Letters to the Editor 8/16/2007

Dear Editor,
On Wed. Aug.8,07, many if not all UC Legislators started their day as usual with the Daily Freeman and a cup of java. The editorial titled "Larger Issues" informed them that the OCSD board had undemocratically decided not to vote on the Large Parcel law and that perhaps the majority of the school board should step down. Here is "the rest of the story".
The editorial stated "Voting against it continues inequitable taxing levels on Olive's neighbors in Woodstock and Shandaken." This bit of information is both false and timely given that the UC Legislature was due to vote on the LP law that
very evening.
I was a little puzzled given that UC Real Property Tax Service Agency Director Martin informed the OCSD board that the Town of Olive was fairly and equitably valued due to Olive's recently completed revaluation. Even the staunchly pro-LP law Woodstock Times stated in their editorial of Aug.2nd that the LP law should not be enacted this year for the same reason. The UC Real Property Tax Service Agency records show that Shandaken's assessments are decades old and presumably unequitable.
The editorial claims that the law contains the Home Rule provision which is also false. The editorial served 2 purposes- persuade the Legislators to vote aye for LP that evening, and damage the reputations of school board members from Olive. The Freeman has been impugning the reputations of OCSD board members who oppose the LP law since the inception of the LP law in 2003. No mention was made that the publisher of the Freeman lives in Woodstock, received a substantial tax reduction due to LP enactment in 2004 and stood to benefit again had enactment actually taken place on Aug.8th.
The Freeman claimed that the school board did not address an issue of importance to the community and voted against public discussion. In fact, the vote was at a public meeting where all had the right to be heard. Indeed, Large Parcel has possibly been the most debated issue in the schools history. The public has had years to weigh in and has done so. It is so divisive that it is steadily diminishing the ability of Woodstock and Shandaken to maintain representation on the board. I think that in this case the board felt that district harmony has real value and with Tax Director Martins assertion that Olive's house is in order there was no reason to waste time given the sheer volume of other weighty matters. The editorial claimed foul due to lack of publicity of the school board vote, yet the Freeman chose not to publicize the county vote. The precise nature of the language used in the editorial indicates help from interests outside the Freeman, perhaps the sponsors or drafters of the law.
After the UC Legislature Administrative Services Committee tabled the matter for 07 due to the reasons mentioned previously, Legislators Gregorius and Shapiro of Woodstock, along with 7 others from the southern Ulster area filed a resolution on Fri.8-3-07, seeking enactment of the LP law, to be voted on the following Wed.,8-8-07. Despite short notice Legislators Kraft and Parete were able to lobby and argue effectively on Olive's behalf. After a heated debate Wed. evening it was voted down.
In my view the attempt by the Freeman to manipulate and influence the county LP law vote via the longstanding and ongoing dissemination of false information is a serious breach of the public trust. The public deserves accurate information, not false propaganda. Had the Freemans effort been successful it would have cost Olive residents plenty. Members of Olive Matters are working to reduce and prevent the abuse of Olive residents by corrupt media and politicians. This latest example is now being addressed.
The first attempt to obtain a judicial review of LPL failed due to my incorrect choice of venue followed by personal exhaustion. 2 years of further observation and documentation of the workings and effects of the LP law has added much valuable material to our case that seeks a judicial order that would compel the NY Legislature to amend the law to include the Home Rule provision. Olive Matters has worked very hard to keep the LP law at bay but it is not reasonable or fair to expect perpetual efforts to safeguard our interests and assets. At this point it is clear that a judicial review will provide the only lasting remedy. It will take 4-6 months to prepare the revised and updated suit.
Charles Blumstein
Olivebridge, NY

Dear Editor,
School funding reform has been a continuing issue of concern to citizens throughout New York State because of the current reliance on property taxes for the funding of schools. The property tax burden has driven low and fixed income homeowners away. It has made home purchase difficult for young families. And high property tax bills create tension between those in a community who want to maintain excellent schools through rich school budgets and those who can no longer afford to support them. This is a system that must be changed.
The Property Tax Reform Task Force, of which I am a member, is a coalition of New York towns, community groups and citizens based in the Hudson Valley -- see our web site at www.hvpropertytaxreform.org. We believe school funding should be based on a more equitable income-based tax, as employed in New York City, for example. Albany has been making some, small changes in school funding, primarily by increased supplemental school aid from the state, but has been unwilling to consider fundamental reform -- or even to establish a blue ribbon commission to study such a possibility.
We have been told, however, that school governance and expenditure are local issues and that local voters have it in their own power to limit their tax burden. Really? Seems to me that much of what occurs at the local level is determined by school law set at the state level, which limits local voter control.
For example, not all school taxpayers are eligible to vote on local school matters -- those with second homes in a school district, who provide funding through property taxes at the same tax rate as local primary homeowners, are excluded. What happened to the good old American tradition of no (local) taxation without (local) representation?
State mandated programs impose costs on which there is no control by either the local school or local citizen. Teacher and other staff compensation comprises about 82% of school budget costs and is negotiated between a school board and the statewide-organized teacher's union. The local school board is widely acknowledged to be on the light side of the balance scale. School boards cannot negotiate collectively, even though they share many similar local conditions and costs.
Other factors that have significant impact on the underlying cost structure of local school funding include the escalating public pension and health benefits costs, again established by the state. My colleagues and I on the Property Tax Reform Task Force don't want to put teachers in the same kind of vulnerable economic position that so many people in the private sector face on the issue of pensions and health care. These escalating costs clearly have a major impact on local school costs, however, and at some point will have to be addressed by, for example, considering defined contribution pension plans for newly hired teachers and state workers, or a medical benefits Volunteer Employee Beneficiary Association (VEBA) trust. A VEBA trust is a device into which employees pay on an ongoing basis and which the state funds to some pre-determined amount through general fund revenues. For every dollar set aside in such a trust, market appreciation can significantly increase the value of the investment, helping to reduce the long-term cost of the program without using property taxes as a funding source. Such a plan for New York State could, on the educational side, save about 22 cents on every educational dollar spent in the state.
All of those issues, however, are entirely outside the control of us local folk. We must continue to pressure state elected officials to look at ways to address school funding reform and remove property taxes from the formula. That is local control. Send a message to your elected representatives if property taxes are getting you down.
Judith Gustafson
Cottekil, NY

Dear Editor,
Benedictine and Kingston hospitals are moving ahead with their plans to remove certain services from within Kingston Hospital. Unless they are giving birth, women who choose to have their tubes tied will not be able to have the procedure done in-hospital. Also excluded from within hospital walls will be men who choose to have vasectomies, and women who opt for abortions. The reason? To quote a friend: “misplaced courtesy” toward the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services (ERDs). Other banned services include contraception and discussion of birth control methods, safe-sex education and counseling for the prevention of AIDS, and legal stem cell therapies. The ban will extend to any services now provided at Kingston Hospital which may be consolidated and placed at Benedictine Hospital.
I wonder if the officials making these decisions behind closed doors ever considered other proposals. During the five hospital-sponsored merger forums, none of the officials answered questions about alternatives. Instead, they only cited consultation with a Long Island hospital official.
There are alternatives - including those in the document In Good Conscience: Guidelines for the Ethical Provision of Health Care in a Pluralistic Society, published by the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (RCRC). It gives guidance for providers and patients.
RCRC is the only national interfaith organization dedicated to preserving reproductive choice and achieving reproductive justice. National religious and religiously affiliated organizations from 15 denominations and faith traditions are members. They include the Episcopal Church; three bodies of the Presbyterian Church (USA); the United Church of Christ; two agencies of the United Methodist Church; the Unitarian Universalist Association; Reform, Reconstructionist, and Conservative Judaism; and independent religious organizations such as Catholics for a Free Choice, Disciples for Choice, and the Methodist Federation for Social Action.
Implications are enormous for patients, doctors, nurses, and other medical staff. I urge you to read In Good Conscience at
www.rcrc.org/pdf/InGoodConscience.pdf .
Mildred M. Meyer
High Falls, NY

Dear Editor,
After 39 years, the government is finally beginning to crackdown on peace mongers and marijuana use in Woodstock. As we all know, the beloved Day Yusko was arrested for having a joint in his house about two months ago.
The Ulster Regional Gang Enforcement and Narcotics Team (URGENT) , was recently set up, with the aid of the FBI and the Kingston Police Dept., supposedly to rid the streets of Kingston of gang violence and narcotics. Chemically, the term narcotic refers to opium, it’s derivative and their synthetic substitutes i.e. cocaine and coca leaves. So, marijuana is not technically, a narcotic. Furthermore, since Day was caught with a mere joint in his house, he was charged with a misdemeanor and not a felony.
But Day has already paid a price, due to the full coverage in the Press. I remember that there was once a precedent in this country: “Innocent Until Proven Guilty”. I thought that offenders had a right to privacy until tried and convicted. When did the press decide to convict people before they are even charged?
Have you seen that horrible show on the air, where they lure potential sex offenders through the internet, to a location where they have camera’s set up? When they open the door the cameras roll, they air the show and they are found guilty even before the crime is committed. On the surface, this may seem like a good idea, but after giving it some thought, I think I can top that show with my own.
“Don’t Piss Me Off” will be the title of the show. The pilot will star one of my own personal enemies. I’ll tell a story about them, whether true or false, like they are part of a terrorist plot. I’ll plant some kerosene in their yard, along with some other bomb making substances. I can even reveal the truth at the end, and say it was just a joke. They already have a similar show on TV - and remember they did it to Kerry with the Swift Boat campaign, so I’m not breaking ground here.
But I digress. Getting back to Day - I’ve been in the Woodstock area since l987, and I never felt that I had to lock my car door when going to town. On the other hand, I lock it when I step outside in the town of Kingston. That’s because according to police there are rival gangs in Kingston. They even know their names, “The Bloods” and “The Crips” and URGENT was formed to protect us from that. Instead, they chose to arrest Day.
There will be enough letters and articles in this paper for me to skip over who Day is, and has been for longer than the 20 years I’ve known him. Suffice it to say that he has single handedly helped numerous young people, by getting them work and boosting their confidence. For many lost and helpless in town, there was always a place to come to try to rehabilitate. Day would get work for them, feed them, and lift their spirits with his music and spirituality. As I see it, he basically took over where public assistance left off.
As for me, I feel less safe now that Day has been arrested, since Day is what you may call an influential “Peacenik”, who is better able to reason with lost teenagers than anyone I know. I hope that this recent publicity will not divert Day from his spiritual commitment to help bring peace to the world.
Jill Paperno
Glenford, NY

Dear Editor,
Tom Precious succinctly and convincingly summarizes the puzzle: How can allegations of wrongdoing by the governor's office be investigated in a fair way? The answer: on any golf course, of course.
The question reminds me of what I consider to be the retired Ulster County Charter Commission's brilliant, ground breaking method to re-district-without-odious-Gerrymandering, Ulster County legislative districts ASAP after receipt of 2010 Census data (Sec 2.04 Changes of Districts: Reapportionment, Charter): from a pool of Ulster County-resident volunteers, the county Legislature majority leader and minority leader shall each select two commissioners. These four shall, from the pool, then select three additional commissioners. Should the original four be unable to agree on the additional three, the Commission is dissolved, and the selection begins anew.
Who better to investigate perhaps the two highest NYS public officers than a broad cross-section of citizens employed in significant state bureaus, yet perhaps ordinarily sheltered from the media spotlight?
Practically any department heads would qualify; but I suggest this special commission be composed of the: Comptroller; Racing and Wagering Board; Department of Public Service; Inspector General; New York State Association of Counties; Commission on Judicial Conduct; Commission on Professional Standards;
Consumer Protection Board; Office of General Services.
From members of the NYS public, state-government-neutral, these nine would select six additional members, for a total of fifteen. The fifteen would select a chair and recording/corresponding secretary.
Allan Wikman
Kingston, NY

Dear Editor,
The Ulster Dog Training Club has been operating in Kingston for over 50 years and we are the LEAST EXPENSIVE of all the dog trining facilities in the area. Our training methods are positive and progressive. I am writing this to all of you out there who would like to take an hour or two a week to train your dog, but the price of gas, food and life in general has put that on the back burner. We are here for you!
For as little as $100 for the year, you can participate in all of our obedience and therapy dog classes all year. If you enjoy the professional training and the socializing opportunities for both your dog and yourself, you can become a member at the miniscule amount of $15 a year. Membership gives you training discounts for other activities like agility, rally-o, etc. Volunteer work for the club can also turns into reduced training costs. We are ready, willing and able to help you train your breed or rescue dog become a productive and responsive member of your family. We are less expensive than all the others because the club has always existed as a form of giving back to the community and not as a personal business venture. We all all volunteers....no one is on salary and because of this, you get the financial benefit....not us. Our trainers are experienced, actively involved in competition and continuing education. We are going to hold a free introduction class to Rally-O on Sept. 27th at 7:30 - 8:30 on the grounds of St. John's Church in Kingston (as long as the weather holds) The group is limited to 8 people. If your dog is socialized, knows how to sit and stay and you would like to join in, just come to see what Rally-O is, have any questions or would like to receive a brochure... call 246 6012.
Fran Breitkop, Presidernt
Ulster Dog Training Club
Woodstock, NY

Dear Editor,
Rupert Murdoch's purchase of Dow Jones and the Wall Street Journal dominated headlines last week, overshadowing another media story of great importance. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced a new set of rules to auction off a sizable chunk of the public airwaves. These rules will guide how the FCC sells licenses to use the public airwaves for wireless phones and Internet access and will likely affect the lives of everyone in this country that uses the Internet and mobile phones.
Most of the rule changes are framed in the light of customer satisfaction, such as consumers being allowed to take their cell phones and wireless applications from carrier to carrier. And while this change is seen as a win for "open access" proponents, other changes can be seen as giveaways to corporate communication titans who give limited consideration to providing service in rural regions.
One issue is whether small wireless internet service providers (WISPs) would be allowed to bid on the new spectrum. Under the new rules they would not and this is a loss for consumers. Most of these WISP operators currently provide service in the unlicensed 900MHz range with technology that is limited to direct line of sight (LOS) transmissions. These systems handle building penetration and mountain ridges very poorly.
The spectrum proposed to be auction off next year exists in the 700MHz band which has much better propagation properties than the longer 900MHz wavelengths. In other words the 700MHz system does penetrate buildings and wrap around ridges nicely and does not require direct LOS transmission. Allowing some smaller unlicensed operators the opportunity to bid on the licensed 700MHz spectrum would increase innovation while providing the opportunity for coverage to reach many more rural areas not currently served by their networks.
With smaller operators ruled out from participating in the upcoming public spectrum action we must ask if the public interest is being best served by limiting the sale to only the existing players and corporate giants like Google. And while some rule changes certainly are a step forward for consumers, by limiting who can bid, the new rules may or may not unleash the promised wave of expanded innovation and service coverage we all hope for and expect.
So, if you're not happy with the proposed rule changes, write your Washington representatives and let them know. Spectrum actions have been cancelled and postponed in the past and more changes to the auction rules regulating this dynamic process are inevitable.
And if you're tired of asking 'can you hear me now?' just speak up and be heard!
Glenn Kreisberg
Woodstock, NY

Dear Editor,
I commend Ulster County Legislator Tracy Bartels on her handling of the Ulster County Law Enforcement Center project investigation.
She has ignored the bluster and bombast of those who offer simplistic and uneducated theories on why the project went bad. I believe Tracy's dogged pursuit of the truth will provide a clear explanation on what doomed the project from the start.
Some have questioned the need for the investigation. I believe, however, it is vitally important to find out who's responsible for the project being late and over budget and to hold those people accountable, no matter the political costs. Ulster County residents deserve no less.
Joe Roberti,
Ulster County Legislator, District 4
Saugerties, NY

Dear Editor,
"And I dreamed I saw the bomber death planes, Riding shotgun in the sky, Turning into butterflies, above our nation." from Joni Mitchell's beautiful song, Woodstock. From my point of view this song is a most excellent focus of what this celebration was about. I consider this "Aquarian Exposition" to be a shining moment in human evolution. In 1969 the tide of war turned in Viet Nam. I think Woodstock was a cosmic celebration of this event. I believe that when enough people want peace we will all get it. Only love can conquer hate.
The last time I was at the corner of West Shore and Hurd Road where the celebration took place my feet found an old three-inch diameter pipe with a cast aluminum road sign holder gizmo on the end! It was buried under old weeds and mud in the ditch at that sacred cosmic intersection. I put it in my truck with the trash I was collecting and took it home. Grace Slick of Jefferson Airplane said in her book that she wore white when she graced us at Woodstock. I think a lot of us feel that way. So I planted that pipe in the ground in a flower garden in the front of our home and butterfly bushes started growing all over the yard. And sometimes when I think of Joni's dream I get a rush wondering if those butterfly bushes are getting ready for Joni's dream to flower.
All One, All Win. Happy anniversary, Woodstock Nation.
William DeVoe
Woodstock, NY

Dear Editor,
There are people that say apple growing in the Hudson Valley is dead, or darn near. They cite the growing number of farms transmogrified into McMansions as substantial proof. And while it appears that regional apple growing is in a free fall, with orchards being turned into bad architecture faster than you can say Red Delicious, farmers persevere by being innovative, creative, and persistent.
Here in Stone Ridge, we have our own little 200 year old orchard called, not surprisingly, Stone Ridge Orchard. When I began farming this piece of land eight years ago, I worked with what I had in front of me. I knew changes had to be made, and so orchards were replanted. We even diversified to other fruit crops to ease the transition from old orchards to new orchards. Yet, we didn't go far enough or allow enough time, and so its future is now in doubt.
As debate begins over the future of Stone Ridge Orchard, it is important that everyone place this farm in proper historical perspective. In doing so we shed new light on the value this land plays in regional food production, as well to who we are as human beings, and the valuable role open space, clean air, scenic vistas, and great tasting food have in our collective presence on this planet. Today, we have an opportunity staring us in the face that will only come once: to protect this viable, productive, working farm for future generations. The greenest thing anyone can do is to see that our working farms stay working.
Mike Biltonen
Blue Marble Farms, LLC
Stone Ridge Orchard TM

Dear Editor,
Please, folks, do pay attention to your salt intake in this hot weather when you sweat. Seems quite a few people are dying because of the heat. You can bet that the physical cause of the deaths is loss of the electrolyte, sodium, with a resultant imbalance of body chemicals. Of course there is dehydration but the dehydration alone is not the cause of the body failure. When you sweat you lose salt and it can be a big loss as there is a big loss of fluid and each pint of sweat (yes on can sweat in pints or more) will carry three or four grams of salt. (Four grams is about a teaspoon of salt). If you are conscientiously following a low sodium diet you are bound to need to take in some salt. Eat some of the salty foods and add salt to some of your foods and beverages. One day a woman told us that one time in very hot weather she suddenly woke up in the emergency room with her doctor telling her that she would be all right as her problem was heat exhaustion which had caused her to collapse. It was being treated with the salt in the IV she was getting. He said that he should have told her to be sure to get some salt in hot weather inasmuch as she was on a low salt diet. All who sweat very much should replace the salt lost. Once upon a time we all were taught this. Now all we hear said is "drink lottsa water!"
Mescal Hornbeck
Woodstock, NY