While I think the Governor's office owes the people in the region much more detail (financial analysis, political process, etc.) on the final decision to close the prison, anyone who didn't see this coming had their head in the sand. There will be more prison closings across the state, sooner than later. And there will many more industrial revolution era manufacturing companies finally shutting down their antiquated plants upstate (that are no longer profitable and many would require too much new investment to continue operating in to the 21st century). But let's review quickly. GE, Sandy Hill, Essity, the cement plant, Quad Graphics, and even AngioDynamics is closing down and moving out. Combined jobs over the years were in the many thousands, and they were good paying, middle class reliable jobs. The reality is, our region's future lies in tourism, healthcare/medical instruments, hi tech industries (Global Foundries is here to stay for the foreseeable future), and other telecommuting options where location does not require "in office" presence. So holding on to yesterday's jobs is a serious mistake (and let's not forget the taxpayers were footing the bill for the prison and all the jobs). It always makes for good press and chances for politicians to have a bully pulpit when any major job losses happen so the rally was expected. I will never forget the "Ed Bartholomew show" at Crandall Library when GE announced it would close. Lots of hot air, many local/regional politicians, TV cameras from Albany stations but in the end, much ado about nothing. They closed and GE tore down all the buildings and left a major piece of real estate in mothballs because underneath the parking lot is another huge brownfield site (would probably cost another billion to clean it up). Quality of life is what people want now, many are willing to sacrifice larger salaries and promotion opportunities in large companies in major metro areas because they no longer want the old rat race life. They want no commuting time, more family time, less stress, ease of access to the great outdoors, and we have all of that. Love that Stefanik (who could care less about her constituents up here--they're just pawns in her DC power grab) shows up for this one. Of course unlike her recent "great hit job performances" where she gets national news coverage like the firing of the college presidents in recent past or some of the other S**T shows where she delivered her hypocritical zingers in House hearings (that made her King Donald's love and attention), she will do nothing to actually change the problems of that region. She's been in office long enough to visit the regions hardest hit like Whitehall and how's that village's future looking? Grim at best. Guess what? Time for change and lead, follow or get out of the way! VOTE for action not BS.
I think it might be better to admit to an ignored reality in our country.
States compete for jobs against other states.. and the states that are winning right now are 'right-to-work' states... both in jobs and money.
The right-to-work states all receive more federal dollars than they pay in. This windfall comes to them at the expense of states like New York that pays in more than it recieves. The sad irony: right to work states finance job movement at the expense of states that have high-paying jobs.
Manufacturing jobs didn’t disappear, they either moved to other states or other countries. But that isn’t NYS’s fault. It is more likely the fault of greed... the greed of corporations to don’t care about workers, but profit margins. And the greed of people like pos_tfnKKK who never saw a lobbyist dollar she didn’t want to profit off from.
If pos_tfnkkk wanted to save jobs, she would stop poor states from luring companies away from her state.
Partially true, no question that NYS has made it more difficult to do old time manufacturing in our state but if you look at most of jobs and industries that have left upstate NY north of Albany, most were Industrial Revolution era industries. While logging and lumber still exists, it's much smaller than when Glens Falls/Queensbury (1850's) was the "lumber capital of the world" (NYS was top world producer and GF/QBY were the capital). That lead to paper making (many mills in ADKs, now only a few, Finch, Irving, Sylvamo-Ticonderoga), mining, shirt making/clothes, etc. Mostly all gone. GE made capacitors. Plants and labor were cheaper to build and operate in the south and most closed and went there (corporations greed and efficiencies played a role, but local ownership stayed here for generations). Finch Pruyn was sold about 17 year ago and founding family still owned control. Lucky NYS had Wall Street, Madison Avenue, many large insurance companies, banking, etc. Ironically, in spite of all of that, NYS is still sending huge sums of money to Washington DC and if NYC were a separate state, the rest of the state would be like the southern states living off of the excess of the bigger states.
Large new Hudson Headwaters facility going up in Salem. I think there is a real story there regarding the funding and the political forces behind that significant development here in Washington County. Pretty sure it isn’t Republicans we should be thanking. 😉
Hmmm. American Hospital Association has issues with her “bill”. Apparently she didn’t put in the real work to check how it affects Medicaid and financial difficulties for the facility. No doubt, she and her cronies are happy to hurt the poorer members of our district.
Trump boat show? Just another clown show. You can't fix stupid people, especially when they have too much money, too much time, and watch too much FOX News, OAN, Newsmax, etc. I wonder if Stefanik will be riding in the lead boat?
We see these kinds of 'boat parades' in the news all the time. Perhaps we should have the coast guard available to arrest anyone who goes above the 10 mph speed limit or creatse a wake...
Perhaps put them at Great Meadows... and auction off the boats to give to displaced families of Great Meadows
It is truly mind boggling that women will support a man who was convicted of sexual assault. It unfortunately shows the absolute ignorance of these women, or maybe they enjoy that type of thing. It doesn't sound nice to say, but what else explains it?? If they have daughters, you can't help but wonder if they tell their daughters that it's OK to be sexually assaulted! Pitiful!!
Prison jobs have not lead to more vibrant communities surrounding the prison. Washington County Correctional was built ~1980 and despite those hundreds more jobs the local communities have steadily declined.
Several years ago a climate change rain storm flooded Whitehall school. Did Stefanik, Stec, Simpson show up to help the community when it faced what was something like a $16 million loss if I remember correctly? No.
There are opportunities for the area. One is the Champlain Canal bike trail that runs right past the prison. The section from Comstock to Whitehall is on heavily trafficked and dangerous Rt 4. Those politicians could put a small amount of effort toward moving that trail off the highway - before someone gets killed - and provide grants, low interest loans to create improvements that will help with developing bicycle tourism. Making sure that Amtrack provides regular and reliable service north of Ft Edward would also be helpful.
If the canal trail is improved there will be hundreds of bike tourists passing through/wanting to stay in local communities every day, 6 months a year. There are few facilities - decent hotels/motels, restaurants - to support these tourists. Whitehall is a connector hub with the N.Y. and Vermont trail networks. It could greatly benefit from the tourism advertising both N.Y. and VT already provide.
But Stefanik, Stec, and Simpson are too busy blowing dehumanizing hot air.
Yes, instead of seeing the glass is half full and celebrating the fact that crime is so low they’re complaining about the lack of criminals to fill the prison.
The reality is that it’s going to close no matter how much kvetching is performed. Face that reality and address it.
At the 2024 Glens Falls/Queensbury Memorial Day parade there was a woman carrying a large Trump flag. She was wearing white boots, red pants, white shirt, blue blazer and a rhinestone embellished Trump cowboy hat. She certainly stood out in the crowd. Perhaps that was her intention. That person, Linda Clarke, should have known that Memorial Day is for honoring those who died in service to their country and not for promoting one who received five deferments and mocked John McCain. Supporting Trump is your choice, just leave Memorial Day for the real heroes.
I think this bears some more research. I've been told, but cannot independently verify, that inmates were moved so the facility could be renovated - and that they would be moved back. Why renovate and then close it down? Also - is it true that Great Meadows has the only psych facility in the system, and that the other nearby prison relies on all of its utilities coming from Great Meadows? I'd sure like to know the answers to these questions.
You can't say crime is up (it isn't) and not say we need to keep prisons (we don't).
And of course pos_tfnKKK is nothing but her lies.
We are in trouble, to put it lightly. Our democracy is in peril, to put it bluntly.
Not because pos_tfnkkk and hmpy trmPEDO are lying to us in epic proportions, but that it is allowed to transpire and because so many believe the lies.
The North Country and especially the Adirondacks a region that receives more tax dollars then it will ever provide revenue. pos_tfnKkK’s district that I would dare say she has not created one single job with legislation she has offered into law...
Fact is, if she didn’t take credit for the prosperity of the bills she voted against, she would have nothing to talk about!. And I can’t think of one job she has saved.
The most recent grandstanding for prison guards is abhorrent. I remember that about 30 years ago correctional facilities were that.. places that gave criminals education and a chance to rehabilitate themselves. Now they are not just places that we punish individuals (often a disproportionate population of people of color) with time away from society, but also with the conditions they live in (forgetting we are supposed to be a country without cruel and unusual punishment).
Also, 30 years ago the Correction Officers Union was striking in RayBrook. I stopped and talked to them. Without going into too many details, the one thing that struck me was the disconnect. “How would like like it if you were only making $40 an hour and raising a family.”
The guy was detached from reality.. so much so he didn’t realize how much he was making. Many in the area were making $7.50, only because that was the minimum wge at the time. It is hard to remember that we now live in a time when employers paid anything more than the minimum wage like they do now because workers seem to be in short supply.
But the fact was, they guy was making five times what I was making. He deserved it, but still, he didn’t understand what it was to live at the poverty line. Just he likely DID believed he was the solution to all the problem of the state (country/world) = lock up all undesirables.
We leave in a world perpetrated by pos_tfnKKK of fear. Unfortunately it is an unreal fear orchestrated with lies. It reminds me of the cartoon where there is a rich guy with a plate of 50 cookies, to his right is a brown skin guy with one cookie and to his left a white guy with no cookie. The rich guy looks at the white guy and says: “He stole your cookie.”
Great Meadow should not be an unneeded cash cow, paid for (needlessly) by the tax payers afriad of a boogie man that doesn’t exist.
But I have a good idea for what Great Meadows could be.
A place where liars like pos_tfnKKK and hmpy trmPEDO (and perhaps many of their supporters) are placed to be educated in the facts.
Imagine a place where willing ignorance has a punishment of education.
Changing jobs might not be a fun thing for a person... For them, it might seem like a tragedy (though not every change of job is a downward spiral), but I don't know if we have to look at it as a 'tragedy'.
If you took a community of 15,000 people...does that mean there will be 180,000 tragedies every 30 years or so.
I am guessing I have had about 12 jobs in my work career, from paperboy to retirement. Some felt like a tragedy when I was fired or let go... but even those I rebounded and ended up better off in the long run.
I don't want to underestimate what the loss is to those families of Great Meadows.. But if we think of it as a tragedy that HAS to be averted... then let's put everyone on welfare.
Andrew Yang ran on a platform of universal basic income, many balked at this, but if you read about it it IS feasible. But he was talking about $1,000 a month, not a guaranteed $2,000 a week prison guard job. (I am sorry if this number is way high)
It’s not women supporting Trump that astounds me, because depending on what issues are important to you it’s possible to overlook certain flaws to get the outcome you desire. We all weigh the pros and cons in any decision, and supporting a candidate is no different. What astounds me is the adulation, the worship that often seems to go along with supporting Trump. All politics aside, he is just so unworthy of any admiration on a personal, human level. His supporters often go way beyond excitement and enthusiasm into almost quasi-religious type fervor. That’s the part I can’t explain, unless I compare it to a cult. Then it all comes clear.
To me that’s also a puzzling thing. Not the part about giving them permission to flaunt their hate, because I see the evidence before my eyes every time I drive to Fort Edward, but the part where he hates them too. I wonder if he really does hate them, or did, I should say. He’s from NYC, spent decades being a celebrity there, his name in the gossip columns, rubbing elbows with all sorts of people at Studio 54. Maybe as long as they were rich and or famous, he didn’t mind? Or was he better able to hide the bigotry? Or did someone put a bug in his ear that bigotry and hate would get him power? I don’t know if he’s capable of any kind of belief at all beyond the ideology of himself.
I agree with that 100 percent. I never understood the adulation of ANY politician no matter what party they belonged to. They are people asking you to support them to do a job. It is a job interview, nothing more.
Just because our part of New York has a small Jewish population I fail to see the correlation as to whether or not our congressional representative should support an ally of the United States — Israel, or fight antisemitism in our schools, colleges and universities. You do not have to have a large Jewish population to stand up to antisemitism or a large black population to stand up to racism. Or support an ally at war.
I wasn't condemning her support, just her motivation and why now? I don't recall hearing her ever saying any thing about anti-semitism for the previous 10 years.
Thanks for the information about the prison closure. I’m sure if it got down to 6 inmates with a staff of 500 our local pols would still be doing performative outrage. I’m sorry to see Carrie Woerner joining the circus. I suppose one does what one must.
It reminds me of all the Republicans, including our own Elise, running on repeal and replace Obamacare. They could gleefully pass bills and send them to then President Obama for him to veto. Anyone who believes this performance is any more effectual is being had.
"I’m hoping it will go smoothly and people will be positive and have a good time, and it will be a happy day."
Hope is not a strategy. The 17th is probably a good day to stay off the lake. OTOH, it’s possible that having reached Season 9 of Apprentice WH we may be reaching the shark jumping phase of Donold’s political career. No one tell him if the turnout is not bigly. He seems to be going through some things.
I want all people to have good jobs and good pay...and I understand the fear and anger. I would love politicians and those in the community to create good jobs with good pay for good projects: learning new skills that are so needed (electricity, plumbing, construction, farming, the healing arts, forestry, solar and wind). Good work for good people.
I taught writing and Literature or 12 years at Great Meadows as part of Skidmore College's University Without Walls. I saw the men I taught grow in depth, understanding, compassion, and wisdom; they were my teachers. When the program--and many programs--were defended, I wrote a book Breaking Out of Prison: a guide to consciousness, compassion, and freedom because I wanted the men to hear their own strong and honest writing, the depth of their thinking and understanding. their ability to learn and grow from often abusive and violent backgrounds....So many in the outside world talked about the evil "animals" in prison, not recognizing the corruption and dishonesty within us all, not recognizing what is possible when door to mind and heart open.
Great article. I must buy your book. It sounds interesting and maybe I’ll give a copy to our legislators who call the prisoners “animals.” Maybe SOME are, but not all I don’t think.
Stefanik's mode is to attack. She, i'm sure, was given a huge sum by AIPAC who attacks any politician not totally loyal to Israel, as Trump attacks anyone not totally loyal to him, and rewards those who offer total support. The question is not protecting Jews and fighting anti-semites. Stefanik has supported anti-semitic speakers and politicians in Trumps's "base." Her self righteous attacks, her yes or no questions, are despicable. If it is to attract Jewish voters, I think she is missing her mark. For me, as a Jew, and for the community I know, Netanyahu's extreme right wing government is endangering Israel, not protecting Israel.. We are often part of the protest for Palestinians but also join groups like Rabbis for Human Rights protecting Palestinians in the West Bank, and Standing Together, and Peace now--and those who love Israell and fight against all injustice. to all peoples.
I feel bad for all those employees losing their jobs though and I do wonder where the inmates will go. I hope to a better place. Rikers is a truly horrible place also.
Enjoyed your insightful comments about the Women’s Republican Club. Especially sad that she’s an educated woman supporting Trump.
While I think the Governor's office owes the people in the region much more detail (financial analysis, political process, etc.) on the final decision to close the prison, anyone who didn't see this coming had their head in the sand. There will be more prison closings across the state, sooner than later. And there will many more industrial revolution era manufacturing companies finally shutting down their antiquated plants upstate (that are no longer profitable and many would require too much new investment to continue operating in to the 21st century). But let's review quickly. GE, Sandy Hill, Essity, the cement plant, Quad Graphics, and even AngioDynamics is closing down and moving out. Combined jobs over the years were in the many thousands, and they were good paying, middle class reliable jobs. The reality is, our region's future lies in tourism, healthcare/medical instruments, hi tech industries (Global Foundries is here to stay for the foreseeable future), and other telecommuting options where location does not require "in office" presence. So holding on to yesterday's jobs is a serious mistake (and let's not forget the taxpayers were footing the bill for the prison and all the jobs). It always makes for good press and chances for politicians to have a bully pulpit when any major job losses happen so the rally was expected. I will never forget the "Ed Bartholomew show" at Crandall Library when GE announced it would close. Lots of hot air, many local/regional politicians, TV cameras from Albany stations but in the end, much ado about nothing. They closed and GE tore down all the buildings and left a major piece of real estate in mothballs because underneath the parking lot is another huge brownfield site (would probably cost another billion to clean it up). Quality of life is what people want now, many are willing to sacrifice larger salaries and promotion opportunities in large companies in major metro areas because they no longer want the old rat race life. They want no commuting time, more family time, less stress, ease of access to the great outdoors, and we have all of that. Love that Stefanik (who could care less about her constituents up here--they're just pawns in her DC power grab) shows up for this one. Of course unlike her recent "great hit job performances" where she gets national news coverage like the firing of the college presidents in recent past or some of the other S**T shows where she delivered her hypocritical zingers in House hearings (that made her King Donald's love and attention), she will do nothing to actually change the problems of that region. She's been in office long enough to visit the regions hardest hit like Whitehall and how's that village's future looking? Grim at best. Guess what? Time for change and lead, follow or get out of the way! VOTE for action not BS.
I think it might be better to admit to an ignored reality in our country.
States compete for jobs against other states.. and the states that are winning right now are 'right-to-work' states... both in jobs and money.
The right-to-work states all receive more federal dollars than they pay in. This windfall comes to them at the expense of states like New York that pays in more than it recieves. The sad irony: right to work states finance job movement at the expense of states that have high-paying jobs.
Manufacturing jobs didn’t disappear, they either moved to other states or other countries. But that isn’t NYS’s fault. It is more likely the fault of greed... the greed of corporations to don’t care about workers, but profit margins. And the greed of people like pos_tfnKKK who never saw a lobbyist dollar she didn’t want to profit off from.
If pos_tfnkkk wanted to save jobs, she would stop poor states from luring companies away from her state.
Partially true, no question that NYS has made it more difficult to do old time manufacturing in our state but if you look at most of jobs and industries that have left upstate NY north of Albany, most were Industrial Revolution era industries. While logging and lumber still exists, it's much smaller than when Glens Falls/Queensbury (1850's) was the "lumber capital of the world" (NYS was top world producer and GF/QBY were the capital). That lead to paper making (many mills in ADKs, now only a few, Finch, Irving, Sylvamo-Ticonderoga), mining, shirt making/clothes, etc. Mostly all gone. GE made capacitors. Plants and labor were cheaper to build and operate in the south and most closed and went there (corporations greed and efficiencies played a role, but local ownership stayed here for generations). Finch Pruyn was sold about 17 year ago and founding family still owned control. Lucky NYS had Wall Street, Madison Avenue, many large insurance companies, banking, etc. Ironically, in spite of all of that, NYS is still sending huge sums of money to Washington DC and if NYC were a separate state, the rest of the state would be like the southern states living off of the excess of the bigger states.
Great article!
Large new Hudson Headwaters facility going up in Salem. I think there is a real story there regarding the funding and the political forces behind that significant development here in Washington County. Pretty sure it isn’t Republicans we should be thanking. 😉
Hmmm. American Hospital Association has issues with her “bill”. Apparently she didn’t put in the real work to check how it affects Medicaid and financial difficulties for the facility. No doubt, she and her cronies are happy to hurt the poorer members of our district.
https://www.aha.org/lettercomment/2023-12-06-aha-responds-lower-costs-more-transparency-act-hr-5378
Salem supervisor has really fought for that after hospital walked away.
Trump boat show? Just another clown show. You can't fix stupid people, especially when they have too much money, too much time, and watch too much FOX News, OAN, Newsmax, etc. I wonder if Stefanik will be riding in the lead boat?
It is funny in that really not ha ha way.
We see these kinds of 'boat parades' in the news all the time. Perhaps we should have the coast guard available to arrest anyone who goes above the 10 mph speed limit or creatse a wake...
Perhaps put them at Great Meadows... and auction off the boats to give to displaced families of Great Meadows
just a thought
Thinking outside the box, priceless.
Count on it. (Stefanik in the lead, that is)
It is truly mind boggling that women will support a man who was convicted of sexual assault. It unfortunately shows the absolute ignorance of these women, or maybe they enjoy that type of thing. It doesn't sound nice to say, but what else explains it?? If they have daughters, you can't help but wonder if they tell their daughters that it's OK to be sexually assaulted! Pitiful!!
Prison jobs have not lead to more vibrant communities surrounding the prison. Washington County Correctional was built ~1980 and despite those hundreds more jobs the local communities have steadily declined.
Several years ago a climate change rain storm flooded Whitehall school. Did Stefanik, Stec, Simpson show up to help the community when it faced what was something like a $16 million loss if I remember correctly? No.
There are opportunities for the area. One is the Champlain Canal bike trail that runs right past the prison. The section from Comstock to Whitehall is on heavily trafficked and dangerous Rt 4. Those politicians could put a small amount of effort toward moving that trail off the highway - before someone gets killed - and provide grants, low interest loans to create improvements that will help with developing bicycle tourism. Making sure that Amtrack provides regular and reliable service north of Ft Edward would also be helpful.
If the canal trail is improved there will be hundreds of bike tourists passing through/wanting to stay in local communities every day, 6 months a year. There are few facilities - decent hotels/motels, restaurants - to support these tourists. Whitehall is a connector hub with the N.Y. and Vermont trail networks. It could greatly benefit from the tourism advertising both N.Y. and VT already provide.
But Stefanik, Stec, and Simpson are too busy blowing dehumanizing hot air.
"blowing dehumanizing hot air"
seems to be the motto of the gQp.
Yes, instead of seeing the glass is half full and celebrating the fact that crime is so low they’re complaining about the lack of criminals to fill the prison.
The reality is that it’s going to close no matter how much kvetching is performed. Face that reality and address it.
You know, if we just went back to giving people 8 to 10 for having a joint that would help fill those prisons right back up. 😉
At the 2024 Glens Falls/Queensbury Memorial Day parade there was a woman carrying a large Trump flag. She was wearing white boots, red pants, white shirt, blue blazer and a rhinestone embellished Trump cowboy hat. She certainly stood out in the crowd. Perhaps that was her intention. That person, Linda Clarke, should have known that Memorial Day is for honoring those who died in service to their country and not for promoting one who received five deferments and mocked John McCain. Supporting Trump is your choice, just leave Memorial Day for the real heroes.
Seems to me that Linda Clarke is a "nutcase".
Nah. She’s just weird. 😄
Lol
Great post!
I think this bears some more research. I've been told, but cannot independently verify, that inmates were moved so the facility could be renovated - and that they would be moved back. Why renovate and then close it down? Also - is it true that Great Meadows has the only psych facility in the system, and that the other nearby prison relies on all of its utilities coming from Great Meadows? I'd sure like to know the answers to these questions.
Unfortunately, one lie begets many others.
You can't say crime is up (it isn't) and not say we need to keep prisons (we don't).
And of course pos_tfnKKK is nothing but her lies.
We are in trouble, to put it lightly. Our democracy is in peril, to put it bluntly.
Not because pos_tfnkkk and hmpy trmPEDO are lying to us in epic proportions, but that it is allowed to transpire and because so many believe the lies.
The North Country and especially the Adirondacks a region that receives more tax dollars then it will ever provide revenue. pos_tfnKkK’s district that I would dare say she has not created one single job with legislation she has offered into law...
Fact is, if she didn’t take credit for the prosperity of the bills she voted against, she would have nothing to talk about!. And I can’t think of one job she has saved.
The most recent grandstanding for prison guards is abhorrent. I remember that about 30 years ago correctional facilities were that.. places that gave criminals education and a chance to rehabilitate themselves. Now they are not just places that we punish individuals (often a disproportionate population of people of color) with time away from society, but also with the conditions they live in (forgetting we are supposed to be a country without cruel and unusual punishment).
Also, 30 years ago the Correction Officers Union was striking in RayBrook. I stopped and talked to them. Without going into too many details, the one thing that struck me was the disconnect. “How would like like it if you were only making $40 an hour and raising a family.”
The guy was detached from reality.. so much so he didn’t realize how much he was making. Many in the area were making $7.50, only because that was the minimum wge at the time. It is hard to remember that we now live in a time when employers paid anything more than the minimum wage like they do now because workers seem to be in short supply.
But the fact was, they guy was making five times what I was making. He deserved it, but still, he didn’t understand what it was to live at the poverty line. Just he likely DID believed he was the solution to all the problem of the state (country/world) = lock up all undesirables.
We leave in a world perpetrated by pos_tfnKKK of fear. Unfortunately it is an unreal fear orchestrated with lies. It reminds me of the cartoon where there is a rich guy with a plate of 50 cookies, to his right is a brown skin guy with one cookie and to his left a white guy with no cookie. The rich guy looks at the white guy and says: “He stole your cookie.”
Great Meadow should not be an unneeded cash cow, paid for (needlessly) by the tax payers afriad of a boogie man that doesn’t exist.
But I have a good idea for what Great Meadows could be.
A place where liars like pos_tfnKKK and hmpy trmPEDO (and perhaps many of their supporters) are placed to be educated in the facts.
Imagine a place where willing ignorance has a punishment of education.
"What is happening to the families and employees at Great Meadow is a tragedy"
That statement kind of rattles me.
When any amount of jobs is lost, it is sad. It might be a tragedy for the families.
But it reminds me of a talking point about careers: "The average person changes jobs 12 times in their lifetime, according to the latest available public survey data (2019)." (https://www.zippia.com/advice/average-number-jobs-in-lifetime/#:~:text=The%20average%20person%20has%2012%20jobs%20in%20their%20lifetime.&text=The%20reasons%20why%20people%20change,a%20different%20field%20or%20career.)
Changing jobs might not be a fun thing for a person... For them, it might seem like a tragedy (though not every change of job is a downward spiral), but I don't know if we have to look at it as a 'tragedy'.
If you took a community of 15,000 people...does that mean there will be 180,000 tragedies every 30 years or so.
I am guessing I have had about 12 jobs in my work career, from paperboy to retirement. Some felt like a tragedy when I was fired or let go... but even those I rebounded and ended up better off in the long run.
I don't want to underestimate what the loss is to those families of Great Meadows.. But if we think of it as a tragedy that HAS to be averted... then let's put everyone on welfare.
Andrew Yang ran on a platform of universal basic income, many balked at this, but if you read about it it IS feasible. But he was talking about $1,000 a month, not a guaranteed $2,000 a week prison guard job. (I am sorry if this number is way high)
It’s not women supporting Trump that astounds me, because depending on what issues are important to you it’s possible to overlook certain flaws to get the outcome you desire. We all weigh the pros and cons in any decision, and supporting a candidate is no different. What astounds me is the adulation, the worship that often seems to go along with supporting Trump. All politics aside, he is just so unworthy of any admiration on a personal, human level. His supporters often go way beyond excitement and enthusiasm into almost quasi-religious type fervor. That’s the part I can’t explain, unless I compare it to a cult. Then it all comes clear.
He hates who they hate - immigrants, gays, people of color, uppity women - and gives them permission to flaunt their hate.
To me that’s also a puzzling thing. Not the part about giving them permission to flaunt their hate, because I see the evidence before my eyes every time I drive to Fort Edward, but the part where he hates them too. I wonder if he really does hate them, or did, I should say. He’s from NYC, spent decades being a celebrity there, his name in the gossip columns, rubbing elbows with all sorts of people at Studio 54. Maybe as long as they were rich and or famous, he didn’t mind? Or was he better able to hide the bigotry? Or did someone put a bug in his ear that bigotry and hate would get him power? I don’t know if he’s capable of any kind of belief at all beyond the ideology of himself.
I agree with that 100 percent. I never understood the adulation of ANY politician no matter what party they belonged to. They are people asking you to support them to do a job. It is a job interview, nothing more.
Just because our part of New York has a small Jewish population I fail to see the correlation as to whether or not our congressional representative should support an ally of the United States — Israel, or fight antisemitism in our schools, colleges and universities. You do not have to have a large Jewish population to stand up to antisemitism or a large black population to stand up to racism. Or support an ally at war.
I wasn't condemning her support, just her motivation and why now? I don't recall hearing her ever saying any thing about anti-semitism for the previous 10 years.
Perhaps because it has only been over the last 9 months that antisemitism has exploded NYS and across country.
Unfortunately, one has learned from experience to question Stefanik’s motives.
Regardless of motive I am glad she unlike some other NY officials have spoken out publicly
A bunch of wealthy white bigots on LG with their boats and Budweiser. How can it go wrong.
Thanks for the information about the prison closure. I’m sure if it got down to 6 inmates with a staff of 500 our local pols would still be doing performative outrage. I’m sorry to see Carrie Woerner joining the circus. I suppose one does what one must.
It reminds me of all the Republicans, including our own Elise, running on repeal and replace Obamacare. They could gleefully pass bills and send them to then President Obama for him to veto. Anyone who believes this performance is any more effectual is being had.
"I’m hoping it will go smoothly and people will be positive and have a good time, and it will be a happy day."
Hope is not a strategy. The 17th is probably a good day to stay off the lake. OTOH, it’s possible that having reached Season 9 of Apprentice WH we may be reaching the shark jumping phase of Donold’s political career. No one tell him if the turnout is not bigly. He seems to be going through some things.
It's a good point about the shark jumping. What does he do next to grab the best ratings?
I want all people to have good jobs and good pay...and I understand the fear and anger. I would love politicians and those in the community to create good jobs with good pay for good projects: learning new skills that are so needed (electricity, plumbing, construction, farming, the healing arts, forestry, solar and wind). Good work for good people.
I taught writing and Literature or 12 years at Great Meadows as part of Skidmore College's University Without Walls. I saw the men I taught grow in depth, understanding, compassion, and wisdom; they were my teachers. When the program--and many programs--were defended, I wrote a book Breaking Out of Prison: a guide to consciousness, compassion, and freedom because I wanted the men to hear their own strong and honest writing, the depth of their thinking and understanding. their ability to learn and grow from often abusive and violent backgrounds....So many in the outside world talked about the evil "animals" in prison, not recognizing the corruption and dishonesty within us all, not recognizing what is possible when door to mind and heart open.
Great article. I must buy your book. It sounds interesting and maybe I’ll give a copy to our legislators who call the prisoners “animals.” Maybe SOME are, but not all I don’t think.
DEI—diversity, equality, inclusion. Is this not what the USA is all about as the American dream continually evolves to become reality?
Stefanik's mode is to attack. She, i'm sure, was given a huge sum by AIPAC who attacks any politician not totally loyal to Israel, as Trump attacks anyone not totally loyal to him, and rewards those who offer total support. The question is not protecting Jews and fighting anti-semites. Stefanik has supported anti-semitic speakers and politicians in Trumps's "base." Her self righteous attacks, her yes or no questions, are despicable. If it is to attract Jewish voters, I think she is missing her mark. For me, as a Jew, and for the community I know, Netanyahu's extreme right wing government is endangering Israel, not protecting Israel.. We are often part of the protest for Palestinians but also join groups like Rabbis for Human Rights protecting Palestinians in the West Bank, and Standing Together, and Peace now--and those who love Israell and fight against all injustice. to all peoples.
Great reporting as usual!
I feel bad for all those employees losing their jobs though and I do wonder where the inmates will go. I hope to a better place. Rikers is a truly horrible place also.
Enjoyed your insightful comments about the Women’s Republican Club. Especially sad that she’s an educated woman supporting Trump.
Keep up the fabulous writing.