As political scientist Robert Putnam, author of the turn-of-the-21st-century classic Bowling Alone, America’s Declining Social Capital, expressed it, “If we can get more people engaged in community life in contexts that respect American pluralism, many of our other problems —to begin with, our politics — will be different.” Walter Maxwell lived that belief. Walter got it. Walter lives.
Damned media! Ulster County Executive Mike Hein served up an estimated 4,000 words on dozens of subjects at his ninth annual state of the county address last week in New Paltz. What did most of the media pick up? Only a passing gotcha, complete with fuzzy Muppets graphics of two tired old bad apples who had the gall to question several executive initiatives over the past few years.
Letters to the editor from this week’s edition.
One of the ways to do so has been somehow to create one’s own job. Though that’s a tough road, thousands of people have tried to do it, combining their creative skills, business acumen, imagination and not a little tenacity.
In 2015, Bill de Blasio’s Campaign for New York, since disbanded, was called to task for funneling hundreds of thousands of dollars through upstate Democratic committees in a failed attempt to elect a Democratic state senate. One of those county committees, to the tune of some $350,000, was Ulster County. Some locals dared call the activity money-laundering, charges denied by county Chairman Frank Cardinale, who said his committee acted entirely within the law.
In the past two years, Start-Up New York has fallen woefully short of expectations, while the other state programs picking the economic-development winners have had a mixed record. Meanwhile, the modest UVANY network, which has scored its successes and failures without direct governmental funding, continues to enlarge its constituency.
Some suggestions and resources for the loyal opposition.
The pending takeover of the bankrupt Hudson Valley Mall is shaping up as another of those good-news-bad-news scenarios. The result could be a leaner, cleaner mall, with perhaps a major food store and expanded theaters. But the town is likely to take a huge hit on property taxes.
Congressmen Maurice Hinchey and John Hall are retired. Troubadour Pete Seeger is dead. But it appears the 70s no-nukes movement they championed will finally get its most fervent wish, the closing of Indian Point nuclear power plant in Westchester County.
A society that grants rights and privileges to some but not all is unjust; and an unjust society is unsafe for all its members.