Facts and Opinions Regarding Political Issues

To the Editor:

Bob Sacks deserves our thanks as well as congratulations for producing such a thorough and informative publication. Local news has been a vacuum since the demise of The Independent, and The Copake Chronicle has provided needed relief, turning a desert into an information oasis.

Like anything new, the Chronicle has changed and grown beyond its already solid foundation. It has become the "go-to" source for goings-on about town and the immediate surrounds. It has returned a voice to the local populus.

It's a shame that some are deriding the Chronicle as merely a stump platform for political commentary. The Chronicle is so much more than that.

However, like any other legitimate periodical, the Chronicle does publish facts and opinions regarding political issues. Like it or not, politics is the vehicle through which we elect people to represent us, who in turn are entrusted to make the policies which govern the Town. No where are the effects of politics on our everyday life more evident than in a small town. Decisions made on that level affect the condition of our roads and bridges, police protection, our children's educations.

Washington and Albany don't care if there is a junk yard on every corner, if the local environment is endangered by the actions of a few, or if we can't use our cell phones in our own town.

But we do. And in order to safeguard the interests of these issues, and many more, we select folks to represent us locally. The process of choosing those people happens to be a political one.

We all lead busy lives. Most of us don't have time to attend town board meetings or serve on committees. The Chronicle is a valuable source of information about important issues, and brings to attention to what might be missing in that information.

Some of the characteristics of a good newspaper are that it maintains a high standard of journalistic integrity as it provides information, provokes thought, and allows for the vox populi to discuss the issues. The Copake Chronicle is all of that.

The explosion of subscriptions speaks for itself.

The Chronicle has plenty of room for opposing opinions. It is a venue for your voice, too--not just Bob's.

If you see something in the Chronicle that you don't agree with, do something more positive than going around mumbling negativity. It's not helpful. Instead, write a letter. Offer to be a guest editor. Write an op-ed. Provoke some thought.

The Chronicle has earned its high standing among the news and information outlets that have emerged with the expansion of the internet. I look forward to its appearance each week in my inbox. I enables me to be a more informed citizen, and I hope it continues on ad infinitum.

From the border of Hillsdale and Copake,

Rose Aulino 

The Truth about the Copake Police Commission

                  

Once again I find myself having to respond to an editorial by Bob Sacks in his Copake Chronicle. This time it is about “The Secret Police of Copake”. I feel the readers of the Chronicle should know the true facts & not the misinformation Mr. Sacks likes to distribute to his readers. First off there is no such thing as a Secret Police Commission. The Police Commission meets quarterly as the website says unless there are no issues that need to be addressed. The Town Clerk is notified, a public notice is put on the appropriate board in Town Hall & an official newspaper (which the Town Board designates in January) is notified. It is not put in the paper as a public notice because the Town Board voted to keep costs down & only certain Boards need to officially advertise. Mr. Sacks should have known this, as he is a Town Board member. Next Mr. Sacks states that before the Crowley administration the Police Commission met openly and monthly and always posted the minutes of their meetings. But if you look on the Copake Website you will see that the last time any minutes posted were in 10/2006, when Councilwoman Gabaccia & Councilman Ritchie were Commissioners. If you read those minutes, you will see the Commission decided to meet as needed & not monthly. If no minutes were posted since then, are we to assume that the commissioners at that time did nothing for 14 months or had secret meetings while under the then pre-Crowley Democratic controlled Board? Mr. Sacks also writes that I am the head spokesperson for the Police Commission. I am neither Chairman nor spokesperson, but am a Citizen that constantly attends board meetings, & when an issue with the police comes up I am then asked about my knowledge of it. Am I not allowed to give an answer now without being labeled? As Mr. Sacks knows there are 3 Commissioners, why then does he always only email me & not the other Commissioners when he has a question? Obviously he has assumed that I am in charge, when in fact I am not. Finally, any young man or woman can inquire about a career in law enforcement and request a ride-along to see the inner workings of a career possibly being pursued. Some do in fact inquire about this to many other Police Departments. Last spring there were two young men who showed an interest. They met with the Police Chief (who happens to run the daily operations of the PD) were interviewed by him, and were granted permission to ride along. The Town Attorney was contacted, a waiver was signed and the insurance company was notified, all legal & allowable. This is not in any way a training program, as Mr. Sacks would like you to think, it is an informational program only. Councilman Tompkins & Councilwoman Gabaccia inquired about this & were satisfied that the proper steps had being taken. If Mr. Sacks was so concerned, why did we not hear from him? And yes one of the young men happened to be a current Police Commissioner’s son, but should he not be allowed the same opportunity as anyone else in a non-paid status? Unfortunately, the other young man changed his mind and we were unable to assist him. Ride alongs are not something any Police Department advertises and neither do we, this is a selective process that the Police Chief goes through with the person of interest to see if they would qualify after they have inquired and are interviewed by him.

So, Mr. Sacks, no secret or back door meetings, no more posting of minutes from the previous Police Commissioner’s meetings, no nepotism, and no, I am not the chairman for the Police Commission.

Once again Mr. Sacks you have managed to print an editorial without getting the true facts and have done a disservice to your readers by giving them more misinformation in your paper.

Finally if minutes haven’t been posted for over 5 years, why is it an issue with you now and one that has not been bought up before? I can only assume that this is a politically motivated editorial to mar my reputation as a fair an honest person during my campaign for Town Supervisor.

Jeff Nayer

Seeking Volunteers to Help Save the Historic Octagon Home

Dear Contractors/ Community Residence,

In recent weeks, a handful of community members have expressed their desire with volunteering to help another long time resident, Helen Mang of 193 county rte 7A Copake, NY 12516 with repairing and painting her historic octagon home.  Helen is an elder, single woman, that does not have the financial, or physical ability to properly maintain her home.  In an effort to preserve Copake, and its historical homes, we have decided to help.  Upon closer inspection of her octagon home, it has been discovered that the building has several areas where the wood is very moist, rotten, or no longer exist where it should. We all know the importance of a sound solid structure, before beginning a big painting project. We are seeking the help of local carpenters/community members with examining and repairing/painting this structure.  Since this is a volunteer project, we would appreciate any community service that you are willing to give.  Efforts are under way for gathering the material needed for the job by donations from various people within the community, as well as utilizing resources outside the community. If you would like to participate or donate please contact me at the number provided.  

This project originally started with a generous man, named Dan Posser, that volunteered his time to mow Helen’s lawn, and clean up the debris/shrubs around her home. This gentleman made a big difference to our community.  If all of us could follow in his footsteps, and help to preserve this old, historic octagon home, our community would be a much better place. 

The scraping and painting project of this historic octagon home will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 11- Oct. 23.  Time: 9:00-4:00.  All volunteers are welcome to participate.  If you would like to join us, please call me or email me.  We have a sign-up sheet.

Thank you for your time and consideration!

Sincerely,

Ruth Thomas 

Copake Community Cares c/o Ruth Thomas 189 Rte 7A Copake, NY 12516 518 329-0364 Email ancramcamp@fairpoint.net