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Editor:

It has become fashionable for Trump and some Republicans to bash immigrants. If you believe them, immigrants are a drag on the economy, the source of rising crime rates and other problems.

The Chairman of the Federal Reserve, Jerome Powell, on “60 Minutes” recently stated, “The U.S. economy has benefited from immigration. And frankly, just in the last year a big part of the story of the labor market coming back to better balance is immigration returning to levels that were more typical of the pre-pandemic era.”

The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office in its 10-year economic forecast said immigration is a key reason economic projections are looking better. It added that because of immigrants joining the labor-force, “we estimate from 2023-2034, the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) will be greater by about 7 trillion and revenues will be greater by about 1 trillion than they would have been otherwise.”

Based on this information it appears immigrants are an economic plus for the country. Perhaps Republican President Ronald Reagan said it best: “Thanks to each wave of new arrivals to this land of opportunity, we’re a nation forever young, forever bursting with energy and new ideas, and always on the cutting edge, always leading the world to the next frontier. This quality is vital to our future as a nation. If we ever closed the door to new Americans, our leadership in the world would soon be lost.”

Perhaps it is time for anti-immigrant Republicans not descended from immigrants to identify themselves. My guess is the group to stand up would be small-only Native Americans.

Jack Capurso

AHS 1960

Ashburn, Va.

Editor:

I am running a write in campaign for Lyndonville Village Board Trustee. Election Day is March 19th at the Village Hall.

Here is a little bit of information about myself. I graduated from Lyndonville Central School. I served in the Marine Corps for 5 years, achieving the rank of Sergeant, having over 30 Marines under my charge.

I was directly responsible for the repair/maintenance of over $500 million worth of military assets, working with a very limited budget. Currently, I work for the Town of Yates Highway Department and serve on the Village Planning Board.

I reside in the village with my wife and 2 sons. In my opinion, government should not be any bigger than what is necessary to perform its basic functions. In other words, the smaller the government, the better.

I also believe government should be fiscally conservative and responsible with taxpayers’ money. My military experience, motivation, and work ethic make me an ideal candidate for Village Board Trustee.

I vow to put the best interest of the taxpayers at the forefront of all my decision making. I also vow to be transparent in regards to all Village business, it is the taxpayers’ right to know.

Write in Justin Edwards for Village Board Trustee, March 19th, at the Village Hall.

Justin Edwards

Lyndonville

Editor:

Before I begin my letter, I just want to express it is not my intention to bash anyone, and/or cause chaos. But it is my intention to express my concern, as a mother, to Orleans County’s ongoing failure to protect the people that live here.

On January 10, 2023, my 12-year-old daughter was walking home from school with a friend, who lives very close to the school. Some who know this story will consider it “jaywalking” but due to one side of the street not having a sidewalk, nor having a safe means for the children to cross over to the other side, I would not consider it this.

On this day, my daughter was struck by a vehicle driven by an 18-year-old male. When I reached the scene of the accident, I was immediately ambushed by several people. Some expressing their concerns over my daughter, and others trying to justify the driver.

The driver was not only on his cellphone, but he was also going at a rate of speed that was inappropriate for such a heavily populated area of school children walking home.

This accident was caught on a home’s ring camera and showed any mother’s biggest fear. My daughter and her friend did everything they were taught. Stop at the side of the road, look both ways, wait for the cars to pass, and cross when it is safe and there are no other vehicles coming. My daughter’s friend made it to the other side of the road, to her driveway but unfortunately, my daughter did not. She was hit. She was thrown up on the car, where her knee went through the headlight, and her head shattered the windshield, and was then thrown a few feet off the vehicle, into the street. To this day, my daughter is still undergoing medical treatment from injuries sustained from this accident.

The driver of the vehicle did not receive any consequences for hitting my daughter. He did not even receive as little as a traffic violation. He was not arrested, he did not receive a sobriety check to make sure he was not under the influence of anything while driving, he essentially received a slap on the hand.

My daughter, my family, my daughter’s friend, and her friend’s family, live everyday with the trauma of that day…her friend witnessing everything happen and having to run to her mom for help. But the driver, the driver got to go on with his life every day like he did nothing wrong. After fighting and fighting for days, weeks, months, the only thing that was accomplished out of this accident was a sign that was placed on the road, advising drivers to slow down, and children may be crossing.

Now, 12 months and 29 days after hitting my daughter, this same driver hit another person. Thankfully it was not a child but, unfortunately it was fatal. The same driver that did not receive any tickets, or consequences for his actions just 12 short months later killed someone. Ultimately, if those persons who are elected and in positions in which to protect us, would have done more, the young man that was killed on Feb. 8 may have had a chance at being alive today. I do acknowledge the current bail reform that was put into place but there are other methods of discipline that could have been taken, when my daughter was struck.

As I stated at the beginning of this letter, it is not my intention to bash anyone or cause more chaos. But we must do better. Our DA must do better, our police force must do better. Albion is not the safe and enjoyable town it once was. Our town must start holding those, who are continuously showing reckless behavior, responsible for their actions.

Kathryn Wilston

Village of Albion

Editor:

With 57 criminal charges against Trump, it is likely he will be convicted, imprisoned and subsequently become the subject of books by historians.

Politicians have long believed that the average voter has a short memory; however historians do not. And because most widely read American historians are liberal leaning, it is reasonable to assume Ms. Tenney’s record and pronouncements will be scrutinized very carefully.

Unless she changes her position on Trump, historians will likely consign her to the long list of ethically challenged politicians who betrayed their principles for votes. Her support of Trump will likely dwarf her accomplishments.

Jack Capurso

AHS Class of 1960

Ashburn, Va.

Editor:

In a previous editorial, Jim Pratt encouraged people to start thinking more about the status quo that is prevalent in Orleans County politics.

Leaders and active members of political parties want you to trust their recommendation for a particular candidate based on their say so, with few reasons to justify their support. The crookedness in politics today is one good reason not to take all that a political party tells you at face value.

Candidates, together with political parties, need to provide more information to help voters make informed decisions for whom to support. It takes time to put this information out and for voters to read, however many problems we see in government today might be lessened if voters had the facts needed to choose the best candidates for the positions.

The actions of politicians, ever more blatant, serving themselves rather than serving the people they are supposed to represent has become the norm in politics. They use a network of like-minded party members, keeping them in power to affect the changes they want to take place.

County workers and leaders function as a “large and in charge” family with everyone in the group supporting the political agenda set forth by the leaders. The name for this type of corruption in government is “nepotism.” This is what keeps Orleans County functioning or dis-functioning the way it has for many years.

Government leaders provide jobs and in return the workers vote for these leaders to retain their jobs. The more jobs, the more votes for leaders. This is how the government network keeps government growing.

We have many supportive community members participating in county government who have done a good job, however, for some, it can be difficult to maintain the truths and beliefs they ascribe to when pressured by other party members of the group with conflicting ideas. The “go along to get along” mentality usually prevails in most cases, causing the few with righteous beliefs to cave to remain a member of the group in power.

It would be more advantageous to have a few more Democrats or even an independent candidate participating in county government to balance our current one-sided system. Maybe it would be even better if all candidates stood as individuals, not endorsed by any party. People would then be able to make their own informed decision for whom they vote based on what each candidate professed, rather than being influenced by political parties.

Individual candidates, regardless of political affiliation, who wish to be elected to serve in public office need to communicate their ideas and solutions across multiple platforms to improve Orleans County for all who live here. Ideas for sharing resources and reducing duplicate services among other things, needs to prevail to lessen the burden of ever growing government on the residents of Orleans County.

The outcome of county government should be to empower all county residents to achieve success without dependency on government. Shrinking county government is the first step toward enabling the people, who are overburdened paying for it, the resources they need to achieve a better quality of life in Orleans County.

The best government is the least government and the least government is the most efficient government. I encourage you to support leaders who have your best interests in mind.

Gary Deiboldt

Albion

Editor:

Since my letter posted on Feb. 7, I have been asked numerous questions in regards to its content.

In the political arena we all realize that an endorsement can come from any political party or organization but it is still just a recommendation for support. In the political arena of Orleans County, we know that it is predominately Republican in nature and has been recorded that way in numerous past elections.

A few more thoughts are now forthcoming regarding Mr. Sansone’s endorsement by the Republican Party.

Who is endorsing and what does it mean? – “A small group of individuals stating that in their opinion all registered Republican voters should show their support for whom they recommend.”

As a refresher, 79 Orleans County Republican Committee members met on Feb. 3 to determine a majority to decide who they will support for district attorney.

That majority, (some unknown number over 50% which was not stated), of the 79 are now suggesting to all 20,000 registered voters from Orleans County as to who they should support and ultimately vote for. Again, predominately Republicans.

Previously I addressed the fact that committee members were representing districts that they did not live in. That is not illegal by any means.

Yet when this representation seems to serve a definite purpose, as in the case of endorsement voting for a specific candidate, then this is simply a scenario that must be deemed nothing less than unethical.

If the endorsed candidate, Mr. Sansone, was aware of this unethical approach, then he is truly not the candidate Orleans County needs for District Attorney.

Letters need to be concise and to the point, they must make you think.

Start Thinking!!!!

Thank You,

Jim Pratt

Albion

Editor:

February is Black History Month. I, being thirsty for knowledge, have been looking at Black History Month for years. Not only at Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcom X, but deeper into Black History.

Both Malcolm X and M.L.K. are well known and I enjoy and get inspiration from their quotes and stories. I found both Bass Reeves and George Washington Carver both made their mark on the world. Some years ago I came across the man Robert Smalls and I have been a Robert Small’s fan ever since.

Well I wrote some letters to seven US Congressional members stating yet another displeasure and on NY Congressman Hakeem Jeffries letter I hand wrote about the human trafficking and drug trafficking on the Southern Border and that he is a backstabber and he should strive to be like Robert Smalls.

Our history is important because words are nothing more than recycled air. It is a man’s or woman’s actions that define who and what they are. I asked all the public servants that I wrote to change their ways and work for the People of the United States and not foreigners.

Of course I also mentioned that I am overtaxed. I wrote that if it is one thing all men have in common, it is their ability to error. If a man’s mistakes determine what he was, then what he does about those mistakes should determine what he is and mentioned Robert Smalls.

We all can learn from history, whether that history is good or bad. We must learn from that history and not make the same mistakes that those in history made. I leave you and your readers a Robert Smalls quote: “My race needs no special defense for the past history of them and this country. It proves them to be equal of any people anywhere. All they need is an equal chance in the battle of life.”

Steve Colon

Lyndonville

Editor:

The Supreme Court heard the case from Colorado about President Trump’s possible disqualification from holding office. I am quite sure it will not decide if the full trial below correctly concluded Trump led the “insurrection.” It will decide on problems with how to do it.

The argument proved one thing; Textualism/original intent was a tautology developed in Britain in 1948. When it is convenient, some justices rely on it and when it’s what they want.

Otherwise they ignored it. Often the key facts are assumed as what “should be” so. In fact the textualism end of this tiny band of thinkers do not want to look as what the authors said if they do not have to; the meaning is supposed to float out of the words. (When they use it.)

Original intent and the Colorado Court’s analysis was largely ignored today by these amateur historians. I actually think that rejecting the Colorado position may be warranted. It has to do with forgetting to include directions about how to implement some matters out of a statute 70 years  ago.

No matter, a lot will still have to be figured out whatever decision is reached unless the Court,  and particularly Justice Samuel Alito, does not pose false distinction that gut the provision out of existence.

But it was very interesting that Justice Sonia Sotomayor asked the historical and textualist questions and showed quite clearly the textualist/original intent analysis would dictate that Colorado should prevail! It’s courts’ jobs to figure out how to do it, not if disqualification should be done.

I couldn’t tell if Sotomayor wants Colorado to prevail. But she made the point clearly and dryly that original intent as a theory is nonsense if Colorado does not win. She showed how that analysis have been leading to originality/textualist readings are inconsistent. 1. States can gerrymander but not decide qualifications for insurrection. Or 2. Women do not have equal rights but do not have privacy rights. And so on.

In reality, American jurisprudence historically looks at new conflicting situations and starts with the Declaration of Independence and asks what is the effect on “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

Obviously law has an incredibly complex framework but incrementally it needs to consider how to accommodate these founding principles from the Declaration. There are several practical legal tools of analysis, which have different names, to help figure that out. And indeed definitions and words’ actual meanings and history are integral, often paramount.

But stop letting meaning float out of a few of the words is for legal simpletons when the answers are not easy. Law is not a seance.

Today the entire argument ripped bear – totally exposed – the legal fiction which hoodwinks people when politicians want to get their way by invoking the nonsense of original intent and textualism. Knowing what a person dead for 200 years would think is arrogance pushing the limits of sanity.

No matter how the Court unravels the layers of analysis in this case, they hopefully write a decision on how to enforce the Constitution and leave a guide for future elections and how to deal with traitors. But forget them using originalism/textualism. This decision will turn on finding loopholes.

Conrad F. Cropsey

Albion

Editor:

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney’s endorsement of Mr. Trump raises some serious concerns about her character and judgement.

Mr. Trump is guilty of sexual abuse, in which the judge stated he was guilty of rape in general parlance. Furthermore, despite the fact that Mr. Trump stated he wants to be a dictator for only one day, he told a court that he believes the Presidency carries with it total and complete immunity.

When asked if that included ordering killing of his political opponents he answered yes. That is the kind of immunity Mr. Trump believes the Presidency carries and it is the kind of immunity Mr. Trump wants; it is the immunity of a dictator and a criminal. And it is the type of Presidency Mr. Trump promises in his next administration. That is the administration Ms. Tenney endorses.

Ms. Tenney is co-chair of the “Election Integrity Caucus” which aims to restore confidence in our elections. Mr. Trump was indicted, after an investigation, of interfering in the 2020 elections. The indictment reads in part: “A conspiracy to defraud the United States by using dishonesty, fraud, and deceit to impair, obstruct, and defeat the lawful federal government function by which the results of the presidential election are collected, and certified by the federal government.”

Ms. Tenney’s endorsement shows the hypocrisy of her caucus. Her endorsement of a sexual abuser shows her lack of character, and her endorsement of an individual who wants to be a dictator shows her lack of judgement.

William Fine

Brockport

Editor:

How soon we forget about important news events as time passes.

One year ago on February 8, 2023, a spiritual revival began at Asbury University, a Christian college in Wilmore, Kentucky. It lasted for more than two weeks and was followed by people all over the world.

Have we learned anything from this event? Now that it is over, is it just a memory, a pleasant experience or a time to move on?

Spiritual revival is where Christians get serious about their faith and their way of living before God and their friends and neighbors. It must begin after a time of sincere seeking of God and His will for our lives.

This prayer then leads to a time of confession of sins and a crying out to God for His forgiveness and cleansing in our lives. As the power of God’s Holy Spirit moves in us, we begin to publicly  cry out to God for the cleansing and healing of our lives and begin to worship Him and ask for Him to work in us to love Him more, love people more and to be obedient to the teachings of the Bible and our concern for the souls of other people.

It includes a time of serious worship of God, His love and His Holiness, admitting how sinful and disobedient we are as human beings. This often begins a time of rededication of our lives and a new commitment to carry out our Lord’s Commission to us for obedience, holy living, evangelizing the lost and making disciples for Jesus Christ.

None of this will ever take place unless it begins with pastors and other church leaders who acknowledge they have failed in their calling, humble themselves, admit their own sins and become a living example for their people and the outside world.

Much of the decadence in society and the moral decline can be attributed to the lack of preaching and teaching from God’s Word. Too many pastors and Christian leaders have been more concerned with growing a big church and securing a comfortable lifestyle and future for themselves instead of preaching on sin, repentance and obedience to God. As a  result, the church in America has become weak and ineffective.

Will Revival ever take place in Orleans County or Western New York? Only if pastors, church leaders and those in the pews become serious about pleasing God rather than man.

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord!

Wayne Lemcke

Waterport

Editor:

There have been some pretty good letters lately from Charles Hartway, Gary Deiboldt and Jeanne Crane. I am sure many others feel the same way.

Our local Governments from the county down have gotten out of control. Taxing, spending, regulating, below-board backroom deals, controlling, continuously growing government and just plain out of touch self-serving.

I think the folks are at the breaking point. Who politically is to blame for this? Well to be honest it’s not the local Democrats. I can’t speak for them, although I believe they really need to step up their game.

It’s not the local Conservative Party. We are at odds with the party that we are supposed to be in with like bread and butter because of the reasons listed above. We do our best not endorse that kind of candidate and have never endorsed any of the county legislators. They have strayed way too far to the left of the Republican principles that they are supposed to govern by as well as many of the towns in this county.

The Democrats and the Conservatives to be honest don’t wield much power in this county other than giving a candidate that isn’t in the Republicans’ game a line to be on the ballot.

So who is responsible for this taxing, spending, regulating, backroom dealing, out-of-touch local government municipalities? Anyone reading this past sentence, if you didn’t know the make up of Orleans County at first would think this has to Democrats. Right? No, the county is totally controlled by Republicans.

So how do these same politicians keep getting on the ballot election cycle after election cycle? Which leads into why I’m writing this letter. They are picked by the Republican committees. Every two years or even years the committees have to reorganize. 2024 is a reorganization year. These are elected positions.

The chairman of each of the 10 towns hopefully with the help of some of the committee goes out to get signatures for each of the committee members in the towns’ election districts. These committee people are supposed to represent you in each of those election districts.

There are 40 election districts in the county and two people can be elected to each district. You do not have to live in the same town and you can run for any election district within the 139th Assembly district. These are the people that endorse these same local candidates every time.

I’ll bet many of you did not know that the committee position is an elected position. You can run for this position if you are not happy with the people they are picking. The people on these committees are usually hand-picked, put on the committee and will vote the way the party tells them. Not all of them, but look what you keep getting from the candidates they endorse.

So who’s on these committees? Who is it than does the endorsing and why would any Republican endorse these taxers and spenders every time?

Here’s why. Many of the town committees have elected officials on them or their family members. So they pretty much endorse themselves. County Legislators sit on them. Highway superintendents, councilman, town supervisors, clerks, people that hold high jobs in the county, family members of elected officials, ex-elected law enforcement. You get the picture?

It can be very lucrative and beneficial for one and one’s family to be on these committees with jobs and appointments from the higher ups, to go along to get along. This one-party rule for so long is corrupted now. My opinion, many of Republican leaders are not governing with Republican principles. By changing the committees you can change the candidates.

So, I agree principled political outsiders need to run for the committees and to run for public office In our county. Contact the Orleans County Board of Elections Mike.Mele@orleanscountyny.gov or Janice.Grabowski@orleanscounty.gov and ask them for a petition pack to run for the Republican, Democrat , or Conservative Committee in your town. The Conservative Party would love more fire-breathing constitutional conservatives in our committee, so run. The petitions will start Circulating on Feb. 29 and need to be turned in around April 1. You would be on the ballot for the June 25 Primary.

If you don’t run these people are all back in again and no one would even know it. Complaining does nothing. Time for action. This is not going to stop unless good people step up. You won’t get a chance for another two years.

Below you can see the committee people from the three parties. You connect the dots. Good luck.

Republican Committee members: Albion – Peter Hendrickson Jr., James White, Deborah Zicari, Richard DeCarlo Jr., Marc O’Hearn, Sabrina DeCarlo, Jeffrey Ashbery, Robin Riemer, Dawn Allen, Sarah Basinait, Justin Oosterling and Adam Hazel; Barre – Jason Spencer, Lynn Hill, Bert Mathes and Kelly Dudley; Carlton – John Fitzak, Chris Bourke, Jeff Gifaldi, Tracy Cliff, Gayle Ashbery and Lynda Woolston; Clarendon – Megan Rombaut, Chris Caufield, James Patt, Tracy Chalker and Kevin Rombaut; Gaines – Michael DelBasso, Susan Heard, Kenneth Rush, Brett Boring, Lisa Mannella, Donald Allport, Robert Engle and Sharon Harding; Kendall – Nadine Hanlon, Michael Schultz, Lisa Stenshorn, ALeta Martin, Walter Christ and John Becker; Murray – Michael Mele, Shannon Megna, Gerald Rightmyer, Michael Christopher, Kathleen Case, Louise Passarell, Joe Sidonio, Dirk Lammes Jr., Cynthia Oliver, Lynn Wood, Kellie Gregoire and Adam Moore; Ridgeway – Charlie Smith, Kenneth Baker, Ayesha Kreutz, Dawn Meland, Gary Lawton, Matthew Kreutz, Michael Snyder, Melody Parker, Laura Bentley, Kevin Bogan, Amanda Kroening, Stephen Songer and Nancy Traxler; Shelby – James Zelazny, Dale Root, Tom Wilnas, Christopher Woodruff, Steven Seitz Sr., Christine Park and Benjamin Flansburg; Yates – Roger Wolfe, Russell martino, Lynne Johnson and Terry Chaffee; Executive Committee – Skip Draper as chairman, Gayle Ashbery and Mike Mele as co-chairs, Kim DeFrank as treasurer, and Mary Woodruff as secretary.

Orleans County Democratic Committee members include: Albion – Cynthia Turner, Michael Schmackpfeffer, Darlene Benton, Larry Harvey, Patricia Cammarata, Sandra Walter, Philip McKenna and Gary Kent; Barre – Maureen Beach, Janice Grabowski, Kriss Sniffen and Elizabeth Wood; Carlton – Jeffrey Lewis, Robert Golden, Eileen Aina and Jeanne Crane; Clarendon – James Renfrew, Donna Peterson-Spence and Christine White; Gaines – Bill Lattin Theodore Swiercznski and Ann Consler; Kendall – Catherine Renko, Kathryne Wahl, Jonathan Gillman and Lynn Szozda; Ridgeway – Jessica Marciano; Shelby – Darlene Rich and Dan Nogle; and Yates – Agnes Recco.

Orleans County Conservative Committee members include: Albion – Alan Rosenbaum; Barre – Allen Lofthouse and Kerri Richardson; Carlton – Heather Stone, Michele George and Catherine Appleton Logan; Clarendon – John Lusk and Robert Hills; Gaines – David Thom and Adolf Genter; Kendall – Beverly Lofthouse and Joshua Brusso; Murray – Vangie Behrend; Ridgeway – Lauren Sullivan, James Dix, James Wachob and Andrew JT Bresett; Shelby – Kim Tonas and Mark Wambach; and Yates – Sandra Lauricella, Stacey Freas, Paul Lauricella Jr. and Vanessa Lauricella.

Paul Lauricella

Yates

Conservative Party Chairman in Orleans County

Editor:

I am tired of the politics at the national level where nothing seems to be getting accomplished because of a few. The promises never seem to become reality.

I am tired of the politics at the state level where everything is determined by a few and promises are made to everybody.

Now I listen and watch what a few are doing in Orleans County.

The Republican Committee for Orleans County has spoken and they have made their endorsement for the upcoming 2024 District Attorney election. They have selected an out-of-county resident, John Sansone, for the position.

This was a weighted vote election. Each town committee member gets a certain number of votes/points, ranging from 45 to 184. The final tally of votes/points is made and the endorsement goes to the individual who has the highest number of votes/points. It is very possible that the endorsed candidate got fewer individual cast votes but just had a higher vote/point total. Does not sound fair, but that is the process.

The nominated attorney presently lives in Niagara County. He currently holds a limited part-time Assistant DA position for Orleans County and multiple part-time non-prosecutorial positions within local County towns and villages, with numerous promises made for future change upon election.

Susan Howard has dedicated 20 years to the DA’s office, 11 as 1st ADA, prosecuting 100s of criminal cases, including numerous felonies. Her accomplishments as an ADA go on and on. She is a lifelong county Republican and resident. She realizes changes are necessary after any administrative election.

As a lifelong Republican and resident of Orleans County I would hope that each town committee member did their due diligence on both candidates; in regards to their character, work ethic and track record prior to voting.

The voting public is not aware of the fact that Republican committee members do not have to live in the town they represent. Example: Individuals living in Medina could fill a committee vacancy on the Town of Albion committee. Would this opportunity possibly be misused to gain additional votes favorable to a specific candidate in the overall county-wide committee vote? Would Orleans County voters be quite upset to find out that some Republican committee votes were based on a “payback” due to a previous County election. The good old boys club stating “You didn’t support me then, so I won’t support you now.” Especially true if those members were part of the previously mentioned payback club.

FYI, all town committee names with corresponding addresses are indeed available to the public for viewing at the County Office Building, Elections Office and the facts speak for themselves.

Politics can be a dirty game. Some play the game, some do not, that’s why character is so important in an elected official. Those of us that believe in the U.S. Constitution realize that free speech and the ability to express one’s opinion is adamant to our survival in a democratic society. Thank you.

Jim Pratt

Albion

Editor:

How sales tax is shared among local governments has been an issue for a few years now as Mr. Deiboldt mentions in his letter. He also has many other valid points regarding county government.

In recent years the Democrats have tried to make a difference. We have vetted several persons for the Legislature. We’ve had a few successes, very few. The enrollment is not in our favor.

Initiating change is very difficult when your party is represented by only one individual. Redistricting could be helpful and we are trying to make changes and we have not given up hope on this issue.

I am sure you all remember the nursing home issue. The Democrats opposed this sale. We held informational meetings, rallied on the Courthouse Square, wore T-shirts denouncing its sale.  But in the end, the Party Bosses won. And now what do we have? A sale to an out-of-state company, COVID, deaths, investigation by the Attorney General and lawsuits.

Then on Feb. 3, the Republicans met for their endorsement process. Read it, and read it again! The Party Bosses spoke once more, and voted with no regard to credentials, past experience and expertise. This is Orleans County, but I will continue to live here, pay my taxes, and enjoy its beauty and my family.

In closing, I would like to challenge Mr. Deiboldt to run for the Legislature. Form your own party, get your petitions, and gather signatures. It will cost money and time, but give it a try.

Thank you,

Jeanne Crane

Carlton

Editor:

I recently spent time as a patient at Batavia’s United Memorial Medical Center. It was a positive experience under adverse circumstances.

Everyone from Dr. Shashank Trivedi to the pleasantly charming and helpful housekeeper was cheerful and uplifting to be around. The nurses and support personnel had the intangibles that make something that otherwise might be difficult and discouraging as enjoyable as possible. Those whom I interacted with and who cared for me behaved professionally to a person.

When you arrive at 3 in the morning feeling as though you have been through a meat grinder and are treated as if you really matter by people who have never met you, it’s touching. The entire hospital team conveyed a caring manner that helped make what began as a lousy experience far more tolerable.

This is my attempt to publicly thank each of them for the treatment they provided.

Sincerely yours,

Gary Kent

Albion

Editor:

Orleans County legislators have been deceiving taxpayers for many years by using ever increasing sales tax revenue to offset the true cost of the growing county government.

Legislators make themselves look good by holding down the tax rate, however they are sucking the life blood out of the communities that they take their revenue from in the process. Being a legislator is no easy task, however county government needs to be responsible to the residents of Orleans County and not simply function as the long arm of our corrupt state government by pushing unfunded mandates on us.

Our towns and villages are starving on the crumbs given back to us by county government. Just look at the decay in the Village of Albion! This is the result of county government operating with impunity!

Sales tax revenue should be divided equally between county and the towns and villages within the county. This will make the county tax rate higher, however it will also make town and village tax rates lower. Thus, showing the true cost of our ever growing county government.

A fair way to distribute sales tax revenue among the towns and villages in the county would be to make an assessment of county-owned buildings and property that are off the tax rolls in each community. Each town and village would be compensated, using sales tax revenue based on the value of real property owned by the county, to make up for the loss of taxable property in each town or village.

With this, Albion, being the county seat, will finally receive due compensation for all the county property that is off the tax rolls, helping to make up for the high cost of hosting the ever growing county government.

Legislators have had opportunities to lower the tax rate, however the county chose to grow government by spending over $1.8 million dollars purchasing the former Bank of America building in the village of Albion, together with the former GCC building and 20 plus acres of raw land in the town of Albion. So now the County has shrunk the tax base in Albion even more!

County legislators are treating town and village residents unfairly with these new acquisitions. Albion residents need to be fairly compensated for these new purchases to lessen the additional tax burden borne by residents to make up for the loss of taxable property in their community.

Legislators have had opportunities to increase future revenue, however they have continue to grant “corporate welfare” in the form of PILOT, sliding property tax payments and sales tax exemptions for equipment and construction materials to businesses.

We need these tax revenues much more than the companies that receive them! Recently, the county  awarded Ontario Fruit $600,000 in corporate welfare to put an addition on their building and hire 10 workers. That’s $60,000 for each minimum wage job! Should county residents be footing the bill for this? If the company expects to process over 220,000 more bushels of apples, shouldn’t they plan for their own expansion? That’s what good businessmen do rather than groveling to the county for welfare! Come on guys, have you no shame?

In years past, we have had county legislators who approved the construction of the county jail (the monstrosity) next to the Courthouse, which shows the ineptness of former county officials. You can see from this example that legislators don’t always make the best decisions on behalf of county residents. (In my opinion, the county should tear down that jail and send felons over to the Albion Correctional Facility. There’s plenty of room over there with most of the criminals on the street now!)

Maybe the county needs to start sharing services with the state! Also, did the county really need to spend $319,000 on an armored “swat” vehicle? Albion already has one! Save us all some money by sharing it with them for whatever reason you need it!

We currently have some legislators who have taxpayer interest in mind, however we have some that do not. Many legislators are re-elected with no one challenging their position. This sends the message to them that either they are doing a good job, or that no one cares what they do. I think they believe both.

One serious drawback to the rising cost of  county government is that it strains the limited resources that families have causing them to do without. Those who can’t pay their bills wind up needing county resources to get by. Of course this is what keeps governments growing. Without dependency, government has less purpose.

Maybe we need a few more creative people to work on the taxpayers’ behalf. I urge you to keep up with what county government is doing and contribute in whatever way you can to slow the decreasing quality of life caused by our government, with its voracious appetite for your dollars. President Reagan said that “big government IS the problem.” This could not be more true here in Orleans County!

Respectfully submitted,

Gary Deiboldt

Albion (resident for 33 years)