Month: October 2020

Categories: Letters to the Editor, OpinionState should return park land to TrumpRecently, The Daily Gazette published an editorial entitled “Leave Trump’s Name on Park,“ urging members of the Legislature not to waste their time attempting to strip Donald Trump’s name from a downstate park. Trump donated the property to the state of New York in exchange for a $100 million tax write-off in 2006. Trump’s attorney stipulated in a letter to the Department of Parks that the park be named for Trump, and that his name be displayed at the park’s entrances.  People went to the polls in 2016 to elect a new president. The people appeared to choose Clinton. It was reported that she won the popular vote by approximately 3 million votes. Then came the Electoral College and the “districts” where a candidate can claim all the votes if their candidate only won by two. Therefore, depending on the population of the districts (determined by the party leading in any given state), a loser can become a winner.As a result, we have a president (dictator?) who lies, cheats, cares nothing about laws unless they benefit him, and who is willing to damage the lives of thousands of government employees by shutting down portions of the government to have his own way and to declare “he owns the shutdown.”All because he can’t have his beautiful wall.I’m reminded of a small child having a temper tantrum, throwing toys, stomping on them and crying because he can’t have his own way.In addition to the damage this president has caused our country already (I’m thinking of the environment) with his “my way or the highway” attitude, he’s managing to alienate many of our allies, while defending others who generally are considered the enemy. National emergency? I truly believe that Trump IS the national emergency.Pat BruschettiCanajoharie Toddler-like Trump is a national emergency  However, the actual deed conveying the land to the state did not include any such conditions.Trump’s response to the issue was, “If they want, they can give me the land back.”My suggestion is that the state should do that. Return the land. No more park. No more signs. Sadly, I believe that it may be too late for the state to require Trump to amend his income taxes for 2006. However, the property would be returned to the tax rolls and, since it’s in an affluent, high-tax area (it straddles Westchester and Putnam counties), even if the entire park were to remain undeveloped, the taxes on $100 million of real estate would substantially benefit the surrounding towns.The state loses the expense of maintaining the park. Trump gets his land back. And a large swath of currently unused property will generate a significant amount of local revenue. Everybody wins.How can the self-proclaimed greatest deal maker not love it?Paul DeierleinSchenectady Democrats’ power play is just beginning The new House of Representatives has now been under the Democrat, liberal, progressive Pelosi regime for almost three weeks. They are giddy with power.Let’s see what has happened in just the first couple of days.Many Democrats, including Nadler (D-NY), Cummings (D-MD), Schiff (D-CA) and others, had previously signaled their intention to prioritize their new power to investigate Trump rather than legislate for their constituency and the country. Sherman (D-CA) and Green (D-TX) have already introduced articles of impeachment of Trump. Cohen (D-TN) has introduced legislation to eliminate the Electoral College.In legislation designed only for show, the Democrats voted to re-open the government. But, of course, with no funding for the border wall automatically sealing its fate. In a very short session, the House managed to carve out time to change various rules regarding religious headwear, sexual orientation and gender identity. Finally Pelosi (Speaker, D-CA) moved quickly to create special committees on climate change and Medicare-for-all, both of which have forever been on the liberal wish list.Newly elected representatives have also made their mark. The shiny new toy that is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) has likened herself to Lincoln and FDR, yet she has proven to be both ideologically and economically illiterate. Representative Tlaib (D-MI), at an ultra-liberal MoveOn.org sponsored gathering proclaimed “ we’re going to impeach the m-f.”Prepare yourselves. This is only the beginning.John MyersRotterdam JunctionMore from The Daily Gazette:Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s press conference for Sunday, Oct. 18EDITORIAL: Thruway tax unfair to working motoristsEDITORIAL: Find a way to get family members into nursing homesEDITORIAL: Urgent: Today is the last day to complete the censusFoss: Should main downtown branch of the Schenectady County Public Library reopen? read more