To the Editor:
In 1932-1933, Joseph Stalin and his Communist henchmen deliberately starved to death between 8 and 14 million Ukrainians. This Holocaust dwarfed and preceded Hitler’s subsequent attempted extermination of Europe’s Jewish communities.
In and unprecedented cover-up, the liberal media (particularly the New York Times and its reporter Walter Duranty) consistently denied the existence of the Communist – perpetrated Holocaust in the Ukraine. Pope Pius XI heroically decried the “conspiracy of silence” on the part of the press concerning the crimes of World Communism.
In recognition of our local Ukrainian-American communities in the Mid-Hudson region, the Father Fahey Institute will hold a Rosary Vigil on Monday, May 12 at 6 p.m. in front of the Dutchess County Legislature at 22 Market St. in the City of Poughkeepsie. Participants will urge the Dutchess County Legislature to adopt two resolutions: one marking the 75th anniversary of the Ukrainian Terror Famine, and a second asking for the posthumous rescinding of the Pulitzer Prize wrongfully awarded to Walter Duranty. They will also pray for the repose of the souls of the millions of Catholics who were victims of atheistic Communism’s monumental crimes against humanity in the Ukraine in 1932-1933.
Vincent Ferro
Milton
To the Editor:
Some people give Joel Miller too much credit, as if Miller can make a difference in Albany. To quote Gary Levine, candidate for the Democratic nomination for the Assembly, “The story of congestion pricing highlighted the extent to which the process in Albany is fundamentally flawed, and demonstrated the irrelevancy of Joel Miller in the Assembly.” No bill is presented for a vote in Assembly unless the Democratic majority wants it to pass, thereby disenfranchising minority members and their constituents.
The Democrats’ supermajority status in the Assembly means they can ignore the Republicans. Republicans are denied equal staff and resources, have almost no power in committees and are left out of the only debate that counts, the Democratic caucus.
Today in the Hudson Valley, many of us face difficult financial challenges, property taxes, health insurance premiums, fuel, heating and food costs keep escalating and chronic illness continues to have catastrophic effects on family finances. Relief is needed now. We need a real property school tax cut, affordable health care including long-term care, better-paying jobs and responsible budgets. We need an upstate Democrat in the Assembly fighting for upstate issues. With 28 years serving our community as an estate planning and elder law attorney, Gary has helped people manage many kinds of challenges.
Our community deserves a seat at the table which is not bought by special interests and big money. Gary Levine is from the Hudson Valley, for the Hudson Valley. Gary will make a difference, not a career.
Cary Marks
Poughkeepsie
To the Editor:
I had the pleasure of attending a Common Council meeting on Feb. 19. During this meeting, the topic being discussed dealt with a law being passed to remove fluoride from our water supply and also the addition of chloramines being used as a secondary disinfectant, which may or may not be the reason for some health problems in our area.
During this meeting, I believe a board member asked the room of Dutchess County residents, “Who really feels safe with our water supply?” The amount of hands raised didn’t shock me. Even I do not feel safe drinking water from the sink. My question is, I see that changes are being made to our water, but why isn’t the public involved in any of these decisions? The members who attend the board meetings only show a small percentage of how residents of Poughkeepsie truly feel. Possibly before other changes are made that affect the general public, maybe a letter should be released, informing everyone on changes such as this if there isn’t one in rotation already. Even with the use of our newspaper, there is still a small majority of people who never read the paper and who are uninformed about issues such as this.
Christopher Cutchin
Poughkeepsie High School
To the Editor:
The Planning Board meeting that I attended in February, at the Common Council chambers, touched on a lot of topics. Some being: construction on an apartment building, reconfiguration of Mill Street and joining of some lots in various areas. But the main topic was the changing of a lot line. The adjustment that would be made to these lots would result in the one lot becoming two.
I think that the combination of the lots would be a very good thing because there would be more room for parking. In my opinion, passing this project would help everyone out in the long run. I also feel that fixing up Mill Street would be great. It would make that lower part of Mill Street look a lot better and make the people who live in that area very proud of where they live.
Christian Johnson
Poughkeepsie High School
To the Editor:
The Board of Education meeting that I attended on Feb. 19 was very informative. The meeting allowed me to see how school board meetings are held. The members of the public, as well as members of the school board, were immensely passionate on the issues brought up concerning our school district.
I feel whatever decision made will be for the best for the people who live in the City of Poughkeepsie School District. Attending this board meeting helped me see how decisions that affect our schools are reached.
Kyiesha Woody
Poughkeepsie High School