Stefanik should explain why she voted against Ukraine aid
Local law enforcement is mum on why local schools had to lock down on Friday
Please consider supporting The Front Page with a paid subscription: HERE
Rep. Elise Stefanik has consistently voted to assist Ukraine in its war with Russia.
On April 4, 2022, Stefanik said:
“The United States stands strongly with the people of Ukraine. In the face of Putin’s genocide, the United States must do everything to equip Ukraine with lethal aid, so they can continue their fight.”
But this weekend, Rep. Stefanik changed her mind and voted against sanctioning more aid to Ukraine, despite the dire circumstances it faces.
In just two years, she has gone from opposing "Putin's genocide" to supporting it. I don't see any other conclusion you can draw.
But why?
The obvious answer is her allegiance to Donald Trump instead of innocent women and children in Ukraine.
The New York Times reported Sunday that "Ukrainian citizens took to social media to offer thanks and express joy, posting American flag memes blending Ukrainian imagery with American symbols like the Statue of Liberty."
“I have tears in my eyes,” Anton Gerashchenko, the founder of the Ukrainian Institute for the Future said in a message to the New York Times. “So much suffering, so much pain. So many lost friends and wonderful people in these horrible years of war. Now there is hope to save more lives of those who are still alive.”
Consider that for a second.
Our representative in Congress - Elise Stefanik - ignored that suffering, that pain to women and children.
She needs to explain why.
There was no explanation on social media Sunday morning about the Ukraine vote, but she did have criticism of the Columbia University president and concerns over the student loan bailout. Apparently, that was more important to her.
But for the women and children of Ukraine, she had just one word - "Nay."
Earlier in the week, Rep. Stefanik ironically showed more concern about the threat of nuclear war during a House Armed Services Committee hearing where she demanded support for Fort Drum as the site for a new missile defense system.
Since 2019, the Department of Defense has shown support for Fort Drum for the site "IF" it decides it needs more missiles.
That's a big "if."
WWNY-TV (7 News) in Watertown reported that Stefanik "grilled" the director of the Missile Defense Agency, Lieutenant General Heath Collins, about beginning the planning and design of the missile defense site. He didn't make any promises and it was unclear where the plan stands.
In the past, there has been debate about whether a third missile defense system was needed. Rep. Stefanik has been an enthusiastic supporter because it would provide some 600 high-paying jobs to the 21st Congressional District.
Of course by voting against Ukraine aid, you can make a case she increased the need for just such a missile defense system as the threat from Russia grows.
There is a lot to unpack here and a lot to understand about Rep. Stefanik's two conflicting positions, but WWNY-TV did not have any luck in getting clarification.
They wrote this:
"7 News has tried to speak with Stefanik directly about the missile defense project potentially getting built at Fort Drum which could be a transformative project for the region and people who live here. Our first request was made on March 7. More than 4 weeks later, we got a statement from the congresswoman. We repeated our request for an interview, but Stefanik’s office responded to 7 News that it cannot fit in an interview at this time."
Rep. Elise Stefanik no longer has time for her constituents while operating in the high-stakes world of Washington politics.
She no longer cares about genocide in Ukraine and stopping Russia aggression.
But she loves the idea of another missile defense system because it would make her look good.
Her vote against Ukraine aid indicates we don't want to support Ukraine. I believe it is the opposite.
School lockdown
On Friday, there was a school lockdown on the Queensbury campus and also at the Kensington Street Elementary School in Glens Falls.
Apparently, a suspect fled the Montcalm Apartments which are just across the street from the Queensbury Middle School.
By 2 p.m., the lockdown had been lifted and students were allowed to go home without incident.
But what was it all about?
Under the best of circumstances law enforcement agencies can be difficult when it comes to getting even basic information to the media. It seems to forget that it has a mission to give information to the public when it comes to the safety of the community.
On Sunday, The Post-Star published this in its e-edition:
"The Warren County Sheriff 's Department told The Post-Star the case is being handled by New York State Police. The New York State Police referred reporters to the U.S. Marshals who did not immediately respond for further comment."
All three agencies should be embarrassed by that. This is an example of the run-around the press gets from law enforcement.
These are not controversial questions:
Is the person still at large? Is he/her dangerous? What happened on Friday to force a lockdown?
I don't believe for a second that local law enforcement does not know the answers to those questions and I doubt it would endanger any investigation.
Defund NPR
This past week, Virginia Rep. Bob Good introduced the "Defund NPR Act" so that National Public Radio would not be the recipient of any taxpayer money.
Good said that NPR promotes "anti-American narratives on the taxpayer dime."
This newsletter has repeatedly pointed out the great journalism being done by North Country Public Radio about the need for more volunteers in the community and whether electric school buses will work in the North Country.
What is anti-American about that?
It's local reporting coming at a time when this type of journalism is needed desperately.
Listening to NPR, provides me with valuable insights into the arts, environment and the real-life stories of regular people of all kinds.
Anyone who wants to limit that kind of story-telling, who is trying to limit journalism is the un-American one.
Mr. Good falls into that category.
Marking Earth Day
"By the time America marked its inaugural Earth Day on April 22, 1970, Paul Schaefer had already dedicated four decades to safeguarding the Adirondack wilderness. His formidable alliances with conservationists like John Apperson and Howard Zahniser," Forbush writes."Schaefer's notable victories included the storied Black River Wars in the 40s and 50s and his campaign in the 60s against dams on the Upper Hudson that would have submerged the Hudson Gorge in a 35-mile-long reservoir."
State leaders later decided to create a documentary film on protecting the Adirondack waterways. The result was. Schaefer's 1972 film Of Rivers and Men.
It is now being streamed on YouTube for the first time. The reproduction is a little rough - it was made in the 1970s - but on this Earth Day, the 30-minute documentary might give us some insight into how far we have come.
Saving journalism jobs
In a first-of-its-kind legislation in the country, the "Local Journalism Sustainability Act" has been included in the state budget for the coming year.
Spearheaded by local Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner, the legislation provides for a $30 million tax credit based on 50 percent of the first $50,000 of a journalist's salary. Since most local journalists in upstate New York are paid far less than $50,000 that might provide the opportunity for local newspapers like The Post-Star to hire more reporters to create more local news.
This was a major step toward helping local journalism and included efforts by local unions and the New York News Publishers Association.
"Local newspapers are disappearing, subsumed into national companies and relying on a national content providers to fill their pages. On-the-ground trained journalists play a crucial role in keeping people informed about what is happening in their county, city, town, village or neighborhood," Woerner explained. "I am pleased that this year's budget includes a new tax credit which supports these news companies to maintain and grow their newsroom staffs with local reporters."
The final version of the bill allowed for chain newspapers like The Post-Star and Buffalo News to be included in the tax break. Every newspaper in the state should be eligible for the credit. All they have to do is hire more journalists.
The Boss - Part 2
Several people could not believe I took in a second Bruce Springsteen concert in Syracuse last week.
This show had an entirely different stadium vibe to it with 60-foot video boards on each side of the stage that showed Bruce and the band towering in front of us.
This show went five minutes longer than Albany - 2 hours, 50 minutes - also included 28 songs, but seemed to have more energy with Bruce interacting more with the audience and band.
I first bought tickets to the Albany show 18 months ago. The show was canceled twice, but it was worth the wait - twice.
Chapman book sale
The spring book sale at the Chapman Museum was a great success and will continue throughout this week. Although, the museum is closed today, it will be open the rest of the week with lots of great covers available.
Mark you calendars
Battenkill Books in Cambridge will be hosting a discussion between former Schenectady Gazette Editor Judy Patrick and myself about my new book The Last American Editor, Vol. 2 as well as general discussion about journalism, newspapers and the play I am developing for the Adirondack Theater Festival.
The event will be held Thursday, May 16 at 6 p.m. at Battenkill Books.
I think she actually voted "Nyet".
One does not have to be a rocket scientist to understand Sedition Stefanik’s motivation. As I have expressed before, for Miss Harvard it’s all about self interest. Her behavior is simple. Whatever will enable her to achieve those goals, that is what she will do. If voting against Ukrainian people will ingratiate herself with Trump, she’ll do that and if touting a new and improved missile defense system will make her look good she’ll do that too. Make no mistake about it, this person has no allegiance to the people of NY 21.