To the Editor:

I would like to go on the record as being against the use of any electronic digital signs in the town of New Scotland! These signs are especially ugly and unnecessary in front of churches. They are offensive to the eyes and dispensable.

If a business cannot draw customers without the use of electronic digital signs in our town, they obviously cannot stand on the merits of what they have to offer.  If it is changing announcements they want to make, they can use social media, which does not invade that space of those who are not interested. Successful businesses have historically not needed flashing electronic digital signs to pronounce what they have to offer.

I am displeased by our town Republicans who misrepresent our town officials’ concerns and rulings on this issue. The town board’s scrutiny of business practices in town is necessary.

Apparently, some Republicans are spreading fake information to the public about the supported reasoning of our town leaders concerning oversight of the development of small businesses in our town. The town board is not against small business; it is considering the desires of all the people, not just the businessmen. Just because a few people show up at town board meetings in favor of electronic digital signs does not mean that most people are in favor of them. And just because people haven’t complained about the use of electronic digital signs, because they aren’t prevalent yet, doesn’t mean they wouldn’t be complaining about them if they were allowed.

The town board was elected by the majority in the town. Fortunately, we do not have an electoral college system, that fails the majority rule. Lies and misrepresentation of the facts are now commonplace and accepted by some Republicans, from the national level down to the local level. It's shameful!

They love the uneducated as President Trump said. It must be because they are easily distracted by false facts and lies. They elected a president that his own appointee Secretary of State Rex Tillerson believes is a “moron.” ! Can’t argue with that, unless you’re uneducated.

By the way, you can’t get some Republicans elected in this town because of their belief system. It’s called, “Me first and everyone else after I get mine!” This is what some town Republicans want for small business. Those Republicans want their concerns addressed with priority over their neighbors; otherwise they cry foul, that is, until their homes are caught up in the beaming electronic rays of a digital flashing sign.

By the way, I fully expect some Republican to write back to the editor and misrepresent what I’m saying. Please do because I want the educated to know who the ill-informed people in our community are, thank you.

The businesses in our town that are successful, and have been successful and also continue to be successful have done so without electronic digital signs, because of the worthiness of doing good business. Our town board members have surveyed by conversation and other means the desires of the community and concluded rightfully that we do not want electronic digital signs by a majority.

The town board wholeheartedly welcomes good clean businesses we desire! They are not anti-business, if you say so, you misrepresent the reality of the responsibilities that the town board has to all the people not just businesses.

I believe the town board is working with businesses to achieve what the townspeople elected them to do. If Republicans want to get elected in this town, they should start concentrating on what it is the majority of townspeople want for New Scotland, not what the businessmen want. The townspeople live here!

Democrats, do not get lazy and forget to vote! We must defeat those Republicans who hold Want and Ignorance above unity and the common good.

Timothy J. Albright

Meadowdale

Editor’s note: Timothy Albright is the orchard manager at Indian Ladder Farms. Laura Ten Eyck is vice president of Indian Ladder Farms, is a member of the New Scotland town board. Both confirm that they have never discussed digital signs with each other.