Editor, OBSERVER:
Recently I was given a violation notice for brush at the curb by Department of Public Works director Tony Gugino.
I would have kept it until my regular pick-up day,but my friend told me they were doing a city brush pick-up. I looked and saw that two of my neighbors had brush out and subsequently put mine out.
I wouldn't even be writing this, but a city truck turned around in my driveway, saw my brush, ignored it and picked up my neighbors.
Really? You told my friend that you'd already done this street and weren't doing anymore. Excuse me Mr. Gugino, but my next-door neighbor has the same street address as me. Coincidentally, my neighbor across from me lives on the same street.
It would have taken much less time to pick up the brush than it did to go and get a city car and bring me the violation. There was no address on it and the date was wrong. Perhaps if you were nicer to people and just did your job, people wouldn't pick on you.
I have lived here all my life and am very disappointed as to how this was handled.
LINDA BRADLEY,
Dunkirk
Home deal
a 'great loss'
Editor, OBSERVER:
The Chautauqua County Home is a gem. Western New York has lost so much already. If we lose it, it will be a great loss more than some people can realize right now.
I worked more than 30 years at the home and have seen many family members come and go.
Many of them have compared the Chautauqua County Home to other private ones.
They generally say the care is better and it "doesn't stink!" And many of my co-workers came from private nursing home work in the area and the care cannot be compared.
Do not believe them when they say there will be no change in care.
They are wrong. Private homes, bottom line, are making money and patient care goes down. Is inferior care for our elderly, disabled and others with debilitating diseases or accidents to be our standard care?
JULIE HUTCHINSON,
Dunkirk
Drugs are
major issue
Editor, OBSERVER:
My comment today goes out to an article on the front page of the OBSERVER (March 1) headlined "Coughlin's questions draw Task Force fire."
What I don't understand is why anyone in their right frame of mind would question anyone or group involved in public safety, especially where drugs are involved.
Legislator William Coughlin states he was a prosecutor and a defense lawyer but Mr. Coughlin, you were never involved or worked in law enforcement.
Again I repeat: what cost is public safety, of which you know nothing of and never will because you were a lawyer not a cop?
Mr. Coughlin, you are now a legislator. You have more problems to solve from within your own ranks. So if you're not an expert in law enforcement, keep your smart alec comments to yourself.
I think Coughlin should worry more about the Medicaid billions and welfare billions to the free loaders.
RICH MAKUCH,
Dunkirk
