Letters (6/21-6/28)

Great bridge

I just wanted to publicly thank all and everyone who had a part in the rebuilding of the bridge by Ralph Vedder and Manorville Roads. These days, it is highly unusual to sing praises to a new construction project, but that bridge is simply, breathtakingly beautiful. Everything about it is wonderful, and it makes the commute from Palenville to Woodstock much simpler and direct!

Whenever I cross the new bridge, I marvel at the work. After almost a year of detours, I don’t think I’ll ever take it for granted when I cross that wonderful bridge. Love the stone work.

Congratulations to all on a job very well done!

Barbara Lubell
Palenville

Don’t sell out: vote Tyner

Hinchey has joined the rest of the “power structure” to suggest that you select the candidate they have chosen for you and me. Isn’t it time to rebel against the “good ole boys”? I am so happy that there are heroes of mine who don’t jump on the bandwagon as it’s driven by the “big” boys. I am thinking of Pete Seeger, a man who has followed his conscience all his life. He endorses Joel Tyner. He has never sold out his values to win anything.

Hard to understand why the Democratic committees and an outgoing congressman couldn’t let the people make up their own minds without interference. I guess they think we are dumb. I have to agree that Hinchey was on the right side of most progressive issues. In fact his stance on single-payer health insurance was a great one, but it will be lost if Schreibman is elected as he seems happy with Obama Care. But then I am not sure if that is true or he is just going along to show his position on Obama’s team. True progressive Democrats are like Tea Party folks, but with a different agenda. Let’s put our man in office this time. Vote Tyner on Tuesday, June 26.

Erin McGurgan
Saugerties

Only Schreibman can beat Gibson

Thank you to Brian Hollander for his article on the Schreibman/Tyner race. I think it made it clear that there are few, if any, differences in the candidates’ positions. Both candidates are progressive, so the question that Democrats need to consider is who can best beat the well funded Republican opposition. Nonetheless, attacks from the Tyner camp against Julian Schreibman continue relentlessly and grow more inflammatory and absurd by the day. The latest is from Jay Wenk in last week’s newspaper.

Jay begins with a long list of all the things that his candidate, Joel Tyner, “wants” and then claims that “Mr. Schreibman has different beliefs.” In these he includes protecting Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, reinstating “FDR’s Glass Steagall Act,” defending women’s reproductive rights and healthcare for all. Does he really imagine that a progressive Democratic candidate such as Julian Schreibman would be against any of these? So let me make it clear: Schreibman stands firmly for all of the above. However, the words “wants” that Jay repeats so often, is key, and brings up an important question: Would Tyner be able to be effective with people who do not agree with him, so that he can get his “wants” into action? I don’t think so. Julian is equally strong in his progressive convictions, but also has the leadership ability to bring many sides to the table, a crucial trait in Congress.

Once again Jay repeats the fracking canard that Schreibman “doesn’t have the facts.” Thank you to Brian for printing the entire quote from Julian’s WAMC interview in the article, from which the Tynerites extract four words out of context and repeat ad infinitum as “proof.” In fact, Julian has stated so often that he is against fracking that his jaw must be falling off. So let me repeat it yet again: Julian Schreibman is against fracking.

Most insidious is what Jay writes about Julian’s “war chest” from “sources like the Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Citicorp…” Here’s a fact: corporations cannot donate money to candidates; they can only donate through a PAC and the Schreibman campaign has received no money from corporate PACs. Jay then goes on: “I believe that the only contribution from within the district was $1500 from a lawyer.” I, for one, am well within the district, and have donated to Julian’s campaign, as have many others I know in the district. So, did Jay just make this up or have Tyner supporters simply abandoned any semblance of accuracy in the interest of getting their candidate elected?

That Julian Schreibman is a “good old boy” is the most laughable of Jay’s accusations. Jay himself has been in politics for years. Does that make him a “good old boy”? Tyner sought the endorsement of the Ulster County Democratic Committee and lost, so he now claims that there is a “good old boy” network and Julian is at the heart of it. Sounds like sour grapes to me!

I am voting for Julian Schreibman because he is progressive on all the issues and has amassed a grassroots campaign that can win against a super funded Republican. He has the endorsement of the district’s Democratic Committees, unions (CWA and 1199), the Working Families Party, Planned Parenthood and the Human Rights Campaign. I hope he gets your endorsement as well in the June 26 primary.

Judith Simon
Saugerties