Spectrum hike to legacy customers appalling
We’re all hurting during the coronavirus pandemic whether it’s financial, physical, emotional or worse. Many local businesses have closed permanently while most are struggling to stay afloat. People are lonely, scared, mad, sad, confused and worried. Unemployment is at record highs; the economy is in a downward spiral; and people are just trying to survive financially. While many companies and service organizations are trying to help minimize the damage to their customers, there is one whose tactics and timing I find absolutely disgusting: Spectrum (our monopolistic cable provider). Spectrum significantly raised its rates for legacy customers effective in April, not just token increases, my internet cost rose over 18 percent while the cable cost increased over 30 percent. They say cancel the service if you prefer because I’m not under contract; however, there’s no other cable television or internet provider available. I can switch to satellite, but reception problems due to storms and winter weather can be a problem. Why is Spectrum adding to their customer’s financial hardship in the middle of this crisis? Because they can. Because they don’t care about the people or the pandemic. It is absolutely heartless. Spectrum is laughing at us all the way to the bank.
Saratoga Springs
Grateful to journalists for presenting facts, truth
While I am grateful for all the heroes who have been, and still are, working in hospitals and food stores, I’m equally thankful for the reporters and editors of our daily and weekly newspapers and of WAMC.
In addition to gathering and reporting on what is going on in our hometowns and across the state, the members of the press investigate statements given out by government and business, protecting us from those who would enrich themselves and hurt our communities.
Sometimes, they ferret out the truth with a few phone calls. Sometimes, it takes weeks, even years, before a lie is uncovered. In either case, I’m glad they stick to investigations like dogs to bones.
Thomas Jefferson said if he had to choose between newspapers and government, he’d choose newspapers. As the Washington Post says in its banner: “Democracy Dies in Darkness.”
We should all send a thank you donation to WAMC and subscribe to our local newspaper, choosing the paper edition also puts money into the pockets of the men and women who drop it off at our homes.
The newspapers and WAMC give us more to chew on than a 30-second sound bite. — to ensure we can overcome this viral outbreak.
After being born prematurely, my now 12-year-old son had to have part of his right lung removed and underwent heart surgery. He is extremely susceptible to lung issues if he gets any kind of cold, flu or virus. If he were to get COVID-19, he would undoubtedly have to be hospitalized. From the cases we know of where patients had pre-existing lung conditions, this is not an infection he can risk. I’m extremely fearful at the thought of this happening.
However, my son has benefited firsthand from advanced treatments produced by American pharmaceutical companies. The care he has received has saved his life. Patients suffering from COVID-19 deserve the same chance.
In the face of this extremely challenging health care pandemic, I implore our lawmakers to encourage innovation and research. It is the surest way to help restore and maintain the health of our nation. of Kentucky to spoil the mood by suggesting that the federal government should stop sending so much money to blue states to assist in the COVID-19 response.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo rightly addressed these ugly comments by pointing out that New York sends more to the federal government every year than we receive back and that Kentucky takes more every year than they give.
One might think that Mcconnell should be a little worried that, if the Democrats took back the Senate and the presidency, such partisanship would be used to suggest that the red states of Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina not be bailed out for the destruction from their frequent tornadoes, floods and hurricanes. But I guess he has been in Washington long enough to know that Democrats would never suggest such a thing.
We are the party that has empathy for all Americans, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, economic status or political persuasion, even for Republicans.
Trains, employees keep the supply chain moving
An uncertain time highlights the value of the constants on which we can rely. One of these key constants is the ever-churning logistics network, which is working overtime to keep the economy moving and store shelves as stocked as possible.
Central to this effort is a multi-modal network of trains, trucks, planes and ships that moves 54 tons of goods for every American each year. The tenacity of the nation’s freight rail network especially shines as the industry hauls 64.8 million tons of goods throughout New York annually.
New York’s 37 railroads support industrial, manufacturing and agricultural businesses to enable their products to reach markets throughout the state and across the country delivering most everything on which we rely. Trains keep our store shelves stocked with food and essential consumer items like toilet paper, move the chemicals required for medicines, and haul products to support electricity demand.
New Yorkers could not access the goods they need without the daily dedication of our supply chain heroes. Because the freight rail network is appropriately deemed “critical infrastructure” by the state and the federal governments, thousands of railroad employees and contractors are working 24/7 to keep the supply chain running in support of our communities.
Let’s recognize the railroad men and women, as well as other transportation employees, who work on the supply chain front lines to keep the economy moving during this critical time.