Letters
Bond proposition should be approved

Voters can redirect Amherst's future on Nov. 6, or we can continue to leave the town in the hands of Republican council members beholden to developers.

In this regard, consider how Republicans have enthusiastically responded to the Benderson proposal to make Maple Road into another Niagara Falls Boulevard, while that same developer leaves its many other properties declining into eyesores.

Now Bill Kindel has proposed a too-long-delayed bond issue referendum to protect Amherst's open space and slow our rampant, budget-busting residential development. That protection will not only save us millions over the years ahead, but it will also slow the crowding that is leading, inevitably, to traffic gridlock. One result: the Republicans dumped Kindel, the council member who proposed this measure and who joined Democrat Dan Ward to give us Nature View Park.

The facts are in: The bond issue sets the right course of action. It is supported by the 2006 Amherst Master Plan, the earlier 1988 Larson Report and development facts gathered by the Amherst Planning Department. Check the document Kindel has placed in your local library branch to see how this approach fits too with a national movement.

Opponents are using false arguments and name calling to mislead us. We read Colleen DiPirro's bond issue description as "egregious" and "a knee-jerk response," her "we're for this but" arguments for further delay and her implication that bond funds will cost taxpayers before the planned study of available property. They will not. She would have us do that study and then vote for the bond, but would she then support it? The answer is clear. Her arguments are specious. The only board candidates who support the bond issue without equivocation are Kindel and Jerry Schad. Please vote for the bond and for those candidates.

Gerald Rising

Robinhill Drive

Amherst

Green space bond is the better option

The Amherst Industrial Development Agency concluded an Open Green Space Bond Act makes fiscal sense because it costs more to establish roads, sewers and utilities for development and future repairs than to reclaim land and leave it natural. The board members who were in favor of this bond act were guided by the IDA's figures. With Amherst's large population, the cost would be small per household. The bond's interest rate is fixed and should be low because Amherst has a good bond rating. The expense to maintain land acquired with a bond would be minor, for such things as putting out a brush fire or removing brush that blocks a street sign.

We need to ask ourselves if we want more homes and office space. The population of our area is decreasing. Will too much new housing further destabilize old neighborhoods? Do we need more new, unused office space? Land can become zoned for development.

In response to Pat Taylor's letter on Sept. 26 in The Bee that wasn't addressed above, she spoke of the "needs that currently exist" where bond money should be used. A "facelift to Eggertsville and Snyder" is needed and suggested our schools, police and fire departments might not be up to snuff. Since when? And why do these communities suddenly need a facelift? And Ms. Taylor reminds us that citizens stopped Wal-Mart from being built without spending 12 million. Residents did rally against Wal-Mart, but the town decided the flood plain is needed for absorption to protect against serious flooding to nearby homes. That was the deciding factor.

Ms. Taylor asked why purchase land where we "will neither live nor visit." First, we have plenty of housing. Secondly, nature can be enjoyed without accessing it by walking down a country road.

Judy Catalano

Park Club Lane

Town policy not understood in letter

Contrary to the allegations of certain of my opponents in the upcoming Town Board election, I did not have any input in the preparation of the supervisor's proposed 2008 budget.

Last Monday, certain Town Board members expressed their shock that the proposed budget reduces the town's reserve fund balances, its savings accounts, to the 10 percent level. Later in the meeting they were also shocked to find that they had authorized such reduction in a resolution they unanimously passed earlier this year, titled "Minimum Fund Balances Policy."

Amherst's residents deserve to have elected officials who can understand the implications of the policies they enact and also remember what they have done.

Also noteworthy is that the Town Board candidates who are now expressing their opposition to the proposed reduction of town reserves and who also claim to have studied the town closely this past year likewise failed to remember the Town Board enacting this policy just a few months ago.

Roy Wixson

Deputy Town Supervisor

Town Board Candidate

Weinstein voted to spend reserves

Margaret Dolan's letter to the Amherst Bee, published Oct. 17, acknowledged that Erie County Legislator Barry Weinstein "did vote (for) County Executive Joel Giambra's first four budgets," that those budgets used cash reserves from the County's fund balance for tax reductions while spending increased and that "the error was in not cutting expenditures simultaneously." The last admission was the point of the Democratic council candidates' letter to the Bee. Legislator Weinstein acted irresponsibly by proposing raids on the County's then-solvent cash reserves while still increasing spending.

Does Ms. Dolan think that voters elected Legislator Weinstein to simply "spend" the fund balance but have no obligation to curtail government spending?

Legislator Weinstein utterly failed to "protect" taxpayers from the predictable adverse consequences of his proposal. As Ms. Dolan confirms, Legislator Weinstein repeated his raiding in his votes for four consecutive Giambra budgets.

Ms. Dolan also erroneously asserts that Legislator Weinstein "never introduced legislation 'within days of Joel Giambra being elected' that encouraged raiding the fund balance." But on Nov. 18, 1999, just 16 days after Joel Giambra's election, The Buffalo News reported that on that date Legislator Weinstein co-sponsored a proposal with five other Republicans to use $19.87 million dollars of county cash to reduce taxes while increasing spending ($6.7 million of an initial installment from the county's share of the national tobacco settlement, $7.3 million from public-assistance accounts and $2.3 million from "future set-aside for Medicaid" and, finally, $3.57 million from the County's $5 million dollar budget to deal with claims against the County.)

I repeat: raiding the fund balance to try to hide increased government spending by is short-sighted and irresponsible. I expect more from our public servants.

Toni Lyn Frain

Amherst

Healthcare plan uses deception

We are deeply troubled with the State Children's Health Insurance Program, as presented by the politicians and media. We work hard to make a decent living, giving to charity as much as we can. However, by putting a picture of a child on a law that might not be what's right in the long run does not give it credibility. By extending the program to allow families making $80,000 per year to receive aid for their children's healthcare adds to the skepticism of this program.

Labeling the Republicans as against giving poor children health insurance makes a great sound bite, however, it certainly would be worthwhile to have the politicians and media present the definitive facts encompassing this program, including how the plan is to implemented and, of course, the actual cost to the average taxpayer.

Ruth and Frank Barone

High Park Boulevard

Amherst

Reynolds doesn't support children

In lockstep with President Bush, (Rep. Tom) Reynolds votes against bringing health insurance to children under the SCHIP program, saying it will result in socialized medicine, which he personally enjoys. He doesn't like children? Last year, during one of his press conferences he hid behind a large number of children in order to avoid media questions. This was concerning his possible connection to the coverup of a scandal involving a fellow representative and his alleged pursuit of House of Representatives' pages.

Reynolds feels that his own unscrupulous and blatant use of children to achieve his personal selfish ends, is all right. But Reynolds votes in the U.S Congress to prevent millions of underprivileged children in the United States from having health insurance.

Next election year (2008) you will have the benefit of voting in the 26th Congressional District for decorated Iraq war veteran Jon Powers. A well-educated Clarence public school teacher, Powers returned from war in Iraq and founded institutions and assisted in others to help Iraqi children. He is a sincere activist for Iraq's untold numbers of disadvantaged children. Powers' positive actions for children were acknowledged nationally as genuine, un-staged displays of recognition for human concern and kindness.

Powers demonstrated a moral concern for children, and, in implementing his thoughts, he proves his worth to a troubled global society.

These were not political photo ops, as we often see praising Reynolds. Children are the future of America and the world. Should they be denied good health? Reynolds thinks so and votes so. There, but for the fortunate accident of birth, go our children: Reynolds' children, your children and mine. Should Reynolds be reelected? Unfortunately, the children can't vote, but you have the right and therefore the duty. You be the judge. Exercise your privilege.

Robert D. Roach Jr. Clarence Diabetes gains awareness

The diabetes epidemic has no bounds. Children, co-workers, caregivers, minorities and the elderly are some of the many faces of diabetes in our community. Could you be one of these faces?

Nearly 21 million children and adults in the United States have diabetes. Another 54 million Americans have pre-diabetes, which puts them at serious risk for developing Type 2 diabetes. It is a leading cause of heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness and lower limb amputation. Unfortunately, many people are unaware they have diabetes or are at risk for developing the disease.

What can the people of New York do to help stop it in its tracks?

November is American Diabetes Month, the ideal time to get involved with your local American Diabetes Association at www.diabetes.org or 1-888-DIABETES. Participate in an event or educational program. Volunteer. Be a Diabetes Advocate and write your local government representative urging them to support diabetes related legislation.

The future of our community is at risk. What are you going to do to help the many faces of diabetes?

Toni Hansen

executive director

American Diabetes

Association of Greater

New York

Farmers' Market closes Saturday

As a volunteer at the Village of Williamsville's Farmers' Market, I can't speak highly enough of this wonderful event. As I greet people coming in, babies in strollers, toddlers in tow, senior citizens who come on a weekly basis, as do others, I think to myself, this is fabulous. The cohesiveness, the bonds, the appreciative folks who thank us for doing "this" (and those who want to know if we are going to do this again next year) are all so priceless.

What a great event for our senior citizens. Some walk in (God love 'em), some we help to park their cars. They're all so sweet and so appreciative. I love it when I hear them say, "See you next week."

I hope we can continue to provide this market for our community. (People comment that they love the setting at the mill as they have very fond memories of the mill. Then there are those who come from other markets and say ours is the best.) This is what a village is all about.

The final Farmers' Market for the season will be Saturday, Oct. 27.

Julia Dawson

Williamsville