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Make free internet city’s highest priority
A smart city needs free public internet for all. A definition of “Smart City” is becoming safer and more sustainable by utilizing technology and data driven solutions for improving quality of life.
“Patrolfinder” is Schenectady’s latest “Smart City” initiative. The purpose is to more effectively dispatch police and vehicles to where most needed. It was developed by our local Transfinder company. They have previously succeeded in creating software for more efficient dispatching of school buses.
“Patrolfinder” was recently introduced at Proctors and explained in the Jan. 18 Gazette by reporter Ted Remsnyder (“Software helps city police patrol streets”) and columnist Andrew Waite (“Patrol mapping app moves policing in right direction.”)
Almost nothing can be done without electricity. When electric light inventor and utility pioneer Thomas Edison died in 1931, it was suggested to briefly shut down the electric system as a tribute, but then realized it couldn’t be done.
The most visionary people of a couple generations ago did not imagine all the uses and marvels of our internet. I need the internet to do the research for this letter and then to submit it instantaneously to The Gazette.
Internet access should also be free for all users, like our streets, schools, parks and libraries. Suffering the most from lack of internet access are children. They have had schools shutdown and no opportunity to access online lessons.
There is also a serious opportunity gap between students with and without home internet.
Mayor Gary McCarthy in September of 2021 announced plans for free internet access for all neighborhoods. It should have the highest priority.
Frank Wicks
Niskayuna
Good people should condemn Russia
The Russian invasion and occupation of Ukraine are in clear violation of the rule of law.
The UN Charter prohibits “the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.” Ukraine, of course, is an independent country, recognized by the world’s nations. In 1994, the Russian government officially pledged to “respect the independence and sovereignty and the existing borders of Ukraine,” as well as to “refrain from the threat or use of force” against that country. Three years later, Ukraine and Russia signed another treaty in which they pledged to respect one another’s territorial integrity.
Nevertheless, in 2014 Russian armed forces seized and annexed Crimea and stirred up, armed, and fought alongside a separatist revolt in eastern Ukraine. The UN General Assembly overwhelmingly condemned Russian aggression.
Then, in 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion. In response, the UN General Assembly, by a vote of 141 nations to 5, demanded the immediate and complete withdrawal of Russian military forces from Ukraine.
The International Court of Justice, the world’s highest judicial authority, ruled that Russia should “immediately suspend” its invasion.
Despite this widespread condemnation, the brutal Russian war has continued, with Russia’s announced annexation of four additional regions of Ukraine.
This action, too, drew a stinging rebuke from the UN General Assembly. By a vote of 143-5, it called on all nations to refuse to recognize Russia’s “illegal annexation” of Ukrainian land.
All people of goodwill should deplore Russia’s unjustified assault upon Ukraine and its people.
Lawrence Wittner
Albany
Grateful to men who helped sick husband
I have another Good Samaritan or two to write about. My husband and I were on our way into the Wilton Burger King for a quick lunch when my husband had a medical incident. Two handsome gentlemen (father and son) stopped to check on him and talk to us. My husband said he was fine, and they said they would be at their car if we needed them.
They walked to their car and within a couple minutes, my husband fell. I yelled to them. They ran over and helped my husband to his feet and into the cleanest fast food restaurant we had ever been in. We have gotten takeout before but have never gone inside.
The two gentlemen stayed with us until we were finished eating. We found out that the wife/mother was the general manager of this particular Burger King. With all that is going on in the world today it is so good to meet such kind, friendly men who would go out of their way to help two senior citizens. We will be forever thankful.
Patricia A. Sheehan
Day
Has being offended been taken too far?
I realize it’s a time for ridding the country of offensive terms. Aunt Jemima, Uncle Ben and Redskin would qualify. I’m not sure, but has their banishment improved racial relations?
I admit that some terms like Indians don’t seem bad, but that’s not for me to say. It was announced on the news the other day that the M&M company has stopped using their animated candies for advertisements because someone finds them offensive.
Instead they’re using the comedian Maya Rudolph as their spokesperson. I saw her commercial on TV yesterday. She showed an M&M candy with her picture on it instead of what we’re used to seeing. My first thought is that with her picture, we might no longer be able to get their candies with nuts. How foolish.
Pete Pidgeon
Scotia
Hold our politicians accountable again
If there were ever a question about the disconnect between power and accountability, the class action lawsuit against Elon Musk should clear it up
Like Tucker Carlson in a 2020 defense against accusations of slander, Musk is shifting the blame for his actions from himself to the public, claiming that no reasonable person should believe his statements.
If this behavior weren’t so shameful, one could find humor in its absurdity.
Musk and Carlson, however, are not alone. We need only look at the examples set by Trump, Biden, and Pence and their mishandling of classified documents.
The details of each case and their responses differ, but the avoidance of accountability (thus far) does not. In comparison, consider the case of Reality Winner to see how starkly different the treatment is for a whistleblower uncovering information vital to the public.
A future historian may look back on this moment and wonder why society was still willing to allow the extremely powerful to avoid accountability. Unfortunately, this moment is not unique, even in the 21st century.
The Great Recession, the illegal invasion of Iraq, and the war on terror’s torture regime, despite clear evidence of malfeasance, saw few powerful people face any legal accountability. Instead, we the public are expected to shoulder the accountability while the powerful profit. We all have a duty to recognize this ongoing failure or risk a future where no statement can be trusted, no fraud uncovered, and no responsibility upheld.
Jared Iacolucci
Ballston Spa
How does anyone keep backing Trump?
Two points: First, what do President Biden and Donald Trump have in common?
Both are too old to run for president. My feelings are no secret. The former has my support, the latter should be in jail and nowhere near the White House.
Secondly, all presidents have made their share of mistakes. But our current president functions within the boundaries of our democratic system of governing.
You win some and you lose some; and President Biden, whether you care for him or not, functions within these parameters.
It’s a mystery to me, however, that democracy no longer matters to millions of Americans as they continue to support the likes of Donald Trump. He showed us on Jan. 6, that democracy is irrelevant.
What’s in it for me is all that matters. It’s my way or the highway, deny, delay, and lie, lie, lie is how he functions.
How can so many not care that he’s a vulgar wannabe-dictator who among a mountain of offenses: attempted to bribe Ukraine’s President in 2020, bullied and terrorized Georgia’s election officials when he lost the election, called John McCain ‘a loser’ for being a prisoner-of-war, and listening to the Access Hollywood tape illustrates how contemptibly dismissive he is of women.
But sometime soon, we must choose. It’s either him and people like him or democracy because we cannot have both.
Again, both are too old. Only one, however, is an incompetent, unstable embarrassment who would serve us best by disappearing.
Livia Carroll
Schenectady
Trump was major cause of dysfunction
I had to laugh when reading the letter (“Things were better when Trump was in”) from Mr. Mangino in the Jan. 17 Gazette.
His blinders and non-facts blaring out sadly, as many who follow conspiracy spreading, narcissistic, lying, immature man who has his lawyers going to jail for tax fraud, fined $2 million for misusing charitable funds at his Trump Foundation, fined $25 million for his fraudulent university, and still spreading falsehoods about a proven fair election. No foreign war? Afghanistan?
The deal he made with the Taliban on exiting was left for Biden to handle. Admittedly, it was not done very well, but it was forced on him because of Trump’s deal.
Cheap gas? Trump demanded Saudi Arabia cut back production in 2020, then made a deal with OPEC to reduce their output and bragged about it. No one was traveling during the pandemic, bringing supply and demand into what dropped gas prices.
Pandemic ends in 2021, people start driving, flying, boating, increasing demand that exceeds what oil companies are producing then higher gas prices so oil companies can recoup losses from 2020 and make insane massive profits.
Unemployment has been reduced from 12% to 3.5% under Biden. Trump led a horrific attack on his own nation’s Capitol with over 800 arrested. Many of his supporters are now in jail. It’s been proven he could have ended this, but his “personality“ and narcissism wouldn’t let him.
Isn’t it time to realize this man was a major cause of the dysfunction, crazy partisan politics and the wreck we may have become?
Randy Hayner
Schenectady
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It’s not just “someone” who finds the M&M’s offensive. It’s Tucker Carlson, the most influential main stream media personality. Apparently M&M’s weren’t sexy enough for him and he spent many segments on his prime time show trying to get candy cancelled. Well kudos Tucker you did it. Guess it really isn’t the left trying to cancel everything after all. Don’t believe me, here’s his quote about the candies not being able to properly arouse him:
“M&M’s will not be satisfied until every last cartoon character is deeply unappealing and totally androgynous. Until the moment you wouldn’t want to have a drink with any one of them. That’s the goal. When you’re totally turned off, we’ve achieved equity…”
AS I sit enjoying my morning coffee I can’t help but appreciate the spot on letters today. MR. HAYNER in particular the fact filled commentary is exactly the kind of posting we need. I’ve stated time and time again let’s all use facts to drive out the liars.
Just a reminder:
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.–Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
AS I sit enjoying my morning coffee I can’t help but appreciate the spot on letters today and thank God little Bran die was running short on time so he spared us the Tass news digest rehash.
MR. HAYNER in particular the fact filled commentary is exactly the kind of posting we need. I’ve stated time and time again let’s all use facts to drive out the liars.
Chris, I agree with your assessment of Mr. Hayner’s letter. I also think Mr. Wittner made a valuable contribution to readers in his letter. He points out that “In 1994, the Russian government officially pledged to ‘respect the independence and sovereignty and the existing borders of Ukraine’….Nevertheless , in 2014 Russian armed forces seized and annexed Crimea and stirred up, armed, and fought alongside a separatist revolt in eastern Ukraine….Then in 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion.”
Putin knew that he was defying international law and we all know that Russia has broken the rules of war with attacks on hospitals, schools, apartment buildings and other civilian targets in an effort to break the will of the Ukrainian people. Yet, we have a man running for president who called Putin’s planning for the invasion of Ukraine “savvy and genius.”
Mr Santo I agree completely with your assessment of Mr wittner’s letter unfortunately the posturing of several Republicans such as Mad madge Greene regarding cutting off US aid to Ukraine will only serve to embolden Vlad based on his belief his allies in our government will succeed.
Looney Lou, I will wear your insults as a badge of honor. We live in the socialist state of New York and it’s hard to believe that so many people from Schenectady are so brain dead, that’s probably why it went from one of the greatest small cities in the country to one of the biggest crime and drug infested in the country. Carry on lefties you all our doing a great job of destroying anything good.
Some great letters today:
Livia Carroll, thank you, yours was spot on! I couldn’t agree more!
Hopefully the vast majority of Americans voters will align with the rational thinking of people like Lawrence Wittner, Jared Lacolucci, and Randy Haynes, three people who also nailed it with their editorials in todays Daily Gazette. Thank you!
There are many very important and informative articles in today’s DG. In my opinion, the best are:
“Survivors are the forgotten victims of gun violence” on p. D1. The story details the real cost of widespread gun violence in our country not only to the direct victims but to the larger society and economy. It also suggests solutions that go beyond gun control.
“Maybe ‘He Gets Us,’ but do we get him?” on p. D1 discusses why most Americans “are very skeptical of those who say they are his (Jesus’) followers.”Mr. Figliozzi writes, “Many today perceive Christianity and Christians as judgmental and self-righteous. They feel its followers hypocritically justify a ‘do as I say, not as I do’ posture by contending ‘we’re all sinners,’ and brazenly seek to legitimize their end-justifies-the-means stance toward politics and social policy by wrongly claiming persecution.”
“Ron DeSantis symbolizes that it’s Nixon’s GOP now” on p. D2 is an indictment of DeSantis’ selfish and cruel tactics in his quest for political power. I hope Mr. Tyler is right when he states “history suggests that DeSantis may well fade like Jeb Bush, Scott Walker and others, his front-runner status only temporary.”
“Memphis police disband unit that beat victim to death” p. A1 Perhaps a police unit named “Scorpion” should never have been formed. The name is disquieting and sometimes a name does mean something.
“My friends and I are here to stay in New York State” on p. A1 does a good job of presenting the positive side of life in NYS. Contrast it with the column on DeSantis and the problems he has caused in Florida. You might be surprised.
Disclaimer: My mention of the article in favor of life in NYS should be in no way construed to discourage anyone from leaving NYS for Memphis or any other southern city or state.
As usual, Marincic posts nothing of value, nothing positive, no suggestions for improvement only name-calling, insults, and scapegoating. YAWN
He needs to read “Maybe ‘He gets us,’ but we don’t get Him” p. D1. If he does, perhaps he will gain a little self-awareness, an insight into how others see him.
“O, wad some Power the giftie gie us. To see oursels as others see us! It wad frae monie a blunder free us, An’ foolish notion.” ― Robert Burns … Translations provided upon request.
More on the M&M’s controversy:
Polygon:
“On Friday, a spokesperson from Mars Wrigley confirmed to the New York Times that the candy characters would be returning in an ad for the upcoming Super Bowl. The news comes after the company said, on Monday, that it would be pulling the characters from branding “indefinitely” and replacing the characters with the comedian Maya Rudolph.
The brand stunt takes advantage of the publicity from an older controversy. About a year ago, Mars Wrigley rebranded some of its M&M characters to be more inclusive, including a redesign of the green M&M that replaced her high-heeled boots with sneakers. The redesign prompted backlash from far-right pundits like Tucker Carlson, who criticized the changes as “woke.” And just a week ago Carlson mentioned it again, launching the M&M controversy back into the spotlight.”
As a foot note I suggest Tucker Carlson and Pete pigeon stick to eating “Milk Duds” a candy more appropriately named to fit their apparent personalities.
While I cant stand the tuckster I love milk duds and M&MS guess sales of both are going to sky rocket.
Mr. Bill 🤡 comes in struts around the room like he is the smartest person on earth. But he doesn’t realize that he has a load of crap in his pants and everyone is laughing at him or feeling sorry for him. He doesn’t even notice the smell he is giving off.
Waite: My friends and I are here to stay
By Andrew Waite | January 28, 2023
interesting take by Mr Waite on the benefits of living in NY great to see not everyone feels so negative about NYS
After 3 years of listening to Republicans blame Joe Biden for inflation, their solution is just place a 30% tax on everything.
Oh, and kill the one body responsible for seeing that everyone pays their fair share, the IRS.
Enjoying the fruits of their sweet, sweet midterm Red Tsunami. As long as the MAGA faction approves.
So funny when Republicans rail against crime and drugs in “Democrat” cities. Fort Worth Texas and Jacksonville Florida are the two largest Republican led cities and their crime rates aren’t any better than their Democratic led counterparts. imagine if CNN and MSNBC spent all their airtime like Fox News does to Chicago and NY showing every single murder and drug bust in those cities.
Aroma, something stinks on this site and I’m pretty sure it’s you. Are you married or have sisters? What do they call them, Girl Varoma.
Chuckles why do you lie? It was one congressman that suggested it and McCarthy agreed to a vote, which was part of his agreement with the 10 hold out. Nobody believes that this will pass, but McCarthy is doing what he said he would do. Don’t you wish you had Democrats that did what’s best for the country?
And cue the song-and-dancers. Start the bubble machine!
Yes, your Kev is doing what he said he’d do. And a middle school social studies class (indoctrinated with critical thinking skills) could have predicted this, and what’s to come as MAGA has their way with America…and Kev.
Looking forward to your next Big Red Poop.