Dear Editor,
I am writing to express my outrage at Blake Killan's politically motivated attempt at a cheap and dirty character assassination of my husband, Dave Channon, in the Ulster Co. Townsman on March 24, 2005. Killan and John Horn are attacking Dave because he has the courage to speak out against the corrupt politics practiced by the pro-Belleayre Resort forces in the Town of Shandaken. The last campaign -- with Killan leading the charge -- was waged and won (barely) on a crusade of outright lies, innuendo, and intimidation. This latest display shows how deep into the gutter they are willing to go.
Sincerely,
Karen Charman
Shandaken, NY

Dear Editor,
Politically motivated harassment masquerading as news is a constant drumbeat in the Ulster County Townsman. But make no mistake: my website, EsopusCreek.com, was censored for having a link to a different website that contained an unedited town hall video of Jane Todd admitting her connection to Crossroads Ventures. Blake Killan's hysterical misrepresentation of my artwork was a desperate attempt to distract public attention from the corruption and conflicts of interest that plague the Cross Todd Munster administration.
My artwork ranges from the sublime to edgy comic adult satire, similar to what anyone could find on cable TV any night of the week. I urge everyone to visit EsopusCreek.com. There is nothing offensive there. Bob Cross Jr. must honor his word and put the link back up on the Shandaken town website.
Dave Channon
Shandaken NY

Dear Editor,
I was amazed and troubled to find the work of local artist David Channon so viciously mischaracterized in an article published by the Ulster County Townsman.
Not only were works from Channon's catalog condemned out of context, the most damaging context possible was conveniently prefabricated by the author, Blake
Killan, who never personally viewed the works he questioned or smeared. Half the artists in New York could just as easily be tarred by Mr. Killian's insinuating brush, as he seems incapable of grasping off beat humor or a role for art less pristine than a
Norman Rockwell painting. It is the height of irresponsibility for the Press to engage in character assassination. Journalists should investigate unsubstantiated allegations, not be the source of them.
Tom Rinaldo
Phoenicia NY

Dear Editor,
The Ulster Townsman has brought biased sensationalism to a new level in Blake Killan's latest personal assault against Dave Channon. Killan's article bore little resemblence to the far more objective coverage of the incident which was reported in the March 9 Kingston Freeman and the Mar 17 edition of The Phoenicia Times. It is so obvious that Killan is deeply probing into Channon's work to justify castigating Channon because he is an outspoken critic of Shandaken's current regime. Esopus Creek Multimedia has complied with every term of Supervisor Cross' requirements to be reinstated on the town's official website. I find it particularly disturbing that the official town newspaper chooses to endorse this brand of censorship and resorts to suggestions that Channon is peddling pornography and perversion on another website, which has nothing to do with this issue. I am certain that the more sophistocated readers se through the Ashcroftesque nature of Killan's witch hunt agenda and will not support this sorry rag which has no place as an offical town newspaper.
Yours truly,
Nick Alba
Phoenicia, NY

Dear Editor,
When newspapers print malicious opinion portrayed as objective fact, everyone loses. So how can citizens and communities protect themselves against the inaccuracies, sensationalism, and irresponsible biases of "yellow journalism"?
Good newspapers live by ethical principles; scandal sheets do not. Here are some of the most basic principles found in textbooks and guidelines of journalistic ethics. They are easy for any true newspaper to follow: 1) News stories, especially major news stories, will have bylines, so that readers can recognize the source of the information and be sure that they are not receiving the views of only one individual; 2) News stories cite their sources, concretely and specifically, so that any reader can verify the information by going to those sources; 3) News stories attempt to be balanced and therefore include the views, preferably in their own words, of those who might not agree with a story's general content; 4) New stories convey facts and data without drawing conclusions (real journalists trust their readers); 5) News stories avoid applying labels to individuals or their work unless those labels are a matter of public record (such as an occupation or position in government) or chosen by the individual; and 6) News stories cite sources of information or funding that may cause concerns about conflicts of interest.
If a newspaper consistently fails on one or more of these criteria -- or as in a recent issue of the Ulster County Townsman, on all of them -- the paper does not properly belong in the realm of journalism. As media abuses at the national level demonstrate, people are often offered propoganda rather than news. What we choose to read will affect us and our community. What we take in and digest via our minds and hearts can poison us as surely as what we eat.
We can help ourselves and the sources of our news by asking papers to live by the standards of journalism, and indeed, to live by the highest standards of journalism. The more strongly people feel about issues, the greater the need for accurate, fair, and unadorned information, and the more important role in serving the community that true news reporting can play.
Janet Klugiewicz
Phoenicia, NY

Dear Editor,
Every article pertaining to local news in Shandaken appearing in the 3/24/05 issue of the Ulster County Townsman contains gross factual error, intended misinformation and/or character assassination. Whether it was cell towers, Pine Hill water of the town’s website, Blake Killan has once again abandoned all ethics associated with responsible journalism and used the town’s "OFFICIAL PAPER" to promote the republican political agenda.
What should be of particular concern to all citizens, is the personal attack on Dave Channon. Killan’s article reeks of McCarthyism, recalling dark days in America’s history when good people were attacked for political revenge and control. Anyone who knows Dave personally is proud to call him a friend. Never afraid to speak his mind, he has another admiral quality, he is never afraid to admit an error. When it was discovered that Mr. Channon’s website inadvertently contained a link to a link to a link to a link to another website, a simple phone call could have remedied the situation. He has now corrected this and his business link to EsoupusCreek.com should now be restored on the Towns website.
By choosing to single out one person’s web-links for censorship, Bob Cross not only violated Mr. Channon’s right to free speech as laid out in the United States Constitution, First amendment, but he challenged the very definition of what should be construed as slanderous and offensive. The original problem Mr. Cross stated with the web-link was that it contained slander and offensive information about Councilwoman Jane Todd. The information in question was an unedited video clip from a public meeting and an accompanying transcript of an exchange between her and Gary Gailes. It is Jane Todd’s own voice referring to The Crossroad Ventures team as"WE." So is it offensive to Mr. Cross that Jane Todd apparently slandered herself? If she is not slandering herself, she is admitting she has connections to Crossroad Ventures and has, all by herself, given credibility to the complaints about her conflict of interest regarding her connection to Crossroad Ventures and the Belleayre resort. Are these personal attacks against Dave meant to divert attention away from Jane Todd’s public statement about herself? Will the Shandaken Town Board now have to go back and address the fact that the Ethics committee they appointed to address this issue met illegally and has conveniently forgotten to fix that mistake?
During his campaign, Bob Cross pledged to "bring the town together." It was his team that chose this slovenly paper as Shandaken’s official paper. Make no mistake, it has been Blake Killan, the Ulster County Townsman, Dean Gitter and those who support their offensive tactics to divert attention from the truth that divides this town.
Mary Herrmann
Pine Hill, NY

Dear Editor,
Eric Hansen had a hostile, finger-pointing letter in the last issue of the Phoenicia Times that was full of errors and misstatements. This comes in the aftermath of recent malicious editorials and articles in the Ulster County Townsman, our “official” town newspaper, in which the editor repeats the same litany of false accusations he has been making for years. It appears that a repeat of the smear campaign of 2003 is gearing up.
The 2003 campaign in Shandaken was unprecedented in it’s bitterness and it’s irresponsible misrepresentations of issues and people. I have never seen anything like it in the 24 years I have lived here. It was designed, financed and executed to wipe anyone seen as a possible obstacle to the proposed Belleayre Resort off the political map.
There is plenty to debate about locally when the facts are on the table. And everyone has a right to their opinion, and to lobby for what they want. That is the democratic process. The problem comes when character assassinations based on lies are used as political weapons and people and facts are intentionally and repeatedly misrepresented. This undermines authentic debate and discussion and obscures the real issues at stake, which I believe is the intention. The result: the public loses because voters no longer have the information they need to make informed choices.
Unfortunately, this is exactly what politics in general has degenerated into - a process of obfuscating the real issues to manipulate the voting public - and local politics is no exception. Campaigns come down to a contest of who has more money to push their agenda, and have little or no regard for truth.
A call for integrity in Shandaken politics is in order. Debate, argue, disagree, and confront when necessary, but leave the lies out of it. To be a responsible citizen requires time and a commitment to become accurately informed about issues of concern. It requires much more than listening to rumors and hate-mongering, and spreading them as if they were truth.
Judith Wyman
Chichester, NY

Dear Editor,
Let me just say that my letter to the editor was not full of errors and misstatements. The Higley farmstand was wrung through the wringer. I know because I was at the meetings. If you don’t believe me and think I’m lying then just ask AI Higley. The Phoenicia Plaza was wrung through the Wringer. I know because I was at the meetings. If you don’t believe me and think I’m lying then just ask Jimmy McGrath. I never stated that I was pro resort, I am pro golf courses, all I stated was that the town should not bankrupt itself over an entity that may be perfectly legal. I don’t know what kind of circles you think I run around in, but I have never spoken to Dean Gitter nor have I ever even met him. Your insinuation that I am part of a financed plot is totally laughable. If I was, don’t you think I could buy some false teeth? Millions of New York City residents depend on the Esopus Creek. Don’t you think that the D.E.C. and the D.E.P .will represent their constituency and mandate rules and regulations that will be both stringent and appropriate? Conspiracy theories are not appreciated when it comes to the children of Shandaken. A generous offer of a convenient site was offered, for a lease of one dollar a year, for organized soccer. Why were the kids of S.A.Y.S. used as pawns when this offer was given? Do you expect me to believe that it was fought over because of the noise that kids would make while playing a game? I think not! If you don’t believe me and think I’m lying then just ask the soccer moms. Judith the only statement that I opined about you was your naive belief that there is very little interest in snowmobiling. Do you think I’m also lying about that? You had the chance to match the Town Master Plan to the M.O.A clause that would allow traditional uses of city owned property. I understand that you enjoy hiking; well snowmobile trails would make an easier path for you to walk on in the summer and also make it easier for emergency personnel to respond in the case of an emergency. Judith, you filed the lawsuit that effectively stopped cell phone usage in the town of Shandaken. If you don’t believe me and think I’m lying then just ask Sammy Umhay. Cell Towers are not permanent. Once satellite communications are up and running they will become obsolete. They will be sold fora dollar and dismantled for scrap, probably to the benefit ofa local contractor. Let me pose a hypothetical multi choice question: You are driving on a cold and snowy night with little children in the back seat and your car breaks down and you coast into a snow bank, do you (A) Take your kids out on the road and start hitch hiking. (B) Take your kids out and start walking. (C) Wrap blankets around you and the kids and wait. (D) Pull out your cell phone and call for help. The answer is of course, oops I’m sorry, I forgot to premise the question with the fact that you are driving in Shandaken, and that eliminates (D). Judith, if you are again planning on suing the town over cell towers I wish you would go out and talk to as many of the people who live and work in Shandaken as you can (not just the fanatical fringe element that you strategize with) as I have done. I know that you will be honestly shocked by the heavy support that cell phone coverage will receive. Then I hope you will be thoroughly embarrassed by what you have perpetrated on the people of Shandaken. Life is too short, lighten up and get a grip.
Eric Hansen
Phoenicia, NY

Dear Editor,
Imagine my surprise, upon opening the Olive Press after its recent hiatus, to discover a letter that attacks me, and in such a personal way! Apparently this person is not even a district resident, yet he has been annoyed enough by my words to take the time to write to the Olive Press. The letter writer challenges me to answer the questions he poses honestly. Well, I'm not sure who he thinks he is, to demand an accounting, but as all who know me are aware, I am never less than perfectly truthful, and so I will oblige.
Mr. Thayer wonders if I support compensating indigenous peoples (since he freely labels himself "clueless" he will not mind my pointing out that "Native American" is not the preferred term) for lands that were "stolen" by Olive natives, with roots that go back generations? His question makes two assumptions that must be scientifically solved before a thoughtful response can be mounted; first, that there were indigenous people settled in what has been known since 1823 as the Town of Olive; second, if the first assumption is correct (if it is not, this next part is a non-issue) that all of those Olive natives I referenced do not descend from indigenous peoples. How does Mr. Thayer know this? Because he judges based on surnames that sound European? What about matrilineal genealogy?
He then wonders if I support reparations? This question is not as easy to address as his assumptions about Olive's history and residents, but it is one that I have spent a great deal of time studying (not because of Mr. Thayer's letter, however; at the risk of infuriating him once again due to mentioning my advanced degree, I cover the subject in one of my classes). There are persuasive viewpoints on both sides of the reparations issue and I am not sure exactly where I stand. (Or at least I don't care to fully elaborate in a letter to the editor that is already too long; there are a lot of variables to sort out, such as who exactly would be the beneficiaries, who would do the paying, who would administer it, and how to figure out the amount to be paid.) Specific programs, including affirmative action and underrepresented student fellowships, while not precisely reparations, are efforts in our society to address this past injustice. So there is some precedent for taking historical "theft" into account when deciding contemporary "fairness." On the subject of eternity, the jury is still out.
Next, he describes the situation in the Tri-Valley district, but even given the advanced degree that so irritates Mr. Thayer, I was left scratching my head. In the first place, the comparison between districts is flawed. In the OCS district and in the county, it is Olive that does not have the votes, and we have been told that in no uncertain terms by our elected representatives.
Then, according to the NYS Education Department, in 2002-03 Tri-Valley spent $8,614 per student for general education and $19,607 per student for special education. Onteora spent $9,106 per student for regular education and $26,567 per student for special education. Both are considered "Average Need/Resource Category" schools, and both districts spent more than did similar schools ($7,111 per student for general education and $17,042 per student for special education). Also, both were above the Statewide average ($7,595 per student for general education and $17,818 per student for special education). Even if Neversink pays nothing and Denning pays it all, there is no way the disparity between towns in Tri-Valley could be what Mr. Thayer asserts ($33,500 per student).
At first I was not sure why he wasted his time writing an attack letter so specifically directed at me, instead of a more productive endeavor - you know, maybe getting involved in his own town and school, or looking at the beautiful view outside of the window or something. I wondered if he could be one of the Olive Press editorial writers? No, the name did not seem familiar, and although it could be disguised, it is doubtful one of the local journalists would be so personally vindictive. Then I decided that it is because of his extreme hostility toward his neighbors in Neversink due to his taxes and their not implementing the large parcel, coupled with an irrational jealousy over my having the nerve to "show off" my doctoral degree by (gasp) putting the letters after my name. If that upset him, oh well. I was a first-generation college student, and it took me 22 long years to walk across that stage and receive my PhD. I don't "flaunt" it most of the time, but if I want to advertise it on occasion, that's my right. There are a large number of folks in Olive who are pretty d-mn proud of me for earning it, I am still unspoiled enough that I consider it to be a significant achievement, and if that ain't humble enough to suit Mr. Thayer, that's his problem.
Certainly the most personally offensive thing he wrote was to question my ethics. That's a laugh. Now there's the mark of a sore loser - when all else fails, suggest that someone who disagrees with you is immoral, evil, a bad person. Upset the game board, make all the pieces fall to the floor, and run away. Why stop at unethical - why not call me a commie too? (How about "coy commie?;" then he could even use alliteration.) I don't know who Alden Thayer is - frankly, I don't care who he is - he may even be a she - but one thing is for sure. Them's fighting words. Is that plain spoken enough?
Mr. Thayer may scoff, but it does sadden me that some of our neighbors are so resentful. We never knew before the large parcel ripped open these old wounds. (However, it does make it much easier to justify voting with our dollars…what I mean is, don't shop outside of Olive.) In the end, I have concluded that if he is sparing the good people of Neversink his poison pen, I guess I am happy to be of service.
Gina Giuliano, PhD
Castleton & Samsonville, NY

Dear Editor,
I am responding to a letter written by Alden Thayer in Claryville, which appeared in the last issue of the Olive Press. I was quite surprised that someone would resort to personal attacks over a difference of opinion regarding the Large Parcel legislation. Dr. Giuliano has been writing about the issue, using a combination of her personal experience, historic evidence, and SED statistics. Dr. Giuliano has refrained from personal attacks. Mr. Thayer’s letter is another example of the declining level of civil discourse in our society which is necessary for a functional
democracy. To call Dr. Giuliano ethically-challenged is not only insulting, it is just plain wrong. I hope that in the future, as events unfold, we can all stick to the issues and not resort to name calling.
Robert G. Schmidt
Samsonville, NY

Dear Editor,
In January of 2002, without notifying Olive's Town Officials, Senators Bonacic and Larkin introduced the "Large Parcel Bill" to the Legislature, saying that "The main purpose of this bill is to reduce the wild swings both up and down that occur for all assessed properties when a municipality has a high value property whose assessed evaluation is in flux from year to year." They had written that these "...swings in property taxes [are] particularly hard on senior citizens in what is already an economically struggling area of the State." But with the exception of a brief period in 1987 when the State Supreme Court ordered an assessment reduction, there has been virtually NO FLUCTUATION IN THE ASSESSMENT OF THE ASHOKAN RESERVOIR IN THE PAST 50 YEARS PLUS UNTIL NOW WHEN THE ADOPTION OF THE LARGE PARCEL LAW ITSELF CAUSED A HUGE SWING IN TAXES IN OLIVE: School Tax 60% up and Property Tax 91% up. The State Legislatures' Introducer's Memorandums both declare that THERE ARE NO FISCAL IMPLICATIONS TO THE LARGE PARCEL BILL! Olive's Town Board knew better than that!! Take half a town's tax base away--return only a small fraction of it.....and you're definately going to have some Fiscal Implications.
Appealing to the Onteora School Board--who were named by the State Legislature to make this heavy political decision, Olive's officials were assured that the Onteora School Board would not enact the Law if Olive "made a significant move toward a revaluation." At that time, in response to the School Board's request, the Town of Olive wrote to the State Office of Real Property Services and (armed with a box of new data gathered in the court battle with the City) finally won its appeal which affirmed a higher valuation of the reservoir and set the stage for an Olive reval--which then commenced. Yet when August rolled around...the Onteora School Board ( now heavily lobbied by Jeremy Wilber and Ulster County ORPS with a little fancy dance they do misnamed "Fair and Equal"), adopted the Law in spite of their word. This adoption has resulted in the "legal" theft of over half of Olive's Tax Base, a multicommunity tax feeding frenzy and a fast track process of rapid gentrification, that will, over a short period of time tear Olive's rural community apart. And the side effect will certainly be a negative impact on the passage of the Onteora School District budget. As in much of politics, the ax usually falls on the most helpless--in this case, our children--and the axemen and women (having little insight into the meanings and effects of what they do) perform as puppets of the State. (To be continued)
Henrietta Wise,
Olivebridge, NY

Dear Editor,
The waste of political energy that surrounds the "Large Parcel' issue is enormous. Mistakes were made on all sides in my view. Senator Larkin, the bill's originator, failed to account for effects reaching
beyond his constituency. The Assembly and Senate members who "unanimously"
voted for it, may have failed to read and think about it--perhaps weren't even physically present for the vote. When confronted by distraught Olive citizens, Sen. Bonacic (Rep.) and Assemblyman Cahill (Dem.) seemed to have "shucked and jived" around the bill's value, concentrating on the behavior of upset constituents rather than teasing out the elements of their complaint and acting as intelligent mediators. There were mantras on all sides about "just and fair"...on and on. The only product is bad feelings and bad behavior on some persons' parts. The real problem is untouched: PROPERTY TAXES ARE REGRESSIVE TAXES. The burden falls on those least able to pay. Other forms of taxation need to be considered.
If all the nonsense could be put aside, energy would be better placed organizing and making this a really important political issue in the state. (There is a group in formation in Marbletown already--put that energy there!)
I suggest:
--eliminate the Large Parcel Bill in the county, (Calm things down.)
--let Olive proceed with reevaluation. (This won't bring taxes down, but at least it conforms to an existing system and
doesn't insult the Town's geographic integrity.)
--organize against property taxes and for well formulated newer systems of revenue raising, and
--everybody shake hands and grow up.
Respectfully,
Mary Ann Mays
Olivebridge, NY

Dear Editor,
38 years ago my husband and I moved to the town of Olive. We were newcomers and knew very little of the areas history. My husband was an English teacher at Onteora. He retired from that position after 33 years. I was the school secretary at the Bennett School for many years. In that time we learned a great deal about our Town and this entire area. We have watched the slow decline of a fine educational institution, Onteora Central School. This was caused for many reasons, the times in which we lived, extremely poor administrations, and apathy by many parents.
I do believe that the final blow to this fine school has been handed to us by the Board of Education who is made up of mostly newcomers to this area. They seem to have not done their homework regarding the history of this school district. If they had they would have come to a totally different decision regarding the Large Parcel Law. By voting for this tax hike on the town of Olive they have destroyed the only true supporters of this District. These are the people who time and time again supported this school. This is a town of people who value education and what it can do for their children. They are hard working and believe in the values that make good citizens.
It is sad that this board did not look into the previous votes taken on the budget . They would have found overwhelmingly that this town has supported the school while other towns have consistently voted down their budgets. They would have found that on top of the school budget we are the town that provides police protection, fire protection, and many other services for the High School and Jr. High not incurred by the other towns. They also would have discovered that in many cases the in-school services are used up not by the students from the town of olive, but from the students who live in the other towns, who remember, almost always voted their budgets down. So in short they have given to those who hinder them and taken form those who help them. The message they have sent to all is that if you care about this school and vote to support it you will be punished and if you do not support it you will be rewarded. If only they had taken the time to learn about the district they are representing, if only they had thought this through. Now the damage is done and I cannot see how it will ever be undone. The people in Olive are good, descent people. They will never forget what has been done to them. Their lives have been greatly changed by this overwhelming burden that has been placed on them, both financially and emotionally. All because we have a Board of Education who never bothered to educate themselves.
Leslie Curtis
Olive, NY

Dear Editor,
There is a lot of news about Social Security and what is wrong with it and how to fix it. A very simple fix comes to mind - if it is going to run out of money in 2042, then why not get more money for Social Security - how to do that?
Remove the cap. Right now every worker pays 6.2% of their salary up to
$90,000 to withholding for Social Security. Most people do not make that much, so remove the cap and then the wage earners who make over $90,000 will have to pony up the funds to keep the system solvent. Right now, Medicare has no cap. Every wage earner pays 1.45% of each dollar to support Medicare.
Congressman Maurice Hinchey is holding meetings in our community to let the people suggest ideas on how to fix social security. This is one suggestion on how to do that.
I suggest each of you write to Congressman Hinchey with your ideas. But if
you make Less than $90,000 a year, I would suggest this way as opposed to raising the rates on the working people or cutting benefits or moving the retirement age up.
Individuals should be saving and putting money away for retirement, but to
make sure There is a retirement for every wage earner - SSI should still be responsible for the 6.2%. Private investment is over and above that - leave SSI alone and fund it by removing the cap on wage deductions.
Vic Work
Wallkill, NY

Dear Editor,
I've been overwhelmed by the barrage of untruths coming from the liberal media, and have decided speak out for some of the truth about current events. One, in particular about Martha Stewart, I'll reserve for later. But first, I want to talk about some environmental issues that surfaced recently in the news.
Close to a hundred dolphins have beached themselves around Key Largo last week. The liberal media tried to blame the sonar testing in the area for the event. However, some people say that the truth behind this story is that these fish are trying to join us on land, thus attaining their full status as mammals and will, if successful, try to take over parts of the Congress. Also last week, two chimps attacked two humans and escaped from their sanctuary, trying to reclaim their rights in the forest. As most patriotic Americans know, the Bible gave man dominion over animals. These chimps, left loose in the forests, would threaten the lumberjacks who come to clean the forests of trees and other rubble.
We must stop these attacks by illegal species at every turn. Some people say they are trying to learn English and plan to take over telemarketing jobs at super low wages. And, since they would be considered American's, we'd end up having to pay for their Medicare. Where would this leave the middle class, which is already close to bankruptcy? Which brings me to the final noteworthy event of the week. Has anyone, other than me, noticed Martha Steward roots, upon her release? Well, I can tell you that she had only one month's growth of roots, and her sentence was for 5 months. We can safely conclude that Martha Stewart, somehow managed to get her roots done in prison. There she was, enjoying the same privileges that honest working men and women enjoy, who are not lying to the government. This, while innocent men, like Bernie Ebbers, has to endure frivolous lawsuits started by a few disgruntled employees. We should not stand for these abuses against those that believe in the rights of the great corporations that should and do have dominion over all other species.
Jill Paperno
Glenford, NY

Dear Editor,
As Chairman of the Ulster County Legislature, I was pleased to see the unanimous passage of Resolution No. 112, known as the "Patriot Plan." By making this concept come to fruition, the Legislature displayed decisive character by quickly acting upon one of the initiatives I noted as being an important goal for 2005. Ulster County is reaching out to the men and women in the United States Armed Forces in a very united and determined effort to show our solidarity and support to those who are making the ultimate sacrifice. We fully understand the commitment these individuals have pledged to honor toward the pursuit of peace, placing the good of all before themselves. Therefore, the Patriot Plan signifies much more than an extension for payment of taxes; it is a representation of good will toward great people and it is the very least we, as a community, can offer.
I am personally calling upon towns, school districts, villages and local municipalities to adopt legislation enacting additional time for military personnel to pay their taxes. Each tax district in Ulster County should be in receipt of further instructions from the Ulster County Treasurers Office on what procedural steps need to be carried out in order to sign onto this plan. I would like to thank Kingston Mayor James Sottile for offering his immediate support for the Patriot Plan. It is my hope that his encouragement to the members of the Kingston Common Council, and his community, will be emulated by all of the political leaders in Ulster County.
Richard Gerentine
Marlboro, NY

Dear Editor, For those of you who do not know me, I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself, and to those of you who do know me personally, I thought this would be a good opportunity to let you know a little more about the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Mayor Michael Bloomberg appointed me as the new Commissioner for the DEP in February.
As many of you already know, DEP is primarily responsible for managing New York City’s drinking water supply and distribution and wastewater collection and treatment systems. The amazing systems are what make New York City possible today, and DEP is working hard to ensure their integrity for future generations. DEP’s current 10-year capital budget calls for $19 billion in investments to maintain, enhance, and expand the City’s water and wastewater infrastructure and to further other environmental priorities of the Bloomberg Administration. Some of these construction projects include the Third Water Tunnel in Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn; a new aqueduct between the City and its upstate reservoirs; the filtration plant for the Croton drinking water supply; an ultraviolet treatment facility for the Catskill and Delaware supplies; upgrades to a number of the City’s wastewater treatment plants; and building out the water and sewer mains within the City’s distribution network. Other important initiatives include the furtherance of the Filtration Avoidance programs protecting the Catskill and Delaware watersheds, and similar watershed protection programs serving the Croton system. These efforts will require continued strong collaboration with our upstate partners and communities in the watersheds, as well as our federal and state regulators.
DEP has many other responsibilities as well, including carrying out Federal Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act regulations within New York City; handling hazardous materials emergencies and toxic site remediation; overseeing asbestos monitoring and removal; enforcing the City’s air and noise codes; billing and collecting for 800,000 water/sewer accounts; and managing city-wide conservation programs. I have already learned that DEP’s 6,000+ staff are committed to
providing these services professionally, efficiently, and effectively. I look forward to leading them and learning from them all.
I join DEP after serving as Columbia University’s Executive Vice President for Government and Community Affairs, and before that as Executive Vice President for Administration. Much of my career has been spent in public service, and I was proud to be the Commissioner for the Department of Sanitation under Mayor David Dinkins. I also served as Director of Business Development at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and Commissioner for Traffic and Parking for the City of Boston.
I look forward to working with you, and hope that you will contact my office if you have any concerns or suggestions about how DEP can better serve the people of New York City and our watersheds.
Very truly yours,
Emily Lloyd
Commissioner, NYC DEP

Dear Editor,
The case of Terri Schiavo, which pits the husband of a woman on life support against her parents, is once again making headlines and re-igniting a national debate over when and how medical treatment should be withdrawn. All this media and legal attention has harmed Terri more than it has helped, and clouded the real issues that are at stake.
These issues are our society's terrible fear of death and suffering and our over-reliance on medical technology in a desperate attempt to avoid both. We have also become dangerously dependent on the state to make decisions for us.
That there is widespread public debate on a topic like this can never be a bad thing. It shows that democracy is alive and well. But where there are differences of opinion, and differences in religious belief and faith, there must also be respect for one another. So we should use this opportunity not to push forward our own ideas and agendas, but to seek God's will.
This case, which has dragged on for over fifteen years, has brought great anguish on both sides. My heart goes out to Terri's parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, who have loved and longed for their daughter for so many years. I am a parent myself and fully understand why they cannot accept being told that there is no chance for greater recovery. Which parent would not hold out in insistent hope?
From what I have read, Mary Schindler has taken care of her brain-damaged daughter as only a true mother could. So even though I feel differently, I can understand her plea to President Bush "to save my little girl." All the same, I find it frightening when not only a governor but also the Congress, the Supreme Court, and even the President intervene in such a personal and intimate issue, reducing it to legal hair-splitting over a disabled person's "constitutional right to live."
My heart also goes out to Terri's husband, Michael, who has pleaded for years that his wife be allowed to die. His belief that death would leave her at peace and with God is in no way selfish or unfeeling, as his many critics contend. In fact, I respect his faith and would wish for my wife what he is wishing for his.
This case goes far beyond Terri's physical condition, her medical outlook (whatever it is) and whether or not her feeding tube should be removed. It should give pause and lead to serious soul-searching. In the end the creator of life, not we, should decide when to take life away. Therefore re-inserting a feeding tube, or fighting to keep one in, is no less a form of human interference.
We are too afraid of death and dying. If Terri should die, it will be painful, but no cause for despair: we all have to die one day.
That an intense struggle over Terri’s life is occurring during the Easter season highlights the message of Good Friday, when we think of the death of Jesus, who longed to reconcile everything in the universe. His crucifixion remains the supreme example of suffering that was not in vain.
The temptation to run from pain--to choose the path of least suffering--is only human. In Terri's case, there will be suffering on both sides, no matter how the controversy is resolved. All the more, shouldn't each of us lay aside our agendas and opinions and ask that God's will be done?
Rev. Johann Christoph Arnold
Rifton, NY