Letters for Sunday, January 7, 2024

The two things that prevented crashes at that low bridge for 50 years were its narrow opening and the red light.

That red light gave truck drivers the chance to wonder, “Do I fit under that bridge?”

I say “Bring back the red light” – triggered by a too-tall truck. But it cannot be like the normal red lights that drivers run every day.

Think instead the flashing red lights of a railroad crossing. Let the engineers decide how long they stay red in the offending direction.

Raising the bridge and tracks by the Alplaus Creek would seem straightforward (but expensive). However, the tracks that cross Maple Avenue where the latest bridge strike happened, and cross Glenridge Road at Bruce Drive, also cross over the tracks in question about 1,200 feet to the south.

Those two tracks crossing each other may limit the height change that could be accomplished.

And what works for Glenridge Road works for Maple Avenue.

Jim Fogarty

Niskayuna

More funds, training to protect responders

The information in the Dec. 22 article, (“County continues to push for moratorium on battery storage systems,”) indicates serious concerns by county EMS personnel for fire safety standards to protect public health.

The protection of firefighters’ lives is essential with appropriate education, training and necessary equipment to handle hazardous chemical materials that are permitted in the installation of renewable electrical energy production units and battery storage systems for our EMS facilities.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the National Fire Protection Association, the U.S. Fire Administration and other organizations need to combine science-based standards to develop skilled procedures in handling hazardous chemical materials in communities.

Application to FEMA’s Fire Prevention and Safety Research and Development program and the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act funds must include science-based procedures for services by state and county EMS personnel.

The County Shared Services planning process needs school districts and fire districts to establish partnerships with BOCES and SUNY institutions to sponsor career education and training programs using internships, apprenticeships, fellowships and training-the-trainer programs to ensure our safety, health and well-being.

Designated Climate Smart Communities with fire districts can apply for funds from the U.S. Office of State and Community Energy Program and NYS Energy Research and Development Authority to install essential energy infrastructure at EMS facilities.

Waiting for the State Interagency Fire Safety Working Group findings will delay application for funds to plan EMS energy projects in response to global warming with extreme climate events so as to protect ourselves.

Michael McGlynn

Watervliet

Israel was generous in dealings with Gaza

First of all, before the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas, the Palestinians living in Gaza were employed in Israel, crossing daily into Israel without any issues.

Israel supplied all electricity, gas, internet, water, advanced medical treatments and medicine into Gaza.

Egypt, which also shares a border with Gaza, refused to supply anything for Gaza.

Israel provided free surgery and hospitalization in Israel’s best hospitals for Palestinian children and allowed one parent to come in with the child and fed and hosted the parent during the child’s stay free of charge, yet once the child was safe to return to Gaza after thanking Israeli doctors for saving their child, they then hoped that the child would kill Jews and be a martyr. There are videos on YouTube showing this.

What other country in the world provides aid to those who want to destroy it? None.

Robin Zucker

Schenectady 

Solutions to people leaving state are clear

OMG, what a brilliant idea. After reading Ashley Hupfl’s article, (“Santabarbara and Tedisco introduce bill to study out-migration,” in the Dec. 29 edition, I am amazed with the plan to form a panel, to study the tragedy of New York state out-migration.

The plan is proposed by state Sen. Jim Tedisco and Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara.

After I finished laughing, I thought they may be serious. Please allow me to make a few suggestions.

1) Stop stifling business growth. If you do not create jobs, you do not have growth. Jobs are created by people with vision and experience, not politicians.

2) Stop spending money like you have it, when you don’t.

The property taxes and personal income taxes are out of line with competing states.

3) Stop all lobbying. Do your own research before voting to spend taxpayers’ money, and take responsibility for your actions.

4) Ask your constituents directly about their concerns and pay attention to their replies.

5) Stop the political posturing and get the job done.

The reason people leave the state is the cost of living and not necessarily the weather.

Bruce Reisner

Niskayuna

For people’s health, restore plastic shields

Attention St. Mary’s Hospital in Amsterdam:

I am very disappointed in your decision to remove the plastic shields from the desks of the intake staff throughout your facility.

With the terrible increase of RSV, covid, flu, coughs, colds, and other contagious illnesses, I think the best preventative measures would be your prime concern.

Removing the shields that protect your staff and the public, who are there only because of a medical need or illness, seems absurd.

Several hospitals are renewing their face mask mandates to limit exposure to all highly contagious diseases.

Please, for the safety of all, rethink and reverse this policy and replace the protective shields for the well-being of all.

Deborah Marek

Fort Johnson

Leaders must realize impact of high taxes

Economic health of a community can be evaluated in many ways.

Business growth reveals some clues. Does the community lure manufacturing businesses? Census.gov/quickfacts for Broadalbin shows blank responses under “Businesses.” Is this a sign of economic malaise?

Do graduates from the school system remain local or come back after college or trade schools?

Is the general school population growing or contracting?

County government reports accumulated economic growth, but how are local economies impacted by inflation and taxes?

When county expenses rise, the effect on tax rates in all municipalities are impacted.

What is the return on investment (ROI) for small communities?

How are small communities evaluated by leaders that set tax rates and disburse the wealth? With recent tax rates considered, it is important to note that coming out of 2022, the Broadalbin local community has 86 properties in foreclosure for delinquent property taxes.

Another 277 properties are delinquent in school taxes. Is this an indication of the financial stress imposed on the community?

According to censusreporter.com, 10% of Broadalbin residents live below the poverty line ($15,000) with 9% of seniors over 65 suffering the same fate.

Data.nysed.gov reports 43% of Broadalbin school district students come from “Economically Disadvantaged” households.

Those living on $50,000 or less make up 38% of our district population, and it can be difficult to make ends meet on an average Social Security allowance.

The foundation of small rural communities is compromised by leadership that does not fully understand the effects of excessive taxation.

Mark Bohne

Broadalbin 

Be ready for growing immigrant onslaught

If you do not live in an area that has not had devastating, destructive wildfires, catastrophic flooding, tornadoes and hurricanes, and unrelenting drought, be prepared.

Because if you think immigration from the southern border is a problem now, wait until they come from all borders as people flee their uninhabitable piece of Earth.

The climate is changing and it will change you.

Closing out on a thoughtful note, read the lyrics to John Lennon’s song, “Imagine” and maybe one day the world will be as one, as he proposed.

Sandra J. Natale

Wilton

Well-informed voters are the key to change

I have been seeing lots of lines lately.

Lines at airports. Lines of cars along the highways. Lines of people spending amazing amounts of money for the holidays.

Often, I pass a McDonald’s or Dunkin’ Donuts with lines of cars, engines running, waiting to get a cup of coffee or breakfast. These lines represent Americans spending money. Could be gas money, airplane fees, money for coffee and money spent keeping the car going while they wait.

If you listen to the polls taken lately, you hear the crying going on about what troubles Americans have. For some Americans, money is certainly limited, and times are tough.

There are some improvements that will help that situation coming and even in place now. The minimum wage is going higher, gas prices are much lower, unemployment is down to record levels, the stock market is at record highs.

So there is good news for many levels of society.  Prices at the stores are still high, and it means we might have to change our eating habits. But hey, it is always more fun to complain.

Around the world, there are also lines we can see. Lines of corpses in Ukraine, Israel, and Gaza, representing brave freedom fighters and, additionally, innocents killed.  There are lines of people waiting for water or food in places.

Entering 2024, the most important lines we should see are the lines of well-informed voters at our crucial upcoming elections.

Begin now, learn the real issues.

Janice Walz

Scotia

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