Opinion

The date is December 14, 2017. The place is the floor of the Oswego County Legislative chambers. The purpose: Vote on an Oswego County 2018 budget. Questions, concerns and ideas were voiced. The Majority Leader had made some statements prior to the meeting referring to the Minority Caucus not understanding the budget process and the use of the fund balance.

On behalf of the Oswego County Sheriff’s Office and Oswego County Deputies Association, we would like to graciously thank all the members of the Public Safety Center including the Probation Office, Corrections Department, District Attorney’s Office, Court Security, Civil Office, Buildings and Grounds, County and Family Courts, Sheriff’s Office and all the staff involved in the same, for making this year’s Toys for Tots campaign a great success.

Recently, New York Assemblyman Will Barclay wrote a column (Dec. 4, Legislation Seeks to Protect Patients From High Air Ambulance Costs) about his proposed model legislation that would impact air ambulance services and the patients they serve. While the Assemblyman’s proposal seeks to address the financial burden insurance companies sometimes place on patients when they don’t fully cover emergency care, it unfortunately fails to address the underlying problem: inadequate reimbursement rates.

It is time we change our thinking on Alzheimer’s disease. Too often Alzheimer’s is treated as an aging issue, ignoring the public health consequences of a disease that someone in the U.S. develops every 66 seconds. And with two-thirds of its annual costs being borne by Medicare and Medicaid, it is one that demands more attention from our government.

I want to use the taxpayers’ savings account (fund balance) to give myself and Department heads raises. If that statement upsets you, come to the public hearing on the Oswego County Budget on: Thursday Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. on the fourth floor of the County Building, 46 E. Bridge St., Oswego.

To the good folks of Oswego County, thank you for a great year! As I wrap up final reports for several grants we received this year, I am struck by the overwhelming good news this year has brought to CNY Arts Center. We have so much to be grateful for and great memories to cherish.

Please remember the food drive taking place at the TOPS store in Fulton. This effort come about to assist the efforts by Catholic Charities in filling the large requests for food baskets this holiday season. The need continues and we want to assure families will have enough food for the holiday and when children are off that week on “vacation” from school.

The election results for the 25th District Legislative seat are official. The counts are Legislator Frank Castiglia Jr. D – 405 his opponent R,I – 246 and write-in candidate R – 76. Claims that the write-in candidate votes gave me the election were just not true.

Rep. Katko needs to vote no on any version of the GOP tax cut giveaway to billionaires and corporations when it returns to the House of Representatives. Senate Republicans quickly rammed their tax bill through before full analysis and debate could take place. The bill is very unpopular with the public, including 13 million people who could lose healthcare and the millions more burdened by the ripple effect of increased insurance premiums.