The views and opinions expressed in our letters section are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Hudson Valley One. Submit a letter to the editor at deb@hudsonvalleyone.com.
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Hudson Valley One welcomes letters from its readers. Letters should be fewer than 300 words and submitted by noon on Monday. Our policy is to print as many letters to the editor as possible. As with all print publications, available space is determined by ads sold. If there is insufficient space in a given issue, letters will be approved based on established content standards. Points of View will also run at our discretion.
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Trump’s enablers are an unhealthy bunch
Last Thursday night I read in Hudson Valley One about a compassionate man named Mike MacIsaac who welcomed into his home four members of a Ukrainian refugee family. To get here they suffered great perils and unimaginable losses — the lot of all refugees. Mike opened his heart and then his home to them. I was inspired by the story, and I went to bed feeling uncharacteristically reassured about the state of “mankind,” a word that especially since The Revenge of Trump opened on January 20 I’ve been thinking of as a cruel oxymoron.
The next morning my inspiration and reassurance were dampened. I read a Reuters report that the Trump administration is thinking of deporting the 240,000 refugees who have fled Ukraine and received temporary legal status here. Why? In Russia specialist Tom Nichols’ words: “This has nothing to do with strategic necessity or geopolitics. This is just cruelty to show Putin he has a new American ally.”
The only things Donald Trump, Elon Musk, etc. inspire are fear and loathing. If you keep up with the news, you know what’s been going on: indecencies too numerous, and almost too indecent, to mention. Because of this, worried for their mental health, many I know are trying not to keep up.
The mental health I most worry about is that of the perpetrators — for example, Donald Trump’s. Donald’s father, Fred Sr., was a real estate emperor who wanted his eldest son, Fred Jr., to be his successor — a “killer,” like himself. Instead, the father’s killer instinct killed his son: Fred Jr. died an alcoholic at 42. His sociopathic brother Donald was only too happy to fill in. And now, riding high in his second rodeo, surrounded by merciless hired guns, he’s the consummate killer.
I don’t know the backgrounds of Trump’s enablers. But if “mental health” can be measured by how one treats others, by one’s compassion and value system, they are an unhealthy bunch indeed.
Tom Cherwin
Saugerties
Democrat’s childish insensitive behavior
Can the Democratic party dig themselves any deeper of a hole as we all witnessed their incredibly pathetic charades during Trump’s speech before the joint session of Congress? If they keep up their antics, the hole will become the size of a cosmic crater.
Even before Trump’s speech, some Democrats warned their party not to act up but, instead, to display mature, professional and reasonable behavior. But, alas, nearly all of them couldn’t help themselves as they rapidly descended to their cellar of apathy, coldness and passe ideological beliefs.
A touching and heartwarming recognition of a 13-year-old cancer survivor rightly earned the standing applause of those in the audience who possessed a heart and a soul. But, the Democrats remained in their seats with cold faces that said “Ok, what’s next?”
Of course, they couldn’t stand for a young man accepted to West Point who is more than eager to fight for our country and the freedoms the Democrats pretend to espouse.
Then, we had the hypocritical women in their pink clown outfits who allegedly strongly support “women’s rights.” Yeah, right … so much so that when Trump readdressed his executive order protecting women by keeping biological males out of their athletics, the fakers in pink just sat there, emotionless with socks in their mouths. So much for standing up for women’s rights!
And when recognition and compassion are shown to the parents and families who lost loved ones to rape and murder by illegals, justifying the need to remove all illegal criminals from our country, the stone-faced Democrats sat there emotionless as if they couldn’t care less.
How do the Democratic governors and mayors of sanctuary states and cities think they’re going to win reelection bids when thumbing their noses at their legal tax-paying constituents? These “leaders” are breaking their budgets, not in meeting the needs of their legal citizenry, but by providing all kinds of freebies to illegals who don’t even come close to meeting the requirements for legitimate asylum. How will all of the foregoing help the Democrats in the next mid-term elections as well as future elections?
So, when will the Democrats get their act together for their people, pick a legitimate leader and get a game plan together to appeal to all the people in their party who they’ve forgotten? Do they really think that their latest dud, the middle school video on “choose your fighter,” will start them on the right path?
John N. Butz
Modena
The WDC’s endorsement process
There has been much discussion recently about the Woodstock Democratic Committee’s (WDC) endorsement process. Here are the facts:
At the WDC meeting on February 12th, the committee members discussed whether or not to endorse for town supervisor and town council. After the discussion, the committee voted unanimously not to endorse anyone for town supervisor. The committee also voted unanimously to endorse each of the two candidates who had announced to the committee that they were running for the two town council seats. Since the endorsement vote, two other people have entered the race for town council and asked to speak to the WDC. Both candidates will speak to the committee at our next meeting on March 12th. The WDC has never prevented a Democratic candidate from speaking to the committee.
When endorsing candidates, political parties must endorse candidates before the petitioning period starts. The petitioning period lasts roughly a month, beginning in the last week of February and ending in the first week of April. During this period, candidates who want to appear on the Democratic primary ballot must gather signatures from at least 5% of the registered Democrats in their district (e.g., Woodstock). The WDC’s February 12th meeting was the last possible date to endorse before petitioning.
The main benefit of an endorsement by the WDC is that each member of the WDC is required to carry petitions for the endorsed candidate(s). Each member of the WDC may also carry petitions for any of the other non-endorsed Democratic candidates.
Part of the confusion is the conflation of endorsement and nomination. An endorsement does not mean that the candidate will be the nominee. There are many recent examples of the endorsed candidate losing the primary and a non-endorsed candidate winning. The winner of the primary is the Democratic nominee. Once a candidate is the Democratic nominee, each member of the WDC must support that candidate or remain neutral in the general election.
Jeff Collins, Co-Chair
Woodstock Democratic Committee (WDC) on behalf of the WDC
Donald Trump lied
Two points on Donald Trump’s address to the nation:
1. Donald Trump said fraudulent claims on social security are transacted by millions of people from ages 100 to 200 years old. My experience in 2009 when I took care of my 104-year-old father: A man from Social Security made an appointment to visit my father. He came; he looked at my father; he noticed and notated my father was alive. We all chatted; he left. My point is Social Security already has checks in place to determine fraudulent 100-year-old plus claims. Donald Trump is eliminating 7000 Social Security jobs leaving 50,000 workers. I wonder if the workers who check on 100-plus-year-old Social Security receivers will be eliminated.
2. Donald Trump claimed that Joe Biden opened the southern border to immigrants. I googled this claim; so can you if you doubt me. The border gates are opened during monsoon season so the structure of Donald Trump’s wall won’t faulter. The gates during this time are carefully monitored. (Oh, and by the way, most undocumented immigrants arrive at airports.)
Donald Trump lied. Lies have consequences.
Sharon Stonekey
Woodstock
Elect Tim Rogers as supervisor
I am writing to support the campaign of Tim Rogers. In my 60-plus years in New Paltz, I have seen many local and county politicians come and go. Seldom have any of them approached the level of commitment, attention to detail and communication skills demonstrated by this dedicated public servant. I urge everyone to join me in voting for Tim.
Pat Masson
New Paltz
Phony anti-semitism
I am Jewish. My family is Jewish. My deceased grandfather David was a Jewish immigrant from Poland where all his brothers and sisters were exterminated by the Nazis. My grandfather David was stabbed while riding a bus in the Bronx because he “looked Jewish.” I grew up in Chappaqua where our family could not buy a house in Lawrence Farms because we were Jewish. We could not join the Mount Kisco or the Whippoorwill Country Clubs because we were Jewish. These are real instances of anti-semitism.
The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) has concocted a phony definition of anti-semitism that equates criticism of Israel or Zionism with anti-semitism. This new definition is a complete smokescreen specifically designed to silence criticism of Israel. Its sole purpose is to limit, censor and curb anyone from criticizing or condemning Israel’s actions which include massive land theft from Palestinians, genocide, war crimes and the starvation and extermination of tens of thousands of innocent Palestinian women, children, babies and men.
The First Amendment in our Constitution guarantees all Americans the Right to Free Speech and that includes the right to criticize and condemn atrocities committed by Israel which are only possible with American support and billions of our tax dollars. Yes, anti-Jewish feelings are on the rise globally. Why? Because of the depraved horrors and violence being perpetrated by the State of Israel (and live-streamed) to the world. The truth is being revealed and the world is watching it on their screens. This phony definition will not silence the truth tellers.
Eli Kassirer
New Paltz
Re-elect Amanda Gotto
I am endorsing Amanda Gotto who is running for re-election as New Paltz Town Supervisor. Amanda has a vision for what she wants to do, continuing the job she started last year when she completed Neil Bettez’s term after he stepped down to take another position.
I am making this endorsement because I know Amanda’s competence first hand. I depended on her when we worked together closely for five years while I was the volunteer coordinator for New Paltz Climate Smart. Amanda delivered many of our key accomplishments such as the deep data collection of both the town and village to create our first Greenhouse Gas Inventory. She was lead on our Natural Resources Inventory, our Town of New Paltz Climate Vulnerability Study and integral to our connection to get important flood mapping done for our area. Amanda is a master of project management and seeing grants through all the difficult stages. Amanda and I also served together on the Environmental Conservation Board. There I witnessed first-hand Amanda’s tenacity, her thorough preparations, and saw that she is not afraid to stand up for what is right. She does all this while maintaining quality working relationships with people and not creating drama.
Amanda’s core values include data-based decision making and saving taxpayer dollars. She cares about people and plans long term for the best interests of New Paltz and our planet.
Janelle Peotter
Town of New Paltz
Let’s focus on the issues — not the insults
Woodstock is a town of passionate, engaged people, and that’s what makes us strong. But lately, there’s been too much name calling and division. We don’t have to agree on everything, but we do need to work together if we want to make real progress.
I’m asking all of us — no matter where we stand politically — to take a step back from the personal attacks and focus on solutions. Let’s talk about the real issues that impact our town: housing, water, public safety and community well-being.
I believe in leading with respect, listening to different perspectives and finding common ground. That’s the only way we move forward.
Join me in keeping our conversations thoughtful and productive. Let’s build a better Woodstock together.
Anula Courtis, Councilperson and Town Supervisor Candidate
Woodstock
Political activity under the Federal Hatch Act
A New Paltz Facebook user said “it is illegal (Hatch Act) for you to campaign from your official mayor account” after I shared my post and letter to our local paper, where I signed using the title Mayor Tim Rogers. The letter was about Town of New Paltz tax rate increases (+78% during the last nine years, including another +6.4% for FY 2025) and mismanagement of Town of New Paltz fund balance accounts.
The Hatch Act is a federal law passed in 1939 that limits certain political activities.
I contacted the Hatch Act Unit Chief of the U.S. Office of Special Counsel who is authorized under 5 U.S.C. § 1212(f) to issue advisory opinions. I shared my post and letter to our local paper.
Their office responded and said:
1) The post you inquired about on your “Mayor Tim Rogers” page does not raise Hatch Act concerns.
2) The act would not prohibit you from posting your views on the town’s tax rate increases.
3) It is appropriate as an elected official to use your title to communicate with the public, and even to promote your candidacy.
Mayor Tim Rogers
New Paltz
Aging gracefully
At the beginning of 2020, when my wife Susan and I were in our late 70’s, we returned to the Hudson Valley after decades living elsewhere. It is not uncommon for elders to come back to family, and in our case grown kids, ex’es, memories and a few old friends. This delicate re-engagement occupied the early period of our resettlement. We were keenly aware that we were getting not just older, but old.
As we faced into our 80s, we came up with a resolution: “Let’s do our aging as gracefully as we can.” And, we thought, perhaps we can do that with others. Drawing on our varied experience in leading and being part of groups, we proposed to form such a group. We called it Graceful Aging.
This group, necessarily irregular in attendance and varying in age from the late 60’s to the mid-80’s, has been meeting together for more than a year. Together we have originated some guidelines that enhance our ability to listen deeply to one another, to value silence and to share what is uppermost on our minds; there is laughter and story-telling and a lot of compassion. We are like explorers mapping a common terrain from our own co-ordinates.
Here are a few of the questions that recur in our conversations:
• What does the word “graceful” bring to the possibilities of aging?
• What is the wisdom and gratitude we find in our aging?
• How do we discriminate between what to let go of and what to hold onto?
• How can we navigate our duties and responsibilities to our families while respecting our own limitations?
• How do we tolerate the diminishment of our faculties without feeling unmoored?
• How do those of us who are unpartnered deal with new levels of loneliness?
• How do those of us still connected to a significant other enhance our support of one another in aging?
• What are the practices and routines that we value and protect?
• And always: What can we learn from one another?
Graceful Aging convenes on the first and third Wednesdays of the month, from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the Elting Memorial Library in New Paltz. It is an open group; there is no charge to attend. Folks come and go, return or not, but there is a core of regulars. We welcome you to drop in any time.
To inquire further, be in touch with the library at the following e-mail. They will give you my email address if they can’t answer your questions or concerns: frontdesk@eltinglibrary.org.
Peter Pitzele
New Paltz
Tim Rogers is the right person for town supervisor
I am not a resident of New Paltz, but I have worked in the community for over three decades as a photographer for Ulster Publishing. I have known many people who have served both the town and village of New Paltz over the years. I think that I have a fairly informed perspective on what many of these people have accomplished during their tenures.
The people of New Paltz face a challenge this year deciding between two strong candidates. I like Amanda; I think she is super smart. Tim Rogers is my friend.
I met Tim ten years ago when he was running for village mayor. During this time I have learned that Tim is easy to find, always thoughtful and pleasant. Sometimes funny. In addition to that, he has been extremely focused on implementing what he feels is best for his community. He works hard at educating himself, is forward thinking and open to new ideas. I’ve seen him accomplish many things he’s set out to do. I also feel that his tenure has been notable for its civility and respect amongst the trustees, which has enabled them to get things done. This in contrast to periods over the years when communications between some trustees of both village and town were quite contentious and a real distraction from the work at hand.
The citizens of New Paltz are fortunate to have two really strong candidates to choose from. That being said, I feel Tim Rogers has demonstrated a consistent, sincere commitment to the community over his tenure, and is the right person to oversee this new era of consolidation in New Paltz.
Lauren Thomas
Tillson
Extreme makeover
One doesn’t hear the phrase “lunatic fringe” anymore — the lunatic fringe is now in the White House.
Sparrow
Phoenicia
What to do
I have eleven months, unless McKenna resigns sooner or changes his mind and runs again, to think about it. Meanwhile, as long as he keeps misconstruing the facts, I will continue to make the public aware of his actions, was my answer to Gordon Wemp, you know, the one who the court found, “demonstrated a clear intention to deliberate and make decisions outside the public’s eye and [who] had a fundamentally flawed understanding of the provisions of the OLM [Open Meeting Law],” who wrote on Facebook in response to my post about McKenna’s backdoor tactics, “How shall you busy yourself when he’s gone?”
Howard Harris
Woodstock
Outrage needed now!
Recent events at the national level have been nothing short of outrageous. When the president of the United States treats another world leader with playground-level bullying tactics, which is exactly what happened when Ukraine President Zelenskyy met with Trump and Vance, I think it’s fair to say that we have a problem. When the president of the United States fully controls which media outlets are allowed to communicate with him and his staff, we have a problem. And when this same president speaks to congress in front of the world and runs into what was, in effect, nearly no outrage nor resistance from the many members of congress who disagree sharply with his politics, we have a problem.
Aside from the courageous act of Texas representative, Al Green, who stood up and vocally protested Trump’s speech (and was essentially forcibly removed from the room, quite publicly), the resistance to Trump’s platform, agenda, and approach to running this country was quite muted.
This fact was partly due to how the media focused on Trump and seemed to downplay the Democrats, many of whom who held small signs saying things like “false.” While these acts are appreciated, they are not enough. As much as it pains me to say it, Trump came across as a superhero in that address to congress. And this all partly relates to the fact that the Democratic resisters were so downplayed in the production of that event. This president is a master of the media and this fact needs to be taken into account in demonstrating resistance and disapproval. And concern — which I have plenty of right now (as a science educator, as someone who is ethnically Jewish, as someone who works in higher education — and simply as someone who cares about our shared future). To my mind, our progressive representatives need to step up their resistance and turn up the volume.
I stand with congressional representative Al Green.
Glenn Geher
Highland
Hey Trump, thanks for Russian propaganda
“Oh, the President of the Free, they say, yet, in hushed tones, the valor fades away — a clash of titans; one gentle, one base, bravery browbeaten in a disgraceful space. Zelenskyy stands, a beacon in plight, against the harsh currents, he fights for the right. While the world watches, with hearts in their throats, he carries his nation where the sorrow coats. This is not governance but farcical play, where bravado meets honor, lost in dismay. And Trump, the loud herald of a fading esteem, wears the crown of disdain in a preposterous scheme.”– ooznozz
Yes. The President of the United States of America, ostensibly the “Leader of the Free World,” “standing up” to the President of Ukraine, a nation invaded and under siege by a much larger authoritarian aggressor who is a killer of innocent people. What bravery! Punching down is the new standing up. I do have an opinion on what happened between Trump, Vance and Zelenskyy during the session with the press at the White House, including the Russian press TASS … well, that exchange should be required watching.
Zelenskyy needed to counter their lies and stupidity. There is no doubt that Trump is a Russian asset. What a disgusting and disgraceful display in the Oval Office by the president and his sycophantic vice president regarding their treatment of the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
To be clear, the clown show was a “two-on-one” browbeating by Trump and Vance [who’s mastered “Word Salad” and saying whatever is convenient at the time,] — and Zelenskyy, well, he’s smart, brave and strong. Something Trummpkopf and Vance will never be, for it was seen as a shameful embarrassment by them and nothing more … This ugly verbal attack of a man who not only is fighting for his country’s survival against a brutal dictator who, without question, invaded it, stands as a monument to whom Trump is — a Putin apologist. Boy, are they complicit!
The unwillingness to frame this in terms of values and Trump’s personal movement toward creating an illiberal state is unbelievable. Not only is the administration distancing itself from Ukraine but from 75 years of America’s role as a democratic leader. I always thought it would take some evil genius to destroy America. Turns out, all it took was one “conman” with the IQ of a jar of mayonnaise and millions of supporters with even less.
Neil Jarmel
West Hurley
Re-elect Amanda Gotto for New Paltz Town Supervisor
Amanda Gotto, our current town supervisor, has my full support for re-election. She excels in providing services on which we all rely. Her background in corporate management, serving on our town planning board for over six years, tirelessly working and volunteering for our community for years to make New Paltz Climate Smart, and now as supervisor, her attention to detail and diligent monitoring of the TOWN budget — all make our community stronger, greener, safer and more affordable!
In and around New Paltz we are experiencing more periods of drought, increased fires and fire risk, violent storms and increased flooding. We have to strike a careful balance between development and natural resource protection. As more and more high-density developments are proposed, we need to make sure they don’t threaten our carrying capacity for needed water, to drink … and to put out fires. Amanda knows how to work with developers to make sure their plans are protective of the environment. Amanda helped write the Natural Resources Inventory for the town. She continues to secure funding for solar infrastructure for our municipal facilities, saving taxpayers money every year while providing clean energy. Re-elect supervisor Amanda Gotto — working for all of us!
Dr. Eric Perlman
New Paltz
Happy with the job Amanda Gotto is doing as the supervisor in New Paltz
I’m voting for Amanda Gotto for New Paltz supervisor because I admire the spirit she brought to the consolidation talks with the village. Unfortunately, the consultant withdrew from that collaboration, and since I don’t live in the village, I won’t get to participate in or vote on the village dissolution plan. But I do get to vote for Amanda for our community through the merger if it passes. We need her steady hand on the wheel of this complicated process. I am very happy with the job she is doing as supervisor now.
Alex Passas
New Paltz
We’re set to make big steps backwards
I am a totally and permanently service connected disabled veteran. Over the years, I have been very impressed with how well the VA has taken care of me. I have had good doctors, good physical therapists, good nurses and the quality of care continues to improve. The automated systems for appointment reminders, access to medical and administrative records and the reliability of the compensation checks has been remarkable.
I volunteered for the service when I wanted to attend college but had no resources to do so. Subsequently, I used the Vietnam era GI Bill to attend college and graduate school and had a good career until my disability forced me into retirement at 49 years old.
If our current administration was in office at that time, there would have been absolutely no way I would have considered volunteering.
Not only does our president disrespect veterans who served honorably instead of weaseling out on some phony medical condition (that certainly doesn’t keep him from playing golf!) but he denigrates combat veterans who were wounded or captured, calling them “losers.”
Now he plans to decimate the Veterans Administration by firing more than 80000 workers.
Something tells me this is not going to go over well and, judging from his track record, there will be some kind of quick “reversal” that will actually just confuse everybody but still result in those reductions and a corresponding reduction in the quality of care.
The VA wasn’t always so good. Then a movie Born on the Fourth of July exposed the horrors wounded veterans faced. The nation demanded better for veterans and big changes followed.
Now we’re set to make big steps backwards. Is this what we want?
Mauriac Cunningham
Saugerties
Deeply disturbed by the attacks made on our educational system
As a parent, as a community member and as a retired educator, I am deeply disturbed by the attacks made by Trump and Musk on our educational system — and the disgraceful silence of Republican politicians who are charged with representing their constituents. The same politicians who are now being advised by House Speaker Johnson not to hold town halls.
The proposed slashing of the federal grant programs, which includes a program that supplements funding to high-poverty K-12 schools, as well a program that helps cover the cost of education for students with disabilities, will harm children — regardless of their parents’ political choices.
The rhetoric, that Trump is going to give control of our educational institutions back to the states, is belied by the fact that the U.S. Department of Education has recently sent out letters to these same educational institutions threatening to withdraw federal funding if they continue to advance the goals of diversity, equity and inclusion.
The lesson here? Hypocrisy.
Charlotte Adamis
Kingston
New York State’s closed primary system is outdated — it’s time for Final Five!
In his farewell address of 1796, President George Washington warned that “the spirit of the party serves to distract the public councils and enfeeble the public administration. It agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms, kindles the animosity of one part against another, foments occasionally riot and insurrection.” Look at the words Washington chose to make this point. Do they sound familiar? Do they not resonate with what we hear and see in our daily news? The two-party system has delivered us to this point. The two-party system incentivizes politicians and legislators to perform for small, ideological portions of their bases, rather than to engage in collaborative, consensus-based problem solving. The ever-present fear of “being primaried” holds well-meaning legislators hostage to the whims and threats of a small percentage of registered party members. If we remove the fear of “being primaried,” then we free legislators to govern more effectively, and on the behalf of a greater swath of citizens
Luckily there is a way to remove the monopoly-like power of political parties; namely Final Five Elections. FFE’s are an innovative way to change the rules by which we elect our representatives in congress. An FFE combines an open, single-ballot primary, followed by an instant runoff general election among the top five finishers from the primary. This rule change injects a large dose of healthy competition into our primaries and ensures that the winner of the general election earns more than 50 percent of the votes. This incentivizes legislators to govern in a way that appeals to a broad selection of the voting public, as opposed to a tiny percentage of party voters. FFE’s change the incentive structure that our representatives operate in. FFE’s lead to consensus and compromise in congress. New York State’s closed primary system is designed to control who wins. FFE’s are designed to change how the winners behave and govern.
Ron Bath
New Paltz
Asking Representative Ryan to not vote for the SAVE Act
Ever since 2020, the perennial Republican claim of “voter fraud” has had new resurgence due to Donald John Trump’s historically cognizant termed “Big Lie” of far-reaching voter fraud in the presidential election. Typically for a con-artist, he met his victory last year with none of the same skepticism; nevertheless, current members of Congress of the once grand old party now intend to make voting more onerous than ever before — and they’ve dressed a voters’ restriction bill as a so-called ‘SAVE’ Act as part of their broader Project 2025 intentions for the year.
We have surpassed one month of the 2025 catastrophe creation project, and February seems to have had a focus from Elon Musk and the “government efficiency” or DOGE effort, but even then the Republicans of Congress have sought the SAVE Act’s voter restrictions, and continue to in March. Such restrictions include more demanding voter identification requirements, including expectation of an original, physical birth certificate for their expected opposition, which many women, seniors, veterans and the disabled — who would also face multiple other new hurdles if the bill passed — would face disenfranchisement from, and expectedly at a disproportionate extent of likely liberal or Democratic voters.
Our representative, Pat Ryan, can’t allow the SAVE Act to begin as a law if it has a vote called. While Senator Schumer may have some discretion in the Senate, Speaker Johnson can call a vote from the House and require a turn to the Senate if it passes. Therefore, to hold stern against Johnson’s own forays toward the Project 2025 impetus, he must vote No against the SAVE Act, and advocate firmly against it while it has deliberation in the House, as well.
James Owen Carmody
Kingston
Understanding attention
It’s funny how attention works. It’s like a river — sometimes rushing, sometimes still, but always carving its way through the landscape of life. People chase it, wade into it, drown in it, build dams to hoard it, or stand on the banks, desperate for a single ripple to reach them. And yet, the one current that’s always there, the one that never dries up, is the quiet stream inside — the attention we give ourselves. But who trusts that? Who even listens?
I’ve watched men of the cloth, men of the politic and men who stitch their souls together with both. They wrap themselves in robes, rhetoric and borrowed convictions, searching outward for the answer to a question they don’t dare whisper: Why do I feel so hollow?
They lean on crowds like crutches, on devotion like currency. They drink in admiration, power, obedience — any form of attention that might fill the gap where self-knowing should be. And the cost? Oh, the cost. It isn’t paid in gold, votes, or hymns sung in their honor. It’s paid by those who follow them, trust them and shape their lives around a leader who never learned to lead himself. It can take a lifetime to wake up from that spell, to realize you were just a body in someone else’s audience, clapping on cue.
When all things of the soul — faith, love, purpose — are fed from the outside, attention becomes the only meal. A hungry man will eat anything, even if it poisons him. And a starving soul will chase any light, even if it’s only a reflection.
But the self — if given a chance — whispers softer truths. It can comfort. Hold. Listen. Heal. It can become the love that, for so long, was begged for in all the wrong places. And in the end, that kind of love that doesn’t beg or barter is the only one strong enough to give away.
Larry Winters
New Paltz
Elaxation
Verb, stem of LAXARE,
to unloosen, to relax,
to widen. See LAX.
Used by Blount, 1775.
Lost, 1847. Obsolete.
ELAXATE. Verb or noun,
who says I can’t use it
in conversation, or Scrabble
just because it isn’t in
their Official Holy Dictionary.
It’s in the OED, obsolete
or not. That’s good enough
for me. Words change,
fade away, find new meaning.
I claim it back from the dust.
Take a deep breath
or two, ELAXATE, let
the word be in print
again and on our lips
and tongue.
Patrick Hammer, Jr.
Saugerties
Pass the NY HEAT Act
Cleaner heat and lower bills are within reach if we include the NY HEAT Act (S.4158/A.4870) in this year’s state budget. No one should be forced to live with the cold because they can’t afford heating while our state legislature has the ability to solve the problem.
In 2019, New York State committed to reducing carbon emissions by 40% from 1990 emission levels by 2030 which is only five years away. The NY HEAT Act can get us one step closer to our commitment. Did you know that one in seven households in New York are struggling to pay their energy bills and are behind by at least two months of payments? That is over 1.2 million people affected by this crisis. This likely means that you probably see at least one person everyday who is struggling with paying their bills. They may be your neighbor or your cashier at the grocery store or maybe it’s you.
The collective debt from these struggling families is more than $1.3 billion. This winter the price of heating for New Yorkers increased by around 18%. The NY HEAT Act would place a cap of no more than 6% of household income on energy bills. Get involved and encourage your state assemblymember and senator to support the NY HEAT Act today!
Sarah Abramowitz, environmental protections intern, NYPIRG
New Paltz Chapter
Private ownership of energy is a systemic problem
The issues that Central Hudson ratepayers are facing are not the fault of one company — they’re the fault of the entire system. After receiving double digit increases, Con Edison is filing for yet another double-digit rate increase. Meanwhile, other corporate monopolies have also received rate increases across the state and the country.
A new report finds that over the last three years, investor-owned utilities’ residential electricity rates have increased by 49% more than inflation nationwide, while that of publicly owned counterparts have increased by 44% LESS than inflation. As of September 2024, nearly 25% of US households were unable to pay their energy bills in at least one month in the past year.
It’s not just Central Hudson, it’s all of them. And it’s not just now — people have been complaining about high rates from investor-owned utilities since the early 1900s, which is why former governors like Charles Evans and FDR were advocates of public power. The obvious long-term solution is removing energy from for-profit ownership and reclaiming it as a public good. That’s what the small town of Massena did in 1981. After seven years of legal battles and referendums, it flipped the switch of a new publicly owned utility, dropping the utility bills by a quarter. We can do the same here by passing the Hudson Valley Power Authority Act and replacing Central Hudson with a democratic and accountable public benefit state corporation.
Steve Goodman
New Paltz
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