Readers’ Column for the week of May 26, 2019

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. 

There is a bump on the Court Street Bridge located almost to the red light near the Courthouse. I drove over this bump last night in the left hand turn lane, and heard a loud pop noise just after going over it, and then got a flat tire. I had run over a couple pieces of debris and they pierced into my right rear tire, ruining it. The damage was so bad it could not be repaired, and I had to buy a brand new tire to replace it. The tire that was ruined had only 15,000 miles on it. I write to this column for three reasons; 1) if you are going over this bump in either direction, watch out for debris which has been ejected out of trucks, as they also hit this bump; 2) if you haul debris, please make sure your load is contained so that nothing bounces out as you hit this bump; 3) if someone from the highway department is reading this, please fix this bump so that garbage will not so easily be ejected from the trucks going over it. Thank you.

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Tioga Central parents and coaches have yet another reason to be proud. Sure, their JV Softball team played well and won the IAC Championship. But the real pride comes from the way the girls handled themselves during the championship game. In spite of several unsportsmanlike actions from the opposing team, in spite of deliberate and well timed distractions during the pitches, in spite of loud and contentious remarks from fans of the visiting team, in spite of being on the wrong side of several questionable calls, the Tioga girls stayed focused, showed respect to the other team and the umps, showed great team unity, and came from behind to earn that championship. And kudos to the Tioga fans who kept their cool!

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With the OACSD budget voted down, the question is what method of extortion will the District use to leverage voters to vote for a 2 percent increase. As in past years, will organizations like the Boy Scouts be denied use of school facilities, closing the pool to the public, firing the best teachers, cutting Advanced Placement courses, or cutting the bone of the school curricula? Being that absolutely none of the 3.83 percent would be “for the children” likewise, none of a proposed 2 percent increase will be “for the children.” The BOE needs to show us a plan where our tax dollars will start to go “for the children.” Highest teacher union and staff salaries compared with academic performance and demographics show us that we get nothing from our ever-increasing property taxes. A review of what the BOE has and has not done since 2008 tells us that the unwritten policy of the BOE has been to increase compensation costs to the highest in the Southern Tier and maintain them at that level. This is regardless of the impact on students and taxpayers. 

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Congratulations OACSD taxpayers! Maybe we can get the BOE to exercise their fiduciary duty to manage finances. Going year to year without considering commitments they make, which will push costs up decades into the future, is a plan for failure. All they needed to do was freeze the top end of the most expensive employee compensation packages in the Southern Tier (67 Districts). The 2019 budget contained unsustainable increases in healthcare insurance. This year, 2020, is much worse than last. When asked how OACSD was going to protect students from the detrimental effects this unbounded cost growth, the answer was “we’re thinking about it” or absolutely nothing. The budget preparation cycle begins in January. The teachers’ contract had been in negotiations for two years and agreement was reached in January before the kick-off of the budget development cycle. OACSD committed to expenditures for which their only funding mechanism is MORE TAXES. Here is the solution. 1. Adjust the highest salaries in the Southern Tier to cover the burden of the unbounded Cadillac healthcare plans. Fair? 2. Manage finance beyond the end of their nose. That is, figure in and budget to the effects of long term contract commitments. Essentially, there is no budgeting. In 2016 the BOE removed all its obligations regarding stewardship of public funds.

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Community Choice Aggregation Program as told by Homer Simpson. Hmmm this looks interesting said Homer. Government is helping out the poor, uninformed NYSEG electric consumer, by way of the Community Choice Aggregation Program. “Gee,” said Homer. This is a program by which the government is going to save us, the NYSEG consumers of electricity, more money by guaranteeing a stable and fixed electricity rate for a 24-month period. “Woohoo,” said Homer Simpson, who doesn’t want to save. Why that means more beer!  Hey, wait a minute, did someone say government program? I KNEW IT. This smells funny. BART, smell this. “Kowabunga,” said Bart, “this does smell Homer.” Well it doesn’t pass the smell test, and here’s why. This “program” locks the average Town of Owego electric consumer into a two-year price rate of $0.05092 per kilowatt-hour. According to the letter from the Town, that beats the average Electricity Supply Charge rate of $0.05265 per kilowatt-hour. Keep in mind, this is an average, which means 50 percent of us are above the average and 50 percent are below the average. “Okay,” said Homer, “I think I get it.” Good, let’s do the MATH. Any consumer with an electric bill and a calculator can do this drill. Look on your bill; the first line item under ELECTRIC SUPPLY CHARGES: Supply Charge: 500 KWH @ let’s say 0.03933377; this equals $19.68. Now take the same 500 KWH and multiply by $0.05092 and you get $25.46 per KWH. Why that’s an extra $5.78 added to my bill every month or $69.36 per year. Hey wait a minute; this smells funny. This doesn’t get me more beer. This is a rip off, said Homer! Marge – we’re opting out!

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Tuition, fees, and room and board at a SUNY campus this year were $21,790. Other expenses are variable based on the individual student. To eliminate part of the argument, assume the variables get the cost to the $26,100 claimed in last week’s reader’s column. BUT – SUNY tuition was $6,870. The average tuition for a private college in New York is about $28,000. SUNY operating costs are comparable, so where does the extra money come from? You. Your state taxes pay the $21,000 difference. So the real BU cost used for comparison purposes should be $47,100, not the $26,100 claimed. The OACSD budget cost already has the state funding and aid in it, so we’re now on apples to apples basis. Does the local cost look better now?

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If you live in the Village of Newark Valley, beware! There are thieves in the area! Be alert and lock up your cars, sheds, home, and leave a night light on. Be sure to report anything suspicious to police. STAY ALERT! So far there have been break-ins on Elm, Bridge, and Main Streets. 

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O-A did NOT add money for the libraries. The library items are completely independent. The school ballot is just used as the mechanism to vote on the requests.

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Congratulations O-A “NO” voters. Pat yourselves on the back. You have voted to deny others the education you received when you were in school. Others paid for you. Now it’s your turn to pay for the next generation. I hope you are proud of yourselves.

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Well hooray for the OACSD taxpayers voting down the budget, and as one previous caller stated, at least it sends a message. Perhaps more of us will start attending school board meetings – myself included. How did we end up, for instance, paying a superintendent for what is a relatively tiny district more than many college presidents earn? Joe Lunchbox cannot continue to support these budgets and the mantra we’ve been fed – “it’s for the kids” – has come under scrutiny, finally.

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Okay, today’s my birthday and I really want to vent. The paper says this morning a budget hearing for the inhabitants of the Waverly Central School District qualified to vote at school district meetings will be held at the Waverly High School Learning Center Commons, 1 Frederick St., Waverly, N.Y. commencing at 6 p.m., May 9, 2019 where there shall be presented the proponent school district budget for the following year. Now I ask you, so we’re turned around and this is a little later than May 9, and we’re going back to maybe hiring a couple more code enforcers when the one doesn’t make his rounds like he should. Attach that onto the Waverly Department of whatever, and call it ‘misappropriated funds’. Now how is that for a calculation from a Waverly high school student? 

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This is in reply to the person looking for someone to repair his or her 40-year-old crocheted granny square afghan. I would like to help. I’ve been crocheting for over 40 years. Call Yvonne at 642-8623 and leave a message.

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I can’t believe the stupidity of some of your readers. The Dinosaurs did not kill themselves off! It was a meteor hitting the earth. As for climate change, it was 10 or more degrees hotter in the 1950’s and early 60’s than it is today. In the summertime it was 90 almost every day. Talk about Trump lying, the democrats have lied to us 10 or 15 times more!

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A shopkeeper will never refuse to serve a Christian because they like their generosity and their money. So keep dreaming! 

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I would just like to say that marijuana will NOT give you real peace. You may think it’s cool, but it’s not. Only God can give you real peace and you can trust him; and the best part is that it’s free.

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When are we going to start thinking about what’s good for my children, your children, and their children? When are we going to start thinking about that? When it’s too late? It’s time to do it now.

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I’m calling in regards to families that have children that have ADHD and receive social security benefits for that. I don’t understand how social security is going to help these children not have ADHD. Parents are quitting their jobs and living on their children’s social security benefits. Senior citizens fight every day to get their social security benefits, have to even take it to court at times; but all you’ve got to do is have a child that is ADHD, you can get it. 

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This message is for the person constantly riding over 80 mph on Dubois Road. I quote, “I will not call 911 when you dump it.”

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I was sitting at the Erie Street railroad track crossing and two engines on a train came up to the crossing and started spraying some kind of insecticide and it was spraying out of something like a fire hose. Are there any MSDS sheets on that so we know what they are? 

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A big thanks to the Town of Owego Utility Department for the great repair job done to the location of a water main repair on McFall Road. Again, many thanks!

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I’d like to make a comment to the person who wrote in, in regards to the misspelled errors on the school’s newsletter. Maybe what you should do is possibly apply for the proofreading of it if you’ve got time to sit and criticize somebody for doing his or her job.

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Is the peaceful pothead who called in last week who thinks the drug companies are against legalizing marijuana the same person who thinks the dinosaurs caused their own extinction? If so, are we thinking clearly about making this stuff legal? 

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I’m calling about the granny square afghan that needed repairing that you had in your paper. I’d be very happy to repair that if the person would put their contact info in the paper. 

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If anyone collects stamps I have two booklets to give away. Leave your phone number in this column and I will call you. 

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Apparently there are 479 voters who didn’t care if their taxes were going up 3.83 percent.

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All of you people complaining about your school and property taxes, you ought to live in Tioga and pay them for Tioga Central Schools because ours raised over 20 percent last year and it keeps going up every year. People need to get out and vote no. What are people on social security supposed to do? Forfeit their property to Tioga school system? Think about it.

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To the person inquiring about the port-a johns in last week’s column, you can call 725-3638.

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What has happened to good morals and hygiene and respect these days? Oftentimes, while dining out, we are seeing more and more people (children and adults) with the worse table manners ever! Not only do some sit alone at a full-sized booth with their legs and feet stretched out all over the seats and tables while chatting on their Smartphone, there are some adults who continually blow their noses aloud at tables while others are sneezing aloud into their own hands or inner elbows – perfuming the air with viruses! This is literally sickening and creates an unhealthy environment to all who visit these places for a time of rest and entertainment. Believe me, these actions of the ignorant are NOT entertaining!

National Political Viewpoints

And yet another Trump tantrum; obviously Mr. Trump had no intent to work with Nancy Pelosi or Chuck Schumer. Signs were made up; no chair available for him, curtains closed and unwillingness to shake anyone’s hand or address them properly. Just as the wall; he closed the government because he didn’t get his way and is now refusing to work with the Democrats because he has no plan for infrastructure; pure childishness. Such a great deal maker. This is nothing more than a show, so stay tuned for coming attractions.

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I used to be very proud of New York State when we had senators Keating and Javits, we seemed to be way ahead of other states writing good legislation. What are the Democrats in Albany doing? Abortion is okay up to birth! And now they created a special law to release President Trump’s state tax return. You are the most despicable bunch of un-American creeps ever! Keating and Javits would be appalled at your hatred! ROAR!

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“This is why we can thank our lucky stars that Trump hasn’t been confronted (as far as we know) with the kind of crisis that would force him to make, in a highly pressurized, short-time frame, decisions that JFK had to make, decisions that in minutes could mean life or death for millions. Thank God it hasn’t come to that, for I honestly don’t know whether Trump would make such decisions based on what’s best for national security or what’s best for Donald Trump.” Paul Brandus, founder and White House bureau chief of West Wing Reports, is a member of USA TODAY’s Board of Contributors. From his article, “Thank God a real crisis hasn’t tested Trump yet.”

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Regarding Churchill’s bust; those who tell others to “do some research” should do their own. Visit www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/21/churchill-bust-returns-to-oval-office-as-donald-trump-settles-in. It states, “….. it was replaced by a bust of the civil rights champion Martin Luther King Jr. during Barack Obama’s presidency and sent back to the British embassy in line with normal protocol.” The British Embassy is, for all practical purposes, Britain. Blind adherence to the party line sometimes reveals a willingness to accept the lie over the truth.

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For the individual who wishes someone would tell the President there are three EQUAL branches of government; “Separation of powers is a political doctrine originating in the writings of Charles de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu in The Spirit of the Laws, in which he argued for a constitutional government with three separate branches, each of which would have defined abilities to check the powers of the others. This philosophy heavily influenced the writing of the United States Constitution, according to which the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial branches of the United States government are kept distinct in order to prevent abuse of power. This United States form of separation of powers is associated with a system of checks and balances.” The branches are not equal. Never have been. The Legislative does not command the armed forces nor settle controversies concerning the laws. The Executive does not make law nor settle legal controversy. And the Judicial does not make law nor command the armed forces. Perhaps a review of civics is in order here.

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Since at least 2013 we get IRS letters telling us prior year tax returns have not been filed. Great energy was expended and many efforts made to correct this. It is just so challenging for the IRS to correct social security numbers.  In 2016 we were able to speak with a human being. We were assured, in writing, this harassment would end. Nothing changed. Never does the IRS provide a point of contact. All efforts at calling the IRS will not allow access to a brain. Written efforts at explaining issues are responded to with more idiot letters. Trying to work with the IRS is an exercise in spitting in the wind. A new issue has arisen with the IRS. The point of contact phone number response is, “We are having technical difficulties, call back later.”  Some years ago we received another IRS idiot letter. Going to the “Taxpayer Advocate” they clearly did not understand the issue, were too lazy to find someone who did, and advised we [waste money] get a tax lawyer. Through some skullduggery I got a hold of a coherent and knowledgeable IRS person who confirmed the IRS form letter was “poorly written”, incomprehensible, and the IRS “was working on better written communications.” Three decades of rampant automation have only served to aggravate problems and provide a shield behind which overpaid, over pensioned, and over fringe benefit civil servants can evade responsibility and accountability. Like every other agency under Obama the IRS was weaponized; remember patsy Lois Lerner? Nobody but LL was responsible. What other aspects of life do we want brigands and lethargic fools running? Giving government power is equivalent to giving idiots guns, which Obama did. Maybe the IRS needs more tax dollars? 

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Let’s apply common sense to this situation, not the emotion and lack of logic they’d like you to do. Imagine the atmosphere as a football field. Nitrogen represents the majority of the content of the “air”. That would take you to about the 77-yard line. Oxygen is next, which would take you to about the 98th yard line; then argon, which takes you to about the 99-yard line. Carbon dioxide, the “green house” gas would take up about the width of a chalk line on a blackboard. Seriously, we’re supposed to believe this tiny portion of the atmosphere is able to create as much havoc as they portray, and THAT has been decreasing greatly in recent years. Really? Make sense to anyone?

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Can the U.S. survive economic sanctions equal to what Washington D.C. has placed on sovereign countries around the globe, are we self-sustaining our economy? Washington D.C. thinks that the economic sanctions will change a government’s behavior, they don’t seem to care that millions of innocent people are suffering thinking that they will make the government of their country change, it’s not going to happen. How would citizens of the U.S. react to the economic sanctions; more than likely it would make us more determined to stay the course, which is what is happening in Venezuela and Iran. Our government is the one that needs to change, dictating to the sovereign countries how to run their country is not our business; every time we meddle we bring death and destruction and no change. The last time we were on the winning side in a war was WWII with the help of Russia; if Russia had not helped I believe the outcome would have been different, look at the in fighting going on in Libya and Iraq, they are not better off – they are worse than before we meddled. Venezuela isn’t backing down to the self appointed president that Washington D.C. is supporting, other countries that support him are only doing it because of threats, demands and intimidation from the U.S. We need a major foreign policy change, our country is being referred to as rouge and terrorist state; do you approve of our foreign policy?

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Stop and think about it. Do you REALLY think this invasion of aliens at our southern border is spontaneous? They have to be fed, water and bathrooms available, places to sleep, and the other necessities of life. Do you REALLY think they are walking 2,000 miles or so? Who is organizing this? Who is funding it? Who is encouraging it? Think the Socialist Democrats have a hand in this?

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Well once again, the democrats have showed their hand. They were supposed to meet with President Trump today on infrastructure. Right before the meeting was to take place, the Democrats had a meeting of their own and Pelosi came out of the meeting and said that she and her colleagues think the President is covering something up. Well President Trump walked into the meeting they had set up for the infrastructure talk and said, “I don’t cover things up,” and walked out. Then he had his own speech. The Dems from the get go said they would not work with this President and that’s sad. He has done a lot of good in the two and a half years he’s been in office. Nancy Pelosi is a puppet with her own party pulling the strings and putting pressure on her. She said she didn’t want to talk about impeachment, and now has done a 1/80 and decided that it might be necessary. Now I understand why they don’t care about getting healthcare done because they get free health care now. And they are really pushing the socialist ideas. The border crisis is worse than they think. Now I hear a certain part of the border has closed and won’t take anymore in right now because the flu is going around and a lot of immigrants are infected. The president doesn’t have to provide his tax returns and I hope he doesn’t. They should worry about their own tax returns, healthcare and the infrastructure, and help with keeping the economy good. After all, isn’t that what they get paid for? God Bless America and our men and women who have fought and died to protect us and give us the right to voice our opinions.

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Trump is such a carnival act. Did you know Trump also was pro-choice for almost 60 years? This abortion thing will be a total nightmare for the republicans in the upcoming election. It will backfire and I couldn’t be happier. Hurray! 

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Trump is now up to 10,000 faults or misleading claims. I wish he’d stop his lying, his tweeting, and stop his name-calling. It’s so annoying. Enough is enough!

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I hope the democrats can live with their accomplishments. Every time they do nothing about the southern border crisis they encourage, allow and enable drug abuse and the trafficking of innocent children. Wow, two accomplishments they should be very proud of. 

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You’re not impeaching Donald Trump – you’re impeaching my vote and 60 million other American votes. 

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God bless Nancy Pelosi. You go girl! I just love ya!

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This is so much fun, what infuriates Donald Trump is that Nancy Pelosi is three times smarter than he is and he’s not going to intimidate her. I love it; I just love it!

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Way to go people who live in the coolest town in America. You have no problem with Trump giving tax cuts to the richest people in the country, and you don’t mind paying more yourselves, because you as the middle class got an increase and with these tariffs, that’s another 25 percent increase so you take it out on the kids. I guess you want them to grow up uneducated like the rest of you Republicans.

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We have more to fear from the radical, Marxist democrats than any other evil force on earth. Democrats stand for infanticide, higher taxes, open borders, contaminating the U.S. with crime and disease, hair brained unsubstantiated climate control, ridiculous promises of free college, free health care, guaranteed yearly incomes and other catastrophically idiotic giveaways on the backs of taxpayers. President Trump should declare war on the Democratic Party, no compromise, no deals, no retreat. Fight back now and raise enough funds to crush the democrats, their fake news media, and their acolytes in Hollywood during the 2020 elections. 

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The democrats know they cannot defeat Trump at the ballot box. So what is their next step? They create phantom crimes. They are going to spend all their work time trying to get to the bottom of a phantom crime when really they should be working on issues that truly matter for the American people – like keeping us sane, keeping this booming economy going. But that’s okay, it will all be voted out come 2020 and nothing but republicans will run this country. I for one, along with millions of other Americans, cannot wait. 

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So as we get closer to the Democratic primary I am still waiting on somebody’s campaign slogan. I’m hearing nothing on immigration, jobs, economy, and foreign policy. Does any reader out there know what they are proposing for the American people? Please call it into the Pennysaver. 

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A question to my fellow veterans; why are you quick to criticize Trump for his bone spurs but give a pass to Joe Biden, Chuck Schumer, Bernie Sanders, Elijah Cummings and Bill Clinton? None had the guts to serve and got either medical, or education deferments. All done legally; but a coward is a coward. Non-veterans please don’t answer as you fall into the same category.