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Editor:

Let’s talk about COs’ safety at our state prisons. Effective yesterday on Feb. 17, Collins Correctional Facility is on strike.

As of today several other facilities, including Albion have joined in the strike. The state calls this illegal and the COs’ union NYSCOPBA states the strike is not sanctioned by the union. Which in itself exacerbates the problems.

Let me start by saying I support the COs 100%. The State has put them at serious risk with new rules, budget restraints and outright ignorance of inmate rights vs. corrections officers’ and staff’s rights.

I’ve had plenty of friends who work both at the Albion and Groveland facilities and you hear horror stories about COs being attacked and not much they can do about it. Now this strike is mostly about mandatory 24-hour shifts. And the COs’ inability to protect themselves while being attacked and the inability to enforce rules with effective punishments.

I’m told that In response to the strike, Hochul and her band of thugs have responded by locking in COs at Groveland for 24 hours (with threats of arrest if they leave) while their brothers are outside the wire striking. Apparently striking is illegal for State workers. News flash Kathy, allowing workers to work in deplorable and impossible conditions is illegal, too.

PESH (government workers equivalent of OSHA) is in charge of workplace safety but guess what, PESH is run by the government, and either has no enforcement power, or refuses to support workers.

Horror stories coming out of Albion and other state run facilities have been shared by COs for years and get worse daily. Neither PESH or NYSCOBPA seem to have the backbone to do anything about it.

Punishment rules have been abolished, enforcement of 24-hour mandatory shifts. COs attacked with little done about it. We have become way too soft on criminals both outside and inside state corrections.

This is just deplorable and something needs to be done. If the state refuses to allow COs to enforce prisoner rules and hold them accountable, if COs cannot defend themselves with at least the same enforcement as the attack they are experiencing, if the Union, and PESH refuse to support their right to work in a safe environment, then what are their options? Illegal or not, this strike should act as an eye opener. Hopefully our bureaucratic leaders are listening.

Mike Clemons

Dansville, former Albion resident

Editor:

Teaching U. S. History and Government for twenty-nine years left me with an appreciation for what the Founding Fathers were risking with the Declaration of Independence and the American Revolution. Added to that was a fair understanding of what they were attempting to achieve later with the Constitution. My guess is that those 16- and 17-year-old high school juniors must have gotten the impression that the federal Constitution was something quite special.

The Founders believed that a republican form of government with strict limits on executive power was possible. Articles 1, 2, and 3 called for three branches of government. Was it mere coincidence that those articles laid out the branches in the order that the Constitution does? Why did the Founders provide so many ways for the executive’s powers to be limited? That executive can even be removed from office peacefully before his, or her, term expires!

Perhaps history and experience told the creators of our representative democracy that an unfettered executive was to be guarded against.

You can be certain that the people who risked their lives to establish our governmental system outlined the branch of government they did in Article One because that branch was to be the first among equals and a cut above the other two.

As citizens of the masterpiece they created in the 18th century, we have a patriotic duty to defend it against all enemies foreign and domestic.

Sincerely yours,

Gary F. Kent

Albion

Editor:

On his first day in office, Trump froze millions of U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Environmental Incentive Program (EQIP) funds that directly affect farmers in Orleans County.

Farmers who joined the EQIP, paid up front to build fences, plant crops and install renewable energy equipment with the Biden guarantee the US government would provide grants and loan guarantees to cover at least part of their costs. Trump has also frozen funding for research grants for climate-smart crops.

Another group of grants to farmers totaling 32 billion authorized under Biden are now vulnerable to being cut. For additional information, I suggest reading “Farmers on the hook for millions after Trump freezes USDA funds” in the 11 Feb 2025 issue of The Spokesman-Review.  The Orleans County Cornell Extension office at (585) 798-4265 and Congresswoman Tenney’s office will have information on the cuts and what future USDA programs are vulnerable.

Jack Capurso

AHS 1960

Ashburn, Va.

Editor:

Our taxes are investments in our nation with Americans being the investors. The caretaker of our tax dollars, the government, owes us accountability and transparency. If companies or businesses did with investor money what the government has done with tax money, they would go to prison.

All federal agencies are being investigated and one by one, the American people will see what we’ve all suspected: fraud, corruption and abuse – a betrayal to the American people. The veneer of a trustworthy government run by the Democrats is cracking and no matter how much they moan and groan, their image has been tarnished beyond repair. Their lamentations are falling on deaf ears as more Americans not only awaken to the truth but are eager to find out more.

Each time another misuse or abuse is revealed, it is step closer to the truth.

Whether it’s FEMA and their outlandish money spent on illegal immigrants (millions) at the expense of Americans; some affected by Hurricane Helene or misappropriation of US funds, US citizens have once again suffered. Those in North Carolina living in tents as opposed to people without a social security number, haven’t paid taxes or are not American citizens being put up in hotels in New York City. What an insult to Americans.

The insane priorities of USAID spending during the Biden administration has put into question not only the need of such expenditures but their value.

Rubio, who was also named the agency’s acting administrator, argued on Fox News USAID has evolved into a “global charity.” This allows it to spend tax dollars “irrespective of whether it is in the national interest or not in the national interest,” he said.

The agency is under scrutiny for abuse and waste, such as: $50 million to fund condoms overseas, $1.5 million to advance DEI in Serbia’s workplaces, $70,000 for the production of a DEI musical in Ireland, $47,000 on a transgender opera in Colombia, $32,000 for a transgender comic in Peru, and $37 million to the World Health Organization.

And let’s look at the extravagant spending going on in the Alps with those wealthy Ukrainians spending millions on luxury ski resorts. Where’s the money coming from? The Ukrainian military is selling  the arms we sent them. Arms are being stolen and sold to our actual enemies.

And the reason this is going on is obvious. There is not a system of checks and balances so efficient tracking and accountability is sacrificed. Instead no one is aware how that money is spent or where it’s actually going; we’re talking billions here.

This lack of follow up with tracking and accountability has played havoc with our tax dollars and has become a reprehensible pattern with no clarity.

Moving on to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Welfare and Disability. There is now evidence of widespread fraud and the magnitude far exceeds the total sum of “every private scam you’ve ever heard by FAR, It’s not even close.”(Elon Musk) Not surprising!

The purge has begun, and without a doubt it is long overdue. I’ve been smelling a rat for some time now, and finally the right exterminator is ridding our nation of corruption, duplicity of funds and fraud. Those pests have been out of control for too long.

I love my country and as this criminality is scourged, I looked forward to a better America.

Mary Mager

Fairport, formerly of Albion

Editor:

To my fellow neighbors, my name is Ed Zelazny and I want to first thank you for showing me the support you have over the last four years. It’s been an absolute pleasure to serve the residents of Shelby, which is why I’m excited to announce my candidacy to run for re-election to the Town Council.

I remember why I decided to run and it still holds true today. Our community deserves real

representation, which reflects our hard work ethic and blue collar roots. We want to elect people who serve the community not themselves. We want people in charge who will make the tough decisions because it’s the right thing to do, not because of self-serving political bosses.

During my first term, I followed that belief and made it a pillar of my service. I am proud to say that at every point, I fought to reduce ridiculous spending and unbalanced

budgets. I was determined to shine a light on the “wild, wild west” spending that raise your taxes and kill our community.

This is why: I never voted for a budget that increased our taxes. I never voted for raising the legal costs. I never voted for back door deals by politicians.

Our work is not over and our community is not safe from establishment politicians. In the coming weeks, we begin the political process once again. Therefore, myself and a team of volunteers will go out and circulate petitions to continue the fight against Town Hall. I kindly appreciate your help in this cause. It starts with just a signature. If you see a petition with my name on it, know that’s the first step to making our community great again!

Thank you for the support, Shelby!

Ed Zelazny

Shelby Town Councilman

Editor:

While it is easy to be distracted by national politics, which are not unimportant conversations, I wanted to share a couple of recent local experiences that have increased my appreciation and love for Albion.

I recently attended a village meeting with several local business owners and village board members. I was encouraged to see a room full of people sharing concerns, solutions, ideas, and hopes in a respectful manner. I felt that the village leadership in attendance was receptive to those who shared and expressed a heartfelt desire to see our community thrive. We all know there are many challenges to building a strong, healthy community, but I was glad to see that there are many people working (often unseen) to make a difference.

As a relative newcomer to Albion (2022) from the North Carolina mountains, I am still adjusting to winter life here. That included getting my front-wheel drive car stuck in our driveway earlier this week when I didn’t clear the snow bank from the plows before leaving (lesson learned). My wife and I tried all kinds of “creative” solutions to freeing our car, which had bottomed out on the snow. When we ran out of ideas, our neighbor, Kolin, appeared with some kitty litter and a shovel. He saw us struggling from down the street and came to help.

Kolin, Rebekah, and I continued to try freeing the car, but to no avail. That’s when Donald appeared. We haven’t gotten to know each other well, but I see him working hard outside all the time around the village. As soon as he walked up, two DPW dump trucks parked on the other side of the street behind my car. Suddenly, several DPW workers, Donald, and Kolin literally lifted the back of my car and pushed it free!

That situation brought to mind the famous saying, “It takes a village.” I wanted to publicly thank my neighbors and those DPW guys who helped my family out without expecting anything in return. If we can all be those kind of neighbors to each other, I believe great things will happen in Albion.

Ben Curfman

Pastor of Canalside Community Church in Albion

Editor:

Trump has effectively changed the world already.

In his first three weeks in office, Trump has ended the collective suicidal policies of Bill Clinton, George Bush, Obama and the last guy before him.

There are those who oppose Donald Trump. They are like the dinosaurs of the past, a force of regression. They are like dying stars, whose brightness we see but who died a long time ago.

How much corruption and government waste has been revealed but yet some refuse to see?  What a great time to be alive.

Ed Steuber

Erwin, Tennessee (former Albion resident)

Editor:

The Constitution divides the government authority between the three branches of the government: legislative, executive and judicial.

The legislative branch has the power of the purse: “Article I, Section 9, Clause 7: No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and a regular Statement and Account of the Receipts and Expenditures of all public Money shall be published from time to time.”

The executive branch is tasked with faithfully enforcing laws passed by Congress. The executive branch does not have the authority to impound funds approved by Congress and it does not have the authority to disburse funds not appropriated by Congress.

Offering government employees a buyout with monies not appropriated by Congress is a usurpation of power by the executive branch. Closing governmental agencies, such as U.S.A.I.D., that have been supported and funded by both Democratic and Republican Congresses without Congressional approval, (even if supported by Russian propaganda, such as U.S.A.I.D. funds supported Politico and other statements of propagation regardless of who states it or how many times it is stated, it emanated from Russia and is Russian propagation), violates the separation of powers detailed in the Constitution.

While you can argue that the government spends too much money or is wasteful, the Constitutional way to choose which programs get monies or which programs to close is through the Congress – the people’s house. Having an unelected body, not accountable to the American people, with authority to close programs, or decide which programs to fund, totally bypassing Congress and making Congress useless.

That is how authoritarians govern, that is how dictators rule; that is not how the U.S. government is set up and it violates the oath of office taken by our elected leaders to uphold the Constitution.

William Fine

Brockport

Editor:

A prior opinion letter regarding cut back recommendations in USAID failed to point out important facts which rendered this recommendation.

This independent agency has been indirectly funding his political party with US taxpayer dollars. Also, international diversity projects don’t provide one loaf of bread to those in need.

I have to ask the writer is Politico a food provider or a mouth piece for the Democratic Party? Why did Politico receive 8 million dollars from USAID? Time to clear the wasteful spending and redirect this agency to the original mission it was established for.

Edward Urbanik

Lyndonville

Editor:

Please explain: the richest man in the world has scanned the Federal Government and found the most wasteful agency is feeding the poor overseas.

Instant closure and thousands of American workers stranded abroad. I am sure that Elon Musk (an immigrant, by the way) could have found cuts in the enormous contracts he has with the USA.

Is this how a “pro-Life” party will govern?

Gerard M. Morrisey

East Gaines

Editor:

Ms. Jones, in her letter of 29 January, asks good questions about the impact of the data centers at the STAMP site.

One important item I did not see in her letter was the amount of money the data centers would generate in taxes very year. In Loudoun County Va., where I live, our data centers provide millions in taxes each year.

I am not, repeat not, suggesting Orleans County open itself up to a large number of these data centers, only that any arrangement between local government and the data centers, even for only two data centers, must include a contract that details how much taxes they will pay each year.

That would be a reasonable question to ask at the Feb. 3 meetings.

Jack Capurso

Albion High School Class of 1960

Ashburn, Va.

Editor:

It’s time for the citizens of Orleans County to get answers regarding the “pause” at Martin-Linsen Residence that has not changed since September. Someone has to have an answer.

The facility had a waiting list of referrals for several years and suddenly that stopped. What happened? Poor management, too much highly paid staff, wrong billing procedures so there was lack of reimbursement?

Many of us contributed toward building this facility. I know services are still provided in the home setting but as a retired health care worker, many times patients need more than a few hours in the home setting and need 24-hour care in a facility.

In September two individuals asked for answers and none were given. Someone has to know what is going on.

Now Hospice is promoting the sale of spring bouquets. Where will this money be spent? Keeping lights and heat on in an empty building? Paying a person to answer the phone?

Please give us a reasonable answer.  This is a beautiful facility and should not be left empty.

Jeanne Crane

Carlton