workforce landscape.

We have built a workforce development ecosystem that equips students with the necessary skills that connect them to desirable careers resulting from company relocation and expansion projects. That ecosystem is on display annually at GLOW With Your Hands Manufacturing and Healthcare events.

Thanks to the hard work and dedication of our committee members, volunteers, and vendors, students interacted with local company representatives learning about careers and industries they may have never been aware of previously.

Our vendors are subject matter experts with on-the-job experience, and they were well-equipped and excited to answer students’ questions. One of our participants highlighted the passion displayed by our company representatives: “It is inspiring to see the number of businesses and representatives who are passionate about sharing their professional experience with us, a lot of students do not know what career they want to pursue, and this helped me get an idea of what companies are a part of the community.”

This is what GLOW With Your Hands is all about; there are so many great careers and companies available, and students deserve to learn what is possible right here in their own backyards as they move onto the next chapter of their lives.

The awareness and education that results from GLOW With Your Hands, has spurred an influx of increased enrollment in local apprenticeship and BOCES programs, where students can take their skillset to the next level, participating in earn-as-you-learn type programming.

We take pride in being the premier workforce development event in the region. Thank you to our platinum sponsors, National Grid, LandPro Equipment, and Rochester Davis-Fetch, and the dozens of other companies, unions, and agencies whose significant investment generated a successful event.

The third annual GLOW With Your Hands: Healthcare is just 5 months away from coming back to Genesee Community College where we welcome hundreds of GLOW region students to explore the opportunities available in the local healthcare industry.

Stay tuned for more details to come!

Karyn Winters – Director of the Genesee County Business Education Alliance

Angela Grouse – Director of Education to Employment with the Livingston County Area Chamber of Commerce.

Both Winters and Grouse served as co-chairs of this year’s event.

Editor:

Hate won. Donald Trump ran a campaign on hate, vengeance, bigotry and racism. He spread conspiracy theories that legal immigrants were eating neighbors’ pets, and he called migrants criminals.

He supports and endorses anti-LGBTQ+ groups. He only talks to friendly media because he cannot discuss policies. When the press does try to hold him to account he calls them “the fake news.”

Mr. Trump cannot discuss any policy or give a logical coherent answer when asked, instead he berates the questioner. Mr. Trump rejects bipartisan decency and compromise that makes democracy work. (Apparently all those illegal migrants eating the neighbor’s cats and dogs voted for Mr. Trump).

Mr. Trump connected with the disaffected and the dissatisfied and promised to change the status quo. That status quo is the institutions that make our democracy function. Anyone who challenges Mr. Trump’s positions with facts or a different solution are called “the enemy within,” and threatened with investigations by the Justice Department or the I.R.S. Silencing your critics is how dictators rule, not democratic government.

So hate won. Mr. Trump is promising to round up all illegal migrants and deport them. Cornell University reports that over half of farm workers are undocumented migrants. As the saying goes “no farms, no food.” If Mr. Trump carries out this campaign promise, grocery shelves will be bare.

According to National Association of Home Builders roughly 25% of construction workers and 31% in the trades are migrants. Beyond damaging our economy Mr. Trump proposal is cruel, inhumane and unjust; perhaps even illegal. Just like the child separation program in his first administration it is hateful.

Hate won over a positive hopeful message. The economy is good. The Wall Street Journal reported that the U.S. has the strongest economy in the world. Inflation is down, unemployment is low and wages are rising faster than inflation. Despite all this good news hate won.

Hate won.

William Fine

Brockport

Editor:

I’m not overly religious but after our election debacle – I pray to God.

I pray to  God will buffer the damage the president-elect plans to wreak on our invaluable democracy.

I pray to God that at least some of the people now in and soon to be in power will help to temper the president-elect’s narcissism and vitriol.

I pray to God that those who truly have our best interests at heart will have the courage and dedication to stand up against the tyrant.

And mostly pray to God that those who chose bombast and empty promises over truth and honest effort will open their eyes, open their ears, open their hearts and especially open their minds to observe, absorb, assimilate and correlate the reality of what happens over the next two years.

We then may have the collected strength to wrest Congress out of his clutches in 2026 and limit the damage he can do in the last two years.

I deeply pray to God.

Bruce Kirby

Albion

Editor:

So former President Trump will occupy the Oval Office again. What could possibly be wrong with that? Here is a pathological lying narcissistic who has openly said he will go after his political opponents and anyone who has openly criticized him.

Plans to pardon insurrectionists and will surely seek to have all lawsuits against him dropped at the same time pardoning himself from any convictions. His advisors and cabinet will be boot-licking lackeys who will refuse to stand up to his craziness.

During his first term at least some of his cabinet and advisors tried to rein him in only to be fired or quit out of frustration. He has indicated he would put Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in charge of health and human services. A man who is a vaccination denier and said a worm ate part of his brain, sounds like a real good candidate or a real nut job you decide.

In a way to repay the millions of dollars in support he plans make Elon Musk some sort of enterprise guru in the administration. Sounds like another “concept of a plan.”

He and his turncoat  VP will likely leave Ukraine out to dry while sucking up to his buddy Putin. He will give Israel a free pass for ongoing conflict and destruction in its efforts to defeat an enemy that can’t be defeated militarily all the while creating a new generation of enemies to Israel.

Wants to have a mass deportation which virtually every economist said would be bad for the economy.

What could be worse that all that? How about having control of all three levels of government? He has the executive branch by election. He has the right wing Supreme Court by his three appointees and other far-right judges who already gave him broad immunity for his actions while in office.

Now it looks like the House and Senate will be in the Republican majority. He just won the Trifecta! Looks like he really can be a dictator on day one. It’s been said “be careful for what you ask as you may get it.”

James Fraser, Colonel, USAF retired

Batavia