Editor, OBSERVER:
Gone is honor, trust, loyalty, responsibility and voters' rights.
Our trusted legislators slipped one by us all - a big one. With no demonstrations or TV coverage this time because we trusted them, there sat County Executive Greg Edwards in the back row breathing down the necks of the puppets he trained making sure that before they left office they would vote to retable the issue of hiring Marcus & Milchap - the out of state big city real estate agent to "look into" selling of our County Home.
Keith Ahlstrom made a plea to legislators for respect and honor for the thousands of voters who petitioned to keep the home as well as the fact this was wrong, backstabbing and self serving. How could legislators sleep that night knowing they did this?
Larry Barmore raised his hand in interruption to say "All I hear is stall, stall, stall." Other legislators were also confused by the agenda, stating why did this have to be discussed now and couldn't it wait a month?
They managed a 13 to 11 vote with the last-stab legislators voted out able to outnumber the good guys, that's why.
Man-up Mr. Edwards. Stop hiding behind your pack of outvoted puppets to do the dirty work. After the meeting, Mr. Ahlstrom stated that this last group of legislators was the most dysfunctional he had ever seen, and the budget was doomed as we did nothing to reduce spending in government and blamed the home for it. I spoke to Fred Croscut after the meeting and he asked me, "Do you work there? when I said "No" his face red with annoyance said "Why do you care?" I said "Because I love old people."
He responded, "Nothing will happen to them" and he fully intends to sell our County Home. When my friend said no one can take care of residents by cutting staff and paychecks, Mr. Croscut pointed his finger as if she were a thief and said "I knew it was about the money," then ducked into a party room to get his picture taken.
Merry Christmas to the trusting County Home employees, residents and fellow taxpaying citizens who trusted conniving legislators and an unconscionable county executive to do the right thing.
SUSAN BALDWIN,
Villenova
Privatized still
means paying taxes
Editor, OBSERVER:
We're hearing these days how the Chautauqua County Home is losing great amounts of dollars every day. What does this figure represent? The term losing sounds as if something is being wasted, like the doors are left open with the heat running. Or and this is what I fear, do they mean we are losing or wasting money by operating the service facility?
The way I see it: the facility is a necessary service, and we pay taxes to pay for it.
If the County Home privatizes, we'll still be paying taxes. How are we going to pay for the County Home? Nobody will be interested in taking over the service without being concerned with profit. Prices will go up, and quality of service will go down. Is there any other way?
Theoretically the service is there to provide for those of us who cannot afford higher-class profit-making services. Are those who can afford better and never need such services saying it is losing money to provide for those in need?
Many years back I was living in New York City when services were being cut one after the other, and the homeless population soared, especially with the elderly and not healthy people. It was as if we were being told, "Don't worry. You won't even notice after a while."
What is most dangerous is that you do indeed get used to it, especially when it is to your profit.
JOE INCAVO,
Dunkirk
