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Are The Bloomingburg Town Homes Public?

I have been watching the new development Chestnut Ridge being built. Just for fun I tried looking for these apartments online and what they would be renting for. I could not find any information anywhere. I thought this project would be open to the public too?

Lisa A Glendon-Szymanski
Washingtonville


Sees Fishiness In Casino OK, Moreland Disbanding

A huge influx of money into Albany preceded the November 2013 referendum casino expansion. From 2005 to 2013, gambling interests spent more than $59 million in lobbying and political contributions, according to Common Cause New York. Gov. Andrew Cuomo received $1 million. The amendment passed the Legislature in successive sessions with no serious debate, no public hearings, and, then, its altered, "rosy language" was approved by the public. The extent of problem gambling associated with casinos was continually minimized.

On July 2, 2013, after a series of federal indictments of legislators, Cuomo personally appointed the "Commission to Investigate Public Corruption" under the Moreland Act and Executive Law Section 63(8) to probe systemic corruption. Cuomo subsequently was reportedly keeping tabs on the commission, getting frequent updates, and discouraging subpoenas to supporters (i.e. the Real Estate Board of New York, whose members gave Cuomo almost $5 million since 2011).

In December, the Commission issued a preliminary report, pointing to a culture of corruption in Albany. On March 31, 2014, Cuomo prematurely disbanded the commission in a budget deal with the Legislature. Cuomo's action earned him severe criticism from Preet Bharara, Southern District U.S. Attorney, good government groups, and some commission members.

CAGNY had hopes that the commission would shine a bright light on the influence of money in setting public policy on casino gambling. Let the public note the governor's shameful action, perpetuating the business-as-usual ethical torpor in Albany. We call upon the U.S. attorney to rescue the commission and extend its important work.

Stephen Q. Shafer, MD, Arnie Lieber, MD
Coalition Against Gambling in New York
Saugerties


School Testing Issues Need To Come First

In response to Gov. Cuomo's recent proposal to fund college degree programs for prison inmates, I would urge that the governor instead address the issues regarding excessive and unfair standardized testing and the school-to-prison pipeline prior to adding college degree programs in prisons. By addressing the issues in our local schools first, the governor would be educating our youths so they would not end up in prison.

As citizens we should be asking the governor to challenge the "school to prison pipeline," which is a national trend wherein children are funneled out of public schools and into the juvenile and criminal justice systems.

Many of these children have learning disabilities or histories of poverty, and would benefit from additional educational and counseling services. Instead, they are isolated, punished and pushed out.

"Zero-tolerance" policies criminalize minor infractions of school rules, which then lead the students into being criminalized for behavior that should be handled inside the school. As adults, these students end up in prison and, without an education, get released only to re-enter the system once again. By ending the enormous influx of youth into our prison systems, there would be less need to address the high recidivism rates.

If the governor would like to add educational services to the prison system, I believe that it would be more beneficial to start by adding mandatory GED classes for all those incarcerated no matter what age, gender or time served.

Valerie Zeppelin
Liberty


Believes Progressives Are Misguided Regarding Morality

Regarding New York City Councilman Daniel Dromm saying that people opposed to homosexual marriage are not welcome in the Big Apple: In a way, weren't we here a couple thousand years ago? The ancient and primitive Greeks and Romans crassly valued homosexual relations. But eventually the people wised up and realized that was a mistake (e.g., Plato condemned homosexual activity), and homosexual activity was again logically deemed unethical and was basically driven underground.

Now, misguided "progressives" are trying to take us back thousands of years to more primitive and decadent times, despite the fact that thinking people have known for centuries that homosexual activity is immoral and a bad legal precedent. (It's easy to show that all the arguments homosexuals use to try to rationalize homosexual activity are seriously flawed.)

It may surprise you that some colleges like Harvard now have officially recognized student groups devoted to promoting the acceptance of BDSM — sexually deviant bondage, discipline, sadism, and masochism. That's right. If you are a student who gets turned on by smacking people around, some colleges like Harvard now have groups for you! Bizarre. (Are Neanderthals running that school?)

He who has eyes to see, let them see. The "logic" of heterophobic homosexuals is rapidly leading this society down a slippery slope to a more aberrant, disordered, and irrational society. Legal polygamy is coming soon. Maybe down the line we'll see "marriage" between straight and homosexual consenting-adult incestuous people! Whoopee! Anyone who thinks this is progress is deluding him/herself. Rome didn't fall in a day. But it did fall. Let's not join the race to the bottom.

Wayne Lela
Downers Grove IL


New York City Isn't Helping Us Out At All...

Alice said "things are getting curiouser and curiouser," but that was Wonderland, and it was long ago and far away. Today in Ulster County, things seem to be getting more "turbidier and turbidier" every day. Just when the people of Ulster County thought some progress was being made on the pollution of the Esopus Creek and the muddy water problem was being addressed by the New York City reservoir system, we find that New York City is in complete denial of its responsibility for the mud.

To exacerbate the problem, New York State fails to cooperate with Ulster County in resolving New York City's intentional pollution of our natural resources and eco-tourism industry. Government dysfunction is fueled by egomania, political ambition and financial greed. The new study of the source of the pollution of the Esopus Creek is a blatant delaying action on the part of New York City to enable it to delay implementing needed infrastructure and policy improvements.

The millions of people in New York City who enjoy some of the purest water in the world are completely oblivious of the concerns of the people of Ulster County. The leaking aqueducts waste more valuable water every day than all the energy saving devices could ever offset. Wealth and power trump integrity and altruism every time. The exploitation of Ulster County by New York City has been going on for a 100 years and it would seem will continue for another 100 years.

The single-party system of government is failing New York.

Jack Hayes, Recording Secretary
Ulster County Conservative Party
Gardiner


Wants To Do More For Domestic Energy...

I read in the news that the people who feel it is their job to protect the Hudson River are all upset about barging crude oil from Albany and maybe another Hudson River port to refineries in New Jersey.

How come they are not upset about all the barge traffic that brings the gasoline and heating oil they use to distributors' riverside tanks? This barging has been going on for as long as there has been a need for fuel. How many spills have there been? I cannot remember any.

I know that the oil companies have response teams ready when unloading takes place. I am sure the same happens during loading in New Jersey or wherever the barges are filled.

Other than that crude needs to be refined, it is still a volatile hydrocarbon, similar to gasoline or heating oil. Shipping and safety requirements will be similar.

Let's start using domestic oil and stop funding the sheiks in the Middle East. We have a lot of oil and it needs to be processed. Why not use domestic oil and protect U.S. jobs?

This crude oil issue is a smokescreen for something. Oil and gas has been safely moved on the river for years. Crude will be moved the same way.

Frank Almquist
Kingston


Congressman Gibson Belies His Image...

"Ninety-seven percent of climate scientists agree that climate-warming trends over the past century are very likely due to human activities, and most leading scientific organizations worldwide have issued public statements endorsing this position," according to the website of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

The human activity most responsible is the burning of fossil fuels, particularly oil. Rep. Chris Gibson of New York's 19th District signed a pledge in 2010, sponsored by the Americans for Prosperity — a group funded by the oil billionaire Koch brothers — to oppose any legislation relating to climate change that increases government revenue.

What this pledge means is that the oil industry, despite record breaking profits, will continue to receive taxpayer-financed subsidies and continue to encourage the production and consumption of oil.

This is bad policy for our community, New York State, the United States, and the world. It also belies Gibson's carefully constructed image as a moderate Republican, and more closely aligns him with the anti-science, climate-change deniers on the far right of his party. We deserve smarter representation in Congressional District 19.

Linda Sakai
New Paltz


Solar- & Wind-Only Ideas Aren't Practical

Recent letters called for stopping the proposed reopening of the Danskammer power plant and want only wind or solar farms. Nice idea, but not very practical.

Danskammer, in Newburgh, is a small plant producing about 460 megawatts with all four units on line. A large, land-based wind turbine produces 2.5 megawatts when receiving adequate wind. This means you would need about 184 wind turbines just to equal the electric output of Danskammer. Roseton, also in Newburgh, can produce about 1200 megawatts. Central Hudson customers' peak loads exceed 900 megawatts. Exactly where should the 184 turbines to replace Danskammer be installed? To get maximum wind, you would need to place them on the ridge, creating a real eyesore. In addition, they cost between $3 million and $4 million each, which would mean a total cost of over $600 million. Wind turbines are also noisy, high maintenance and, in California, they kill millions of birds each year.

Solar in this area is even less efficient, with too many cloudy and partly cloudy days and not enough open land to install a solar farm. Since the wind doesn't always blow and the sun doesn't always shine, you are going to need power plants on standby to fill in the gaps in generation.

Putting a power plant on line is not like starting your car; a hot start can take hours and a cold start a day. The plants will have to be manned even if they're not generating and the cost will have to be borne by the ratepayers.

For right now, saying we're able to replace fossil plants with wind and solar is like the president saying if you like your health insurance, you can keep it and, if you like your doctor, you can keep him. Promises and reality are often not the same.

As Thomas Sowell said, "the problem with liberals is that they want to replace something that works with something that sounds good."

John Habersberger
New Paltz


Thinks The County Executive Betrayed His Word!

Shocked outrage and a sense of betrayal have greeted the brazen "bait-and-switch" perpetrated by our new county executive, Steve Neuhaus, regarding the future of Valley View.

For the benefit of all those who voted against Roxanne Donnery, or just didn't bother to vote at all, allow me to quote the wise words of that venerable political philosopher, Jay Leno, who was often heard to remark, "Ladies and gentlemen, you get the government you deserve."

Jane Pette
Monroe


Recent County Meeting Showed A Lack Of Civility

A public hearing was held April 4 at the Emergency Services Center in Goshen for the purpose of allowing the citizens of Orange County to voice their opinions regarding the proposed sale of Valley View via a local development corporation.

The auditorium at the 2 p.m. meeting was SRO and those legislators in attendance (not all were present) were not introduced by the chair, Stephen Brescia, which in my opinion was rude.

At the second half of the public meeting at 5:30, matters got even worse. The Republican legislators chose to sit in the audience and it was announced by Brescia that they, the legislators, did not have to sit on the dais and face the speakers, and again names were not announced on legislators in attendance.

I was told these who sat in the audience were texting and talking amongst themselves. It showed an obvious lack of respect for those who came to speak for a cause they felt strongly about. It also showed a disrespect for the other legislators who sat in their rightful place on the dais. If this is an example of the lack of cohesive partnership on the part of the legislative body for the next four years, we have made a huge mistake on who we voted to represent us.

Ann-Marie Fitzpatrick
Goshen



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