Published: October 14, 2009 07:41 am      

Letters to the Editor: October 14, 2009

Tea Parties succeed without media

I read the letter that ended with the rant about the Tea Party movement being a creation of big corporations and the right-wing media. I am the only member of the Republican Party that I know personally and have no contact whatsoever with “big business” (except maybe to shop at Wal-Mart occasionally) or the right-wing media, short of listening to the radio to catch the news on a daily basis.

Yes, those that came to the Stamford Tea Party last April do want less taxes, less oversight and fewer regulations, not for our own profit, but to be able to keep more of the profit we made in the first place. Outside of the government, when was the last time you received a paycheck from a poor man?

To achieve less oversight, start at the top, such as with Congress and follow with the rest of the government.

Regarding regulations, review the ones that we have and decide which ones can be thrown out due to duplication.

The Stamford Tea Party was a success, even without the help of The Daily Star because the letter that was written inviting anyone to come did not make the letters column of this paper.

If this is the way the media handles such invites throughout the country, that may be the reason there are no Democrats at the above-mentioned parties.

Jim Hitchcock

Stamford

Lucy Bernier is qualified as judge I have been a lifelong resident of the Oneonta area and have had the good fortune to know many excellent people who share my devotion to our community. I am proud to support Judge Lucy Bernier in her bid to once again sit the bench in the Oneonta City Court as our judge.

One only needs to spend a few minutes with Lucy to know what a bright, articulate and thoughtful person she is. She is a passionate practitioner of the law and her belief that every person who comes before her deserves equal treatment is at the basis of all she does. She is deliberate, thorough and fair. What better qualities could the residents of Oneonta ask for in their city judge?

Judge Bernier has lived among us her entire life, been educated here, and raised her family here. She knows the joys and challenges of life here. I ask you to join me in supporting her. Return Judge Lucy Bernier to the bench she has served so well by voting for her as Oneonta City Judge on Nov. 3. Thank you.

Madolyn P. Palmer

Oneonta

Erik Miller works hard for community

As “yellow dog” Democrat, I urge city voters to cast their ballot for Erik A. Miller, running on the Republican ticket, to become its next mayor. The fact that I recruited Erik to take over the reins at the Otsego County Conservation Association speaks for my high opinion of his ability to address issues affecting the entire county. He has lived up to my expectations.

Erik brings to the table a sound knowledge of how municipal government works, gained through his studies in urban and regional planning at State University College at Oneonta _ where he graduated summa cum laude _ and his experience working with the county planning department and the state Department of State as a landuse specialist advising towns on land use policy and laws.

At OCCA, I have seen Erik work with numerous towns, offering them the assistance they sought. His kind of expertise is rare in this county, yet much needed. Oneonta would be fortunate to have a mayor who is not only already conversant with municipal law, but also knows of grant availability and could compose the grant application itself, if need be!

Well before his successful bid for Third Ward alderman, Erik was attending city meetings and speaking out on issues. This is not true of the other candidates. Erik’s expertise in project review was, I believe, instrumental in the withdrawal of the wood-burning plant proposal for Oneonta. In this matter, Erik was not confrontational _ to the contrary _ but he knew the pertinent questions to ask, and when the developers didn’t have answers, they voluntarily withdrew their plans.

If you want someone who thinks outside the box, is not bound by partisan politics, and who will work tirelessly for Oneonta, pick the Miller whose first name is Erik.

Teresa Winchester

Town of Butternuts

Getman best choice for Oneonta judge

I don’t normally get involved in local politics, but in the race for Oneonta City Court Judge, I feel I must. I feel that the people of Oneonta should know the qualifications of the candidates before they step into the booth and cast a vote. My wife and I went before Judge Lucy Bernier in a small claims matter. Both parties went pro se (without lawyers). While I am not a lawyer, I know what is fair and what is right. This is not about winning or losing, but it is about the denial of due process in our first hearing before Judge Bernier.

Although we lost our case, we appealed based on mistakes we felt that Judge Bernier made. Our appeal was upheld, in part, by County Court Judge Brian Burns, who cited, “Cross-examination of adverse witnesses is a matter of right in every trial of a disputed issue of fact. ... Although the procedures in small claims court are relaxed, the rules of substantive law must be followed and a person’s constitutional right to due process of law include the basic right to cross-examine witnesses.”

I urge you to cast your vote for Michael Getman for Oneonta City Court Judge. He has served our community as chief assistant attorney, county attorney and city prosecutor. Mike has served on the boards of directors for the Oneonta YMCA, Future of Oneonta Foundation, Hanford Mills Museum and the Riverside Cemetery. He serves on the board of directors for the Dewar Foundation and he is the president of the Fox Hospital board of directors.

Michael Getman has been endorsed by the Oneonta City Police Policeman’s Benevolent Association and the New York State Police PBA. On Nov. 3, vote for Michael Getman as city court judge.

Daryn Seltzer, D.C.

Oneonta

Reps should check out horizontal wells

Horizontal hydrofractured wells are something different!

It’s encouraging that Otsego officials recently visited a “vertical” gas well.

See: “Officials positive following gaswell tour” published Oct. 7. However, I would hope that they also go visit an area where horizontal hydrofractured gas-wells are being drilled. Compared to a typical vertical gas well, these horizontal wells use 100 times as much water and toxic chemicals (4.5 to 8 million gallons) each time a single bore is hydrofractured utilizing extreme pressure. Each bore may be hydrofractured multiple times and each drilling pad may have several bores. The potential for spillage and contamination is astoundingly higher than for a vertical well. Hundreds and hundreds of 80,000-pound-plus tanker trucks will be hauling water to, and toxic waste from, the well pads each time.

Perhaps those same Otsego officials should pick up some of their fellow Delaware County officials and make a trip to nearby Dimock, Pa., where several private water wells have already been contaminated (one blew up) and more than 8,000 gallons of “fracking fluid” was recently spilled in three incidents at one site during a single week. There was a fish kill in a nearby creek.

Stephen Dungan

Walton