Thursday 23 May

Irena Altmanova Frinta

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To The Editor

fountain pen The Enterprise opinion pages are an open forum for our community. We encourage readers to express their thoughts about issues that appear in this newspaper or affect the community. Letters should be brief (with an outside limit of 1,000 words) and must include the writer's address, name, and phone number for verification. The editor may reject letters that have been printed elsewhere. Letters concerning elections will be cut off one issue before the election at the editor's discretion. No unsigned letters will be published. The deadline for letters is Tuesday at noon.

Letters To The Editor

Leasing the county nursing home is the most practical and affordable choice

To the Editor:

The Albany County Legislature must make a decision — continue a senseless political standoff over the future of the Albany County Nursing Home, or put politics aside and do what is right for our residents. (To read the Feb. 28, 2013 story, go online to www.AltamontEnterprise.com: “Lease pact for nursing home scrutinized ahead of hearings.”)

The legislature has known for years the county cannot afford to operate our nursing home, yet no viable options have been proposed by the Democratic majority. Back in 2010, I proposed a resolution calling for a referendum to decide the fate of our nursing home.

Legislators defeated the measure by a vote of 24 to 11 with three members abstaining. As a result of the county’s inaction, more than $100 million in deficits have been accrued over the past decade and these deficits continue to rise.

Who pays for these shortfalls? The taxpayer!

Public workshops on New Scotland plans for Rt 85

To the Editor:

I felt compelled to address several inaccuracies in Tyler Murphy’s article regarding New Scotland’s planning grants for the intersection of routes 85 and 85A. I understand that Mr. Murphy was not around in 2009 during the Bender melon farm controversy. However, his assertion that “town citizens petitioned to keep the area rural by collecting more than 2,400 New Scotland residents’ signatures to support a moratorium on large-scale commercial development” is a serious rewrite of recent history.

While there are those in town who have voiced their preference to preserve intact the agricultural lands in the town’s main commercial zone, including the editor of your newspaper, the vast majority of citizens who signed NS4SED petitions had no intent regarding the fate of this area other than to hold off on allowing construction of a big-box mall until we all came to a better understanding of whether this style of commercial development was appropriate and beneficial for our community. The New Scotland hamlet area is not rural and no one signed any petition to “keep it” that way.

I also must question why I am again credited with writing the first Capital District Transportation Committee Linkage Program grant, despite repeatedly correcting both [Councilman Daniel] Mackay and Enterprise reporters. Liz Kormos was, in fact, the author, while I assisted mostly with technical data and coordinating the grant once it was obtained.

At budget time I have questions about the APD

To The Editor:

I appreciate the feedback I have seen in The Altamont Enterprise, and personal stories I have been hearing in regards to my wife’s arrest and her charge with a misdemeanor in December (for a non-malicious, non-threatening violation).

Our objective with the letter that she read at the January Altamont Village Board meeting was to start a discussion (which it has), with regards to the value of having a village police department if it has no interest in upholding the partnership with the community mentioned in its mission statement.

Based on the Enterprise editorial on Jan. 31, 2013 the department averages fewer than three calls per day, and, based on my wife’s arrest on Dec. 12, 2012, when the police are given the chance, they operate to the fullest extent of the law instead of using better discretion and judgment.

I have spoken to family and friends who work for other police departments throughout the state, and they all say this arrest and charge with a misdemeanor was over the top. I have also spoken to many village residents who have been pulled over outside the village for this same violation and they all say they were given 24 to 48 hours to get this clerical error straightened out.

One thing Mr. Harrell and I agree on: Property taxes shouldn’t pay for public schools

To the Editor:

Once again, I find myself having to respond to one of Aaron Harrell’s tiring propagandist missives. I have to assume that he has a hard time reading with comprehension because his response to my previous letters is so far from reality.

For example, I criticized “public schools” — he calls that an attack on “public education” as if he sees no difference. Public schools are the physical representations of the idea that is public education. Public education is and always should be free.

Mr. Harrell lauds his own support of that concept as if it were a revelation, his exclusive domain. Public education can’t be improved without public schools breaking free from the status quo.

In that regard, I am far more dedicated to improving public education than Mr. Harrell. I can say that with the utmost confidence because I have attended every education reform forum that I have been physically able to attend over the past 20 years and I’ve never seen Mr. Harrell at any of them.

He stated there is a vital part of this debate “nary a soul seeks to discuss” but that’s not true at all. Every aspect of public schools and education has been endlessly debated. His statement is simply his unwitting admission that he hasn’t been a part of it.

Trooper Rothwein to the rescue

To the Editor:

I read your article, “State Police look into complaints against trooper and by trooper – two sides of a dispute,” and I am totally disgusted. Your newspaper normally has a good selection of news, photos, humor, and community updates, but this article should never have been published. The article was only out one day and your new nickname is The Altamont Enquirer or the Altamont Star. Every time you publish, what I call “trash” like this, you will continue to lose readers.

In my 22-year career and living in this community over 40 years, I have never seen anything like this. Your newspaper has really dropped to a new low. I know all the parties involved and they are very nice people, but to air their public laundry like this is completely unnecessary.

Let’s please try to remember that there are several children involved that now have to face their friends in school. It’s embarrassing. They are all wonderful, talented, and well-behaved children and certainly did not deserve this.

If someone tells me that there is noteworthy news in your paper, pictures of talented youths playing sports or anyone that is making a difference in the community, I may go buy your paper, but for now — you will not see me purchase your “Harlequin-type reading” newspaper otherwise.

By the way, I am glad I at least bought this past edition to enjoy a picture of our friend’s talented daughter, participating on the Guilderland basketball team, and I really enjoyed the letter from Ms. Fioretti thanking the Voorheesville Fire Department, Ray Ginter, the ambulance squad, Stewart’s, and numerous neighbors and friends after her family’s unfortunate experience on Valentine’s Day when their hot-water heater caught on fire. I am truly sorry for your experience. What readers may not know is, it was the quick thinking of Trooper Steve Rothwein using a fire extinguisher, before the fire department even arrived, that kept that building from possibly being an entire loss! He heard the call while on duty and acted swiftly. Now that is newsworthy!

Theresa Balfe

Voorheesville

Editor’s note: Our page 8 Feb. 21 article focused on matters of public concern — that is, how the State Police were handling allegations of abuse of police power and spending of public funds.

A mother’s Page, February should be a 4-letter word

By Barbara A. Page

Have I mentioned that I hate February? My family and friends laugh because I start this mantra February first and continue it daily until March blows in. (Thank goodness, it’s here at last.)

This started sometime in my childhood. Maybe it started because it was always too cold to go either sledding or skating. The school districts answer to February was to give everyone a week off. I hunkered down with books or watched T.V.

This routine changed when my own kids had their February break. No one stayed home. Everyone headed to places like Chucky Cheese or the movies.

Some lucky people went to Florida. However, it was quickly discovered that Florida was becoming overwhelmed with the influx of college students and families. I remember watching news stories of totally out-of-control college students.

So, the powers that are in charge of trying to survive February staggered the breaks of the colleges. I never made it to Florida in February either as a kid or an adult. I have my own ways to survive February. I call them my February projects.

One year, I made really messy, really delicious brownies. I put various ingredients in the middle of them — carmel and nuts and peanut butter. I moved on to butterscotch chips.

This particular phase stopped when I stuffed them with marshmallow fluff and they caught fire in the stove. Whoops! Luckily it was towards the end of the month.

Stand up now and be heard on the right to own guns

To the Editor:

Albany County residents must stand up for their civil rights. They can by attending the Albany County Legislature meeting on March 11 at 6:30 p.m. (arrive at 6 p.m. to sign up to speak during the public comment period).

Fifty counties around the state have passed or are in the process of passing resolutions opposing the NY SAFE Act. Attend this meeting to demand that Albany County also stand up in defense of its constituents’ rights.

The town of Berne will address this issue on March 13, thanks to Board member Bonnie Conklin.

Please attend these meetings to let our elected representatives know where you stand. Sheriff Craig Apple stated that “people should not be concerned about the lawful gun owner,” and that is who the NY SAFE Act is targeting.

Sheriff Apple has spoken out against the seven-round magazine limit and the new, broader definition of a so-called “assault weapon.” His opposition is backed up by the New York Sheriffs’ Association as well as sheriffs’ associations all over the country.

In 2011, only five homicides were committed by rifles. Statistics show that the vast majority of homicides are committed with illegal handguns, and the NY SAFE Act does not address this problem at all.

Stand up now and be heard!

Tom Cavanagh

Berne

Editor’s note: Semi-automatic handguns with one “military characteristic” may be considered assault weapons and subject to a ban under the SAFE Act. Pistol permits will have to be recertified with the State Police every five years

See related story on our Home page.