Bill Donato, Altamont

Rather than looking to expand the landfill in Colonie or to regionalize for a bigger landfill elsewhere, Albany County needs to pass laws that required people to do what needs to be done — divert the waste that can be recycled or used productively as compost. San Francisco provides a workable model that we can follow.

The death of another teenager on Hurst Road — a place teens have gone for generations to drive fast, flying over the humps — calls for action. The road should be re-graded.

Ed Cowley, Altamont

Recent cuts to federal funds for the agency that inspects and enforces safety rules is wrong. We urge our state to support criminal prosecution in egregious cases.

Disposing of prescription drugs properly — all pharmacies should have drug-collection receptacles — would keep some people from addiction and would also help the environment. ​

We paid heed when we got a phone call from Mary Browne this week. She wanted to warn people about a scam she had suffered. 

Setting up a system to easily certify home businesses that don’t disturb neighbors or the environment would benefit all.

Humans have great hubris. The wilderness that our pioneer ancestors tamed now has to be re-invented and protected.

We need to stop putting up walls with name-calling and labeling others; rather, we must seek to understand through civil discourse what we share so that we may reach meaningful compromises to move forward.