Highland needs a referendum

To the editor:

A few days ago, I spoke to four of the five of the councilmen in the Town of Highland. I asked each why they were afraid to let the voters have a say about spending $1.5 million for a new town and school garage. I suggested that because taxes have been skyrocketing, maybe the council should ask the voters before they go ahead. I told them that while we may need a town garage, it seems that a vote by the taxpayers would be important because the same voters recently turned down a bus garage for the school.

I was politely listened to by three council members and then dismissed without a reply. The town supervisor, however, decided to instruct me. He told me that I apparently wasn’t capable of understanding and that the “tax rate” just went down for the second year in a row. So it’s okayto spend the money and the council doesn’t need the taxpayers’ okay.

In turn, I tried to explain to him that if someone eats peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and the price keeps going up, it really makes no difference whether the peanut butter goes up and the jelly comes down or vice versa. The fact is that the sandwich costs more. That’s what’s happening to the taxpayers in Highland; the price of the sandwich keeps going up, but the Town Council thinks that’s okay so long as the price of the peanut butter keeps coming down.

I am still wondering why they are so afraid of the voters. Aren’t they supposed to represent us? What better way to find out what we think than by having a referendum?

Casinos a short term quick fix

To the editor:

At the June 16 luncheon sponsored by the Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce, New York State Comptroller Alan Hevesi said that although he has the power to veto contracts the state makes, when it comes to Indian casinos, because of their “special status,” Hevesi does not have the power to veto and plays no role in making or reviewing the deal. It’s strictly a deal between Governor Pataki and the tribe.

Hevesi also said that although his office has the resources, he’s under “ no legal obligation” to provide a cost-benefit analysis to Sullivan County for hosting casinos (though perhaps a moral obligation).

Although he recognized the social problems casinos bring, he said he favors them for revenue for the State. It’s ironic that prior to his comments on casinos, Hevesi spent an hour talking about how “dysfunctional” New York’s fiscal management is. “We don’t manage ourselves well in New York,” he said. Regarding Pataki’s borrowing of 4.2 billion from the Tobacco Bond deal, Hevesi said, “It’s the dumbest way to run a government.”

Short-term quick fixes like casinos, that have been tried elsewhere and failed, are also a dumb way to solve a state’s financial problems. Nevada, with all its casinos, had an $870 million budget deficit last year. Connecticut has repealed the law allowing casinos to be built.

Hevesi was aware of trumped-up Indian tribes being federally recognized and thus able to open casinos (such as Foxwoods, whose “tribe” consisted of one elderly lady). He seemed to find it amusing and okay, as long as the State gets its cut of the gambling revenue.

Hevesi openly admitted that he himself “wouldn’t want to live near a casino, with thousands of cars driving in.” Why is it okay for us, then, in Sullivan County? Since Pataki and Hevesi are gung-ho for casinos, perhaps they should open them in their own back yards.

Legislators the “Stepford Wives” of gambling

To the editor:

While I sympathize with the residents of surrounding counties concerning the troubles and burdens that any gambling venue in Sullivan County will surely bring to them, I must point out that their legislators were explicitly warned about them in detail some years ago. I sent wake-up emails to each one of them in Ulster, Delaware, Rockland and Orange counties and received not so much as a phone call in return. In addition to my own letters, these concerns have been in the papers for years.

Coming late to the trough to ask financial aid of a county that has taken good care of gambling interests, while insuring yet another financial disaster for the county with their ill-advised and totally inadequate gambling agreements, would seem disingenuous in the extreme.

Our Sullivan legislative heroes have even managed to paint themselves into a corner by agreeing to support casinos no matter what, effectively cutting off the possibility of ever changing their alleged minds. One wonders why anyone wastes time talking to them about the issue. They (the Sullivan legislature) have become “Stepford Wives” of gambling interests.

Only the lawsuit concerning the legality of their efforts stands between Sullivan County and complete financial, political and social domination by gambling interests.

Sturm pledges to improve Bethel

To the editor:

My name is Daniel Sturm and I am pleased to announce that I running for Councilman this year in the Town of Bethel. I received the support of the Democratic Party at the Town Caucus held on June 15th. I am a current Town Board member and a life long area resident.

I am 40 years old and my wife Dina and I have been happily married for over 18 years. We have two girls, Samantha and Kelly, who are both currently in the Monticello School District. I attended Monticello High School, have a management degree from Sullivan County Community College, and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the State University College at New Paltz.

As town councilman, I have helped shape, formulate and improve things in the Town of Bethel. My main concern is to serve the needs of the people in the town by responding to their problems as quickly as possible and by taking the time to solve them. I will work to attract good quality businesses that are interested in moving to the Town of Bethel, and encourage smart, managed economic growth that protects the quality of life for the people who live here. I will try to improve our town by applying for grants for infrastructure, housing improvements and economic development at no cost to taxpayers.

I have been open and honest, reliable, available and accountable, and will continue to provide Bethel with pro-active leadership and a clear vision for the future. I will make a positive difference.

I will be again traveling the roads of Bethel to try and meet and speak with as many residents as possible, and hear their concerns. And I will continue to do so.

Fossil fuels won’t sustain us

To the editor:

Last year, Congress wisely defeated the President’s Energy Bill, which promoted fossil fuels at the expense of sensible clean and renewable energy.

We see daily at the gas pump and in the Iraq war how fossil fuels are leading us nowhere. As the country of opportunity and new ideas, we have to find a better source of energy than this limited supply. Even Shell Oil and British Petroleum are boasting in their ads about their research for solar and wind energy plans for the future. They can see the writing on the wall that fossil fuels won’t sustain us and we need to look elsewhere.

But, the Bush Administration has split the old energy bill that Congress rejected and that favors fossil fuels into several smaller bills, which are just as damaging as the bill defeated by Congress. Again they include more air and water pollution for the rest of us, and dependence on oil.

Again, the companies that benefit are the same ones who contribute to George Bush’s election campaign.

Just as it did last year, Congress should vote down the current energy bills. Our leaders should demand that our nation focus on an energy policy that will result in less pollution, disease, and war than the energy policies that have guided us to date. Calls to senators and representatives at 800/839-5276 can let them know you want reliable, clean, renewable energy and not the energy plan they have before them.

John Kerry has the vision to create a new Manhattan Project to make America independent of Middle East oil in 10 years by creating alternative fuels like ethanol and by making cars more efficient. The Toyota Prius Hybrid gets 60 miles per gallon and the Ford Hybrid SUV coming soon will get 35 mpg in town. This is possible if we put our minds to it and we get a president who supports rather than obstructs our progress. We’ll create new jobs here at home at the same time with the new technologies—and we’ll never have to send our sons and daughters to war for Mid-east oil.