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NOV 05 - NOV 12, 2015

Letters to the Editor

NOV 05, 2015

LIBRARY DOUBLE STANDARD IN WHEATFIELD

The current Wheatfield Town Board wants to spend millions of dollars to build a new library for Wheatfield.It will also take millions of dollars to maintain the building, purchase books, CD’s, DVD’s, audio books, computers and other materials and services; not to mention salaries and benefits for qualified librarians and staff.

The Town Board has already approved $3000.00 for feasibility and design plans.

Just 5 years ago, this same Town Board (excluding Randy Retzlaff) had eliminated library funding in the preliminary budget,they felt $65,000 was too much to spend. Wheatfield residents would have lost all access to the North Tonawanda and Sanborn libraries, if the funding was eliminated. Residents rallied and called town hall, sent letters and emails and presented petitions to the town board. More than 100 angry residents attended Board meetings and made their voices heard.

The Board eventually approved Library funding. Supervisor Cliffe was quoted in a local newspaper (Tonawanda News 11-4-2010) that “the library funding is one of those things that can easily be cut with a single slash” Councilman Gerbec echoed that sentiment.

Councilman Helwig addressed me at a town meeting. He stated to me that he did not want $43.09 of his tax money to go to the library since he did not use the library.

In 2015 the same town board now wants to build a new library; yet in 2010 it was an unnecessary expense.

In this day and age, shared services seems to be the most economical way to go. Fiscal responsibility demands it.

Laurie Galbo

Wheatfield, NY

MEAT INDUSTRY IS SCARY

What really used to scare me was the meat industry.

This is the industry that mutilates, cages, and butchers billions of cows, pigs, and other feeling animals, that exposes thousands of undocumented workers to crippling workplace injuries at slave wages, that exploits farmers and ranchers by dictating wholesale prices, then jails those who document its abuses through unconstitutional “ag-gag” laws. It’s the industry that generates more water pollution than any other human activity and more greenhouse gases than transportation, then promotes world hunger by feeding nutritious corn and soybeans to animals. It’s the industry that threatens our public health with increased risk of killer diseases, that creates antibiotic-resistant pathogens by feeding antibiotics to animals, then bullies health authorities to remove anti-meat warnings from their public messages.

Now, that’s really scary stuff. But, instead of being scared, I decided to fight back by dropping animal products from my menu. I am no longer scared of the meat industry, and I invite everyone to join me.

Nick Guntermann

Niagara Falls

72ND STREET WATER STORY

I was reading your story on the 72nd St water problem. We have another problem in the falls with a water main. On the corner of 16th St. and Walnut Ave. the water is flowing down the street. Finally, after three weeks of no action from the city or the water board, the water board finally put out two orange cones. That’s it! Just two cones. I called the Mayor’s office 10 days ago. I left a message. Still no call back. I followed the mayor from city hall to his house to tell him about the problem. He told me he saw it. He said it would be a big job. That’s it. This road is the major artery into the falls. If the leaking water causes s sink hole..... Well there goes the road. Not to mention, will this area of town have a water problem this year as well!

Feel free to contact me if you wish. Dave Knoodle

Niagara Falls

ABOLISH PREDATORY PRACTICES FOR PRISON PHONE CALLS

I wanted to flag a letter signed by 22 civil rights and social justice organizations submitted on Thursday to the FCC supporting proposed reforms to the current inmate calling services (ICS) structure. I know you’ve written on this issue in the past, and thought you would be interested in this update. In addition to supporting Commissioner Clyburn’s leadership on prison phone reform and the FCC’s consideration of caps on calling rates, the Coalition also urges the FCC to rein in so-called “site commission fees” that exacerbate the current predatory price structure for prison phone calls. If you are interested in speaking with some of the coalition partners about this, I can connect you with them.

Daniel Herrara

Washington DC

NO SOUP FOR YOU SAYS CHAIRMAN TOUMA

Jerry Seinfeld had a recurring character on his sitcom who was called the soup Nazi for denying soup to certain people. Niagara Falls has its’ own version called No Speech For You! At the last city council meeting the public was again reminded and admonished by the chairman as to speech. Mr. Andrew Touma stated that the council affords citizens the privilege to speak and that they must adhere to his rules of conduct, time limit and his authority to curtail speech. Mr. Touma you do not grant the right of freedom of speech to others, it is God given right and is protected under the constitution.

It seems to me that Mr Gerald Skirlin was the individual that the comment was meant for. Well guess what, I stand with Mr Skirlin, who rightfully pointed out that our freedom of speech is being eroded by the city council. The city council is not a fiefdom and the chairman is not the lord of the manor. The public needs to be respected and not treated in a condescending manner, we are not students in your classroom. I will remind the chairman and the city council that your position is at the pleasure of the people through voting. The position of politician in our republic is representation of the people. How is that achieved if the public voice is quelled?

Jerry Cramer

Niagara Falls

 

 

 

 

 

 

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