Letter from Hanna Joy Bauer

Changes Would Undermine Law

Supporting our veterans and changing the sign law are two separate issues, and I believe it’s essential to treat them as such. As a trustee on the Cooperstown Village Board, I am writing to share my thinking behind my decision to vote against amending the village sign law to allow for banners to be hung on utility poles in the Village of Cooperstown. This decision is rooted in careful consideration of our longstanding village values, legal responsibilities, and the need for sustainable ways to honor our veterans. It was made after months of public debate, research, letters, input from the community, and examining all sides of the issue.

I, along with my fellow board members, have received some very hateful comments about not supporting the veterans and having a lack of patriotism. That is just not the case, at least for me personally. I have deep respect for veterans, including those in my own family: my father, uncles, and grandfather all served in the U.S. Navy, and my uncle and cousins served in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Voting against amending the sign law is not a vote against honoring veterans. I wish this could be understood as two separate conversations.