Reform Albany Budget Talks With Open Negotiations Now
In our opinion the state budget process is failing due to secrecy and partisanship. Three leaders repeatedly bargain behind closed doors, missing deadlines and eroding public trust. A radical fix is public, on the record negotiations visible to citizens and journalists, ending the betrayals and endless leaks.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Albany
New York
Senate
Assembly
George Pataki
Sheldon Silver
Joseph Bruno
Pataki
Mario Cuomo
Overtime and Holiday Pay Abuse in Onondaga County Deputies
County deputies and supervisors exploit a payroll rule allowing vacation bonus and overtime pay for the same eight hour shift. Examples include Rufus Banks earning over $52 an hour on Election Day and Lt. Anthony Callisto receiving $198.87 for seven hours of overtime after a brief college meeting. Holiday premiums totaled $203,800 for all county employees, with jail staff receiving $15,011 in 1994. Legislator Andrews calls for changing the contract while department officials defend current practices as legal. Taxpayers spend about $2 million yearly on sheriff’s overtime.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Onondaga County
Rufus Banks
Anthony Callisto
Onondaga Community College
Russ Andrews
Zagata urged to serve all New Yorkers as DEC chief
A letter contends Michael Zagata as the new DEC commissioner must balance permits for development with protecting wildlife and Adirondack resources. It questions his past ties to oil interests and warns that state forests support tourism, tax revenue, and local services, urging consideration of residents as primary customers.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Michael Zagata
Department of Environmental Conservation
DEC
Mr. Zagata
New York State
New York
Zagata
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
New York Times
Adirondack
Adirondacks
Adirondack Park
Taiwanese Leader Lee Teng-hui Visit Sparks Support
A Taiwanese-American writer thanks editorials endorsing Lee Teng-hui of Taiwan visiting the United States. Lee, Cornell alumnus and Taiwan president for six years, is to be honored on Ithaca campus with a Central New York visit starting Thursday, including a Hancock Airport arrival in Syracuse. The letter condemns U S political pressure from China to block the visit, praising democracy and human rights.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Taiwan
Lee Teng-hui
United States
China
Lee
Cornell University
Ithaca
New York
Hancock
Syracuse
Wanted child bumper sticker sparks pro choice debate
A reader from Vernon argues that a bumper sticker reading Every child a wanted child reduces unborn life to a possession valued by others. The piece contends that the worth of a child should not depend on others affections or competing priorities.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Christine Russ Vernon
Balance Budget Now Seven Year GOP Plan Critique
A citizen argues the US cannot afford a seven year GOP plan to balance the budget. Proposes immediate actions including cutting subsidies, trimming staffs and pensions, reducing health costs, boosting jobs, and curbing imports like Japanese cars to save jobs. Calls for proportional sacrifices if needed.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
U.S
Congress
Flag burning debate seen as GOP grandstanding
Walter Pawlina of Syracuse argues that flag desecration laws amount to political theater by Republicans. He asserts true patriots need not amend the Constitution to criminalize flag burning and condemns the move as grandstanding.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Tam
Walter Pawlina
Syracuse
Letters Policy and Contact Details From Herald Journal
Readers are invited to submit concise letters with daytime phone numbers. Unsigned or unverifiable authors will not be published. The paper may edit letters for length. Mail to Letters to the Editor Herald Journal Syracuse NY 13221. Phone and fax numbers and tech settings are provided for submissions and inquiries.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Herald- Journal
Herald American
P.O. Box
Syracuse
N.Y
Also Mentioned on This Page
Arthur Jenkins
Herald
THE
Herald Company
Clinton Square
Stephen Rogers
Stephen A. Rogers
Timothy D. Bunn
Timothy P. Atseff
L. Peter Lyman
James F. Kleinklaus
Jeffrey A. Barber
Asta
Carl Williams
Andrews
Public Safety Committee
David Wall
Herald-Journal
Patrick Lakamp
Sheriff's Department
Rae
Vaagieore
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!