Editor:

In the past decade, over one million New Yorkers have fled to other states in search of lower taxes and a greater opportunity to achieve the American Dream. As a lifelong Western New Yorker, I want all of us to be able to afford to stay here with our families and loved ones in the communities we call home. But that dream is becoming harder and harder to achieve, and, I am sorry to report, this state budget will only put that dream further out of reach.

This downstate focused budget is a complete disaster, and I want you to know that I stood up for the people of Western New York and voted “no” on the budget and “no” on a 40 percent raise for the Governor.

At a whopping $175 billion, this budget breaks down to almost $10,000 per New Yorker. It was crafted by three downstate leaders behind closed doors and unveiled at the very last minute on a Sunday to lawmakers and citizens alike. No openness, no transparency, and the final package included substantial policy matters that have no business being in a fiscal budget discussion. And that debate occurred in the middle of the night under complete darkness.

This budget will continue to reverberate across the state and affect New Yorkers for decades. It raises state debt to $57 billion and implements $4 billion in new taxes that will hurt New Yorkers every day. Taxes on recyclable paper bags will make grocery shopping more difficult. Taxes on renting cars were doubled. Taxes will go up on internet purchases, and taxes will increase when you sell your home. The list goes on and on.

On top of all this, the governor forced through changes to the STAR property tax relief program to freeze the potential growth of your exemption to 0 percent. This is to encourage more New Yorkers to switch to the system utilizing a personal income tax credit; however, the new income eligibility to qualify for this program is slashed in half. This is going to cause widespread confusion with every homeowner across the state, particularly seniors who are receiving exemptions on Enhanced STAR. This action was unnecessary and is another example of how downstate leaders in Albany do not care about the taxpayers of upstate or Western New York.

Priorities matter in budgets whether in government, for your home or business. That’s why I advocate strongly for real investments in our upstate communities, especially in our education system, infrastructure and libraries. Unfortunately, this budget shortchanged these critical investments and actually froze the Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS) funding yet again, slashed Extreme Winter Recovery money by $65 million (which is used by local municipalities to fix pot holes and roads after the winter season), and reduced library construction aid by $20 million.

It also reduced Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) funding for college students by $23 million. While leaving upstate priorities in the dust, the downstate driven majority added billions of dollars for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), funded the DREAM Act (which provides free college tuition to illegal undocumented immigrants) and spent millions of dollars on pet projects in New York City.

As you can clearly see, this budget is bad in so many ways, and I am proud to say I voted against it. However, I would like to point out two key items that are buried in the several thousand-page budget that I strongly advocated for and am pleased were included in the final budget: making the 2 percent property tax cap permanent and restoring funding for the Joseph P. Dwyer Veterans Peer Support Programs in Erie, Niagara and Orleans counties.

Still, the cuts to upstate roads and bridges, reductions to libraries, and the overall continuation of Albany’s secretive and dysfunctional “tax-and-spend” mentality made it easy to vote no on this downstate driven budget on behalf of the hardworking families of Western New York.

Michael Norris

Lockport

Norris represents the 144th Assembly District comprised of portions of Erie, Niagara and Orleans counties.

Editor:

The New York League of Conservation Voters now joins the Sierra Club in their condescending call for speeding up the process for large-scale wind and solar projects in order to meet Governor Cuomo’s unrealistic and politically contrived renewable energy goals for New York State.

The title of their latest propaganda report, “Breaking Down the Barriers to Siting Renewable Energy in New York State,” says it all. Rural, upstate NY towns should beware and take careful notice. The “barriers” that these Albany and NYC urban elitists insist to be broken down are the very planning and zoning safeguards that are lawfully and democratically put in place through our comprehensive plans and our local laws intended to reflect the will and desires of our communities but also to dutifully fulfill our obligations to protect the health, safety and welfare of our communities.

The NYLCV joins a growing list of “environmental” and “conservation” groups that are overwhelmingly centered in urban centers like NYC and Albany who arrogantly believe that they know better than rural New Yorkers how best to help build a more sustainable future. This latest “report” claims that if only rural upstate New Yorkers were more educated, then we would understand that industrial-scale wind and solar are the only answers to climate change challenges. How nice it is for these organizations to have so much to preach to upstate rural communities from the comforts of their urban ivory towers that will never be impacted by large-scale industrial encroachment.

A case in point is Apex Clean Energy’s Lighthouse Industrial Wind proposal for the towns of Somerset and Yates which is a blatant attempt to usurp home rule. Both towns, through diligent research of peer-reviewed scientific journals, extensive planning committee meetings and multi-year consultations with a diverse array of local and national experts have duly enacted local laws designed to preserve the rural characteristics our constituents value most.

The NYLCV, the Sierra Club, Apex Clean Energy, and any other group bent on telling rural NY towns what to do, would do well to remember that NY is a home rule state. Using terms like “speeding up the process” and “breaking down barriers” is not going to fool upstate rural towns who know when their home rule rights are under assault. Demanding that the state’s Article 10 proceedings should overrule local laws is elitist and dictatorial. All NY municipalities retain the authority to, “…adopt and amend local laws…,” for the, “protection and enhancement of its physical and visual environment…,” and the, “government, protection, order, conduct, safety, health and well-being of persons or property therein.” (NYS Constitution, Article 2)

In the recent Cassadaga Wind Siting Board decision, PSC Chairman John B. Rhodes unequivocally stated, “I find it noteworthy and positive, that the project is consistent with all local laws and ordinances.” Chairman Rhodes stated that efforts to increase renewable energy in New York State must, “…protect and accommodate the concerns of local communities.” NYLCV, Sierra Club, Apex – did you hear Chairman Rhodes?

Governor Cuomo was clearly paying attention to the overwhelming opposition of wealthy Long Islanders when he said in his January 10, 2017, State of the State address, “I’m calling on LIPA [Long Island Power Authority] to approve a 90-megawatt wind farm. They will not be visible from the beach. They will be 30 miles southeast of Montauk. Not even Superman standing on Montauk Point could see these wind farms.”  Governor Cuomo, will you pay attention to the concerns of upstate rural communities?

Daniel M. Engert, Supervisor – Town of Somerset, NY

James J. Simon, Supervisor – Town of Yates, NY

Editor:

On March 20, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. someone held what they would like to call a focus group at the Clarendon fire hall complex. The company that officiated was called RMS, also known as Research & Marketing Strategies from Baldwinsville, NY.

In attendance  also were representatives from New York State Energy and Research Development Authority, also known as NYSERDA, a film crew and 6 residents of Barre. Feedback from the so-called focus group went something like this: introductions, presentation and then questions were fielded. All questions asked involved the Heritage Wind project proposed for Barre. But few if any important questions from the participants were answered.

They instead were directed to visit the Apex/Heritage Wind LLC office in Albion. Questions included: Is there asbestos in wind turbines? What about the rare earth magnets contained in turbines that are polluting vast areas of Chinese communities via their production? How about fire suppression in turbines? None of these very important questions and many more were ever answered.

When one participant expressed her discomfort with the filming, she was told that Apex wind was the only one who would see the video. At the completion of the so-called focus group the participants were given unmarked envelopes, each containing $150.

If that’s not enough Feb. 28 from the hours of 7 to 8:30 pm. Apex/Heritage Wind LLC held another dog and pony show at the Albion Middle School. At the event, which they called a forum, people were not allowed to ask questions from the floor as the presentation progressed. Instead they were required to write their questions on 5×7 index cards so Heritage Wind could choose which questions the so-called panel of experts would answer.

Apex/Heritage Wind, in order to try and breath any degree of credibility back into your project, I believe several things are needed. Firstly let’s have all of your so-called experts (well before an event) disclose all college degrees and certificates that qualify them to be called experts in any of the fields your particular event at that time will cover. To alleviate any confusion , the definition of qualify is to become officially recognized as a practitioner of a particular profession or activity by satisfying the relevant conditions or requirements – typically by undertaking a course of study and passing examinations.

In closing, I would like Apex/Heritage Wind to please post in advance all qualifications of each person you call an expert well in advance of an event. Please include college degrees in their field, what college they attended and what years they attended, so all of us can fact check.

John Metzler

Barre

Editor:

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, so on behalf of the Cancer Services Program of Genesee, Orleans, Wyoming and Niagara County, I’d like to share some valuable information and clear up a few myths about colon cancer.

All men and women ages 50 to 75 years old should be screened regularly for colorectal cancer (also known as colon cancer). Colon cancer is preventable through screening and is highly curable if found early. Despite this, it is still the second leading cause of cancer-related death in men and women in New York State.

Why? Because many people avoid getting screened or don’t have the information they need to make this potentially life-saving decision.

Some people believe that if they don’t have a family history of colon cancer, screening isn’t needed. This is not true. Most people diagnosed with colon cancer do not have a family history.

Others think that screening is only needed if they have symptoms such as blood in their stool. However, many cases of colorectal cancer are diagnosed in people who do not have symptoms, which is why getting tested is so important.

Another misunderstanding is that the tests are painful and the preparation is unpleasant. The truth is there are several tests to choose from, including stool-based tests that are easy, painless, and can be done at home.

Many people think that screening is expensive. Not so. Health insurance plans in New York State are required to cover colon cancer screening. And for those who are uninsured, our program provides free screening to men and women age 50 and older.

So, why take a chance with colon cancer? Ask your doctor if it’s time for you to be tested, or you can contact our program for help or information.

Jessica Downey

Health Education & Community Outreach

Cancer Services Program of GOWN

Editor:

The Holley-Kendall wrestling team and coaching staff would like to thank the many people and organizations that helped organize and contributed to the growth and success of the Holley-Kendall Wrestling program throughout the wrestling season.

Several events were conducted and without their help, assistance and support, these events would not have been successful. The following events took place where many volunteers were needed: Holley-Kendall Wrestling Tournament, Youth Wrestling Club, Junior Wrestling Club, Gold Force Wrestling Club Open Mats, and the Holley-Kendall Wrestling Banquet.

All your contributions, generosity, assistance and efforts did not go unnoticed.  Your loyalty and dedication to the wrestling program is the main reason why programs and student athletes achieve success.

Thank you once again!

Sincerely,

John J. Grillo

Head Wrestling Coach

Editor:

When it comes to carving away at Second Amendment rights in Albany, there is always a multitude of consequences that, unfortunately, are often not considered by my colleagues on the other side of the aisle who introduce these measures. That is certainly the case for legislation that would prohibit firearms from being awarded as prizes in charity raffles.

Currently, if a gun is included as a prize in a charity raffle, the raffle must adhere to the same safeguards and legal requirements of any gun purchase or transfer of ownership. In fact, here in Western New York some raffles bring an on-site dealer who is capable of providing the legally-required background checks before any guns are awarded. The system is safe.

These types of raffles help support not-for-profit charities, like conservation clubs or veterans posts, which do so much good in our entire community. They bring awareness of the organization to the community-at-large, encourage membership, and support the organization’s projects – projects like new park benches, playgrounds, and much more.

Furthermore, these raffles support those that keep us safe, like volunteer fire companies. As a strong supporter of our volunteer firefighters, I can tell you how hard they work night and day to protect our loved ones and property. As volunteers, they save taxpayers millions of dollars annually. Yet, on top of volunteering their time, energy and often their own money on training, gear, recruitment, community events, fire prevention education, emergency response, and manning the station in the event of a fire, they must still find the time and effort to fundraise in order to keep the fire stations in order and up to code.

This legislation would negatively impact so many community organizations, but it would have a devastating effect on our volunteer fire companies. Please know that should this bill come to a vote, I will vote against it and continue to advocate for measures to support the people who volunteer to make our community a better, safer and happier place to call home.

State Assemblyman Michael Norris

Lockport

(Norris represents the 144th Assembly District which includes portions of Erie, Niagara and Orleans counties.)

Editor:

The residents of Barre need to know that Heritage Wind, AKA, Apex, would like the town of Barre to agree to a PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) program.

This is unsettling because a PILOT program is only supposed to be offered to a company when their project brings new, permanent jobs. But to the best of our knowledge, Industrial Wind Turbines operate autonomously and do *not* create any permanent jobs.

So how can a PILOT program be legal for this situation?

And even if it were legal, which it isn’t, it isn’t the best deal for Barre anyway. The county, the schools and the fire department would all get a cut of the PILOT funds before Barre, where the turbines are actually being built, would get anything.

Furthermore, Mr. Editor, common sense dictates that if Payment In Lieu of Taxes were more expensive than being taxed, then they would just accept the taxes. So the obvious result of a PILOT program this is that *less* money is being divided up amongst *more* parties.

But if the windmills are properly taxed, then the situation changes. Tax funds would go to the town where the turbines are actually put up. If the town is taking in tax revenue from the turbines, then they won’t need so much tax revenue from the people. Simple, isn’t it?

Any turbines built in the Town of Barre should be working *for* the Town of Barre.

Sincerely,

Webster Tilton,

Spokesman, Citizens for a Better Barre

Editor:

For some reason – history, fate, God – we were entrusted with a flag celebrating the courageous contributions of Black citizens against traitors and tyrants.

The only justification to abandon this duty would be if we could find a place where more people can appreciate the bravery and message it carries.

Short of that there are no good reasons for cutting and running from our responsibility that are not shameful.

Conrad F. Cropsey

Albion

Editor:

I wish I had known about the Civil War flag at the Hoag Library before this week. As a history enthusiast and trustee of the Orleans Historical Association, I would have worked toward an effort to retain it locally. I was very disappointed to learn the trustees of Hoag Library in Albion voted 5-0 to sell this Orleans County artifact.

This flag was carried by the 26th Regiment United States Colored Troops. Somehow it was placed in the Roswell Burroughs building which later became the Swan Library. There is evidence that a local Civil War soldier, Charles H. Mattison of Barre, may have been responsible for the flag’s eventual storage at the old Swan Library in Albion.

I am no stranger to the cost of historical preservation and restoration, having been fortunate to have had the support of local history devotees as we preserved and restored the oldest cobblestone building in Orleans County, namely the Gaines District #2 Schoolhouse on Gaines Basin Road. There are local experts who know how to apply for preservation grants. They are more than willing to share their knowledge and provide guidance. We have tapped them for the cobblestone schoolhouse project.

I understand Hoag Library tried to get some other places outside of the area to take responsibility for it, to no avail. Unfortunately, they did the short-sited, conservative, easy thing and voted to sell it. As trustee Linda Weller asked, “Is it the library’s job to pay the money to have it restored?” My response to this question is pure and simple: “This is how we lose our history. This is why we destroy rather than preserve and educate.”

We are caught up in the short-sighted philosophy that money outweighs all. And once again, Albion and Orleans County loses a part of its past that has remained in the library’s care for over 100 years. And it’s my understanding, Hoag Library doesn’t need the money!

Roswell Burroughs, the builder and owner of the building that became the old Swan Library (where the flag was found) once gave a wonderful oratory in Albion commemorating the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and its devastating impact on Orleans County and Albion. Could this flag have been linked to him? He still owned the building when Lincoln died. Could this flag have been a gift?

Orleans County Historian Matt Ballard and Civil War enthusiast Tom Tabor have done some work researching this flag, and more can be done. Rather than ask short-sited questions like “why spend the money,” we should be asking “what are we giving up.” I understand that if the flag doesn’t fetch $10k or more, we can get it back.

Al Capurso

Gaines

Editor:

Involvement of families and representatives of residents in nursing homes is imperative. As the Family  Council for the Villages of Orleans Health & Rehabilitation Center, we unite to communicate concerns to the facility administrators to work for resolutions and improvements.

Federal law and regulations provide families and representatives of residents powerful rights relating to a family council. These regulations apply to all nursing homes that receive Medicare and/or Medicaid funds.

One of our objectives as a Family Council is to educate  families and representatives of their rights. One of the first steps regarding the Family Council is whenever a new resident is admitted to a facility, the facility must inform them if a Family Council exists and information on place, time and contact information.

Families and representatives of a resident have the right to meet with the families of other residents in the facility. When a family group exists, the facility must listen to the views and act upon the grievances and recommendations of residents and families concerning proposed policy and operational decisions affecting resident care and life in the facility.

In order for positive change to happen for our residents, we must advocate for them. On April 3 at 6 p.m., the Family Council will be meeting at the Hoag Library in Albion. If you have family in another facility and want to know how to form a family council, join us and we will share our process with you.

As the Family Council of The Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center, we strive to improve the quality of care and quality of life of all the residents who live in this facility.

Kelly Bentley

Albion

Chairperson of Family Council