Get educated about life-saving vaccines
A child died last week.
The death was not caused by a firearm or a foreign power; it was caused by a microscopic organism -- the measles virus.
Measles is a contagious illness with multiple after-effects. My brother has hearing loss because he had measles before the vaccine was available.
He would not have had this lifelong disability if he was immunized.
Vaccine hesitancy of parents and caregivers put children at unnecessary risk.
If desired; the measles or mumps or rubella immunization can be given as a single vaccine instead of the trivalent (three immunizations in one shot).
The National Institute of Health considers the MMR one of the most effective vaccines.
Vaccine safety education continues to be the best method to overcome false claims regarding immunizations. Please talk with your trusted health care provider about vaccinations and save your child’s or another’s life.
Nancy Michela, DAHS, MS, RN
Burnt Hills
The writer is an associate professor of nursing at Russell Sage College.
Beware who’s really running the country
If Donald Trump was elected president on Nov. 5, 2024, and inaugurated on Jan. 20 as the 47th president, why is Elon Musk running this country and the office of president? Better be careful. There are snakes on the plane, and they are loose.
Rita Smith
Schenectady
Why are we backing Russia over Ukraine?
I watched the Feb. 28 press conference in the White House.
Both President Trump and Vice President Vance bullied and tried to humiliate President Zelenskyy before our very eyes and ears.
It was a “tag team” performance worthy of the WWE. Vladimir Putin cannot be trusted with words alone. He only respects power. If the United States doesn’t back our European allies and the Ukraine, the fighting will continue.
I don’t understand why President Trump believes he can trust Putin.
Also, Vice President Vance should not have interjected himself as he did because he antagonized President Zelenskyy, and the meeting went downhill from there.
Neither Trump nor Vance have ever visited Ukraine, so they don’t know the full extent of the damage done by the Russian invasion that continues into its fourth year.
They tried to humiliate and intimidate Zelenskyy, and they failed.
I don’t understand the strategy of embracing Putin and trying to publicly bully and humiliate an ally.
Doug McFadden
Niskayuna
Founders meant for change to be deliberate
I’m convinced that one of the biggest reasons Donald Trump is so popular right now is that he appears to be making changes happen quickly. As a society, we have become enamored with speed.
For the past few years we have experienced extreme polarization and political gridlock. Democrats and Republicans have often refused to compromise to solve our problems. So watching the president issue executive order after executive order seems like progress. This is certainly not what the framers of the Constitution wanted. They wanted a government that would be steady, careful, reliable, dependable and consistent.
The legislative branch, Congress, was designed to be slow and deliberate. It takes a long time for an idea to become a bill and for a bill to make it through both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The judicial branch also was created to move slowly. The Supreme Court holds hearings before determining which cases to consider. The evidence is carefully considered. An emphasis is placed on former precedents.
Our government was created to be strong and stable. It is very difficult to change our Constitution. That is why we have only had 27 amendments in over 200 years.
I hope we reconsider our desire for quick changes in our government. It is the consistency and reliability of our government that has enabled us to live in freedom for so long.
Raymond LeBel
Charlton
Trump enabled by a spineless Congress
The event in the Oval Office on Feb. 28 was a disaster for America’s standing as the world leader of free and democratic countries. What transpired over the following weekend? The president escaped to one of his resorts, the vice president went skiing in Vermont, while the rest of the leaders of the free world met in London to pledge support for Ukraine, a country desperately fighting for its freedom for the past three years.
I also find it incredible that the United States voted in agreement with Russia and North Korea to reject Russia’s aggressive invasion of Ukraine in a UN resolution supported by the rest of the free world.
We seem to have a Congress the majority of which is made up of spineless lemmings who have abandoned their morals and integrity to obey their leader and trample the Constitution as they lead us over the cliff. These folks and the collection of bobble-head dolls that fill the president’s cabinet and shake their heads yes to whatever he says have many of us wondering where this will all lead. I shudder to think of the possibilities.
Bob Fredette
Niskayuna
Musk administration empowers corruption
Now that we’re five weeks into the Musk administration, what has it accomplished?
First it killed USAID most likely because of an investigation into cost overruns with the Starlinks installation in Ukraine, the same system Musk wants $2 billion for to install at U.S. airports. Killing USAID will leave thousands without food and medicine, but these are mostly in what Donald Trump refers to as sh----le countries, so who cares?
Next, about a dozen inspectors general were fired, including the ones who monitored federal funds going to businesses Musk controlled. Recently, the National Highway Safety Administration staff analyzing the accident prone self-driving Tesla’s were also fired.
Meanwhile President Bonespurs is rekindling his bromance with Putin. He probably wants advice on how to deal with his MSNBC critics. Putin is adept at silencing critics. Hey, what’s a little polonium among friends?
Ted Thompson
Schenectady
U.S. is giving up its leadership on science
The MAGA crowd is unlikely to care, but among the arbitrary and senseless cuts Trump and Musk are making, they are ripping the guts out of American science.
Since the 1950s, federal programs and agencies have been key to the growth of science and technology in this country, resulting in the United States being the world’s economic and military superpower.
Science was a strategic advantage. The programs funded not only the research itself, but they also trained countless scientists and engineers who went on to work in industry and grow the economy. Now, critical parts are gone from our premier science agencies that fund research in-house and at universities and industry.
The fate of GE is an object lesson.
Neglect of research and development, as well as general mismanagement that were evident in the 1990s, led to GE becoming a second-rate company in the 2010s.
America will become a second-rate country if this nonsense is allowed to continue. Second to whom? Second to China, which is already nipping at our scientific heels. Yet Trump and Musk are ceding the race. If this is not reversed, top American scientists will take positions in Chinese universities.
The best American graduates will get their PhDs in China, and many will stay there to work. China will be the world’s scientific and technical superpower, just as America has been for 80 years after World War II. Xi Jinping must be doing his happy dance. Please tell me how this makes America great.
James Pickett
Niskayuna
Library changes make a mess of borrowing
I do not like e-books. My grandchildren do, but I’m old. Since the preponderance of items I have recently been searching in the newly transformed Schenectady County Public Library catalog appear in that form, I find myself going outside our county system to find my “real” books.
I have happily discovered the beautiful and friendly Burnt Hills Ballston Lake Library. Therefore I am currently juggling two sets of borrowings and must be careful to return items to the appropriate source. It’s inconvenient and time-consuming, especially since I’m old.
Recently, there are real books which have been handed to me in my favorite county branch that have brown paper coverings. (Not appropriate for young eyes? No, simply drawn from some source outside the current local collection.) I guess I activated the requests without understanding the new nomenclature; InterLibrary Loan?
In addition there is World Cat. I did watch the how-to video and still bungled the search. I keep a flyer with the branch hours in my car because the changes make no sense to me.
Why on Earth are Schenectady County residents being subjected to this rigmarole? I have lived in the county for 50 years. (I told you I was old.) Previous to last August, I adored the easy access and plenitude of items in the Schenectady County system, even bragged about it.
But a new director, a compliant board and some overseer on the county legislature pulled Schenectady out of the Joint Automation agreement and ruined my day.
Sally Knutson
Schenectady
Take a close look at who Trump admires
Please allow me to reprint some facts published by Newsweek last year.
For over two decades, President Vladimir Putin has squeezed dissent in Russia. Critics, journalists and defectors have faced dire consequences after opposing him. From poisonings to shootings, mysterious falls from windows and even plane crashes, there is a long trail of silenced voices.
Among them are Natalia Estemirova, a human rights activist and journalist, abducted and found dead later that day. She had documented human rights violations in Chechnya and criticized the government. Her murder remains unsolved.
Stanislav Markelov was a human rights lawyer and journalist. He was assassinated in Moscow by a gunman who also killed journalist Anastasia Baburova. Markelov had represented victims of human rights abuses and criticized the Russian government’s actions in Chechnya. The list continues and is truly horrifying.
I encourage everyone to look it up and realize who our unhinged leader has been quoted calling both savvy and a genius for invading Ukraine. And now Musk and his goon squad have invaded and compromised the foundations of our democracy. That loud rumble you hear is not just the growing voice of dissent but our forefathers turning over in their graves.
Virginia Newton
Burnt Hills
Turn to Scripture for guidance on joyful life
Seven years ago, I turned my life over to Jesus Christ. It’s provided a blueprint (the Bible) on how to lead a purposeful life filled with joy.
Scripture is replete with wisdom on how to righteously address today’s contentious issues that bring our society down. Many secularists embrace identity politics, which favors one group over another. This divisive tactic has created a toxic environment. It’s a political strategy to gain power.
The Book of James warns against indulging in favoritism. Let me quote its verses to illustrate this point:
James 2: 1-4
1 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.
2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in.
3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,”
4 Have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
Equity uses racism as a corrective tool to right past wrongs. Christian leadership has ceded to the false narrative that America is still plagued by systemic racism.
In the Book of Daniel, we’re told to put a light in our faith, to let it shine.
A good place to start is to embrace the axioms touted in James 2:1-4.
William Aiken
Schenectady
Rotterdam is good, but it could be even better
Seemingly overnight, Rotterdam has become a survey lightning rod for all the bad things that kill the town entrance signs of “A nice place to live.”
First and foremost, why the heck would combined churches ask your babysitter preference, transgender or Nazi? Have an agenda? Stirring the pot? Not to mention, this survey covers 3% of the town. Great way to promote your churches, by the way.
Is Rotterdam a microcosm of Schenectady County? No. Do we have room for corrections? Yes. That goes for every town in America. Is this a knee-jerk to the divisive wrecking ball government in Washington? Probably.
Rotterdam borders the city of Schenectady in many spots, in addition to Duanesburg (rural) and Guilderland (mostly suburban.) The town leans slightly Republican. Taxes are not outrageous. Schools are decent, but not superb. We don’t have a ton of fancy neighborhoods. While improving, we need more engaging community events.
On the plus side, we have great emergency responders, including police, fire and ambulance. Owning a home is doable. Rental needs are being met. Efforts are being made in the business sector.
All that said, do we know our neighbors and treat them as we would like to be treated? Not enough.
We could, however, do a very Rotterdam foodie thing for our neighbors to break the ice. Pizza night!
You have a better idea?
Dave Barnes
Rotterdam
Consider changes to obituary presentation
I am writing with constructive criticism in relation to your obituaries.
It seems there are many more obituaries of local folks that are in your online edition than your print edition.
I understand why — expense.
Is there any way of printing just names and towns from online edition and print edition in a Saturday info-box wrap of the dearly departed from that week? The print reader deserves this.
Also, may I say it was great to see a story on the passing of Skip Aycox, in the Feb. 27 Gazette, (“Julius ‘Skip’ Aycox, distinguished educator, passes away,”) but the paper missed the boat on his past wife, Gail Smith, who passed two days ahead of Skip. Both were in the obituary pages on the same day. Skip by all means deserved nice ink the next day, but Gail deserved the same as a stellar woman, Schenectadian, educator and school administrator. They will both be missed.
Marc Schultz
Rotterdam
Trump weakens country in his quest for power
Martial law is almost here.
Our government resembles a chaotic kindergarten. But there is a plan, taken right out of Hitler’s “Mein Kampf,” which I read in 2016.
Our president fired a goodly number of top military brass, replacing them with his loyalists, which means that soon, our military might be ordered to shoot at citizen demonstrators Kent State-style.
Why? Because, along with his interest in a land grab, Greenland, the Panama Canal and Canada, mentioned as a 51st state, Donald Trump wants to become one of a triumvirate of dictators of massive countries like Russia and China.
While we’re being shot at, our taxes will be going to support billionaires, instead of to those of us who need help, and to fund fossil fuel companies that will, in the future, cause your grandchildren to fry. I hope I’m wrong, but I doubt it.
One thing I am not wrong about though, is that people will die, since the president has discontinued USAID, including the programs that fund vaccines for measles, polio, Ebola and monkeypox, putting us at risk for another pandemic. Most of this aid goes to Africa, South America and Asia.
Is this not a bit of White Supremacy? Aiding other countries helps them ally with us. When we stop it, China or Russia may move in to fill the void, gaining allies for themselves. Is this making America great? I think not. It weakens us in the eyes of the world, handing our allies to our enemies.
Jahnn Swanker-Gibson
Johnstown
Educator Gail Smith left a lasting legacy
Thank you for expanding on Skip Aycox’s obituary in the Feb. 27 news section, (“Julius ‘Skip’ Aycox, distinguished educator, passes away.”)
Since few paragraphs were devoted to Gail Smith, another stellar educator in the Schenectady City system, here’s a bit more info.
After more than 20 years of teaching, Gail was nominated to be Schenectady’s Teacher of the Year in 1988.
Her first words were of her colleagues when contacted for comment.
“It’s an honor, especially considering the talent there is in the school district,” she told The Gazette. Then, when she was named one of five finalists for New York State Teacher of the Year, she told the Board of Regents, “There’s 500-some excellent teachers in this district doing that job every day, so this is really for all of them.”
Including as many people as possible in achievements was something that always struck me about Gail. She spearheaded the Schenectady Celebration, a week of events, demonstrations and performances highlighting the efforts of the students, teachers and staffers of the city schools.
She was also selected by the New York State United Teachers to serve on its Task Force for Civil and Human Rights.
She left teaching in late 1989 to become an assistant principal at Central Park Middle School because she knew she could have more of an impact by supporting all the teachers in the school with their students, not just those in her pre-sixth grade classroom. After retiring, she continued her impact as an administrator in schools on Fort Apache and Navajo Nation Reservations.
Betsy Sandberg
Schenectady
Vindictive Trump is relishing being a bully
Is it possible the diplomatic meltdown that occurred when Trump and J.D. Vance blindsided Ukrainian President Zelenskyy for being insufficiently grateful for U.S. support was a staged spectacle? The performance highlighted Trump at his vindictive best, the tough guy who relishes bullying weaker opponents until they submit to his authority.
CNN reported that Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude to the United States 33 times since the Russian invasion. But Trump never lets facts get in his way, especially on TV. Trump even went so far as to blame Zelenskyy for starting the conflict, despite the fact that we all witnessed the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. How stupid does the man think we are?
On Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas launched a sneak attack against Israel. They murdered, raped, tortured and kidnapped innocent Israeli citizens. Trump supported Israel’s retaliation, but he never expressed concerns about the cost of American aid or attempted to negotiate a deal without Israeli diplomats present.
The previous year, Russia carried out the same aggression against Ukraine, yet Trump sides with Vladimir Putin, the epitome of authoritarian evil.
Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel is scheduled to meet with Trump at the White House soon. Imagine if Trump were to say to him, “This war you started with Hamas has got to stop. It’s dragged on too long, too many lives have been lost, and it’s cost America too much money. Show us some respect and make a deal with Hamas.” Elise Stefanik would foam at the mouth.
Fred Como
Burnt Hills
Trump, Musk push false narrative on cuts
The Trump administration is currently on a juggernaut to slash spending by the federal government. Elon Musk, the “senior adviser to the President,” has claimed that “transparency” has characterized all of the activities that have been undertaken.
Countless assertions have been made by Musk that budget cuts are the necessary result of “waste, fraud, and abuse,” but I haven’t seen nor heard a single fact documenting any of these things. Where is the evidence? Where is the corroboration? Where is the proof that these cuts are needed?
Could it be found in the budget bill passed by the House the other day, which includes $2 trillion in spending cuts, including $880 billion in the Medicare and Medicaid programs, $230 billion in the Department of Agriculture, which funds SNAP (i.e., “food stamps”), an increase in military spending, and a $4 trillion increase in the national debt ceiling, all in order to fund $4.5 trillion in tax cuts overwhelmingly benefiting the wealthiest Americans?
Am I the only one who recalls that President Clinton’s administration also took aim at waste, fraud and abuse and reduced federal spending by $255 billion and not only also balanced the budget but produced surpluses for several consecutive years while simultaneously paying down the national debt by $453 billion?
Also, taxes were raised, not cut, for the top 1.2% of taxpayers. The business tax rate was also increased (to 35%). I wonder why that isn’t being used as the model by Trump?
Paul Deierlein
Schenectady
Speak out against the Trump/Musk cuts
Since the baffling reelection of Trump, I have been deeply chagrined by his actions. Yet, the goal of the GOP and Project 2025 was clear and predictable for many months prior to the election.
Voters were swayed by the misinformation of Fox propaganda, social media and right-wing podcasts, which resulted in a distorted view of the government and the economy.
I am most concerned about the data mining by Musk’s DOGE hackers, who have gained access to all taxpayer personal financial data on Treasury Department computers. I fear that our information may be monetized by Musk, sold or leaked to nefarious actors and that our financial security will be destroyed by these autocratic extremists.
Comrade Trump and DOGE have illegally fired thousands of government employees, which will cripple our national security, airline safety, infectious disease prevention and overall national stability.
Cuts to Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security will be enacted by the GOP with the sole goal of giving massive tax cuts to the wealthy at the expense of ordinary taxpayers.
All citizens must speak out against this tyranny of Trump. However, the GOP has not had the moral fortitude to confront this administration.
Ask your local, state and federal elected officials to delineate how these cuts will specifically impact you, your community and state. If they are unwilling to openly confront and vote against the cuts, they must be considered complicit and should be identified and ultimately voted out of office.
Resist the GOP kleptocracy while you still can.
Doreen Harris
Scotia