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Peoples column

Authority debt often ignored in state

Editor, OBSERVER: It is strange that no mention is made of the enormous debt held by the numerous public authorities in Gov. Kathy Hochul’s budget message? She touts the $14.6 billion in reserve while failing to take into account the budget gap of $34 billion-plus which includes the “reserve! Public authority debt is “off budget” (hidden from public view) thus not subject to voter/legislative oversight as it balloons to over $300 billion statewide! Painting a pretty picture with invisible ink does not fool those of us that look beyond her phony fiscal facade! JOE ...

People’s column

It’s tough digging out in Dunkirk Editor, OBSERVER: I am writing about the snow plowing in Dunkirk. My understanding of reverse parking is that the plow should make a pass down the middle pushing the snow toward the side that’s open and then come back and push the snow off to the open side, not put the snow up against someone’s car. They have been placing a 3-foot wide and 4-foot high wall around our cars daily. This has been an ongoing problem for many years. I’ve tried to talk to people at City Hall and the Department of Public Works and get no results, so I decided ...

America born through diversity

Editor, OBSERVER: I wholeheartedly agree with two comments in the Dec. 12 letter headlined: “We need to maintain values of America.” First, teachers should bring everyone to the highest standards possible, and second, Congress should not be beholden to any foreign government or take a dime from any of their interest groups. But other comments require a response. Perhaps the writer was unaware that most Somalis in the U.S. are citizens. Nationally, over 260,000 Somalis reside in the U.S., with significant populations in Ohio, California, and Minnesota. In Minnesota alone, about ...

Hochul secures victory for voter lists

Editor, OBSERVER: Thank you, Gov. Kathy Hochul for signing the ERIC (Electronic Registration Information Center) bill (S1356A/A3649B). This bill allows New York State to join ERIC, a multistate collaboration to help maintain voter lists. It will strengthen voter protection, election integrity, and efficiency in our state. ERIC is a nonpartisan collaboration of many states to maintain our voter roles. It has been proven to be secure, to help identify those who move, duplicate registrations and those who are deceased. It is set up to prevent wrongful purges and promote civic ...

We need to maintain values of America

Editor, OBSERVER: The illegal immigration issue is not emotional. This is killing our country, finances and culture. You want to come here legally, love the flag, speak English, pay taxes and not take benefits? Come on in and be my friend, but that is the only way we should accept you here anymore. This country is about saving our culture. If you want to experience Somali cuisine, go to Africa. If you want to try sharia law, go to the Middle East. If you cared about Diwali or the Asian New Year, or communism or globalism, or whatever else, go to the countries that do ...

Peoples column

Use of plastics is hazardous Editor, OBSERVER: I would like to thank the OBSERVER for publicizing the recent lunch and learn at the college, sponsored by the League of Women Voters. The discussion alerted us to the various types of plastics and the dangers they pose to humans. This spring, I heard a podcast on Sirius Radio about the effects of plastic on our health, and it was quite alarming. Then I watched a few Ted Talks about plastic, again shocking. This summer, I encountered hazardous plastics at our beaches, parks, and homes. Initially, I noticed discarded single-use ...