Circuit breaker would be better for poorer schools than tax cap

It struck me as more than a little ironic that, just days after the state Senate approved the governor’s tax cap plan, the state announced that high school graduation rates are up. To me, that news indicates our students — and their schools — are headed in the right direction. Tax caps, no matter how well intentioned, are a gimmick and make no sense when our children are learning and graduating.

Tax caps also concern me because they would seem to hurt poorer communities most. Poor districts — those that usually serve students of color — don’t have the resources to invest in their schools and would find it difficult, if not impossible, to override the cap imposed on them by some politicians in Albany.

From what I’ve read, the circuit breaker is the way to go. I applaud lawmakers and organizations supporting that much fairer option.

Juliet C. Benaquisto

Schenectady

The writer is president of the Schenectady Federation of Teachers.

The right fight is for public campaign financing

Re Aug. 13 article, “Candidates tackle campaign finance reform”: The article highlights two Democratic state Senate candidates, B.K. Keramati and Fred Goodman, addressing the important issue of campaign finance reform. These two men engage in a debate over who is more devoted to reforming this broken system.

Goodman says that he won’t accept donations over $250. He chides Keramati for accepting a legal donation of $9,500. Goodman also implies that since Keramati has worked for years to achieve full public financing for statewide elections, his acceptance of this contribution is hypocritical. He then criticizes Keramati’s support for public financing by claiming that the state cannot afford to “spend millions on a gravy train.”

Goodman’s last statement exposes his true colors. He really doesn’t support meaningful reform. His argument against public financing follows the same deceptive logic that giant corporations and Republicans like Hugh Farley employ to protect their “gravy train.” Both Goodman and Farley should follow Keramati’s lead and tell taxpayers the truth. The flood of tax dollars awarded powerful special interests are “payback” for political contributions, and astronomically outweigh the meager cost of public financing. In fact, such reform will ultimately save taxpayers billions.

Goodman’s attack is shameful, since it’s Keramati, not Goodman, who has for years fought on behalf of taxpayers to enact campaign finance reform. No wonder the bosses support Goodman and direct the party machine to work for free on his behalf. Without public financing, or bosses’ support, Keramati, like most citizens, is just another outsider. The $9,500 contribution was from his father-in-law and indicates family support, not special interest indebtedness.

The culprit is a system that allows politicians like Sen. Farley to collect big money from special interests, while opponents struggle to raise a small fraction of that. That’s plutocracy, not democracy. The fact that such a corrupt system doesn’t upset Goodman is quite disturbing.

Albert Ormsby

Saratoga Springs

The writer is a member of the Saratoga Springs Democratic Committee.

Church should not promote sinful activities

For a long time, now, I’ve had a big question for the Catholic churches in this region. Like, for instance, Our Lady of Assumption or Mount Carmel.

Why does a big feast go on every year with a lot of gambling and drinking? Yes, of course, there’s fun things to do, like games, entertainment, rides, fried dough, good food, drinking and betting your money. But, wait, alcohol and gambling are definitely a sin in God’s eyes. I’ve been a believer and saved over 10 years now, and was always taught what the sinful things in life are.

What kind of example are we setting for those who don’t believe?

Rebecca DeSantis

Rotterdam Junction

Park arrests are great, no thanks to photographer

Re Aug. 14 article, “Video helps police make three arrests”: Thanks to the Schenectady Police Department and state police for their Central Park public lewdness arrests.

Central Park is a jewel in our city and should never be marred by activities that endanger or degrade any family’s enjoyment of the park. To anyone using the park, call in suspicious activity. To the person who made the anonymous “YouTube pervert” video mentioned in the Gazette article, I believe you are involved, and if so, you are a cretin and a coward.

John Rizzo

Schenectady

Don’t cut welfare budget, crack down on fraud

Re Aug. 17 article, “Paterson’s tax cap proposal criticized”: If the governor wants to save $1 billion by taking it out of the Medicaid and social services budget, just hire more investigators to crack down on fraud and there is your billion. You won’t have to cut anything.

Clif Tygert

Scotia

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