Letters to the Editor for May 6

Why must young New Yorkers leave state to find work?

Re the April 25 article, “State planning job recruitment”: I find Civil Service Commissioner Nancy Groenwegen’s assessment admirable but a bit too late. The state comptroller’s office has a recruitment list — which has been in existence since last June — and to my knowledge, not hired from it.

In the article it states, “In the next five years as much as 30 percent of those state employees will retire . . .” That may be true, but it’s funny that in the comptroller’s office, they have retired ex-employees still occupying the jobs they held previously. These jobs should have been filled with young college graduates willing and able to handle the jobs that are on the list.

The commissioner doesn’t need to hire a public relations firm to connect jobs and job-seeking individuals. Why send recruiters to colleges and job fairs? Have you been to a job fair lately? It’s not what you think, and a waste of taxpayer dollars and time. The commissioner needs to utilize the existing lists of tested, accepted individuals — which they can choose from right now.

It’s a shame that the state is following in the path of big businesses in New York. They realize, too late, that the market for bright, educated individuals has gone south, along with more advantageous tax breaks. It’s a shame that in order to get a decent job, a college graduate has to move south. Because up here, if you don’t have five years’ experience with a college degree, you’re not worth hiring. Whatever happened to the time when a firm found a bright individual with the background they wanted, then hired and trained them? Shame on New York and big businesses for not seeing the potential in our recent college graduates.

Inevitably when the kids move south, what is to hold their parents to New York? Who will bear the brunt of New York’s taxes and fees then. New York is no longer a place to raise a family and have a career when there is so much political instability and corruption that the unfortunate victims (being the residents) have to leave to salvage any shred of hope of achieving their “American Dream.”

How else would a mother know the troubles of finding a job and living in New York? I’ve lost one child to a position out-of-state, with my other children to follow.

K.A. Nelson

Burnt Hills

Local nursing homes shut out mentally ill

Recently my husband was sent to a nursing home 64 miles away. In case you’re wondering why he has to go so far away, it’s because he has a mental illness. He hasn’t committed a crime, and has led a productive life as a teacher. Because he was in the psych ward, most of the nursing homes in this area wouldn’t even send someone to the hospital to interview him. It’s heartbreaking that he has been sent so far away from his family.

It was explained to me that the nursing homes in this area aren’t set up for people with mental illness. I’m sure this is true. The reason I’m writing this letter is because this needs to be changed. These people are in one of the few groups that are discriminated against with regard to nursing home placement in this part of New York.

I would like to have my husband closer to home, but I’m also hoping to help other families who have to be separated like ours. It’s difficult enough having to place a loved one in a nursing home.

It’s time to change this terrible stigma.

Janice Mix

Scotia

Speak out against plan to close Sch’dy library

I’m sure this will be one of many letters protesting the imminent closure of the central library in Schenectady [May 1 Gazette].

As a trustee of the library board and a member of the Friends of the Library board, I urge the county to rethink their decision to close the library for reconstruction for up to 18 months. The branches, while numerous, cannot absorb the services and programs provided at the downtown facility. None of the branches has adequate parking. The city branches have no room for programs and the Hamilton Hill branch is not handicap-accessible, not to mention that it is cockroach-infested. The upstairs and basement of Scotia have been declared unsafe.

Our clientele needs the access to computers and the Internet, and to tutors who can help with GED and ESL training in a convenient location. Our legislative leaders should ask the librarians and clerks, who work with the people daily, what is essential. Schenectady can’t close for 18 months, or any similar period, the most cost-effective and efficient service in the whole county.

I would also urge the public to take back control of this vital service and tell your legislators that they have been grossly mistaken in their underestimation of the people’s attachment to this wonderful gem of a library we have in Schenectady. The question that should be asked is why the county government took over this project and shut off important and constructive input in its development.

John Karl

Niskayuna

Nothing has changed with women at work

Re the May 2 column, “Supreme Court, Senate GOP biased vs. women,” by Ellen Goodman — I totally agree with Lilly Ledbetter!

During WWII, I worked at the General Electric Co. But I didn’t work toward retirement — I got fed up in a total of two years.

I was 19 years old at the time. My superior was drafted into the Army. Knowing everything I needed to know about my department, I was next in line to be the head of it. Then I was called into my superior’s office, where I was informed that they were hiring a man from Scranton, Pa., to become my superior; I was to teach him everything he needed to know about my job.

When I asked why, I was informed that I was a woman and too young to be head of a department! There were only four other employees about my age that worked there. So, I replied: “Let him find out by himself!” and I left!

Sixty-five years later, it’s the “same old, same old!” Been there, done that!

Frances Payette

Altamont

Letters Policy

The Gazette wants your opinions on public issues.

There is no strict word limit, though letters under 200 words are preferred.

All letters are subject to editing for length, style and fairness, and we will run no more

than one letter per month from the same writer.

Please include your signature, address and day phone for verification.

For information on how to send, see bottom of this page.

For more letters, visit our Web site: www.dailygazette.com

May 7, 2008
4:54 a.m.

[ Suggest removal ]

coachmike ( no real name given ) says...

I have found in searching for other jobs out of state is not always a productive idea, I have found a difference of around $5,000. less ..which was a surprise and the cost of living is higher as to finding a residence elsewhere. You have to do some pretty good research in order to find the right place to live.