The right write-in choice

Democrat Pramilla Malick believes voters should have a choice when voting for state senator this year. Pursuant to that end, she has successfully petitioned for a write-in vote on September 13 to select a Democratic senatorial candidate to run against incumbent Republican John Bonacic. Whoever gets the most write-in votes in September will be the Democratic candidate. Sen. Bonacic, with a reported $700,000 campaign fund and four lines on the November 8 ballot, is trying to ensure he remains unopposed. He’s contacting Democratic voters and asking them to write-in his name so he, not Pramilla Malick, will be selected as the Democratic candidate on the November’s ballot.

The September 13 primary is a test of Democratic voting strength and solidarity, of Pramilla Malick’s People Power vs. Sen. Bonacic’s PAC money. Many people don’t vote because they think their votes don’t matter. But elections are decided by who turns out the most voters, not by who has the most PAC money to buy it. Big money and special interests can hijack the political process, but only if you let them. Vote in the September 13 primary; write in Pramilla Malick’s name to ensure she will be the Democratic candidate for the 42nd Senate District in November.

Star Hesse

Narrowsburg, NY

A truly progressive candidate

For the first time in 10 years, Democrats in New York’s 42nd Senate District will have the opportunity to vote in the write-in Democratic primary on Tuesday, September 13 for a truly progressive candidate. Pramilla Malick is a clear alternative to Republican John Bonacic, who is financed by corporate lobbyists and the gas industry and voted to block campaign finance reform. He has steadfastly refused to support the New York Health Act, which would address the shortcomings of the Affordable Care Act, and voted against the Child Victims Act.

Pramilla Malick has actively fought fracking, its toxic pollution, the fracked gas plant (CPV) and infrastructure that Bonacic has brought to the district. She advocates the development of “green” jobs to replace fossil-fuel jobs, vocational training programs to develop the unique agricultural resources of the Hudson Valley, investment in K-12 STEM programs, and taking private, for-profit corporate interests, like high-stakes tests, out of public education.

Pramilla Malick believes that an open, vigorous discussion of the issues is crucial. Bonacic would like to prevent her from being on the ballot, so it is important for all Democrats to write in her name and ensure that we have a choice.

Kathie Aberman

Liberty, NY

More than one source of wisdom

I’m slightly disturbed by the recurring letters to the editor by John “JP” Pasquale. In them, he constructs that the nation has “changed for the worse” as people don’t follow the gospel and Bible according to how “JP” thinks they should be followed. He seems to believe America won’t be “great again” until each of us is reading the Bible and following the gospels as they are to be interpreted. He specifically mentions distractions like politics, New Age thinking, Islam, atheism and technology. Further, he says we have “forgotten our nation’s heritage, our grandparents’ faith, or lost our way....” In these times of crisis, to single out one religion over others is highly dysfunctional.

May I remind Mr. Pasquale, this nation that the Europeans plundered and controlled was long populated by peoples who were holy to the land, peaceful, loving people. Maybe if we want to “make America great again,” we can take a lesson from First Nations Peoples and abide by nature, not parables.

Charles Maraia

Jeffersonville, NY

Some fishy questions

I recently read and enjoyed the issue of FISH, dated March 26, 2016, and I have a question and comment regarding it.

There was a list of “Game fish of the Upper Delaware River,” and I’m just wondering why fallfish were omitted from this list. I’ve caught them fairly routinely alongside Smallmouth and have found that they tend to get bigger than Smallies.

My comment is regarding the article titled “Starting Flyfishing (At age 70).” The author describes Joan Wulff as “perhaps the foremost fly-caster today.” I have no reason to doubt that she is one of the best fly-casters of all time, but I would be remiss if I didn’t remind the author as well as others of contemporaries of Joan Wulff such as Bob Clouser, Lefty Kreh and Dave Whitlock. I’ve observed Bob and Lefty cast in person (at advanced age, like Joan) and their effortlessness, distance, consistency and accuracy were truly something to behold. I feel compelled to recognize their abilities and accomplishments.

When you get to the level of these greats (including Joan), is it really reasonable to describe one of them as “the foremost?”

Mark Stone

Highland Lake, NY

[We forwarded the question about fallfish to TRR columnist Andy Boyar, also the author of the “game fish” piece, who replied, “I referred to “game fish” in my article. The fish list was from the Upper Delaware River Management Plan, p.126. There are other fish in the Delaware, commonly referred to as “rough” fish. I caught a fallfish earlier this month and it was a real nice size (larger than the smallies of the day) and fought well for a minnow. The fallfish is the largest northeast minnow. It is in a chub in the family Cyprinidae.”

Reviewing our form of government

It’s understandable that our county legislators reportedly have become impatient with the County Charter Review Commission—who among us hasn’t become less tolerant with what we may not fully understand? But injecting deadline-anxiety into the commission’s work performs a disservice to county residents.

The commission’s job isn’t merely to review our charter; it’s to assess whether government is optimal for what challenging times demand, and, if needed, formulate recommendations in the assistance to that end. Its charge is broad and requires it to deal with complex issues.

That task is made unnecessarily more difficult with the failure by others to appreciate a critical aspect of the commission’s work: members serve without remuneration or assurance that recommendations they may provide will be adopted. It’s irrational to conclude they’ve become idle; it’s demeaning to suggest they need guidance with how to structure their time.

The prior commission a decade ago was compelled to deal with a range of challenges, but undue pressure to conclude its work prematurely was not one of them.

Dave Colavito

Rock Hill, NY

Diet soda and fries

To bolster his environmental creds, Jim Gutekunst claims that he is a leader in energy efficiency because he replaced some light bulbs and refrigerator doors at his facilities (partially paid for by someone else) in Mamakating. In the most dangerous type of environmental sleight-of-hand, he talks about light bulbs when I’m talking about solar energy, heat pumps, enhanced insulation, permeable parking lot solutions and creating facilities that don’t rely on fossil fuels—all possible with his new facility and even his old facility. I have nothing against his building designs; he’s the one demonizing the industry that I guess powers all his business enterprises.

To compare changing out light bulbs while forgoing an opportunity to create a truly fossil-fuel-free style of building is like taking credit for losing weight because you removed your shoes before stepping the scales—while your fried chicken and banana split waits for you in the next room.

Jim can look for a pat on the back, but he won’t get it from me. If climate change could be halted with measures like changing light bulbs, there would be little need to worry about our climate-threatened future.

Charles Petersheim

Eldred, NY

The right choice

This presidential election is turning out to be the most perplexing one I have ever experienced, as we wind up with two major party candidates with the highest unfavorable ratings in history. Which poison do you take, cyanide or anthrax? Both will kill you. One candidate is a bully and totally unfit to be president, and the other has a really difficult time telling the truth.

As we went through the primaries it was obvious to me and millions of others that Bernie Sanders was the most honest and truthful of them all. His message was consistent, that our democracy is failing and the middle class is losing ground. From the very beginning of his campaign he pointed out that the Democratic campaign committee was stacking the cards against him and that the superdelegates had already pledged their support to Hillary. Well, Wikileaks exposed emails proving him right. In addition, independent voters were unable to vote in the closed primary states. Bernie got shafted all around. He was our last chance for a real revolution in this country.

It was extremely painful to watch Bernie turn over his campaign and supporters to Hillary at the convention. But the discord and disunity had to be resolved; otherwise the party would have been left fractured. And at least Bernie was successful in getting the party platform skewed further left than it has ever been.

And if we don’t elect Hillary and Trump wins, what happens to all the good that has been accomplished in the past eight years, including the Affordable Care Act, the Clean Power Plan, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the rejection of the XL pipeline project? All of these and much more would be rescinded by Trump and the Republicans.

This is a tough decision for many of us, but we have to be realistic. For the good of the country and our planet, vote Democratic. This is probably the most important vote you’ll ever cast.

John Hahn

Shohola, PA