The Daily Star —
Seward is one of the good guys
In Albany there are plenty of villains and very few good legislators to go around. State Sen. Jim Seward is one of the good guys.
Since being elected to the state Senate in 1986, he has been a champion of property tax reform. He strongly supported the STAR program, the Farm School Property Tax Refund program, the 2 percent property tax cap, ending property taxes on silos and grain bins, and property tax relief programs for veterans and volunteer first responders.
He has been a strong advocate for local schools and colleges. He has worked around the clock in each session, securing funding for the schools and colleges in his district to bring more technology education to his district to prepare children for tomorrow’s economy. He also has worked to make sure children with special needs are not left behind by cuts to special education.
He worked to start the Power for Jobs program to help lower electric costs. He also worked to allow Chamber of Commerce, Farm Bureau and other business, labor and trade associations the ability to buy and sell health and other insurances in volume to offset costs. He worked to allow businesses with 50 or fewer employees to receive a tax credit of 10 percent for their health insurance premiums.
Because of the respect of his peers in the Senate, he was asked to chair task forces on Volunteer Emergency Services and State and Local Preparedness. He established a low-interest loan program to assist departments for capital and equipment needs, increased funding for first responder training, and amended the traffic laws to allow young people who join fire departments to drive at night to calls and for meetings and training.
All Republicans need to return to Albany this very good advocate.
Duane Martin
South Kortright
Letters to the Editor
Letters to the Editor: Aug. 24, 2012
- Letters to the Editor
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White House owes us honest answers
Hello Washington! Is anyone working on the IRS scandal, our financial crisis or Benghazi? Who is managing the Executive Branch? How about some honest answers from the White House?
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Public campaign financing deserves a vote
Senator Jim Seward has called public financing of campaigns "Dead on arrival in the Senate." This is not true. It isn't dead, it is still knocking on the Senate door. The Republican caucus won't let it in.
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Take advantage of town pipeline suvey
I recently received a letter from the town of Davenport surveying town residents regarding the proposed Constitution Pipeline, which, if allowed, will cross about 128 properties in Davenport alone.
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NSA leaks provide a way to right wrongs
Revelations that the National Security Agency has been monitoring our communications in apparent violation of the Fourth Amendment is causing quite a stir, but partisans are already trying to use it for their own ends. If that happens, the republic will have lost an important opportunity to set things right.
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Sheriff's deputies shouldn't take vehicles home
With the cost of living constantly on the rise, with our governments cutting back on services, even furloughs, increases in property taxes, income taxes, utility bills and especially the cost of gasoline, diesel fuel, home heating oil, etc., then why is it that the Otsego County Sheriff's Department allows all their deputies to take the county police vehicles home so they can travel to and from work?
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Cooperstown parking rules hurt natives
I went for my mom's prescriptions at CVS on Cooperstown's Main Street at 10 a.m. and there wasn't a parking slot to be had. I parked in an illegal spot and ran for it. When I got Mom's medications, I politely told the checkout girl I will be transferring my business to a location with easier parking access. She said she'd heard the same words from other customers. When I returned to my car, a business owner was outside in the rain clearing his business spots of unauthorized vehicles.
Continued ... - Thursday, June 13, 2013
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Cherry Valley event showed future
I would like to add my thanks to the village of Cherry Valley and the fire department for their hard work and superb organization as they played host to the bicentennial celebration of the Cherry Valley fire department. The village put on a wonderful celebration that began with a belly-busting pancake breakfast and offered entertainment throughout the day.
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Equality bill would protect women's health
I am writing in support of Gov. Cuomo's "Women's Equality Agenda," a bill that protects women's rights in 10 critical areas of continuing discrimination and inequality in New York state. Among other important reforms, the bill proposes moving the regulation of abortion out of the criminal code and into the Public Health Law, where it belongs. In doing so, New York state law would ensure that a doctor can provide the medical care a woman needs if something goes terribly wrong at any point in her pregnancy without being subject to criminal investigation.
Continued ... - Wednesday, June 12, 2013
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Our country needs plan
The national debt, deficit, and budget are out of control, and worst of all no one important seems to care or is unable to get this message to the president and public at large. Attempts to control spending so far have been ineffective and not focused on its importance.
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More guns will only mean more shootings
Just this past weekend, in Arizona, a young father was shot to death by his 4-year-old who was playing with a gun. Apparently this is how we celebrate Father's Day in the 21st century USA.
Continued ... - Monday, June 10, 2013
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Pumping equipment not frack-related
This letter is in response to letters that appeared in the In Your Opinion section of The Daily Star (Chris Hammond May 28 and Paul Lilly on June 5.) These letters referenced equipment and materials on our property near Route 7 in Colliersville. Jett Industries owns and manages this property.
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C-town residents have parking options
Dennis Dorn's recent letter raises important issues about parking in Cooperstown's downtown on Main and Pioneer streets, where paid parking is in effect Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day. There has been some confusion about the details of paid parking, specifically the provisions that are designed to ease the burden for locals. Those who need to run quick errands will find that all designated 15-minute spaces continue to be free. Designated handicapped spaces are also free, as is parking before 9 a.m. and after 6 p.m.
Continued ... - Saturday, June 8, 2013
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Accusations about town board not true
In response to Ms. Piciullo's letter printed May 29, the "sarcastic smirk" and "chuckles" on the face of a town board member about "The List of the Harmed" was NOT true!
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Time to clean house in the IRS
I am writing to express my opinion on the corruption uncovered in the Internal Revenue Service.
Continued ... - Thursday, June 6, 2013
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More info needed on pump station
I would like to thank Chris Hammond for his letter to the editor in the May 28 edition of The Daily Star in which he revealed the purpose of the collection of heavy industrial machines in Colliersville that I have wondered about for some time.
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Teacher gave exemplary speeches at event
Mrs. Connie Herzig, one of two extraordinary physical education teachers, recently gave two of the best speeches I've heard in my life.
Continued ... - Wednesday, June 5, 2013
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New parking meters hurting Cooperstown
Yesterday I drove to Cooperstown to see the Traveling Vietnam Wall at Doubleday Field. I parked by the bakery and started to walk to Doubleday when I noticed the new parking meters. I had to go back to the truck and get eight quarters as they will not take $1 bills. Then I had to go back to the truck with my receipt for the truck dashboard.
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Budget defeat signals schools' troubles
The Daily Star's report, "One local school budget defeated" is another reminder of the difficulties facing school districts, taxpayers, and the state today -- trying to balance tax increases and staffing cuts, while providing a quality education for our children.
Continued ... - Tuesday, June 4, 2013
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Scouting change good; more change needed
Thank you for your positive response to the action of the Boy Scouts of America in removing sexual preference as a criterion for youth membership. Confusion remains, of course, because a gay Scout who turns 18 and wants to give back to his troop by becoming an assistant scoutmaster will be denied. This barrier must be removed next.
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Thank NRA for NY SAFE Act
As for the failure of the vote on the background checks, Chuck, look at the cartoon on Page 6, on Friday, April 26, of The Daily Star. Answer your question?
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White House owes us honest answers
