Editor:
The Christian Bible tells us today is the resurrection of a dangerous leftist radical.
He was condemned as he was the antithesis of power acquired and maintained by promoting distrust, hate, envy, lies, money, cheating, delusion, violence, differences in personal background and the wages of self righteousness.
Today is a day of rededication and commitment to be our better selves.
Conrad F. Cropsey
Albion
Editor:
Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, launched an unprovoked and illegal attack on Ukraine on March 24. Russian soldiers, under Mr. Putin, are committing the most horrific atrocities against civilians.
Five days after the murderous invasion began and the world witnessed the horrific atrocities and mass killings by Mr. Putin’s forces, former President Trump asked Mr. Putin for help to re-gain the Presidency. Think about that. Former President Trump asked a mass murderer for help to become President of the United States. Mr. Trump is regarded as the front-runner to head the Republican Party. No one in the Republican Party, as far as I know, has dared to criticize Mr. Trump for asking for Mr. Putin’s help to win the Presidency.
Just as bad, Mr. Trump is engaged in informational warfare, an assault on the truth. Mr. Trump is intentionally asking for false information from Mr. Putin to deceive people. Mr. Trump stated: “Why did the mayor of Moscow’s wife give the Bidens, both of them, $3.5 million? That’s a lot of money.”
This issue has been investigated by Senators Chuck Grassley, (R-Iowa) and Ron Johnson, (R-WI) as well as the federal government and found there is no evidence of corruption or wrongdoings on the part of either Hunter Biden or his father President Joe Biden.
Hunter Biden is being investigated for tax evasion involving China, not Ukraine or Russia. The presumptive head of the Republican Party is asking a murderous dictator for help and engaging in mis-information and no Republican dares to challenge him. The Republican Party has lost its moral compass.
William Fine
Brockport
Editor:
Recently, the Biden administration announced that it would end Title 42 border restrictions in May, one of the last remaining Trump era border security policies yet to be eliminated by this President. For those who do not know, President Trump implemented Title 42, which allows DHS to immediately deport any illegal immigrant as part of the pandemic response.
While I firmly believe we must end Covid-19 mandates, the incredible negligence shown by President Biden’s failure to secure our southern border leaves us with no choice but to demand Title 42 rules remain in place until further security measures are taken.
Let’s set the stage for Biden’s border crisis. February 2022 marked the 12th straight month of over 150,000 illegal immigrant encounters – that is 1.7 million in 2021 alone and over 2 million since Biden took office. That’s not even accounting for the 1,066% increase in fentanyl seizures at one sector in Texas alone or the fact that suspected terrorists are entering through our southern border.
When I visited the Del Rio sector in April of 2021, the cartel made an estimated $11 million per week in human smuggling. When I returned in March of 2022, that number had doubled to $24 million. The cartels have been taking advantage of the open sign on our border since Biden took office. Ending Title 42 restrictions will flood our borders with even more drugs and criminals.
Border Patrol agents have made clear this decision by the President is the final straw and will quite literally spell disaster at our southern border. One DHS estimate predicts encounters could reach 18,000 migrants per day – representing a significant jump. These would be record-shattering numbers, and they are not just speculation. Reports show a significant number of illegal immigrants amassing in Mexican shelters awaiting the end of Title 42 rules.
The threat of our southern border being overrun, our Border Patrol being outmanned, and our capacity being overwhelmed is entirely avoidable. However, the President is marching us forward to the beat of his partisan drum with zero regard for the danger he is introducing to every American community. Members of the House and Senate in his own party are calling for him to reverse course before it is too late. But he has remained firmly unmoved by these calls while hiding in the White House – which, I might remind you, uses a wall as part of its very effective security measures.
I have been to the border three times as part of three congressional delegations. I have listened to Border Patrol agents along the border and the local law enforcement who support them. I have toured facilities, toured the wall, and seen firsthand how cartels infiltrate our borders. The crisis is real, it is the President’s fault, and ignoring it or loosening restrictions will not solve it.
The President must reinstate the strong policies of President Trump he so recklessly eliminated, and he must keep Title 42 restrictions in place until he takes significant action to build the wall, increase Border Patrol capacity, and secure our borders. Anything short of this will be a continuation of his failure to uphold American national security and put us further at risk.
Congressman Chris Jacobs
Orchard Park
Editor:
The March jobs report shows that Mr. Biden’s and Democrats’ approach to the economy is working.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported, (4/1/22), that unemployment was 3.6 % and non-farm payroll employment rose by 431,000 jobs in March. The Orleans Hub reported (3/29/22) that unemployment in Orleans County is the lowest in 30 years.
Inflation is a problem at 7.9% but inflation is a world-wide problem. In Europe for example inflation is running at 7.5%. Problems like supply chain problems and Russia’s war in Ukraine, beyond the administration’s control, are driving up prices.
But the employment numbers show that the U.S. is coming out of the pandemic-induced recession. The American Rescue Plan and Democrats’ economics are largely responsible for the strong economy. Even farmers are better off under Democrats.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service estimates that farm income in 2021 is the highest since 2013. Furthermore, Montana Farmers Union President Walter Scheitzer noted that under the previous administration farmers were only surviving on government subsidies whereas now prices of corn, soybeans and other commodities are high enough for farmer to profit without government handouts.
An example of the Democrats’ approach vs Republican is H.R. 6833. This bill caps out of pocket insulin at $35. Congressman Chris Jacobs voted against lowering the cost of insulin. Repeat Mr. Jacobs voted against lower insulin prices. The Republicans oppose social safety nets programs like Social Security or Medicare or even fair taxation as a policy.
William Fine
Brockport
Editor:
What is going on at our health department? I knew years ago when the county was sending our health department head to the far left Robert Wood Johnson Foundation indoctrination conventions that down the line there would be trouble.
I even bit my tongue when our health department was going after business and individuals during the lockdowns of the Covid fiasco. It’s well known.
The article on April 5 about National Public Heath Week is the last straw. Our health department head condoning this dangerous woke far left agenda and trying to pass it off as a health issue is plain Bull. Tell me what imaginary Racial Inequities have to do with health? What does that mean anyway. Last I remember two fellow Americans were elected to the Albion Village Board on the content of their character and ideas.
Celebrate by protecting our earth and “climate change”? When I hear those two words come out of an adults mouth I’m beside myself. The religion of climate change is just plain wrong and silly. Is this San Francisco or is it Orleans County?
Is Orleans County so far to the left now that it is no different than Monroe County or the Democratic Party? Read this article. It’s a combination of Democratic Party, Globalist UN propaganda and NGO indoctrination all rolled up into one.
The word equity is mentioned a lot of this article. It does not mean equal. It’s a bad word and it means one race and gender has to be held down while pushing other races and genders to the front and top. By the way there are only two genders: male and female.
The invasion and conquering of our country that’s going on the southern border is an example of “Equity” against the population that makes up the majority of this country. This is the upside down world we live in brought to you by the treasonous woke Biden Administration.
How many other departments in our county are riddled with this type of woke, PC and propagandist garbage? I’ll bet all of them and the people that work there are too afraid to say anything for fear of being canceled.
How on earth could our Republican Legislature let a department head put his endorsement to something so decisive, full of outright lies, fantasy, racist and in-your-face propaganda?
Nothing in that article has anything to do with public health only indoctrination. Unless you are drinking the Kool Aid.
This wokeness propaganda does not represent the values that the Republican Conservative voters in this county expect. The Republican Legislature that is in charge of these agencies better do something about it because it poses a real danger to common sense and civil society.
Paul Lauricella
Yates
Editor:
I recently returned from a vacation that had been planned long before the election. I would like to take this time to thank all of the Village of Albion residents who came out and exercised their right to vote for the candidates of their choice.
I extend a special thanks to those who voted and elected me as one of their Trustees. As part of the Move Albion Forward Movement, I do not take this trust lightly. I will strive everyday to promote the improvements in village life we all desire and deserve.
The Mayor-Elect has provided space for Trustees to receive and speak to residents, property owners, business owners and community leaders. We feel this will give our community an opportunity to generate ideas and invest in the changes and implementation that is so vital for our survival.
I look forward to seeing you all on our streets and in the village office. Walk-ins and appointments are welcome!
Joyce Riley
Albion
Editor:
This week in the news, it appears Biden is ready to revoke Title 42 as soon as May 2022. Title 42 permits the government to expel people who have illegally entered our nation and have been in a country where a communicable disease was present. Obviously most of us would agree that this would be Covid.
If this happens, the previous surges at the southern border are going to look microscopic in comparison to the foreseen deluge. The Chief of Border Patrol has predicted an astounding 8,000 apprehensions daily (cited in exclusive CNN interview with Brianna Keilar).
This is unconscionable and makes no sense.
Let’s take a look at what is happening now, and you will see the calamity that lies ahead for America.
Some new buzz words have emerged, surrounding the current immigration crisis. “Crime tourism” is one. South American Theft Gangs (SATGs) are criminal endeavors that train burglars in South America. They then come into the US and merge with other like cells to rob the wealthy. They are well versed in camouflaging themselves and often rent expensive vehicles as they peruse neighborhoods and observe the homeowners’ patterns. They also know most security systems are located on the ground floor so the portal is frequently the second floor. It is reported a single heist can produce losses of between $20,000 and $100,000.
One SATG in the DC suburbs of Northern Virginia was responsible for 100 burglaries in Fairfax and Montgomery Counties. Total valued at over $3,000,000.
In San Diego County the SATGs are responsible for more than 60 robberies in less than 8 months. Reports have indicated activity in the SF Bay Area, Cleveland, Indianapolis and the Detroit suburb of Grosse Pointe.
The Electronic System for Travel Authorization has paved the way for easy entry for the SATGs. This system permits citizens in 40 countries to travel here without a visa and stay for up to 90 days. The cost is only $20 and the plan relieves those who qualify from scrutiny by immigration authorities. The platform added Chile to the program in 2014 and police state that’s when SATGs started to surge.
There has been some speculation that some areas with sanctuary city status, low-bail, no bail are ideal targets, as the criminals can simply skip the country later on. Some get fake IDs, indicating they’re from Puerto Rico. In this way their crime spree continues.
When you combine the SATGs and the potential abandonment of Title 42, it is more than likely the immigration crisis will deepen in intensity.
Mary Mager
Fairport (Formerly of Albion)
Editor:
I have had the exceptional experience of Hospice of Orleans County helping me with the passing of my wife of 43 years from dementia. They were world-class helpful…beyond belief!
As Joyce was slowly losing her ability to hang on to life, Hospice made those days tolerable, even positive. They would provide the health care check she needed in our home without the necessity of going to a doctor’s office, which her dementia made almost impossible to make happen.
Hospice services would visit and give Joyce not only the medical care, but the palliative care that helped her to feel like a loved, cared for and respected human being!
Also, they kept her pain free during the last months of her life. This was something I cannot begin to over emphasize, as it was of enormous importance!
While others, even members of her direct family would say, “She is not the Joyce I knew”, “She doesn’t even know who I am” and hence stop visiting, Hospice was there to say to Joyce, “We still value and love you.” It allowed me to reenergize my own caregiving skills and show my loving wife of 43 years how much I loved and cared for her.
I was at first hesitant to enroll Joyce in hospice because I thought it was admitting that I was giving up on her. I could not have been more wrong! Hospice gave her and me the ability to handle her passing with great dignity and respect. They provided her with the support she needed and gave me relief so I could do the errands and reenergize myself. Without Hospice, that otherwise would have been impossible.
If you have any questions or reservations about your decision to put someone you love into hospice, please feel free to contact me and we can explore your questions and concerns.
Once again, I cannot be more appreciative that we have this world class hospice operation here in Orleans County. I send all of you my deepest condolences for whatever distresses you are facing, and I hope you can avail yourself of the help that I found in the last days of my wife’s life.
Jerry Fisher MBA, PhD.
Kendall
Editor:
In a letter to the Orleans Hub (3/25/22) Congressman Chris Jacobs offers his criticism of the Biden administration’s agricultural policies.
Mr. Jacobs cited the high cost of fuel and government policies that are hurting farmers. Perhaps some context is in order. It needs to be pointed out that New York State’s only bioethanol fuel plant is in Mr. Jacobs district, in Medina.
The ethanol produced comes mostly from corn grown locally. Mr. Jacobs could help lower fuel cost and help local farmers by promoting higher ethanol blends, E15 and E85. This would also help reduce greenhouse gases.
Beyond this it also needs to be pointed out that the Biden administration has issued 3,557 permits for oil and gas drilling on federal lands, which is more than the previous administration issued in its first year, (Center for Biological Diversity, press release 1/21/22). With the high demand and high fuel prices the question that Mr. Jacobs should ask is why aren’t oil companies drilling or increasing production which would lower prices.
It also needs to be pointed out that because of the previous administrations disastrous trade policies farmers were dependent upon government handouts. Walter Scheitzer, the Montana Farmers Union President, told NBC, (1/29/22) that the majority of net farm income in 2019 came from subsidies whereas the majority of net farm income in 2021 came from farm production.
Today prices of soybean, corn and other commodities allow farmers to succeed without government bailouts. Mr. Jacobs is failing his constituents. The citizens of this district deserve a representative.
William Fine
Brockport
Editor:
America’s farmers have been integral to our survival throughout our nation’s history – a fact the Covid-19 pandemic reiterated as American producers worked tirelessly to keep our shelves stocked. Now, in the face of the invasion of Ukraine – America’s farmers and their importance will once again be evident on the world’s stage.
Ukraine is a major exporter of agricultural products – especially wheat and other grains. In fact, under normal conditions, they supply 11.5% of the world’s wheat. Over the last four years, America imported hundreds of millions worth of agricultural products from Ukraine. The disruption of the global food supply caused by Russia’s invasion could lead to civil unrest and food insecurity – or worse.
Our nation has an incredible capacity to grow and produce food that could help offset the food shortages Russia’s invasion of Ukraine threatens. Now more than ever, the focus of America’s policymakers must be on bolstering American agricultural production to feed Americans and the rest of the world. This would seem like a clear and distinct bipartisan priority. Unfortunately, the urgency with which I believe this situation must be addressed is not shared by my Democrat counterparts on the Agriculture Committee.
Last week we held a hearing – not on Ukraine, not on aiding farmers suffering from fuel prices and input supply chain challenges, not on the impacts of poor state policies on farmers. Instead, we held a hearing on the Democratic Party’s misguided and unrealistic climate priorities.
It was the President and his administration’s radical and unrealistic climate policies that led us to the energy crisis we face now. Now, it is the administration and Democrats in Congress’ radical and unrealistic policies that are wasting precious committee time, despite clear and convincing evidence we should be focused on policies to remove regulatory burdens and bolster our food supply.
America’s farmers are under increasing pressure and narrowing margins. High fuel prices from the bad policies of this administration threaten operations as we head into the planting season in New York. Inflationary pressure on inputs threatens the already slim margins our farmers operate within. These challenges are compounded by a recent decision by the New York State Farm Laborers Wage Board to lower the overtime threshold which threatens the long-term viability of farming in New York.
These are very real threats that could bankrupt and handcuff one of our oldest industries at a time when we need them most. I’ve taken action to push for better trade deals, more domestic energy production, rules and regulations on trucking and shipping that benefit agriculture, easier access to fertilizers from other countries, and ending vaccine mandates to ease these burdens.
Farming and a steady supply of American-produced food are critical to our national security – now more than ever. The shortsighted, and quite frankly, out-of-touch priorities of the administration and Democrats in Congress need an immediate course correction. Our focus in the Agriculture Committee must be squarely placed on supporting American agricultural producers and processors.
Congressman Chris Jacobs
Orchard Park
Jacobs represents the eight-county 27th Congressional District that includes Orleans County.
Editor:
What’s happening in the Town of Barre? Our town has appointed a new lawyer and the cost will shock you! This new lawyer is from Rochester, has limited municipal law experience and specializes in Environmental and land use law. Also, she doesn’t do contract negotiations but can recommend another lawyer for an additional fee. The firm she works for – Zoghlin Law – has represented Clear Skies Above Barre and is still listed on the DMM website as of January 4, 2022.
The town’s previous attorney had a retainer for $7,500 and his average cost was about $15,000 per year. The new attorney will charge $225 per hour and assuming she spends five hours a week on town business, for a total of 260 hours, the cost will be $58,500.
There was another applicant for the job. He is from a small law firm, experienced in town law, would negotiate contracts and has no conflict of interest . His fee was $80 less per hour. Other small towns in our county have budgeted between $12,000 and $16,000 for their attorneys. (Check Town websites.)
This was voted on by the new members of the board and one current one. Two of these members have had an affiliation with Clear Skies Above Barre and it definitely appears like a conflict of interest. This lawyer is clearly not aligned with our town and its goals.
As a taxpayer this should make you wonder what is happening and why. Are all residents being fairly represented, do we have a voice or are we being represented by a monopoly?
We have one of the highest tax rates, declining population, agriculture as our only business and the average income in the county is $36,000.
I am a very concerned resident! Contact your local board members and let you voice be heard!
Alice Mathes
Barre
Editor:
You just received a letter saying all the government response with masks, closure, distancing etc. was heavy-handed government that did not help.
To the contrary the initial Imperial College London estimates were 2.2 million in the U.S. if we did nothing and 1.1 to 1.2 million if we did what we did. Since we are about a million dead the heavy hand of government saved a million lives.
The writer was additionally wrong about the expected distribution of Covid deaths being limited to the elderly population if nothing had been done. Also it’s inferring it’s alright to kill off the elderly.
I assume the writer was either trying to justify himself or draw political blood. He did neither. Saving a million lives is huge!
Conrad F. Cropsey
Albion
Editor:
Roughly two years ago today on March 16, 2020 we went from “14 days to slow the spread” and to flatten the healthcare curve to two years of government-imposed lockdowns, and mandates restricting/taking away personal liberties and freedoms guaranteed to us by the US Constitution in an inept attempt to try and control a virus through control of human behavior.
Some may wonder why I am writing about this now; the mandates have been lifted and we are free once again. Well, “they” did lift them, but there is still this undercurrent if you listen close enough that we are free as long as numbers don’t spike again.
For example, just the other day President Biden extended the Federal Transportation mask mandate. At the state level I am still unsure if there was a ruling on the constitutionality of Hochul mask mandate which was in front of the State Supreme Court for the last two months.
Why no ruling? What about the healthcare worker vaccine mandate and all of those professionals who lost their jobs? These are just a few examples…there are many more.
This signals to me that our government is still holding on to the mask and vaccination mandate string ready to pull it at a moment’s notice. This is not acceptable to me.
Politicians claim that they are following the science and the data, but what specifically are they looking at to make these monumental decisions about what freedoms we can and cannot have? From the first onset I agree there was much to be worried about with regard to Covid, because there was much, we didn’t know. However, from that first summer of Covid, we knew critical facts about this disease that haven’t changed since then.
Most importantly, we knew who was at serious risk for hospitalization and death and who wasn’t. The elderly and those with certain health issues were most at risk and generally healthy individuals and especially children were not.
While the different variants spread at different rates and pretty much everyone got Omicron whether you were vaxxed or not, the previous facts did not change. Yet for two years, New York continued on with governor-imposed, non-sensical ineffective restrictions disregarding science and data at the expense of our freedom.
Let’s even say we give the Government the benefit of the doubt, and they were waiting for the vaccine before they would change their approach. I strongly feel the “public policy” and government intervention part of this pandemic was over once the vaccine was released.
Regardless of your position on the vaccine and its effectiveness, it was available by January/February of 2021 for all who wanted it and with the post-Covid treatments available which reduce hospitalization by 95+%…at this point the Government has no business dictating anything to us citizens in this regard.
The decisions that remain should have been left to individual choice made with consultation of one’s own doctor. There should have been no forced or coerced vaccinations and no masking mandates!
There are tons of data out there comparing states and countries that have strict mandates vs those that did not and generally speaking the difference in the numbers is negligible. So basically, all of the loss of freedom, damage to our children’s mindset and future, the spreading of fear, the economic hardship was completely avoidable, ineffective and what was done needs to be answered for. As we head into this election cycle, I urge everyone to not let these politicians take credit for beating Covid.
For me, what I want to hear from current and potential candidates at all levels is their stance on how this pandemic approach went, what they would have done differently and certainly where are they on the stance of a one-size-fits-all-mandate approach to a public health concern such as Covid.
I will only vote for candidates that believe in limited government intervention and more specifically those that believe in our citizens to make the right choices if they are just given the facts without using “political” science and fear-mongering.
Brian Sorochty
Batavia
Editor:
I’m really sick and tired of hearing about how cash bail is “unfair” to those who can’t afford to post it.
Well I have a solution! And it’s so simple, I can’t understand why someone smarter than I hasn’t come up with it long before now.
If you can’t afford to post bail – don’t engage in criminal activity!
Steve Smith
Churchville
Editor:
“It ain’t over till it’s over.”
New York Yankees Hall of Famer Yogi Berra’s famous quote sums up perfectly where we are with the Covid-19 pandemic.
Case numbers among adults are decreasing. Mask mandates have been lifted. As much as it may seem like the pandemic is over, we aren’t quite there yet. Our work isn’t done. We still do not have enough people vaccinated, which is the best protection against serious illness and potential future variants.
In Orleans County, the vaccination rate among those eligible to be fully vaccinated is just 57.8% (as of March 3, 2022). “Fully vaccinated” means having at least two Pfizer or Moderna shots, or one J&J shot, plus the booster for adults – or two Pfizer shots for children and youth ages 5 to 17.
The vaccines continue to be our best defense against passing along the virus to loved ones, becoming seriously ill or being hospitalized with Covid. Getting more people vaccinated, while using other tools like testing and isolation after potential exposure, will get us back to normal. But we are not there yet, and we need to keep Yogi Berra’s quote in mind. “It ain’t over till it’s over.”
If you have questions about getting the shot, you deserve answers. For more information, please visit www.GetYourAnswers.org.
Sincerely,
Paul A. Pettit, MSL, CPH, Public Health Director, Genesee & Orleans County Health Departments
Jennifer Rodriguez, DCS, MS, MSW, Livingston County Public Health Director
Mary L. Beer, RN, MPH, Ontario County Public Health Director
Nancy King, MD, Schuyler County Interim Public Health Director
Scott King, Seneca County Public Health Director
Darlene Smith, MS, CPH, Steuben County Public Health Director
Diane Devlin RN, MS, BSN, Wayne County Public Health Director
Sara Christensen, RN, BSN, Yates County Director of Public Health
