Letters To The Editor

“It Makes You Wonder”

To The Editor:

St. Paul’s - After 13 years, it makes me wonder why we cannot move forward as a community on this issue. I have attended numerous trustee meetings and have seen numerous proposals come and go; Assisted Living Facility, Library, Town Hall, High School and Parkland. I have seen committees, sub-committees, trustees, POA surveys and special groups that have all attempted to solve this issue. They have all accomplished one consistent final result - no action, status quo.

The latest proposal, in case you’ve missed it, is to “Save St. Paul’s” by selling St. Paul’s. Confused? You are not alone. Our trustees have now determined that the best way to save St. Paul’s is to sell it to private developers who will build approximately 76 luxury condominiums. What we will save is the facade. The rest of the building would be gutted and rebuilt to the developers plan. Ellis Hall would need to be bused (if possible) as well as additional property outside of the original footprint. As residents, we will have no access to St. Paul’s and the Chapel would likely be destroyed along with the rest of the interior.

The estimated cost to the developers would be approximately $66 million. It was suggested if we wanted to refurbish St. Paul’s it would now cost us $33-$36 million and if we wanted to demolish it, it would now cost $5-$6 million. The advantage of this plan would be to ad tax revenues to Garden City.

It makes you wonder why are we doing this? Didn’t we lose the Kenny lawsuit which said that this property has to be used for public use? Didn’t the last administration under Mayor Miller designate all of St. Paul’s parkland? Why would anyone want to buy a luxury condo in the middle of fields where thousands of children and parents congregate most weekends? Haven’t we heard resident after resident voice concerns over saving St. Paul’s? Why don’t we concentrate on how we can invest in our future rather, than sell one of our most important assets?

Let’s consider two items which should be painfully clear to everyone. This administration will spend over $150,000 to evaluate and analyze this idea. Many of these trustees complained when Mayor Miller pushed the Parkland designation down their throats, and that those four trustees were imposing their will on the community. Aren’t these trustees doing the same thing? No discussion with residents and no input from the POA’s!

Second, the only way this project can happen is if Senator Kemp Hannon submits home rule legislation. Not only has he declined to do this unless it is the will of the vast majority of the Garden City residents, but our own attorney has stated, this action usually requires the village to offer the state some type of give-back in the form of land or other equal compensation for the St. Paul’s property. this sure sounds like paying twice for the same property.

I also want to mention that it is easy to criticize without offering a solution. The trustee’s have complained that there are no alternatives being offered to them. This is not true. But to keep the ideas flowing I will offer my suggestion on what we might consider for St. Paul’s usage in the next few weeks. Why don’t each of you do the same?

In conclusion, I guess I just don’t understand why we as residents can’t decide what we should do with our property. Why not have a town vote - determine the 5 or 6 best choices for the property and let us as a village determine our future path. Whether it is home rule, public, private, demolition or stabilization, it would have been our choice! I find it amazing that in 13 years, not one single administration has been willing to do this. Maybe it’s about time. I don’t know about you, but it makes me wonder!

Bob Bolebruch

How Nice!

To the Editor,

Congratulations on printing a really great full page about Greece during World War II. [Discovery Section -- December 16, 2005.] I recommend that everyone who fought in World War II, and everyone who agonized over loved ones in the service in World War II, and everyone who is a student of World War II should get a copy of page 3A and read that marvelous article by Dr. Lou Theodore.

You and your newspaper perform such a worthwhile service to us all when you recognize heroic contributions such as those described by Dr. Theodore. I have new-found admiration for people of Greek ancestry now that I know how Greek patriotism helped the Allies win the war - their fearless fight to defend their nation was a major factor in winning World War II.

Corinne Straehle

House Divided

To The Editor:

“A House divided against itself cannot stand.” Abraham Lincoln, Republican State Convention, June 16, 1858, Springfield, Illinois. Lincoln’s Law Partner, William H. Herndon, said Lincoln told him he was looking for a universally known figure of speech that would rouse people to the peril of the times.

The following is a tombstone ad sponsored by Democrats and run in the Tupper Lake Free Press (NY) October 19, 2005.

Are taxes going up leaps and bounds? Is spending out of control? Are projects overwhelming, costing millions? Are you tired of private committee meetings? Are you tired of no answers? Are our local Government Running Wild? Are you unsure, is the future of Tupper Lake at risk?

If you say Yes to any of the above it is time for change.

At this time of the year I return home from the Adirondack Hunting Camp, the season is over. My many years in those mountains have provided me with access to the fine people who live in our upstate towns. New York is a large state and unfortunately it harbors an upstate-downstate culture, mentality and bias. De facto and de jure, from east to west, New York State is cut in half. You may choose the dividing line as you see it.

There is a common denominator a position upon which we may all agree. This letter will contain only a few of my words. I bring to you the anger and frustration of people who have nothing, who live in a constant state of financial depression, people from whom government is taking more and more. For them the necessities of life have become luxuries.

Read excerpts from the Tupper Lake Free Press(NY) Editorial dated November 9, 2005 and determine if we are kindred spirits facing a common problem struggling for economic survival. Don’t kid yourself it is always about our money, disposable income after taxes the shrinking means by which we struggle to keep a family, old and young, alive. Politicians can and do quietly vote themselves pay raises; taxpayers money. Oh Well,- - - -.

Editorial - -

Taxpayer’s Group Drawing Good Crowds!

They share dissatisfaction with the growing tax burden and a fear of what’s ahead. They also share a common resolve to change things for the better!

Those seem to be the driving forces that have drawn dozens and dozens of Tri-Lakes residents together each month since this past spring. Some meetings have boasted attendance of more than 80 people.

The newly formed Essex-Franklin Families for lower property taxes has been active in recent months with meetings in Saranac Lake and most recently in Tupper Lake (NY). It is part of a growing coalition of taxpayer groups springing up across the region, state and nation whose members worry they’ll soon be taxed out of their homes.

The families for lower property taxes has embarked on an ambitious but achievable set of goals. The new taxpayer group also calls for an abolition of the “Welcome Stranger” rule of assessing in this state. Says the group, this practice drives up the assessed value of surrounding properties when a neighboring property is sold at a much higher price, thus causing many long time property owners a tax load they can’t bear. As more and more downstate people buy properties on our local Lakes at very high prices, it has caused the assessments of Lake-Front properties to escalate dramatically here in recent years.

If the state legislature would rescind the “Welcome Stranger” rule only the person paying the big buck for the new property would see their assessment jump, not the neighbors.

The group also believes New York state must create an alternative source for the funding of public education. Say the members, the burden of education with its’ many state and federal mandates (unfunded, of course) is breaking the financial backs of property owners. Instead, state income tax would spread the burden more fairly across the state’s population rather than just on property owners. through an income based tax levy, people would be taxed based on their ability to any which seems a much fairer approach to underwriting the cost of public education.

This taxpayer group has advanced some very worthwhile goals which deserve watching closely in the months ahead. Property owners need to stay tuned to what this group is doing. More information can be found by e-mailing the group at FFLPT@hotmail.com.

Now, my words. Please recognize the danger we face. I do not have the slightest doubt that many Garden City residents will be driven from their homes by ever higher taxation in all forms. Why have we allowed ourselves to come to this deplorable condition? Upstate people intend to organize further and will fight. We should be Comrades in Arms, joined together to fight a common battle but judging by past results we are no longer fighters.

Remember this doggerel from the former Republican Tax Collector.

“Old people and young people cannot live in Garden City.”

Edward J. Heaney