Editor:

I demand Assemblyman Jonathan Jacobson, D-Newburgh, (104th Assembly District) withdraw his bill, A352, which seeks to ban body armor and make possession of body armor a felony. This bill would turn innocent residents into criminals and disproportionately harm marginalized peoples.

This bill is completely unnecessary. No harm is done to any individual or any property through the mere act of owning a body vest. There is no victim when someone wears one, so why make it illegal?

Assemblyman Jacobson is trying to create another victimless crime, for which innocent people will be branded as felons and be carted off to prison. Is sending people to rot in a cage for wearing protective gear really a progressive ideal?

This bill is shockingly tone-deaf. District 104 encompasses a diverse population, including people of marginalized identities. Unfortunately, the present socioeconomic conditions of this country put people of color, LGBTQ people, immigrants, Muslims, autistic people, the disabled, and other marginalized peoples, as well as women, at an increased risk of encountering violence, and thus they have a greater need to have any and all tools at their disposal, including body vests, to help defend themselves.

This bill would take away a very useful tool for self-defense and make already vulnerable peoples more susceptible to violence perpetrated against them, including violence perpetrated by the state.

A352 exempts police officers from this ban. Why should cops, whose acts of abuse grabbed the headlines and sparked massive protests throughout the previous year, get to wear protective gear, while ordinary citizens are jailed for the same action? Since when are cops better than anyone else? In this country everyone is supposed to be afforded equal treatment before the law. Either everyone gets to have access to body armor or nobody does.

It’s also worth noting that should this bill become law, it will be more heavily enforced against people of color, just like gun control and drug laws. They will be at greater risk of arrest and will receive harsher sentences. I don’t think that’s the future of New York State progressives envisioned.

People have the right to defend themselves. Wearing a body vest is a harmless way to do so. Turning ordinary people into criminals is tyrannical. Bill A352 would do just that.

Assemblyman Jacobson, let the people protect themselves with body armor. Withdraw this bill at once!

Chase Tkach

Carlton

Orleans County Libertarian Party Chair

Editor:

This is a big week coming. An inauguration, as impeachment and an investigation into  insurrection. I respectfully submit we should focus on ourselves, language – how we use and it and what we listed to! Voltaire said, “those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.”

The recent storming of the Capitol was done by a lot of misguided people. No one can get a mulligan for going into a restricted area, destroying federal property and/or threatening our elected officials. First, while I disagree with MAGA types some of them were not insurrectionists but simply were around because they believed some absurdities they had been told.

But more importantly were crazy QAnon Trump supporters who thought that Jan 6, 2021 was the “Storm” and it was time to kill Congressmen and install Trump as the permanent dictator.

Then, just as deranged, there was the ever present white supremacists and Bro Nazis who only care about overthrowing the US. They think there are hoards who will jump up and join them if they kill enough to be taken seriously. (Their new hero Trump let them out of the bottle which had held pretty well since 1995 when they killed hundreds of children in Oklahoma City.)

Who did what will have to be sorted out. And our Senate will have to decide what to do about President misleading them, summoning the crazy people amongst them to DC and telling them all to commit serious felonies and advance into a restricted security area – many openly and also illegally in a security area packing guns for a fight.

But really with an inauguration and a new start its gives us a moment to look at the words which inflamed many of these people and got them in this trouble. There are dozens of examples but I will write about socialism and free markets. Those are two of the many words I see thrown about without definition or understanding – absurdly inciting people over nothing here in the US!

The words Capitalism and the Free Market are great words when used correctly. The plain truth, however, is that the only “unregulated” “free market” is the underground Black Market! And the plain truth is that the only economic system that does not use capitalist economics is Communism!

Honestly, since the US makes it easy for a. hidden charges, b. false or misleading advertising, c. products with hidden problems, the US is a major violator when is permits skirting the rules of capitalism requiring transparency in order to accurately price what we buy.

The real debate is really who, what, where, when, why, how much and if we want to do any job properly.

Similarly, everyone knows that Switzerland is most capitalist country in the World! But the fact is that Obamacare is just a watered down version of the Swiss subsidized private insurance system. (Did not know that? Ha.)

While some say all people deserve access to health care others accurately point out that it’s also cheaper to have insurance than leaving people without any assistance at all. So what is the beef? The beef is so many on this and many other issues get taken in by people crying “wolf”.  In this case it led to people dying and others soon going to prison.

Speech is a powerful thing. To use it responsibly you have to know the subject matter. We are at a time with a new administration when I believe is time to listen and learn, not fight reflexive based on absurdities. Biden’s goal is to make the marketplace for everyone. That is not absurd.

Conrad F. Cropsey

Albion

Editor:

To Governor Cuomo, in your State of the State address you proclaim that 98% of New York State is covered by internet broadband.

I have driven every road in Orleans and Niagara County with Niagara County Legislator David Godfrey. We are members of the Niagara-Orleans Regional Alliance (NORA) spearheading broadband connectivity throughout both counties. NORA has mapped every single address point with the excellent help of our county Planning Departments, proving coverage is lacking by a minimum of 20%.

Governor Cuomo, please visit our rural areas and see for yourself. The help we plead for is to open the USDA Rural Development application period now so that we can apply for funding to get our residents internet.

I appreciate your desire to aggressively build our broadband connectivity. Start here.

Lynne M. Johnson

Chairman, Orleans County Legislature

Editor:

Joel Chandler Harris wrote about the tar baby in his Uncle Remus stories. If you touched it, you were stuck to it. By following Trump into the seditious area of trying to thwart a Presidential election, Congressman Jacobs has embraced the Trump Tar Baby.

This very specific type of tar cannot be cleansed by rhetoric, leaves a life-long stain, is likely a federal crime, and can be politically fatal.

Jack Capurso

Ashburn, Va

1960 Albion High School graduate

Editor:

I had to read a recent letter a couple of times – I could not believe what I was reading! Robert Shaw, you sit in judgement of people you don’t even know?

You state, “I have lived here my entire life and know enough to know that many of my neighbors consider themselves good, Christian folks. Yet, on houses throughout the county, houses belonging to these same self-styled Christian folk, there is hoisted the flag of a man. A vile, repugnant man who is antithetical to Christ’s message but held in higher regard. Our modern worship of power, punishment and celebrity is laid bare.”

Your thinly veiled notion that one’s political affiliation can negate or effect that person’s relationship with God is outrageous, offensive, divisive, and reflects a “holier than thou” attitude.

You then go on to say, “Not much has been happening in Orleans County for a long time. Without expanding job opportunities, strong social organizations and the general belief that one can better one’s circumstance we are left feeling empty, powerless and hurt.” You conveniently forget that NY’s woes belong to Andrew Cuomo (#57 out of 62 in per capita income). I’d add that my friends and neighbors do not walk around feeling empty, powerless, or hurt. Neither do I. I’m sorry if you do.

Then you correctly state, “Now, I don’t know how many of you know or are friendly with a millionaire, much less a billionaire. But here’s something that’ll hold water: they don’t know about you, they don’t care about you and they can’t possibly understand what you’re going through. They’re in it for them. Period. The old saying goes, ‘you don’t get rich by giving away money.’”

The natural extension of that euphemism is, “you get rich by separating fools from theirs.” I am surprised that you speak so negatively about the likes of Pelosi and Cuomo! Or have you been “duped by celebrity politicians”?

You go on, “shut off cable news, delete all of our social media (especially Facebook), and take down those silly flags while opening up our minds and our hearts.” Mr. Shaw, I will decline your advice to bury my head in the stand. Those of us who keep our heads up have the ability to research issues from multiple sources including cable news, social media, etc. and form our own opinions.

I will close in saying that it is disingenuous to quote the Bible out of context. First Peter 3 is focused on the relationship between man and wife.

Also, you refer  to another letter to the editor written from a former Orleans County now living in North Carolina. I wonder if he moved “because of the weather” as Coumo claims.

Bob Harker

Clarendon

Editor:

I have heard from “somebody” that an “anonymous source” told them that they had been informed by an “unnamed source (who can’t speak on the subject because they are not authorized to do so) that the 2020 Presidential Election was “very” fraudulently rigged, and thus confirmed to be the greatest election disaster in the history of mankind, dating back to at least the Neolithic Age.

That person, being the “third person” referenced above, has confirmed that there were numerous dead people who had voted and that at least one of the deceased persons had voted in multiple states. The “third person” also possesses a “fourth person’s” independent corroboration that before ballots could be counted in one unnamed state, they were secretly put into a large “brown valise” and deposited into a “fifth person’s” septic system.

Upon investigation of this matter by someone, “code-named Rudolf” (not the reindeer), the septic system was found to have been cleaned and was completely empty! Fraud upon fraud upon fraud upon fraud – no doubt at the hands of the “Not Very Proud Boys”, who very oddly were found to be armed with onions. Elbaites rejoice!!!!

All of this having been confirmed as a purported fact, and substantiated as such by Fox News it appears that Donald J. Trump of the State of Florida received multi millions of votes for President and Michael R. Pence of the State of Indiana has also received multi millions of votes for Vice-President. In each case the number of votes cast for Mr. Trump and Mr. Pence were “way bigger by millions” than ever.

Thus, pursuant to the 28th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America they are to be named as the President and Vice President of the below noted states because the parliamentarians have advised that these states possess the only certificates of voting that are regular in form and authentic; therefore, they shall be deemed to be the only votes which may be counted. Thusly, Mr. Trump and Mr. Pence have won the 2020 Presidential and Vice-Presidential Election by an “unprecedented hugest landslide ever” because these are the only states that are “really super good states.”

Those states being: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

God Save The Queen.

P.S. The only thing more ridiculous than this farcical Letter To The Editor is the historically preposterous presidency of Donald J. Trump which I fear will scar and torment our nation for generations to come. Share the truth and please keep the faith!

Doug Miller

Albion

Editor:

The Lockport Union-Sun & Journal editorial 1/7/21 stated: “All of the lawmakers who have continued to object to the electors— when the election was clearly over and litigated — are no less culpable than Trump. They abetted his false narrative about a rigged election. Each one of them helped give these terrorist legitimacy. Each one helped put lives at risk, most especially those of law enforcement officials who tried to restore calm from chaos.”

Congressman Chris Jacobs is one of those objectors who put law enforcement officials in danger by promulgating lies about election fraud. The Buffalo News Editorial of 1/7/21 was more blunt. “So what does that make Jacobs? Besides cowardly, dishonest and unpatriotic?”

Of Mr. Jacobs’s objection, that he did not like other states election laws, the BN editorial wrote, “With his announcement that he would side with the Republican Sedition Caucus.”

Sedition is incitement or rebellion against a government. Both Senate Leader Mitch McConnell and minority leader Chuck Schumer called Wednesday’s events an insurrection. Is Mr. Jacobs plotting a rebellion against the government that he is a part of?

Mr. Jacobs needs to answer to his constituents for his actions in town hall meetings throughout the district. In his press release, Mr. Jacobs stated: “It is imperative to allow for this crucial conversation to be debated in public.”

Let’s start the conversation. Failure to meet and explain your votes to your constituents will prove what the Buffalo News called you: “So, in addition to being chicken-hearted, Jacobs is also a liar.”

I look forward to your town hall meetings. Thank you.

William Fine

Brockport

Editor:

In response to weeks of demonstrations in Portland, Donald Trump on June 26, 2020 signed the order with a minimum 10 years in prison. The “Law and Order” President said, “Long prison terms for these lawless acts against our Great Country.”

Trump tweeted “Anarchists, Agitators or Protestors who vandalize our Federal Courthouse in Portland or any Federal Buildings in any of our cities or states will be prosecuted under our recently re-enacted Statues and Monuments Act.”

The previous penalty was up to 10 years for vandalizing or destroying any monument or statue or such federal property in the U.S. under the Veterans Memorial Preservation Act.

Trump supporters violently broke into the Capitol building on Wednesday, spread DNA laden brown fecal footprints, destroyed property, threatened elected officials, and even assaulted a Capitol Hill police officer who subsequently died from his injuries.

Use logic, rather than emotions when making personal decisions. Find healthy ways to vent emotions. Be safe.

Trump’s pawns need to know the consequences. Media outlets, do your part, inform the people.

Frank Nochajski

Wilson

Editor,

I cannot add much to Mr. Ballard’s eloquent and instructive response to the events of January, 6, 2021 except to say that as an American and a resident of Orleans County I am ashamed.

I have lived here my entire life and know enough to know that many of my neighbors consider themselves good, Christian folks. Yet, on houses throughout the county, houses belonging to these same self-styled Christian folk, there is hoisted the flag of a man. A vile, repugnant man who is antithetical to Christ’s message but held in higher regard. Our modern worship of power, punishment and celebrity is laid bare.

In many ways, it is understandable. Not much has been happening in Orleans County for a long time. Without expanding job opportunities, strong social organizations and the general belief that one can better one’s circumstance we are left feeling empty, powerless and hurt. When the physical body is hurt, it opens to infection. It follows then that our battered and beleaguered minds have succumb to the virus that is Donald Trump; that is Chris Collins; that is Chris Jacobs.

Each one of these men represents a great feat of cognitive dissonance: unfathomably rich persons who were overwhelmingly elected by one of the poorest constituencies in New York (#57 out of 62 in per capita income).

Now, I don’t know how many of you know or are friendly with a millionaire, much less a billionaire. But here’s something that’ll hold water: they don’t know about you, they don’t care about you and they can’t possibly understand what you’re going through. They’re in it for them. Period. The old saying goes, “you don’t get rich by giving away money.”  The natural extension of that euphemism is, “you get rich by separating fools from theirs.”

And here we are today, days after our Congress was attacked by domestic terrorists sporting every item from Donald Trump’s merchandise store (“…fools from theirs”). A few days after our Congressman Chris Jacobs voted with the Sedition Caucus in an effort to deny the legitimate votes of millions of Americans, our neighbors. What do we have to show for any of it? Shame is all any of us should rightfully have today.

If there is any hope for us to truly know a great America, we need to shut off cable news, delete all of our social media (especially Facebook), and take down those silly flags while opening up our minds and our hearts. And, as Peter the Apostle wrote (1 Peter 3:8), “all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.”

Robert Shaw

Lyndonville

Editor:

Mr. President, I rallied for you. I voted for you twice. I have supported you through thick and thin. I have been an outspoken advocate of yours. You have been, by far, the best possible leader in these troubled times in spite of the unrelenting political opposition and media bashing.

Until now. Your many amazing accomplishments are now being overshadowed – and I believe rightly so. Please sit down and be quiet.

I do not place all the blame of the tragic event in Washington this past week at your feet. I do though hold you to account for your lack of action before, during, and post rioting. There is no excuse. You let our country down.

Was there fraud in the election? Yes. Was it so widespread that it changed the results? Who knows. I doubt if we ever will. That does not give you the right to let criminals invade our nation’s capital by NOT being absolutely clear that ANY violence or illegal act will not be tolerated. Honestly, Mr. President, you have done direct damage to our nation. Five dead. Numerous injuries. An historic invasion of our nation’s capital. I believe you could have prevented all of this.

Election reform is certainly needed, but that is a matter for another time.

The banter about impeachment with less than two weeks left in your administration is just that: political banter. I ask you again, no I PLEAD with you to sit down and be quiet. It was my hope that you would run again. This one week has made me question that hope.

Now that the left has control of all three branches their upcoming failures will undoubtedly be blamed on you every time. And you have given them even more ammo – especially when given the left’s propensity to exchange factual historic events for whatever negative view of America they wish to convey for that day. They will make sure yours is the face of January 6, 2021.

Let us, the people, deal with election reform. I thank you for your 3.99 years of an outstanding presidency. Now please sit down and be quiet.

And to those on the left, your calls for “working together” and “respect” fall on deaf ears. Your corrupt, disrespectful, false, and downright dangerous statements were for four years the only thing that we heard from you.

You accomplished nothing but delaying aid to the American people on three different occasions to further Nancy’s political fight with the right. Enjoy your temporary reign. I have absolutely no doubt that the extreme radical left will impose their will on more centrist Democrats resulting in a failing economy. Taxes and unemployment will rise. Inflation will follow. The asinine “Green New Deal” actually has a foothold now.

I’m certain this will precipitate Republicans making great gains in the elections 2 and 4 years from now.

In the meantime Mr. President, please sit down and be quiet.

Bob Harker

Clarendon

Editor:

I am an employee with the Village of Orleans nursing home that past two years. It is having issues again, this time with staffing. Is this a reality in nursing? Sometimes yes. Sometimes from staff turnover, and other times from disasters like we had with Covid-19.

There were some poor choices coming from the top for sure but it was also something new that none of us were ready to deal with. In the end we lost a lot of people but were able to provide excellent end-of-life care, due to the staff who hadn’t quit or got Covid themselves, being unified with a common enemy and goal.

We also saved many of the residents there with consistent care and nourishment. Administration also played a part by eventually giving hazard pay and offering bonus/incentives to staff when staffing went to a critical level.

The staffing issue now has been artificially created by one thing: greed. We have filled the building with new admits, at times getting 5 in one day. For any business this is a good thing with dollars for people at the top.

But administration has repeatedly minimized or outright ignored concerns of nursing staff as the work load continues to expand, with no steps to up staffing, retain current staff, or incentivize staff so we don’t get overwhelmed or frustrated, then quit, as I have.

I’m not the first and I won’t be the last. I’ve talked with the current administrator and his boss. I voiced concerns of basic human needs not being met because of the rapid growth of admits with no way to buff up staffing.

What it comes down to is they pretend to be powerless, as anything that could make a difference has to go through the union, with examples being competitive wages or an attendance incentive or a temporary bonus for critical staffing levels. This could take months. Ask some of our residents when was the last time they were offered a shower. Can they wait until the union clears it?

On top of filling the place up, they have decided to take patients with a high level of care/needs. Example being someone with multiple wounds, on IV medications, poly-substance abuse, behaviors, etc. Everyone needs care, but if we are unable to provide the resources to care for the patients, why are we still taking them in? When I say resources, I mean nurses and aids, mostly!

The staff that remains from the Covid-19 outbreak remember all the extra effort and care we put in to keep who we could alive and healthy, and those we couldn’t, comfortable. Now the survivors are neglected.

I’m leaving The Villages and I don’t see any changes or urgency from anyone in administration with the actual power to do something – I’m asking for help from outside sources.

Name withheld

Editor:

I want to thank Congressman Chris Jacobs for standing up for the Constitution, the constitutional process and for standing up for our President. That is what the citizens of Orleans County and the 27th district sent you to do.

Never apologize. Never surrender to the anti-American hypocritical left. Do not pay attention the rabid leftist werewolves barking at their own reflections.

They stole 3 elections and they still are not happy. (Have you ever seen a happy leftist?) I am proud that I cast my vote for you. I look forward to you fighting the leftists every step of the way in the halls of Congress.

Paul Lauricella

Yates

Orleans County Conservative Party Chairman

Editor:

Dawn on Wednesday brought historic news that a Black man and a Jewish man were elected as senators in the south. The place was Georgia, the last of the Confederate slave states to return to the Union. It seemed like our country had come full circle.

An afternoon ceremony, usually a half-hour formality, included added political posturing. Our WNY Congressman Chris Jacobs, jumped onto the Trump wagon, sided with the mini-Trumps of the future and mob of terrorists and voted No to certify Biden’s presidential election. The stunt blew up their faces! Each deserves to wear a scarlet “S” as a seditionist.

Violence was incited by the President of the U.S. domestic terrorists disrespectfully desecrated our U.S. Capitol, the heart of our democracy. How did they get into the Capitol with so little resistance? Were they told to stand down? Why were these white men not treated as criminals or as black men would be treated?

A Confederate battle flag actually inside the U.S. Capitol was historical. This has never happened before, never during the Confederacy, never during the Civil War, never during reconstruction, never during the Civil Rights Act or First Ku Klux Klan Act of 1870, never during re-emergence of the KKK in the 1920s, not even as modern display began use as a response to the civil rights movement of 50s and 60s. January 6, 2021 domestic terrorists brazenly, historically, carried the Confederate Flag into our U.S. Capitol, the heart of our democracy.

On the news Thursday night, a day after the insurrection, Trump loyalist Jacobs said, “Yesterday was an American day we came together and got the job done.” I hope that he meant that the job was the acceptance of the Biden presidency. Jacobs’ statement was not enough for me.

Americans have finally woken up. We the people need to speak up. Call out officials as well as ordinary citizens to answer to the law. Our democracy is about us. The Buffalo News article “The Coward” is about “candy man” Jacobs; resign now.

Carol Nochajski

Wilson

Editor:

Regarding the tragedy on display in our nation’s capital on January 6th, State Senator Robert Ortt (as well as others) declared, “This is not who we are!”

Really? With all due respect, sir, this is exactly who we are. This is exactly who and what we’ve become. Otherwise, why did it happen?

Our country began to dangerously splinter four years ago; some misguided politicians – obviously, such as yourself and election objector, Chris Jacobs – never noticed it or cared. It was right under your noses. Your failure to let it go unchecked is stunning beyond comprehension.

The shameful act of letting something of this magnitude fester, will go down in history as a reminder to those contemplating a run for office, to prepare themselves better … with eyes to see, a spine to stand up and a voice to be heard.

Tom Valley

Medina

Editor:

Congressman Chris Jacobs stated there were voting irregularities in other states and that is the reason why he objects to certification of Joe Biden. Where is his data to support this? Christopher Krebs, President Trump’s director of Cyber Security and Infrastructure Security Agency, stated: “The November 3rd election was the most secure in American history.” President Trump’s Attorney General William Barr stated: “To date, we have not seen fraud on a scale that could have effected a different outcome in the election.”

In a Pennsylvania court house President Trump’s personal lawyer Rudolph W. Giuliani, stated “This is not a fraud case.” In court case after court case, no evidence was presented, none. Period.

Mr. Jacobs and his ilk can lie to the media and to their constituents all day long because there is no penalty, but when they have to back up those lies with facts in court they reveal that the fraud doesn’t exist.

The insurrection on Jan. 6th was the end result of the endless stream of lies and conspiracy theories – not supported by any facts – that Mr. Jacobs has promulgated to support Mr. Trump over our Constitution.

The public distrust in the election is created, whole cloth, out of thin air by Radical Republicans, like Mr. Jacobs to suppress votes he doesn’t like. This is anti-democratic. Mr. Jacobs, you should resign as your actions demonstrate that you do not support and in fact attacked the Constitution of the United States, that you took an oath to defend and protect.

William Fine

Brockport