Dear Editor,
After reading the front page item in the July 21 issue of The Olive Press, I felt that it was important to address an issue that for its obvious implications would seem impervious to obfuscation. It would seem that privatization of the Ashokan Reservoir is an issue.
Mr. Alexander’s article discussed the various other communities that have grappled with the intricacies of the Large Parcel Bill; the headline was, and I paraphrase, that “For Some Reason, Olive Finds Itself in a Singular Situation….,” and the headline alluded to “the logic” of the Large Parcel Bill. For those who would care to look beneath a murky surface, the details of the article should be cause for communal outrage. One sentence alone should be enough for the citizens of Olive Matters, and other sensible folks, to be singing alarums of “Never!” The statement by the executive secretary of the NY State Assessors Association, Tom Frey, who worked on the bill’s creation, candidly asserted (emphasis mine and according to the article) that under deregulation “ORPS felt that since there was now a lively market for reservoirs…they would now revalue them under the market approach.” The anxiety causing phrase here is “lively market for reservoirs.” Indeed there is “logic” here and that logic is the “market approach.” The “some” reason, is the snatching away of a public utility and its placement into a clasp of corporatism.
A few observations. If we take that premise, that the Ashokan is ripe for “market,” as plausible, and it is, Olive is not alone. It is perhaps better said that NYC is not alone because I have to wonder what if anything is being reported to the people who depend on the Ashokan for water. Protracted, passionate, and sometimes violent fights are being waged over individual water rights, against corporate interests, in every corner of the globalization, er, I mean, globe. To name a few, Walkerton, Ontario, El Paso, Texas, Cochabamba, Bolivia, (for a heart-rending account in that town, note the film entitled “The Corporation”) Piraeus, Greece, Tucumcari, New Mexico, Los Angeles and Palm Beach, California, Chicago, the UK, Iran, Lebanon, Japan, Southern Florida, Iraq, Kuwait, France, Indonesia, Thailand ….everywhere across the world. The world is struggling to meet the demands of water for its population. And further, markets are markets with all the commercial implications of the word. Water is too lucrative a commodity for big business to ignore.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, ratified in 1947, declares in Article 25: “Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing, medical care and necessary social services.” We could argue that water is necessary for well being and is included implicitly in Article 25. Author Jerry Rothfeder, in his book, “Every Drop for Sale,” addresses the omission of the word “water” from the declaration by saying that “[By] labeling water a need and not a right [by omission of the word] social development agencies can justify spending billions of dollars on massive but questionable water projects – mostly dams for hydroelectric power for industry.” What this means is that water can be seen as a marketable commodity and not as what it really is---a substance vital to human life. The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (whose president quipped that the next world wars will be over water) are the biggest backers of water privatization capitalization. Two French firms, Vivendi SA (one of the Big Ten media giants) and Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux, own or control water companies in 120 countries over five continents, and distribute water to almost 100 million people. Speculators see the huge potential of water rights and are tripping over each other to acquire them. Other players in the industry are Bechtel(war profiteers) and Proctor and Gamble and Nestle Corporation (consumer products). The consumption of water doubles every 20 years, and Coca-Cola, Naya, Evian, and Perrier are part of the fastest growing and least regulated industry in the world. Re-read Mr. Alexander’s article and note how many times the word “deregulation” seems to damply slither from the mouths of those in charge.
Cash-starved governments (perhaps, like NYC’s in the wake of 9/11 “security” costs) are rapidly turning to water privatization as a solution to their financial problems. Due to corporate tax cuts, many cities no longer have the tax revenues necessary to cover their operations never mind the functioning and maintenance costs of a huge water facility. The costs of deteriorating infrastructures at such facilities pose an insurmountable problem for a community that can’t pay its bills. One may argue that this cooperation between the public and private sector makes economic sense, so what’s the problem? We were sold this slick idea with the national prison system and many believe that this should be the future of education. If government and corporate interests can create the fear ( their public relations stock-in-trade) that without corporate money public institutions and resources will crumble, then all public debate and discussion is obliterated, a false anxiety is created, propaganda is swallowed and digested, and suddenly, thankfully, the corporate state rides in (on taxpayer-funded horses) to save us from our incompetent selves.
The problem is that this type of public/private cooperation is generally financed through governments and public institutions and historically where privatization has occurred, the banks loaning the acquisition funds include clauses that guarantee that the utility, in this case a public water supply, will return a specified amount of profit. These guarantees by governments to banks, where the utility is managed by the city, but owned by the private corporation, come out of taxpayer pockets in return for a fast infusion of cash, into the city’s pocket, made during the sale. Public control diminishes significantly as these contracts typically last 20 to 30 years. Along with profit guarantees, performance guarantees have the reverse effect of making the community spend huge amounts of money to keep up with the maintenance demands as agreed upon in a given contract. I their anxiety driven need for cash, communities are backed into a corner of promised upkeep in exchange for cash.
Furthermore, with privatization comes a colossal lack of transparency in day-to-day operations as the water is now in private hands: sanitary and health concerns become sacrificed under the umbrella of intellectual and private property. At the 2000 World Water Conference at The Hague, one water company official quipped: “As long as water was coming out of the tap, the public has no right to any information as to how it got there.”
Consider, just consider, that perhaps NYC’s drive to devalue the market price of the reservoir, a battle incidentally that Olive has been fighting long before other communities weighed in, would make the whole big, blue, wet parcel more competitively priced to a corporate bean-counter. Even more attractive would be to limit the tax liability of such a valuable piece of real estate by putting more of that tax burden on the general public who can be perennially counted on to finance corporate sloth without recourse. Sounds like a “market approach” to me. Why is no one screaming about the armed swat teams that daily patrol the reservoir, the permanent obstruction of Reservoir Road, the state-of-the-art, expensive police barracks near the landfill? These measures have credence only if one, equally myopically, accepts the deftly fashioned need to believe in the propaganda of post 9/11 security. I submit that these measures are play practice for the day that the reservoir and its precious liquids are privatized. How long will it be before the riot(ous) jackets of those “Special Operations” reservoir patrols are embroidered with, as Mr. Alexander presciently noted, “Perrier” or “Poland Spring” and the now public patrol persons become employees of private corporations? And, employees who will no longer have the protections or certain measure of job security they may currently be enjoying.
There is logic here, there is a reason, and our community is not singular. How about this? Put this tangled issue in the hands of those who can’t quite fully, in spite of other fine qualities and competencies, understand the issue, play with the law, and effectively foment provincial animosity so that the real issue is obscured. I am, it should be noted here, referring to Messrs. Cahill and Bonacic. Sounds like something right out of “How to Be a Politician -101.” Let us not be naïve enough to think that the Pataki and Bloomberg ilk are blissfully unaware of the liquid assets of the Ashokan. Wouldn’t it be a good idea to pull provincial heads from wherever they are stuck and demand that local media organs do some real investigative reporting instead of being fawningly star-struck over scaly little guppies like Cahill and Bonacic, who, by the way, might be asked with unstinting directness about their utility privatization politicking and policy in Albany, and who their corporate friends might be…..?
And for heaven’s sake, let everyone stop this soppy, maudlin rhetoric about “education” and “for the sake of the children.” Another irony, because it seems that not too many have taken the time to be educated about what is at stake here. Indeed, it is an “us and them issue,” but the “us” is the community and the “them” are those who have an eye on the beautiful Ashokan. Wouldn’t it be far more productive to really look behind the issue? The Olive Press and The Woodstock Times would do better to print real research and reporting, rather than condescendingly asserting and encouraging petty and corrosive rivalries among town leaders, (“We worried that much of the stability of the town’s [Olive’s] government may have come as a result of its leaders’ canny realization of this tendency within Olive’s borders, [the “us and them” game] and ability to play on it.”) (Olive Press 7/21). It’s embarrassing. Please see that this divisiveness is working against the community and those who would have the Ashokan are probably having a good, long laugh at this farcical provinciality.
As citizens, we have so tragically little influence with our “lawmakers” in spite of how much we want to believe that we do. But, while we still do have a measure of influence, as with school boards, and property taxation values, home rule, etc., it is vital that influence be asserted intelligently. We must have the determination to challenge not each other, but those who have forgotten or choose to hoodwink those they serve. Read and investigate….the logic, reasons, and numerous indicators are there if one wants to see them……Wouldn’t it be ironic that while we gush and romanticize about children and education, read sodden, politically correct rhapsodies like Martha Frankel’s about the future generation of Onteora CSD’s “them,” and third-rate, psychological analyses of Blanche Du Bois, we handed over a precious resource with the words “rights” and “fairness” on our tongues.
Donna Bryan
West Shokan, NY

Dear Editor,
Our Board of Elections, the Commissioners and office staff, have been giving citizens inaccurate information. They have told several callers concerned about our voting rights that, 1) the whole state must choose the same type of Voting Machine, and 2) that the choice of which machine will replace our faithful lever machines has already been made. In fact, the Hava Bill passed in Albany a month ago (S5877, A9869) distinctly gives the choice of machine to them, to each county's Board of Elections.
My worst fear is that our local Commissioners are just being honest, if a bit indiscreet. My fear is that Ulster County taxpayers will be stuck with the check for a choice that has, in some Albany deal, already been made. You see the Hava Bill also mandates that the Voting Machine Corporations present their machines to the State Board of Elections which then must accept - certify - the choices to be passed on to the county decision makers. True, this has not happened yet, but....
We who have been following the manufacturers' workshops for months know that even those companies that make the cheaper, more accurate, less hackable Optical Scanners have only been pitching their expensive, unreliable, and easily hackable DRE Touchscreeen Machines.
It certainly makes sense from their perspective, as the DRE cost over twice as much and have to be replaced and serviced three times as often. First Miami and now California have rejected millions of dollars worth of DRE machines because of these inadequacies which tripled election costs per polling place and produced an unverifiable, unreadable "paper trail."
One thing for certain. Our Ulster County Legislature and those campaigning for that office should immediately look into this potential boondoggle of all boondoggles. The buck will stop with them and us, not Mr. Castiglione and Mr. Turco. Call and tell them so.
Joan Walker
Woodstock, NY

Dear Editor,
It’s time for us to get out.
This week in my computer mail inbox there were several public announcements from the United States Department of Defense that a total of thirty young men died in Iraq. Their ages ranged from nineteen to forty one. There was no mention of how many were wounded. We hear very little about how many of our young men and women get wounded or how many innocent Iraqi women, men and children have been killed and wounded. Remember shock and awe that kicked off our invasion of Iraq? Almost every day there comes news of young men and women dying in Iraq. After all that’s taken place in Iraq have we got rid of the terrorist? Will we ever get rid of them? As reported there have been over eighteen hundred military men and women killed and over twelve thousand wounded since we invaded Iraq. Many of those that have been wounded will never be the same again. Every evening on a popular TV News program they have a segment they call Fallen Hero’s. As I look at those pictures of those that have died I wonder why, is it worth it and for what. Sunday morning it was reported on TV that there is a woman camped out somewhere in Texas that wants to ask President Bush why her son died and what the noble cause was that he died for is. How many more brave young men and women have to die before we pull out of Iraq?
William Warnecke
Glenford, NY

Dear Editor,
“In this just kingdom, this enlightened age, one does not settle things by violence.” Moliere, 1669
Just after rehearsing these lines for an upcoming production of Tartuffe, I read that the most recent deaths of US Marines in Iraq has brought the total of US dead over 1,800. In order to put that number into context I discovered that the 2000 census data reported the population of the Village of Stamford, New York at 1,265. Doing the math, this means that US casualties in Iraq (where the mission has supposedly been accomplished) have exceeded the population of an entire New York village by more than 42%!
Why then do I sense such apathy, such lack of concern, from my neighbors, family and friends? Have we not a just kingdom? Are we not enlightened? Have we not learned anything since 1669? Why isn’t every American is shouting out in rage against this immoral atrocity, especially our elected representatives. Why must we accept that in war (legal or not) “IT TAKES A VILLAGE!” How many sacrifices must we endure, how many brothers and sisters must fall, before each of us demands an end to this unjust and immoral occupation of a foreign land?
I for one have had enough; I can no longer hold my private rage in silence. I call upon the current administration in Washington, the orchestrators of this crusade for “democracy”, to finally admit their
grave mistakes and apologize to the world for their misguided intentions or face the consequences of removal from power through impeachment! I urge all citizens to join me in this call. Please write or call your representatives and tell them that regime change in the White House is our only chance for global redemption.
We cannot let extreme arrogance send us back to the age of conquest where bloodshed was our only tool for freedom. It will surely be our undoing as terrorists are currently being bred in even greater numbers to counter our ill-conceived attacks. Remember Madrid and London are still mourning, how long do you actually think it will be before mass murderers return to our shores in retaliation? Think hard!
David Turan
Stamford, NY

Dear Editor,
High school teens and their parents: this information is what our government does not want you to know.
In the post 9-11 response, the Bush administration quickly passed a law requiring high schools to turn over all personal information (such as phone and email, grades, extra-curricular activities and sports) about students to the military recruiters, or risk cutting the school's federal aid.
Yet what isn't widely known is that parents do have the right to request their son or daughter's information not be released. And there is a form the schools should send home early in September each year, giving the parents and students the right to "opt-out" of sending such personal information to the military. Did you know that?
These days, every military recruit enlists by signing a "delayed entry contract", reporting for duty a few days to a year in the future. Because manpower shortages are rife, recruiters find there's less "sales resistance" if young people think their reporting date is off somewhere in the future. I think it's easier to agree to something a couple months off in the future; we don't have to think about it now.
It's against official policy for any recruit to be forced onto active duty against their will, but it's often a different story at the recruiting booth where the recruiter's job success depends on fulfilling recruiting quotas and a great deal of pressure is put on young people to "ship" them out. It's common for recruiters to tell enlistees there's no way for them to be released from the DEP contracts, but that is NOT true.
Technically, the "delayed entry program" makes an enrollee part of the Individual Ready Reserves, with no rank, pay or unit assignment. That means in the all-volunteer military, a DEP enrollee is not an active duty GI, not subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and not obliged to obey military orders--until the recruit actually reports on their DEP report date for active duty and takes the service oath of allegiance.
Further details are available from Enlist for Peace, a local citizen/parent group (enlistforpeace@aol.com, 679-6970), and Community Concerned About the Military in Our Schools (CCAMOS) (Nick 688-2061). And a counseling group for youth, Alternatives to the Military, meets weekly Thursday nights at 8 N. Manheim Blvd. in New Paltz.
Jane VanDeBogart
Woodstock, NY

Dear Editor,
The Iraq Constitution is to be voted on and ratified as of October, 2005. This grand document is being sponsored, promoted, encouraged and probably written by United States officials; more likely by administration speech writers in Washington, DC. It will be a guide to better living, blessed by the U.S. and will be diametrically and dramatically 180 degrees out of phase with the United States Constitution. We will be endorsing not only religious interference with government authority but the overseeing and enforcement of laws and statutes by the radical clergy. We will countenance women [in most or all provinces] being deprived of the right to vote, the right to work outside of the home, the right to respond to a husband's [perceived] superiority complex, the right to object to a husband's philandering, the right to dress as they wish and the deprivation of all; to select the man she wants to marry, love and share life with. Then we must consider that the Iraqis who have been appointed by our politicians and will more than likely be elected, were in exile for most of Saddam's tenure. They returned as millionaires and now do the bidding of GW and Rumsfeld.
What makes this [Bush] administration think we can impose our system which began as a great experiment and rebellion, on a nation that has thousands of years experience as desert fighters both within their borders and from the outside. Their limited religious sects, the Sunnis and the Shiites celebrate the Moslem tradition along with the Kurds and they can't agree on anything as we do in the U.S. while practicing every Faith on earth. As I inquired in a letter to the Press a few years ago prior to invasion; why are we going there? Now I ask; what are we doing there? Have we halted the agression on the United States by the Iraquis? Have we quelled the terrorists and their ambition to attack not only our troops in Iraq, but to destroy ifrastructure in other countries allied with us?
George W. Bush got it right when he [we] determined that we were assaulted by terrorists financed, inspired and directed by Osama Bin Laden who was supported and encouraged by the Taliban in Afghanistan. (It turns out that Mohammed Atta was identified by US Military Intelligence well before the twin tower attack). Our Armed Forces went to Afghanistan, wiped out the Taliban, installed another government and gained some human rights for all Afghanis. But Osama retreated to a luxurious cave and hasn't been seen nor heard since. Then GW decided that Saddam had to go also. He, along with Rumsfeld launched the march on Baghdad for whatever reason. I think of oil [the Bush family is becoming multi-billionaires] or it was that Saddam thumbed his nose at "the old man". Pick one but forget WMD and terrorists. They showed up some time later from all over the Middle East. Everyone should know that Saddam was not about to host any terrorist interloper or intruder with the end result that Saddam is no longer in charge. Nigeria saw that possibility when Osama was invited to leave that country. So much for terrorism by Iraq. Oh, don't be mistaken; Saddam is not one of my historical heros but he sure maintained order; his order which those folks appreciated and understood. They did have water and electricity; however rationed. At present they have little or none of either.
Now we get to the more important part; the loss of our young men and women. We are no match for guerillas and/or desert fighters. Why did our political leaders and military not recognize the advantage of using Saddam's standing Army following their submission? [Following WWII the allies reinstalled German, Italian, and Japanese police forces to maintain order and protect life and property]. That force of trained indigenous Iraqi troops; knowledgeable in the customs, language and tactics would have changed employers as soon as the order [in the form of a request] was issued. It's a matter of who signs the check. Some "weeding out" would have been appropriate and necessary but the advantages would have been tremendous. Iraqi soldiers would and could relate to the Iraqi people no matter what they had done for the tyrant.
Don't let the talk show talking heads who aren't leading the charge except over the air waves get you off track. These are "armchair Generals" who have never even engaged in a snowball fight. One of our favorites declares that, " if you support our troops, you support the war". He took too many pain pills in his journey through the illegal drug maze. I am not a fan of Cindy Sheehan, the Gold Star Mother who certainly has the right to object to this fiasco, but she was quiet when her son enlisted and I am convinced she has not returned the proceeds from her son's Service Life Insurance policy [$100,000.00] in protest.
The polls indicating a change in support for this debacle remain consistant as regards the veterans who have tasted battle and seen the horrors of war. We [and I include myself] do not lump all wars in the same catagory. WWII was the last "good" war. We responded to a direct attack, we could identify the enemy, we broke things and killed people and those of us still standing [or in a wheelchair] went proudly home and feeling good but with a sadness for the loss of our friends, our comrades in arms. Our efforts in Europe were noble and I need not elaborate on that act of liberation. Germany was fire bombed and Japan got what they deserved; a couple Atom Bombs which ended the war .......and we won!
Glenn T. Anderson
Olivebridge, NY

Dear Editor,
The Woodstock Film Festival's 6th Annual Summer Benefit Auction transported guests back to the swinging 1940's with big band music by the MJR Quintet and the formal 'black and white with a touch of red' theme.
We would like to thank all those who helped to make this event an outstanding success. Thank you to Wiltwyck Golf Club, Jack Ruddick and Bill Green and their staff, whose professionalism, service and food were, as always, impeccable.
Thank you to the stars who donated signed posters, hats and prints: Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Martin Scorsese, Daniel Day Lewis, Bruce Willis, Steve Buscemi, David Bowie, Peter Falk, Paul Reiser, Phillip Bloch, Doug Liman, Liv Tyler, Marilyn Agrelo, Jessica Alba, Rosario Dawson, Josh Hartnett, Benicio del Toro, Brittany Murphy, Clive Owen and Todd Rundgren
Thank you to the contributing artists; Mary Anne Erickson, K.L. McKenna, Elliott Landy, Levon Helm, James Cox Gallery, Julia Santos Solomon, Joan Mack, Bill and Gary Ward, Barry Feinstein, Roger Ricco, Andrea Barrist Stern, Lenny Kislin, Ken Regan, Holli Gersch, Jean Morris, Dr. Randall Rissman, Linda Forster, Michael Anderson, Robert Tonner doll company and anyone inadvertently unrecognized.
Thank you to those donating gift certificates for goods and services, Rage, Nicolena's Tribeca B & B, Steve Savage, Nina Shengold, Walt Disney World, The Red Onion, The Rosendale Cement Company, Dream Weavers, Drums of Woodstock, High Falls Mercantile, Hurley Ridge Liquors, Ulster Performing Arts, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Potter Brothers and Mary Lou Arnold.
Thank you to our volunteers, Amy Witkus, Danielle Reisigl, Jane Laiken, Billy Goldstein, Ken Bock, Marion Cocuse, Linda & Jerry Fastman, Adam Rejto, Daniel Rejto, and the always wonderful Russell and Steven Parisi and Glenn Warnock.
Thank you to Jimmy C. for his generosity, allowing us to borrow the equipment necessary that had Fred & Ginger dancing across the walls.
Thank you to guest auctioneer Barry Cherwin. We can see why you have won those numerous auctioneer awards both here and in NYC .
Thank you to everyone who attended and showed that sophistication and glamour are still there hiding under those jeans and flannel shirts! Your willingness to embrace our theme and show up in black tie and 1940's attire set the tone for a fun evening that will be talked about for years to come.
Thank you to Woodstock Film Festival founders, Meira Blaustein and Laurent Rejto for their vision of the Hudson Valley as a viable film production mecca, providing jobs, tourism, educational and internship opportunities, economic development and a little bit of glamour.
We hope to see you at the 6th Annual Woodstock Film Festival, September 28 - October 2nd with movies, celebrity discussion panels, seminars, concerts and parties throughout Woodstock, Hunter, Rhinebeck and Rosendale. Come see what everyone is talking about!
Thank you for your support,
Victoria Langling Hurley
Donna Parisi Saugerties
Laurel Andretta Glenford
Rose Koplovitz Woodstock

Dear Editor,
I find it absurd that legislator Robert Aiello of Saugerties feels that he has no conflict in his position as the chairman of the Ulster County personnel and social services committee even though his daughter works for personnel and his wife works for social services.
I recently found that under Aiello's chairmanship, the position of recruitment specialist was created. The position was awarded by the director of personnel to Aiello's daughter. This is the same director that must report to legislator Aiello as chairman of the committee that oversees personnel. First, I am at a loss as to why Ulster County needs a recruitment specialist when many people would give their right arm for a county job with county benefits. Secondly, why don't the surrounding counties have such a position? No conflict here, it is just Aiello's answer to job development for Ulster County.
The director of personnel must report and is answerable to legislator Aiello as the chairman of the respective committee and his daughter works for the director, but he sees no conflict. The commissioner of social services must also report to and is answerable to Aiello as the chairman of the respective committee and his wife works for the commissioner but he sees no conflict. It must be nice to have a dad or spouse as the boss over your boss. You certainly need not worry about taking a long lunch!
Legislator Aiello claimed that the county ethics committee cleared him of any conflict in regard to the above. When I read that, I immediately thought, "What boneheads are on this committee?" I called to find out and lo and behold, legislator Aiello is chairman of the ethics committee. You just can't make this stuff up!
I am at a loss as to why Rich Gerentine, the chairman of the legislature, would appoint legislator Aiello to chair the above-mentioned committees in the first place when such blatant conflicts exist. I further have to wonder why only legislator Donaldson has called attention to this. Are the rest of them afraid legislator Aiello will threaten harm to them as he did to Donaldson? If he threatens legislators in front of the press, what would he resort to if no one else is around?
I certainly hope the voters of Saugerties stand up against this kind of abuse of power come this November.
Vin Perry
Lake Katrine, NY

Dear Editor,
This is to give recognition to the fine and important service performed b y the Ulster Care-A-Van, sponsored by the county Office for the Aging. The first time I went last fall I learned I had abnormally high blood pressure. After my third visit this spring, and still with hypertension and overweight, the nurse/technician, Marge, communicated her concern and advised I see a doctor. Using a book I benefited from before, Fasting, the Ultimate Diet, by Allan Cott, M.D., I began a fast. I changed my eating habits and four months later, the 25 pounds have stayed off and the BP is down to normal.
I've never met anyone locally in the medical profession that knows anything about fasting or supports it. I'm sure they're out there , but I thank Marge, who helped change my life and did not know I fasted until I returned to brag about the results.
The van is just a piece of equipment. It is dedicated and caring people like Marge that make it effective and thanks to Mescal for reminding us of the Van's schedule. Since, at age 72, I have expanded my exercise regimen with a bicycle.
Robert Jacobson
Mount Tremper, NY

Dear Editor,
Is anyone else aggravated about the dead vegetation on the roadsides? Maybe you haven’t noticed because you live here and travel the roads constantly. Take a look; you’ll see exactly what all of the weekenders and tourists see when they come to the Catskills.
Nothing says “welcome to the Catskill Park” like dead, brown, and unkempt roadside vegetation does it? What kind of impression must the tourists get - a sense of a park-like atmosphere?
Sadly enough, the local NYS Department of Transportation regions are doing the best they can with the minimal resources they are allocated each year. They have not been given enough funding to hire enough people, to do the necessary work, or to do it right - at least in my opinion.
I doubt if President Bush’s $286 billion highway bill will bear much fruit locally. It certainly wouldn’t if Governor Pataki was going to be in office, but thankfully that will all change next year. Maybe there is hope.
Some of that money will be spent locally. $2 million will go towards improving uptown streets and pedestrian waterfront walkways in Kingston, and another $1 million to downtown projects in Saugerties. These are great projects and it’s nice to see the region getting some transportation attention at the federal level.
I hope that whomever is elected governor next year will fight for enough funding so that the local DOT regions can not only keep our roads safe, but also scenic. Especially in the Catskill Park and NYC Watershed.
I find it appalling that the highway crews are forced to use herbicides (instead of mowing) around guardrails in order to keep costs down. I suppose it does cost a little more to mow (time, gasoline, and having to go back again) than is does to spray.
What I don’t understand is that highway crews are already out mowing anyway. Where there are no guardrails, it’s mowed, not sprayed. Therefore you’ll see a nice green, mowed section, then an unkempt, brown one, and then another green, mowed section.
I can understand the State wanting to do what is most cost-effective – in most instances. I cannot, however, in the Catskill Park and NYC Watershed. For the most part, the tourists that come to the Catskills all go to many different places and all see many different things – except one. The one thing they all do have in common is that they all travel on the same State road(s) to get here.
I also find it disconcerting in terms of water quality. Due to our narrow valleys, all of our roads are in close proximity to streams. Many of us fish, swim, and tube in these streams, not to mention the 9 million people that drink unfiltered water from them.
I suppose that after all it is not only an aesthetic issue, but a human health and economic issue as well. I hope that our next governor will find a few extra dollars for the Catskill Park, or what our current governor has referred to as “a setting of such unsurpassed beauty”.
Aaron Bennett
Oliverea, NY

Dear Editor,
Yesterday marked the 60th anniversary of the U.S. nuclear bombing of the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It's hard to recount the emotions we felt at this horrific event, which in one fell swoop killed instantly over 100,000 unarmed civilians and completely destroyed two cities leaving sick and burned victims who died slowly for decades afterward. Originally ignorant of the lasting effects of this new secret weapon, I along with others rejoiced that at last my Navy husband would return home to our infant son and myself, and that the war with Japan would end. When we learned that the Japanese emperor had been frantically trying to sue for peace weeks before the bombs were dropped and that this had been kept secret from us by President Truman and his Secretary of State, James F. Byrnes, our happiness turned to horror that our government which we had trusted had betrayed us and had unleashed this weapon in our name.
I go into detail about this for the benefit of those who weren't even born at that time and are being fed a line of propaganda perpetrated by the war hawks of today that the use of the bomb "saved millions of American lives." This is a bald lie meant to condone the continued development of nuclear weapons by not only the US (which was the only nation in history to ever use them) but our new allies, India and Pakistan. And to continue to threaten other nations whom we accuse of trying to develop the bomb, even though this danger is far into the future, if ever. We must demand that the U.S. give leadership to a world agreement to stop the proliferation of nuclear arms.
Nobody should have the bomb! Neither should we resurrect the building of new nuclear reactors to generate electricity. Although rarely mentioned, new money has been appropriated in the energy bill just passed by Congress for nuclear power. Now touted as "clean" energy, we still haven't worked out how to store the radioactive waste left over from existing plants which can leak into the ground and water. This is dirtiest energy one can devise! We must demand that an energy policy be developed which stresses conservation and the use of alternatives such as solar, wind and hydro-power, and the mandatory manufacture of smaller cars.
Esther Nason
Kingston, NY