(letters from November 24, 2006)

Dear Editor,
The Nov. 9 Olive Press carries a letter by the Rev. James Audlin complaining that an invitation to lecture on Native American history was extended to a woman who is not Native American. Rev. Audlin goes on to say this is just as inappropriate as asking someone of French extraction to speak on Chinese culture. I beg to differ.
Besides the famous example of the late Andre Malraux, who was a world
authority on Chinese art, one can offer more recent examples. According to the Audlin line of reasoning, the cellist Yo-Yo Ma, of Chinese extraction, should not be asked to perform Bach. The conductor Seiji Ozawa (Japanese) should keep his hands off Tchaikovsky. And surely it was improper of Picasso (a Spaniard) to use African motifs in his art.
While this country has many shortcomings, there is one thing it gets gloriously right: it recognizes merit based on competence and willingness to work, not as some function of ethnic origin. Let's keep it that way.
Uldis Roze
Lexington, NY

Dear Editor,
I am writing today in regards to a situation that has been frustrating to me over the past few weeks that I think the community should be aware of. I am a resident of the Town of Olive. I work part time out of an office in Manhattan and take the Trailways bus into the city twice every week, leaving early in the morning and returning late at night. For the last year, I have been getting on the bus at the Rosendale Hardware Store, where tickets are sold and the bus picks up passengers. There were several complaints about the parking area at the Hardware Store over this period of time, commuters were not legally allowed to park there so risked being towed, and the parking lot was not lit at all during the night. In an effort to resolve this problem, the NYS DOT built a park and ride in the town of Rosendale for commuters to use.
The park and ride cost nearly $168,000 to build in order to make it more convenient for commuters to park and catch the bus. The lot was marvelous for almost a full two weeks when all of a sudden the bus no longer would stop at the newly built parking lot. According to bus drivers for Trailways, the parking lot was not designed properly for buses to pull into; therefore they could not stop there for “safety issues.”
Safety Issues? Funny how the bus will stop anywhere else along Route 32 except at the designated parking area in Rosendale. Not to mention that the safety of Trailways passengers is put at great risk when we are forced to walk along State Route 32 (a three-lane highway with a speed limit of 55) in the dark for nearly a quarter mile. Children, Seniors, and patrons like I are forced to put our lives at risk by walking along side of speeding traffic with no street lights in order to get to our cars and drive home. When commuters are paying sometimes $450 a month to ride the bus into the city for work, we should be given the chance to park our vehicles legally without putting our lives at risk.
When winter comes at full boar and snow piles line the shoulder of 32, how will passengers get to their cars then? The town or Rosendale’s tax dollars put to no good use whatsoever. A parking lot for commuters is useless if the bus will not stop there and pick them up. Ulster County Transit Center Director Cynthia Ruiz said that “This is a perfect spot for this type of park and ride.” In my opinion, the spot is not so perfect.
I hope to see this situation resolved shortly, otherwise I will need to find other means of transportation to Manhattan, perhaps the Metro-North where I know I can park my car and get the train in the same place.
Jennifer Fugel
Olivebridge, NY

Dear Editor,
Enclosed is a copy of a letter sent today to the Onteora Board of Education...
Dear Board of Education,
In your search for a multi-million dollar capital project that meets the needs of the district, please pay utmost attention to making sure any buildings and renovations are as energy efficient and green-energy powered as possible.
It’s vital that the board take all due deliberation in considering any building options and projected budgets and not rush to a deadline for presenting a plan to the public. In light of the dwindling student
population, and the cost of any plan, I believe if the voters of the district see a renovation project that makes bold changes in the way the district meets its energy needs, they will respond positively. I also
believe the voters would see a such a green-plan to upgrade existing and new facilities as an investment in the future.
To suggest spending between 62 million and 70 million dollars of taxpayer money on district improvements and not take advantage of the best possible solutions for our 21st century environmental and energy needs would be unconscionable.
The board and its architects and planners should look at every applicable place for energy conservation, as well as for use of active and passive solar, wind, and geothermal systems that could help make the district energy independent. And I trust you are researching all possible sources for grants and funding of innovative “green” building choices.
When making renovations, the district could implement an “Onteora Energy
Initiative” and aggressively act in ways to make the district’s facilities more energy sustainable. Planning would most likely show that the district could add solar collectors to its existing buildings and properties in Boiceville and perhaps at each of its school building sites for both efficient solar hot water and solar photo-voltaic systems.
Any roofing or building plans for additions to any Onteora buildings must be designed to the highest world-wide efficiency standards and not depend on a narrow search for building options. Onteora could be a leader for energy responsibility throughout our community with a carefully designed project that took into account the kinds of design standards and building practices currently favored in Germany, throughout Europe, and increasingly in use world-wide.
The district could look close by, in Tivoli, at the Common Fire Housing Coop. for ideas on how to design structures and choose materials for energy independence and responsible product purchasing. Recent municipal solar photo-voltaic systems installed in Woodstock, Rosendale and New Paltz also point the way to our energy future. They augment the electricity available on the hottest days when most needed and when they generate excess electricity, the power feeds onto the grid helping meet the need for clean sources of energy. This is a double win for our community.
A comprehensive greening of the district’s buildings and operating systems would be of great benefit to the environment and will be a boon to district taxpayers as they see lower energy costs to operate the district’s facilities. Such an energy-wise approach will go a long way toward gaining public support for any capital construction plan put forth by the Board of Education.
Tobe Carey
Glenford, NY

Dear Editor,
Knowledge is power, but you need excess to information to obtain knowledge. Tax payers of the Onteora School District need to be informed. This is why I extend my sincere thanks to Lisa Childers for her exceptional reporting on the Onteora School Board meetings. For many that can’t go to the school board meetings Lisa Childers reporting provides a wealth of information about the school and helps to generate interest in the school district. For many tax payers of the district Lisa’s articles are the only resource that’s available to obtain accurate information about everything regarding the school and how the School Board is planning to spend our tax dollars.
William Warnecke
Glenford, NY

Dear Editor,
The impact of the recent re-capture of the Senate and the House of Representatives by the Democratic Party illustrates just how much President George W. Bush disappoints the American people. After contributing to the defeat of his own party at the polls he is now asking the same Senators and members of the House of Representatives to return to Washington, D.C. to complete his old agenda as lame ducks.
Lame Duck sessions are not a reflection of a healthy democracy because it permits an old and now political agenda to still be continued in its direction and unabated without recourse for the great mass of Americans.
As a native born American radical I can personally speak about the COINTELPRO and Naval Intelligence tapping of my telephone, dirty tricks firing from jobs, visits to employers and newspaper editors. Wiretapping my telephones from Long Island to upstate New York, calls from security people asking if I was going to attend a specific meeting. Individuals who working with me and others, befriending us, organizing peace demonstrations only to surface later on as special agents. Now George W. Bush still under the disguise of protecting us from terrorism is spying on all Americans who are against his policies in Iraq. After he has lost at the polls he has the nerve to continue full steam ahead lying about cooperating in the future with the new Congress while seeking continued support for John Bolton to represent the US in the UN.
Bolton should never have been there to begin with. The media is now trying to positively message us concerning his replacement for Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld activities of his father’s former CIA Director Robert M. Gates Director who by practicing “plausible deniability” is all of a sudden is rehabilitated and clean as a whistle on the Iran-Contra Affair. After all everyone feels bad for the old George now because it appears his wings have clipped by the American people.
This is truly a farce because once again the media is spinning a web of protection for the Bush administration and Mr. Robert Gates who is depicted as a “team player, works behind the scenes, is a member of an independent study group researching the Iraq War and knows his way around the pentagon and the Chiefs of Staff. It is a plain old dirty trick hoot right out Vietnam to Iraq. It is the same kind of bird who worked with the FBI, and Army/Naval Intelligence and the covert wars in Central America. This is worse than Watergate ever was. It is Bushgate/Oilgate or how do you make a giant stinking mess look like a place even the Queen of England would like to take a room in.
We need to tell our representatives and our representatives elect. “ No to Gates, No to Bolton and No to any laws passed by lame ducks” that undermines our constitutional rights to privacy by permitting the indiscriminate use of wiretaps.
If it is true the Brits have 35 different conspiracies of terrorism they are monitoring tells you there is something really rotten in Great Britain and the sink there is about the same as here. What happened to the last crew of alleged terrorists just before the elections? If they know about these people are they just recording tapes for “plausible deniability” or is this just a sequel to the movie “The Anderson Tapes.” Personally I am still listening to the Basement Tapes by Dylan and the Band.
Tom Siblo
Shokan, NY

Dear Editor,
A couple days before the mid-term elections I sent a check out to the sandman (oops, correction: that should read “hay man”), along with a little note saying something (he’s a fellow Democrat) to the effect: “Let’s hope for a successful election.” (I think I actually even used an exclamation point!) But as the envelope was sliding down the mailbox, I thought to myself, what the H did I write that nutty note for? I say this because 6 years ago I finally woke up (or so I thought) and smelled the coffee beans: Democrat, schmemocrat; what’s the difference? (My therapist says I’m a “recovering Democrat.”)
Anyhoo, it’s easier to realize that it won’t make one hoot of difference who’s running Washington—Dems, Repubs, Comms—you get the idea—if we have a clear understanding of what politics is and what it is not. Issues, schmissues; it’s not the issues, stupid! Politics is the process of who gets what resources, when, and how. All political activities aim ultimately to controlling wealth and maintaining unchallenged power— in any state or society (sorry, America is no exception here). Who benefits most is the end outcome of the competition. The corporate media and our imperialist warlords (those in power), as well as others jockeying for control and power (read: the “opposition”), obscure the term to refer to differences on other issues.
So, now that we’re clear on that: With all due respect to below and minimum wage earners, tree huggers, the educationally challenged, and all of us proud, lucky Americans living without health insurance (feel the love?) in the wealthiest nation on the GD planet: Are the Dems going to restore our Constitution? Our Bill of Rights and Civil Liberties? The checks and balances between the branches of government? Are they gonna revoke the unconstitutional and treasonous Patriot Act, restore Habeus Corpus, restore the Posse Comitatus Act, restore the rule of domestic and international law? Roll back presidential power? Abolish NSA spying on US citizens? I.e., are they going to dismantle all mechanisms of the current dictatorship (AKA “Unitary Executive” by the goons in Washington)? Dooon’t think so.
Are the Dems gonna get us the H out of Iraq? Noooope. Don’t think so. They We don’t want another experience like that of 1997, where “final” decisions were sprung on us. The community must have input during the consideration of these issues so that administrators will consider the real needs of the community. After the decision not to merge in 1998, The Kingston Hospital’s Mission Statement was changed to reflect its commitment to secular values. The administration held several forums to dialogue with people around the county. But we are concerned about this commitment. The Berger Commission has held public hearings around the state. When they came to New Paltz, we made clear our concerns about The Kingston Hospital merging with a religiously-governed hospital because of its restrictions on certain healthcare services. The hearings, which included ten-minute presentations with no questions or opportunity to reply, are not enough. The community must be a part of the discussions between the hospitals.
Mildred M. Meyer
High Falls NY

Dear Editor,
These are exciting, hopeful and yet still frightening times. The recent elections have opened up possibilities for change and for peace and many of us are breathing a sigh of relief. But of course, there is still so much to be done.
And now the people of New Orleans need our help!
Over a year ago the American people watched the destruction of New Orleans on their televisions. We all saw not only the enormous power of Hurricane Katrina, but we also saw the effects of years of poverty and racism on the citizens of New Orleans. Many Americans were shocked and angry. Millions of dollars in relief flowed into New Orleans from very generous and good hearted Americans, while the government poured billions into the war effort in Iraq.
But now, over a year later, the disaster continues, not a natural disaster (so far this year New Orleans has not felt the wrath of mother nature) but more the governmental kind. It's not in the headlines, or even in the back pages of our newspapers. Before Katrina there were over 8,000 units of public low income housing in New Orleans. Many of these housing projects were solid, made of brick and concrete. After the Hurricane, the Public Housing Projects were fenced off, the tenants unable to return, not even to get their belongings. Many of these developments were not seriously damaged by the storm and yet the tenants have not be allowed to return. In a city where thousands homes were destroyed, there is no alternative low income housing.
HUD, which runs the projects in New Orleans is in the process of deciding to tear them down, with some plans to replace some with "mixed housing" - which not only will take years but will also eliminate a majority of low income units. The tenants of these projects lived in them for years, often for generations. They had leases, they had family and friends in their community. Mostly they are dispersed throughout the region, refugees in their own country. The HANO, Housing Authority of New Orleans is deciding this month the fate of 5,000 of these housing Units. While some of the housing projects are in serious disrepair, many can be rehabbed and upgraded at less cost than demolition and rebuilding. While I was in New Orleans in June, I saw the St. Bernard Projects myself and clearly with some gutting and repair, those houses were sound. Some local contractors have recently added their voices to the call to save them. Tenants have organized to fight their demolition and they are asking for our help. I met some of these organizers in June. They are angry, articulate and determined to return to their homes. This is the kind of help that doesn't cost money or require a trip to New Orleans. They need for us to contact HUD, to contact our Congress people and tell them to stop the plans to demolish public housing in New Orleans.
One of the New Orleans tenant's organizations is called Survivors Village.
You can easily go to their web site at www.survivorsvillage.org . Go to "ACTION Alert" and send a letter to the Alphonso Jackson, Secretary of HUD in Washington. And click on "our homes" for more information. Additional information can be found on the Common Ground Relief web site.
Now is not the time to be silent. It is still the time for us to be outraged.
Sue Rosenberg
Saugerties, NY

Dear Editor,
Last Friday evening I attended the first Ulster County Watchfire in recognition of Veterans Day, on Tongore Road, just off Route 209. Lisette Landin of Olive has worked for years to get it organized and it finally happened, and it was extremely moving. The night was cold and damp, there was a tent with donated food and drink. No politicians spoke, only Vets, it was low keyed, and when the huge bonfire was lit shortly before midnight, it was emotionaly powerful and serious. I hope this ceremony will continue and grow.
This past Sunday evening I went to Nyack to hear the father of Lt. Ehren Watada speak. Lt. Watada has refused deployment to Iraq on the basis of the "War" there being illegal, and will be court-martialed in Fort Lewis, Washington. He has declared "I refuse to be silent any longer. I refuse to be party to an illegal and immoral war against people who did nothing to deserve our aggression. My oath of office is to protect and defend America's laws and its people. By refusing unlawful orders for an illegal war, I fulfill that oath today...if I am to be punished, it should be for not acting sooner." Please write to Lt. General James Dubik, Commanding General, Fort Lewis, 1 Corps Bldg 2025 Stop 1, Fort Lewis, WA 98433 to register your feelings and thoughts about this brave and thoughtful Lt. Watada.
Jay Wenk
Woodstock

Dear Editor,
I have lived in Mt.Tremper about 25 years and recently something quite wonderful and extraordinary has taken place there. I am referring to the people who are now in management of La Dutchess Anne. They are wonderful and courageous people. Fabrice, the chef, comes from Brittany and learned his skills there and in Switzerland and in the United States. His fiance, Tania, a Peruvian princess, performs many tasks. Steve, a sculptor, works in the kitchen and Erica, from Phoenicia, takes care of the dining room and makes an excellent martini. Robert Rizzo, whose parents once owned the Phoenicia Inn, plays an accomplished and mellow piano.
All you have to do is visit and try them for the first time.
Robert Jacobson
Mt.Tremper, NY

Dear Editor,
On behalf of Shandaken Area Youth Sports and Helen Cordo, we would like to take this opportunity to thank the following people for their continued support of the Annual James. A. Cordo U-10 soccer tournament.
Olive Soccer for hosting the event. Chris Fischer for organizing and officiating. Tyler Fischer, Claire and Andrew Wilsey for running lines; Phoenicia Pharmacy; Brio’s; Phoenicia Wines and Liquors; Mike Iapoce and Phillip Kirschner; The Nest Egg; The Country Store; Boiceville Florist; Tiso’s; Cathy Neal for her great cakes; Blake Killin.
Congratulations to Woodstock’s U-10 for winning the tournament
Donna Fisher
Phoenicia, NY