Slow down, you move too fast

To the editor:

Although I am in the thick of my income tax season, the issue of casino gaming in Sullivan County is too important to me and the timetable is moving too fast for me to just wait until April 16 to resurface in stating my opposition to casino gaming in Sullivan County.

Words cannot express my disappointment with the outcome of last week’s casino vote. To paraphrase one of the legislators who voted no last week, you don’t negotiate the terms of an agreement after you agree to approve an agreement; you do it before. You have shown your cards, you have thrown away your chips. The financial and environmental, as well as the social, ramifications to Sullivan County of five Native-American-run gaming facilities are so vast and everlasting and the legal remedies concerning dealing with sovereign nations are so arcane and so frequently limited that I tremble to think what the future of Sullivan County will be just a very few years down the road.

On August 30, 1996, the Task Force of Casino Gambling delivered their report to the Governor. In the state’s press release it says the following:

“A non-binding local referendum on the issue of Native American casino gambling on off reservation lands should be a requirement and the results should carry significant impact.”

It is broadly believed that the will of the people of Sullivan County was not reflected in the outcome of last week’s vote. The process of looking to the towns as a measurement of local opinion was very spectacularly flawed. A non-binding referendum should have taken place—but we still have time to have such a referendum. We also should have waited until a study was done concerning the impact of five casino gaming facilities prior to voting. Our ability to negotiate with Governor Pataki and the tribes has been severely limited.

Last Thursday’s vote was the end of Round One, not of Round Fifteen. The will of the majority of the people of Sullivan County will ultimately prevail. Our climb will be steeper and our work more challenging, but we will prevail. The majority of people do not want casinos in Sullivan County.

Money talks and people walk

To the editor:

When I read your February 17 headlines “Sullivan rolls the dice and five is a winner” my first thought was corruption. My emotions were anger and disgust.

We are facing a much deeper and more serious issue here than casinos. Representative government is proving to be a failure and a sham for the majority of our citizenry. We need direct referendum voting directly from the citizens.

What we have here is Indian land deals without the consent or knowledge of the governed. What land are they claiming or getting in this deal? Do they have the right to such claims? Are those benefiting going to actually be American Indians or will they really be well connected business people and international companies. And if the state thinks it’s giving our families’ land away without our knowledge or consent they have another thing coming.

What we have here is massive tracts of land being developed by unwise real estate firms and unscrupulous development companies without the consent of the governed.

What we have here is a five-casinos deal approved by the Sullivan County Legislature without the consent of the governed.

It is obvious that the majority of the citizens of Sullivan County do not want casinos, let alone five. Why don’t the Sullivan County Legislature, the governor and the state legislature work to bring productive and creative manufacturing jobs here? Is it because Wall Street and its financiers profit from rising stock prices when manufacturing plants move to cheaper parts of the world?

And guess who’s going to be purchasing these new homes for $800,000 to $1 million dollars? Not the current residents of Sullivan County, the very people these legislatures are supposed to represent.

We have a grave situation on our hands. We must stop this abuse of our rights as citizens. Remember, these politicians are supposed to represent the interests of the majority, not the interests of a few small wealthy and political influential interests groups. These unscrupulous individuals must be restrained before it’s too late. We must save our heritage, our land and our God-given rights that were given to us by the blood of the early American founders.

Will we stand as men or will we slink away as fools?

How lucky we are

To the editor:

With traffic backed up all the way to the Harriman Exit from the successful slot terminal at the racetrack, just think if we could get more than five casinos, maybe we could establish some in Western Sullivan County so our taxpayers could enjoy some of the reaped benefits. Pond Eddy, Yulan, Cochecton Center, Hankins, Fremont Center and Long Eddy are excellent sites. And if we need money apply for grants that come from heaven, not the taxpayers’ pockets. Bethel, Tusten, Cochecton and others have just a few acres in Boy Scout, church and other tax-exempt properties at this time. Surely we should give our Native Americans, the Indians, their fair share. Just think of the benefits we will all get to enjoy. Let’s shoot for at least a dozen.

Let us entertain you

To the editor:

Remember that slick operator who (between jail sentences) stopped off in Narrowsburg, a while back and separated a lot of locals from a lot of their money?

Well now, thanks to your friendly local legislature, there’s an increased chance that a government-sponsored institution with the very same mission may be coming to town. The mission I refer to, of course, is to part you from as much of your money as possible. They may con you with entertainment, food and glitz, and mislead you with talk of valuable employment opportunities, but their mission, plainly and simply, is to clean you out.

And while you may be wise enough to escape their predatory efforts, chances are that you will know someone who is not quite that wise and who will be eaten alive.

While “wish you were here” was the inviting message that routinely rang from the Catskills in years past; that happy message may be replaced with “Please send money so I can get out of this dump.” (And a glitzy dump it would be.)

End the Iraqi war now

To the editor:

Our news locally seems to be dominated by arguments and rebuttals and votes on casinos and nationally it is the war on Social Security. All that noise helps us put at the fringe of our minds the war in Iraq. We can pretend it isn’t happening. Yet Americans and Iraqis are dying there daily. Iraqis and Americans are being wounded and injured every day, some to the point where they will never be able to take care of their family or themselves again.

The administration persists in saying it is worth it. Such a callous attitude only makes me hurt inside. How about you? It is so unfair to everyone involved, which includes all of us, Americans and Iraqis and those in the rest of the world, who care.

This war doesn’t have to continue. It can be ended soon. There are ways. It will take a huge outpouring of concern on our parts especially here in America. Let’s each of us open our great big, loving hearts and find a peaceful way to accomplish this. Remember “Imagine” which goes: “You may say I’m a dreamer but I’m not the only one. If someday you care to join us, the world will live as one.”

Let there be peace.

Honor the veterans of Iwo Jima

To the editor:

The Marine Corps League would like to remind everyone that February marks the 60th anniversary of one of the bloodiest battles of World War II—Iwo Jima. Veterans of this battle are still around, even though they’d never let on. If you are privileged enough to know one of them, thank him for his honor and sacrifice.

Semper Fidelis!

Climate change is a concern for all

To the editor:

I’ve found two websites that some of your readers may be interested in as we hear more and more about global climate change and the devastation in can bring to us all. The Natural Resources Defense Council and the Union of Concerned Scientists are effective champions for the environment working on this issue and asking others to get involved.

NRDC has come up with a new way for all of us to learn and communicate about issues. I quote from their website: “Last week, Natural Resources Defense Council launched a Blog—an interactive, online diary—to serve as a gathering place for everyone who wants to stop the outrageous assaults on our environment: blog.nrdcactionfund.org/. Hosted by the NRDC Action Fund’s own Frances Beinecke, the Blog will give you the chance to exchange comments, participate in online chats and—most importantly—get organized to take action.”

You might want to take a look. There’s some good information there already including a report on a presentation by Al Gore in February about global climate change and another about the Kyoto Treaty, which just took effect throughout the world in an attempt to stop global climate change. Unfortunately, the United States is not participating. If that makes your blood boil, this is the place to say it. With communication comes organization and action.

And, at The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) website at ucsaction.org/action/ you can find a way to put pressure on the U.S. and Japanese automakers. According to the UCS website “Japanese automakers including Toyota, Honda, and Nissan have joined in a lawsuit designed to block California’s new global warming emission standards on automobiles—the most significant current U.S. climate change initiative. Because at least seven states are already poised to adopt the California law, it will affect at minimum a quarter of the U.S. auto market, resulting in substantial reductions of heat-trapping gas emissions.”

If you go to the website ucsaction.org/action/ you will find this issue and others to weigh in on. Thanks for getting involved!

Keep the rail lines propane free

To the editor:

I live along the Delaware River and railroad tracks in Shohola, PA in Pike County and all is fine. However, I seriously doubt they would abandon the railroad line from Port Jervis north. I have noticed an increase in the number of trains and the length of the trains. I do not object to trains but I do object to propane railcars. We had a derailment in the area a few years ago and I really don’t want any more. I am an ex-volunteer firefighter and EMT and have been involved in propane accidents. Believe me, they are worrisome and nerve wracking.

I moved to Shohola from Wayne County because I love Shohola and this area. I hope that it stays quiet and calm. I am an old disabled, ex-serviceman and volunteer of over 50 years, which makes me a little too old to have to move.

I would not want to evacuate if a train flops over and there is a gas leak. I have seen lumber cars, automobile cars, corn oil cars, garbage cars and boxcars. So why do you need propane freight cars? They are bad enough on our highways and back roads.

They would have to replace the ties and maintain the beds and rails to make the line safe and that does not guarantee trouble-free passage of rail traffic. Progress is good but at what cost?

Everyone is a critic

To the editor:

Is there anything more absurdly predictable than the Manhattan bitch? Two classic examples appear among the February 15 New York Times letters regarding the just-installed Central Park “Gates.”

Let anyone offer New York City something truly original (however ephemeral) and these professional complainers rush to their laptops to scream their outrage. It might be pointed out to them that thin lively “happening” is a) bringing color and movement to the park in its drabbest season; b) isn’t costing taxpayers a cent, and c) will be gone without a trace in two weeks.

Even if they hate “The Gates,” it was hardly worth bothering their silly heads about. I’d guess neither of these writers would recognize art if it sat down beside them on their cherished park bench!

Meanwhile, it’s worth a trip to the Big Apple to stroll the Park while “The Gates” are up.