Letters to the Editor

As New York State prepares to renew or make permanent the cap on local government property tax levies, a new report by the Pew Charitable Trusts highlights why local property taxes in New York State are so high. The problem has little to do with local governments and won’t be solved by a tax cap.

The Bi-Partisan Minority Conference in the Oswego County Legislature suggests replacing a “temporary” employee. Last Year when Mark See (the county’s Chief Accountant) decided to retire after more than a quarter century of service, it was our hope that his replacement would be just as qualified and competent. He or she had some big shoes to fill.

May is Community Action Month across the United States. This is a time to celebrate the efforts of Community Action Agencies across the country as they fight poverty by highlighting their role in helping low-income families move out of poverty and achieve economic security. Oswego County Opportunities, Inc. is the Community Action Agency for Oswego County.

Now that Spring is here and people are getting out and about and especially since the Little League/Kiwanis baseball season is starting I would like to ask everybody; players, parents, spectators and everybody else to be good stewards when it comes to the neighborhoods. Please, don’t litter. If you have a wrapper, cup, bottle, can etc. use the trash cans. It not only keeps our city looking clean but it’s not fair to the neighbors who have to pick up after you. To dog owners, please be courteous and take a “poop” bag with you and clean up after your pet. Again it’s not fair to the homeowners to have messes in their yards.

The other night on television, I watched NYS Board of Regents Chancellor Merryl Tish stating that New York parents deserve “…a snapshot, that’s all the tests are, of their child’s development…” As a parent and an educator, I could not agree more, parents certainly should have snapshot of their child’s development. Unfortunately, what students in NY have been enduring for the last thirteen years is a snapshot of a tragedy.

On April 25, the Women’s Choir, Men’s Choir, and State Singers, directed by Dr. Mihoko Tsutsumi, will be holding a free concert that is open to the public. Our Spring Concert will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Sheldon Hall Ballroom on the SUNY Oswego Campus. This concert is sure to impress with various styles of music from Renaissance Polyphony to musical numbers.

My name is Marc Holliday (formerly known as Mark Aldasch). I am the chairman of the City of Fulton Republican Committee. It has now been almost three months since John took his seat in congress to represent the 24th Congressional District. I like many are disgusted and appalled by how John has voted and held himself in congress so far. John has completely abandoned his base and has ignored the voice of the people who put him where he is.

Since late last fall, the education landscape of New York State has been filled with extremely negative political rhetoric from our governor about the status and experience of New York’s children in our schools, the evaluation of our teachers and principals, and the “monopoly” that influences policy and funding for our schools.

There has been much discussion and speculation on what Sutton Real Estate has in mind for the Midtown Plaza site. Unfortunately much of the information being presented is inaccurate and does not represent the current development plans for the property. Hopefully, this letter will provide some clarification on what we envision for Midtown Plaza and dispel some of the rhetoric regarding our alleged plans to develop a large scale low-income project on the Midtown Plaza site.