Letters to the Editor for Wednesday, May 22

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Holocaust memorial will be asset to town

Regarding the proposed Holocaust Museum in Niskayuna, I, for one, commend the panel on its support of this worthy project. To quote Stephen Berk, “If there was ever a time when a Holocaust Memorial should be built, this is the time.”
I am appalled by some of the negative comments such as “this project is asking the neighbors to live with man’s inhumanity to man for the rest of their lives. It’s the wrong place, build it elsewhere.”
This is a project for everyone in the community and also for future generations.
Hopefully, the next forum (tonight) will be more productive.
Phyllis Chapman
Glenville

Duci worked in best interests of people 

I have been a close friend of Frank Duci’s for more than 43 years.
When we first met, I was introduced to Frank by Leo Keneston, then the 4th ward Republican at my first county committee meeting. The chairman was Ed Cammarota.
I was a young lawyer at the time. Frank asked me to participate in all his campaigns, and over the years we went to most political and community functions together. 
Frank was very resourceful and was an accomplished artist, sketching many political figures like Ronald Reagan and Mario Cuomo. 
After Frank retired, I co- hosted his show, “Frankly Speaking,” on the Schenectady public access channel. Going to the studio at Proctors, Frank would take the time to talk to the parking attendants. That’s the kind of man Frank was — always attentive to his constituents’ needs.  
I had the pleasure to serve as the deputy corporation counsel under Frank and  Mike Cuevas. At the time, the council was in Democrat hands and I was doing the legislation (local laws, ordinances, and resolutions). Frank and I worked with the council on a bipartisan basis in the best interests of the people. That’s the kind of man Frank was.  
Frank had a lot of accomplishments. One of them was spearheading a referendum to change the form of government from manager to strong mayor. Not once, but twice, the Democrats asked for and got another referendum. Frank prevailed both times.
Frank was a great man and I will miss him dearly.
Paul Tocker
Schenectady

Death with Dignity vulnerable to abuse

I’m disappointed that The Gazette has failed to print (up to May 13) anything about Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s support for physician-assisted suicide (bills A2694/S3947). 
More than 75 years ago, my aunt would regularly visit a friend suffering from dementia at the Egelfing hospital, but stopped doing so very suddenly. 
I searched for Egelfing and found Hitler’s “T4 Program,” which sent SS troops disguised as doctors to transfer disabled patients to other facilities, where they were systematically killed. 
Later. their families received an urn of ashes with condolences regarding the unfortunate death of their loved ones. This was Hitler’s assisted-suicide program. Now our governor is endorsing a law that will lead to similar results.
The financial pressures for mercy killing are enormous. Insurance companies would rather pay for a cheap death pill than for months or years of medical care. Greedy relatives are reluctant to see their inheritance frittered away on nursing home costs.
Assisted suicide advocates claim to avoid needless suffering by providing a dignified death. 
Of course, this is only meant for fully conscious, adult, terminally ill patients who freely request it. 
Safeguards would be included to prevent abuse. It is intrinsically evil to kill an innocent human being. No number of safeguards can ever make that morally acceptable. Christians should remember the Lord’s most undignified death. 
Soon “Death with Dignity” will include the demise of useless eaters and life unworthy of life, just as happened in my youth. We should call it Cuomo’s T4 Program.
Wendell Neugebauer
Ballston Spa

Trump shows talent for losing big money

Why don’t the critics of Donald Trump give him credit for being able to do certain things better than almost anyone else? One of his finest accomplishments, which certainly gives him bragging rights, is losing $1.17 billion in his business dealings in only 10 years. I challenge any reader of The Gazette to put together a business scheme that would beat what Trump was able to do. Perhaps The Gazette could sponsor a competition along those lines. 
And if Trump was able to lose so much money so quickly in running his own business, imagine what he can and is doing for our nation.
Putting his significant talent to work, he is increasing our national deficit faster than anyone thought possible. Wow.
Arnold Seiken
Schenectady

Continue the fight against robo calls

Congratulations for taking strong positions on many consumer issues. Please keep advocating for strong limits on robo calls. I wish we could boycott services that unbelievably ask people to agree to such harassment just to use their services.
I used to be better than a paid ad for PayPal. But lately, they will not allow a smooth transaction without you accepting and using a code they send to your smart phone. 
As part of the agreement to which you consent is this language:
“If a telephone number provided to us is a mobile telephone number, you consent to receive SMS or text messages at that number. We won’t share your phone number with non-affiliated third parties for their purposes without your consent but may share your phone numbers with our Family of Companies or with our service providers, such as billing or collections companies, who may contact you using auto-dialed or prerecorded message calls or text messages. Standard telephone minute and text charges may apply if we contact you.”
We need to find a better “pal.”
Betty Pieper
Scotia

Take action against impact of humans

There is widespread agreement that human activity is having long-term adverse on the Earth’s climate and thus on prospects of our survival as a species.
That is to say, if we are to have a sustainable environment, there must be fewer humans exhaling CO2.
A simple way to achieve this end would be stop subsidizing childbirth. This may be done by ending public financing of education. 
This approach towards working on a stable environment may also lead to an acceptance of the reality that today, a woman’s choice to become a mother, much like buying a car, is strictly a private matter.
Like buying a car, she should be accountable for all of the costs of her decision. These costs include the cost of educating her child. It should not be the public’s responsibility. 
As for the transition issues associated with a sustainable environment and female responsibility, I suggest that we follow the St. Clare’s president and end all retirement contributions for professional employees.
Fred Barney
Albany

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Categories: Letters to the Editor, Opinion