Inaccuracies on Luxton Lake

To the editor:

As a 53-year, part-time Luxton Lake resident, I’ve followed, over the years, all submissions to The River Reporter about our saga, i.e. the loss of our “signature” lake and deterioration of our country clubhouse. The full-page coverage in the June 28 issue, “On the Comeback Road,” by Tom Kane, not only had gross errors, but paragraphs four and nine were to the point of insult. Was this ever proofread for mistakes? Why was not a “historian” consulted?

Here are some of the errors:

The article says the community began in the 1800s, which would be 17- something. This does not reflect our development; the 20th century (19-something) would be more accurate.

Nobel Sissle is an African-American, not a Negro—we’ve been culturally self-defined for decades.

Regarding paragraph six: developer Dollinger, who is not African-American, had subdivisions of quarter-acre parcels available for purchase in the early 1950s, which marked the emerging growth of the Tusten Lake Property Owners community, as we called ourselves, with the good fortune of having a beautiful lake we called Lucky Lake. (Our family lot was purchased in 1954).

Regarding paragraph nine: Business owners, lawyers and civil-service supervisors were hardly what one would call “lower income,” as was described in a quote by a community newcomer, the source used by The River Reporter.

While this article was rightfully attacked by former past-president of the Luxton Lake Property Owners Association (LLPOA) William Artis, many others were hurt by this misinformation. The least The River Reporter should do is provide a public apology for its inaccuracies and damaging comments.

Furthermore, in the future, any reporters should seek information from the “historian” sources available, who still own their Luxton Lake properties and know the truth. These number fewer than 10.

NYRI takes the fourteenth

To the editor:

Great editorial the week of July 5, but I think you meant the 14th amendment, not the fourth. [Editor’s note: yes, we did.]

The fourth amendment (part of the bill of rights) protects us from illegal search and seizure. The 14th was passed after the Civil War with the intent of giving all “persons” (including former slaves) equal protection under the law.

Incidentally, the editorial mentions the large number of 14th amendment cases brought to the courts by corporations. This is exactly the claim New York Regional Interconnect (NYRI) makes in its legal challenge to the eminent domain law passed by New York State last year. Because that law (the Bonacic bill) is constructed to apply to NYRI, and only to NYRI, they claim that it violates their rights under the 14th amendment for “equal protection under the law.”

The irony is that a law that intended to protect our right to “life, liberty and property” will be used against us so that NYRI can seize our property.

The governor is dysfunctional

To the editor:

It is a sad day for the people that live in New York and pay taxes to have a dysfunctional governor. Eliot Spitzer has a personal agenda that has turned the senate and assembly against him. In a partisan way, he has continuously fought against and tried to discredit state majority leader Joe Bruno and assembly majority leader Sheldon Silver.

Thanks to his agenda, the governor, senate and assembly cannot agree to disagree. What chance does that give the people of New York of having a budget that will make a difference in their lives and stabilize our taxes?

Governor Spitzer is traveling around the state to advance his personal agenda, not addressing the real needs of New Yorkers. Spitzer’s disdain for the other governing bodies that add checks and balances makes him an uncompromising dictator. His boast about wanting to rule without the legislature is disturbing and irresponsible.

The governor needs to step up to the plate and make a difference. Theodore Roosevelt and Nelson Rockefeller were able to work with all political parties to make sure all concerns were addressed, not just a selected few.

Independence Day should remind Governor Spitzer that a great war was fought and won because people did not have a balanced government, they did not want to be ruled by a king with taxation without representation, nor a dictator imposing his will.

If Governor Spitzer reads this letter, I hope it will make him a better-rounded governor, who will work better with his fellow officials and the people of New York.

Support PA Pre-K Counts

To the editor:

Let’s make Pennsylvania a leader for our children’s future.

As our legislative and administration leaders negotiate a budget for Pennsylvania, I urge them to remember their overall goal should be to make Pennsylvania a better place to live, and investing in quality early education can bring us a brighter future.

Investing in our young children so they are ready to learn and ready to succeed should be a high priority and key responsibility for our Commonwealth. Education doesn’t begin in first grade, and for children who are at risk of academic failure, first grade is too late. By then, they are behind, and will likely stay behind.

Governor Rendell has proposed, and the house has voted for, PA Pre-K Counts, which would bring high quality pre-kindergarten to thousands of children who would otherwise start behind in school. PA Pre-K Counts has the high quality standards that can prepare these children to start school on par with their peers. This is targeted, focused, intensive investment so that all of our children have a chance to do well in school and live a quality life.

If we do not invest PA Pre-K Counts, Keystone STARS, and Child Care Works, we will be spending more taxpayer dollars on special education, crime prevention and welfare in the future. I want to live in a community where everyone feels they have a chance to succeed in school and in life, rather than feel the Commonwealth failed them.

Please include these quality early education initiatives in the final budget, for all of our benefit.

Gay pride vs. Christian prayer?

To the editor:

What a disgrace in Elmira, NY, when police recently arrested seven Christians who went into a public park and prayed on the ground where a “gay” fest was to begin. I went to The Day To be Gay in Sullivan County NY last September and walked around and prayed for all the people in attendance to be “saved” and for revival in our nation for about an hour. Then I went in and served food to the people in attendance and prayed even more, and even laid my hand in prayer on a person who had back pain.

Elmira, NY must be a very prejudiced place with some really intolerant people, who are not diverse, if they included homosexuals, but exclude Christians.

God bless the local government and police in Elmira, NY. They need His love, grace and mercy.

One nation under God.

Livingston Manor, NY