McLaughlin’s candidacy doesn’t fly
EDITOR’S NOTE: The deadline for election letters, which has been published several times in print and online, was 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27. No election letters received after that will be accepted.
County Executive candidate Steve McLaughlin claims he “was the top rated pro-business legislator” by the New York State Business Council. Checking the council’s website reveals that he was – once, back in 2011 – and his ranking has dropped steadily since. In reality, he’s now tied for 35th. McLaughlin says he’s received the Farm Bureau’s “Circle of Friends” recognition -- an accolade that’s curiously not listed anywhere on their website. According to the Syracuse Post Standard, 93 legislators were so recognized in 2011, so maybe it’s an “every kid gets a trophy” kind of thing? Candidate McLaughlin’s literature claims he has “created jobs,” although it is hard to see how a member of the state Assembly in the minority party creates any jobs – other than for his own staff perhaps? In the Assembly, his record has been pretty ineffective, too, with only 8 percent of the bills he sponsored last session becoming law. He also voted against construction apprentice programs for disadvantaged kids and against the state’s Capital Investment Budget, which funds our infrastructure and supports construction jobs. How has he actually helped help us? Through September, over 40 percent of McLaughlin’s campaign contributions have come from outside Rensselaer County, so he must be “helping” somebody. Plus there’s the pending ethics investigation and harassment incident and whatever else happens there. Before running for office, Steve McLaughlin was a commercial airline pilot. For me, his candidacy has way too much baggage to get off the ground.
Troy must address vacant properties
After reading the article published on October 23 titled “Troy officials say vacant house fire is suspicious,” many residents should be very alarmed and concerned. While the fires in recent times have all been of vacant properties, who’s to say it can’t spread to other properties or businesses? The mayor and the Troy police and fire departments are doing the best they can considering they do not have much to go on, but many would hope that some progress would be made since this has been an issue for some time now. But this vacant property problem isn’t just limited to Troy, it is popping up throughout the Capital Region.
In East Greenbush for example, Columbia Turnpike is supposed to be the main street for businesses for the town, but it’s far from it. Many vacant buildings, most of them former businesses lie there in disarray, overgrowing plants, the deterioration of pavement in parking lots, and the buildings themselves are an eyesore. Supervisor Conway has been working on beautification projects but the progress is slow and few results have occurred. Yes, some paving is being done in the town on roads that desperately needed it and the Nigro Companies have begun work to overhaul the Columbia Plaza which is beginning to look much better, but it still has many empty buildings that have been sitting for years now so hopefully once more projects are completed, businesses will be drawn there and throughout the town.
And while the other side would argue that changes of this magnitude take time and money, which is understandable, these issues have been around for years and many would hope they’d be addressed sooner rather than later as these are issues that affect the public as a whole.
Along with vacant businesses and lots, it’s homes too. Even across the street from my home, there’s a house that has been vacant for 10 years! It has caution tape wrapped around it and has been condemned. Why not tear it down and allow for someone to rebuild it? Several banks have taken the property over and people come from time to time to mow the lawn, but that’s it, the house lies in a state of disarray with no attempts being made to make it any better.
This is a story that is being repeated in other cities and towns as well throughout the Capital Region. It’s reassuring to hear that Mayor Madden is starting initiatives to help with the vacant buildings problem as well as the arson task force to investigate the vacant home fires and everyone hopes the culprit is found. But enough is enough, many residents of the city of Troy and the town of East Greenbush have had enough and call on their local governments to do more to make their hometowns beautiful and be a place they’re proud to call home.
Story of banner’s return heartwarming
I was left with a heartwarming feeling after reading Fallen Troy military banner returned by good Samaritan (Oct. 21, 2017). The man who returned the banner safely is a hero to the veteran’s family and to the Troy community. He keeps the memories of our veterans alive in our cities and in our hearts.
The banner was a memorial to a man who fought bravely for our country. His portrait hangs high to honor his memory and his sacrifices. All war veterans deserve to be honored for their courage which thanks to the good samaritan is possible again. The man stopped and picked up the banner that he saw get pulled down by the passing truck.
The banner wasn’t just an ordinary piece of paper littering the streets of Troy, but a symbol of freedom. This man committed a true act of patriotism by helping restore the memorial.
Many people would have kept on driving or walking without giving the fallen banner a second glance, but he decided to pick it up. If he didn’t the memorial of the veteran could have blown away or got destroyed by the environment. I applaud the man who recovered this piece of Troy’s history.
When driving through Troy, I always look up at those banners so I can’t picture them not being there. I certainly couldn’t imagine the memorial of someone I loved vanishing without a trace, so I was relieved and grateful to the unknown citizen for stopping to pick up that banner. Letters should be e-mailed to letters@troyrecord. com. Letters should be around 400 words long and include the author’s name, address and telephone number for verification purposes.