Letters to the Editor for Nov. 16

Plan to steer trucks onto interstates goes in wrong direction

Earlier this year, Gov. Paterson announced his intent to control truck traffic in the state by forcing tractor trailers to use interstate highways [Sept. 17 Gazette]. This proposal stemmed from concerns within the Finger Lakes region about trash haulers using local roads.

The current proposed regulation is misguided. It will apply to all trucks in the state, regardless of where they are and what they are hauling. It addresses the wishes of a few while completely ignoring the negative impact it will have on hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers. This regulation will force trucks to travel more miles and consume more fuel at a time when companies are doing everything they can to conserve fuel. It does not make sense for the state to impose a regulation that will actually require companies to increase fuel consumption and expenses that will have to be passed on to the consumer. We cannot afford this type of regulation, and neither can consumers.

In New York, 90 percent of our communities rely exclusively on trucks to deliver their goods. If enacted, this regulation would take away trucks’ ability to take the most direct routes to their destinations, resulting in an increase in shipping costs, which ultimately get reflected as an increase in the cost of goods to consumers. Continuing to place unnecessary and punitive regulations on an industry that provides everything that you and I rely on is counterproductive to improving our economy.

I encourage all state residents to contact the governor’s office and tell him that a truck ban is not the right policy for New Yorkers!

Marilyn Buanno

Fultonville

The writer is secretary/treasurer for the Buanno Transportation Co. Inc.

Dig deeper on civil confinement law

Re Nov. 11 article, “Jury: Offender has abnormality”: I’ve followed Jim McGuire’s excellent reports on the Fulton County trial of Houghton, the sex offender. The defendant was given a “life” sentence, which can be reviewed unless the judge disagrees.

I would like to see a broader piece by McGuire because this new mental health program may have broader implications. He might get deeper comments from the lawyers and judge to show what is going on.

Is this the way we will now handle sex offenders? It may be the best solution, but when I visited the trial, I saw a defendant who reminded me of every rock star — amoral, psychopathic in a sense.

How far does McGuire think this program could go?

David Childs

Johnstown

Why is surplus so big in Montgomery County?

How is it that the elected officials of Montgomery County can be so far off with their budget projections [Nov. 11 Gazette]? I mean a $20 million surplus, with some departments showing a variance of 238 percent!

It is hard to understand how they could be so far off. And then to reject resolutions that would force them to periodically review the budget vs. actual figures is totally irresponsible. How else are they to get a handle on the budget if they don’t review the figures at some point in the year? Obviously, there is something wrong with the way finances are managed in the county.

The silver lining is that the county will have a sizable surplus going into next year, a year in which state finances will be in serious trouble. If Gov. Paterson’s projections are right, Montgomery County will need every bit of surplus it can get in the coming years.

Brian Auspelmyer

Fultonville

Sch’dy Greenmarket a hit for many reasons

The Nov. 2 Schenectady Greenmarket debut at Proctors’ Robb Alley was a rousing success for many reasons.

Schenectady’s downtown continues to rebuild its tradition of being “the city’s core,” area residents are strongly endorsing the buy-local concept, and a year-round farmers market in a central (and well-known) location with plenty of parking couldn’t be a better idea. Lastly — perhaps most importantly — is the group of committed individuals who have worked tirelessly for many months, planning and developing the market from the ground up.

I extend my thanks and congratulations to all of you.

Christine Horigan

Niskayuna

New license thwarts diligent store clerks

DMV Commissioner David J. Swarts’ Nov. 10 letter attempts to excuse his agency’s removal of some “misinformation” apparently located in the bar code atop the New York driver’s license. He claims that the double bar code at the bottom of the new licenses has all the information on the front, which the commissioner believes should be relied upon by those concerned about legal age for purchases (tobacco, lottery and alcohol).

It is true that a photo and birth date are useful, but elusive after the sale. The former bar code registered on the lottery machine scanner; the double bar code does not, and many clerks find it indispensable in routine transactions.

If Mr. Swarts or his staff had taken the time to hang out in stores that sell age-regulated products, it would have been crystal clear why so many of us are upset, angry and dismayed about the removal of that simple bar code!

Here is why: A customer attempts to purchase an age-regulated commodity. We ask for ID and they produce a New York driver’s license. We look to see if the photo matches the customer. We check the birth date. If the person is “of age,” we scan the bar code on the lottery machine, and the transaction is completed. After the transaction, we print out the scanned (ID) information from the lottery machine, and staple a register receipt from that customer’s purchase. These are our hard copies, which serve as evidence that we checked the ID, the type of transaction, the time and the amount, which are directly associated to the sale. If there are any questions later, we can prove we did “due diligence.”

We take proof of age seriously. Mr. Swarts has disarmed us in the war against underage purchases. Hopefully, any “wrinkles” in scanning that new ID for hard evidence will be worked out by Mr. Swarts and his technical minions, because we rely on it. If he can’t fix it, reinstate that bar code.

James M. Schaefer

Rotterdam

The writer is a part-time clerk at The Vineyard on Hamburg Street.

ABC wrong to put brakes on NASCAR

AP reporter Jenna Fryer hit the nail on the head with her Nov. 11 article, “NASCAR irked by ABC’s cutaway.” Countless times we have to wait for regular programming while football games are allowed to consistently run over schedule. But on the second-to-last race of NASCAR’s season, with 34 laps to go, we get stuck with “America’s Funniest Videos.” What Fryer didn’t mention is that not everyone has cable or satellite, so we were unable to catch the end of the race!

Fortunately, my husband was able to access the audio of ESPN on Sirius radio, so we listened to that while watching video of cats crashing into walls and people falling over their own feet. Not quite the same!

I tried reaching the ABC viewer line, but unfortunately, no humans answered. They were probably all off somewhere watching the end of the race on their own private network feed. No fair!

Cheryl Scharling

Cobleskill

Who needs the state Legislature, anyway?

In the real world, the CEO of any large company in financial trouble would cut his least functional, non-money-making section. In New York state, that would be our legislators.

Why not have the governor suspend the Senate and Assembly for a year? Have the leader and minority in each house stay on, along with a few of their staff, for any routine work. The rest of the Senate and Assembly would receive their base pay with no stipends and be sent home. Their staff would be laid off and receive unemployment insurance for the year.

These people are all political appointees, not civil servants, and are not protected; thus the unions are happy. Think of the money saved on the staffing salaries and per diems that legislators receive for showing up in Albany daily. I am sure this would be a significant amount of money.

We have enough laws on the books now, anyway. I am sure we would survive a year without them. Come on, Gov. Paterson, show them who the boss is.

Jay Janczak

Ballston Spa