Youth in legal system need to be supported
As a network of families and young people with lived experience navigating systems like mental health and juvenile justice, Families Together of NYS is proud to be one of the lead organizations that secured the passage of New York’s Raise the Age law in 2017.
Since then, we have been dismayed by statements from some law enforcement that have no basis in data, claiming that Raise the Age has contributed to an increase in youth violent crime.
In fact, according to statistics from the state Division of Criminal Justice Services, the opposite is true.
Since the law went into effect, we have seen a 68% decrease in arrests of 16- and 17-year-olds for serious offenses, including violent crimes, in communities outside of New York City.
In New York City, there has been a 48% decrease, and a recent report from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice found that the share of violent crimes committed by youth under 18 has also gone down.
However, there is a part of Raise the Age that needs fixing. Of the hundreds of millions of dollars allocated to implement the law since passage, only a fraction has been spent.
This means that we are failing communities by not providing crucial programs and services to the young people who need them most.
Treating 16- and 17-year-olds as adults in the legal system won’t make us safer. But investing in them — and making good on the promise of Raise the Age — will.
Paige Pierce
Albany
You don’t let someone like Golub get away
I have known Neil Golub (not well) for over 30 years. My father did business with the Golubs going back to the 1940s, and he always spoke highly of them regarding their business acumen and generosity.
Neil and his family have always been very involved in the community, so much so that their name is nearly a watermark on charitable events throughout the entire Capital District, and his love and attention vis-à-vis Schenectady is unparalleled.
Schenectady has had some great producers over the years: Barry Kramer and Pat Riley as basketball All-Americans and national legends; Neil Golub is certainly in that league as an accomplished businessman and philanthropist, and deserves our heartfelt thanks for many years of service.
It is unsettling to see he resigned due to internal conflict.
I do not know Ray Gillen, but know he enjoys a vaulted reputation as well.
However, for my money, when you have an all-American businessman and entrepreneur, and only eclipsed by his generosity to the community, you don’t let him go. You do everything you can to keep him.
Michael Rinella
Schenectady
All groups have good and bad attributes
Native Americans have a reputation as environmentalists. They also care about the future and have gratitude for the good animals have done for them.
These are all big positives.
On the other hand, they also have done sacrifices and scalping. They’ve been involved in many wars.
All groups are capable of and do good. All groups are capable of and do bad. This applies to everyone.
Just like conservatism in 1800s America, modern liberalism done differently has potential for some good. When you focus on issues I consider to be less important and don’t acknowledge the above facts, you lose me.
On a related note, many liberals think opposing immigration is racist. Since a huge number of countries don’t bring in many immigrants, does that apply to them too?
Liberals should be more honest about race.
Colin Yunick
Charlton
Grateful for great care at Saratoga Hospital
On Oct. 13 at 5 a.m., I arrived at the Saratoga Hospital ER in a great deal of pain from a neck issue/injury.
I was signed in and in ER Room 9 within 15 minutes. At that point, I was wondering when I’d be attended to, as local media has been warning of huge delays and low-quality issues in our area hospitals.
Trust me, this was not what I experienced at all. Immediately, I was attended to by a team of at least six to eight medical technicians from different medical modalities, all working as a team to diagnose my condition.
I did not get their names, but I want to thank them for their professionalism and compassionate care in my time of need.
We, including myself sometimes, undervalue what these dedicated medical personnel deal with day in and day out, and they should be recognized for being there for all of us 24/7.
Ray Evans
Mechanicville
Stefanik should stay out of local politics
Rep. Elise Stefanik, NY21, recently endorsed three Republican candidates for the Fulton County Board of Supervisors.
Democratic candidate for re-election Marie Born reacted to Stefanik’s endorsement of her opponent, saying Stefanik should keep her nose out of local politics.
Born has represented Gloversville’s First Ward since 2008, longer than Stefanik has been in office.
Democratic candidates for supervisor in the Nov. 7 election – Cynthia (Cindy) Fratianni, Town of Mayfield; and Randi Smith, Town of Johnstown – also face Stefanik-backed candidates.
Both Fratianni and Smith are political newcomers.
In my opinion, Rep. Stefanik has no business meddling in local politics. She should make the House of Representatives her business. The House has become dysfunctional since the ouster of Speaker Kevin McCarthy and needs to get its house in order now.
Wally Truesdell
Gloversville
Encourage women to get mammograms
National Mammography Day is observed annually on the third Friday of every October, during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This year, it will was celebrated on Oct. 20.
The day is marked to remind women to book an appointment for early detection of breast cancer.
According to the CDC, cancer is the second biggest cause of death among Americans. Breast cancer is among the most common diagnosis in women, and screenings and exams are crucial for early detection and treatment.
You can celebrate the day by spreading awareness by social media or the best thing you can do is attend or book a mammography screening for yourself, or support someone else to get access to screening.
The American Cancer Society’s estimates for breast cancer in the United States for 2023 are: About 297,790 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women. About 55,720 new cases of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) will be diagnosed. About 43,700 women will die from breast cancer. Men can get breast cancer too.
If you do not have health insurance, you may be eligible for the Cancer Services Program of Fulton, Montgomery and Schenectady Counties. Please call Carmen Rodriguez at 518-770-6817.
Remember to take the time to encourage the women in your life to get their mammogram. Their life is worth it.
Wendy Lucas
Amsterdam
The writer is the Women’s imaging supervisor, St. Mary’s Healthcare RAO Pavilion.
Don’t give Jew haters a platform in paper
In her Oct. 20 letter, (“What’s really going on with Palestinians,”) Flora Ramonowski is obviously so far gone in her paranoid antisemitism that there is no point in responding to the jumble of hateful nonsense she assembled into her mini-screed.
It is, however, necessary to question the judgment of the editors in making the disgusting decision to print it. Are you not ashamed to publish such garbage after the massacre, rape, torture and kidnapping of Jews — babies and children, the disabled, the elderly, ordinary people going about their ordinary lives, all of them guilty of nothing but being Jews?
The Jew-haters are coming out of the woodwork. The Gazette needn’t give them a platform.
Jessica Hornik Evans
Alplaus
Gazette needs to clean up its grammar
As a long time Daily Gazette subscriber, I would like to laugh at the grammar errors the paper publishes, but it is not so funny.
It is a testament to the carelessness that seems to permeate our current society.
What caused me to write is the example in the Oct. 23 article entitled, “HAL presents Ghosts of the Past haunted history tour.” In the second to the last paragraph, describing ticket availability, it states that tickets must be purchased in advance. Then adds the line, “Tickets will be sold last week.” Having never been an English language major I suspect there is a blunder.
And if this was an isolated incident, that would not be worth a Letter to the Editor. But it isn’t. There have been numerous errors in this newspaper for the last year. I have found obviously incorrect words, articles where each sentence is a stand-alone paragraph, and truncated news articles on the printed version. I am guessing proofreaders have been sacrificed for corporate profits?
And it always strikes me that we have a serious language arts deficiency in this land. U c it in txts, WAIP (where anything is possible), and in many cases it is not a big deal.
But it does make me wonder what value I am getting as a subscriber when I have to figure out how to go back to last week to buy tickets, which are apparently no longer available, in advance.
John De Fiore
Glenville
Backus is invested in Niskayuna community
As Election Day approaches, I am proud to support Col. Brian Backus’s campaign for Niskayuna town supervisor.
Brian has 39 years of military experience. He has previously served on the Town’s Planning Board, the Niskayuna School Board, and most recently, Brian worked in the town supervisor’s office where he earned tremendous respect from his colleagues and the residents he served.
He is clearly invested in this community, he knows how our town operates, and he has the knowledge and experience to lead on day one.
Brian’s proven leadership capabilities, coupled with his respect for individuals from all backgrounds, beliefs, and political affiliations will be an asset as he works collaboratively to reduce crime, share services to lower costs, and increase fiscal responsibility, transparency and accountability, and for all these reasons,
I am proud to endorse Brian Backus for Niskayuna town supervisor, along with his team of Town Board candidates: Joey Faizy and Dr. Jerry Chao.
Please join me in voting for Brian, Joey and Jerry on Nov. 7.
Jason Moskowitz
Niskayuna
Parwana offers fresh perspective in Ballston
As an engaged and concerned voter in Ballston Spa, I urge my fellow community members to cast their vote for Kamran Parwana as trustee in the upcoming election.
Unlike the other candidates, Kamran is not part of the entrenched political system that often works against outsiders.
In this three-person race where two candidates advance, it is crucial to maximize our ballot by supporting Kamran alone. The other two trustee candidates running alongside Mayor Frank Rossi, who previously advocated for a Walmart next to our village, are likely to serve his agenda alone.
What we truly need on our board is a dialogue, not a dictatorship. Kamran Parwana represents a fresh perspective and a commitment to fostering open discussions and inclusive decision-making.
As county offices may potentially relocate from Ballston Spa, it is crucial to establish safeguards that preserve our village charm and prevent unchecked development.
Let’s vote for stability and ensure our voices are heard. Join me in supporting Kamran Parwana for Ballston Spa trustee.
Keith Lewis
Ballston Spa
Puccioni, McPartlon, Brennan best for Nisky
I urge Niskayuna residents to re-elect Jaime Puccioni as town supervisor, as well as Jessica Brennan and Bill McPartlon to Town Board on Nov. 7.
Supervisor Puccioni solved a long-neglected police department retirement disparity.
Providing a much-needed morale boost, it opened conversations about improvements and investment in law enforcement. At a time when safety is top of mind, cooperation is key.
Council member McPartlon, an electrician and business owner, worked tirelessly to get our wastewater treatment plant — a taxpayer-funded initiative – operating at full capacity. Our infrastructure is in good hands.
Councilmember Brennan, a Niskayuna school social worker, is an invaluable bridge in our community. From school bus cameras to a vulnerable person registry, she finds innovative solutions to make Niskayuna better for all residents.
Together, they are wise stewards of our tax dollars. Limiting tax increases, paying down debt, identifying savings and grant funding – while investing in green space. This is resourcefulness we apply in our own households.
The bite of inflation makes their discipline and experience more important than ever.
ShopRite’s closing is the latest reason we should re-elect Puccioni, Brennan and McPartlon. Stakes are high – and they won’t miss a beat, continuing to serve us well.
Sarah Bilofsky
Niskayuna
Spa City should keep Kim, accomplishments
With masked “Proud Boys” marching down Broadway and today’s GOP succumbing to homegrown fascism our national nightmare continues.
In dark times, we Saratoga Springs Democrats have an obligation to stand-by the will of our voters.
Mayor Ron Kim was chosen over Chris Mathieson by a clear-cut majority in the Democratic primary.
Chris’s participation in the primary obliges him to support its result. Running as a spoiler opens the door to cowardly enablers if not outright Trumpers. Like today’s GOP, it reeks of anger and resentment.
While Chris has many admirable qualities, his failure to seek an independent inquiry into the Darryl Mount tragedy was a mistake.
Since “Ferguson,” a nationwide avalanche of policing incidents has resulted in the unnecessary death of young African Americans, teaching us that the perception of justice is as essential as justice itself.
If someone dies in police custody or during a chase, an independent investigation should be required. It sends a much-needed message: every human life has value.
The mishandling of the Darryl Mount situation foretold the current rift among Democrats. Lacking genuine scrutiny, this case became an embarrassing spectacle.
Better not to dwell on the past, but to instead move forward with Ron’s accomplishments.
Al Ormsby
Saratoga Springs