Editor:

On March 25 the Georgia governor made it legal for Republicans to steal Georgia elections. This law states the Georgia legislature can remove and replace any local election official.

Our ex-president (thank heaven for the ex) Trump made two phone calls to Georgia officials asking them to steal votes for him. The most well known was the hour-long call to the Georgia secretary of state. What’s lesser known is the call he made to a local election head. Neither of these, being honorable Republicans, bowed to Trump.

If the law that was just passed had been in effect back then that Georgia local official would have been replaced by the Georgia legislature with a Trump toady. That toady would have found the votes Trump was asking for.

The right to vote is sacred and the forces that want to steal that right are forces for evil.

Dennis Seekins

Lyndonville

Editor:

A recent letter writer to the Hub made several assertions. I would like to respond to a couple of them. The writer stated: “She’ [a previous writer]’ then bashes those of us that believe in order to have a country, you must have a defined border.”

No one disputes that you have to have defined borders to have a country and no one is arguing for an open border; no one, period. That argument is a gross exaggeration of what is being stated and prevents people from listening to what is actually being said.

Everyone wants secure borders. The question is how to secure the border while allowing migrant farm workers the ability to move across the border. Without migrant farm workers we would not have food or milk on the grocery shelves. The New York Farm Bureau issued the following press release: “New York Farm Bureau is pleased to see President Biden’s immigration plan, the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021.” It seems to me that while Democrats are working to solve problems, Republicans like Congressman Chris Jacobs spew slogans and mis-information to confuse and obfuscate.

The second assertion the writer made that I want to address is: “I am NOT bashing public assistance recipients when I say that most people living ‘in poverty’ in the U.S. have flat screens, cars, and smartphones. They have a roof, warmth, and food unless they choose to live on the streets. Those are facts. Unfortunately today, people put more emphasis on feelings than facts.”

I couldn’t find any evidence to substantiate these claims. I did find evidence to refute them. Studies by economists Abhijit Banerjee et. al. (2015); by Levy, S. (2006); by Gentler, P. J.et. al. (2012); and many other studies refute his claims.

Locally the Orleans Hub reported (3/14/21) that the Community Kitchen in Albion was now serving about 380 meals a week up from 150 meals per week before the pandemic. Food insecurity is real and it is real in Orleans County.

It sounds to me that the writer is relying on anecdotal evidence and his feelings for his facts. When will Republicans, like Mr. Jacobs, start using actual facts not anecdotal evidence, their feelings and slogans to help solve problems?

William Fine

Brockport

Editor:

My wife and I had our house built in 1973 in the Town of Barre. Because we have lived here such a long time, I believe we should have a right to vote on allowing wind turbines here in Barre.

As far as I know only Barre Town Board members have voted on behalf of Barre residents. In my opinion this is not  proper because ___ . You fill in the blanks yourself.

I know at this point in time, you may say you’re too late. I am saying let’s finally have a town vote. Then will we know  if the board members voted correctly in representing the voters in Barre. What is your opinion?

Robert G Barnard

Barre

Editor:

I can’t speak for any other towns or villages but only as a tax paying resident of the town of Yates. I do not think that rural broadband is the highest priority to be spending money on especially with all the options that are available and the cell phone technology and capabilities.

Our town raised taxes some say 11.5 to 15.5 percent depending on who you talk to. The tax hike I was told was in part of an $84,000 gap in our A account now for about 4 years that was caused by a book keeping error and other unclear forces.

I know for a fact that our cash-strapped town and over-taxed citizenry can not give up one dime at this time. I am and will always be 100 percent against the “Incompetent politician and union rescue act.”  A Democrat bailout of the failed blue states that was not voted on by one of the House and Senate Republicans, but if some of that money is coming to the town of Yates it better darn well stay in our town, for our people, for what citizens decide to spend it on.

The problems caused to the state economy and schools were caused by the failed Governor following politicized science and the partisan teachers unions. Not Covid. Most of our country’s states are now fully open that have been properly managed, also the need for fresh blood in our county’s political system is self evident There are many offices with no challenges in Orleans County for this election cycle with career politicians sitting in them. There is still time for common sense citizens to get an independent petition and carry it yourself.

Don’t be part of the problem be part of the solution. Do your civic duty. If elected set your term limits then go back to your life. As the founders intended. April 13th is the first day to start circulating that petition. Don’t let another election cycle pass with the same tax-and-spend politicians cake walking right back in to put it to you again for 2 more years. What’s that sound you hear? People moving out of the state. Stay and fight.

Paul Lauricella

Yates

Editor:

I am compelled to write in response to Nicole Zelazny’s letter.

Ms. Zelazny regards our military as “predators” of America’s youth. Apparently she believes that we do not need a military – there are no threats to the US. We play nice – everybody plays nice, right? 9/11, Pearl Harbor, Iraq’s invasion of the oil fields and other such historical facts have been “cancelled” to better fit her naive concept of national security.

Iran is not building nuclear weapons. N. Korea does not have nukes designed to kill us. There are no folks out there that would sever an American’s head without a second thought just to create terror.

She also fails to note that we have an all-volunteer military. Is she saying that 18-year-olds can decide who to vote for, choose a college, get married and have a family, but are not smart enough to make the decision to join the military, get an education, and quite possibly a career? By 2024, 16-year-olds will most likely be voting as a result of partisan HR1. I’m thinking that proponents of this never had a 16-year-old living with them.

She then bashes those of us that believe in order to have a country, you must have a defined border. The over 7 percent covid positive people illegally (by definition) crossing our southern “border” do not have to quarantine like an American citizen returning to their own country. There is no contact tracing. No shots. No restrictions. They are allowed to just join the general public. Smart.

Four known anti-American terrorists have been stopped from entering the US in the last few months. We should have let them join the others that were NOT caught? The deepening crisis at our southern “border” is going to be a problem as long as we don’t enforce our laws. I am a strong supporter of LEGAL immigration that includes background checks. Why is it so wrong for us to know who is coming in, where they are going, and how they will support themselves?

Ms. Zelany goes on to bash the US banking industry and gives no better alternative. Have the past abject failures of other forms of government/monetary systems been canceled as well? We enjoy the most generous, giving, and open economy in the history of our planet. She seems to disdain personal wealth. Without wealth there is no charity. Without wealth there are no social programs. Again, those types of governments and monetary systems are available, just not here – yet.

I am NOT bashing public assistance recipients when I say that most people living “in poverty” in the US have flat screens, cars, and smartphones. They have a roof, warmth, and food unless they choose to live on the streets. Those are facts. Unfortunately today, people  put more emphasis on feelings than facts.

I’ve seen firsthand the difference in being personally responsible for one’s lot in life as opposed to folks that have been taken care of by “the nanny state.” It’s very unfortunate that we do have generational welfare. What motivates people to earn a living and be self dependent when all they’ve known is oppressive “welfare”?

Of course there are people in need. Am I wrong for offering a hand up instead of a hand out? She favors people who have never worked receiving the stimulus, though they have suffered no loss, and in the next breath faults me for claiming charitable contributions on my taxes. I give my time or money to causes I believe in. I resent being forced to give to causes I oppose through forced charity – AKA taxes and wasteful government programs.

She singles out Walmart and faults them for lobbyist activity – just like every industry does. Our own county uses lobbyists! She either does not realize or ignores the fact that Amazon wields its power through not only having over 2000 paid lobbyists, they use their web services to squash political discourse by denying an internet platform to those they don’t “like”. (Parler and other examples).

I might add that bloated government bureaucracy, a hallmark of the left, created the need for lobbyists in the first place. Walmart makes money. Is that wrong? I’m not sure where public assistance recipients go to find food that is not being sold for a profit other than charitable food cupboards (supported by working people). Walmart does not exert its political clout to silence conservative thought and discourse. They also employ more people than any other – except the bloated and wasteful US government. Ironic.

Ms. Zelazny apparently missed all the news about prison and criminal justice reform. Prison and jail populations are dropping rapidly just as she would like – in a fairly direct proportion to the increase in crimes of all nature.

Yes, I am old and “old fashioned.” Ms. Zelazny, you enjoy many benefits of living in this country today in large part because of the conservative beliefs and work ethic of us old folk. Enjoy them while you can, and you’re welcome.

Bob Harker

Clarendon

Editor:

I read the March 24th news story about Orleans County wanting to spend $4.2 million of stimulus funds to extend broadband throughout the county. The proposal seems to be using a fixed wireless system to serve 3,600+ homes.

I appreciate the difficulty that people without good internet service must be experiencing, however I would hope that the county would share a few more details before proceeding. What is the expected speed, monthly cost, data usage limits, and name of the company that customers will be dealing with?

Though the Spectrum expansion has been much delayed, the “New York State Broadband Expansion Address Lookup” website, www.bldlkup.com, indicates local expansion within 12 months – at least for the few Orleans County addresses that I entered. On December 6, 2016 a Hub article indicated that this expansion would cover all but 77 Orleans County households.

Additionally, SpaceX Starlink is ramping up service and is primarily targeting rural areas like ours. Their website is saying that our area is targeted for coverage in mid to late 2021 for $99/month plus equipment costs. People who have been beta testing it have reported speeds already faster than what I get from Spectrum.

It would be comforting to know that any local wireless system that we invest in will be able to successfully compete for customers in the coming years.

Lastly, please do not forget us village residents when the county identifies areas to spend stimulus funds on – we pay county taxes too.

Jason Dragon

Albion

Editor:

The controversies surrounding Governor Cuomo should give us all pause as we contemplate the impacts of one-person rule over the great people of New York State.

Since Mr. Cuomo’s initial election to the governorship in 2010, he has focused the power of government and the administrative state on a full frontal attack on local home rule. The right of home rule is enshrined as the jewel of Article 9 of the New York State Constitution and, while bestowed by the State, has remained sacrosanct since its promulgation… until Governor Cuomo’s administration.

In 2011, Governor Cuomo began his assault on home rule with the enactment of NYS Article 10 of the Public Service Law. This administrative law defined a new, streamlined wind and solar renewable energy project siting process, it preempted local permitting and approval procedures, but it left local land use restrictions intact, subject to a case-by-case consideration whether restrictions were unreasonably burdensome.

Last year, when faced with continued stiff opposition to Article 10 from rural NY towns statewide, Governor Cuomo went a step farther. The Governor included a last-minute amendment to his budget proposal called Executive Law Section 94-c, which replaces Article 10 and tries to make all local land use restrictions unreasonably burdensome. Still, rural municipalities across NY fought back against this potentially unconstitutional attack on home rule.

This year, unhappy with hundreds of feisty rural towns who insist on local control of land use and property tax assessments, Governor Cuomo is again attacking our right to decide for ourselves how best to contribute to a more sustainable future.

He is proposing, in yet another likely unconstitutional action, elimination of local control of taxation of industrial wind, solar and battery storage projects and a takeover of payments-in-lieu-of-taxes by Albany. This new attack is in the form of adding Section 575-b to the Real Property Tax Law (RPTL) as a budget maneuver.

The State’s carbon reduction goals must be met by working with rural municipalities, by giving them options for actions that respect community character and environment – not by creating renewable developer fiefdoms in small towns.

I call on the NY State Senate and Assembly to immediately rescind Executive Law 94-c, and to immediately remove the proposal in the 2022 New York State Budget Bill that adds RPTL 575-b.

IT’S OUR TOWN, Governor Cuomo, not your kingdom.

Jim Simon

Supervisor, Town of Yates

Editor:

We, the school district superintendents of Orleans County, would like to express our deep thanks and gratitude to Paul Pettit, Orleans County Public Health Director and his wonderful staff since this pandemic began in March 2020.

Our relationship with Paul began on Saturday, March 14, 2020, on a series of Saturday afternoon phone calls, wrestling with the decision of closing our schools on a long-term basis. It was far from an easy decision, but Paul’s counsel and insight provided us with the valuable information we needed to make this important decision.

Paul has been literally available around the clock to answer our calls, take our individual questions, and meet with us each and every week to offer support and guidance. Paul has been a strong advocate for opening up school safely, with a full understanding and appreciation of the value of in-person instruction for our students.

In addition to his availability, Paul and his staff have been instrumental in providing Covid-19 test kits for each school, assisting our districts in securing a license for testing, and most important, providing access to our staff for vaccines for the past 6 weeks, thereby making our schools even safer for all.

As new regulations and guidance continually appear from the state, Paul is always ready, willing, and able to provide his interpretation and support as we seek to implement these for the benefit of our school communities. These include items such as graduation guidelines, athletics, extra-curricular, social distancing, quarantines, travel information, etc!

We look forward to the day when this pandemic is behind us, but in the meantime, we continue to be eternally grateful to Paul and his staff.

Thank you.

Brian Bartalo, Holley Superintendent

Julie Christensen, Kendall Superintendent

Mickey Edwards, Albion Superintendent

Mark Kruzynski, Medina Superintendent

Jason Smith, Lyndonville Superintendent

Editor:

This evening is the final Medina Village Board meeting for Todd Bensley, who served Medina honorably in his role of trustee.

Following a powerful endorsement from my neighbor, I thoroughly enjoyed the book (available locally) that he wrote about Boxwood Cemetery. Alongside his valuable contributions to the village website in the form of detailed walking and driving tours, it is clear how fortunate we are to have Mr. Bensley as our Village Historian.

It is the hope of many of us that his decision not to seek re-election offers him time to work on another excellent book. Thank you, Todd, for your work in Medina.

Jess Marciano

Medina

Photo courtesy of John Beckingham: Garbage and out-of-place objects stick out in the empty Erie Canal.

Editor:

Every time I walk the Erie Canal path this time of year I look into the Canal and say to myself, “It sure would be nice if someone would clean the garbage out of the Canal.”

These tires, garbage cans and traffic cones will eventually turn into micro plastics, travel to the lake and then end up in our food and drinking water!

There’s really no excuse for it.

John Beckingham

Holley