Speakout: May 10, 2009

May 10, 2009 03:25 am

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TOPICS CUT OFF
The Press-Republican gave readers plenty of opportunity over the past month to comment in Speakout about the tenure issues at Plattsburgh High School and Beekmantown Central School. Now that the votes have been held, we are cutting off comments about those issues.

We also have a large number of Speakouts that we have received about gay marriage. Once the comments we have already received have appeared in the paper, we will no longer publish that topic for a while in Speakout.

We periodically limit topics that we feel have run their course. Readers are still welcome to write signed letters to the editor expressing their viewpoints.

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DELAYS
Haven't seen your Speakout? There are a few possible reasons.

We won't publish Speakouts that are longer than 100 words or that we consider libelous or inappropriate, including personal attacks, merchant complaints that we can't verify and court matters.

Also, once a topic seems to have run its course, we will cut those for a time. The point has been made, and writers are always welcome to send a signed letter to the editor of no more than 300 words for publication on the Editorial page.

Lastly, if you haven't seen your Speakout yet, you might just need a little patience. It has proven hugely popular, and most days, we have hundreds of inches waiting to get in. News articles have priority, but we try to get in a little Speakout each day.

If you have any questions, call News Editor Lois Clermont at 565-4131.

Trash
So there I was, taking an early morning walk and enjoying the beautiful weather. I turn off of Margaret Street onto Clinton and see a huge pile of trash. It stunk. It was leaking garbage juice all over. It was appalling. To make matters worse, I passed by the very same place the next day, the trash was gone, the smell remained. I am told that this is a weekly occurrence. Does anyone really believe that allowing downtown to be a garbage dump is going to help the business owners there?

No ELCS
On April 25th my family and I attended the B.E.S.T. Walk in Westport. It was a wonderful day that really addressed the issue of underage drinking in our area. I was so impressed with the attendance and presentations of numerous area schools. As a resident of the Elizabethtown-Lewis School District, I couldn't help but notice that ELCS did not participate. No notice was sent home, and a bus arrived at the walk empty. We would be naive to think that underage drinking is not an issue in our community.

Lake Forest
Thank you, Justice Robert Muller for correctly ruling claims of Lake Forest Senior Facility for tax exemption to be unjustified and principally wrong. We, city senior taxpayers cannot afford to have city's tax base eroded by business claiming tax exemptions or any one wanting a free ride at taxpayers' expense. They want the services, then they must expect to share tax payments with us. None of us lifetime city resident seniors have the surplus ($2 million) Lake Forest stated for care and upkeep. We on fixed incomes also have to maintain our homes with no surplus fund available.

NYSEG
I would like to thank the NYSEG crew that has been going around the Town of Plattsburgh and fixing the streetlights that are not working. It has made a difference when I go walking at night with my dog.

Gay marriage
What is wrong with everyone else who is unwilling to change with the times? Life has always been progressive. Either move along with life or live out the rest of your lives inside the bubble you have created for yourselves. Being a straight mom and having a gay daughter whom I love very much, I am very much in favor of gay marriage. I know one day my daughter will want to wed her partner, and who are any of you to tell her she can't? Get a grip.

Cell use
Unless you are using a hands-free device, isn't it illegal to talk on your cell phone while driving in New York state? Apparently not in Plattsburgh. You can spot at least one, if not multiple people, violating this law on almost any street in the city. Streets like Rugar, Broad, Margaret, North/South Catherine and Cornelia/RT3 are where it is most abundant. Why do the local police agencies ignore this? It is their job to enforce the law.