letters to the editor:

2-5-10

To the Editor:
Jeff Katz has proven himself to be an excellent Village of Cooperstown trustee and deputy mayor.  I strongly recommend that we elect him as Mayor on March 16.
Jeff brings several important strengths to the governing process. 
First, he has a clear understanding of the critical priorities for the village – sound financial management, infrastructure maintenance and improvement, and preservation of our quality of life.  Second, he is a strong leader who is willing and able to accept responsibility while aggressively recruiting capable and responsible people to get involved in community projects and village government.  Third, he exercises good and reasoned judgment in carrying out his duties as trustee. 
Fourth, Jeff is a great listener.  Even when he does not agree with one’s point of view, he respectfully listens and always offers a well-reasoned, thought-provoking alternate view.
Jeff played a key role in the debate over raising rates for teams playing on Doubleday Field, establishing a more rational fee schedule for an undervalued village asset and providing additional income for the village.
He is a strong proponent of testing the implementation of paid parking – last year’s income from paid parking was significant, equal to a 6.7 percent increase in taxes.  Income from parking came primarily from nonresidents, whereas a tax increase would have been the burden of village property owners.
Our community has changed significantly in recent years and it will continue to change.  We will address challenges relating to tourism, mandates forced on the village by the state government and the constantly evolving needs of Bassett Healthcare. 
We need intelligent, hard working, responsible community members to lead and govern. Please join me in voting to elect Jeff Katz as mayor on March 16.
STEPHEN MAHLUM
Cooperstown

To the Editor:
Innovative, responsive and experienced leadership is key to our village’s future. Throughout their service as trustees, we have found both Jeff Katz and Lynne Mebust to demonstrate this type of leadership.
Jeff and Lynne fought the status quo and helped make the Badger Park playground a reality.
Responding to village financial needs, Lynne and Jeff  found money in our very own parking spots, generating much needed non-tax revenue. When initial parking plans caused concerns, they listened and revised the plan.
Jeff and Lynne also supported our police chief and department, putting public safety first.
It is clear that their first priority is the welfare of the village and its residents. They are hard-working, effective, and deeply committed to the village. 
While some want this race decided along purely partisan lines, we suggest voters to look beyond party.
We(who happen to be registered to different political parties)fully support Jeff Katz for mayor of Cooperstown, and Lynne Mebust for trustee. We look forward to their continued leadership.
JOHN & PEG ODELL
Cooperstown

To the Editor:
I am a Cooperstown native in support of Jeff Katz for mayor and Lynne Mebust for trustee.
Katz and Mebust uphold my idea of what village government should be.  They are open, respectful at all times, creative, intelligent and earnest in their work for the village.
Both candidates dedicate the time and energy necessary to fully understand village issues, and, in my opinion, they always have the interests of residents at heart. 
I have had the opportunity to work closely with both Jeff and Lynne though my work on the THINK RINK project. They have been true partners in this effort, which involved significant collaboration between the village parks board, village employees and Friends of the Parks.
They were easy to work with, followed through on promises, pitched in on workdays and saw the benefit of a better rink for village residents.  I urge you to consider voting with me.
Moreover, no matter who your candidate is or what the outcome of this election,  I urge village residents and businesses to be respectful of all the candidates and trustees. Let’s honor our village by demonstrating civilized behavior and eschewing negativity. 
SUSIE LASHER KNIGHT
Cooperstown


To the Editor:
The Southern Tier of New York lies over two vast natural gas repositories, the Marcellus and Utica shales.  Is shale gas a blessing or a curse? 
Energy developers and landowner coalitions assert that a robust gas-extraction industry here would bring prosperity to our region and reduce our nation’s dependence on foreign energy supplies.
For example, a commissioned report, “Potential Economic and Fiscal Benefits from Natural Gas Production in Broome County, New York” (available online) projects that this industry could bring a positive economic impact of up to $15 billion over 10 years to just Broome county.
Observers with fewer stars in their eyes cite a report, “Fossil Fuel Extraction as a County Economic Development Strategy” (also online), which shows that counties hosting intensive oil and gas extraction performed more poorly over 35 years than similar counties where there was little or no drilling. 
“Energy-focusing” counties ended up with smaller economies, lower student graduation rates, and greater gaps between rich and poor residents.
Why are these two profiles so different?  The former considers only the boom phase of industrial development, while the latter takes the entire boom-bust cycle into account. 
Rather than supporting economic recovery, the gas industry appears to be one from which we would have to recover over the long term. And that’s before we consider the mess left behind. 
I’m not so long of tooth or short of memory to only care about what happens to this community for the next 10 years.  From where I stand, the shale gas industry is bad business for New York.
DR. RONALD E. BISHOP
Cooperstown

To the Editor:
Lynne Mebust my friend, neighbor and our committed village trustee has my support and needs yours for the upcoming election on March 16. 
Lynne’s representation of Cooperstown residents during the  last three years on the streets and building committee, the parks board and the police committee brought about positive change for our community.  
Her tenure has resulted in improvements at our Badger Park ice skating rink and increased revenue for the village through paid parking.
Lynne’s professional background of grant writing and non-profit  management brings an acute understanding of focused research skills and team leadership.
Some of her many community contributions include a three-year term as PTO treasurer and Crayon Carnival chair with her work benefiting our elementary school and students.
With a commonsense approach to problems garnered from past and present work experiences, Lynne remains on task with issues presented before her resulting in thoughtful and responsible outcomes. 
Vote for Lynne this March 16; let Lynne continue to keep our community government working for Cooperstown citizens.  A vote for Lynne is a positive vote for all local residents.
ANN LINDSAY-BROWN
Cooperstown

To the Editor:
I have been involved in local and state politics in Texas for over 30 years; have served on state and local commissions and boards – always as a volunteer or appointee, never as an elected official, since it has always struck me that elected officials, particularly municipal, unsalaried officials put up with more tomfoolery than any person has an obligation to suffer.
When we moved to Cooperstown for extended stays, I had occasion to become involved in some local issues, and to observe how elected officials dealt with those issues, some of which were quite controversial.
I was impressed in particular by three officials who always conducted themselves with dignity, do their homework, and generally get it right. Those three were Mayor Waller, Lynne Mebust Jackson and Jeff Katz. 
Mayor Waller is retiring. Lynne is a lot better looking (to me) than Jeff, but she’s not running for mayor. So we are supporting Jeff for mayor in any way we can.
He is a worthy successor to Mayor Waller and she knows it. She figured it out some time ago. He’s not there to showboat or play some passive-aggressive game with police coverage. He’s there to get the job done and look ahead. He’s not there to appease some crackpot blowhard in the audience or in the Letters To Editor.
Cooperstown was lucky to have Mayor Waller and doubly lucky to have someone of Jeff’s caliber to replace her.
JAMES “CHIP” NORTHRUP
Cooperstown


To The Editor:
Many of us are alarmed that five Supreme Court justices have ruled that a corporation has the rights of an individual and, therefore, may be considered an individual when making campaign donations. No matter what legalese was used to justify this ruling, it is clearly a blow against democracy, since it diminishes government by the people and increases government by corporations.
Corporate interests are basically about making money. I have no problem with that as long as the rights and needs of individuals are not being violated. However, I strongly oppose the ruling that a complex of individuals out to make profits for themselves and their stockholders is merely an individual exercising constitutional rights.
This weakens the vote of the individual in what our government thinks is a model democracy that the remainder of the world should adopt.
If our legislators stand by, fold their hands, and do nothing about this, it will become even clearer to the people of this country that the U.S. is not a democracy but a “moneyocracy.”
Elected representatives in the Senate and the House of Representatives should hear from us about this critical issue.
SAMUEL E. WILCOX
Cooperstown

To the Editor:
Five years ago, I decided to follow two little girls to Cooperstown where I could watch with delight as they grow into unique, productive adults.
I bought a house, paid my taxes, planted some flowers, joined the gym and settled in to the experiences that being a grandmother can provide.
I was concerned then to hear of village board discussions on restructuring the police force by reducing 24/7 coverage. While I fully understand the necessity of our village government to monitor and, perhaps, reduce budgets, the idea that our village would be well-served by a county agency already stretched to its limits is just wrong.
Cooperstown residents rely on police presence that is constant and observant. As parents and grandparents, we look to a force that is not only a protection against crime but is also a positive reinforcement of the values we treasure and want to instill in our children and grandchildren.
Many of the services provided by the village government make our lives more enjoyable – more pleasant – the “perfect place to live.” But those services pale in comparison to the work that makes this a safe and healthy place to live.
During my career in communications I had the opportunity to report on municipal issues for Syracuse-area community papers. I was interested in hearing The Town of Clay’s merger with the Onondaga County’s Sheriff’s Department used as an example by some trustees. I covered the Town of Clay (and, at one point lived in the Town of Clay).  Anyone who reviewed the demographics, or, indeed, had driven through that town would quickly understand that any vestige of similarity between Clay and Cooperstown simply is not there.
I was also surprised to discover that no public discussion or thought was given to the Village of Liverpool’s (another municipality I covered) failed efforts at merged police services with the City of Syracuse. Equally surprising was the fact that our board dealt with this issue in closed, executive session – out of the public’s eye.
I have decided to run for one of the two trustee positions in the upcoming Village of Cooperstown election. There are  many considerations, many issues facing our village officials but certainly none is more basic, or more important, than public safety.
SALLY R. ELDRED
Cooperstown