Who’s the Grinch?

To the editor:

Lisa Lander, in her December 7 letter attacking me in The River Reporter, apparently could not defend the atrocious record of her husband, incumbent Sullivan West school board member Rick Lander, on the Sullivan West school board.

Mrs. Lander instead refers to me as “the Grinch that is not trying to steal Christmas from us, but a promising future for our students and generations to come.”

I don’t know what dreamland Lisa Lander is living in, but the real Grinch who contributed to the destabilization of the Sullivan West Central School District and the closing of our two essential community elementary schools is her own husband, Rick Lander.

The facts speak for themselves. Rick Lander never bothered to check the declining enrollment figures that demonstrated the Sullivan West merger was doomed to failure.

Rick Lander uncritically supported the $50,000,000 spending spree that brought down the wrath of the Comptroller’s Office on the Sullivan West Central School District.

Rick Lander abruptly voted to close down the Delaware Valley and Narrowsburg schools immediately after at least $12,500,000 had been spent on their renovation. What fiscal irresponsibility! How wasteful can you get?

Does Lisa Lander really think her husband’s record as a board member is positive? Come on Lisa, you know better than that. No one in his or her right mind can honestly defend a record like this.

The parents, taxpayers and students of the Sullivan West Central School District have long been sold a bill of goods by people like Rick and Lisa Lander, who spent years supporting the false idea that Santa Claus was alive and well and living in Albany, where he gave out virtually free high schools to good little boys and girls like us.

Instead of hiding behind his wife, an unrepentant Rick Lander owes all of us an abject apology for contributing to this mess.

Since both Rick and Lisa still apparently believe in Albany’s version of Santa Claus, I hope they understand the majority of financially strapped people in all our local communities sincerely wish that both of them will find coal in their stockings on Christmas morning.

They deserve nothing less.

More info needed on single payer

To the editor:

Our prediction that your electronic survey system would be used soon to determine interest in a national health insurance program and that positive sentiments would exceed 60 percent was a winning wager. But the predictability of The River Reporter was not the news, but rather that there was so much support for a socialized program about which so little is yet known. Rules, regulations, administration responsibility and cost are just a few items of importance.

Would the ever-present Medicaid fraud factor, with its millions in stolen prescriptions, be perpetuated or ended? What would happen to the private research and testing that have brought us so many great discoveries? These are only a few of the questions that demand answers before a national program is adopted.

Perhaps an interview with some of the Canadians who must come to us for treatments unavailable under their home plan would help avoid pitfalls. The doctors who have left Canada to seek a practice in the United States might have important input on the subject.

It is notable that the senior Medicare program is already budgeted at more that $110 billion as time rapidly approaches for millions of “boomers” to enroll, and that is with each present participant now paying the highest premiums and deductibles ever. This plan has so many limitations that most members require a supplementary policy or HMO support—let’s see the cards on the table face up.

As for our comments on backyard burning, 95 percent of the people we spoke to supported our basic positions, 90 percent suggested that security of all types of personal papers should have been added to the importance of backyard burning, 85 percent questioned how could control of fire places, camp fires, grills etc. be monitored. Case closed.

Let democracy rule

To the editor:

I respect Ms. Nora Manzolillo for her values and social beliefs. Under the circumstances she demonstrates bravery in resuming her former position as Deputy County Clerk.

The court has ruled, the legislature has agreed on a settlement. George Cooke has resigned. Case closed?

Mr. Cooke is a misunderstood innocent victim of modern society. He is a man of character, integrity, a devoted public official and a stand-up comic. As a society we should never lose a sense of humor.

In this instance, I say let democracy rule and the people have the final word. George, enjoy your one-year vacation—but run for re-election next fall. You lost this battle! Win the war! Good luck.

Who will pay the piper?

To the editor:

In August 2005, Mamakating’s zoning board chair, Jim Barnett, dismissed the town’s Deputy Attorney Ira Cohen and hired Stephen Gaba, Esq. for the sole purpose of drafting a resolution approving substantial height variances for the Yukiguni mushroom factory. Gaba’s bill lists work on the resolution, plus conference calls during the summer and fall of 2005 with Barnett and Yukiguni’s lawyer, Charles Bazydlo. In November, the zoning board approved Gaba’s special counsel status and the resolution he drafted.

Coincidentally, Cohen had recommended denial of the variances, as had Sullivan County’s planning commissioner. At the time, Supervisor Penna insisted Gaba wouldn’t be paid since he hadn’t been lawfully appointed. But, his bill recently showed up in an abstract the town board approved for payment. However, at residents’ insistence, that resolution was amended.

But, if Mamakating won’t pay Gaba—in the amount of $4,977—who will? Members of the zoning board who “engaged” him? Or perhaps either Yukiguni or Gaba’s former associate, Bazydlo, will compensate him for services provided to our town?

Town board members have continually refused to answer inquiries regarding serious appearances of impropriety or conflicts of interest in the review of the proposed mushroom factory.

Eileen Haworth

Thanks for helping Joe Finn

To the editor:

I would like to thank the Cochecton Spruce-Up Committee for holding a raffle for my son Joe Finn; also, those who bought tickets, or sent donations, and for all your prayers. Joe is now in Liberty at the Sullivan County Adult Care Center. We hope to have him home by mid-summer. If anyone would like to send him a card, his address is Joseph Finn r#108 c/o SCACC PO Box 671, Liberty, NY 12754. Thank you everyone and God bless.