Editor:

District Attorney Joe Cardone is quoted in the Orleans Hub on Feb. 17, 2021, saying that Colorado legalized marijuana and marijuana-related traffic deaths went up by three times.

I was just wondering where Mr. Cardone pulled these numbers? The only source I can find for this claim comes from RMHIDTA (Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area). A federally funded law enforcement agency. RMHIDTA have been writing highly biased and persistently critical reports on the effects of cannabis legalization since 2013. The link to their study gets 404’d or “not found.”

Cannabis is detectable in the body for up to 30 days. RMHIDTA used this to skew their numbers. AAA officials also acknowledge these studies find only correlations, not causative links.

Here are a couple peer reviewed studies on marijuana related traffic deaths. Click here for one from the American Journal of Public Health. Their conclusions are three years after recreational marijuana legalization, changes in motor vehicle crash fatality rates for Washington and Colorado were not statistically different from those in similar states without recreational marijuana legalization.

The Society for the Study of Addiction issued this report (click here). Conclusions: The combination of step increases and trend reductions suggests that in the year following implementation of recreational cannabis sales, traffic fatalities temporarily increased by an average of one additional traffic fatality per million residents in both legalizing US states of Colorado, Washington and Oregon and in their neighboring jurisdictions.

The War on Drug is a War on Liberty.

Greg McCarthy

Medina

Editor:

The efficiency of any car motor is totally dependent upon the quality of the parts it’s made from.

Sadly, after witnessing recent events in Washington, D.C., it’s obvious that the engine that runs our government consists of two-bit, penny ante politicians. Not all, but enough to gum up the works. “A chain is only as strong as its weakest link” sort of situation.

Altruism is reserved for saints. It would be naive to think otherwise. The thought of someone running for office with the intention of bettering the whole, regardless the risk it may present to themselves, is a pipe-dream. It’s a Hollywood script, filed under fiction. I get that. But, at least it’s a goal to set our sails by. Unfortunately, we’ve veered so far off course, I worry if we’ll ever find our way back.

We live in a “what’s in it for me?” time. Gone are the days of our representatives in government exerting effort without the expectation of a reward. Doing exactly what they were elected to do – for the people that elected them – is not a part of their newly, self-defined job-description. That’s because conventional execution of obligatory tasks is considered an option now; an option dependent upon further compensation – in some form or another. Not all politicians are like that, but far too many are.

The unabashed plundering of taxpayer dollars and the insult/ignorance to voters’ concerns are as rampant as the devastating virus that has altered our daily lives over the past year.

Blowharded speeches and pompous oratories abound from the highest offices in the land. Modern-day snake-oil salesmen, who preach deceit as loyalty and stupidity as bravery, have relegated pubic trust to the curb. If one’s pants really started on fire when they betrayed the truth, they’d have to put fire-hydrants up and down the House and Senate aisles.

Hypocrisy is the most brazenly used tool in Washington. And that tool is honed by the cowardice of its owner. An official voting for something that doesn’t personally reap an immediate reward – despite the fact that it is good for the whole – is as absent in today’s world as Mike Pence at a Metallica concert. Regardless if one took an opposing view in the past, it’s the particular benefit at a particular time that counts. Plain and simple.

How scary is it? The very essence of what happens to us – and to those whom we cherish – are in the hands of people whose words and commitments have a 24-hour expiration date. It’s in the hands of people who are willing to prostitute themselves at the mere thought of self-enrichment and/or simply to make the party-line happy. The very definition of an unscrupulous mercenary.

Think about that. Think about the abhorrent and unconscionable decisions some elected officials – who are entrusted by us – make in our name.

The voting system doesn’t need the overhaul, it’s those who run for office that do. Too many charlatans, literally, quit running as advertised once they are installed. Closer inspection is needed to keep our governmental engine from spit and sputtering the way it’s been prone to do lately.

Not all of them are clunkers, I remind you, but far too many are.

Tom Valley

Medina

Editor:

Congress was in session to fulfill its Constitutional mandated responsibility on Jan. 6th while fanatic supporters of Donald Trump were using an American Flag to pummel Capitol police.

As a combat veteran I am beyond appalled at this insurrection. Mitch McConnell, as Senate leader, told his members to vote their conscience in the second impeachment of Mr. Trump. Mitch McConnell then voted his conscience to acquit Mr. Trump, but then made a public statement saying that Mr. Trump was guilty both “practically and morally” and was responsible for the events of Jan 6th.

This tells me that Mr. McConnell lacks the human decency of his conscience. Others have said that Mr. McConnell lacks courage, I disagree. Courage is what soldiers face on the battle fields or what the Capitol police faced that day against angry Trump fanatics and supporters.

Mr. McConnell and the Republicans couldn’t stand with law and order, or the Constitution against the leader of their party and, by their own statements, the leader of the insurrection. (The German word for leader or guide is fuehrer). The vote by Republicans to support Mr. Trump was a vote to support the racist, xenophobic and corrupt policies of der fuehrer. By their vote, Republicans have abdicated their responsibilities to their oath and to the Constitution and pledged their allegiance to der Fuehrer, Donald Trump.

William Fine

Brockport

Editor:

A big thank you to the Barre Town Board for passing an update to the wind ordinance last Wednesday. This was a long, involved process which involved many, many meetings and they patiently listened to feedback from all residents over a period of years. I am proud of this Board for hanging in there and getting this done.

I’m disappointed, though, in the article that followed that meeting in the Hub which focused on one Board member who walked out of the meeting after requesting that the meeting end at 10:00 p.m. If you only attended this meeting, you may feel bad for that councilperson and believe the other board members should have accommodated her.

What you could not gather from one meeting, is that the other board members have been more than accommodating over the last year. If you followed all the Barre Town Board and Planning Board meetings for the past year, you would say cheers to the Board that they kept their focus and moved forward.

This councilperson has had the option and has been joining meetings from home for the last few months and could have continued to do so since it is normal for these meetings to go past 10 p.m.

This one councilperson has yelled at the other Board members on numerous occasions and slammed the door on the way out, has been stalling and delaying as a tactic all along because she opposes the turbine project, resulting in most meetings ending late or being postponed to another day. It is easy to see that this is what she was doing.

The other Board members have been trying to work with her and given her more than enough workshops and meetings to go over her concerns, but it seems that working together with the other elected officials is not part of her plan.

This councilmember must learn to work with  others. She may have a viewpoint she feels strongly about, but in the end, she serves all the residents, not just the ones with her opinion.

Chris Loss

Barre

Editor:

While I enjoy the Town of Barre oligarchy, I know that the citizens would prefer high-speed internet over wind turbines.

I find the political atmosphere highly entertaining; money is trumping human need. Good thing NYS supports the turbines. Nice to know the same government supported nursing home care.

Kris Welles

Barre

Editor:

About three hours into the Town of Barre board meeting on Feb. 10, the board turned their backs on their fellow board member, Mrs. Kerri Richardson. After requesting tabling the discussion and moving to adjourn the meeting, she was met with heartless indifference. Her personal concerns for focus and her 2-month-old baby at home were brushed aside.

Not only did the board dismiss Mrs. Richardson’s concerns, they discredited their own residents. Desperately trying to participate despite the dwindling hours and crackling phone call, the board forgot we even existed!

“Pushing through” was all that was cared about. Just getting it done to be “done” with it. I am disgusted to live in a community that cares so little of the residents it supposedly represents. We are not much of a community when we stomp out compassion.

Mrs. Kerri Richardson, thank you for representing the residents of Barre and striving to serve this community with integrity and love. This board does not represent us. Your hard work and dedication has not gone unnoticed. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!

Barbara Verburg

Barre

Editor:

If Governor Cuomo ignored his science advisors without irrefutable good reason or lied about nursing homes and Covid response, we need to know.

Given the limitations our Constitution places on our legislators’ power with the Governor, I think this may be the straw to trigger an independent investigation into not only nursing homes, hospitals, and Department of Health but also into all the legal fiefdoms, commissions, authorities, etc. we have which stand in the way of efficiently getting things done in this state.

Each party runs its own version of Tammany Hall.

When I tell lawyers from other states about all our thousands of entities with their hands in the till, they laugh. But when we are talking about thousands of deaths, it’s not funny. It’s time for an independent commission and reform.

It’s our right to know and hear both the good and the bad from people without their fingers in the pie.

Conrad F. Cropsey

Albion

Editor:

In a letter to The Orleans Hub, Conrad F. Cropsey expressed the hope that the Republican Party was moving away from the looney wing. Perhaps, they would become the well thought out opposition party needed at this time.

I am not as optimistic. Republicans, who showed courage, voting to impeach the President for cascading lies about a rigged election transformed into conspiratorial propaganda that resulted in an attack on the Capitol, are now being punished.

It is true that our Congressman Chris Jacobs did the right thing voting to remove Marjorie Taylor Greene from committee assignments, but he was only one of 11 Republicans who did so. Prior to this vote he voted to overturn the votes of millions of people from other states and was excoriated by The Buffalo News in an editorial which stated: “So, in addition to being chicken-hearted, Jacobs is also a liar.” Going on to call Mr. Jacobs “cowardly, dishonest and unpatriotic.”

Perhaps the shock and vitriol of the editorial moved Mr. Jacobs back to reality but the majority of Republicans are still in looney-land. Ms. Greene has supported the execution of prominent Democrats, including Nance Palosi, and campaigned with a poster of her holding an AR-15 at Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley and Rashida Tlaib.

Despite these threats only 11 Republicans voted to remove her from committees. Fellow Republican Tom Reed voted to keep her on the education committee despite her claims that school shootings are false-flag events.

In a speech on the House floor Mr. Greene stated that she no longer believes this and that she no longer believes in QAnon but she continues to fund raise using QAnon. Even in her address in the House chamber she did not take responsibility for her racist comments on Jewish space lasers starting California fires or other outlandish statements stating: “I was allowed to believe things that weren’t true.”

One of the first things that is needed to solve problems is to recognize a problem exist. Mr. Reed, who is exploring a run for Governor, is denying that racist, conspiratorial propaganda is a problem. An opposition party using well thought out arguments would be nice but the current Republican Party is not reality-based and is moving away from the reality-based community.

William Fine

Brockport

Editor:

Taking ownership of our decisions is something that we’re taught the importance of from a young age, such as when our schoolteachers told us the story of George Washington and his famous cherry tree. While that tale was just an American folk story, it taught us all that our greatest leaders are honest and take responsibility for their actions, just as we all should as citizens. That message is more relevant than ever following our governor’s inability to take responsibility for the deaths of thousands of New Yorkers in our nursing homes.

The unfathomable loss of life that took place this year is the greatest tragedy I’ve witnessed in my time as a legislator in Albany. As lawmakers and as human beings, we should all feel angry about the cover up that they tried to hide from us. In recent months, we’ve heard lots in the media about unity and coming together to do what’s right. While in this moment, we have been provided the opportunity to stand together against something we should all be able to recognize as wrong.

The issue at hand is nothing nuanced or technical. The simple fact of the matter is that thousands of people died because of decisions our governor made, and we have been presented with a choice. Lawmakers can choose to seek justice and stand with the people or defend his wrongdoings and stand for his political interests. We need hearings to hold those responsible for this tragedy accountable, and despite the hesitance of some in the Majority to do so, we need to disempower the governor to prevent him making further bad decisions that could bring our state even more pain.

With our governor clearly unwilling to own up to his own mistakes, we in the Legislature need to take back our role in government to protect our most vulnerable. We all need to recognize that this tragedy was caused by the deliberate and unwise actions of our governor, and that it would be negligent of us to let him retain the emergency powers he used to hurt so many people. All eyes are on us to see if we can do the right thing, and I assure you that the countless people in this state who had the ones they loved taken from them will not soon forget who had the conviction to stand up for the people, versus those who cared more about political gamesmanship and their own well-being.

In a time when people trust their government less than ever to do what’s right, let’s come together for once to address something we can all agree is reprehensible— the intentional coverup of thousands of preventable deaths.

Assemblyman Steve Hawley

Batavia

Editor:

The Covid-19 pandemic has thrown each one of us and our world into uncharted territory. So many things have changed in these unprecedented times, from the ways we do business to how we live our lives, but what hasn’t changed is the love for our families and those we hold dearest.

From the very beginning of the pandemic, families have reached out to me concerned about the well-being of their loved ones — especially those living in nursing homes. They have expressed outrage, including about the lack of proper PPE, the inability to gather information about their loved one’s care, patient’s depression due to severe isolation, questioning the reasoning for certain patient placements and transfers, and seeking the real statistics on deaths resulting from Covid-19 from nursing homes.

Early on, I called for investigations and public hearings, along with my colleagues in the Assembly Minority Conference. A joint legislative hearing was eventually held in August, where Health Committee members heard from families from across the state, and just like our family, friends and neighbors here in Western New York, their stories of loss and heartache were devastating.

Direct questions were asked of state Department of Health (DOH) Commissioner Howard Zucker, such as “How many nursing home patients had contracted Covid-19?” or “How many nursing home deaths resulted from Covid-19?”

However, the commissioner could not or would not provide answers. To this date, these questions and my multiple written requests to him for a detailed breakdown of statewide Covid-19 deaths remain unanswered. This is completely unacceptable! Taxpayers and lawmakers deserve full and open transparency from the commissioner and DOH.

Late last month, NYS Attorney General Letitia James released a report showing the state unreported nursing home deaths by as much as 50 percent and pointed out serious deficiencies in the handling of the coronavirus, which confirmed our worst fears. I applaud Attorney General James for speaking truth to power and issuing this revealing report.

Following this, a scathing New York Times report came out detailing at least nine top DOH officials have resigned due to the governor’s interference with COVID health policies. The minds of New Yorkers across the state are spinning at all of this news, but we must continue to ask, “If there is nothing to hide, why does the administration continue to deny the information which has been repeatedly requested by the media, lawmakers and constituents?”

That’s why, for all of these reasons and more, I am calling for immediate legislative hearings with subpoena powers. The people of our state need a thorough, top-down investigation into what happened with our nursing homes and what happened to their loved ones. We need open, transparent investigatory hearings with the ability to hold people responsible, including Commissioner Zucker, and to chart a future direction so this does not happen again.

Further, since July 1, 2020, I felt it was time for the state Legislature to remove the governor’s extraordinary powers, and I publicly called for them to do so that day and many times since. The number of my colleagues, on both sides of the aisle, who support this continues to grow but, unfortunately, the downstate-driven, one-party controlled Majorities have yet to take action. These powers must be rescinded now to restore the constitutional balance of New York state government.

I can’t understand the devastation of losing someone who was in a nursing home to Covid. My heart just breaks for all the families who have contacted me and all the people from across the state who have shared their stories. However, what I can do is continue fighting for justice, for the answers you deserve and legislation that will prevent future tragedies.

As always, if I can be of assistance on any state issue, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at my office in Clarence. You can call us at (716) 839-4691 or email me at norrism@nyassembly.gov. For more updates, please follow me on social media or email me to sign up for my e-newsletter.

Assemblyman Mike Norris

Lockport

Editor:

Hats off to our Republican Congressman, Chris Jacobs (R-NY). Democratic House Caucus Chairman Hakeem Jeffries just opined that “The party of Lincoln is gone. The party of Reagan is gone. The party of John McCain is gone. This is now the party of Marjorie Taylor Greene.”

Greene, a Republican from Georgia, has endorsed violence against and assassinations of top Democrats, denied 9/11, and claimed school shooting were false flag staged murder.

The one I find most astounding so far is her claim that last year’s California wild fires were started by a Jewish Space Laser. When her committee assignments were on the line, Greene lied about what she had said and when she said it.

Jacobs spotted that and voted to boot her for the good of the country. More Republicans voted to kick her out in conference than on the floor but some similar nuts cheered for her.

Our Congressman obviously understands we need a sane Republican Party standing in opposition, contributing well thought out alternatives and not just blowing smoke – smoke has been the story of the day since we had both President(s) Bush. (I often disagreed but they were by and large thoughtful leaders – particularly the first Bush who cleaned up the broken saving and loan industry and reinstated old taxes on the wealthy in order to put us on track to clear the deficit.)

Greene says she is the new face of the Republican Party working in tandem with Donald Trump – who also never saw a good conspiracy he did not like.

So the battle is on. 1) Conspiracy nuts with mangled facts or 2) those who focus on things we see and can explain what to do to make life better.

Remember the Roosevelt to Nixon era was when the middle class grew and did so phenomenally well because to two sane parties worked together. This was back when people got the same news from reputable (still reputable) sources.

Two sane parties is good. If one breaks further, that’s bad. The country has enough on its plate to spend time and attention dealing with kooks but this has to be straightened out. We have no choice and Congress’s vote, and Jacob’s, vote was a start.

Conrad F. Cropsey

Albion

Editor:

Our seditionist congressman, Chris Jacobs, voted to undo our votes, challenging the counting of the electoral votes, in defiance of 60 court decisions. Who can be OK with a representative who voted against our Democratic process?

Jacobs supported Trump’s “Big lie” embracing and enabling him more than any other politician in our area, except Chris Collins. Jacobs was strong enough in his opinion to be a speaker, on stage, at QAnon rallies not long ago.

Marjorie Taylor Greene and Jacobs are much alike. The pair both suddenly abandoned strong convictions, turned 180 degrees. Jacobs actually voted against a fellow Republican, to strip Greene of committee assignments.

We all know it couldn’t be bravery. Maybe cowardice? Maybe a mistake vote again? More red flags. Chris Jacobs is a chameleon, a reptile who can change color quickly, as needed. Jacobs is not reliable and strong, true to his word; Jacobs is someone not to be trusted.

Maybe privilege and wealth have given Jacobs an attitude of superiority, that he can get away with anything in his kingdom. Maybe his big donors don’t like the optics of Jacobs’ traitorous, coup attempt.

We are not fools, nor pawns. We will not forget.

Carol Nochajski

Wilson

Editor:

As a Democrat with many Republican acquaintances/friends, I feel I have a few insights to share as well as a few opinions worthy of consideration. Let me say before “going off” that I am proud of having supported Joe Biden and not at all ashamed of knowing a few dozen thoughtful Republicans.

Last Thursday another of these pals told me he really appreciated Biden’s restoration of the environment to its proper place in the order of things. Six others have done things from displaying a Biden sign in his yard to confiding to me that they could not wait to be rid of the former President.

Maintaining that you won an election in a “landslide” in 2020 when you lost it by about 7 million popular votes after you had no problem accepting an electoral college, state-certified victory in 2016 is just a bit curious. After all, our former occupant of the White House lost that election by around 3 million votes. Sorry, sir, but you play the game by the rules that are in effect when it starts and accept the possibility that you may lose.

What about the present? I hate to break it to my fellow Democrats, but our legitimate President’s Covid-19 relief and stimulus package is—in my view—too generous.  Why should people making $100,000 a year receive relief? That reminds me of the previous President’s tax breaks for his wealthy cronies.

Please do not misunderstand. The disgraced ex-President did commit impeachment-worthy offenses. To me, he certainly screwed up far more than he got right, especially in foreign policy, and needs to accept the judgment of the electorate. There is no doubt he got a few things right.  But there are reasons why Mr. Putin wanted him elected in 2016 and re-elected in 2020.

Whether impeachment for impeachment-worthy offenses predicated on the need for accountability and adherence to the law is advisable is another matter. Impeachment likely will give the man who may be the worst President in U.S. history more support from a base which will support him regardless (and one of Robert E. Lee’s top generals was one of my ancestors).

Thanks to those thoughtful Republicans, such as Mitt Romney and Liz Cheney, who are speaking truth to power. One can only imagine what John McCain, a true American hero, might be thinking right now.

Yours in utmost sincerity,

Gary F. Kent

Albion

Editor:

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wrote an editorial titled: “The War on Free Speech.” I would like to respond.

This is a very complex issue not easy to adequately address in a letter to the papers. First, the U.S. Constitution guarantees free speech; corporations do not guarantee free speech. Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms are private companies and when we want to use these platforms we have to sign a user agreement. Violations of that agreement has consequences.

Most of these social media platforms use automated artificial intelligence to monitor the cacophony of opinions and suppress those that violate company rules and common decency such as abusive and dangerous activities. (Personally, I question how hateful, abusive, lies or pornographic speech advance ideas in the market place of free speech).

Therefore, the idea that social media is censoring one political group over another demonstrates that one political group violates common decency more than other political groups. Furthermore, the editorial undercuts the idea that there is a war on free speech by pointing out that when one platform blocks certain speech those who engage in that speech will just move to another platform. Thus free speech is not blocked. Thank you.

William Fine

Brockport

Editor:

Over the past year, 2,563 neighbors in need of all ages throughout Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties were served by the six programs Catholic Charities offers here. We provided basic emergency assistance, including support for food and finding housing resources.

Our licensed counselors offered counseling services for all ages. Our Friendly Phones program brought a sense of connectivity and enhanced quality of life to dozens of homebound seniors in Genesee and Orleans counties. We worked with more than 100 domestic violence offenders for systemic social change in a coordinated community response.

We are committed to staying at the forefront in providing basic assistance and crucial programs, which serve as a beacon of HOPE for our neighbors who are struggling to make ends meet, or who are facing new challenges with their mental health and well-being. However, we can’t continue to be that beacon without your generous support.

Appeal 2021, which benefits Catholic Charities’ programs and services, recently launched with a goal of $10 million to address the critical need for the tens of thousands through not only Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties, but all eight counties of Western New York.

If you or someone you know needs assistance (even if you have never needed it before) in Genesee, Orleans or Wyoming counties, call us directly at 585-343-0614. We have offices located in Batavia, Albion and Perry.

It is a challenging time for all of us, but thanks to our generous supporters, these crucial Catholic Charities programs continue now when they are needed most. If you can help, please visit ccwny.org/donation. Appeal 2021 runs through June 30.

Kelly Grimaldi

Tri-County District Director, Catholic Charities