Photo by Tom Rivers: Greg Rosato, a county employee, clears snow from a county parking lot on Wednesday. About two feet of snow fell from Monday through Wednesday, closing schools for two days and many local governments for at least a day.

Editor:

In light of recent severe weather events, Sheriff Randy Bower and the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office would like to extend a special “thank you” to all who worked diligently many hours over the course of the March 8th windstorm [and subsequent power outages] and the heavy snowfall this past week.

I would like to thank the 911 Center, Emergency Management Office, Law enforcement, Fire and EMS responders along with highway and public works departments.

Also, thanks go out to American Red Cross, local officials, National Grid utility workers, and OrleansHub.com for keeping the public informed.

But, most of all, thank you to the Orleans County residents who showed resilience and fortitude in the face of adversity. Citizens helping their neighbors and being there for one another is the backbone of this fine community.

Sincerely,

Sheriff Randy Bower

Editor:

The 8 county Democratic Chairs of New York’s 27th Congressional District wish to make it clear that Rep. Chris Collins’ decision to appear on CNN with Van Jones on Thursday evening in a televised town hall is an insult to the voters of this district.

While constituents have been gathering outside his offices on a weekly basis in good weather and bad to ask for a town hall, Mr. Collins has repeatedly insisted he has no intention of holding such a meeting, even calling town halls “useless.”

But when invited to appear on a cable television program with a studio audience in New York City that will not represent his constituents, Rep. Collins jumped at the chance. So he may find out what the concerns are of a New York City audience, but he’s still avoiding people in his own district. That is unacceptable, and that’s why we will support a vigorous campaign to replace Chris Collins in 2018 with someone who will actually represent New York’s 27th District.

Jeremy Zellner, Erie County Democratic Chair

Jamie Romeo, Monroe County Democratic Chair

Nick Forster, Niagara County Democratic Chair

Jeanne Crane, Orleans County Democratic Chair

Michael Plitt, Genesee County Democratic Chair

Cynthia Appleton, Wyoming County Democratic Chair

Judith Hunter, Livingston County Democratic Chair

John Hurley, Ontario County Democratic Chair

Editor:

The year was 1998.  As I recall, the Reagan era Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 was largely responsible for governing our approach toward undocumented immigrants.

At the time, the entire grounds crew at Atlantic City Country Club was of Mexican descent.  The course superintendent had the highest regard for every one of them, just as he had for the Vietnamese immigrants who had earlier comprised much of the crew at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland.

In 1998, the Social Security Administration discovered that the entire 23-person Atlantic City CC grounds crew was illegal. To prevent them from being deported, the course superintendent knew that each of his crew would have to come up with $2,000 initially, jump through a bunch of hoops, and pay another $2,000 in order to become legal, though not citizens. Some called this “amnesty”. Many still do. Tom Reynolds called it “amnesty” as I recall.

Congressman Chris Collins, one of President Trump’s earliest camp followers, insists that neither local farmers, nor their valuable employees, need worry about farm workers being rounded up by a deportation force.

Hopefully, Representative Collins is keeping track of the wind direction coming from Washington.  Our food supply and economy may hang in the balance.

A reporter from The Boston Globe was in Orleans County earlier this week having a difficult time finding farmers who would speak to him on the record. It isn’t hard to understand their reluctance.

President Trump puts on a good show. It may be he is smart enough to realize that it had better be nothing more.  From what I hear, farm workers are not so sure of his intentions. Even if he is mostly talk, he has many of them scared.

My brothers are two generations removed from what has ironically become a sort of stigma—immigration status—in a nation of immigrants!  I guess my Austrian grandparents were legal (not sure about the ‘refugee’ thing), though they thought it wise to change their last name nonetheless.

My brother, Keith, worked for Martin Farms for many years.  Cutting cabbage was his specialty, and he was the only “Anglo” Martin’s had who could cut cabbage with the migrant workers on a consistent basis—for years.

My brother, Kevin, was the only “Anglo” I ever saw who could match– hamper for hamper– the cucumber picking stamina of the Ramos family and the other Mexican-Americans from Mercedes, Texas who worked at Spalla Farms. (In case you missed that history lesson, Mexican people have been living in what is now the United States longer than Captain John Smith’s people.)

In the late 1960’s, I tried picking cucumbers for a grand total of three hours before surrender. Crying “Uncle” got me on the wagon dumping hampers.

Guess what?  If Mr. Trump gets too carried away playing to his base and trying to match campaign rhetoric with “Presidential” action, we are in a lot of trouble.

Farm workers reclaim abandoned houses, have their own local businesses, keep many local farms going, and are among the best students in Orleans County’s schools. None of the ones I have known was/is a “bad dude”, and I have known quite a few.

Sincerely yours,

Gary Kent

Albion

Editor:

Our Founding Fathers warned us this day would come. Partisan politics would overtake good government for the people. The Medicaid changes being proposed in Washington would cut taxes for wealthy special interests while devastating New York State’s finances and all but eliminating health care for the most vulnerable New Yorkers.

What’s worse, a New York Republican Congressman, Chris Collins is offering an amendment that would wreak havoc on the state. While I understand that the Democrats in Washington are attacking Collins on ethics issues and are having a heated political fight, they shouldn’t be played out at the expense of everyday New Yorkers.

Here are the facts: The overall Medicaid plan would cost the state billions of dollars of lost federal funds and jeopardize hospital stability. As if that were not enough, Rep. Collins would have the state assume the counties’ share of Medicaid expenses outside of New York City. The current breakdown is 13 percent county, 36 percent state, and 51 percent federal. This ill-conceived plan would cost his home state approximately $2.3 billion. Unbelievably, that’s on top of the cost of the Republican Affordable Care Act repeal plan – another $2.4 billion.

Translation: Rep. Collins is proposing a tax increase on New Yorkers to the tune of $4.7 billion. This one-two punch would destroy all the hard work the Governor and Legislature have accomplished in the last six years to lower taxes across the board and achieve the lowest spending increases in recorded history. New Yorkers will be at risk of losing their healthcare, hospitals will be forced to lay off workers, and our vulnerable elderly will find it much harder to afford nursing home care.

On the merits, the counties have no right to claim this is an undue burden. They paid a percentage of health care costs even before Medicaid – and in fact, currently have a more favorable agreement than in decades.

In 1960 – well before New York State and most counties had any sales tax revenue to pay for it – Congress passed the Kerr-Mills Act, which created a national role in funding health care for the elderly. Under this program, the counties in New York paid approximately 44 percent of the cost of care, the state paid about 38 percent, and the federal government paid around 18 percent.

In 1965, Medicaid replaced that program and the counties paid 25 percent. That same year, the state began giving counties the option of collecting sales tax on their behalf. Every county in New York has subsequently agreed to this option. Many counties in the nation don’t get sales tax, and most of those receive less than our counties. Moreover, the state recently agreed to give the counties additional help – after hearing the counties’ complaints of the growing Medicaid costs, the state has held them harmless for any increases since 2011.

As a result, the counties’ share for Medicaid is down from 25 percent to 13 percent, and the state assumed this cost while still living within the 2 percent spending cap, and all while cutting taxes. The state is not asking the counties to do anything more than we have done ourselves. In fact, the state has done far more. If the Collins amendment passed, the state would need to raise income taxes or the counties would have to forego their share of sales tax in exchange for the state picking up the additional Medicaid costs.

In short, Rep. Collins’ amendment and the Affordable Care Act repeal would transfer $4.7 billion in costs to the state which would translate into a new tax for New Yorkers. I know firsthand that the people of the 27th Congressional District face enough challenges in their lives – they don’t need to worry about increasing health care costs or new taxes.

Rep. Collins should stop prioritizing his wealthy friends and start helping his home state by protecting the most vulnerable from losing their healthcare and putting the state budget at risk. Remember, as my mentor Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan used to always point out, New York is a donor state – we pay more in federal taxes than we receive back.

Mr. Collins, try practicing good government rather than partisan politics.”

Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul

Editor:

This week, residents of Western New York were devastated by a hurricane-like storm that caused major damage and left thousands without power. We are now focused on cleaning up the mess left behind by the storm and ensuring that everyone is safe and has power.

The powerful winds blew many signs down in my district, including at least three ‘I Love NY’ signs at mile post 381 on the Thruway just east of Batavia. These gimmicks cost taxpayers $25 million and were installed by the governor despite being in violation of federal law.

I am calling on the governor not to waste another cent of taxpayer money on these illegal signs and put that money into repairing our infrastructure and the damages from this horrific wind storm that wreaked havoc on our region.

State Assemblyman Steve Hawley

Batavia

Editor:

It is a sure sign that there is a population explosion of New York City lawyers when the august law firm Winston and Strawn sends three attorneys to defend the squirrels of Holley.

I would suggest that that Winston and Strawn be required to file an environmental impact report as to whether this influx of high-powered legal providers might upset the delicate ecology of common sense in Western New York.

Charles F. Lind

Medina

Editor:

Karen Jones offered a letter to this forum containing a personal and public apology to me for statements she made during our Medina village dissolution discussion from 2013-2015. (Click here to see “Medina resident apologizes to former mayor for public criticism when village faced dissolution.”)

I humbly accept it with appreciation.

Karen, your actions exhibit class and courage.

You and I agree that facts matter – now, more than ever. Getting them straight, even more.  This is the foundation of rational, deliberative decision making. Without it, fear can quickly consume us. It manifests in rumor, innuendo, gossip and general negativity. You are wise to recognize the difference and correct course.

The greater responsibility, however, lies with those among us who incite fear – and divide us – to exert or preserve power. Sadly, this often makes villains of new ideas that may improve our community and the lives of our friends and neighbors.

Karen, you remain resolute in your stance on consolidation, and reaffirm your commitment to the facts in reaching your conclusion. This I respect. With the community’s greater good mutually at heart, I look forward to more policy discussions, and hope you will remain open to being persuaded. As will I.

Andrew W. Meier

Medina

Editor:

I want to thank certain individuals in our community for their leadership. Thank you for looking out for the best interests of our community, despite the noise and pressure.

Thank you for planning for the future of your citizens, not just the ones that are the loudest and those who manipulate information. Thank you for looking for opportunities for economic development so that our community might thrive again.

Thank you for looking for ways to enhance our services. Thank you for changing with the times, for realizing that change may be difficult but it is inevitable.

Thank you for listening to all your constituents and for making decisions based on the greater good. Thank you for looking out for our children, and for our children’s children…hopefully some of them may also want to come back to this area, if there is something left.

Thank you for leading by example.

In times like this, it’s always important to look at every angle, every possible pro and con, and every viewpoint. I thank you for being a leader and making difficult decisions, weighing the many possibilities and serving your constituents.

Linda Fisk

Lyndonville

Editor:

While representatives from SOS were in Manhattan this week talking about their views on the Lighthouse Wind project and the Article 10 process, the rest of us residents in the towns of Yates and Somerset were home, hoping for a brighter future for our communities.

Since residents are tiring of the “Same Old Stuff” and ugly insults from SOS, I guess the group has decided to go on a roadshow. I would agree with them on one point. The towns have become divided but that is because SOS has taken a great opportunity and done everything they can to throw it away. Who is calling who a bully?

Lighthouse Wind has remained respectful throughout the last couple years, opening a local office in Barker, attending all public meetings in Somerset and Yates and availing themselves to questions, supporting community events and worthy causes. And, all of this while enduring the misrepresentatives of facts and personal attacks from the opposition.

I love my community and I want to see it thrive through economic development, enhancement of services and educational opportunities for our young people. And I want to see my electricity bill lowered, family farms to have an income not dependent on the weather and commodity prices, lower taxes for all community members, more money for all educational services, and money for all our town services which we have come to depend on.

Once our young people grow up, I want them to have a reason to return to their home town.  I would like to see the area thrive once again, rather than have a ghost town with lake homes on one side.

Howard Pierce

Lyndonville

Editor:

I was a county resident working to save our nursing home a couple of years ago.  I joined the fight as a concerned citizen because my research showed many examples of nursing home sales going bad and communities like ours left without a good facility. We failed. The nursing home was sold.

About a year and half ago I read an article that our county was being taken to court because the company that purchased the nursing home was trying to lower the building’s assessed value, and ultimately, its taxes. The legislature was asking town governments to pitch in for the cost of legal representation. I now understand this is a common strategy used by corporations that buy nursing homes. The corporations have the money to fight in courts, small towns do not.

Our legislators said that selling the nursing home would increase tax revenues, release us from the burden of running the home, and not negatively impact care. Well, I’ve heard some negative things about supplies for residents, frustrated staff, and corporate policies that have negatively impacted care.

And I just read the other day that a settlement was reached in the lawsuit and the assessment was reduced by $1.6 million dollars. To quote the article, “When the former county-owned nursing home went on the tax rolls for the first time in 2015, the site was assessed for $6,618,900.  Comprehensive Healthcare Management Services LLC paid $7.8 million for the 120-bed Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center on Route 31 in Albion. The sale was effective on Jan. 1, 2015. The new owners filed a challenge to the assessment, saying the site should be valued at $2.5 million.”

First, I don’t even understand how a company can argue something it bought for $7.8 million is actually worth $2.5 million. From the start, Comprehensive Healthcare Management Services LLC has proven itself a poor corporate citizen. And if our legislators did not do enough research to know that a common strategy for corporate buyers like Comprehensive Healthcare Management Services was to take towns to court to lessen their tax burden, it is in issue. If they did know but went through with the sale anyway, it is an arguably bigger one.

For me, this issue comes down to the difference between private for-profit and private non-profit entities. There are two primary differences: the tax code and the driving focus of the organization. In a private for-profit organization, a portion of revenues is directed to shareholders, and the mission of the organization is to maximize profits. That is just what it means to be for-profit.

A private non-profit organization does not take a portion for shareholders, and its primary work is to achieve the mission of the organization. That can be art, elder care, education, etc. These key differences have a major impact on outcomes. As Americans try to decide what is the government’s responsibility and what should be contracted out, I propose we turn to private non-profit organizations to provide the public services that government cannot handle.

The difference between organizations boils down to judgement around the primary focus – to maximize profits or to maximize the mission. The Comprehensive Healthcare Management Services LLC’s move to take the county to court immediately after making the nursing home purchase is another example of for-profit organizations making decisions to maximize profits.

So how long after the five-year guarantee of the reduced tax burden will they stay. History has shown that as soon as the tax credits are gone, for-profit business as gone as well. I have an issue with this as a taxpayer. I don’t believe the government needs to operate all public services, but I do believe that public services should not have a portion of revenues sent to shareholders as profit, or for decisions to be driven by the need to maximize profits.

Thank you.

Betty García Mathewson

Albion