Readers’ Column for May 13, 2017

You may call the Owego Pennysaver Readers’ Column at (607) 687-2378 24-hours a day, or e-mail comments to readerscolumn@stny.rr.com. We reserve the right to revise or reject any message.

We live in Newark Valley in the village, and have reported surrounding violations to zoning several times and nothing has been done about it. Take a drive through the village, and down some of the little side roads, and you will see what I am talking about. Who do we go to when our village officials won’t address these violations?

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I hope whoever is responsible for maintaining the River Walk will get all of the mud and dirt off of it before the Strawberry Festival. It will certainly be a black eye for Owego, if it isn’t cleaned up!

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To the residents of Tioga and Broome Counties – There are “scrap robbers ” going out in the middle of the night. Watch your property please. We have been robbed.

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Last year Tioga County redid two bridges on Pennsylvania Avenue and they did a wonderful job on the rebuild. But the paving part of it was terrible. It is like going on a roller coaster when traveling over them. When you have to cross these bridges twice every day it does not do your vehicle any good. It sure would be wonderful if this could be taken care of soon. One more thing, Card Road was paved last year and it is falling apart as you enter it from Pennsylvania Avenue. I’m not sure who is responsible for this, the Town of Owego or Tioga County, but it sure would be nice if this were repaired. 

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The Village of Owego has one of the highest percentages of homes with flood insurance in New York State. Flood insurance premiums are rising. One of the few ways that the village can help to stabilize flood insurance premiums is to join the National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating System, which can reduce flood insurance premiums by 5 to 45 percent. This needs to be a priority for the Village of Owego Board of Trustees, but I have not heard any report or update on it. Have you?

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The Nichols Cemetery Association would like to thank everyone who helped us at the cemetery with clean-up day and/or have sent donations to us. We plan on repairing the red brick pillars along the front of the cemetery this summer. All donations will go towards this project. Thank you again everyone for all your help.

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Good news, bad news. They keep adding more and more advertisement time to television programming, so I’m getting weaned off of television programs due to so many ads. The bad news is they keep adding more ads and the good news is maybe I’ll be watching less television.

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I’d like to thank the Richford Fire Department for their quick response for my riding lawnmower fire. Thank you very much!

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I’m just calling in reference to people that don’t have their dogs on a leash. In Candor there is a leash law and I have a dog coming up and crapping on my yard. There are chickens coming up from my neighbor’s yard and digging up my garden. I’ve called the dog control and they won’t go there because the guy is not so nice. I don’t know what to do so I thought I’d leave a message in this column.

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I’m so happy to see the announcements for school board opportunities this year and people running for that office. However, I am a little bit disturbed and I have been for years, why those candidates get free advertisement in the Owego / Apalachin newsletter. One more thing, I’m up for the school board member and will vote for the school board member who will actively pursue a requirement that the superintendent and the rest of the administrators live within the district.

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Being senior citizens, my husband and I always get out to vote for the school budget, but if the budget does not pass it will only be brought back for as long as it takes to get it to pass. This should not be allowed. If it does not pass the first time through, the school board should use last year’s budget, as small businesses must do. There is too much waste in our schools. We have too many superintendents, too many principals, and each has an assistant and the assistant has an assistant. This is ridiculous. The term is trim – we need to trim costs. 

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In response to last week’s comment, I don’t know where people could buy a new VCR or DVD player. I believe they’re still out there, but I used one for years until I moved – and now I don’t use them anymore. Call me at 972-7752. 

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If solar energy is as good as claimed, why doesn’t the auto industry install it in the roofs of their electric cars to increase their driving range between charges?

National Political Viewpoints

It was sad to see Congressman Reed attempt to defend the new health care bill. Basically, Republicans have shown that they have no idea what to do about providing health care to all Americans so they have simply turned the matter over to the individual states. If you think Obamacare is bad, wait until we have 50 different plans!

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Do you know what Congresswoman Claudia Tenney’s vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act means? Tenney’s vote for the Republican replacement will force Americans age 50 to 64 to pay thousands more for the same health care they had under the ACA. It’s called the Age Tax.

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It was refreshing to see the comments from Bill Cassidy, Republican Senator from Louisana, whose comments regarding Trumpcare and Senate approval focused on the life of a child after birth rather than being concerned only with the health and well being of the fetus.

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President Trump recently commented that Andrew Jackson would have prevented or stopped the civil war – such a great man. This comment gives me insight into how President Trump operates. Andrew Jackson (POTUS no. 7) died in 1845 and the civil war started during Abraham Lincoln’s (POTUS no. 16) term in 1861, 16 years after his death. Reflecting on this, I now understand that facts and/or reality does not contribute to President Trump’s opinions and/or thinking and/or decision making. Enough said – scares the crap out of me. 

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Today Sally Yates was scheduled to testify regarding Mike Flynn, and the White House and POTUS both put out information about his security clearance and information leaks. This is misleading hype because there was no question about his clearance, the questions relate to his accepting payment from Russian sources and talks with the Russian Ambassadors and NOT disclosing it to his superiors in violation of his clearance protocol. Diversionary tactic to refocus the information released to an irrelevant issue. SAD!

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“Last Friday, Jerry Falwell, Jr. took to Fox News to proclaim that in Donald Trump, ‘evangelicals have found their dream president.’ Two years ago, this statement would have made virtually no sense, at least on the surface. To many outside the white evangelical world, it seemed — and still seems — inconceivable that a thrice-married serial adulterer, ultimate materialist, casino owner, habitual liar, and unprincipled deal-maker could ever become the standard bearer for a group that professes to base their vote on ‘family values.’” Jim Wallis. Sojourners. Online. May 3, 2017

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I see Congressman Tom Reed cares only for the 1 percent of residents in the 23rd congressional district by his vote for the unexamined health care bill. Shame, shame, shame.

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The truth always wins. Trump is on pace to surpass eight years of Obama’s travel in just one year. This is contrary to a statement in last week’s column. Please do a little research before you write something that is blatantly and demonstrably false. 

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All former Presidents get large speaking fees. All former high level government people get large speaking fees. Why do you think Obama should be treated differently?

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The bailouts started under Bush.

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Learn the difference between the deficit and the debt. Obama significantly reduced the budget deficits.

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Someone was upset that Hillary offered to help Trump but is now joining the resistance. Maybe it’s because Trump ignored the offer, did numerous things she opposed, and kept calling her Crooked Hillary.

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Claudia Tenney and Tom Reed have done it again. They have ignored the people they proclaim to represent and have sided with the rich. The American Health Care Act will be even worse than Obamacare! Skilled nursing care will be cut as Medicaid is cut. States can get permission to let insurers charge more for some preexisting conditions, and to exclude some people altogether. Good luck if you have cancer, or diabetes, or have been abused. Federal funding for the Medicaid expansion is going to be phased out, meaning those of us working people that are currently enrolled under the expansion will be thrown off of any care. BUT, best of all for these elite fat cats that “represent” us – they left an exemption for themselves and the rich and corporations will get a tax break. Remind me again how Reed and Tenney stand for us? Sounds like they stand for themselves. Vote them out in 2018.

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Let’s get real. This is in response to last week’s complaints about college students getting help. Things have changed. Before you needed $3,000 or $4,000 to go to college. You have single parent houses and low income. Now college will cost $30,000 to $40,000. Fast food jobs for students pay very little, only enough to cover gas and food for non-residents at college. Kids that leave college owe $50,000 to $100,000, there are no jobs, and they have high interest on payback loans. I would be happy if kids can get help in any way they can. Bye Scrooge!

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It is so clear that the Democrats do not concern themselves with the American people, which is evident in their opposition on doing anything about imploding Obamacare. Will somebody kindly to explain to me what his or her job is? 

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Well it’s about time. The FCC is getting involved with Colbert’s recent comments. That’s great news! A huge fine is in order.

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The fear mongering desperate Democrats are lying about Trumpcare. This too shall pass and the despicable Obamacare will be relegated to the garbage heap of history. Trumponomics will repatriate $3 trillion in offshore corporate profits and this will vastly stimulate the U.S. Economy within two years. Socialist buffoons like Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders need to look at Venezuela to see what they intend to do to the U.S. economy. Go Trump!

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Recently a late night talk show host on CBS did a vulgar routine about President Donald Trump. I was just thinking if some comedian did a vulgar routine about Hillary, those Democrat Liberals would be up in arms! He should show some respect, he is the president!

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The Democrat deceivers are again lying about Trumpcare by saying the insurance companies love Trumpcare. Here are the facts: Under Obamacare, total insurance company profits went from $6 billion per year to $15 billion for year. How is that good for the average worker? Sure, if you pay $0 for Obamacare you make out like a bandit and will vote Democrat forever. Senator Rand Paul has had a fine healthcare plan for at least two years. Let’s all hope he improves the Ryan plan before it leaves the senate, but either plan is vastly superior to Obama’s collapsing monstrosity. No more taxpayer bailouts for insurance companies or banks, period!

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This current president is a disaster. His new healthcare bill, Trumpcare, only benefits the insurance companies and big businesses – nothing for the middle class or low-income people. My husband and me are both in our 50’s and have pre-existing health conditions. We have private insurance through my husband’s employer. The way this bill reads, they can significantly increase our costs. Why? The government does not pay one cent of our healthcare insurance or bills. It only benefits big businesses and insurance companies, not me. Not surprised at all by this bill.

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In response, I want to say thank you for a great comment. I agree, President Trump has done more for the American people in his 100 days and will continue to do more than Obama in his eight years. Go Trump! And I’m very much at ease with Trump in the office. It was Obama and possibly a Hillary win that had me on a cliff and about to jump.

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