What are these people thinking? They must have known their shady past would be scrutinized and publicized if they held this hearing or their attorney certainly should have forewarned them of the bad publicity that would result. They would have served themselves better if they just quietly took their medicine and allow things to die down. There's something wrong with this ice cream truck owner. Would have made for a great case for Judge Judy.

rjk1915 is absolutely correct in that the criteria to determine society's drinking age should not be measured by other factors which are unrelated to someone's ability to handle alcohol. The myelin sheath of the human brain isn't fully developed until one reaches the age of 22. Drinking alcohol before that development is complete can have a life-altering impact on a young drinker. So if we actually were serious about basing our drinking policy on hard science, 22 is the age which the drinking limit should be set. Whether someone is sold enough vote or enlist and serve in the military has no real bearing on the physical harm alcohol can cause a young person.

These Confidential Informants already have an incentive to lie by getting their prison sentences reduced and paying them cash to set up someone only gives them more reason to deceive. I don't know what this informant was paid with our tax dollars. However, I am sure that sum of money will pale in comparison to the amount Schenectady County will have to shell out to Donald Andrews for ruining this man's reputation and business. The DA should abandon this sleazy policy of using these informants all together. Just one of the many unintended consequences of the failed war on drugs.

@daily,

"I've heard there's been 'hits' out on SPD officers & their families" What is your source for that "information"?

Wmarincic,

Do you remember that is was the GOP which fought against the civil rights bill of 1965? How is the issue of the GOP ending slavery relevant today? What is in the current public consciousness is the voter suppression efforts by the GOP in recent presidential elections. Your point of history may resonate with some political historians but the minority voters remember George W. Bush's strategy in his 2000 election in Florida to purge black convicts from the voting rolls for crimes which they had already served their sentence. Also, the GOP championed voter ID laws which disproportionally effected the minority vote. So it's perfectly legitimate for minority voters to ask the GOP, "What have you done for me, lately?"

While I believe there ought to be a robust debate concerning the use of fracking in this state, the public appears to be divided by political ideology, not science. When did Yoko Ono become an expert that New York should base its policy on fracking? Any study that favors one side is dismissed by the opposition as bias, financially motivated or politically driven.

Is it possible for the government to appoint a truly independent panel to evaluate the pros/cons and make a definitive determination? Not in today's partisan world.

What was his BAC? Why would a judge release a repeat DWI offender who left the scene of a crash free on his own recognizance?

Is Rob Thomas back with Matchbox 20? I would think that information would be a major subtext to any press release regarding the band's touring schedule.

Thank you Megan Quivey for taking the time to share your experiences. You have more credibility on the character of the SHS students than those bash them from afar. These kids don't get a fair shake in the media as only those who misbehave garner all the headlines. We all would be better off if we followed your advice not to be so judgmental of these students.

We live in a society that encourages its citizens to drink on every ocassion while the alcohol industry spends billions to promote its product as healthy, cool and seductive. The only education most people get about alcohol are the misleading commercials that tout its virtues. Marijuana is the big red herring to distract the public from the dangers of alcohol. Why do you suppose the alcohol industry for many years has been one of the biggest contributers to the Partnership for a Drug-Free America? For every impaired driver arrested for pot, how many dozens of DWIs do you read about in the media?