Editor

The ongoing catastrophe at the border is a direct result of the pro-criminal, anti-American policies of the Biden-Harris administration. Under its failed policy decisions, there has been an unprecedented spike in illegal crossings at our Northern Border, including an 846% increase in one sector alone, putting the safety of our families at risk.

Under the Biden-Harris administration, hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants, many with criminal records, have been released into the United States. As of July 2024, data shows that the Biden-Harris administration has released 425,431 convicted criminals and 222,141 individuals with pending criminal charges into the United States. Among them, 62,231 were convicted of assault; 56,533 of drug-related offenses; 14,301 of burglary; 15,811 of sexual assault; and 13,099 of homicide.

These criminal illegal immigrants are allowed to remain in our country under Kamala Harris’ border policies. The Biden-Harris administration has failed to remove 99.7% of the illegal immigrants released into the United States, contributing to the rising numbers of criminals in our neighborhoods. Many have committed heinous crimes against American citizens, such as the murders of mother-of-five Rachel Morin, college student Laken Riley, and 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray.

In Rochester, an illegal alien who had been apprehended by DHS in 2023 was released and then murdered Joselyn Jhoana Toaquiza on her birthday, later burying her in a public park. These vicious and heart wrenching acts could have been prevented with strong border policies and an end to pro-criminal bail reform practices that allow dangerous criminals to be released back into our communities. House Republicans passed the Laken Riley Act, of which I am an original co-sponsor, to ensure that illegal aliens charged with a crime remain in police custody until their cases are adjudicated. Our immigration laws must prioritize the safety of American citizens and ensure that criminals are deported.

The surge in illegal crossings at the Northern Border also poses a significant threat to our national security. Since the start of the Biden-Harris administration, 85% of individuals on the terror watchlist attempting to enter our country illegally have crossed over the Northern Border.

Needless to say, our Northern Border is under siege. More people crossed the Swanton Sector of our Northern Border in 2023 alone than in the entire period from 2012 through 2022. In fiscal year 2024, that record has already more than doubled, with 15,612 encounters reported from October to July.

To address this dangerous situation, I have introduced legislation to establish a Northern Border Coordination Center. This will enable the Department of Homeland Security to effectively implement the Northern Border Strategy, enhance training, and improve information-sharing among federal, state, local, and international partners. By doing so, we can secure the Northern Border and protect NY-24.

New Yorkers deserve a government that provides for secure borders and safe communities. I will continue to advocate for policies that protect our border, support law enforcement, and ensure the safety and prosperity of our families. We must stop the flow of dangerous criminals and terrorists into our country through the Northern Border.

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney, NY-24

Cleveland, Oswego County

Editor:

The Economist has endorsed Kamala Harris. They warn that a “second Trump term comes with unacceptable risks.”

Moody’s Analytics, which evaluates risk, performance and financial modeling, compared the economic promises of the Presidential candidates and concluded that a Trump presidency would be an economic disaster.

The Wall Street Journal’s survey of economists shows that Mr. Trump’s economic plans are more inflationary than Ms. Harris’s and would add more to the deficit, plus The Wall Street Journal’s own analysis shows that Mr. Trump’s plans would explode the national debt.

Scientific America endorsed Kamala Harris because she “offers the country better prospects, relying on science, solid evidence and the willingness to learn from experience.  She pushes policies that boost good jobs nationwide by embracing technology and clean energy. She supports education, public health and reproductive rights. She treats the climate crisis as the emergency it is and seeks to mitigate its catastrophic storms, fires and droughts.”

Republican officials view Mr. Trump as a threat to our national security. General John Kelly, former Chief of Staff to Mr. Trump, stated that Mr. Trump “has nothing but contempt for our democratic institutions, our Constitution, and the rule of law.”

General James Mattis, Mr. Trump’s former Secretary of Defense, stated: “His use of the Presidency to destroy trust in our election and to poison our respect for fellow citizens has been enabled by pseudo political leaders whose names will live in infamy as profiles in cowardice.”  William Barr, Mr. Trump’s former Attorney General, stated: “If he was in the White House again, he will always put his own interest and gratifying his own ego ahead of everything else, including the country’s interest.”  Mark Esper, former Secretary of Defense under Mr. Trump, “I do regard him as a threat to democracy, democracy as we know it, our institutions, our political culture, all those things that make America great and have defined us as, you know, the oldest democracy on the planet.”

I believe you already know that Mr. Trump is an egotist and a racist not just in verbal comments but in his policy choices. When North Korean leaders praised Mr. Trump he stated he fell in love with the North Korean dictator and even saluted one of their Generals while disparaging U.S. troops whose only allegiance is to the Constitution.

You know that supporting Mr. Trump will result in failed policies like his failure with Covid-19. During Mr. Trump’s administration there were refrigerator trucks outside of hospital morgues because of his failed policies.  The failure is evident in how many more Americans died because of Covid than Canadians, both in absolute numbers and in ratios of death.

Mr. Trump is a failure from the economy to healthcare to environmental disasters to national security. Mr. Trump would be a disaster for our country.  I strongly endorse Kamala Harris and encourage you to vote for her.

William Fine

Brockport

Editor:

Gaffes do occur in public and private speaking.  Some come out so badly, or give people the wrong idea, you apologize or clarify but always make sure it never happens  again. The time to put things straight passes Tuesday.

Although Democrats worry about stalling certification in places MAGA has infiltrated, it’s now time to turn to our tireless election workers both Republican and Democrat in countless precincts across the land. They have ensured for 250 +/- years that our democracy endures.

All aspects of voting, an integrally designed system of checks and cross checks most people do not bother to learn, take place under their knowledgeable and watch full eyes.

Democracy is  a beautiful thing. Ours, a beacon lighting the path for the world, is in no small measure due to their selfless contribution.  Thank you to these Patriots.

Conrad F. Cropsey

Albion

Editor:

Being somewhat of a baseball purist, I was dismayed with the New York Yankees on Wednesday evening as their inability to perform defensively at a Major League level gifted the World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

But far more alarming was former President Donald Trump’s disgusting “promotional piece” which was based upon his conjured “truths,” his outright prejudice, and was a perfect portrayal as to why he is absolutely the least capable presidential candidate in American History.

The portion of it which showed Vice President Harris was so poorly produced that it appeared to have been edited by a 3rd grader. And to think, we were supposed to be impacted by this conglomeration of her computer altered words, that were obviously not contiguous, and actually made no sense in the first place. That was certainly not a true representation of her, but more so likely his vision of what he believes of her, and he wants you to think the same!

Worse yet is his continuous premeditated ignorance regarding migrants and/or immigrants, as he uses these words interchangeably and really has no idea that they are not the same. He insults their culture, race and ethnicity with absolutely vile characterizations that does nothing more than promote his evil and unfounded stereotypes and prejudice. Why, because unfortunately some see that as a strength he possesses, as opposed to further proof of his ignorance. And with that realization alone – he believes that you will vote for him!

In this case my primary concern is for the younger and possibly newer voters, and how they may be processing this newly generated mess of an electoral process. Some of you may know that I am a retired teacher who taught in your community for 15 years and during some election seasons I conducted a very unscientific study that was intended to prove or disprove that most younger voters are more effected by the political position and priorities of their parents than not.

Now, as I said it was a perfectly unscientific study and it was many years ago. But in almost all cases most student’s political views were fairly well matched to their parents or the primary caregivers of their household. Of course there were always students who were perfectly opposite of their parents (like I was in my youth), but for the most part my premise was found to be the case; most of the young people that I was teaching held political beliefs that mirrored the adults at home.

And thus I believe the challenge specific to our community today is for everyone, especially the newest voters, to be strong enough to deny his prejudice, which is presumed, unfounded, and strategic. Look at him and the way that he conducts himself; he’s constantly bombastic for no reason other than to encroach upon your conscience and good will in an effort to make you believe his lies. For he knows that if he lies often enough, and loud enough, you may believe that he must be right.

No, it actually means he is loud simply because he is disguising his own inadequacies, and at the same time promoting his belief that he has some sort of near divine authority. It has absolutely nothing to do with his capabilities to be the leader of the most powerful and influential nation in the world. But for him, and unfortunately for the sake of our community and our nation on the whole, his approach and political strategy to date has been to a degree successful. If you may be a student of history, you might recall how this had worked previously; then known as Hitler’s Generalplan Ost. Lie and divide, lie and divide, lie and divide until your followers are unquestionably in lockstep.

And so I write this with the sincere hope that our newest electorate will vote based upon their emerging intellect, and their personal growth and maturity as the newest and proudest cornerstone of our great democracy.  By your vote please tell our community, our nation and the entire world that former President Trump does not speak for me, or my hopes and dreams for this great nation; for he is not who I am, and he is certainly not who we are.

Doug Miller

Albion

Editor:

All politicians are not alike any more than all nurses, teachers and cops are.

Some people seeking office prioritize country and their constitution over political party. Some even respect the law and know the Constitution. Some can tell you what Articles One, Two and Three are about.

Kamala Harris, as a former prosecutor, knows what is contained in amendments nine and ten. She may even have an idea what the introductory clause in amendment two says and may even know what the Founders intended when they included it.

One candidate in 2024 couldn’t tell you what the above referenced articles and amendments say regardless of the consequences of not knowing.

Vladimir Putin and Elon Musk have a favorite this year for good reason. They know which candidate would be far easier to manipulate.

What message are we sending kids if we get it wrong this time? Do we really want number 45 as a role model?

Don’t ever try to say you weren’t warned if we voters screw it up in 2024.

Thank you,

Jeff Lewis – Carlton

Jim Renfrew – Clarendon

Jess Marciano – Ridgeway

Beth Wood – Barre

Kriss Sniffen – Barre

Gary Kent – Albion

Sandra Walter – Albion

Margaret Golden – Waterport

Robert Golden – Waterport

Editor:

I recently learned that the Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) has approved a proposal from a data center that wants to locate at the WNY Science and Technology Advanced Manufacturing Park (STAMP) mega industrial site.

This plan is environmentally unjust and destructive. It is also fiscally irresponsible and will undermine sustainable economic development of the region.

The 1250-acre STAMP campus is being constructed in a rural agricultural area and is surrounded by a network of public protected lands such as the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge. The local area is home to several endangered species including the short eared owl and the northern harrier hawk and is a popular stopover point for migrating bird species, who seek out the area’s pristine waters and relative quietude.

Moreover, STAMP is being constructed on the border of the federally recognized Tonawanda Seneca Nation, whose citizens continue to hunt, fish and collect medicines on their homelands. A data center at STAMP would profoundly harm all of the beings who visit and make their homes in this area.

Data centers do not make good neighbors. The noise emitted by data centers is equal to a rock concert, with constant decibel levels between 80 dB and 120 dB. Data centers are also sources of light at night. This noise and light pollution would disrupt migration patterns of birds and drive away local wildlife, impacting subsistence practices of Tonawanda Seneca citizens and also affecting recreational hunting and fishing in the area.

Moreover, data centers are tremendous consumers of water and energy resources. They deplete and contaminate water resources, pollute the air, and strain the power grid. The proposed data center at STAMP, Project Hydroscale, would use 195 mW of electricity daily. It would also use a large quantity of water, which GCEDC proposes to siphon from the Niagara River and transport to the site in a pipeline built to carry up to 6 million gallons daily.

As GCEDC has itself admitted publicly, data centers do not fit the profile of tenants they claim to want to attract to STAMP. Importantly, because they employ a minimal, specialized workforce, they do not contribute in a significant way to local economic development. Rather, they undermine sustainable economic development by sucking up precious resources. Data centers require large plots of land and infrastructure. They are major contributors to global emissions and environmental waste that ends up in landfills due to ever-changing technology.

The lifespan of a data center is approximately 15-20 years. Their intensive resource use is not justified by their economic impact or job creation potential. Data centers represent exactly the kind of development that Western New York cannot afford.

There are already approximately 130 data centers in New York state. Many of them are located near disadvantaged communities, a designation shared by the area around STAMP. A data center at STAMP would represent a grave environmental injustice, unnecessarily waste precious energy and water resources of our Great Lakes bioregion, and negatively impact quality of life for all residents of the area.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, whose mandate is to protect our shared natural resources and shared environment, is currently considering GCEDC’s application to serve as lead agency in the SEQRA environmental review process for Project Hydroscale. This must not be allowed. The developer, GCEDC, is not capable of carrying out a rigorous and meaningful environmental review process for their own prospective tenant.

Evelyn Wackett

Wildlife Rehabilitation Specialist

Buffalo

Editor:

There has been a great deal of discussion in this forum regarding the “facts” behind making one’s decision in this year’s presidential election. As someone who misplaced his vote on Donald Trump in 2016, for me personally, it really only comes down to just a few.

FACT #1: Noon, Friday, January 20, 2017

“I, Donald John Trump, do solemnly swear, that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

FACT #2: Saturday, December 3, 2022 – “Truth Social”

@realDonaldTrump: “A Massive Fraud of this type and magnitude ALLOWS FOR THE TERMINATION of all rules, regulations, and articles … EVEN THOSE FOUND IN THE CONSTITUTION.”

FACT #3: It is neither the Democrats nor Joe Biden’s “weaponized Department of Justice” that will ultimately bring about Donald Trump’s criminal undoing. It has been thus far, and will continue to be, the Republican witnesses, the Republican evidence, Donald Trump’s own Republican words and a jury of his peers that will take care of that for America. As my dad used to say, “If you have nothing to hide you have nothing to worry about.”

I am by no means a fan of conservative Liz Cheney or her father, but she nailed it on this one: “Republicans cannot be both loyal to Donald Trump and loyal to the Constitution.”

The Constitution of the United States IS America. If, as Donald Trump has personally expressed, that The Constitution “is allowed to be terminated” in part or whole, make no mistake – none of your concerns, none of your opinions, neither the facts, or least of which your right to banter back and forth here publicly in a free press – will ever matter again.  We’ll be fighting alright, but not in a divided, burning house – instead, to the smell of burning parchment with the words “We the People …” blackening into obscurity.

Without The Constitution, there is no America that can ever be “made great” again, by anyone, at any time – including you, your children or your children’s children. In short, it’s over.

Fool yourselves all you want. By his own words and no one else, Donald Trump is that dangerous.

Matthew 7:16 “You shall know them by their fruit.”

Tom Graham

Rochester

Graham is a member of Albion High School’s Class of 1978.

Editor:

As I was driving along the other day, I was passed by a car with a “Veteran for Trump” sticker displayed on the bumper.  Even casual observers of both past and present political campaigns are (or should be) well aware of the ex-president’s overwhelmingly negative opinions of women, people of color, the disabled, LGBTQ+ members, and the military.

By word and action, he continues to disparage our armed services members, both past and present.  He reportedly called war dead veterans “losers” and “suckers.”

He said of the late Republican Senator John McCain, who was a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War: “He’s not a war hero, he was a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren’t captured.”

Trump asked that wounded veterans be kept out of military parades because “it doesn’t look good for me,” and while visiting Arlington National Cemetery with retired Marine Corps General (and future White House chief of staff) John Kelly on Memorial Day in 2017, Trump said “I don’t get it. What was in it for them?”

Gen. Kelly’s son perished in Afghanistan in 2010 and is buried there! Knowing all this (additional examples abound), I can’t imagine anything a military person (or any person, for that matter) could say to justify his/her continued support of this candidate. Have we not learned anything?

For years now, I have tried, and tried, and tried to understand the appeal of this guy, and, failing that, have yet to hear even one person logically explain their fascination with him.  In the end, I do agree with Trump when he said “I could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn’t lose voters.”

How sad, America . . . how sad.

Robert C. Frost

Barker (formerly of Lyndonville)

Editor:

Greetings, first I encourage all to take advantage of early voting here in Orleans County. It goes until Nov. 3 at the DMV building in Albion.

Next I see there will be two sides to the ballots. Since Orleans County likes Sharpies please look for bleed through that may spoil your vote.

As for Proposal 1, I will be voting “No,” based on my beliefs on slavery, murder and God. Dr. Alveda King makes sense. Here is some of her words to think about: “Every aborted baby is like a slave in the womb of his or her mother. The mother decides his or her fate…”

I come to the conclusion that babies are indeed slaves. Babies have a body of their own and a woman has her own body, however the unborn’s life depends 100% on the choices of their mothers. Whereas, the definition of slavery is “the status or condition of a person over whom any or all of the powers attaching to the right of ownership are exercised.” – Taken from Article 1(1) of the 1926 Slavery Convention writings.

Whereas Blacks Law Legal Dictionary reads: The legal definition of murder is the killing of a human being by a sane person with the intent to kill the victim or anyone who gets in the way, and with no legal excuse or authority.

This intent is known as malice aforethought. The Word Salad “legal excuse or authority” this is what I believe NY Proposal 1 is about and my God, Elohim, will see that I cast my vote against murder, especially the murdering of defenseless slaves of women.

We as beneficiaries of the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of NY already are equal by law. The unequalness that beneficiaries of the Constitution and the State of NY Constitution are an imaginary, a taught state of mind. Cured by repeating to one self, “Stop it,” I am created in the image of God and no man or woman is my better without my consent.

Moving on to January 6th 2021, I rest my case in the understanding of the US Congressional Record of January 6th 2021, the Constitution of the United States and US Supreme Court cases of Bush vs Gore & McPherson vs Blacker.

Then it is on to Trump. He already was in office for four years and secured peace in the Middle East, North Korea and Russia. I had more money to buy what I wanted and to do what I wanted under Trump. I laugh when the Harris & Biden crowd says Trump is a danger to democracy. Harris didn’t win a primary. I don’t think she got 1 vote.

Biden will most likely pardon his son, other family members and himself before he leaves office and that will be a mockery to justice. However the Democrats will clap and say wonderful. I will be writing saying his administration lacks the authority because the US Constitution was not followed to put him in office in the first place, and everyone knows that an unlawful act can never result in a lawful act.

Nathan Wade gave on-record supporting statements that help Trump. Look them up. When you are at it, look at the NY Court of Appeals Trump case which gives the appearance that the court may be to ruling in Trump’s favor. Read the transcripts.

How can local lawyers overlook that there was no victim in Trump’s fraud case. Statute of Limitations also ran out so laws were twisted to get Trump. Shame on the NY Government which chose to foolishly spend tax dollars railroading Trump because “Orange Man bad.”

My closing Points: NY Proposal 1 gives government more power to wield over the People and justifies murder.

Look how well New York Civil Rights Law art. II, § 4 provides protection that “A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms cannot be infringed.” This law is protecting us just great, stopping government overreach at every turn.

Then in DC, Hunter pled guilty and according to committee that had investigations, the entire Biden family made millions off US Government positions, all most likely will get a pardon.

My main issue though is with Illegals. Illegals broke US law. They can never have legal representation or a legal vote because an unlawful act can never ever result in a lawful act. I realize that government and every other human can have a different point of view than me, that’s the American way. However it’s my God given right not to give my consent.

Steve Colòn

Lyndonville

Editor:

We have read many arguments in the Orleans Hub and elsewhere about who should get our vote to be our next president, and whether or not we should support NY’s Proposition 1.  Here’s our take.

We form our position about voting in elections or making changes to our state constitution based on the truth that all of us are created equal by God.  We vote based on the premise that our human dignity is inherent and irrevocable – given to us by our Creator.

We are made in God’s image and likeness. We believe the Lord of the universe gave these words to the Prophet Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.” (Jer 1:5)

Therefore, our pro-life Judeo-Christian position informs our vote.

Which presidential candidate was the first president to attend the Washington D.C. March for Life in-person and speak about the sanctity of life from the womb to the tomb? Donald Trump.

Which presidential candidate has a track record of appointing U.S. Supreme Court justices who saw the complete injustice of Roe v Wade and overturned it? Donald Trump.

Which presidential candidate nominated outstanding pro-life warriors to his cabinet when he was president (e.g., Ben Carson – HHS, Bill Barr – DOJ)? Donald Trump.

Which presidential candidate believes that a woman should have the right to abort the baby in her womb throughout all nine months of pregnancy? Kamala Harris.

Which presidential candidate, as a U.S. senator, voted twice against the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act which would ban late-term abortions after five months of pregnancy (in 2018 & 2020)? Kamala Harris.

Which presidential candidate, as a U.S. senator, voted twice against the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act which would protect babies who survive failed abortions (in 2019 & 2020)? Kamala Harris.

In our book, if you can’t protect life in its most innocent and fragile state, then how can you be trusted with our lives or those of our loved ones? The Democratic Party of 2024 and its presidential and vice presidential candidates have abandoned all of their own pro-life Democrats, some of whom are our family and friends.

And what should New Yorkers do about Proposition 1? Vote No. In addition to taking away parental rights when their children are struggling with gender dysphoria, Proposition 1 also attempts to enshrine the Roe v Wade abortion protocols in the NY constitution.

In closing, we will allow Kevin Sorbo, Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta, and a pro-life protester at a recent Kamala Harris rally to have the last words:

“Referring to abortion as ‘Healthcare’ is like referring to slavery as ‘Human Resources.’” (Kevin Sorbo)

“How can there be too many children? That is like saying there are too many flowers.” (Mother Teresa)

“Jesus is Lord!” (yelled by a pro-life protester at a recent Kamala Harris rally, to whom Harris replied, “Oh, you guys are at the wrong rally.”)

Jim and Paula Simon

Yates