Andreassen for justice
Claudia Andreassen and her family have been an integral part of this community whom I’ve known for many years. She has served for the past 25 years as an Ulster County probation officer, demonstrating
a solid record of combining discipline and compassion. Still more recently she was appointed by the Saugerties Town Board to fill the unexpired term of justice Wendy Weeks as the town of Saugerties justice. Her educational background, together with her experience prove that she is eminently qualified to continue serving as the town justice. I heartily endorse Claudia Andreassen’s candidacy for the position of Saugerties town justice.
Dr. Richard Messina
Saugerties
Romney: good performance, disastrous plans
I watched the presidential debate on Wednesday night, Oct. 3 and believe that Gov. Romney put on a better show than President Obama. But, show is the word. I’ve never seen a man work so hard to say so little. He was like a fast-talking snake-oil salesman. He still hasn’t given the details of how he would reduce the deficit, how he will reduce the national debt or how he will create 12 million jobs.
Romney’s repetitive promises are to cut taxes by 20 percent. Ronald Reagan cut taxes between 1981 and 1989, causing the national debt to rise from $900 billion to $2.7 trillion. George H. W. Bush maintained low taxes between 1989 and 1993, causing the debt to rise to $4.2 trillion. Clinton raised taxes between 1993 and 2001, reducing the growth rate of the national debt to 3.9 percent. If Clinton’s tax policies had been followed for one more year, the national debt would have been reduced for the first time since the Kennedy Administration. Unfortunately, George W. Bush reduced taxes between 2001 and 2009, raising the national debt to $10.7 trillion. Because of Republican legislators signing Grover Norquist’s No Tax Increase pledge, President Obama cannot avail himself of the Clinton policies to balance the budget. The Constitution (Article 1, Section 7) delegates the responsibility and the power to raise taxes to Congress in order to pay the country’s debts. Congress has chosen to borrow instead of exercising their power to raise taxes. It appears that a top rate reduction from 70 percent in 1981 to around 40 percent today is not enough for Gov. Romney and his neo-cons.
Prior to the debate, Governor Romney offered the following:
He will cut funding for Planned Parenthood.
He supports re-instituting “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
He says he will eliminate the Affordable Health Care plan for millions of the poor and unemployed. He will evaluate and institute a new plan at a later date.
He says he will no longer require insurance companies to cover birth control medications.
He advocates more tax breaks for the well-off. These tax breaks will have to be made up by other taxpayers or the government will have to continue to borrow.
He promises to deregulate the banks so they will be free to take more chances with our savings.
He promises to reduce environmental regulations, giving new opportunity to business to violate our air and water in order to make greater profits.
By example, Romney will encourage like-minded citizens to take their monies out of the American economy to avoid paying U.S. taxes, thereby not having to share in the economic burdens of the country.
He says he will encourage and expedite oil companies to use up our oil as fast as possible and to drill in our national parks and the Gulf.
To summarize, Mitt Romney plans to duplicate failed financial policies, weaken the health system, the banking system and environmental protections and support the oil lobby who finance his campaign.
William Hayes
Saugerties
Suzi Filak for receiver of taxes
I support Suzi Filak for receiver of taxes. Suzi has the advantage of many years of training and experience on the job, and was the person trained by Peggy Nau as her successor. After 25 years as the receiver of taxes, I trust Peg’s endorsement of Suzi Filak, and I hope that you’ll do the same on Tuesday, Nov. 6. Suzi Filak is the most qualified candidate for the position. As the incumbent and since taking over the office in June, Suzi has already shown her expertise by bringing many enhancements to the office that will benefit us. She knows the town and taxpayers from the perspective of a hometown girl who truly cares about Saugerties. For more information about Suzi, visit her website at www.suziforsaugerties.com.
Jim Cornelison
Saugerties
Access NYC’s library
Most people in the Hudson Valley may not be aware that anyone who lives, works or goes to school anywhere in New York State can get a New York City public library card and download ebooks and audio books from the New York City library system without ever having to step foot in New York City. Simply go to www.nypl.org, click on “Using the Library,” and then click on “Get a Library Card.” Provide the requested information and within weeks you will be sent your new New York City Library Card. You can then visit the New York Public Library website and download ebooks and audio books just like you do in our own Mid-Hudson Library System.
If you have a problem with any of this, you can get help by clicking “Using the Library” and then “AskNYPL,” which will then connect you with a librarian through a telephone number, an online live chat, text, email or mobile chat. And keep in mind that the New York Public Library system has tens of thousands of ebooks and audio books to choose from. So make the best use of both our own Mid-Hudson Library System and the New York Public Library system. They’re both at your fingertips.
Ken Goldberg
Saugerties
Join the family! 
