Prefer the 1950s over today’s political mess
The Dec. 23 letter by Terri Roben made remarks regarding the “horrendous 1950s” inspired by a recent film. She speaks of the government’s “black listing of thousands of decent Americans.” Then she surprisingly cautions to not let today’s people fall into the same trap. Rightfully so, as the focus currently is over the Muslim problem, real or contrived. In the ‘50s it was the “Cold War” and the threat of nuclear use.
I lived the ‘50s, unlike Terri, I’m sure, and to me it was a great time. I graduated high school, college and married in the ‘50s. We had Motown with great music, vocalists that annunciated clearly and were easily understood, unlike today’s grunts and groins. TV reception was free with an aerial and we had never heard of educational programs such as “No Child Left Behind” or “Common Core.” Politicians were honest or were removed, unlike today’s mess, such as a despised governor and the indictment of the two top New York state legislators.
We had President Harry Truman, highly rated by history; Eisenhower, father of the interstate highway system, and we elected JFK in 1960 to the office of the incoming president of the United States.
It is agreed that we had Eugene McCarthy overly concerned with communists, but he was removed eventually and exposed as the nut he was. It is too bad that we couldn’t get rid of the current clown leading us today.
In my opinion, I would prefer the ‘50s today over any of the 21st century years to date. Sorry, Terri, but you have no idea of what the ‘50s were really like.
Glenn Hornberger
Charlton
Time to fix Putnam Road rail crossing
What will it take to have Rotterdam fix the road where the railroad tracks cross over Putnam Road?
People are tired of hearing them say it’s the railroad’s problem and the railroad saying it’s Rotterdam’s problem. You can barely cross them without damage to your car, bouncing in every direction. And if you go over them on a motorcycle, you bottom out.
Thanks to your road, I now have $430 worth of damage for parts and labor to my car. From the bumps, the front coil springs are broken. Whose going to pay for it? I am, and no one else will because no one is taking responsibility for the road. Maybe we can get some politicians to go over there and see what it’s like. They usually can get things done when it affects them.
It’s just a disgrace that no one cares about it. I know I’m not the first to complain, so maybe if more people complain, someone will finally do something about it. I’d hate to be in an ambulance going over them.
How about fixing it and ending the excuses.
Dayton Skelly
Rotterdam
Developer is paying all of inspection costs
The Dec. 23 Daily Gazette ran a story by Haley Viccaro which discussed the fees paid by project developers to cover the cost of inspections at Mohawk Harbor.
The article includes information from the city’s finance director that clearly shows that fees paid by the developer of $47,635 exceed the amount of the inspection fees, which cost the city $23,818. Yet, Councilman Vince Riggi is quoted in the same article as saying: “I just think that it could have been something that we could have asked for. They could have paid a portion.”
T he facts are clear. The developer is paying 100 percent of the inspection fees. We have a team of private companies investing $480 million at Mohawk Harbor. This is a project that will transform a once-blighted brownfield into a vibrant riverfront area. I am pleased to see the progress at the new Mohawk Harbor.
J.T. Pollard
Schenectady
The writer is a principal in Re4orm Architecture based in Schenectady, which master-planned and is helping to design the Mohawk Harbor project.
Correction
A letter in Monday’s paper [Signs that bakery is really not a family biz] by Josepha Mastroianni Abba contained a typographical error. The Mastroianni bakery has not been sold.
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