letters to the editor/opinion

McMurray would be a break from politics of division

Posted 12 October 2020 at 3:48 pm

Editor:

Nate McMurray will change directions towards a more civil society. A study by Georgia State University Professor Jennifer Lynn McCoy found that polarization of politics is stimulated by the rhetoric of political leaders. She wrote: “Since launching his campaign, President Donald Trump has vilified so-called external enemies such as ‘criminal and rapist’ Mexican immigrants, terrorist Muslims and foreign allies out to drain America’s coffers through ‘unfair trade deficits.’ Now, the president is targeting internal enemies.”

We need to stop vilifying and demonizing people of different ethnic or religious backgrounds. This has the effect of dividing and isolating people, instead of solving problems.

To overcome this polarization of politics the study states: “With a spirit of inquiry, generosity and openness, rather than blame and vilification, the U.S. can move past the bitter divisions that threaten the democratic foundations of the country.”

Chris Jacobs is emulating Mr. Trump’s rhetoric of blaming peaceful protestors on ANTIFA, and demonizing Asians and migrants.

Nate McMurray has visited everywhere in the 27th district, listened to everyone’s concerns and will bring people together.

We all want clean water, nutritious food, good schools and safe neighborhoods and good jobs. Working together, Nate McMurray, will change direction from vilifying people to solving problems for N.Y. 27th district. Let’s elect a leader, Nate McMurray.

William Fine

Brockport

Former congressman shouldn’t get any more delays in sentencing for prison

Posted 12 October 2020 at 12:59 pm

Editor:

Chris Collins did the crime, it’s time, do the time. Our ex-congressman was convicted of fraud, insider trading and lying to law enforcement.

Collins needs to go to jail, no matter who he is, no matter how much money he has, even with “connections” in high places, a Trump loyalist.

Lawyers’ excuses to further delay or eliminate his 26-week prison sentence for Collins include his age – 70, ill health – asthma and hypertension, as well as health risks.

Equal equals equal. Shall we release all 70-year old prisoners with asthma and hypertension due to health risk? The pandemic is a fact of life we all must deal with.

I have not committed any crimes, am in the same age group with the same illnesses; I quarantine at home due to the pandemic. Collins is a criminal deserving greater punishment than I. Collins is old news; the public is tired of his face, hearing his woes. Time to do the time, like anyone else.

Fast forward to the present. Who will fill that N-27 seat? We deserve better than the series of wealthy ex-congressmen named Chris who have embarrassed us, cheated or confused easily.

Chris Jacobs claims he was confused when he failed to support the USPS. Jacobs must be confused again, when he lies in his ad, claiming he fights to protect pre-existing conditions and jobs for us. Jacobs is a Trump loyalist; Trump fights to eliminate The Affordable Care Act during a pandemic.

We are desperate for leadership with integrity, someone who refuses corporate money, whose “connections” are us, supporters, met while visiting towns in N-27. That is Nate McMurray.

Carol Nochajski

Wilson

For county clerk, elect best candidate – not just one with the letter ‘R’

Posted 10 October 2020 at 6:42 pm

Editor:

Over the past several weeks I have been lucky enough to walk beside (often behind) Diane Shampine as she boldly knocks upon the doors of complete strangers.

Quiet and reserved by nature, Diane has managed to muster the inner strength to enter an arena of which she had previously disavowed, and even truly dreaded – the world of politics. I stand in awe at the strength required to do so.

If you have a fear of public speaking, multiply that by a factor of ten, and then you have half an appreciation for what this actually requires.

I have witnessed first-hand how this overtly polite lady (afraid to knock too loudly, step on someone’s grass where no sidewalk was present, or interrupt a Buffalo Bill’s game on Sunday) became a confident, assertive individual on the campaign trail for the position of Orleans County Clerk.

Each encounter resolved clearly in her favor yet accompanied by a small cloud of confusion as to how a citizen may clearly cast a vote intended as approval for her effort to meet, greet and present.

Her shirt is red, her sign has stars, she’s a life-long Republican, and it would seem logical that if one were to vote straight down the Republican line, she will receive your vote. No! Not correct. Diane has supported the Republican Party her entire life, but even though she was clearly the most qualified, I dare say the only qualified candidate for the position, she didn’t receive their support. The people we meet fully intend to vote for Diane, but many also intend to vote the Republican line from top to bottom. Unfortunately, that is going to end with unintended consequences, and the wrong person may inadvertently win this race.

However, from the very beginning of this campaign Diane understood the value of the Conservative Party endorsement. At the very heart of every true Republican, and deep down within every thinking person is a conservative leaning voter. Someone who honestly believes the hand of government upon the throats of the citizen must be restrained, and the coffers accrued via collected taxes should be spent as a parent balancing a limited household budget.

I witnessed Diane reviewing a multi-page questionnaire from the Conservative Party Committee as if she were taking a midterm exam, beginning at 7 a.m. and finally concluding sometime after 11:30 p.m. on a Sunday night because she was determined to submit her honest and heartfelt answers on time. Upon doing so, she not only received the Conservative Party endorsement, but also received high praise as having provided “some of the most impressive answers they had ever seen.” Because of that cherished endorsement, she is now allowed to continue on in the general election as the Conservative Party candidate.

It would seem Diane Shampine is not simply running against another candidate, but rather she finds herself in contention with a very powerful letter. The letter “R” for Republican.

A letter can be a powerful thing, one cannot debate with a letter, only a candidate. When one candidate refuses to present their competency in a public forum, the other is catapulted into a position where they must somehow convey that an “R” is not always an “R”, and quite often a “C” is truly the best option.

James Schwenzer

Ontario, New York and part-time Holley resident

Resident sees similarities in a tyrant from the 1930s-40s with current president

Posted 8 October 2020 at 9:40 am

Editor:

An article in the World Book Encyclopedia which was contributed to by William A. Jenks, a professor of history at Washington and Lee University, reads “Adolph Hitler was one of the most evil men in world history. He spread death as no man had ever done before and ordered anyone who opposed him to be executed or thrown into prison.”

Jenks goes on to say that Hitler hated Christianity which he said was a religion for weaklings. Many believed he was their friend and protector. He had a sick mind – but it was the mind of a genius who had a clear vision of what he wanted and had the daring to pursue it and the talent to succeed.

He had no respect for experts in any field and repeatedly ignored the advice of his generals and followed his own judgment. People who knew him described him as odd, moody and easily angered. He thought that no form of government could last if it treated persons of different nationalities equally.

Hitler was a skillful schemer, politician and organizer. He became leader of the Nazi Party and built up membership quickly – partly by his ability to stir street crowds with his speeches. He attacked the government and declared that only the Nazi party could assure jobs and greatness for Germany.

He believed that democracy could only lead to Communism and a dictatorship was the only way to save the country from Communists. He had laws enacted which wiped out individual rights in Germany and allowed the Nazis to jail anyone without a trial, outlawed freedom of the press, all labor unions and all political parties except the Nazis.

He was given full law-making and financial powers and anyone who was suspected of opposing him was shot or jailed by the Gestapo.

Do any of those character traits remind you of anyone you might know who “leads” a country?   Think long and hard before you cast your ballot.

Joseph A. Gehl

Kent

Dem Party chair said many helped lead local party

Posted 7 October 2020 at 9:14 am

Editor:

Thank you Tom Rivers for the Orleans Hub article. Yes, it has been quite a ride but I didn’t do it alone.

During my tenure I was fortunate to have Sandra Walter as a dedicated treasurer who reported to the State in a timely manner, Agnes Recco who recorded all the minutes and motions. We were a team and I will miss our interactions but we will remain forever friends.

The vice chairs – Jeff Lewis and Darlene Rich, Pat Cammaratta and Jim Renfrew – are deserving of thanks as well and all the committee members who chaired or helped with our many projects and fund raisers.

Jan Grabowski and Eileen Aina at the Board of Elections will make sure we follow the State Guidelines.

I will miss the challenges of being the chair but Jeff and his team will lead us on.

Yes, the challenges are great in Orleans County but the Democrats are not going away.

Thank you,

Jeanne Crane

Waterport

Former Orleans County Democratic Party chairwoman

Our republic, which many have fought to defend for generations, is at stake in this election

Posted 7 October 2020 at 8:36 am

Editor:

As someone who taught U.S. History and Government and International Relations for thirty-four years and knows the Constitution and American History better than most, it is my considered opinion that the fate of this wonderful nation and our republican form of government are highly dependent on the outcome of our November presidential election.

My son was superintendent at Atlantic City Country Club when our president was having his Taj Mahal built by multi-millionaire Club members. That son personally knows Club members who were told after completing millions of dollars’ worth of work that they should get a lawyer if they wished to be paid.

American troops who fought the Kaiser’s men at Chateau Thierry and Belleau Wood in WW I and are buried in France were called “suckers” and “losers” by the guy who got out of serving in Vietnam by citing a bone spur. In fact, our president called people who died in Vietnam “stupid” for not avoiding the draft.

George Fischer, one of my best friends growing up, stepped on a land mine in Vietnam and came back to Holley “closed casket”.  I have always thought of George as a patriot who died for his country.

If you value the republic so many have fought to defend, please think long and hard about this election and why Vladimir Putin, a man who kills with impunity, wants so badly for our president to be re-elected.

Sincerely yours,

Gary F. Kent

Albion

WNY economy was struggling before Covid-19

Posted 6 October 2020 at 7:57 am

Editor:

For a strong economy and job growth, vote for Nate McMurray. Under Mr. Trump’s leadership, which Chris Jacobs supports, the economy in Western New York has been sluggish at best. David Robinson of the Buffalo News reported (3/13/20): “The January slump (in the jobs market), combined with major revisions to last year’s numbers that showed the local jobs market fell into decline last July, (2019), paints a picture of a sluggish employment market during a time when the national economy was still going strong.”

The State Department of Labor reported that the Buffalo area lost about 3,000 jobs from January 2019 to January 2020. This was before the Covid-19 pandemic that further weakened our economy. Non-partisan analysis of Mr. Trump’s economic plans vs Mr. Biden’s, overwhelming favor Mr. Biden’s proposals. Moody’s Analytics reported (9/23/20), that: “We conclude that Biden’s economic proposals would result in a stronger U.S. economy than Trump’s.”

James Pethokoukis, economist at Goldman Sachs, also expressed more favorable views of Mr. Biden’s economic proposals over those of Mr. Trump’s.

Western New York’s economy was bad and getting worse under Mr. Trump and Mr. Jacobs. Expert nonpartisan analysis by Moody’s and Goldman Sachs shows that our economy will improve faster and longer under Mr. Biden with Nate McMurray’s help.

Western New York needs a leader with a strong voice for economic development. We need Nate McMurray in Congress

William Fine

Brockport

Senate, in pushing speedy Supreme Court nomination, shows utter hypocrisy

Posted 4 October 2020 at 8:10 pm

Editor:

Sadly, I must report that the “it is a hoax and therefore never happened” pandemic has had a severe symptomatic impact on the United States Senate; specifically, it has affected a group of eight Republican Senators.

It appears that Mitch McConnell, Lindsey Graham, Joni Ernst, Cory Gardner, Ted Cruz, John Cornyn, Chuck Grassley and Marco Rubio have come down with a very serious case of Trump Mandated Dissociative Amnesia (TMDA). This form of Psychogenic Amnesia occurs when a person blocks out certain previous information or events and is therefore unable to remember important personal events and\or actions from their past.

Case in Point – In 2016 these eight Senators, led by Mitch McConnell, refused to consider President Obama’s nomination of Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court following the death of Antonin Scalia. As directed by then Chairman Chuck Grassley, the Senate Judiciary Committee never considered the Garland nomination and simply allowed it to expire following a delay of 293 days.

In defense of the Senate’s failure to act, Mitch McConnell stated that any appointment by a sitting President this close to a pending Presidential election is “null and void.” Thus, the Garland nomination died a dishonorable death leaving the Scalia seat vacant until Neil Gorsuch’s confirmation April 7, 2017.

Now these same Fascist Eight Trumpster Minions (FETM) have had an epiphany and claim that indeed they do have the constitutional obligation to act with all deliberate speed to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Contrary to how they intentionally neglected their responsibility in 2016, they are now committed to abide by this pseudo-constitutional timeline requirement even though four years ago they had declared it to be “null and void”. Of a greater concern, it seems that our nation has become impervious to lies and falsehoods which has very sadly become the new normal. Worse even is the realization that this model of behavior is emanating from our nation’s leaders.

We are left to ask how could there be such a drastic historic change in the United States such that what was once declared “null and void” in 2016 by McConnell is now the law of “his” land? How is it that in this case such hypocritical actions by the leaders of the Senate could be tolerated and emboldened when the United States Senate was once the most highly regarded political institution in the world?

Why is it that in the eyes of the world we are no longer seen as the standard bearer of the democratic principles which had been envisioned by our Founding Fathers and fostered by American leadership for centuries?

Since when have we preferred an Autocratic Kakistocracy to Lincoln’s moral and political commitment to a unified nation? I know exactly when; it was when we chose Fascism over a government of the people, by the people, and for the people on November 8, 2016.

RBG ut vos RIP.

Doug Miller,

Albion

Former Trump supporter says he won’t be duped into voting for him again

Posted 2 October 2020 at 10:26 am

Editor:

I voted for Donald Trump in 2016. At the time I truly felt that he posed the best hope of breaking through the government gridlock we have endured for far too long.

Since then I’ve had my share of “what on earth was I thinking” moments but nothing made it more appallingly clear than this week’s anything-but-presidential debate.

Donald Trump (self-promoting liar, prolific serial adulterer, thief, cheater, draft-dodger, race-baiter, proud self-admitted sexual molester, negligent murderer and now tax fraud) is nothing more than a broken man’s idea of a successful man, an unlettered man’s idea of an intelligent man, a coward’s idea of a strong man, the evangelicals idea of a righteous man, republicans idea of a moral man, and most dangerously – a fool’s idea of a leader. These are “conservative values”? No thanks, I won’t be duped this time around.

For those with a modest sensibility and a propensity for honor, truth and basic human decency … Donald Trump has shown the entire world he’s just a rude, vulgar, ill-mannered, crass, immature, classless schoolyard bully.

Joe Biden called “a terrible man” in the same sentence as Trump? Not even close. Tuesday, November 3rd is trash day for the entire United States of America. Send this heaping refuse pile to the White House curb and put “PRESIDENT” back in POTUS.

I’m not judging, I’m just passing along the verdict.

Tom Graham, AHS ’78

Rochester

President, Senate shouldn’t delay in filling vacancy on Supreme Court

Posted 1 October 2020 at 6:52 pm

Editor:

President Donald Trump has recently appointed a successor to Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg who has recently passed away.

Our duly elected President has the constitutional authority along with the Senate to appoint qualified justices to the Supreme Court and further has the obligation to accomplish this task as rapidly as possible. This happens to be the third appointment to the Supreme Court by President Trump, and it is not “stacking,” as some have suggested, but responsible discharge of presidential duty.

Despite the fact that President Trump did not carry a majority of the popular vote in the 2016 election, his authority is in no way diminished. The Electoral College elected our President and it did so with a substantial majority of 304 vs 227. Those who criticize the election process and push for election by popular vote want to deprive the minority of any voice in the process. Without the Electoral College candidates would merely need to engage the large population centers of our country and neglect the remaining regions. Imagine if the politicians of our largest cities had control of our government. “Summer of Love,” “Peaceful” Riots, Defund the Police etc., etc., etc. would rule the day.

The Senate should not delay in appointing a justice to the court and it should not be left to the next elected president. We need a fully staffed and functional Supreme Court, i.e. no 4 to 4 hang-ups. This is particularly critical under the current situation, where the huge, unprecedented volume of mail-in ballots and the controversy on counting them in the swing states exists.

A final judgement on the outcome of the 2020 election may therefore reside with the Supreme Court. Some claim this is “not fair.” I submit fairness is in the eyes of the beholder. I am confident that if the situation were reversed the opposition would be taking an identical approach and consider it fair.

Our President has nominated Amy Coney Barrett to fill the current vacancy on our nation’s High Court. Judge Barrett is highly qualified to serve and is on President Trump’s list of potential Supreme Court nominees.

Candidate Biden has refused to supply such a list expecting us to fly blind on the subject through the election and hope for the best. The Senate confirmation process should be straight forward as Judge Barrett’s qualifications have been previously vetted when she was appointed to the 7th district Court where she currently resides.

The High Court needs her expertise as one who follows the law as written and does not legislate from the bench. Legislation is the responsibility of Congress and the president. Hopefully, the hearings will not degenerate to character assassination as the opposition did in the Judge Kavanaugh hearings and those of some time ago involving Judges Clarence Thomas and Robert Bork.

A speedy confirmation of Judge Barrett to the United States Supreme Court will allow a return to the more pressing issues of this current presidential campaign such as defeating the Covid-19 pandemic and returning our economy to its previous excellent shape.

James C. Hoffman

Barker

Oak Orchard Health offers options at several sites for COVID-19 testing

Posted 1 October 2020 at 4:54 pm

Editor:

A recent Orleans Hub article highlighted the community’s frustration to get COVID-19 testing. Many of our health centers including Albion, Brockport, and Hornell provide testing for people with and without symptoms. At the Corfu, Batavia, and Alexander locations we are testing people with symptoms only.

COVID-19 swab tests are available at our health centers outdoors to ensure safety for patients and staff. However, if you have symptoms, please call in advance for arrival instructions. Test results are typically back in 3-5 days but in some cases can take up to seven business days.

Regarding payment, we start by billing the insurance companies (co-pays may apply), and should it not be covered, we also offer a sliding fee scale discount based on family size and annual income. For questions or more information, please call (585) 637-3905 ext. 221.

And we have another alternative, free LetsGetChecked COVID-19 Self Collection Kits that patients can take home with them but are in limited supply. The kits can be used when appropriate based on current testing guidelines. The test kit comes with a UPS next day air return shipping label to send your sample back to the lab. They aim to deliver your results within 24-72 hours of your sample being received in their laboratory.

We invite everyone to explore the COVID-19 testing options available at Oak Orchard Health. For more information, please call (585) 637-3905.

Mary Obear, MD, PhD,

Chief Clinical Officer

Oak Orchard Health

Corfu

Trump betrays traditional Republican, American values

Posted 1 October 2020 at 11:40 am

Editor:

President Carter used to quote his teacher, Ms. Julia, who said, “We must adjust to changing times and still hold to unchanging principles.”

Gov. Bush said just a few years ago that the Republican Party which elected his brother was gone.

In the old days, Republicans emphasized support for A) paying our bills, B) holding down national debt, C) resisting Russian expansion, D) farmers and their sales overseas, E) courting black voters, F) supporting immigration,

G) trade, F) low-cost public college, G) initiating most major environmental initiatives including the EPA and OSHA, H) starting and expanding our national park system, I) until 1986 using tax credits (not cuts) to boost investment and jobs, J) expansion of mail-in voting, K) following our laws to the letter, L) honoring and supporting our Vietnam veterans and veterans generally, M) resisting, until 1915, the erection of Confederate statues,  N) support for NATO and our alliances,

O) originating progressive taxation on the wealthy (1862 and again in 1892 and in 1911), P) huge support for Rep. Sen. Chafee’s “Health Equity and Access Improvement Act of 1991” (a/k/a Obama Care), Q) appointing traditional judges who considered the Declaration of Independence when deciding cases, R) massive opposition to politicians suspected of receiving foreign support and politicking involving calls from and guests to the White House, and finally,

S) the party aggressively excluded “John Birchers” (a fringe group in favor of 1. unfunded tax cuts, 2. keeping the rich rich, 3. Anti-immigration,  conspiracy theories that all change is communist or socialist in origin…) and George Wallace’s  “American Democratic Party” and Strom Thurmond’s “Dixiecrats” (populists in favor of 1. white supremacy, 2. unfunded spending).

The parties started flipping principles when Republican doors were finally opened wide to Bircher and Wallace supporters and their ideas in 1982 and 1968, respectively.

I knew the Presidential debate on Tuesday would include a lot of overdone, even false, claims.   I would hear Bircher and Wallace dog whistles. I fact check virtually everything so none of that threw me – that former RNC Chief Counsel Attorney Ben Ginsberg emphatically says the vote by mail harangue is vicious nonsense, that Republican cities have suffered demonstrations and “organized” white supremacist violence, and that the national production act was used extensively for Ebola and swine flu pandemic before matters got out of hand – unlike Covid, and that our economy had slowed under him.

The straw (nee club) in the debate came when President Trump asked that “his supporters” –not official party poll watches – go to the polls to ensure his victory.

And he refused to denounce “white supremacy” including specifically the machine gun armed “Proud Boys”  (who are officially listed as a neo fascist group) who he told to “stand back and stand by”!

Peaceful transitions of freely elected government is the Article of Faith that binds us no matter how much we disagree! President Trump just up and threw it out. Love of God, family, this country,  freedom, the right to vote, and peaceful transition of administrations – everything we fought for in our Civil War and two World Wars – he put at physical risk!

No matter what else you may think, he made clear who to vote against: Trump and any politician who does not renounce him.

Conrad F. Cropsey

Albion

There is a better option for president rather than ‘terrible’ choices from 2 major parties

Posted 30 September 2020 at 11:36 am

Editor:

Last night’s presidential debate was a total fiasco. Americans watched the debate to learn about each candidate’s platform and solutions to our nation’s issues. Instead we witnessed a national embarrassment and disgraceful moment in our country’s history, and nobody learned anything except that they have to choose between two terrible men. Is this really the best America has to offer for President?

Turns out, the answer is no. There is a third candidate, Libertarian Dr. Jo Jorgensen. Unlike Trump and Biden, who offer no real solutions and are relying on stirring up hatred and fear to win, Dr. Jorgensen has answers and real policy proposals. She has a different vision for America, one where the individual is empowered to make the changes he or she wants to see. Her vision is one of love, hope and brotherhood.

So many people visited Dr. Jorgensen’s website, in search of a better candidate that the high volume caused it to crash! Americans want to hear her message! They want to let her speak! However, the Commission on Presidential Debates excluded her from the first debate, because they don’t want Americans to know they have a choice outside the two-party system. They don’t want Americans to know there is a better candidate than what this system has to offer.

Dr. Jorgensen will appear on the ballot in all 50 states and D.C. right alongside Trump and Biden. Last night’s spike in Google searches for “libertarian candidate” and “Jo Jorgensen” demonstrate that there is no reason to silence the only woman in the race and exclude her from the other debates.

That’s why I urge everyone reading this to call the Commission at (202) 872-1020 or email them at media@debates.org and demand Dr. Jo Jorgensen be included in the next two presidential debates.

Chase Tkach

Carlton

Chairperson of the Libertarian Party of Orleans County

Republicans embrace Socialism for the Rich

Posted 28 September 2020 at 10:26 am

Editor:

“Big Business wants Socialism on losses, Capitalism on profits,” said Pat Golden, a Senior Analyst for the NYS Legislature, Kendall ’79.

We taxpayers (by the way not Mr. Trump) bailed out Big Business in the Covid emergency (they’ve made nearly $300 billion since March 15th), whereas fresh water supply is threatened by lack of bailout support of smaller municipalities, 11 million small restaurants are in danger of losing their businesses, and 20 million working poor are in danger of eviction, with small (most) rental property owners also endangered, and high layoffs for many workers, with UIB running out. But Socialism for the Rich.

We bailed out Big Business in the 2008 Bush/Cheney crash. Socialism for the Rich.

We gave Big Business big tax breaks in the beginning of George W’s administration to stimulate the economy and it doubled the national debt. Socialism for the Rich.

We gave Big Business big tax breaks during the Reagan administration. President Reagan said that it would stimulate business, increase tax receipts and balance our budget. It doubled both the debt and deficit. Socialism for the Rich. President George H. Bush called it “Voodoo Economics.”

We now owe $26 trillion. That’s nearly 40 times the $712 billion we owed in 1980.

Health care for everyone, like in every other industrialized nation in the world.  “No, that’s socialism,” they cry. No, it’s Pro-Life!

Reserve Socialism for when business fails again, and they will. We can afford that, but not health care for poor children and their mothers or the working poor or homeless veterans.

Only Socialism for the rich, from the borrow-and-spend Republicans.

Bob and Marg Golden

Kent

Barre wind energy ordinance strikes right balance in allowing turbines, protecting residents

Posted 27 September 2020 at 9:04 am

Editor:

I am writing in response to Kerri Richardson’s letter from September 20. I was surprised by the number of factual errors and misleading statements it contained, especially coming from a member of our Town Board who has been involved in the process of reviewing these wind law changes.

Councilwoman Richardson states that the setback distance remains at 1.5 times tip height from all residential and commercial structures, and that this setback does not apply to property lines. Both of these claims are false.

I listened to all of the Town Board meetings and workshops regarding the ordinance changes and the draft ordinance clearly establishes a minimum setback of 2 times tip height (over a quarter mile) from all residential and commercial structures and 1.5 times tip height from the property lines of those not participating in the project.

Know Your Facts USA graciously posts all the Town Board meeting recordings on their Facebook page if you would like to listen for yourself. I am disappointed that one of my town councilmembers either didn’t bother to read the ordinance or is purposefully misrepresenting the proposed law changes.

Councilwoman Richardson also claimed, “The noise regulations do not meet the suggested standards of the New York State Department of Health in its letter to the Siting Board on March 2020.” The Department of Health and Siting Board have since approved multiple wind projects with the same sound standards as Barre’s proposed law.

Councilwoman Richardson suggests a “property value guarantee” as part of the wind ordinance. I don’t see this as necessary or practicable. There is no peer-reviewed, scientific study showing that property values are affected by wind projects. However, there are numerous studies that show wind turbines do not affect property values, such as the 2013 Study by Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory, which states, “The core results of our analysis consistently show no sizable statistically significant impact of wind turbines on nearby property values.” That study can be read by clicking here.

There are many factors that drive property values to fluctuate, such as age and condition of the home, the local economy, and even this pandemic. Homes are selling in Barre faster than I could ever remember, at or above asking price due to people wanting to get out of cities, all while we are considering a proposed wind project. It is absurd to think that wind turbines alone will be responsible for changing property values.

Councilwoman Richardson has stated that transparency is important, and I agree with her. I am hopeful that she will be more responsible and accurate with the information she presents in the future. I encourage you to attend the public hearing on Sept. 30th at 6:30 p.m. in the Barre Highway Garage and to support the wind ordinance changes that will allow Barre to receive the many benefits of hosting a wind project. I believe the new ordinance changes strike the right balance between protecting residents and allowing wind projects to be built in our town.

Charles Mathes

Barre