The views and opinions expressed in our letters section are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Hudson Valley One. You can submit a letter to the editor here.
A note of clarification
In the May 5, 2021 edition of Hudson Valley One, there was an article on the Kimlin Propane project currently before the Town of Gardiner Planning Board. Unfortunately, the article contained erroneous information.
In the article’s discussion of the applicant’s revised noise study, it states that I work at the firm that was hired to perform this study on behalf of the applicant. This is an error.
In fact, last October I retired from the firm of Barton & Loguidice. I currently serve as the Gardiner Planning Board clerk. I had no part or input in the applicant’s selection of their consultant. I work for and represent the interests of the Gardiner Planning Board.
Thank you for the opportunity ensure the facts are clear and no misinterpretation affects the integrity of the Gardiner Planning Board.
Glenn Gidaly
New Paltz
Cynthia Bishop for Onteora School Board
It’s crucial right now that we have well-educated young people graduating from our schools, ready to assume the responsibilities of citizenship. That’s why the Onteora School Board election on May 18 is so important and why I’m supporting Cynthia Bishop.
I’ve known Cindy for 15 years, known her 22-year career in education, including the last decade as Onteora’s director of pupil personnel services, as a tireless advocate for all our young people. She is a bright light, a peacemaker, deeply educated in school district administration, and she knows the Onteora district inside and out. She will strengthen working relationships within the system, help hire the superintendent that the students and community deserve and work with all stakeholders to make the district stronger and more desirable.
Education is a lifetime mission for Cindy and we will all be lucky to capture her joyful, boundless energy and put it to work for our children. They are our future and Cindy wants nothing more than to nurture that. Please vote for Cynthia Bishop for Onteora School Board Trustee on May 18.
Patty Goodwin
Glenford
Fantastic slate of candidates in Saugerties
We, the undersigned, are excited to present Saugerties voters with a fantastic slate of candidates for the 2021 election: a team of dedicated candidates who truly care about our community and its future growth. These candidates bring a variety of qualities and beliefs to the table, such as youth, experience, knowledge, integrity, accountability and transparency. They are dedicated to serving the residents and taxpayers of Saugerties and, as such, are fully prepared to be accountable for their actions.
For County Legislative District 1, newcomer Gregory Roque (USAF, Ret., MSGT/E-7), who has spent 21 years serving our nation, would like to extend his service to our county and is seeking election to replace Mary Wawro, who is not running this year. For County Legislative District 2, A. Z. Bruno, a lifetime Saugerties resident and current legislator, is seeking reelection. And for County Legislative District 3, Dean Fabiano, also a lifetime resident of Saugerties, is seeking reelection. Dean has served as our county legislator in his district for many years.
Lisa Stanley, born and raised in Saugerties, is seeking reelection as town clerk after having served in that position since 2004. Lisa brings 17 years of exemplary service and experience to the office of town clerk.
Ray Mayone, lifelong Saugerties resident, is seeking the position of superintendent of highways. Ray brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in many facets of municipal, commercial, residential and industrial construction. He specializes in excavation, grading, water and sewer construction. Ray will be an absolute asset to our community.
Zachery Horton, another lifelong resident and Saugerties High School graduate, who is an alumnus of the College of Saint Rose, majoring in behavioral law and criminology. Zach loves this community; he is ambitious, energetic and eager to serve the people of his beloved hometown.
Mary “Peg” Nau is a very well-known, much beloved and admired individual who has very deep roots in this community. Peg served as the receiver of taxes for Saugerties for more than 25 years and has received the endorsements of all political parties over that time. She has been active in the community for many years as past president and a current member of the Kiwanis Club and Monday Club. She is also a current member of League of Woman Voters, as well as several other organizations.
Paul Andreassen’s departure from the Town Board in September 2020 created a vacancy that needed to be filled. Peg Nau, along with 11 other candidates, applied for the position and Peg was ultimately appointed by the unanimous affirmative vote of the board members. The following are board member quotes and comments with respect to the appointment of Peg Nau to fill the empty seat on the board:
• Supervisor Costello praised Peg as “our former tax collector who ran the department in a bipartisan way.”
• Costello said Peg “is a very valuable member for the board.” LeAnne Thorton echoed the praise, extending her congratulations and saying that she is “looking forward to working together.”
We are appreciative that the current Town Board voted unanimously in October 2020 to appoint Peg to the open position and anticipate seeing all our candidates elected on November 2, 2021. We thank Fred Costello and Leann Thornton for their support of Peg Nau.
Please support each and every one of these fine candidates on Tuesday, November 2, 2021.
Ryan M. Aroid
Republican chairman
George Heidcamp, Sr.
Conservative chairman
Saugerties
Debt schedule & federal assistance for New Paltz
Opportunistically paying off debt as quickly as possible when revenues are available has proven to be one of the most important strategies for managing our budgets and keeping the Village of New Paltz tax rate flat over the last six years.
The Village has made $1,391,069 towards principal and interest payments during fiscal year 20/21 (June 1, 2020-May 31, 2021.) However, we only made minimum payments towards debt in our water fund because water revenue has been down. We had planned to pay an additional $200,000 towards water debt in FY 20/21.
For our FY 21/22 budget, the village has allocated $762,283 towards principal and interest payments. This amount was budgeted without assuming we will receive American Rescue Plan (ARP) assistance from the federal government or Ulster County. Assuming we receive federal ARP assistance, we have penciled in paying an additional $400,000 in water debt during FY 21/22.
Debt was used to fund each of these capital projects and purchases [“original amount borrowed” followed by “remaining balance – before we make any 21/22 principal payments” in parentheses].
1. Water filtration upgrade at Mountain Rest Road: 2018-2019 [$5.5 million/$4.97 million]
2. Water meters for Village customers and tank at Cherry Hill: 2006-2008 [$2.2 million/$890,000]
3. Water tank at Cherry Hill: 2014 [$1.04 million/$487,000]
4. New five-door with double bays fire station: 2020 [$800,000 so far/$800,000]
5. Sewer plant digester cover: 2016 [$700,000] *PAID OFF 2020*
6. Mill Brook Preserve land acquisition: 2015 [$650,000] *PAID OFF 2020*
7. DEP water project: ongoing, awaiting reimbursements from New York City [$400,000 so far/$350,000]
8. Fire Truck: 2018 Seagrave/Truck 43-11 [$400,000/$300,000]
9. Fire Truck: 2017 Seagrave/Truck 43-14 [$380,724] *PAID OFF 2020*
10. Stormwater drainage improvements at Center Street and Plattekill Avenue: 2018 [$150,000/$80,000]
All Village debt is accounted for in four debt securities. The Village has borrowed using two 20-year serial bonds:
A) Issued: September ‘06, rate: 4.14 percent, bond amount: $2.20 million, lender: Wachovia Securities
B) Issued: April ‘19, rate: 2.74 percent, bond amount: $3.85 million, lender: Robert W. Baird & Co. and two short-term bond anticipation notes (BANs) that are renewed annually:
C) Issued: September ‘20, rate: 1.25 percent, bond amount: $717,000, lender: CEDE & Co.
D) Issued: November ‘20, rate: 0.59 percent, bond amount: $2.7 million, lender: Green County Commercial Bank
Please do not hesitate to call if you have any questions about the Village’s financial health.
Mayor Tim Rogers
New Paltz
Asleep at the pulpit
As a pro-life Christian, I follow the ebbs and flows of our fight against abortion, and I envy as I see different states pass different laws protecting the unborn and even abortuaries closing. Why doesn’t that happen here? I suspect because most pro-lifers in our area don’t really care that right next to the public library in Poughkeepsie, Planned Parenthood does its ugly work while we righteous right-wingers show our support by our apathy and invisibility. Oh, we throw a few dollars at a crisis pregnancy center and vote Conservative, but we can’t spend an hour a month in prayer at Planned Parenthood. After all, the lawn needs mowing and videogames must be played.
Where are the pastors, you Pentecostals, you evangelicals, you Baptists? Please, no more sermons about some little tittle of the gospel. The vulnerable babies in the womb don’t need sermons; they need boots on the ground. And you, inner-city pastor! You rightfully mourn a tragic murder in Minnesota and ignore the forest fire in your own neighborhood! Where are you? What are you afraid of?
Enough Holy Ghost hopping. Enough solemn hymns. My guess is they rise as noxious fumes. Leave the dirty work to a few aging Catholics and their beads. I do not accuse you. The blood of the innocents you were too busy to defend cries out. I was hungry…I was naked…I was murdered! You were asleep on the pulpit while we slept in the pew.
Jeffrey Mahoney
Hyde Park
Johanna Herget for New Paltz Board of Education
I am writing to wholeheartedly endorse Johanna Herget as a candidate for the New Paltz Board of Education. I have known Johanna for over five years, and in that time, I have seen the passion and drive she has for advocating for the children in our community.
Johanna and I met at Huguenot Street Cooperative Nursery school, where she served on the board while her three children attended. Throughout that time, I learned that she was a person who cared deeply about maintaining a nurturing and supportive environment for all children to learn and grow. I know that she will carry her beliefs and passion in education over to her role on the New Paltz Board of Education, if elected.
Johanna is the kind of person we need on the Bard. She considers all the facts and makes evidence-based decisions calmly and for the good of all, not just a loud select few. At a time when many of us and our children are floundering in uncertainty, we need a strong advocate in our corner. That is Johanna Herget.
Carolyn Fulton
New Paltz
False claims
New York State senator Mike Martucci falsely claims that “Albany Democrats are sponsoring legislation that would add a new 55-cent-per-gallon tax on New Yorkers at the gas pump.”
Martucci doesn’t identify the bill, of course. The Democrats did author a bill called the Climate and Community Investment Act, S. 4264. It charges corporate polluters for their emissions, not drivers getting gas. It also protects workers in the fossil fuel industry as they transition to renewable energy jobs.
Better that the senator propose his own bill to benefit the environment, rather than falsely accuse Democrats about bills they never wrote. In this he is true to his party, which is currently taking credit for the very popular pandemic rescue plan: a Biden plan that not a single Republican voted for!
Doris Chorny
Wallkill
We, the government
In his speech to Congress on April 28, President Biden asserted that “we the people” are “the government. You and I.” With this proclamation he intends for the nation to turn away from the course it adopted when Ronald Reagan declared government the “problem” at our doorstep. Biden reminds us that the people have power – that government can be good or bad, effective or ineffective, according to the choices the people make in their votes for representation.
We the people – never united in our views, of course – allowed the Reaganite standards to dominate economic and political life until the hint of a course correction in Obama’s 2008 election, which produced the significant Tea Party backlash two years later. Trump’s election and the unification of a radical Republican party generated a surge of counteractivism that led the country to a different choice. People power, ever stirring and always in tension with its differences, now pushes President Biden to think big.
Biden’s ambitious agenda – the passed Covid relief bill, the proposed American Jobs and Families Plans – aims to harness government to meet people’s essential needs, neglected far too long: new jobs built on a response to climate change, economic equality that restores a thriving and broad-based middle class, racial justice that creates equal opportunities for building wealth and lives lived in safety and respect, subsidies for healthcare, childcare and education that give everyone a better chance to lead healthy, happy, productive lives. If Biden’s proposed legislation passes, even in part, radical Republicans in Congress will find it difficult to convince Americans that government cannot work to serve the people’s needs.
We the people do have the power and the instrument – if we speak up, speak out, act. Pressure our representatives, campaign, vote. We can make our government work for us, the people.
Tom Denton
Highland
Ulster County Housing Action Plan presentation in New Paltz
Ulster County is experiencing a severe housing crisis, especially in New Paltz, where prices and availability of houses and apartments have made living here an option for fewer and fewer people. The New Paltz Landlord/Tenant Relations Council would like to encourage everyone in the community to attend the joint meeting of the Village and Town Boards on May 12. Dr. Evelyn Wright, deputy county executive, will be presenting the recently completed Ulster County Housing Action Plan, which explores the causes and scope of the challenge and recommends solutions. The meeting starts online at 7 p.m., and the housing plan will be presented around 7:45 p.m.
Economic diversity is a strength in any community, and we must all work together to ensure that New Paltz remains a vibrant, creative and inclusive environment where people at all levels of the income scale can make a great life for themselves and their families. Everyone’s participation can really make a difference!
Nadine Thomas
Chair, Village of New Paltz
Landlord-Tenant Relations Council
Satisfying our energy needs
I’m all for solar energy, but I agree with Barry Benepe’s thoughts about solar panels (Letter to the Editor, April 28). In my opinion, not only do they not belong on pastureland, they don’t belong on wildlife habitat, either – not to mention cornfields or sunflower fields or any other agricultural land, or even unused meadows. Landfills are appropriate, as their surfaces can’t be used for anything else.
But my real question is: Why aren’t they placed on the (flat) rooftops of all available commercial and government buildings, where there’s so much unused space and where they’d be so much less visible? I personally wouldn’t stop at mandating placement on appropriate residential buildings – apartment buildings, at the very least. We need to inconvenience ourselves, not the land and the plants and animals it supports, to satisfy our energy needs, which, until they are recalibrated to be more in harmony with nature, could easily use solar and wind to continue the destructive cycle we’ve worked ourselves into, even without the help of the fossil fuel industry.
Janet Asiain
Saugerties
Mask-wearing
President Biden says wearing a mask is patriotic so not wearing one is unpatriotic. I only wear a mask when I go into a building or business that requires it. I never wear one at home, in my car, when riding my motorcycle or when walking outside. It has nothing to do with politics; I’ve received the vaccine, which works. With masks, I don’t believe they offer much protection, and in some cases I think they are counterproductive. If they worked when people started wearing them, Covid cases should have declined. They didn’t, and states that had some of the strictest mandates had some of the highest infection rates, like Michigan, California and New York. Nursing homes where everyone wore a mask – residents, staff and anyone who entered – had almost 50 percent of the fatalities.
Taking the CDC’s estimates of the total number of Covid cases in the US, which includes an estimate of those who had it and weren’t sick enough to seek medical attention, the mortality rate is much less than one percent. I also wonder about the number of deaths they’re attributing to Covid. A few moths ago, a Texas congressman reputedly died of Covid. However, when you read further, he had been battling lung cancer for months. What do you believe really killed him: the cancer or the Covid? I also wonder why we’ve we had no flu deaths this year, when we always get thousands.
Recently, watching President Biden getting ready to speak outdoors, looking panicky for his mask and his wife trying to help him find it, I had to wonder why: He’s been vaccinated, he was outdoors, nobody was within six feet and they’d all be vaccinated, so why the panic? One more thing: I will only show my vaccination card to my doctors. Joe and the Democrats will not get me to use what would be an internal passport, like Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union required.
John Habersberger
New Paltz
The road to recovery
Donkey Kong recently became a therapist.
Sparrow
Phoenicia
Oh, how the mighty have fallen
“It’s, like, so unfair,” as Trump defended Rudolph Giuliani after the Justice Department’s actions and an FBI raid on his New York apartment. Dang! I should’ve made a bet. I knew that’s what Trump would say: “It’s, like, so unfair.” Anytime there’s anything close to accountability for him and his friends’ criminality, it’s “so unfair.”
It’s not every day that federal investigators execute a search warrant at the home of a former president’s lawyer. Poor Rudy. Poor, poor Rudy. Maybe the DOJ is at last making America great again. I wonder if they found the coffin he sleeps in. I’m almost certain that they did not find Rudy’s common sense! I’m sure that the lawyer who held a press conference in front of a porn shop is far too savvy to have incriminating evidence in his home. He had time to get rid of all the evidence except the crazy, which is gonna be around forever.
Great news – without accountability, there is no justice. If he has nothing to hide, then even Rudy should be happy to cooperate. Hopefully, with his brilliant legal mind, he’ll represent himself – or will this goofball need an actual attorney? “The wheels of justice turn slow, but they do turn.” If I were Rudy, I’d be looking for a non-extradition country to go spend my final days in, because federal judges do not just hand out warrants on former federal prosecutors, unless the current federal prosecutor has presented them with substantial evidence that they’ve found criminal activity.
All the pieces are coming together to link all these con men. He and Trump deserve jail time; the GOP must feel really awful too. Elections have consequences, and in this case, great consequences! The days of Trump cover-ups are over and it’s time for them to pay for their crimes. He used to be America’s mayor, now he’s America’s joke! Let’s pray “sweet justice” prevails, and that the Justice Department is saving him a bed at the “Four Seasons” penitentiary.
I think we have seen only the tip of the iceberg. Years and years from now they will still be uncovering crimes that took place under Trump and his administration. Of course, my dream is to live in a world where we don’t know Donald Trump’s opinion. May he be a forgotten fart in the wind, right?
Neil Jarmel
West Hurley
A road well-traveled
Route 28A is a beautiful roadway, formerly traveled with some degree of respect for wildlife, cyclists, runners and motorcycles during years I’ve lived close by. During the past three years, there have been notable changes. While there have been noisy drivers, speeding cars and trucks blundering along at 50 to 65 miles per hour in the past, there looms an increase in dangerous and mean behavior along 28A. Comments from friends and family who visit me about being “pushed” along and forced to move over are frequent.
While there are quiet hours along 28A, they are rare on weekends and during commuting times, including school hours, when some see the smaller road as a way to avoid Route 28 with its more closely monitored 45 miles per hour in the area. Panel trucks and large construction and logging vehicles speed up past the West Shokan Post Office in either direction.
Having driven frequently in Albuquerque, New Mexico and in South Carolina’s congested areas, I’m surprised to notice how much more nastiness and speeding exist now since roadway changes have been made in this place of natural beauty than in even those overdeveloped locations.
Laurel Manly
Olive
Do it right
Often the indelible footprints that are left by those who came before us are extremely difficult, if not impossible, to remove.
Howard Harris
Woodstock
Poisoning our democracy
How do our governmental representatives learn to stop worrying and love apartheid? There is a discouragingly long list of progressive sellouts who have talked about human rights for Palestinians before they ran for office, only to forget about the suffering of five million once elected.
I am not talking about Trump, who learned to love Israel when Sheldon Adelson showered him with a hundred million. No, I am talking about Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who spoke openly about Israel’s racist oppression, only to clam up when the Israel lobby cash started flowing. And what about our brave new House member, Antonio Delgado, who won’t let the word Palestine slip from his lips? His price? $31,723 last year from the lobby (OpenSecrets.org). Or our new senator from Georgia, Raphael Warnock, who described the government of Israel as “shooting down unarmed Palestinian sisters and brother like birds of prey” before he was elected. Now he is off to the bank with this year’s payment of $444,659 from the Israel lobby, having taken back all his rash words for the generous donations.
Israel’s influence on our government is as strong as that of Big Pharma, Big Banks or Big Oil. It is a system drowning in cash and corruption. No matter whom we elect, they end up selling their souls for the money. When it comes to supporting the racist, Jewish-supremacist regime in the Middle East, they become PEP: progressive except for Palestine.
The Israel lobby is poisoning our democracy.
Fred Nagel
Rhinebeck
Of nightmares & pleasant dreams
During his run for the presidency, POTUS Joe Biden once told of his confrontation with a notorious gang leader, “Corn Pop.” The reason for the confrontation was this: Then-lifeguard Joe had to ask Mr. Pop to leave the diving board for breaking the rules or he would “drag him” off of it. Described by Biden as a “bad dude,” Mr. Pop took umbrage at the directive and told Joe to meet him outside, apparently for reasons that involved a rusty straight razor blade to be used against Joe with bad intentions. Another time, candidate Joe told of how he liked it when young children jumped on his lap and related how they would rub his legs to watch the bristled hair legs turn blonde in the glistening sun.
The following is a parody of “Hey Joe” (Jimi Hendrix’s version) that memorializes these stories in a rousing song. It is dedicated to all those who have secret regrets regarding voting for the Biden/Harris ticket, especially in view of his present policy decisions and these (and other) bizarre Biden stories.
BTW: Hey, Mr. Rothberg, regarding your “nightmare” of a Habersberger/Civile presidency: I’d be honored to serve as John Habersberger’s VP if he’d have me. Speaking of nightmares, I had a rather pleasant dream in which I saw a multitude of perturbed progressives. They were alarmed and embarrassed by the fact that some, from among their ranks, too often wrote inaccurate and intellectually dishonest letters to Hudson Valley One representing progressive/Democrat views. Moved to action, their alarm was expressed in letters to Hudson Valley One calling for people like you and Neil Jarmel to end this practice and add intellectual integrity to their writings so that the cause of genuine debate is encouraged and served in the Feedback pages.
In closing, although I don’t expect my dream or Mr. Rothberg’s nightmare to come true, I have this proposition for Mr. Rothberg inspired by a Dylan song: Since one man’s nightmare is another’s pleasant dream, I’ll let you stay in my pleasant dream if I can stay in your nightmare.
Hey Joe, what you doing with that kid on your knee? 2x
The kid jumped up on it and I just let him be
And Hey Joe why’s he playing with your blond leg hair? 2x
He says he likes the way it glows with the sun shining there
Hey Joe, don’t you know how strange that looks? 2x
It only looks strange to bad Republicans and dirty crooks
And hey Joe where’d you get that chain you hold? 2x
I got it from a friend of mine the whole truth be told
And hey Joe what you gonna use it for? 2x
I’m gonna use it to fight Corn Pop the “king” of the corner store
And hey Joe why do you need to fight this fool? 2x
He’s a bad dude I had to kick out of the local swimming pool
And hey Joe couldn’t you just let him go? 2x
I would man, but he’s waiting right outside for me to show
And hey Joe what if Corn Pop has a blade with rust? 2x
My chain is long enough to make his rusty blade a bust
And hey Joe how will you make this dangerous situation right? 2x
I’m going to apologize to Corn Pop and hope that there will be no fight
And hey Joe is anything you say ever really true 2x
Yeah man, just ask Corn Pop and the little leg rubbing kid too
George Civile
Gardiner
The FCC, a trusted agency?
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency in the United States. Its job is to regulate and oversee that all forms of the media are playing fair and acting according to its rules. For years they have insisted on banning a few select curse words on radio and TV. Stations must comply or they could be fined hefty sums, or even have their licenses suspended or revoked. It’s one of the FCC’s rules, and they certainly have the power to enforce them. All TV and radio stations have respected those FCC rules and complied for years.
Regarding the FCC’s decision about curse words, they believe that the unregulated use of those words could possibly corrupt children and eventually harm our country. Unfortunately, however, although strict with curse words, the FCC does not appear to have a problem with the media broadcasting disinformation, misinformation or outright lies. For years we’ve helplessly watched and listened as Fox News and other radio and TV shows manipulated their audiences with constant distortions of the facts. The result of this misinformation campaign has been a surge in our population who do not know the difference between what is truth and what is false. This is very scary and a real threat to our democracy.
The insurrection of the Capitol on January 6 was a perfect example of the result of the power of the media. Believers were manipulated into rioting in an attempt to overthrow our government. Trump clearly lost the election, but the constant manipulation by those stations was instrumental in confusing millions about that truth. And the lies continue still, with no letup in sight.
A key responsibility of the FCC is public safety and homeland security. How do you think they are doing? We must understand that the media really do have the ability to confuse and manipulate their audiences, especially when they are “innocently” offering their information as news. If not regulated, they will run wild with misinformation and lies. Beware of the wolf dressed up in sheep’s clothing!
Advertisers have often done their best to manipulate the public into buying their products. This has been more or less allowed by the FCC in the name of healthy competition. But where should we draw the line? What’s okay and what’s not okay?
I recently heard that Fox News applied for a television station license in Canada so they could bring their form of news to our northern neighbor. They were denied by Canadian’s media regulatory oversight agency. They were informed that their application was denied because they are not seen as a news station. In fact, Canada’s regulatory commission saw Fox News as an opinion station – not a news station.
So, what are we to do? Are we helpless to watch these stations continue to get away with “murder” in the name of reporting news, while the people in charge of the FCC stand idly by? I often think of John Lewis when he spoke about “making good trouble.” I do not have answers, but I do have questions. What can we do to make some good trouble? How can we make enough noise to put pressure on the Federal Communications Commission? The FCC is supposed to be the watchdog of the media. But who is watching the watchdog?
Marty Klein
Woodstock
UCSEA deserve more than a press release
On May 6, the Ulster County Legislature put forth a press release honoring our corrections officers across the county. Long-overdue recognition, for sure. If only this was released a little earlier! The 30 men and women that were mandated to a 16-hour shift on Easter could have read it over and over and over again. I bet that would have been a perfect substitute to the time with their family.
Perhaps this “honor” will give their families comfort while they work in, around and with Covid, or when they struggle to pay their bills (making $6 less than Dutchess County COs) and a growing healthcare cost (is UC self-pay working?), and as they walk down the corridors with an outdated surveillance system and many nonfunctional cameras.
These men and women (many of them veterans) have the highest suicide rate and lowest life expectancy of any other professional in our county. They, together with the inmates, are tasked to oversee and care for or suffer the consequences of a misguided decision by county leadership to attempt to create a revenue stream off of incarceration. With the out-of-county and federal “board-ins” come Covid, gang issues and contributes to overtime numbers in the millions (more than double the amount we receive to house and transport them).
The fact of the matter is, sometimes politicians lose sight of the difference between perception and reality. Hopefully, the next press release coming from the sixth floor of the County Office Building will be a policy halting all out-of-county board-ins in our jail and a new contract for the UCSEA – one that guarantees them fair wages, adequate staffing and safe working conditions. This is the way to honor these forgotten men and women – especially when you consider the county ended 2020 with a large surplus ($11M), sales tax revenue is up 20 percent and the county is slated to receive $35M over the next two years from the American Rescue Plan funding.
Joe Maloney
Saugerties
Don’t miss out
Yesterday, my wife and I saw an exhibit of sculptures, “Works in Wire,” at the Woodstock Historical Society. It knocks your socks off! Although static, the sculptures seemed to move almost in an unearthly way.
I highly recommend you see the show, and I rarely make such recommendations. It’s up on weekend afternoons at the Comeau until the end of May.
Tom Unrath
Shady
Heather O’Donnell for NPCSD BOE
I am writing this letter in support of Heather O’Donnell, New Paltz Board of Education candidate. When you head to the polls on May 18 to vote for school board members, please do all our children a huge favor and vote for Heather. She is a dedicated educator who has built a successful business, New Paltz Multisensory, providing students with learning support they need to be more successful students. An expert in the science of reading, she brings a fresh and needed perspective to our board that will help deliver an equitable education to all learners. If we are serious about equity in our district, it is extremely important to bring the science of reading to the forefront of our curricular discussions.
I have had the privilege of teaching in the same public school as Heather, allowing me to witness firsthand her excellence as an educator. Whenever local parents come to me asking how to best help and support their children who are struggling readers and/or writers, I refer them to Heather. Additionally, when I have a question about how to best teach a struggling student, I personally reach out to Heather for guidance. She keeps up on the latest research and is always furthering her professional development. When I saw signs of one of my own children having difficulty with writing, I chose Heather to provide writing instruction. I’ve watched grades improve and routinely have credited Heather’s instruction for the progress when teachers marvel at the gains made. Having a dyslexia practitioner with deep knowledge of the science of reading on our school board as our students come out of this time of pandemic learning disruption, would help ensure that all students are supported, whether or not they have learning disabilities. We’ve all watched our kids struggle in one way or another this year. Let’s elect someone who knows firsthand some of the curricular changes that would benefit all our students.
Jonna Rao
New Paltz
Recognize our school nurses
May 12 is National School Nurse Day. School nurses (along with their colleagues in education) have just endured an extraordinary year. So often lost in the school building shuffle, I would like to extend my special thanks and love to all school nurses for keeping their buildings and their communities healthy and safe. Schools can’t do without them.
Joan Authenrieth
Saugerties
Support Joseph Letendre for the Onteora Board of Education
We urge voters in our district to join us in electing Joseph Letendre to the Onteora Board of Education on Tuesday, May 18. One of the most important issues facing the Onteora BOE is choosing a new superintendent. We believe Joe will be an outstanding addition to the board in making this decision, as well as in continuing the work that makes Onteora the excellent school district that it is.
Meg & Tobe Carey
Glenford
Join the family! 
