Editor:

Yes, Sen. Ortt, by voting for the bloated NY State budget, you lied and are a big disappointment to those of us that are working to get rid of NY SAFE ACT, and Common Core, both bordering on communistic and Nazi ideology – my opinion.

The budget expanded the monies available to certain areas of the NY Safe Act, and also funded Common Core, all the while assuring the people in your district that you were opposed to both issues.

Sen. Ortt, being a Republican, can you lay out for the people in your district, the exact Republican Party Platform that you subscribe to? I believe that you make up the platform as you go along, to suit yourself as well as a majority of your party cohorts. “Higher taxes and larger government” instead of the opposite.

Knowing that you come from the same political family as your predecessor, that you voted for the “Message of Necessity” and the budget, does not come as a surprise to me. Unlike your predecessor, subtlety is not your strong virtue, it seems to be one of arrogance and “in your face” and if you don’t like it, “tough.”

Sen. Ortt, you most likely will be banking on the mindset of the apathetic, and forgetful voter in your district between now and your next election cycle, that all will be forgiven. I will do my best to see that your name, and the negativity of your acts will be kept current in the minds of all that I associate with.

Keep in mind, Sen. Ortt, that you cannot serve two masters – the voters that hired you to do the job that they thought they could expect you to do, and the party hierarchy that would use you to further themselves personally.

Also, Sen. Ortt, please remove my name from your “mailing list” of “self-graded report cards,” because I make it my business to stay in tune to the “antics” of the elected in my district and area.

I also will be working in my small way to find someone who would be willing to primary you. I have a couple of good Americans in mind!

Most Sincerely,

Allen Lofthouse
Kendall

Mr. Lofthouse is chairman of the Orleans County Conservative Party.

Editor:

News of Emil Smith’s tragic death slammed both my wife and me when we saw the headline in the Hub. I did not know him as well as Paul Lauricella, but I knew the heart of a man with great soul and precious little, if any, spiritual downside. Paul’s loving tribute to him was, to me, right on point.

I met Emil in late spring, 2013. A few people had told me what a decent guy he was. The Orleans Conservatives were running him for the County Legislature. I went to his home to assess where he stood on local issues, particularly the impending sale of the County Nursing Home. My thought was that he might be someone The Concerned Citizens could run on the Save Our Nursing Home independent line.

Emil’s trademark Ford Ranger pulled into his driveway as I arrived. Within minutes, his heart and engaging genuineness were apparent. Many conservatives seem to take the virtues of privatization as a “given.” Not Emil. Just as so many other thoughtful Orleans residentsincluding most conservatives I knowhe was not having any of it where the vulnerable elderly were concerned.

Emil perfectly illustrated how stereotyping people based on labels is a fool’s errand. His conservatism was a family values oriented belief system with appropriate doses of common sense and fiscal realism. Spending other people’s money was, to Emil, something that should be taken seriously.

Emil was convinced that making equipment last was consistent with representing those who, like him, had to keep things working out of basic frugality and economic necessity. But honoring the many sacrifices made by our parents and grandparents on our behalf was not negotiable.

Emil loved getting to know people, because he cared about others and what they thought. As someone else mentioned, he was a talker, but he was also a listener with loads of compassion. He was an endlessly fascinating mix of interests and values.
It is our loss that Gregory Emil Smith was snatched from us too soon. In the very best sense, Orleans County has lost an American original.

Sincerely yours,

Gary Kent
Albion

Editor:

This is in memory of Gregory Emil Smith.

I would always run into Emil all over the place in Orleans County. Whether it was at the gas station, McDonalds, Tops or other establishments you could count on running into Emil and be prepared to get into an in-depth conversation.

We would always talk politics, what was going on locally with the towns or villages or just whatever was on our minds. Emil talked to a lot of people so he knew what many in the community were doing and what was going on in their lives.

He always had a good ear for what you were saying and had sound advice. I was lucky to have been able to be a part of his life. Emil was a very active and core member of the Orleans County Conservative Party. You could always count on Emil to come to the meetings and come to the events that we would set up to get our party out in front of the people.

Photo courtesy of Paul Lauricella – Emil Smith, left, and Al Lofthouse man the booth for the Orleans County Conservatve Party at an event last year.

Emil ran for County Legislature last time around and made us all proud that we had a Conservative in the running. He was going to run again this year and was very excited about doing so. We had been meeting up regularly at McDonalds and discussing our plans.

I was going to run with him and we would have the two Conservatives running, something this county lacks desperately. I saw Emil on Monday and we talked for about an hour or so and I saw him Tuesday night at the party monthly meeting. We talked after in the driveway about what we were going to do next.

During our conversation he mentioned a guy’s name that had for some reason just popped up in his head. He said I don’t know why I thought of this guy it just came to me. He was a good guy and a really smart guy. He quoted something he said to him years ago. So I asked him does he still see this guy? He said no he was killed in a car accident years ago. So I said, not thinking anything of it, “Well it was nice of you to think of him and say his name after all these years.”

We talked some more and probably would have talked even longer but I had to go. The next day he died in that horrible truck accident. It is a real shock. I am very thankful that I got to spend time with him the last two days of his life. I will miss him forever.

This is a big loss for our community and a setback for our party. We have lost two committee members in the last two years to tragedy, my son and Emil. I will always think of this man when I am in all these places.

I won’t forget his laugh, smile and personality. I will truly miss the conversations. He was one of a kind. This is not good-bye, my friend.

I will never forget you. Until we meet again. I know we will have a lot to talk about. RIP Brother.

Paul Lauricella
Lyndonville

Editor:

Emil Smith was/is the kind of person who I would like to be like. He was/is sincere, talented, smart, soft-spoken, but opinionated, positive, honest, and honorable. He was so pleased about the amount of votes he received during his bid for the legislative election, and very pleased about the overall amount of people who got out to vote during a debated election.

He also was enthusiastic about his participation in the Celtic games and his sculptures. I only wish I had taken a picture of him in his kilt because I remember his happy face when he was competing. I do have one of his sculptures which I will treasure. His family and this community was/is blessed to have him in our lives.

Cynthia Troy
Albion

Editor:

There may be some who are unaware that Albion native, Charles Howard, established the world’s first Santa Claus School in Orleans County. Those who are aware of that piece of the past that belongs to us may not see it as such a big deal.

The genius of Albion’s Charles Howard may have been to realize how important Santa Claus could be in the development of children and how much it mattered that Santa be “done” right. The omniscient, loving and kind Father-figure in the red suit had to be convincing and the Santa “experience” indelible.

Mr. Howard recognized how important a belief in Santa Claus could be to the growth of a child’s conscience. Santa had the capacity to reinforce the importance of good behavior in very young people.

Santa Claus can certainly convey some of the best impulses of Christianity. How many of our parents and grandparents used him to help teach the magic of Christmas? Santa knew when you had been naughty or nice. He still is a Christ-like figure that a child can connect with, a means to understanding that it really is better to give than it is to receive. Santa Claus is the embodiment of good, and the mystique of Santa can be an important piece of a child’s emotional and social development.

I cannot help but think that the Santa my Grandma took me to visit at Sibley’s and McCurdy’s in the 1940’s was the real Santa, perhaps one of Charlie Howard’s protégés. In a wonderful way, some of us can say we still believe in Santa Claus thanks, in part perhaps, to Charles Howard.

For the Albion Betterment Committee, honoring Charles Howard’s work and place in local history makes perfect sense. A generation of local residents took understandable pride in having known and worked with him. Residents such as Mary Dreisel and many others helped him realize his dream. Macy’s acknowledged his work and featured him in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade for many years.

We, too, have every right to feel positive about what he adds to our sense of who we are.

The Albion Betterment Committee believes that a monument dedicated to the memory of this extraordinary and nationally known figure would be an entirely appropriate tribute to his vision. Such a statue would make it clear that we are about what he was about. The Santa Claus “world” has recognized the significance of Charles Howard and so should we.

Gary Kent
Albion

Mr. Kent is one of the directors of the Albion Betterment Committee.

Editor:

I read with disappointment Senator Rob Ortt’s response to comments critical of his voting for the 2015-16 state budget.

Specifically:

“I disagree with the sentiment that we should have shut down government and defunded State Police, counterterrorism, and emergency services. The effects of such a drastic action would have been incomprehensible. I simply wasn’t willing to put people’s lives at risk in order to score political points with the governor.”

Please. There may have been sentiment to shut down government, but when is the last time that ever happened in New York State? Even in recent years, if a budget was not passed by March 31, almost all New York State government funding for State Police, counterterrorism and emergency services remained intact. People’s lives were not put at risk, and there were budgets that were not passed until the summer.

Concerning political points, what are the chances of bills you co-sponsored for either outright or partial appeal of the SAFE Act being passed by the Senate, the Assembly and signed by the Governor? How much political courage does it take to sponsor such bills versus working within the budget process (such as it is), to make meaningful changes to a law that you or your constituents object to?

And it’s pretty weak gruel to mention in your response to unhappy constituents legislation that includes micro-stamping, mandatory storage and a new CoBIS database. Such legislation has little more chance of getting passed into law than your sponsored/co-sponsored legislation to repeal the SAFE Act in whole or in part.

When you voted to provide funds for an issue that you spoke out strongly against in the campaign and then portray unhappy constituents as wanting to first and foremost make political points, it makes me wonder if you really understand those constituents or the issue.

Add to that little mention by you about the truly dysfunctional “three men in a room” concluded budget process, or that you had only a few hours to read the printed bills prior to the budget vote, and one is left wondering how Albany turns roaring lions into mewing kittens. The problems in Albany transcend issues or parties – and that is the problem.

Finally, it’s telling that Assemblyman Steve Hawley voted No on the budget along with most (if not all) of the Assembly Republicans, yet all Senate Republicans present voted Yes on the budget.

Rightly or wrongly, Assemblyman Hawley asserted what are traditionally thought of as conservative principals when he explained his No vote. Perhaps you’re not as conservative as you portrayed yourself while campaigning. Time will tell.

Tom Klotzbach
Waterport

Editor:

The Holley Wrestling Team and coaching staff would like to thank the many people and organizations who helped organize and contributed to the success of the Holley Wrestling Program throughout this wrestling season.

Several events were conducted and without their help and support these events would not have been a success. The following are the events that took place in which many volunteers were needed: Holley JV and Varsity Wrestling Tournaments, Holley Hawk Wrestling Club, Holley Junior Wrestling Club, Holley Wrestling Club Tournament, Gold Force Wrestling Club Open Mats, and the Holley Wrestling Banquet.

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

Thank you once again!

Sincerely,

John J. Grillo
Holley Central School
Head Wrestling Coach

Editor:

Tom Rivers’ 04/09/15 article on New York’s persistently high tax environment (Click here to see “Study puts NY dead last in economic outlook”), I have no doubt was motivated by his concern for our community’s increasingly crushing tax burden. He has been consistent in his concern about this, as has been evidenced, for instance, by his advocacy in spurring local governments to insist on a more fair formula for distribution of State monies to communities of Albion’s size (yet unrealized).

However, I am concerned about his using ALEC’s report as his sole authority in this article. Though he identified them as a conservative organization, in fact, they are much more than that. They are a most powerful right-wing political lobby, primarily funded by multibillion dollar, mega companies like Exxon Mobil and Koch Industries.

They promote and write anti-tax policy bills for lawmakers, with the underlying notion that all taxes are bad. These policies support the shrinking government to drown it in a bathtub mentality of Grover Norquist, a frequent ALEC speaker. This is having a paralyzing effect on our government’s ability to devise appropriate tax and spending policies (crumbling infrastructure, anyone?). Also, I must point out, that the quoted assemblyman, David Di Pietro, is a Republican, though not identified as such. In this regard, it is no surprise that his views align with ALEC’s.

I understand that the Hub usually attempts to address issues on their own merits without politicizing them, but presenting this data without explaining its partisan bias inadvertently does just that. Having said this, other more objective findings, such as the Congressional Quarterly, also rate NYS near last in this category (No. 49). I am in agreement, our taxes are too high and reform is needed. So, what am I complaining about?

My objection is that a more honest and discerning discussion needs to be had about not only whether and how much to tax, but of whom and for what priorities. ALEC’s nihilist approach currently in vogue with conservative politicians does not allow for this, but instead encourages cookie-cutter tax policies that favor the rich and weaken the rest of us.

In fact, it is tax policy like theirs that is contributing to the widening wealth gap recently acknowledged by both sides of the political spectrum as a threat to our future prosperity and stability. We deserve a more nuanced discussion of this complex issue than ALEC’s biased findings provide.

Pat Cammarata
Albion

Editor:

Do people’s lives and property matter in the Village of Holley, NY?

It’s election time coming up in June. Village of Holley has two positions open on the Village Board.

Village budgets for DPW, village electric, Fire Department, Police Department are also being done.

But how many of the village residents know that one village trustee, Skip Carpenter, is pushing to cut the budget to the Holley Police Department, cut down on daytime patrols, and also stop overnight patrols? With a goal to eliminate the entire police department within the year altogether.

Yes, at first I thought this was just a rumor. But after doing several checking around I found out this is NOT a rumor. This is facts.

It takes on a average response time of 2 to 5 minutes for Holley Police to show up to your house after calling 911. If Holley PD needs back up, it takes an average of 15 to 20 minutes for Sheriff’s Department or NY State Police to respond – possibly longer based on were they are responding from. They could be coming from Albion, Medina, or Lyndonville.

On an average night, the Sheriff’s Department has two patrol units on, NY State Police has one patrol on. These three patrols cover all of Orleans County, handling calls. From drunk driving, accidents, shootings, domestic disputes, fights, break-ins, drug trafficking, etc. The list goes on.

Village of Holley handles over 300 calls a month. This does not include speeding tickets. That is 10 plus calls made to 911 a day on average. Response time is 2 to 5 minutes. If we cut the hours, and do away with the police department. Do you feel if you are being held at gun point, or a robber is in your house that you can wait 15 to 20 minutes for someone to show up, and that is based on if a car is available at the time and not on another call?

Is Skip Carpenter more worried about a budget, that village residents and property is not worth protecting. Look around people, the Village of Holley has one of the highest drug trafficking areas in the county because Village Board members like Skip Carpenter don’t want extra patrols on. He would rather cut the budget and cut patrols before putting your life and property first.

We need people in the Village Board that care about the safety of this village and NOT their own pocket.

If you have the time, I encourage you to run against Skip Carpenter for Village Trustee and let’s worry about the safety of this community.

No one likes budgets. But I would rather have a suitable budget and 24/7 police protection than no budget and no protection because a Village Board member doesn’t want a Police Department.

Steven Gergely
Village of Holley

Editor:

Does Article 10 trump Article IX???

In your recent article an Orleans County official is quoted as saying: “They’re putting pressure on the locals and they have no control.”

This is precisely what Apex wants everyone to believe that only the siting board has control over the decisions on power generating facilities. It appears they have successfully convinced our county and local officials to give up their home rule rights and roll over in the face of the promise of “millions of dollars” for the county, towns and landowners.

It is a sad day in the United States of America when ordinary citizens no longer have a say in what happens in their communities, their neighborhood and their lives. We are about to be bamboozled just as they were in Wyoming County.

Article IX is home rule. Article X allows 5 members of the NY state government to make the final decision on siting of power stations generating over 25 MW.

Have we given up home rule to 5 members of the NY state government?
5! Is that democracy in action??

Regards,

Susan E. Dudley
Lyndonville