Rethink the roundabout
The health crisis has significantly reduced taxpayer income. Businesses cut services, their revenue, employees experience reduced or no income, consumers in general revisit what they planned to do and adjust accordingly. Things like eating out, delaying vacations, home improvements, etc. Simply put — prioritize what money you have now.
New York State’s income is from money taxed on money you made and money you spend. It follows, you make less, you spend less, NewYork State gets less. So now is the time to rethink projects that have the potential for significantly less cost to the taxpayer that have the same end result.
Let’s start with the Kingston roundabout. The current cost is $13 million and rising, the DOT consultant said the same end result could be achieved by $5.6 million. Maybe in government thinking $7 million is a rounding error, but when Cuomo goes on TV arm-waving and telling us to be patient and trust in government and do our part, I’m not impressed. I believe the buck stops there. Lead by example, not by arm waving and hysteria. Half further destruction of that intersection, restore the landscaping and do Plan B, new signals, land markings and signage for a cost of $5.6 million.
Ronald Dietl
Kingston
The black swan event
Yesterday is gone and with it the way we lived freely moving about with no concern for our safety. Now with the coronavirus moving in we must be on guard where we go, and whoever we speak with. Besides that we have to contend with the raw fact that while the greatest nation on earth had only done 11,000 CV-19 tests since January, South Korea was doing 20,000 CV-19 tests every day. Could that be because the Republican administration was previously calling the Coronavirus a hoax? Because of the lack to act by the commander-in-chief early on, pandemic experts have declared: “containment of coronavirus is no longer possible.”
The focus is now on trying to provide care to the victims of this very real virus as our hospital systems are bracing for overload, while lacking trained personnel and respiratory equipment. The last “black swan” event was 9/11 and in that situation the excuse by the Republican administration for not being able to defend our country against harm was admitted incompetence, supposedly having no idea of using planes crashing into buildings and no visible air defense.
How long will we put up with this Republican circus running this country into the ground? It’s time to put people in office who have areal vision for the future that involves more than moving one’s lips, spewing out grandiose statements extolling the greatness of this country but instead actually implementing sound strategies to keep Americans safe. People need to realize that the Republicans are only protecting corporations and not the common people demonstrated by giving tax breaks to the rich. Meanwhile they were cutting programs that could have lessened the impact of the CV-19 epidemic and allowing us to have a fighting chance. Because of the apparent lack of wisdom and continual chicanery we have been putting up with these past two years, we are now all sitting ducks wondering if we, or our families’ members, will be the next coronavirus victim.
Steve Romine
Woodstock
Judges should be lawyers
Our town and village judges should be required to have law degrees. New York is one of eight states that allow non-lawyer judges to hand down jail sentences for misdemeanors without the right to a new trial before a judge that has a law degree.
I understand that hundreds of years ago this was acceptable practice when lawyers were scarce, but in 2020 this raises serious questions regarding due process and the Sixth Amendment right to a fair trial.
A judge should have more experience than being a retired correctional officer, or a retired state trooper. A “legal background” is not the same as a “legal education,” not to mention the potential bias towards a defendant charged with a crime.
A fair and partial judge always holds a law degree, proving that they understand the law, and can interpret it correctly, Frequently a judge has seamlessly transitioned into the role of being a judge, after completing law school, taking the bar exam, working for the District Attorney’s Office and maybe even being in private practice at some point in their career.
This is an issue that is plaguing our village courts, and should be stamped out in Ulster County in 2020
Zain Eisenberg
Kerhonkson
A letter from MAD
Dear MAD Friends,
In these challenging times, we all need to restrict our lives in ways that are both inconvenient and upsetting, yet essential to our collective wellbeing. COVID-19 is presenting a serious threat to our community and we will have to stand together — while social distancing — to get through it. No one will be spared from these short term restrictions and some will suffer more than others. We are at war. These restrictions are the only way we can protect our community from COVID-19 devastation.
Those who are stronger should think about who they can help to get through this time. Most specifically our senior citizens and our most fragile, both physically and mentally, will need our assistance. There will be people who need help with food insecurity. Think about how you can reach out to community members that face these challenges and get them connected to free food services here in Ulster County. People’s Place in Midtown is one such option.
We encourage everyone to Stay Home as much as possible. Our community art classes through The D.R.A.W. have been suspended. We will let you know when they are open again. We will be rescheduling our annual MAD Celebration Party and the monthly Kingston Arts & Action Meetup (KAAM) we co-produce with Arts Mid-Hudson and Art Walk Kingston scheduled for Thursday, April 2, at The Beverly Lounge is canceled.
I was on a call with County Executive Pat Ryan Tuesday morning. He is doing a commendable job at helping direct community members to the various services available to us. Please visit his website to connect with the latest opportunities for help. If you are not feeling well and suspect you have the coronavirus, you can call 1-845-443-8888, the Ulster County emergency number dedicated to COVID-19 health assessments, to find out how to best proceed. Only 250 COVID-19 test kits were allocated to Ulster County by the Federal government, but we were informed this morning many more kits will be arriving within the week. Please call your personal health care provider for all other concerns.
There will be opportunities for no-interest loans, grants and support for small businesses in our community. Help is coming down the pike and many accommodations are available right now. Please feel free to call the Ulster County Department of Economic Development at 1-845-340-3556 to voice your concerns or request information. Lisa Berger, Director, and her team are standing by to answer your questions and direct you to available resources.
The COVID-19 pandemic is unlike anything we have ever seen. Please follow the guidelines and regular updates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the New York State Department of Health and Governor Cuomo to keep yourself, your family and other community members safe.
If we all look out for each other and put our best selves forward, we will get through. I am counting on all of you to stay safe and follow CDC guidelines, help your neighbors where ever and whenever possible, and keep yourselves well.
And remember: Art nourishes the soul. While we are all social distancing, please feel free to share your ideas about how we can all continue to make and share art with each other — online and via social media.
#StayHomeMakeArt
All the best,
Anne Bailey
President, MAD Board of Directors
Kingston
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