Editor:

I decided to come forward after reading the Union-Sun & Journal on April 30 with the article “Chickens may come home to roost in the city.” The City of Lockport’s code revision will allow homeowners to keep up to 6 hens without a permit.

I took an interest in modern homesteading during Covid and the health benefits of growing my own food. I was recently contacted by the Village of Lyndonville’s Code Enforcement Officer to get rid of my heritage flock of rare breed chickens. I asked who complained….no one.

I have had chickens on my property for 7 years without any neighbor complaints. My daughter’s former 4-H project turned into a valuable sustainable food source for my family, especially during Covid with food supply shortages and in times of fluctuating egg prices.

My hens were contained, not free ranging. There was no smell, no roosters, no roadside egg stand. Of course, since “the law has been on the books for a long time,” nothing else mattered. I relocated the chickens before the deadline. I do not anticipate being levied the $1,000 a day fine or serving the threatened year of imprisonment. I know Lyndonville is not alone in its antiquated poultry policies. Other local municipalities in Orleans County do not allow chickens which is quite shameful in a county that prides itself on a robust agricultural industry.

93 percent of cities in the US allow chickens, including New York City, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Albany. The Village of Lyndonville, with a population of about 800 people, does not. Why? What was the reason behind banning chickens within a community of one square mile? What is the relevance now?

Raising chickens is work. Not everyone will want to do it. If there are others within the Village interested in a backyard flock, please reach out to me. I have been a civil servant for 23 years in the criminal justice system. I have a B.S. degree with college coursework in Pastured Poultry, Agricultural Law and Sustainable Food & Farming.

I value the importance of standing up for what I believe in, preserving agriculture in my community and the right to grow my own food. I am not afraid to get my hands dirty and would be happy to work together to change the local law by raising awareness about the many benefits of raising a backyard flock of chickens.

Kate Hardner

Lyndonville

Editor:

I recently completed twenty-year District of Columbia metropolitan police officer Michael Fanone’s book. “Hold the Line: The Insurrection and One Cop’s Battle for America’s Soul.”

As someone who thinks truth matters, I strongly suspect that anyone who believes the January 6, 2021 attempted storming of the House of Representatives chamber by a violent mob was a lovefest isn’t fully aware of what happened that day.

Joe Biden’s predecessor continues to maintain that Fanone and dozens of others who suffered serious consequences while attempting to keep the certification of Biden as our 46th President orderly and peaceful are at the very least greatly exaggerating. (Fanone was pulled into the mob, viciously beaten and tased until he had a heart attack.)

Those still unable to accept the 2020 election results and the facts about number 45 and January 6th, 2021after reading streetwise cop Fanone’s book may need to take a closer look at this nation, our recent history, the Constitution, and the intent of—and risks taken by—patriots such as the Founding Fathers.

Sincerely,

Gary Kent

Albion

Editor:

Truth or consequences?

Orleans County voters – you have an important issue to address. Your County Legislators have put forth the proposition that your right to have local courts, the courts closest to the people, and your vote for locally elected public officers, should be taken away and ceded to New York State.

The path to the hearing on this proposed local law on May 7th has been paved with misinformation and half-truths. As the saying goes, if we fail to understand the truth, we are destined to suffer the consequences.

By Resolution 137-323 of the Orleans County Legislature, an 11-member “District Court Committee” was established. Its directive: to “study the potential implementation of a district court system in Orleans County…. and to provide a recommendation to the County Legislature regarding the merits of the establishment of a district court system.”

The report of the committee starts with the conclusion that a district court is the best option for Orleans County. It then provides anecdotal statements from the New York State Bar Association in an attempt to support that conclusion. Almost half of the committee, 5 of the 11 members, have either dissented from the recommendation or abstained from making any recommendation whatsoever. Hardly a ringing endorsement of the current plan.

Where are the facts to support making such a drastic change? Why can’t they provide definitive financial information? Where is the necessary support from the State Legislature for funding?

The crux of the committee’s report suggests substantial cost savings by substituting individual town courts for a single district court. At the same time, they admit that a vote to establish a district court does not terminate existing Town Courts (New York State Constitution (Article VI, Section 17). Towns would still need to fund local courts. So where is the promised cost savings?

The report includes a statement almost too cynical to be believed: “…. townships can minimize the cost of the justice court by substantially reducing the court’s budget, salaries and personnel and other resources to render the justice court ineffective and essentially exist in name only.” It is unconscionable that a Legislative body would accept a plan to “render the justice court ineffective.” Does this sound like a committee seeking to “improve safety, fairness, access to justice and efficiency in the administration of criminal justice”?

Our founders established three separate yet equal branches of government in the Constitution – Legislative, Executive and Judicial. Each branch is to have separate and independent powers, so that no one branch is more powerful than another.

It should not be the goal of a County Legislature to run roughshod over the Judicial branch to “render justice courts ineffective.” No one branch should have that power over another.  That is autocracy not democracy.

Please do not let the County Legislature take away your access to local courts and your right to vote for community representation. Your decision has consequences.

Hon. Sherry R. Davenport

Past President of the New York State Magistrates Association

Cortland

Editor:

Note advertisements in the Orleans Hub and Pennysaver on Rev. Dr. William Wilkinson’s presentation at the Hoag Library Thursday, May 9, at 6:30 p.m. on immigrants and race.

 A very active Christian recently asked, “Why don’t those ‘illegals’ become ‘legal?’”

The answer: most can not.  An immigration judge, Walter Ruhle, in a speech at the Buffalo Catholic Center said it’s virtually impossible.  A friend, very successful, who came from Mexico in 1993 at the age of12, has spent $35,000 on legal fees, but remains “undocumented.”

In the past, we allowed Chinese to come to work on the railroads, but wouldn’t allow them to become citizens. In 1924, we ruled that Japanese could not become citizens.

We’ve done the same thing recently with about 6 million mainly Mexican farmworkers, who came from 1986 to 2003 to work in our farms, in food processing, service industries and even health care, but blocked them from citizenship.

Secondly, it’s not the immigrant workers who are illegal. It’s their employers who are illegal.  The 1986 law, which still applies (despite two failed major bi-partisan efforts to correct it) makes it illegal to hire “undocumented” workers.

Thus, it is the growers, food processors, hotel and restaurant owners, who are breaking the law. Clearly the 1986 law was impractical and we seemingly had no intention of enforcing it. To go back nearly 40 years and do so now, would be impractical and unfair.

Even more so, it would be unfair and cruel, to evict “undocumented” workers, 2/3rds of whom have been here for over 20 years and have had children and developed families,  with no practical way to become documented.

Also, it would make no sense to undermine “small” farmers, who still rely on such workers.   Orleans County agricultural economy would suffer dearly.

We citizens of this area and good Christians should know this. But, we are inclined “un-Christianly” to blame “the least of these” (in terms of power and influence.)

Take the time and effort to learn the truth.

Come hear Rev. Dr. Willliam Wilkinson this Thursday. Read up on the program two months ago, “Are Immigrants Good for Orleans?” featuring Sheriff Christopher Bourke, major farmers, an immigrant, historian Bill Lattin and immigrant case workers.

There will be handouts on that prior program and other immigrant worker issues.

Hope to see many of you this Thursday.

Bob Golden

Waterport

Golden, a retired probation director in Orleans County, has worked on this issue since 1962, including private, county, national and Diocesan roles.

Editor:

The Village of Albion took a step forward when they determined that the towns of Albionand Gaines as well as the village must join together and create a fire district.  I commend all of the board members for having the vision and the initiative to put forward a plan that will, in the end,  best serve the needs of the residents of all three communities.

It is important that we have the best people serving as the initial Board of Fire Commissioners.  We need people who have experience in not just understanding how a fire department works, and the needs of firefighters, but also have the necessary skills and abilities to work together.

The five people appointed by the boards of the towns of Gaines and Albion as well as the village all appear to have the experience needed to accomplish the goal of getting the district off to a solid start. While some may not have a background in the fire department they each bring a great set of skills.

Al Cheverie and Jeremy Babcock have been long-term firefighters in the Albion Fire Department. Gary Mufford has been a Fire Commissioner for the Town of Barre for 15 years.  Chuck Nesbitt, former Chief Administrative Officer for Orleans County, has the expertise needed to secure the necessary funding for the district (through grants, etc.) and will understand how the district itself will fit within the county.  Dave Buczek brings experience and knowledge in dealing with emergency situations and handling people during such situations. All are great choices to handle the creation of this fire district.

Town of Albion Supervisor Richard Remley was quoted saying, “The quality of the person is more important to me than the residence” and I agree.

It would be a disservice to the communities to appoint people to these positions who do not have the necessary skills or who are unwilling to listen to any voice but their own.

The boards have given the communities a great opportunity, let’s not throw it away.

Sandra Walter

Village of Albion

Editor:

On April 21st, Governor Noem of South Dakota, who apparently believes President Biden is trying to destroy America, demonstrated conclusively that being clueless doesn’t disqualify a person from becoming that state’s governor.

She seems to think we need America’s answer to Nicaragua’s Daniel Ortega to save our nation.  Governor Noem was being interviewed by Dana Bash on CNN.

Fortunately a significant number of Republican members of the House of Representatives thought for themselves and joined Speaker of the House Johnson and most Democrats in approving funding for Ukraine.  That—to me—was an encouraging sign that Johnson isn’t the only member of the Republican majority with a mind of his/her own.

Hopefully it is not too late to give the Ukrainian defenders of their country some of what they need to rein in Putin, an autocrat who suggests we are not done having to deal with Hitler-types today.

Sincerely,

Gary F. Kent

Albion

Editor:

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney voted against aid for Ukraine. In defending her vote she wrote: “Further, we must address the underlying policies that led to this war by the United States and our European partners.”

This statement is right out of Russian propaganda. That claim is based on the fact that Ukraine was moving closer to NATO and Western countries including the United States. Ukraine was moving closer to the West because Russia had invaded and took control of Crimea and was threatening to take over more of Ukraine.

It is not an exaggeration to say allowing Vladimir Putin to take over Ukraine is similar to allowing Hitler take over the Sudetenland. Appeasement does not work. Showing weakness in the face of overt aggression will encourage more aggression, not only by Russia but also China and their aligned governments.

It is not really surprising that Ms. Tenney is spreading Russian propaganda. She has endorsed for President a man who gave classified documents to Russians and said he takes the word of Vladimir Putin over U.S. intelligence agencies.

Ms. Tenney voted against the PACT act which supports veterans injured during their time protecting our way of life and our Constitution. Ms. Tenney’s vote against aid to Ukraine shows her appeasement of Russia. Her giving voice to Russian propaganda and her votes and endorsements show her loyalty is not to this country.

William Fine

Brockport

Editor:

A lot of people are criticizing the conservatives on the Supreme Court for stalling on the Trump immunity issue.  But if you listen to Justice Alito – with whom I seldom agree due to his hubris  overreaching to impose his opinions on us rather than apply settled law –  he did say, “I am not concerned about the circumstances of the Trump case; I am concerned about the long term.”  That may concede Trump trampled over the line.

He and I come from it from opposite sides of the spectrum but he could be saying that he sees democracy in decline. I see that’s a decline because of the radical right. He sees it in decline because of change that he doesn’t like.

But were the two may meet is with a need for guardrails to make sure that something like Trump and partisan prosecution and use of the courts cannot be used to accelerate the process or completely undue democracy in one swoop as proposed by Trump.

As Nicole Wallace, former White House Bush administration official put it during her show on MSNBC, we know if Trump says it the most extreme hypothetical is going to happen.  That includes prosecution and death of political opponents. Before the Supreme Court, Trump’s  attorneys discussed that that a coup overthrowing the government could be and protected official act.

Obviously we have to wait for what the decision is. However, if the conservatives on SCOTUS install guardrails rather than creating an avenue authorizing decline, the wait may be understandable and worth it even if Trump never answers for some of his crimes.

We’ll have to see.

Conrad F. Cropsey

Albion

Editor:

With millions of New Yorkers working harder than ever to make ends meet, state lawmakers enacted a $237 billion budget nearly three weeks past the constitutional deadline. This budget deal reflects the increasing divide between the priorities of Albany Democrats and the needs of average New York families.

 This fiscally irresponsible budget, which hikes spending by nearly $8 billion over last year’s spending plan, is filled with radical policies pushed by the socialist wings of the Democrat Party. It does nothing to make New York more affordable, safer or more free.

In a clear sign that the socialists have taken charge of the Democratic Conferences, this budget includes a radical housing policy that will eliminate the rights of small business landlords to control their private property. The housing agreement that Governor Hochul is trumpeting, which includes “Good Cause” eviction, is a giveaway to the socialist tenant advocates who believe in eroding private property rights.  This will ultimately lead to less construction of new housing and less rental units coming online which will only exacerbate the current housing crisis.

This brazenly out-of-touch budget also includes a whopping $2.4 billion in giveaways to migrants who continue to enter our country illegally. With families across the state grappling with the effects of rising inflation, Democrats rejected Senate Republican efforts to provide any budget relief to middle-class families. Instead, they sent billions of taxpayer dollars to New York City to hand out prepaid gift cards to illegal immigrants.

As this budget seeks to make our state more comfortable for illegal immigrants, it fails to do anything to protect the safety of New Yorkers. In the past month, our state has had to deal with the tragic deaths of three police officers killed in the line of duty. Yet, Albany Democrats continue to push policies and spew rhetoric that makes our state more hostile to law enforcement and less safe for New Yorkers.

Governor Hochul’s strategy to tackle retail theft is to establish a task force and throw money at the problem but criminals still are not held accountable. The real solution is to empower police officers to throw these criminals in jail and give our judicial system the discretion to keep them there.

The Democrats’ obsession with catering to the needs of criminals is the driving force behind the rise in violence against police, minority and religious groups, and everyday New Yorkers. This chaos will continue until Albany makes it clear that they stand shoulder to shoulder with law enforcement to keep the people of this state safe.

New Yorkers have made it clear they believe our state is heading in the wrong direction, and this budget will only turbo-charge our decline. I proudly voted no on this disastrous budget agreement and want to assure my constituents and the people of this state that I will continue to champion public safety, affordability, and freedom in New York.

State Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt

North Tonawanda

Editor:

Last month, five New Yorkers had the privilege of attending the Citizen’s Climate Lobby Day for conservatives in Washington, DC.

We visited Congresswoman Claudia Tenney’s office to let her know that conservatives care about the environment as conservation is conservative! We asked the Congresswoman to cosponsor the Big Wires Act and thanked her for her support of nuclear energy.

The Big Wires Act is needed to enable NY to connect to clean energy in the mid-west and nuclear energy is needed to provide carbon-free constant power.

These are important steps, but more needs to be done. We are hoping Congresswoman Tenney will support us in our journey towards a carbon-free future.

Rob Johnson

Medina