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Letters To The Editor

School tax surprise hits taxpayers this year

To The Reader’s Forum: Despite the fact that taxpayers were told that there would be no increase in our school taxes this year, N.Y. State Democrats have found a way to make that statement untrue. Apparently, by lowering the equalization rate and making the full market value of your home more, it also lowers your STAR amount. Mine went down by $70. This fact along with an increase in the library tax raised my taxes about 25%. So much for the "no increase" promise. It seems that the state just can't get enough of your hard earned money. At least in N.Y. we know who to blame as ...

Trick or Treat, “Voodoo Economics” creates wealth gap

To The Reader’s Forum: Without question, our representatives should promote the general welfare above powerful minority, special interests in our national economic policies. A representative, democratic government can behave in no other manner and continue to claim to be representative. It is not the so-called “elitist” Democrats, however, who left the working class behind; it was and is the Republicans. For decades, our politicians, especially conservative politicians, embraced economic policies based, in large part, on supply-side economic theory, that rewards the ...

Readers Forum

Voting is free speech and should be protected as such To The Reader’s Forum: Why aren’t voters and their votes protected by the Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment? When we vote, we speak; we express in writing whom we want to represent us and whom we do not want to represent us, based on shared political values. According to the Supreme Court, independent expenditures for political communications by corporate, organizational, and other wealthy donors, is protected Free Speech (Citizens United decision). Why not voters and their votes? Aren’t they more ...

Giving thanks for those who grow Lakewood’s flowers

To The Reader’s Forum: I am writing this in regard to the flowers that cover Chautauqua Avenue in Lakewood all the way from Fairmount Ave to Hartley Park. There are a number of people that deserve a thanks. Number one is Mike from Mikes Nursery. Year after year Mike donates all the flowers that are seen planted in all the flower boxes in the main business avenue. Also the Lakewood sign area at the top of Chautauqua Avenue is full of different flowers. At Harley Park in the new flower area it is also filled with beautiful different flowers. Thank you, Mike. To Jim at the DPW, it ...

Reader’s Forum:

Where are the Communists everyone’s talking about? To The Reader’s Forum: It’s election season which means it’s time for politicians to, either, tout their accomplishments if things have gone well, or attack their opponent if things are going poorly. In the spirit of election season, I have heard in my community about the rise of communism. Our president has spoken of protecting Americans from the threat of communism, though this idea has mostly emerged with the midterms. It’s a fascinating, if ridiculous, idea. True communism is identified with State control of Industry, ...

A suggestion to honor the President’s legacy

To The Reader’s Forum: I read with interest the letter to the editor on September 5th on a great way to honor the president's memory. I am in total agreement with the writer but I also have a way of honoring him. Go to a beach, work area, recreational facility and what do you see? The little grey buildings that come in very handy for visitors or workers. They are called Port-A-Johns. My thought is they should now be called Port-A-Dons in honor of our president. They could all have gold handles, as gold means nothing but great things to look forward to when entering. So either ...