Letter didn't tell whole story about foster care programs
The tone of the May 31 letter, "Let's help these kids in foster care," celebrated Delaware County's adoption system. I disagree, and I think those who have tried to adopt before will as well.
In February, I searched for an attorney, eager to rescue four children I know are victims of neglectful foster parents from Delaware County. The adoption system here is flawed. Abuse was committed by an alcoholic who lived with the grandmother when they were placed with her. When I reported him for hitting her, and other abuses of the children, Child Services didn't even know he drank! I wondered how much investigating goes into determining who's fit to adopt.
The biggest problem adoption faces is that counties favor placing children with relatives, not recognizing that, often, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. There are exceptions, but with lackluster investigating, there's no way to determine who's fit to adopt. Favoring placing foster children with relatives of their biological parents is the biggest obstacle they'll face. It determines what kind of adults their caregivers will raise them to be.
I took exception to the "parent recognition dinner." People should be angry when government spends so much on the trivial, especially because, when I found an attorney, I had to pay $2,000, which doesn't cover the cost of adopting one child, let alone four. I didn't have the money, and I'm sure the abuse continues.
Money for a banquet could have helped one more working person to adopt. I'm not happy to read letters lauding a system that is flawed and favors the rich and unfit. The message should have been to encourage people to contact their representatives, and demand reform of a flawed system, beginning with Delaware County, because right now this isn't a system that warrants celebration.
Christopher Haydu
Downsville
Area residents should get informed about pipeline
I was shocked to read Joe Mahoney's May 30 front-page story, claiming that planners of the Constitution Pipeline are getting an "extremely positive" response from the majority of landowners whose land may be affected. Mr. Mahoney is extremely misinformed.
Cornell Cooperative Extension conducted two educational meetings on May 17: one in Harpersfield and one in Franklin. I attended the Franklin meeting. Representatives from the companies proposing the construction of the pipeline, as well as agricultural, forestry and legal professionals, presented to us. This devastation is not something we want in our area, and I can tell you that there was tremendous opposition by many landowners, neighbors and concerned citizens attending this meeting.
All residents of Chenango, Broome, Delaware and Schoharie counties need to be aware that this pipeline will affect them. Our shallow roadbeds will be destroyed by the weight of huge trucks. And that's only the beginning: contaminated water, air pollution, gas leaks and constant compressor noise are all on the horizon _ unless we stop it.
I encourage everyone to please become informed! Here's a simple way to do it and will consume only 24 minutes of your time. View geologist Brian Brock's very clear and informative presentation of what we can expect from pipeline construction, federal issue statistics and consequences for our area: http://gdacc.org/2012/05/26/constitution-pipeline/. People must understand that Williams/Cabot is not concerned with our beautiful landscape, fresh water and air. Their objective is to make as much money as possible at our expense.
Landowners: you will not get "rich" from allowing this activity! The small amount of money they may offer you is no compensation for losing your privacy, your land, and most importantly, your health _ the very reasons we live here in the first place.
Amy Goddard
Franklin
