Fire/EMS tax break must be expanded
I think that it’s a wonderful idea for towns and villages to be looking for ways to encourage and repay volunteers, particularly fire fighters. Most proposals are for reduced local property taxes because they are controlled by the municipality.
There is only one flaw: These are available only to property owners. Left out is anyone who does not own property, including renters and anyone who lives with their parents. Also excluded is anyone who lives outside the district and volunteers in another town.
I hope that these local governments can come up with a way to support volunteers while keeping their doors open to all who want to help.
Polly Windels
Ballston Spa
Diocese had no other choice on bankruptcy
Keep in mind, I’m not a lawyer, but a Gazette reader, putting together facts taken from an article, in the March 16 Gazette (“Diocese seeks bankruptcy.”)
As reported by The Gazette, the Albany Diocese has a net worth of approximately $600 million. This includes properties, acquired over a long period of time. It sounds like a lot of money.
So why are they unable or unwilling to pay for the pensioners of St. Clare’s retirement system? Sadly, the article further stated, if they waited long enough, the retirees would die, leaving no pensions to pay. A death wish.
The article claimed the Diocese has a total of 900 abuse cases against it, of which one case has been settled by Steven Mittler for $750,000. It doesn’t take many calculations to see how, at this rate, taking three-quarters of a million times 900 cases, the Diocese can be out close to $700 million. This amount easily bankrupts the diocese, which has served the community for some hundred years.
I read where William Lindley was sentenced to 40 years in prison for abusing an underage girl. This case did not look into where Mr. Lindley was employed to get a cash settlement. They put him in prison.
I find this system of justice unfair to the Catholic Church, and agree, 100% in their filing for bankruptcy around the country. What would a company like The Gazette do if they were treated similarly?
Vince Alescio
Clifton Park
Stefanik, like Trump, is unabashed traitor
Congresswoman Elise Stefanik called potential Trump arrest ‘dangerous new low,’ as reported in the March 20 Daily Gazette (“Stefanik decried possible indictment of former president,”) as she continues to support Donald Trump, despite the fact — underscore, despite the fact — that her leader lost the 2020 election, instigated an insurrection in January 2020, and continues his attempts to overthrow — or otherwise destroy the legitimately elected government of the United States.
It’s obvious that if you voted for Joe Biden, or against Donald Trump, she has no interest in representing you.
And if you’re a loyal Stefanik supporter, you should discard the illusion that she cares about you.
As far as she is concerned — you’re just another useful idiot — a tool to be used in her treasonous machinations.
Like her president, Elise Stefanik is an unabashed traitor to this country and everything it stands for. And that raises the question: Whose side are you on?
Walter Wouk
Summit
Delegate Lady Liberty to new parks director
In November of 2021, the Schenectady City Council passed a resolution requesting that Mayor Gary McCarthy return our beloved statue of Lady Liberty back to its namesake home in Liberty Park (aka: Gateway Plaza.) We are now well into a new year, 2023, and no action has been taken.
It has been reported to me by a third party that we who are advocating for Liberty’s return do not appreciate nor understand that the mayor is incredibly busy with the city’s many and immediate intensive priorities and that there is no time to redirect his attention to this “minor priority.”
Be that as it may, I read in the March 19 Sunday edition of The Daily Gazette, “Hoops hero takes role as parks director”).
After reading the article, Mr. Mayor, it appears appropriate that the Liberty assignment can be delegated to the new parks director, Mr. Willie Deane.
Be assured some of us interested parties are ready and willing to meet with Mr. Deane to discuss the return and appropriate site design.
The premise of America is liberty and we citizens are guardians of our liberty. Mayoral and City Council members and candidates please take note.
Lance R. Jackson
Glenville
The Church is human and makes mistakes
I am a child of God, a sinner, a faithful Roman Catholic and a negatively impacted St. Clare’s retiree.
In Carole Donahue’s March 20 letter, (“Bankruptcy is a ploy; Leave church,”) her solution for those abused by priests is litigious action. Sue the Church. Take money. Go after them. Money will ease the pain, remove PTSD and move your life forward.
God gave us free will, reason and Jesus Christ. Through His passion, crucifixion and death, His suffering freed mankind of its sins.
Knowing His passion was imminent, He gave His apostles the Sacraments of Confession (Reconciliation), Holy Eucharist and Ordination. The Roman Catholic Church is the faithful.
The Roman Catholic Church is its ministry. It is human and makes mistakes.
Some shepherds violated their flock. Some shepherds stole from their flock.
Lent calls the faithful to reflect, pray, perform acts of charity towards our fellow man, to love God and one another.
My faith is not a “cause.” It is my life.
To those Catholics who walked away, Jesus Christ can be found in the Tabernacle of every Roman Catholic Church. The price for Heaven is suffering. Reconciliation, receiving the body, blood, soul and divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ opens one’s soul to love, joy and peace. Forgiveness is freeing.
My Church is approaching its 150th anniversary. When I stand at the pulpit to begin the daily readings, I don’t see empty pews.
Among the living I see the thousands of deceased parishioners who came before me.
Fran Underhill
Scotia
Rules for commenting:
The Gazette will not tolerate name-calling; profanity, threats; accusations of racism, mental illness or intoxication; spreading of false or misleading information; libel or other inappropriate language in any form, and readers may not make any such comments about or directly to specific individuals.
Readers who violate the policy will be warned and then banned.
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Letters to the Editor Wednesday, June 7 - Six, from readers in Glenville, Niskayuna, elsewhere
Waite: Saying McCarthy neglects Schenectady neighborhoods unfair
Saratoga Springs Fire Chief Joseph Dolan now facing criminal investigation
EDITORIAL: Give lawmakers more information on bridge strikes
Ohnsman scheduled to be appointed Ballston Spa head football coach
Categories: Clifton Park and Halfmoon, Letters to the Editor, Opinion, Opinion, Saratoga Springs, Scotia Glenville
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Kinzinger was ON THE BOARD of the Ukraine org that scammed people
out of millions dollars
Ripley’s Heroes ©RipleysHeroes
There is now an ongoing federal investigation into Ripley’s, according to NYT.
Ripley’s donations were used to funnel cash from the non-profit into a for-profit venture. Doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that this is fraud.
What did Kinzinger know about it?
Ukrainian money laundering found its way to the RINO Kizanger. In my opinion, not long before the trail goes to Liz Cheney. Both corrupt Rino’s on J6 comittiee.
TIK TOk Chinese spy software Trump wanted to ban. He was called all kinds of names. Later Biden said Uh-oh TIK Tikis a threat. Looking to use the opportunity to censor other social media.
The RESTRICT Act is not limited to just TikTok. It gives the government authority over all forms of communication domestic or abroad and grants powers to “enforce any mitigation measure to address any risk* to national security now and in any
“potential future transaction”
So what happens if you are designated a national security threat?
What can they access of yours to confirm it? Everything.
Notice the preemptive attack on quantum encryption in there, too
It also allows the Director of National Intelligence and Secretary of Commerce the authority to universally designate new “Foreign Adversaries” without notifying congress and a 15 day window to notify the president. It also requires a joint resolution of Congress to overturn.
And we find out the lead Socialist accepts campaign contribution from TIK TOK.
ByteDance recently gave $150,000 to the Congressional Hispanic
Caucus Institute, of whose advisory council AOC is a member
Huh I was call a tin foil conspirator for saying this last week.
Piece by piece the Democratic Socialist Nazi party taking away our constitutional rights.
The groomers are trying to take away parents rights.
HF 146 1st Engrossment – 93rd Legialature (2023 – 2024) Posted on 03/24/2023 02.00p.
This gives the state to take custody of your child if they believe the parent is not follow social governance regarding transgender.
Minnesota and California leading the way.
Parents the government sees you as the problem.
Dismantle the DOE
So go figure – the shooter in Nashville was a despondent transgender mad at the school.
All mass shooters, transgender or not, obviously suffer from emotional/mental problems. Perhaps if we had a single payer national health care system therapists would be available to those in need. The system would be more efficient and effective. Compare the per capita cost of medical care in the U.S., much of it going to the insurance industry, and outcomes with any industrialized nation with a National single payer health care system, Canada, Italy, Switzerland, U.K., Italy etc.
Needless to say, the damage done by emotionally/mentally ill people with mass-killing ideations is made worse by the ready availability of semi-autonomic weapons and multiple bullet magazines.
It’s a very simple issue. Other countries secure their guns, other countries don’t have mass shootings. Here, everyone gets a gun (as seen to by the NRA and tools like you), so even children bring guns to achool, to ahoot their teachers.
We are all very fortunate the gentleman with the gun did not harm anyone at AMC kudos to hospital security and staff and police for diffusing the situation.
I’m pretty Sure he was not a transgender person “so go figure” some commentators are obviously very bitter and confused.
We are fortunate to live in this great democracy that is America.lets all be thankful “so go figure”
Chris – the shooter in Nashville and would be shooter in Albany had one thing in common – mental illness.
Guns just sit and do nothing unless a person does something with them. We need 6 month to have true background checks.
Nuclear weapons do nothing until someone detonates them.
No guns, no people with mental illness get them.
Lou
Don’t compare apples to dinosaurs
3d printers can’t replicate an ICBM or the nuclear reaction but they can remake a handgun, rifle or shotgun.
Just like prohibition you can ban something and bad ppl will find away to get it.
Perhaps the holocaust never happens if the jewish people had weapons?
We have an issue in this country with Mental Illnesses not being addressed. We have an issue in this country with Fentanyl that is not being addressed. 5x more deaths from Fentanyl then Guns.
The latest provisional mortality data from CDC indicate that more than 107,000 Americans died from a drug overdose in the 12-months ending in January 2022. Of these deaths, it is estimated that 80,590 of these deaths, or 75%, involved at least one opioid, with 71,450 (66.5%) involving synthetic opioids, primarily illicitly manufactured fentanyl or fentanyl analogs.2 Stimulant overdose deaths are also on the rise, with approximately 33,128 (30.8%) deaths involving methamphetamine and 24,751 (23%) involving cocaine.3 The increases in overdose deaths have been experienced across the nation.
Here are some numbers that stood out to in 2022.
20,138
The estimated number of firearm deaths, excluding suicides, in 2022
The number of gun deaths excluding suicides in 2022 declined slightly compared to 2021, a year that saw the most gun deaths on record. This total, tracked by the nonprofit Gun Violence Archive since 2014, includes murders, accidental shootings, and other homicides that law enforcement deemed legally justified.
Perhaps the holocaust never happens if the jewish people had weapons?
– You can’t be serious. But it sure clears up where you get your “information”.
We have an issue in this country with Mental Illnesses not being addressed.
– Says who?
We have an issue in this country with Fentanyl that is not being addressed.
– Says who?
Pew Research:
In 2020, the most recent year for which complete data is available, 45,222 people died from gun-related injuries in the U.S., according to the CDC. That figure includes gun murders and gun suicides, along with three other, less common types of gun-related deaths tracked by the CDC: those that were unintentional, those that involved law enforcement and those whose circumstances could not be determined. The total excludes deaths in which gunshot injuries played a contributing, but not principal, role.
…
Though they tend to get less public attention than gun-related murders, suicides have long accounted for the majority of U.S. gun deaths. In 2020, 54% of all gun-related deaths in the U.S. were suicides (24,292), while 43% were murders (19,384), according to the CDC. The remaining gun deaths that year were unintentional (535), involved law enforcement (611) or had undetermined circumstances (400).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
All your words add up to nothing.
We have too many guns and they’re too powerful for the “responsible gun owner” and they’re too accessible, and you’re being played, champ.
And sorry, but not sorry if this somehow insults you.
Chuck –
The CDC says that we’ve had that many gun deaths by homicide the other are by suicide.
The CDC says that many ppl died via overdose- if you think guns are an issue and overdoses aren’t- I think we know you have an agenda just against guns. So you are pro hard narcotics obviously and don’t care that more young people are dying then ever before from drugs.
Makes sense if you admit we have a fentanyl problem you would have to admit we have a border issue or crime issue and you are too onesided to admit that.
No, that’s not what i said (or asked). Try again.
Who’s got an agenda?
Let me be clearer:
Who says we’re not doing anything about mental health?
Who says we’re not doing anything about fentanyl?
Chuck:
We obviously aren’t doing enough about Fentanyl if in 2021, 22 and 1/2 of 2023 the numbers keep growing – you live in your own reality.
I’ve stated we need longer background checks. I can admit there is a problem with mentally ill people and weapons.
You can’t admit we have a drug issue or we have a border issue or crime issue or really all three because you don’t want to admit there are failed policies.
That’s BS. I question your arguments, because it’s predictable that you people *with the gun agenda* would point your fingers at others.
Less guns, less mass shootings, Spittler. Proven worldwide.
We are addressing a real mental health and drug abuse problem, we can do much more by removing assault weapons from circulation.
BTW, where’s your well regulated militias?
Pivot pivot pivot pivot – but not answering question – rise in fentanyl 2.5x drug over dose deaths then gun deaths (all gun deaths) – I don’t know what the number of people dying from ArmaLite AR-15 which while to me is an over the top weapon for me it isn’t a military weapon. This isn’t an automatic weapon. It is a semiautomatic weapon. It may look like a replica of an AK47 or M16 but huge difference in firing mechanism. I own only handguns.
The fact is you just keep pivoting away from Fentanyl. Pivot pivot blame me, name call, pivot pivot and maybe I can get him to stop bringing up the over whelming death toll.
Just stay in denial about our border and failed policies.
Right. Pivoting is what you’re doing. Your Dem angst is showing when you cloud the issue with your border complaints (which are very real, as they are worldwide). And which has nothing to do with mass shootings. You’re the pivoter.
And let me also add that no one has any more patience for mansplaining about how we’re all dolts about assault weapons. By now most grade school children can identify a weapon designed to kill humans so don’t f___ around with word games.
Let’s get back to your justification for the free exchange of military grade assault weaponry, as described by law enforcement in the past 2 days. It’s about the 2nd amendment, and you STILL haven’t addressed the well regulated militia. That’s a pivot back to what you try to dance away from.
Ban assault weapons outright.
Provide a gun buyback program and amnesty period just as New Zealand did, and as has already been shown to be very successful here.
Gun hobbyists have no right to harbor military grade, assault-type weaponry (unless maybe they can show they have a well regulated militia).
And they sure as hell aren’t going to protect you when the government calls (which is a fantasy anyway).
If the DG, as a corporation, did what the Catholic church did, it would likely be charged under RICO statutes and be completely obliterated. The Feds would seize all its properties and assets and dissolve it while sending its leadership to prison. You can’t compare a corporation to the RC church. There are obviously 1st Amendment establishment issues here too.
Mr. Steve 🤡 are you saying we should make more stringent rules on who can buy a gun so mentally ill people can’t buy them so easily?
Guy
Yes of course.
I am praying that what I just read from the Trans Resistance Network is not correct that they are defending her actions saying she lashed out because of lack of acceptance???
Anthony – i would buy into the one payer system argument if there was a long history of these acts of violence but we have never had this system- why didn’t we have mass shootings in 30’s, 40’s, 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s. This proliferation started in late 90’s.
Mr. Steve 🤡 So you are lobbying now for stricter gun control measures? If you are maybe you should call your congressman and Senators and say so.
I believe there are more people afflicted by mental illness today than in prior decades. I also said we need laws making semi-automatic rifles and guns and high-count magazines illegal. We also need more comprehensive background checks and laws requiring a course in safe use and handling of firearms for purchasers. Another idea is to mandate a wait period between the purchase and delivery of the weapon.
I would have to see a statement from the Trans Resistance Network “defending” the killing of innocent children and school employees to believe it. I would condemn such a statement; there is no defense for these mass-killing incidents. I think you might have misunderstood. My guess is, the organization was explaining how bigotry against certain groups, the ensuing feelings of isolation and alienation can lead to this kind of crime. Many mass shooters suffered from feelings of loneliness and rejection; some were incels. This is not a defense but an explanation of what led to the ultimate anti-social act, the killing of innocents to inflict pain on the society that rejected them.
Link to what you’re reading on the “Trans Resistance Network” please.
Chuck – try this link
file:///var/mobile/Library/SMS/Attachments/42/02/500F9E2B-D2C1-4E67-804A-6E2E9F0A38BA/Image-1.png
That’s not a valid internet URL. It’s a link to something on your device or computer.
You probably can’t link to it without betraying the source, which is not the “Trans Resistance Network”, but a screenshot being passed around various rightwing social media. There is no verification from the website of this group, and it seems they (or someone) has locked down their social media.
The level of acceptable dishonesty and heartless bullying of fellow Americans we’ve seen from the right should make this very suspicious, and I with hold judgement until it’s is verified, denied, or retracted, or somehow explained.
I suggest you, Mr. Spittler try the same approach.
Steve, the link didn’t work for me either. ChuckD is correct. This is a lie being told by the right wing in their continuing attempts to besmirch and “otherize” those they view as subhuman including gays, lesbians, and transgender individuals. You don’t have a problem with your sister but they do.
Just to be clear, I’m not saying it is or isn’t real. If it is real, this group needs a solid dressing down from the left. If not, it confirms what we really already know, that the right will cheat instead of cooperate.
Spittler from the get-go has made it clear where he stands, and it’s solidly to the right, way to the right. Not because of any “conservative” opinion, but because of what I see as blatant truth- and fact-bending verbiage. The hallmarks of this new lunatic fringe.
Steve 🤡 I’d like to know why you are cruising Trans sites.
Chuck – I have kicked you butt At everything you’ve tried to accuse me of – pivot pivot pivot. Telling me I didn’t want to give a source. Washington Times. Questions on drug overdose and fentanyl wrong again.
Just admit you can’t answer a question that involves saying something negative about the democrats?? That is a tunnel vision one side voter that is a sheep. Pivot pivot name call. You have it down to a T on not answering.
You are truly delusional if you think you have ‘kicked my butt’.
Read some of my posts over the past few days where i clearly state my political positions, and i accept your apology.
And god help you if you think the WashTimes is a reliable source. If you did your homework and knew of WT’s history you might not feel so good about repeating what you see there. Unless like the Fox Fans you dont care about accuracy and truth.
You can find a beach and start pounding if you think you’ve ‘kicked my butt’.
Yes the Guardian is so much more reliable. I kicked your ass. Still no response on Fentanyl, I’ve answered your silly election question.
My definition of well regulated
What did it mean to be well regulated?
Well regulated organized, well-armed, well-disciplined & licensed by an authority (State, Federal or Local Authority)
My definition of militia –
Militia are groups of individuals who protected their homes, towns, cities and states from threats foreign or domestic
So you admit you’re not abiding by the 2nd amendment, but you are getting ideas from it. Meanwhile you’re keeping the guns because …2nd amendment!
This little drama’s over for me. When you alone declare yourself the victor, you’re really out if ideas. And it’s pretty obvious you’re out of ideas, and your gun agenda is as ragged as the American flags i see on the houses around me, flown by the MAGA, of course.
I’m well regulated (licensed federally and by NY State) and well trained (pistol courses alone – 1,800 hrs), practicing well over 10,000 hrs, I protect my home and my personal property so I am part of a well regulated militia.
Congress can not even close two of the most glaring loop holes in the law.
1. Gun shows, no background checks, instant possession of the weapon you want in many instances.
2. If background check instituted by a licensed dealer is not completed in three days. purchase can be completed without the check.
Visit to SC flea market few years ago outside Charleston (very sketchy place) guns displayed. When asked about process to purchase. Anything you see displayed for sale, cash only.
It was the kind of place where you can buy dogs, donkeys maybe somebody’s cousin.
And they are getting ready to pass laws here for no training, no permits just grab and go basically. Some righties upset because it’s not full open carry anywhere. Maybe next year.
Mr. Steve 🤡 you say don’t compare apples to oranges….Unless it’s guns then they are all apples….Many different kinds of guns….but you say a gun is a gun….Pathetic
Guy – maybe I’m considering becoming a transgender
Mr. Spittler, was Joe Biden fairly elected?
Chuck – yes each time Mr Biden ran in an election as a US Senator, as a VP and now as President he was elected by the voters of the United States fairly.
Thank you. Just wanted your thoughts on it.
I would like to hear some defense of the comments made by this far right MAGA member of Congress from far right participants on this forum. Whether you see yourself as far right MAGA or not Steve, I would like to hear how you feel about this congressman from Tennessee:
The Guardian reports: 3/28
“After the latest massacre of schoolchildren in the United States, the Republican congressman Tim Burchett answered the question Americans have all but given up asking of their elected officials by telling reporters: ‘We’re not going to fix it.’
‘It’s a horrible, horrible situation, and we’re not going to fix it,’ Burchett said. ‘Criminals are gonna be criminals.’
‘And my daddy fought in the second world war, fought in the Pacific, fought the Japanese, and he told me, he said, ‘Buddy,’ he said, ‘if somebody wants to take you out, and doesn’t mind losing their life, there’s not a whole heck of a lot you can do about it.’”
The Daily Beast reports: 3/28
“At one point, a reporter asked the GOP lawmaker: ‘What else should be done to protect people like your little girl from being safe in school?’ Burchett replied that it wasn’t a personal concern of his.
‘Well, we homeschool her,’ he responded with a shrug. ‘But you know, that’s our decision. Some people don’t have that option and frankly, some people don’t need to do it. I mean, they don’t have to. It just suited our needs much better.’
Burchett last appeared on JMG when he declared that the bible contains proof that UFOs exist. Earlier this month he was among 26 GOP House reps who refused to back a two-sentence resolution denouncing white supremacy.”
Well this sounds familiar, doesn’t it Mr. Spittler?
~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Well, if Joe Biden is interested in reaching a resolution on the issue, let him deal with the southern border. We have drugs coming across the southern border and this crisis this mental health crisis that we have in this country has a direct relationship to our drug laws being loosened and the lack of funding at the state level for mental health services,” said (Rep Ken Buck, R-CO), skating over the fact that the drug cartels in Mexico actually get most of their guns from the United States.
more…
– Cnn com today
And ……. What does that have to do with the price of tea in china?
Since 2021 when President Biden told Immigrants America was wide open we have had an explosion at our border with Mules hauling in Fentanyl. Migrants are wearing different color bracelets at the border that distinguish how much they owe the cartels.
If the cartels are taking US weapons back to Columbia, Mexico, etc I could care less and hope they all shoot and kill each other.
Steve posts, “Since 2021 when President Biden told Immigrants America was wide open…”
That is a false statement. Only a person whose heart is with MAGA and gets his information from liars on FOX and other far right sources would post that as fact.
You may have a few progressive positions but your bigotry against transgender persons is quite clear.
You stated the 2nd amendment guarantees the right to carry a concealed weapon. You do realize, having seen the text, that is not true. Correct?
You have taken courses in safe handling, storage and use of guns but do you agree it is reasonable to mandate such courses for those who want to own a lethal weapon?
Chuck/Chris/Anthony:
Colorado Springs Shooter – Identified as Non-Binary
Denver Shooter – Identified as Trans
Aberdeen Shooter – Identified as Trans
Nashville Shooter – Identified as Trans
Maybe there is an issue with pharmaceuticals (SSRIs, Hormones, Testosterone, etc) –
??
And maybe you should take some time away from Tucker He’s lying to you.
“According to figures from the Gun Violence Archive, there have been 131 mass shootings this year, and there were 647 in 2022. In total, there have been 2,861 mass shootings in the U.S. since 2018. Some have had more than one perpetrator.” Newsweek 3/28
The fact you emphasize transgender mass shooters while failing to note the vast majority of the above shooters were white male loners is evidence of trans bigotry, as was your ridiculous poll question concerning dating a woman with penis. Let people be who they want. Bullies are among the worst people in society.
You guys are a hoot. I identified four shootings I didn’t say they were all the shootings. I know the statistics that most are white males. My point is with the trans community that was involved in those other shootings my guess they were females trying to become males & taking testosterone. Doesn’t that make sense and would put them in that category of white males doing the majority of the shooting?
I’m not saying lets do anything with the trans community which I am totally fine with, i’m saying lets examine the medicine we are handing out.
You guys are so eager to put someone into the MAGA box.
I don’t disagree that everyone needs weapons & handling training. It is too easy to get your hands on weapons with a quick federal background checks
Tucker Carlson and MGT were yakking about the drug thing yesterday.
You didn’t come up with the idea.