LETTER from CHIP NORTHRUP Limit Public Flagpoles To New York, U.S. Flags To the Editor: Now that Oneonta has gotten into the flag du jour game, it may be time to review the wisdom of flying anything other than an American flag on a publicly owned flag pole. Again. Absent a state law governing what flags can lawfully be flown on municipal flag poles, the only lawful options in New York State are the national flag, the state flag and…
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Opinion - Page 249
EDITORIAL Whoever Wins, Let’s Take The Long View Don’t Let Nation Come Apart; Next Election 2 Years Away Not a great choice. On the one hand, Donald John Trump, 74, the Republican incumbent, who made dramatic advances in China relations, trade, border security, Mideast peace and the economy in his first term, but whose erratic behavior, particularly in combatting COVID-19, has eroded support. On the other hand, Joseph Robinette Biden Jr., 77, the Democratic challenger, prepared for the presidency by…
LETTER from DAVID ROWLEY If Flawed, Change ‘Safe Act’; But Leave Constitution Alone To the Editor: In his recent Letter to the Editor, Mr. Anderson suggested that “arguably the most important amendments in the Bill of Rights are the first and second”. He was half right. Clearly, the First Amendment, which guarantees our inalienable rights or basic freedoms, distinguishes a democratic nation like the United States from – as Jefferson believed in 1776 – the King of Great Britain. It…
ENDORSEMENT EDITORIAL United We Stand, With Oberacker, Dan Buttermann This year, Otsego County faces a big challenge, and big opportunities. The threat: State Sen. Jim Seward, R-Milford, is retiring after representing us in Albany for 34 years, where he was able to maintain Otsego County at the center of the 50th District, then the 51st District, through three redistrictings. A Republican when the Senate was usually Republican, he partnered with our Democratic then-assemblyman, Bill Magee of Madison County, to obtain (probably…
LIFE IN THE TIME OF COVID-19 We Must Deal With Both Sides Of Pandemic Now, as the levels of COVID fatigue mount, emotional issues among the public and providers, especially those greatest at risk, continue to grow. This is producing new cases of morbidity and mortality related to the disease, but not directly due to the virus. Social isolation is the state of having minimal contacts with the world. Loneliness is an emotion, a feeling of being isolated from others.…
BE AFRAID, BUT DO IT ANYWAY Fearsome Retirement Mom told me that they promised her the “Golden Years,” but she got the “Rust Years.” She dreamed of retiring. Yet after a couple of weeks into retirement her litany changed from “can’t wait to retire” to telling me – “don’t do it.” • My Mom was born when women were supposed to stay home, while their husbands supported the family. But my Dad, Mom’s husband, lost their farm and his health.…
LETTER from KENNETH J. KAVANAGH He Fired Them; Fire Him To the Editor: The list never ends. General John Kelly (former Chief of Staff), General Jim Mattis (former Secretary of Defense), Rex Tillerson (former Secretary of State), Richard Spencer (former Secretary of the Navy), John Bolton (former National Security Adviser) and on and one. The common denominator through them all is “former.” They were ALL wrong and summarily in time dismissed. In each and every case, Trump was always right.…
LETTER from MARY ANNE WHELAN County Reps Take Oath To Uphold State’s Laws To the Editor: Considerable attention is being paid to the anticipated request by county Rep. Rick Brockway, R-West Laurens, that the county board adopt a resolution declaring our county a “gun sanctuary,” by which is meant a declaration that the police need not enforce the state’s SAFE Act. This is, to begin with, an inappropriate request. As a county representative, Brockway took a signed and sworn oath…
LETTER from SAM GOODYEAR Sam Goodyear Plans Tribute To Chuck Schneider Saturday To the Editor: Along with countless members of our community, I was saddened to read of Chuck Schneider’s death. It stirred multiple memories, as I had the privilege of singing in several Glimmerglass operas and Orpheus Theatre musicals under his direction. In every instance, seeing him in the pit made me feel safe and secure. I felt that he was not only keeping his eye on the production…
EDITORIAL In Places Like Oneonta, Town Needs Gown, Vice-Versa Both college presidents, SUNY Oneonta’s Nancy Kleniewski and Hartwick’s Margaret Drugovich, were key members of the City of Oneonta’s DRI committee. It was formed in 2015 to figure out how best to spent $10 million provided by Governor Cuomo’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative. The committee, no doubt, benefited mightily from both leaders’ wisdom, experience working within institutions and calm demeanors; no bomb-throwers there. In turn, Kleniewski and Drugovich likewise benefited, no doubt,…
