To the Editor:

I am writing this letter to be published as an open message to Albany County Legislator Jeff Perlee, in the hope of encouraging dialogue and clarity on an issue of concern to many Altamont residents.

Prior to the last legislative public forum of the year, occurring on Dec. 22, several of my neighbors and I reached out to Legislator Perlee by email regarding Albany County’s contract with Avelo Airlines at Albany International Airport.

We asked whether he would sign on to a letter urging cancellation of the contract, or at least share his perspective on the issue. To date, none of us have received a response.

I recognize that elected officials balance many responsibilities and competing demands on their time. Still, the absence of any reply has been difficult for constituents who are engaging in good faith and hoping to better understand their representative’s position.

For many residents, concerns about Avelo’s involvement in deportation flights, under conditions that have been widely reported as harmful and dehumanizing, raise serious ethical questions. Reasonable people may disagree on policy outcomes, but transparency matters. Constituents deserve to know where their elected officials stand and how they are weighing these concerns.

Legislator Perlee is a familiar presence in our community. Many of us have crossed paths with him at school plays, neighborhood gatherings, and local events. That shared civic space makes open communication especially important, and it is why this silence feels so discouraging.

This letter is not written to assign motive or presume intent, but to invite a response. I hope Legislator Perlee will take this opportunity to publicly share his position on the Avelo contract and engage with constituents who are seeking clarity and accountability.

Local democracy works best when questions are met with answers. I hope this letter opens the door to that conversation.

Katie Fahrenkopf

Altamont

Editor’s note: Jeff Perlee did not immediately respond to an Enterprise call asking his position on Albany County’s contract with Avelo Airlines.