Editor:

Why would law enforcement do a high-speed chase from Batavia thru Elba and Barre for a robbery of some clothing from Kohl’s?

Surely they could of gotten enough info from the car and then backed off instead of chasing it through all of these towns and risking hurting someone. I had a sheriff’s deputy run a stop sign and pull out in front of me and this is not the first time this has happened.

Loria Nottingham

Albion

Editor:

For too long the villages of Orleans County have ignored the need to reinvent themselves. The fact that some villages need $18/$1000 tax rates to balance the books is an indicator that the current boundaries that we use to provide services no longer match up well to the tax base. The high village tax rates have severely depressed property values. It no longer makes economic sense to either build a new home or significantly renovate an existing home inside a village. The cost to do so would exceed what you would recoup when the property is sold.

Homes in the villages have been torn down without being replaced. New construction in the villages is mostly limited to: tax exempt organizations, businesses where a central location is important, and government subsidized projects. Homes are being rented out until falling into disrepair and then abandoned. Villages have no future if this continues.

There is one realistic path forward that leads to thriving villages: consolidation of basic services with that of the towns and county. The villages need to get out of policing, fire protection, water and highway services. These days nearly all of those services are common throughout the county and can be provided more efficiently and fairly through a smaller number of consolidated departments that everyone pays the same tax rate for.

Villages could instead focus on those services that are unique to villages: street lighting, neighborhood parks, brush pickup, sidewalk plowing, and the like. Village tax rates could be more in the neighborhood of $4 per thousand instead of $18 per thousand. Property values would increase inside the villages as more people are willing to move in.

Orleans County is in the same boat as most other rural counties – population is decreasing. We can no longer afford duplication and waste. By making our local governments as efficient as possible we will best position ourselves for whatever the future holds.

Jason Dragon

Village of Albion

Editor:

I was happy to see your November 15th article about the Village of Holley seeking grant funding to assist in the rehabilitation of the old Holley High School.

I have long hoped that this building would be transformed into something that would be an asset to Holley. The plans for Holley Gardens apartments and new Village offices are a great solution to what is currently a detriment to the Village.

I have toured another previously dilapidated building, the old Eastman Dental Dispensary, which was transformed by the same developer into a beautiful apartment building. I hope to see another such transformation take place in Holley.

Perhaps readers didn’t take note of the request for letters of support for RESTORE NY funding. When seeking grant funding, showing local support is vital and the way to do this is by including many letters of support with the grant application. I urge everyone to write to Mayor Brian Sorochty and express support for this funding. It is helpful if you include why the building is important to you and your hopes for its future.

I applaud the Village for pursuing a solution to the old Holley High School and urge local residents to add their voice by sending letters to the Mayor.

Sincerely,

Erin Anheier

Clarendon

Editor:

In the letter from Yates Town Supervisor Jim Simon regarding the Renewables Roundtable, he objected to his input and the perspective of rural upstate residents being disregarded in a released publication.

A careful reader also sees that Mr. Simon did not reject renewable energy; what he actually wrote was “Finally, who should decide how each New York town will contribute to a more sustainable future? If your answer is the wind turbine companies and the leaseholders, then you invite division, acrimony and toxicity, and you underestimate the power of subsidiarity, home rule and — most importantly — the people.”

In other words, all upstate rural residents deserve to decide through Home Rule. We are all for renewable energy. Lighthouse Wind is the wrong project for our two communities.

Christine Bronson

Councilwoman

Town of Somerset

Editor:

The Trump tax plan is the biggest fleece job in history. The CBO says it will  increase the deficits about $1.5 trillion. But it’s without any offsetting benefits for you or me!  Let me explain.

When I was a young man the Republican Party focused on cost, good management, and damage to the deficit. But back then there was also a far right extremist group funded by the Koch family called the “John Birch Society.” Taxes, government, one world government (whatever that is) and fluoride for starters were all communist plots. It even pushed the notion that President Eisenhower was a “traitor” and that both his Presidency and, later, the Vietnam War were part of a “communist conspiracy to undermine the United States”.

Over the years the Koch family money among others swung away from the Birchers and into Republican coffers. Blind adherence to some of the Bircher’s tenants followed the money.  The test regarding taxes came when President Reagan cut taxes.

The US floated extra debt due to the cuts but investment boot-strapped the US (and the World) out of the then economic doldrums we had settled into after Vietnam. Those tax cuts went into investment and not people’s pockets!

But unfortunately people have forgotten that at that time our tax code made it profitable to invest the tax savings into capital investment – into jobs and industries which Congress believed would either promote jobs or promote the long-term national interest. In fact, those tax cuts went into investment and not people’s pockets! It’s an important lesson.

Things are different now. Money from tax cuts has not been directed into investment since Reagan and not one tax cut has worked since then. Some economists think that the Reagan cuts were a one off in that the stimulus outweighed the harm to the deficit. What we know it that investment is what fuels job growth and wages.

Tax cuts at the national level without changes in program management only ends up pushing costs onto municipalities which in turn have to raise property taxes to cover the shortfall.  Tax cuts by themselves do not make government more efficient.  But tax cuts make those who invest in financial instruments richer.

Currently corporate American admits that these tax cuts will not result in greater investment. Why should they when the money they do not put into investments will increase their stocks trading price and go into their personal investment portfolios and stock incentive programs.

This proposed tax cut comes at a time when our nation’s deficit is currently projected to hit 100% of the entire country’s annual income in just a few years. That is where faltering Italy is now and not far behind bankrupt Greece.

When elected officials, including our own Representative Collins, say they “all” will be “out” if the cut does not go through, the response should be “That is price you pay for putting big business and big donors interest over those who you represent.”  This swindle is simply “A Bridge Too Far.”

Conrad F. Cropsey

Albion

Editor:

The conspiracy theories continue to escalate in Jim Simon’s recent letter to the editor. Now, it’s not just Lighthouse Wind but all the Renewables on the Ground participants that “invite division, acrimony and toxicity.”

From what I have read, the Roundtable involved a diverse group of stakeholders including NY towns, environmental groups, state agencies, and energy developers. They worked together for close to a year ensuring all opinions were considered as they discussed how to responsibly achieve New York’s exciting renewable energy goals.

The final report is online and I encourage folks to check it out if they are interested. There was a huge focus on consensus building, including the hiring of staff from the Consensus Building Institute.

There is no consensus building with Jim Simon, John Riggi and SOS. They want their way, and if they cannot get it, they create the illusion of conspiracy or wrongdoing. Mr. Simon refusing to participate in a responsible manner reflects very poorly on the town of Yates. Perhaps he and others should make more efforts toward consensus building rather than hurling insults?

Harvey Campbell

Lyndonville

Editor:

We wish to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of the people who supported us in our write-in campaign during the November election.

Thank you for greeting us at your doors and talking with us.  Thank you for letting us know how you feel. Most of all, thank you for taking the time to go out and vote.

We know write-in voting can be confusing and we thank you for persevering and coming out to support us. We wanted to make a difference for you and we hope we still can in some small way.

Congratulations to our opponents, whom we feel will do their best to serve the needs of all Town residents.

Again, thank you,

Wendi Pencille and Gerry Zinkievich

Shelby

Editor:

Thank you more than I can say to all those who showed me such support during my long campaign season.

Thank you to the Orleans County Conservative Party for your endorsement, to each of you who signed petitions, allowed me to use your lawns for signs, those who made donations, shared Facebook messages, placed door hangers, addressed mailers, and the many who have taken the time to encourage and pray for me, and of course for your votes!

Your support and care have overwhelmed and delighted me and I am grateful for the opportunity to continue my service.

Warmest Regards,

Amy Richardson

Kendall Town Clerk

Editor:

Everyone who knows me knows I have always been someone who cares about the earth and how we leave it for our future generations.

The battle cry of the anti-turbine folks is, “No one would want the turbines unless they are getting money as a lease holder.”

I stood up at the Town Board meeting and said, “I support the turbines and I will not be getting any lease money. I support them because I love my grandchildren and want to ensure them a livable earth.”

On her way out of the meeting one of the women who usually speaks out against the turbines every meeting said to me, “If you really loved your grandchildren you wouldn’t be for the turbines.”

How dare she!

I want to know what anyone on the other side of this issue and our Town Board is doing for the future of this town or our earth for the benefit our children and grandchildren.

Almost every one of the people who stands up to speak against the turbines at OUR town meetings are not from OUR town!

The turbines will be good for our town. They will bring in money that can be used for tax relief or infrastructure improvements so that we can be capable of drawing new businesses here.

The same people speaking out against the turbines made the statement, “We don’t care how much taxes go up as long as we don’t have turbines.”

I don’t know about everyone else in Yates, but I know I do care how much taxes go up. Especially when there is nothing here in the first place. We need something here so our children and grandchildren won’t have to move away to make a living.

Investments into our schools will benefit all of our children.

When you add to that the positive impact Wind Power has in reducing our dependence on fossil fuels, the reduction in air pollution caused by burning fossil fuels and the security issues caused by our dependence on foreign sources for that fossil fuel, the turbines are a win/win situation!

I am fighting for these wind turbines to come here because I love my earth, I love my town and, yes, I do love my children and grandchildren!

Susan Campbell

Lyndonville

Editor:

Orleans County residents—including those who live in Yates—should be thankful that Jim Simon and John Riggi have shown such unselfish commitment to promoting the best interests of the residents of their town. They are doing their best to educate their neighbors regarding the Siren song of wind energy development in a County as richly endowed with lush wildlife habitat as ours.

I recall when researchers from the Nature Conservancy described migrating warblers “dripping from the trees” in Lakeside Park just a few years ago. Bernie Daniels, the President of the North American Bluebird Society, told me about a month ago that the only place he had ever seen a gallinule (such as the one found on our road and sent to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology a few months ago) was in Costa Rica! He asked me to affirm three times in a half hour conversation where I lived (on the Atlantic Flyway)!

Some will fault any democrat for taking issue with the Governor by opposing wind energy development in Orleans. But, as someone who is tired of seeing the County’s assets frittered away by those in power locally, I am unequivocally opposed to clearing hardwood woodlots for the purpose of siting wind turbines. Having gone through this when, as I recall, Jack Gilman was Kendall Town Supervisor, I have concluded that is inevitably what will too often happen due to wind turbine setback requirements.

As Dr. Richard Perez from S.U.N.Y. Albany told us last summer, the future is in energy generated by increasingly more efficient solar panels. According to Dr. Perez, the Chinese get it, even if many here do not. In the not too distant future, wind turbines will be regarded as the energy equivalent of dinosaurs better suited to moonscape environments than one that is as rich as that of a County such as Orleans.

But, make no mistake. For some, the “joke” will be on the vast majority of Orleans residents. Sound familiar?

Quite sincerely yours,

Gary Kent

Town of Albion

Editor:

Jim Simon’s latest letter to the Orleans Hub shows his juvenile way of looking at things. When the results aren’t what he wants, he quits. The Renewables on the Ground Roundtable is just one example.

He and John Riggi also both abstained from voting recently on Apex’s final met tower. Apex bent over backwards to cooperatively work with the town’s requests over the past year and a half, and they can’t even vote!?

And, as to Riggi’s latest Letter to the Editor…There are those of us that see Simon and Riggi and members of SOS as the greedy ones. There are those of us that are grateful for this opportunity to better our community, to bring development, revenue and infrastructure to our hometown that is dying.

John Riggi, you may have your view that Apex “pretends” to care about the community, but what have either of you done to bring new development here? Why would you criticize a company that is allowing children and their families a free meal at soccer games, presents on Christmas morning, food for the needy…not to even mention the substantial revenue a potential wind project could bring to our town and school system, both of which could desperately use it?!

Just because you don’t want to look at them!  Now who is being greedy?!

Lighthouse Wind supporters include leaseholders and others who care about the town’s prosperity and future. The Town of Yates needs to remain open minded and embrace opportunity before it is too late.

Linda Fisk

Lyndonville

Editor:

After having some time to let the election results sink in, I would like to take this opportunity to thank so many! I appreciate all the votes from the residents. It wasn’t the outcome I hoped for, but I gave 100 percent. I ran a clean campaign, with honesty and a whole lot of dignity.

I would like to thank all the babysitters who watched the boys in my absence, it definitely was hard to be away from them. I would also like to thank Patty Woodworth, Cheryl Tuttle, Ann Bunch, Patty and Lance Mark, Maureen Blackburn, Dave Sevenski, Mark Traxler and all the Ridgeway workers who supported me with endorsement letters.

Special thanks to my parents who helped and gave encouragement and family and friends who helped in every other way possible. The 4-H Fair, Meet and Greet, signs, literature, t-shirts, signatures and door to door would have never been possible without family and friends.

Lastly, I would like to thank “my person” Julie Cecchini who gave 100 percent of her time with tireless dedication. She managed to work full time, care for family, go door to door, and still bring new ideas to the table. I’m so glad for our friendship.  Cecchini Family, thank you for giving up your wife and Mom for all those weeks. Thanks again everyone and I apologize if I’ve forgotten anyone.

Tara L. Albone White

Ridgeway

Editor:

There is a simple answer to Governor Cuomo concern over the impact of New York taxpayers with the GOP Tax Plan. Reduce your spending.

Why should New York’s budget be $70 billion more than Texas or Florida? Both states are larger in size and population. Divide that number by 236,000 New York taxpayers and see how much we could save.

Tax exempt private activity bonds will be less attractive with a reduction in the corporate and individual tax rates being proposed. These bonds will still be in demand, the effective rate may not be as attractive. Our Governor just doesn’t get it.

Corporations are leaving the United States operating in countries which have a reduced tax burden. The same reason New York state is losing population to states which don’t overtax their residents. Our youth are leaving this state an alarming rate because the jobs are not here.

Reducing the tax burden will free up capital to expand business in the states. His corporate job growth plans include the Riverbend project which has produced how may new jobs?

Ed Urbanik

Lyndonville

Editor:

What more does APEX need to know?!?

They are not wanted in our town and if they are as community conscious as they say, they should leave.  But they haven’t left. What does that tell you about APEX? I can let you know what it tells me.

It tells me that after:

• all of APEX’s exhortations that they will not stay where they’re not wanted,

• all of the surveys, statements of opposition and multiple election cycles reinforcing opposition at the ballot box,

• all of the multiple invitations and attempts to convince the APEX Clean Energy Principals, Mr. Sandy Reisky, Mr. Mark Goodwin, Mr. Jim Trousdale and Mr. Steve Vavrik to visit our town and discuss our concerns, were utterly and completely rebuffed,

• Governor Cuomo gave all of New York State 30-mile turbine setbacks,

• Lieutenant Governor Hochul went on the record stating that we must protect our Defense bases from encroachment of all kinds,

• Department of Public Service Chief Counsel Paul Agresta admonished Industrial Wind developers in New York that their “get the deal done at any cost” modus operandi was not winning them friends in Upstate New York or Albany,

• the same Mr. Paul Agresta, exhorted those same developers to “Go where you’re wanted”,

• New York State Department of Public Service Commissioner John Rhodes responded when questioned about Article 10 ripping home rule from the people:  “Not under this governor are we going to force people in a police state mode to do anything.”

APEX still darkens our doorstep!

Why do they still darken our doorstep? My personal view is that, even though they pretend to care about our community via:

• free hot dogs and milk after youth sports events,

• attempts (sometimes successful, unfortunately) to give money to local churches, schools and private organizations,

• holding parties for only their few friends and paid leaseholders,

Apex does not give one rat’s behind for the towns of Yates and Somerset or any of the 5,000 or so souls whose lives would be negatively and forever altered via planting of their massive industrial machines in our soil!

They only care about the money they can siphon from our pockets via State and Federal Production Tax Credits.

Let’s not fool ourselves, APEX (Lighthouse Wind) is and always has been synonymous with the Robber Barons of old.

Robber Baron turbine purveyors forcing projects into inappropriate locations and down the throats of residents who, for a myriad of reasons, don’t want them!!!

APEX, you need to distance yourselves from Lighthouse Wind and the Towns of Yates and Somerset. It’s bad for your business. You have enough egg on your corporate face and frankly you are embarrassing yourselves. Get out while you still have some semblance of corporate respect.  Lord knows, you never had any goodwill with the people, except for those you are paying to like you.

Thank you,

John B. Riggi

Councilman, Town of Yates

Editor:

I read the congratulatory letter by Jeanne Crane, chairperson of the Orleans County Democrats, to the winning Republican-backed candidates and she seemed almost wistful in the hope of Democrats one day being in the majority. I hope not.

In endorsing candidates for various offices in the county and towns, I read nothing about what the Democrats wanted to accomplish if they were elected. Now, from the county down to the villages, my view is that the governments have specific duties and responsibilities to the taxpayers and that they spend that money wisely. What would the Democrats do differently than that?

If one follows national politics, we have two major private parties with vastly different ideologies vying for control of the Federal government. We read about turning states and counties red or blue which is determined by the leanings of the members of those parties and eventually to control by Republicans or Democrats.

Trouble is, neither party is adhering to the United States Constitution. Both parties are travelling the road as Progressives ever since Teddy Roosevelt took the reins of power. Progressivism is not in the Constitution. Progressives do not like the individual liberties and freedoms espoused by that document.

We live in a blue state, not likely to go red. Because of the policies and taxation of the Democrats, people will continue to leave the state. New York State recently fell to fourth in population behind Florida, what state will be next? Being blue means paying more for Medicaid and other social programs. Cuomo is bleeding us dry.

So I would rather the county be red. I cannot take any more hope and change.

Jim Tuk

Lyndonville