Editor:

Friends, neighbors and community residents, it is great to see so many people engaged in what is going on currently in the Village of Albion, even though I would rather have it of a more positive engagement.

I am not going to dazzle you with a bunch of dates and sound bites – that is being done already.  I am most happy that many residents and concerned citizenry have FOIL requested information to be able to decide for themselves where their feelings lie.

As one of your elected officials, my role is to first consider the community and then responsibly work with the village employees. Sometimes this includes great news and sometimes you must have the strength to deliver bad news.

I want to be clear, our village police force is a very vital part of our community. Like any other departments, when there is a disagreement we try to work it out. If we had underpaid our officers – no question, they would want reimbursement yesterday, and rightly so. It was an error.

In this particular case according to the contract and the verbiage, they were overpaid. The overpayment continues. We have communicated with the leadership and union representatives of the police force and informed them of the overpayment, even before the amount determined by the auditors was finalized. We informed the union leadership that their pay would be adjusted according to the contract. After one payroll it was reversed, against legal advice, and continues this day.

No one wants their wages cut, but we need the courage to do that until an agreement can be reached on the rest.  As a village trustee we must exercise fiscal responsibility in executing the police contract salaries as it is written.

As an aside, we are currently trying to process and hire additional police officers to be fully staffed and that will have an effect on our budget.

Again, I would encourage you to personally review the facts.

Respectfully,

Joyce A. Riley

Deputy Mayor for Village of Albion

Editor:

On March 15, Angel Javier, Jr. was duly elected mayor of Albion. Angel is an upstanding citizen, a U.S. military veteran (Marine), and a longtime friend of mine. He and his family, through their own hard work and perseverance, are the embodiment of the “American Dream.”

It was recently reported in the Hub that Albion Police Department officers have been allegedly overpaid over the course of five years. This finding was the result of a forensic audit conducted by a respectable accounting firm, The Bonadio Group.

I make no claims here about whether APD officers should remit the alleged overpayments, or about whether law enforcement officers are paid adequately. But, whether the officers were overpaid, or not, is a knowable fact. The errant claims about “breach of a union contract” and “violations of public employee laws” are neither based in law, nor fact. There either was and continues to be an overpayment, or there was/is not.

Unfortunately, most of the public discourse surrounding the alleged overpayment has focused on the mayor, personally. It should not.

Mayor Javier is a proud Republican, and he does not believe in “defunding the police.” I know; we have debated the subject in the past. Mayor Javier should be praised for bringing this issue to light because the taxpayers have a right to know where their money is being spent.

Sweeping errors like this under the rug is exactly the kind of behavior that sows distrust among the public in their elected officials. Sunlight is the best disinfectant.

Transparency and the accurate accounting of taxpayer money are hallmarks of good government and good governance. Concealing errors, hiding relevant information from the public, sweeping things under the rug, and circling the wagons are all hallmarks of authoritarian regimes. This disclosure will likely hurt the good mayor politically; it should not. Make no mistake, Mayor Javier did the right thing.

At the very least, the error should be corrected so the Village books reflect the actual amounts paid to APD officers. Taxpayers deserve that much. Thank you, Mayor Javier, for being an adroit steward of taxpayer money.

Respectfully yours,

Andrew “Drew” Remley

Oakland, California – formerly of Albion

Editor:

Honorable, informed and discerning people understand that President Biden won the election by a large majority in the fairest election ever. (Not one precinct changed after full and repeat audit of every allegation.)

A distinguished group of Conservative Judges – including the former Bush Solicitor General which is the nation’s highest legal position – have just published a report evaluating the lies to the contrary. Click here to see “LOST, NOT STOLEN: The Conservative Case that Trump Lost and Biden Won the 2020 Presidential Election.”

Will the report or any series of reports and investigations make a difference? I fear not but it depends on people rediscovering the meaning of “honor.”

Politics  – particularly in the Trump/MAGA (RINO) era – has degraded from discussions of best middle of the road alternatives into hatred posing as politics and radical conservatism. We all know that friends and families are fractured as never before. There is nothing to be proud about there.

It’s as “If you do not support MAGA, your thoughts, whatever they are are, are bogus, bad and we do not care what the objective facts are.” This is incredibly self-destructive thinking but it is where things are.

The fact so many are frustrated because so much is not working well is proof this is a shortsighted and inflexible approach – wrong headed at a granular level. It devalues listening, patience and truth. Those virtues are honorable.

Look at dictatorships, autocracies, and Banana Republics with militia  groups – with people dedicated to carrying  out the antidemocratic dirty work of intimidation or death. At MAGA rallies and in public speech violence and intimidation are openly urged. These strong-arm tactics are exactly how the enemies of democracy work and MAGA has stolen part of that play book to use on us. That’s low.

Threats, false and misleading claims about the other’s side’s beliefs and positions, enlisting armed violent people to induce people and officials to ignore legal and constitutional duty all are used to advance  antidemocratic enterprises. Each helps enforce what is not working and preserve the influence of ineffective leaders.

Indeed on Jan 6th, MAGA and its leaders proved small, cowardly, and craven when advance warnings were intentionally ignored and police and others died.  No informed and honorable person can rightfully ignore there was advance planning, people with guns in trees, caches of explosives? This is fact, not fiction. There was no honor there except for the valiant capital guards.

Ultimately how a person deals with these hate, lies and intimidation tells you how intellectually facile and honorable the person is. A well working democracy is frail as it relies on honor and smart hard working people pulling together. But try we must.

The KKK era and “Know Nothing” party of the 1830s were similar stains to our everlasting shame – both similarly crude, paranoid, bigoted, delusional, hate dominated movements. They too failed only because the best of democracy won.

So how we stop mindless hatred this time around? If we look at the history of countries, nationalities, religions, political beliefs, and ethnic groups in conflict, the answer is we have NO sure way to simply force self destructive hate to stop, rebut baseless rumor, and cause acceptance of good ideas to cure oppression.

It requires people open their eyes, see their lot, take stock, and unlock their souls as well as their minds to find what is true. First take on lies and then violence and intimidation can be stopped. Good people do that.

Hate, ruin and running with a crowd are easy. Understanding, open mindedness and working towards success are hard.

As with the writers of this new report, we have to stand up to speak the truth and hope it falls on ears which are ready to listen to their better selves.

Conrad F. Cropsey

Albion

Editor:

On Wednesday, July 13, the Village of Albion Recreation Department conducted a Childrens Carnival at Bullard Park for anyone in Albion and surrounding communities.  We had over 350 people in attendance having a great time. Please check out the Village of Albion Recreation Department Facebook page for this event and all upcoming events.

Special thanks go to Best of Tymes Party Rentals, and Christina Nenni and her staff for providing all the games and activities. Thanks to Head Start, Frosty and Friends, and the Amazing Magician with the magic show and anti-bullying message. This event could not have happened if it were not for those mentioned. Best of Tymes Party Rentals went above and beyond with their generosity and love for proving smiles to the children and people in the many communities who attended.

The Park Supervisors were wonderful all day proving a fun and safe environment along with helping set up and cleaning up following the carnival. Thanks to the Liberty Partnership from Byron-Bergen and Albion, along with the Medina Recreation Department for transporting children to our event.

Thanks to the Village of Albion Mayor and Trustees for their support, along with the Maintenance Department and Village staff.

We hope that this event will be a yearly event with hopes of getting better next year.

I, as the Village of Albion Recreation Director, am very proud and honored to be in this capacity to provide recreation, leisure and create fun events for the community.

Thanks as always,

John J. Grillo

Village of Albion Recreation Director

Editor:

New York State Senator Rob Ortt, in a letter printed in the Orleans Hub, expressed his dismay that his colleagues failed to adequately fund safety measures for our schools.

Mr. Ortt failed to mention that he also voted against funding our schools claiming that the budget is “skyrocketing to completely unaffordable levels.” The budget Mr. Ortt voted against will provide funds for the wellbeing and learning loss in response to the trauma of the pandemic, including after-school programs and mental health professionals.

It would also fund recruiting and retaining teachers, (schools are in the business of teaching, after all). Currently there is legislation in New York State Senate, S6338, that addresses some of Mr. Ortt’s school safety concerns.

Mr. Ortt has met with educators, parents and constituents in his district all telling him we need this legislation. As the Republican leader in the Senate, Mr. Ortt should assure bipartisan support for this measure. Mr. Ortt knows what his constituents need, will he support his constituents or is he beholden to special interest?

William Fine

Brockport

Editor:

The safety and security of children and students must always remain a priority in New York. While recent events of pure evil and violence have rattled our state and nation, the need to address the root cause of the problem is more urgent than ever.

I recently held several meetings with school superintendents, school board members, teachers, and parents from throughout the 62nd Senate District regarding school safety. We discussed the need for state funding of School Resource Officers (SROs) in every school building, implementing technology that would safeguard students, faculty, and staff, and improving the availability of mental health services to students at all levels of schooling.

When asking the schools in my district if a full-time SRO is wanted by parents, teachers, and administrators, the resounding answer is: “of course.” Unfortunately, paying for these officers has proven to be a challenge for some of the smaller and more rural schools in my district. My colleagues in the Legislature need to understand that when safety policies are passed, we need to provide proper funding. New York needs school safety equity: no school should have to go without an SRO.

Another hurdle faced by our schools is the lack of a timely approval process by New York State for school hardening plans. There is no excuse for districts to be waiting several months, or more, to get state approval. Each day that passes before a safety project is signed off is another day that our children could be at risk. To ensure that technologies and other important improvements are implemented quickly, there must be a more streamlined and efficient process.

Last, but not least, our schools are faced with a severe lack of adequate mental health services, both in and out of the classroom. The past two years have taken a mental toll on students. Due to current law, school psychologists who see patients in school are unable to meet with these same students outside of the building’s walls.

Because of this stipulation, not only is there a lack of in-school psychologists available, but parents are now forced to seek outside help for any additional services. We must increase the number of professionals entering the pediatric psychology field by removing this roadblock. By passing legislation that allows school psychologists to help our students both in and out of the classroom, we will be able to provide the care and support they need.

Efforts to increase school safety must remain a priority in the state Legislature. My colleagues and I recently introduced the “Safer NY Plan,” an extensive legislative package equipped to prevent targeted violence against New Yorkers. The package involves re-investing in the mental health system, deterring and fighting violent crime, supporting communities with violence prevention Task Forces, and more.

All New Yorkers must be safe from violence, and as legislative officials, we must do everything in our power to prevent further tragedies. Our Conference is committed and stands ready to enact real solutions to protect our school children.

State Sen. Robert Ortt

North Tonawanda

(Ortt represents the 62nd Senate District which includes all of Niagara County, all of Orleans County, and the towns of Sweden and Ogden in Monroe County.)

Photo by Tom Rivers: These two watch the fireworks on July 4 in Lyndonville.

Editor:

The Lyndonville Lions Club held its 48th Annual Independence Day Celebration on Monday, July 4th. The fireworks display, which culminated the festivities, has become one of the largest shows in all of Western New York.

The fireworks display is by far the greatest expense that the Lions Club incurs during the celebration each year. It is only due to the response and support of area businesses, organizations and the general public that a show of this magnitude is possible.

I would like to extend a sincere thank you to each of the over 45 businesses and organizations that made contributions toward this year’s show. In addition, thanks to all those people who gave donations, who placed money in our Independence Day Firecracker Cans, who dropped money in the firecracker barrels being pulled along the parade route and who dropped money in the firecracker barrels on the school grounds. This year’s response for donations was awesome.

Again, without the tremendous community-minded support of each and every one of you, a display such as this would not be possible. With your continued support in the years ahead, I trust that displays like this may continue well into the future.

Sincerely,

Wes Bradley

Lyndonville Lions Club Fireworks Fundraising Chairman

Editor:

The Supreme Court’s decision returning abortion rights to the states is troubling on many fronts. The decision inserts the state between women and their health care.

How will prosecutors determine if there was an abortion or a miscarriage? Will prosecutors have access to your internet searches or phone records? Will your mail or home deliveries be subject to government scrutiny.

If a pregnant woman travels across state lines on vacation, will she have to tell government officials of her travel plans? Will women or their doctors have to inform the state of their pregnancy and file progress reports every three months?

There are exceptions to save the life of the mother but what does that mean? How sick does a patient have to be before medical professionals can act?

The first sign of grave concern could be an increase in blood pressure. Do doctors and health professionals, who have expertise in these matters, now have to get approval from some government bureaucrat, who has no expertise? Some cancer treatments can also be used as abortifacients. Will they be allowed to treat pregnant cancer patients?

This ruling will also fundamentally change the relationships among the states. Will states that oppose abortion try to prosecute abortion providers in other states? Can the mother of a teenage pregnant daughter be prosecuted for taking her across state lines for an abortion? Would someone in a state where abortion is illegal be allowed to sue someone in a state where abortion is legal? The Supreme Court’s ruling inserts government intruders between women, their doctors and their religious advisors. This decision is truly troubling.

William Fine

Brockport

Editor:

I just received a letter from a friend in Europe. There many predict we, the US, will be an autocracy within 3 to 4 years.

Ben Franklin said we are “A democracy, if you can keep it.” Democracy is a finely turned and balanced endeavor you have to work at. Government created the foundation allowing people to cooperate and  flourish. King George did not permit that. Under him government was all about his maintaining power and accumulating wealth for him and his powerful friends. His whims were law.

Therefore what I write does not address MAGA – his intellectual heirs and the true RINOs of today’s world. They love Trump so much they are willing to get in bed with racists, convicted criminals, disbarred lawyers and all manner of people who do not care to put the common good first.

On this day, the Fourth, we celebrate our founders, the men and women who lost their lives for us, Democrats and Republicans who talk to each other and make sure bad apples, no matter their label, are weeded out.

We celebrate those who remember that free speech and new ideas can not be regulated out of existence as that diminishes us all and stifles the never-ending search for truth and personal advancement.

Right now there are some who, like King George, do not put honor and inalienable rights first as did our forefathers. They stand in the way of our celebration of free speech, freedom of religion, the Ninth Amendment protecting unenumerated but fundamental human rights.

Our rights expand by what the Declaration calls “the laws of nature” as society grows and advances. (Justice Thomas just wrote we need to reconsider and ban contraception. SCOTUS is about to consider a case in which gerrymandered legislatures can regulate and overturn the popular vote.)

For the rest of us today we celebrate our legacy which includes recognizing the traps we have avoided which have brought other democracies down. We celebrate a country where the central government promotes learning and all manner of things to ensure a person can advance as far as talent, hard work and desire allow.

We celebrate that we do not have kings and potentates. That we protect the rights of minorities in our huge melting pot. We still hope we can again celebrate the Rule of Law which until 1984 politicians did not meddle in when it came to Federal Court appointments – looking only to intellectual qualifications.

Today is a day to honor all the hard work needed to maintain the careful balance of interests (and the compassion King  George did not have) needed to make our country work and to pledge to honor that history.

Today real Republicans and Democrats need to re-up on the importance of keeping honorable company and voting for upright leaders. Just as you tell your kids that bad kids will drag them down, politicians that put power before answers are a constant danger. Look at convictions and disbarred lawyers to figure out who was in bed with them – easy pickings with no distracting fake drama that way.

The Fourth of July is a day to rediscover the grace and balance on which our freedom rests. It is a day to remember that easy political answers are often little more than  dangerous propaganda. To pledge to do better.

The Fourth is a day to celebrate how far honorable and selfless people have brought us. We recommit to listening to honorable and expert voices lest we wither into the ashes of history.  In the midst of any and all assaults on our institutions it is a day to pledge to protect them and stop those who would destroy them.

Happy Fourth.  Most of us want to “keep it” – democratic government by humble, well intended and honorable citizens.

Vote for freedom and not personality and power. Prove my friend wrong. Meanwhile celebrate the Fourth while you can.

Conrad Cropsey

Albion

Editor:

I am a candidate running for re-election for the Town of Murray Republican Committee for election District 6 along with Adam Moore.

I still live by the motto, spoken by a past president, I wrote in a letter to the editor 4 years ago, talking about Americans. “We will never give up, we will never give in, we will never, ever back down, and we will never, ever surrender-because we are Americans and our hearts bleed Red, White, and Blue.”

It has been a difficult time in our world, state, and town in the last two to four years. We have not given up, backed down, or surrendered. Being on the committee is not easy. Working with others that have differing opinions has been a learning experience. But also understanding everyone has something to bring to the table has been vital.

Adam Moore and I live in our voting district. District 6 residents need to be represented by someone who lives here in their district. Adam and I are willing to serve and represent the residents of our district.

Other than representing District 6 on the Republican Committee, I have no other political, financial, or professional ties to the town’s government. I would like to continue to be a voice for my neighbors reflecting Republican core values and represent them fairly, honestly and openly while serving on our Republican Committee.

Sincerely,

Kellie Gregoire

Murray

Editor:

Heart-wrenching, newspaper ads, placed by formerly enslaved people, searched for loved ones in the decades after 1860. Ads cited enslaver “owner” name… location… last seen place… daughter… son…sister… brother… sold to…sold again to… sold again to…I can be reached at….

Families had been torn apart by domestic slave trade in America. Freed people wanted to see their family again before they died. Runaways who changed names to avoid slave catchers added challenges. The ads were persistently hopeful, unique and compelling. Villa Nova University has devotedly collected over 3,500 ads, digitized and produced a new genealogy tool for tracing family history “LAST SEEN: Finding Family After Slavery,” available free online.

Authentic ads are a window into the deep pain, within the freedom gained. Juneteenth National Independence Day, also called Freedom Day, Emancipation Day, now a federal holiday. Most federal employees receive a day off. 24 states, including NY, legally recognize Juneteenth as a public holiday and state workers have a paid day off. Communities in Erie County have been called out, criticized on local news for not recognizing this day. Following criticism, the Town of Tonawanda put together an impromptu commemorative event. Juneteenth celebration should resonate in new ways for Buffalonians after the recent white supremacist massacre.

Slavery continued in Texas after the Civil War when all slaves had been freed. 2.5 years later federal troops marched into Texas and freed the slaves. Texas has celebrated healing by recognizing Juneteenth since 1980. A National Juneteenth Museum in Fort Worth is planned to be open for Juneteenth in 2024.

Town offices where I live and Niagara County offices were open on the holiday. Did your town recognize the significance of the holiday? I urge reconsideration of Juneteenth in 2023. It’s the decent thing to do.

Carol Nochajski

Wilson

Editor:

My name is Anthony J. Peone and I am on the ballot in the June 28th Republican Primary seeking re-election on the Murray Republican Committee in Election District 2.

I have been a resident of the Town of Murray or Village of Holley for 22 years and strongly believe in what the Republican Party should represent. Less government and lower taxes. Supporting free enterprise and our right to keep and bear arms to insure our right to free speech.

We are facing a critical time for the people in our Town, State and Nation. When Republicans can’t resolve their differences guess who wins? The very people responsible for our current state of affairs.

I have seen a little too much bickering at our Republican Committee and Town Board of late and would like to see this end. If you re-elect me to the Murray Republican Committee, I will not vote to endorse the people I believe are responsible for our current state of affairs.

I humbly ask for your vote in the June 28th Republican Primary.

Sincerely,

Anthony J. Peone

Holley

Editor:

This coming Tuesday is the election for the Republican committee members. Kellie Gregoire and I are running for re-election in District 6 for the Town of Murray.

We do have competition from outside of District 6 trying to unseat us from the committee. I believe that the best people to represent you are the ones who live in your district.

We have your best interest in mind and take our responsibility to choose the best political candidates to represent you seriously.

Raising a family and running a small farm in Murray has inspired me to run for the committee so I can have a say in who I believe will best represent me, my family and yours. Building good government will in turn help us build good community.

Our town is on a strong path forward and I would like you to help us keep it going in that direction. Please get out and vote on June 28th for Adam Moore and Kellie Gregoire and help us keep Murray strong.

Adam Moore

Holley

Editor:

The House Committee investigating the January 6th insurrection is providing detailed fact-based evidence, under oath, that our democracy — your vote — was threatened by the actions of the previous administration and Republican leaders.

Under oath, Presidential aide after Presidential aide, are testifying how the former President undertook extra-legal measures (that is illegal measures) to overturn the will of the voters and establish himself as the ruler.

Under oath, the former President’s inner circle are telling the story of how lies promulgated by Republican leaders created an atmosphere for the insurrection. Under oath, the former President’s aides are testifying how they tried to overthrow our democracy and how Republican leaders acquiesced.

Under oath Republican legal scholar, retired Judge J. Michael Luttig, told the Committee that the former president and his allies are a “clear and present danger” to U.S. democracy. Our democracy is threatened by Republican leaders; that is a serious threat. Please take that threat seriously.

Where are those Republicans who will stand up for the rule of law? Where are those Republicans willing to tell the truth? Where are those Republicans willing to stand up for our democracy? Our democracy — your vote — is at risk.

William Fine

Brockport

Editor:

The Jan 6th images are lasting. “BS”, “Nuts”, “Crazy”, “Ignorant” all words coming from the lips of this nation’s most notable conservatives with impeccable expertise and credentials.

Believing in the “Big Steal” is now  sad, even laughable, folklore. Our election officials knew all along how to run fair elections.

Each day we learn of one, two, three Trump allies who asked for pardons. (Asking for a pardon as you know means admitting guilt because accepting one is an admission of guilt.)  Congressmen, lawyers, officials of every stripe it turns out were included. (The problem with granting them pardons was how to write the pardon without implicating the President; MAGA rallies now talk about re-electing Trump to pardon them once and for all.)

A problem that remains will be those who clamored “Hang Mike Pence” with a gallows prepared outside. They need to be treated as terrorists. (Congratulations to the writer from Lyndonville for not following their phalanxes into the Capital as planned.)

A problem that remains will be the new laws in some states that allow governors to set aside the popular vote. That and making voting harder for the elderly and minorities will require huge turnout efforts. Considerable effort to put the Republic over power will be required.

The power grab will continue and  the average Joe will have to choose between helping others angle for power and simply being laughing stocks who do not wise up about who and what are on their side.

Fortunately the resolution to these conundrums is to cross party lines and vote for politicians who will cross party lines.

The Jan 6th Committee more surely than ever points out that gridlock is a culprit. MAGA is at most more of the same and at worse “a clear and present danger” to the Republic as arch conservative Judge Luttig put it.

Pictures and patriotic conservatives are making the point.

Conrad F. Cropsey

Albion