Editor:
Republican Chris Collins’ latest anti-McMurray ad shows rioting in the streets if Collins loses.
Collins, running while under Federal felony indictment, has become the Law-and-Order candidate. Voters beware.
Gerard M. Morrisey
Gaines
Editor:
I submit this letter as the endorsed Republican candidate for the Town Councilperson seat in the General Election this Tuesday in the Town of Gaines.
Not only was I born and raised in this community, but I have lived specifically in the Town of Gaines for over 30 years.
As a career law enforcement officer I have spent the last 24 years serving the citizens of Orleans County. My career began as a Road Patrol Deputy with the Sheriff’s Department where I rose through the ranks to become a Criminal Investigator. I currently serve as an Investigator with the Orleans County District Attorney’s Office focusing on drug and other major felony investigations.
My wife Marilyn and I have raised three children in the Town of Gaines, two of which have chosen to also become Police Officers serving our community, while our youngest is currently a full-time college student. Marilyn and I also have owned and operated local businesses and real estate.
I have experience in preparing budgets, applying for and managing grants, and the procurement process. As a taxpayer myself, I understand how important it is to be responsible with taxpayer money and to research purchases to ensure that money is not being wasted. I believe in fiscal responsibility and accountability. As a town resident I do not want to pay any more in taxes than any other resident does and, If elected, I will do everything within my power to combat raising taxes.
My experience as a Deputy Sheriff, Supervisor, Investigator, Police Instructor, SWAT Team Leader, and multiple other duties and responsibilities have taught me many things. In my job I am called upon to handle many difficult situations. I have learned how to listen, work as a team, respect others and their point of view even when it differs from my own.
I pride myself in my ability to assist others with solving their problems, even when faced with extreme crisis. I have been trained to remain calm, think with a level head, to be a leader and make tough decisions. As your next councilperson I will call upon this experience to serve and protect the best interests of our township.
I believe in serving the residents of the Town of Gaines with fairness and impartiality. I have no hidden agendas and I want to promote transparency. I believe in not wasting taxpayers’ money. With my experience I believe it will be my responsibility to you to investigate issues with which our Township is confronted and to make informed educated decisions that are in the best interest of all town residents.
I believe in simply doing the right thing for the right reasons. I believe all residents should have a voice and have the right to express that voice freely and openly without being disrespected.
Should I be fortunate enough to be your choice for town councilperson It would be my goal to be available to speak with any residents and listen to your concerns and make myself available to help you resolve any issues you may have.
My lifetime commitment to this County enables me to have an extensive understanding of our community, your needs and your concerns. As a career public servant this is simply another opportunity for me to do what is meaningful to me, helping others.
Thank you,
Corey Black
Gaines
Editor:
I write in response to Mr. Cropsey’s letter of Oct. 30 point by point.
Point 1.) You state that Republicans don’t want to hear from anyone that does not tow the line. I’ve read no reports of Trump supporters shouting during a moment of silence for the Pittsburgh victims. I’ve heard nothing about Republicans chasing Democrats from restaurants, gas stations, malls, or committing outrageous acts outside of Democrats’ homes, Nor have seen any Republican call for the above actions like liberal Democrats have done.
Point 2.) you assert that a president lying should be grounds for disqualification. I respectfully give you Obama and Clinton.
Point 3.) Republicans have and continue to support legal immigration. Mr. Cropsey, do you support allowing many thousands of people from parts unknown with no background checks as the current 3 “caravans” are attempting to do? The latest totals surpass 10,000. And looking at news reports on all channels I see many more adult males than mothers and children. Why did they deny the asylum offered by Mexico?
Point 4.) “The middle class here and everywhere is dwindling due to the depression in real wages and increased property taxes.” Look at the true facts. Wages are up, the economy is expanding, and the increasing property taxes are the result of Albany’s unfunded mandates. Granted, including Pataki.
Point 5.) You assert that the current Administration does not support law enforcement and that law enforcement is currently under attack. Only the last half of that statement is true. Law enforcement is, unfortunately, under violent attacks. I find your conclusion that it has been a result of the current administration’s demonstrated support of all first responders ludicrous. I submit to you that Obama, Holder, Lynch, and the liberals coveting minority votes escalated this trend. I would add that insofar as respect of laws witness Hillary’s documented criminal acts (home server, destroying evidence after that evidence was subpoenaed by congress) Bill’s meeting with Lynch further show which side believes in the rule of law.
Point 6.) Hostages returned, military remains returned, ISIS and other terrorist groups essentially unheard from in the last year. New trade relations with our partners. (And yes China will soon come to the table.) Do you not consider these huge strides in foreign relations?
Point 7.) We agree. I have and will always protect my wife and family. Your new party’s aim is to hinder our ability to do so by eliminating Amendments 2 and 9. What Trump said on the aircraft so many years ago is unacceptable. I’ve said and done unacceptable things “back in the day.” Have you? It does not define us as the men we are today.
With respect, I ask you to consider these realities between now and Tuesday.
Bob Harker
Clarendon
Editor:
No Town of Barre board members or Heritage Wind LLC (Apex Clean Energy) members attended a meeting on Oct. 30 at the Hoag Library. Brad Jones discussed conflicts of interest and environmental impacts from wind energy and Article 10 laws.
So it looks like all of the residents in the Town of Barre have to fight off Apex Clean Energy and Heritage Wind LLC on their own as the Town of Barre board members count all the money from the lease agreements that they have signed and don’t forget they can not say anything because they all have a no-speak policy in their lease agreements with Heritage Wind LLC.
Please note all Town of Barre board members and the lawyer for the Town of Barre were invited to this meeting. Heritage Wind LLC and Apex Clean Energy also was invited, but none were present for the meeting.
William Nacca
Barre
Editor:
I urge your readers to consider the implications of their votes in the November 6th election for our 27th Congressional district representative.
Under a veil of carefully orchestrated suspicion, the once highly regarded (I still regard them with admiration) Federal Bureau of Investigation this year arrested at least two incumbent members of the United States House of Representatives.
Just as shoplifters, they are innocent until proven guilty. But each—apart from the process of their arrests—has been separately indicted by a federal grand jury. As I understand it, these Congressmen are out on bail awaiting trial.
Though my travel has been limited in the past year, I have seen only one sign for our incumbent member of Congress in three counties. We all know, however, that the absence of a sign in your yard is not necessarily an indication of how one votes.
On election day, each of us must answer only to ourselves.
Sincerely yours,
Gary F. Kent
Albion
Editor:
The Apex “forum” on the proposed Lighthouse Wind Project held on October 2nd at Lyndonville High School met all the criteria of a staged propaganda event.
This was no forum. It was slick, tightly controlled, and well organized in an effort to indoctrinate the public and suppress comment and reaction. It marked the culmination of a month-long barrage of mailings by Apex intended to convince a community overwhelming opposed to the project, of the benefits of an Industrial Wind Turbine Complex. The crowd estimated at 125 was orderly and respectful. The outside demonstrators against Lighthouse Wind far outnumbered those who supported the project.
The project, as proposed, is illegal per town laws in Somerset and Yates. These laws were carefully crafted to protect the health and welfare of the citizens and the surrounding environment. Lighthouse Wind therefore cannot be approved for construction in its current proposed form without the Article 10 Siting Board taking action to nullify Town law.
Forty-seven 591-foot-tall wind turbines will dominate the landscape of Somerset and Yates. They will be visible for miles in the flat topography of the area. Residents will be forced to view these grotesque structures every day for 30 or more years no matter which way they turn.
It was apparent from the “forum” that Apex is in denial and completely tone deaf over the numerous negative aspects surrounding Lighthouse Wind brought to their attention over the past 5 years by an educated public.
Noise, shadow flicker, bird/bat kill, infrasound, degradation of property values and health issues were glossed over or totally ignored. A lesson was given in “acoustics 101” and we were told how silent the proposed wind turbines will be. The countless complaints of excessive noise from those who live among the turbines in other active Industrial Wind Turbine complexes were ignored. It is noteworthy that the turbine model selected, the Vestas V150 4.2, produces a sound power level of 104.9dB(A) per manufacturers specifications. This sound level is equivalent to the noise generated by a chain saw and is damaging to the human ear.
Apex vice president of Environmental Compliance and permitting spoke and continued to ignore the existence of a letter directly to him in May of 2015 from the US Fish and Wildlife. This letter was a recap of a meeting he attended, warning of the severe effects Lighthouse Wind will have on bird and bat migration.
Also recommended was a 3-mile setback of the industrial turbines from the Lake Ontario shore. Our Town laws contain these recommendations. Apex is ignoring them. With respect to bird kill, using the figures quoted of a national average 3 to 5 fatalities per megawatt per year, it can be expected that between 16,000 and 30,000 bird kills will occur over the 30-year life span of the turbines. Do the math! These estimates are low as the Lake Ontario shoreline is anything but average as US Fish and Wildlife has noted.
A tax payment of $1.5 million per year was offered as an economic benefit to the community, not mentioning that it would be divided among 6 taxing jurisdictions. Why is Apex deciding what their tax levy should be? This figure is based on a PILOT that will not be granted and is evidence that Apex is trying to get by “on the cheap” rather than paying full assessed value of their property.
It is past time that Apex cease all activity related to Lighthouse Wind. The power is not needed, the power is not clean, the project as proposed is illegal as it violates local law and the towns of Somerset and Yates are geographically the wrong location. Residents realizing all the negatives associated with Industrial Wind Turbines have overwhelmingly voted to keep them out of our community numerous times. We do not want to leave an unhealthy, polluted, distorted. noisy, bird carcass-littered landscape to future generations. There are better ways to save the planet.
James C. Hoffman
Somerset
Editor:
Comptroller audits of municipalities clearly suggest the Supervisor bears ultimate responsibility for Town finances. The audits suggest relying on bookkeepers and department heads without oversight is not sound financial practice.
Successful businesses regularly question accountants and department heads. When it’s your money you pay close attention. Pay close attention people, it’s your money.
The Murray Water Department continues to lose money and our officials offer no solution. Town documents show losses of $78,838 for the period 2015-2017. However, a closer look at the finances show the water department actually lost $258,707 for that period. The numbers are taken directly from Town documents and not 3rd-hand information.
By using your unamortized bond payments to offset operational losses, the water department shows misleading figures. Residents paid an extra $179,869 in water tax to reduce losses to $78,838. Depending on which water district you live in determines how much you are unfairly paying into that black hole. It varies greatly from district to district.
The tentative 2019 Murray Water District Budget is also in the red and the final numbers not yet available.
The fact remains: The Murray water department is losing a lot of money. As water district bonds mature there will be no source of cash to rob Peter to pay Paul. Then what? Build an Orleans County Water Authority??
It’s time to roll up our sleeves and get to work. Acknowledge the facts. Numbers don’t lie. Stop using the Murray water department as the town piggy bank. Don’t rely on bookkeepers and department heads to manage your money. Budget fat is born in bad policy. Better oversight is needed. Drive the Town to a more sustainable future while reaching for something better.
Murray Government should be creating economic confidence in its community, not more government. Encourage private sector investment to create the jobs that pay real living wages.
When we enforce Murray’s strict property maintenance laws we address a symptom, not the illness. Most people struggle to make ends meet. Many can’t afford to paint their homes, buy a lawnmower, fix their cars or roof their houses. Stop ignoring the real underlying issues in our community and let’s work to fix them.
This Town election is not about signs at the side of the road or at the school. This election is about real-life issues. Free speech and better town government. Creating confidence in our government and confidence in our town economy.
Abolish the entrenched status quo mindset. Move forward where everyone has a voice that is heard with respect. Where every opinion matters. Where ideas are welcomed and not put down. Build a community that embraces accountability, vision and clarity.
Joe Sidonio
Murray
Editor:
On election day the powers that run our state will let me change my life-long registration as a Republican and register as a Democrat. It’s not that hard to explain.
There are times to stand up and be counted. This is one of them. First, when I first registered the Republican Party was fiscally conservative but centrist. Now it’s so far right it does not want to hear from anyone who does not tow the line.
Second, since Washington and how he did not, would not, lie about how the apple came off the tree, if a President lied it was considered a disqualification. Now just fact check to see that respect for the truth is not only treated as a joke but also changes daily. (28 Republican Congressmen are now running ads saying they were against excluding pre-existing conditions from insurance coverage when in fact they voted for it.)
Third, Republicans used to watch out for the middle class and promote fair treatment, immigration and citizenship for all – Italians, Germans, Irish and blacks alike. Now code words are being used and facts and figures manipulated to scare us into thinking there is some great problem at hand.
Fourth, the truth is that in practice there has been scant, if any, Republican-sponsored legislation that has helped my clients for over quarter century! The middle class here and everywhere is dwindling due to the depression in real wages and increased property taxes. Our County is forced to collect more property tax to pay for services the government used to help poor counties like ours pay.
Fifth, the Republican Party I knew used to respect the law, its processes and the men and women whose job it is to protect us. Do I have to say anything to convince you that proper law enforcement is now under attack. Think about it, if we do not respect for the law and each other how long can we last as a democracy? The answer is, we can’t!
Sixth, The United States put together, and still leads, a coalition of very prosperous and friendly nations which has kept the peace for almost two generations. This coalition is being torn apart. Our enemy, Putin, just told the world that Trump listens to him and the US is a second class power. (Of course Putin says that as he wants people to believe it be true in order that he and his rather poor country can horn in.)
Seventh, I love and respect my wife and can not in good faith condone anything that disparages her or any other woman. It’s just not funny. And to laugh at or let any situation slide by that is thoroughly investigated is a dangerous precedent.
So, I have told you why I am changing parties. But there are ways that his followers are hurting themselves by blindly following him.
A. He is not preaching the principles that have made us strong for over 200 years and will go down in history very badly – perhaps worse then Andrew Jackson.
B. History also indicts anyone who has ever proposed we vote based on prejudice or fear and his/her followers.
C. History indicts anyone who is indicted, convicted, or associated with criminals.
D. The followers get labeled as liars, naive fools, and un-American subversives.
Trump is straying for the Declaration of Independence and Constitution and those not savvy enough to know that he is crossing the line are not in for an easy ride.
So, I will not be part of how Trump is hurting our country and I hope you decide to stay on the right side of history too.
Respectfully,
Conrad F. Cropsey
Albion
Editor:
I am a concerned resident of Barre, New York. Please inform all the residents of Barre, New York that if the wind turbines come to our town and the Town of Barre Wind Laws does not have a ban for the following items, right of domain will occur!
Landowners will lose the right to use their land as they wish. A resident will have to go to the zoning board for variances and ask the wind company to allow their request. Wind companies have requested ROW Permits in other communities; when a statement has not existed prohibiting the granting of these ROW permits within the town wind laws.
The Right of Way Permit, if the town does not ban, will allow the wind company to come on your land even if you do not want them to install lines, cables or whatever, cross your land for construction purpose, operational and maintenance of the turbines and all equipment in spite of the fact you do not have a lease with them. You lose your rights of your land. The wind company may or may not give you a one-time payment.
This type of permit could have a negative sale market, if you should want to sell.
The Town of Barre must state in the Wind Code that the Town of Barre bans ROW permits.
De facto is portion of land around the turbine that is not allowed to be built on and in some cases may not be allowed to be used. This radius of land is derived from the manufactures’ safety code. The usual safety zone is 3 times the turbine height from base to tip of propeller.
If you have a 500-foot turbine the de facto radius would be 1,500 feet. Now if a turbine is placed and part of that radius falls on your property and you do not have a lease with the wind company, you would still lose the right to that land, even though you own it and pay taxes.
This could result in a negative sale impact of the property.
The Town of Barre must state in the Wind Code that Barre bans defacto permits. Without this permit ban, the wind company can request a permit to kill more or less at will, without any restriction of type of species and pay no fines.
We need to protect endangered species of bats and birds and the habitat of Barre, New York, which is a migratory flyway. It is the duty of our town officials to protect this fly zone and keep our American heritage.
I urge the readers to send their comments to the Barre Town Hall to be read at the Town Board meeting.
Alexander Nacca
Barre
Editor:
I read, with great interest, the editorials posted by those reading my editorial letters. The feedback is welcomed.
To reduce confusion as much as possible a few short comments are offered:
• DPS Comments Assessment from year end 2017 and as posted in the Orleans Hub show a one-time commenter breakdown as follows: Opposed to Lighthouse Wind: 74 percent; In support of Lighthouse Wind: 26 percent
Mr. Hyde’s one-time commenter numbers (66.6% Opposed, 33.4% In favor), though he excludes certain comments, are not significantly different from a statistical point of view for data generated over 4.5 years. In fact, both sets of numbers fall within the historic Opposition vs. Support percentages as exhibited in surveys put forth by both Yates and Somerset.
• Regarding the assessment performed on Apex’s bird death mailer referenced by Mr. Pierce; in fact the number of bird deaths reported and calculations made in the letter to the Hub were all referenced to peer-reviewed studies and are accurate estimates.
Unfortunately, with all the energy expended by our Town and its constituents in fighting or supporting this Industrial Wind Turbine Project, there seems to be little interest in the progress being forged in the Town of Yates:
• Implementing corrective actions from the State Controller Audit of town finances and fixing the errors of the past.
• Ensuring a robust update to the 18-year old Comprehensive Plan that will improve our town as we move into the future via clear direction toward our goals.
• Vital work on updating our 22-year old Local Waterfront Redevelopment Plan, which will ensure the Town of Yates becomes a destination for tourists, vacationers and sports enthusiasts.
• Full and committed support of our Fire and Ambulance Services to ensure exemplary service.
• Completion of construction of the final steps in ensuring public access to clean and pure water to all Town of Yates constituents and visitors.
• Update of the 20-year old Employee Handbook and successful unmediated negotiated contract with employees.
• Initiating comprehensive update of 30-year old Emergency Plan for the town.
• Garnered $400,000 grant to remediate the damage to the shoreline of the Town park and two other town locations resulting from the flooding on Lake Ontario.
In all, I am honored to do my part in helping the Town of Yates realize a successful and prosperous future.
As I have indicated numerous time in the past, I am willing to speak in person with anyone at any time on the issues facing our Town.
Thank you,
John B. Riggi
Councilman, Town of Yates
