Posted on July 11 at 8:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)

FYI: Criminal defense attorney Scott Greenfield, of the Simple Justice weblog, agrees with your analysis and adds a few more points of his own at http://blog.simplejustice.us/2008/07/11/...

On Editorial: Gov. Paterson should veto bill on traffic tickets

Posted on July 6 at 9:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The people who will have to choose between fuel and food next winter do not have the funds now for new windows or boilers, and most do not have a credit rating that will allow them to borrow at a reasonable interest rate, if at all. We need realistic approaches to this problem, and I'm not sure the money exists to adequately subsidize energy conservation measures in the homes of Americans with little disposable income and savings.

On Editorial: How to head off home heating crisis

Posted on May 25 at 12:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

There is no reason to believe that prices would come down the entire amount of the tax break (but, of course, state revenues would be greatly reduced and have to be recouped with other taxes, while oil companies reap big benefits and consumers small ones). Comparisons with gas prices in neighboring states that have lower gas taxes would only be valid if the tax break were permanent; the question is how oil companies and station owners would react to a brief tax holiday -- especially in the face of any increased demand caused by the tax break.

Note, however, that (according to today's information at Gas Price Watch and AAA's Fuel Gauge Report) Massachusetts has a gas tax 8 cents lower than NY's, by prices only 2 cents lower; and Connecticut has a gas tax 7 cents lower, but prices 5 cents per gallon higher than New York.

I would be less suspicious of your motives, Mr. Tedisco, if you were taking a position that took some political courage and asked the public to make sacrifices. For example, there will be 2.5 million cars on the NYS Thruway this holiday weekend. If you had urged all drivers to drive the speed limit -- and had used your position to insist that the speed limits be enforced on all our highways -- millions of drivers would be using 10 to 30% less gasoline when driving this weekend.

See my weblog post calling for enforcement of our speed laws in order to reduce gasoline consumption and prices:

http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/ethicalesq/...

On Op-ed column: To help achieve lower gas prices, make your voice heard

Posted on May 18 at 9:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)

This idea may deserve more discussion, Ron. But, my first reaction -- beyond an automatic skepticism over creating another local government entity -- is that the public voting directly on Library budgets will surely mean smaller budgets and rejected budgets. It's hard enough to get school budgets passed, despite a consensus that education is a proper and necessary government function. A much weaker consensus exists over the proper size and role of public libraries (for example, the propriety of spending a large portion of the budget on purchasing movies on dvd and music on cd). The better approach might instead be to demand that our elected County leaders make responsible decisions about Library services, budgets, capital expenditures, with appropriate consultation and delegation to the Library's management, Friends, and users.

On Op-ed column: Library district would take decision-making off county

Posted on May 16 at 10:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Thank you for the most comprehensive report yet on this terrible crime. It has left me almost speechless, but I forced myself to write "two selfish old men vandalize my river" at
http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/ethicalesq/...

On 2 accused of cutting trees on state land

Posted on May 15 at 9:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Bravo. Well said. Sadly, it will probably be unheeded by a Democratic "Chair" too arrogant to care and Democratic legislators apparently too cowardly to speak up for their constituents and for common sense.

On Editorial: County out of touch once again

Posted on May 14 at 10:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)

As a registered Democrat, I'm tired of being embarrassed by the leaders of our party. County Attorney Gardner should have been accepting responsibility on behalf of the Party, not trying to avoid blame. Did any Democratic members of the Legislature have the courage to speak out, take responsibility, or chastise Ms. Savage or Ms. Rooney for their irresponsible and infuriating meddling?

On Library backers urge return to 2003 plan

Posted on May 12 at 2:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

There is a lot to muse over in this post, Jeff. Thanks for digging them up and taking off the muzzle.

On Reelin' in the years

Posted on May 12 at 8:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Good (Monday) morning: I see that the Comment I left yesterday morning to this article has been removed. I hope a member of the Gazette management or staff will contact me to let me know why.

On Library construction plans change

Posted on May 11 at 9:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)

As I said at my weblog this morning (link below), I'm pleased at the reprieve for the Library, but unwilling to praise County officials for their survivalist response to the public outrage. I do praise all those who took the time to express their shock and anger. I hope many concerned citizens will attend the County Legislature’s May Meeting Tuesday at 7 PM, to let them know that their first approach was totally unacceptable — both the lack of public input and the lack of respect for the Library and its users — and that our leaders are, at best, on probation and will be monitored closely by the Library’s friends.

For a full discussion, see http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/ethicalesq/...

On Library construction plans change