Readers’ Column for the week of Oct. 7, 2018

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. 

Attention residents of Newark Valley, you may have seen the letters to the State and Senator Akshar that were being passed around and we were asking for signatures: these letters were asking for a share of the funding that the state has set aside to study the problems that reference flooding (not only the river but caused by water shed erosion and collapse in our area). The letters were sent in with over 90 signatures. Thank you if you were able to sign; if you didn’t get the opportunity to sign you can call the Village office at 642-8686 and get phone numbers and addresses to send in YOUR personal story and pictures (pictures speak a 1,000 words). At the post office there will also be a folder with slips of paper with addresses and phone numbers for you to contact. The Emergency Management Service Agency has also been contacted to get information on how to better prepare for a flood and what to do during the flood situation. We must be looking at ways to protect ourselves until the bigger issue is handled. Don’t let the ball drop now – let your voice be heard!

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To the lady with the two kids in the back seat who witnessed my accident on Sept. 14 after 3 p.m. at the traffic light on Fifth Avenue and in front of the State Farm Insurance Agency, I can’t remember your name. If you see this, will you please call Tom at (607) 201-4168? 

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I’m glad New York State is finally looking into this, over 15,000 dogs in the pounds and they want to stop the euthanization and the backyard breeding and puppy mills, they no longer want them. Now if you want a dog or a cat you have to go to a pound to adopt an animal, which is right. 

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I am responding to a caller about opening up McMaster Street to truck traffic. I live on McMaster Street and don’t want the trucks going down my street. We have enough traffic now. McMaster Street is mostly residential. Trucks will have to find another way through Owego. Also, thanks for the new streetlights. They are nice and bright.

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Many Spencer residents acknowledge and are grateful for the vision, effort and community support for the Nichols Pond Project in Spencer. First Community Showcase is a result of the efforts of Dale and Joan Weston. This week I was rewarded in seeing the latest improvement in the village and I want to publicly thank Dale and the crew of dedicated volunteers for rebuilding and restoring the ornamental fence around the old congregational cemetery on the corner of Main and Liberty Street in Spencer. A fence had been damaged two times by vehicles crashing into it. Also this summer we saw Dale and volunteers make major improvements to the ball diamond in Nichols Park. Thank you Dale Weston for your dedication to the citizens of Tioga County as a legislator and to the citizens of Spencer as a former Town Board member and present legislator representing the towns of Barton and Spencer. It is my hope that the Spencer Town Board, who is responsible for the historical cemetery’s upkeep and maintenance is also grateful for the work of these tireless volunteers. 

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Here it is Oct. 1, and the Town of Owego Highway Department is now paving Bodle Hill after stoning and oiling it a year ago – and then fell apart. Do they think blacktop is going to cure the problem? The three that run the show down there, they really need to go away because they’re costing us taxpayers millions of dollars each year. Wake up Town of Owego!

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I was wondering if anyone could clear up a rumor I’ve been hearing that the Town of Owego Highway Superintendent is retiring in February. The guy that was just re-elected, and now is going to retire? I was just wondering if anyone knew anything about that. 

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I see where the Town of Owego Highway did some dirt road paving. I hope they take care of it like they did on Marshland Road or they’ll be doing it again.

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Hats off to the Floyd L Maine Veterans Memorial Arena in Binghamton for having that concert featuring Ringo Starr, 10 CC, Men at Work, Santana and Toto. It was an excellent concert. I miss the days when they used to have concerts all the time, at least once a month there would be a new show. I wish they would go back to that. I love rock and roll!

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To all the politicians who want my vote, why don’t you work on more accessible transportation? People want to work, but they can’t because they can’t get there because there isn’t enough public transportation. People working equals more tax revenue and less welfare payments. Gee, maybe I should run for an office. 

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To the person who thinks it would be a good idea to divert all truck traffic, which would also include a lot of car, onto McMaster Street so they would avoid the village. You might be surprised to learn that McMaster Street is part of the village and is a residential street. We don’t want to have a steady line of traffic all day. We already heave lots of all types of vehicles daily. Maybe it could be diverted by your house.

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I agree with everyone who is saying that the grant money Owego is receiving needs to be used to improve and maintain what we already have in the village .The back of Riverow, including the river walk, needs to be cleaned up so when you come across the bridge it looks better. Also, lets get rid of all the abandoned properties! If they were torn down they could become just green space. Anything would be an improvement. I travel through many quant historic villages where every homeowner, business, and landlord are required to keep their properties at a certain standard. CLEAN UP OWEGO! 

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After listening to the public comments at Monday night’ s meeting concerning the zoning change from R2 to R3 on the 19 acres on the Southside of the Village, I realized the public did not realize the project would go forward with or without the zoning change. The decision is whether the housing project should have individual tax map numbers or one tax map number. This decision will determine the layout of the project.

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To the person who wrote in about the window replacement for the Newark Valley municipal building, thank you for the names and numbers. The key to me in your whole column is, and I quote, “A lot more research needs to be done here.” I hope that the mayor and board members, and whoever else is involved in this matter heeds your advice, because there are a lot of our tax dollars at stake. I truly believe that there is always an alternative to any issue that comes our way, your piece in this column sounds like a good starting point. Again, thank you.

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My intention of (translation of tax percentages) was to draw attention to the rate of increase between the three taxes we pay per year. The village of Newark Valley is on the high end! When the gentleman at the meeting said he went back and looked at how much his taxes went up over the years, he stated basically what I found. (He did this using a graph and found a steady incline for school and Town and County taxes, and a steep incline for village taxes.) The rate of percentage between Town and County, and School and Village over a 13-year time frame, the one with the higher jump in percentage was the village. What I did was basic math, had it checked by two different people, and the results I printed. Of course what I actually pay in School, Town and County taxes is much more than what I pay in village taxes. But if you add village taxes and solid waste and water ($1,519.21) it’s more than School ($1,358.55) or Town and County ($1,350.33). As I wrote before, Town and County went up 25.8 percent, School went up 30.5 percent, Village went up 66 percent over a 13-year period, and solid waste and garbage went up 200 percent. If Town and County go up 1.98 percent and the School goes up 2.35 percent per year, and the Village goes up 5 percent per year, average, how long will it take before were paying more in Village taxes than Town and County or School taxes?

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Now that the village of Newark Valley has spent $18,000 on a new mower, I understand it is already on the same path to being trashed as the old one. Can anyone explain this?

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To the caller commenting about Tioga Elementary having two principals. You need a correction, they have one principal for the UPK only, and the other principal is for grades kindergarten through fourth. Seriously, $100,000 to be a principal for a few four year olds and two teachers. Get real Tioga!

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They finished repaving 38B two weeks ago and it looked great, they have dug a ditch across it already to install a new drainpipe. Whoever planned this waste of taxpayer money should be fired and replaced with someone that has a touch of common sense.

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Most entrances into Owego are very attractive – not so much coming in on North Avenue. It would be nice to repair or replace all the crumbling concrete steps and railings along that entrance. They have been an eyesore for years. Perhaps some of the $10 million awarded to Owego could go towards that project.

National Political Viewpoints

What we saw in the senate hearings today was a coordinated smear campaign by the diabolical Democrats against Judge Kavanaugh. Dr. Ford is obviously a disturbed individual who needs treatment, which she is now getting. The despicable Democrats want to destroy Judge Kavanaugh, gain power in November to delay filling the Supreme Court seat for two years and then put another Socialist on the Supreme Court if they happen to win in 2020. This reprehensible display of the Democrats needs to be repudiated at the polls in November. Go Trump or go home!

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Do you remember when Obama was elected and from day one the Republicans said they would go against everything he wants to do? Do you remember when it was time for Obama to appoint a justice of the supreme court the Republicans illegally stopped him from appointing one? Get real people! 

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Now that I’m a more mature voter and truly understand the full scope of things I’m going to leave the Democratic Party, join the Republican Party and vote straight Republican for the rest of my life! 

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I’d like to comment on the Kavanaugh/Ford hearing. I have never in my life seen such disgrace as what those Democrats have done, and then to go after Bret Baier and his family and ruin his life. That man is a saint compared to them, and then Cory Booker acting holier than thou. Why isn’t somebody out there investigating Cory Booker? Why isn’t somebody investigating Dianne Feinstein? Why isn’t somebody not investigating Keith Ellison? I hope those Democrats sleep well at night.

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Here’s a fact and please print this. The Democrats in the senate yesterday in that hearing were so concerned about Dr. Ford, don’t get me wrong, I feel really bad for this woman, but they were so concerned that the senator from Hawaii was using this to try to get campaign donations. Isn’t that pretty sad? Why isn’t somebody checking that?

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I would just like to say that Senator Jeff Flake is nothing but a liar. He came out saying early this morning that he was going to vote yes for Kavanaugh. After Chris Coons gets him in a back room and talks to him he comes out and gives the speech he wants to wait a week and have the FBI report when he knows that Kavanaugh has already had six background reports. All Flake is doing is siding with every Republican up and down the country, knows how much he hates Donald Trump and he is just working with the Democrats, hoping to drag this past Nov. 6. Newsflash for Jeff Flake because the Republicans are going to stick behind Kavanaugh, so Jeff Flake can go bury his head in the sand. 

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Democrats are low life character assassins that have done more damage to the Bedrock U.S. traditional justice system than any foreign terrorists with their coordinated smear campaign against Judge Kavanaugh. Liberals have infiltrated and contaminated the education and judicial system. They contaminate the media and even religious organizations. They contaminate the financial system. The greatest president in history, Mr. Trump, is draining the swamp of these Marxists and needs all of our patriotic support. Go Trump!

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Trump has another rally this week. The same thing over and over, name calling, making fun of people, the press, women, clenching his fist, bragging about himself. This is not a smart president; it’s a lying jerk and narcissist. Terrible values for our children to see. He is dividing this country. People, wake up already, other countries are laughing at him and us. He’s the fake news! I wish Democrats would answer back to Trump the way he talks about the Democrats and give him a taste of his own medicine. But the Democrats are too honest and meek and afraid, I think.

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You talk about malignant narcissist, Michael Moore is the biggest bloated idiot on the face of this earth and I heard where he’s moving to Canada because he hates this country so much, the country that made him rich by the way. All I have to say to him is don’t let the door hit you in the butt on the way out. Do it today! Yea, he’s so smart and you’re so dumb.

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Hey, you Democrats, remember former President John F Kennedy? He was a Democrat, and he had lots of affairs. Remember the one he had with Marilyn Monroe? I’m sick of you people. 

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I had a dream last night that a red bird came across the cable TV that said I wish the kindergarten people in the house and the representatives would graduate to first grade and quit their arguing and bickering. It is a shame to think that our Democrats and Republicans are this stupid. Also, it is time for them to start working together and make the best out of this poor, poor situation.

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Okay, here’s the deal, and we should have seen it coming and make sure you put it in your mind. Did you ever hear Trump say Melania, I love you, you write such beautiful letters? And then he has the nerve to get on national television as a person we elected, and say that to a foreigner that kills his own people? What is wrong with this picture and what is wrong with us? We have got to straighten this mess out! Come Election Day, remember all these little things you hear, because personally I think they are true! Think about it. 

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Just as I predicted, we now have a vastly improved Canadian trade agreement. Trump’s tariff threat was a very, very smart move. We now have a much fairer U.S., Mexico, and Canada TTA, which stands for Trump Trade Agreement. China will follow within a year. Trump is a master negotiator but will never be acknowledged by the fake news media and the Democrat leaders who are enemies of the Republic.

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Desperate Democrats, sums it up nicely. 

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Remember that great Governor Cuomo needs to be replaced on Nov. 6. Vote Molinaro!

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Donald Trump, as usual, you kept your word. You got rid of NAFTA and you set up a spectacular trade deal. You always come through. I also believe Judge Kavanaugh.

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I’m older than that president we’ve got, or at least what we call a president, but I’m telling you I’ve never seen such an idiot in my life and the way he questions and answers some of the media. 

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I just want to make a comment for all you Trump lovers. If you expect to see that tax report, you’re going to be waiting a long time. He’s not going to show that; he’s not even a good liar.

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Who cheats their workers? Who cheats contractors? Who cheats on his wife? Who cheats on the American people? Why the President of the United States of course. He’ll cheat at anything always!

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I used to only vote Democrat. I will never ever, ever vote for another Democrat for as long as I live for what they have done. They are corrupt. 

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The current atmosphere in Congress appears much like the carnival game, Whack-a-mole. Whenever President Trump nominates someone for something, the Democrats immediately start the whack-a-mole game, bopping the candidate on the head. That reason for the head bop gets taken care of, only to have the Democrats invent yet another reason for a head bop! Makes them look absolutely ridiculous!

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The person who objects to the Democrats not supporting a Trump nomination for a judgeship is blowing smoke because there are enough Republican Senators to approve them without any Democratic support. Any failure is because Republicans failed to support the nomination. By the way, how did Garland make out? Who blocked him?

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Possible meaning of flipping, Mr. Trump calls the Dems low life while interfering with the Bret Kavanaugh trail, then says Christie Ford’s appears to be compelling and truthful, and finally just wants to make the country happy. Now that’s a flipper!

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Only in Washington can you have a trial, want to vote the next day, and then investigate.

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Sen. John Kennedy (R-La) summed up succinctly the circus that Democrat Senators have made of the Brett Kavanaugh hearings this past week; “I think the mainstream American people see right through this. And I hope they are motivated enough to go vote. It’s not going to change. You can’t fix stupid but you can vote it out.”

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“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” – Edmund Burke. Where are the Dems standing tall to rage against the guilt by accusation / process of Brett Kavanaugh’s hearings? Burn at the stake rage Sen. Schumer, Gillibrand, and their deplorable ilk. Avowed groper Sen. Booker (D -NJ) thrusts the point of the spear. Bloomberg and Feinstein lie through their teeth and no Dem challenge the lies. Several have already stated the obvious, the destruction of civility and demonstration of whatever awful means justifies the end will haunt us for decades. This only compares with the ambush and bloody beating of Senator Charles Sumner (R-MA) by Preston Brooks (D-SC) on the floor of the Senate Chamber. The only difference was the attack on Sumner was physical and that on Kavanaugh is his good name. What good and moral person would wish to serve in Government when the Swamp Mobsters will seek to destroy any person of virtue and principle in their way? Henceforth I shall vote against Dems, for what they are teaching our children is beyond deplorable. Careful what you wish for, someday the Dems will come for you.

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Here’s an idea. If submitting a name as candidate for the Supreme Court initiates a thorough FBI investigation, then let’s nominate Hillary for the Supreme Court! Maybe FINALLY she would be subjected to a thorough, unbiased investigation!

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One of last week’s callers, Professor of History, Dr. Facts, argued that Obama is responsible for our current robust economy rather than Trump. Dr. Facts doesn’t understand economics. The greatest driver of an economic expansion is people’s (consumers and business) expectations of the future. Trump changed future expectations from dismal to positive on Nov. 7, 2016, as verified by the immediate skyrocketing of the stock market. He further enhanced expectations by making material policy and tax-coded changes. Obama, having never created a scintilla of wealth, is clueless as to what wealth creation (economics) means. “You didn’t built that business,” “Those jobs are gone forever,” “The days of 2 percent growth are behind us,” and “What’s he [Trump] going to do wave a magic wand,” testify to this. OBAMA LEFT OFFICE WITH NO EXPECTATION OF AN ECONOMIC RECOVERY. Obama lucked out with the Shale Revolution. Without it his legacy would have been eight years of negative growth. Obama’s noteworthy accomplishment was the greatest increase in income inequality in history. This was because the poor became poorer rather than the rich getting richer. However, don’t fret, Obama’s gift is the debt landmine, which may tank our economy at any time. Recall his Trillion dollar annual deficit for “shovel ready jobs” that never were. Expanding economies cause interest rates to rise. Obama’s legacy of a $20 trillion debt cannot be financed at historically normal interest rates. Dr. Facts, please name one unbiased reputable economist who gives Obama credit. Because of this expansion employers are expanding benefits, including healthcare. Let’s call this TrumpCare, which people work for, rather than more free stuff!