Hochul must carry out cap-and-invest effort
The American Lung Association urges Gov. Kathy Hochul to fully implement New York state’s cap-and-invest program, a critical tool for cutting climate pollution and protecting public health.
As we head into the winter season, when more people spend time indoors and rely heavily on heating systems that can worsen air quality, the urgency for cleaner energy becomes even more pressing.
With communities across New York State experiencing worsening air pollution, we must accelerate our transition to renewable energy.
Cap-and-invest will help drive this shift while holding major polluters accountable for the harmful emissions that burden New Yorkers’ lungs.
Under this policy, an annual limit, or “cap,” is set on greenhouse gas emissions. The revenue generated would then be invested in clean energy, reducing pollution, and funding solutions.
Some claim that moving to cleaner technologies and electrification will raise utility costs on everyday New Yorkers, but that is simply not true.
In reality, electrification paired with energy efficiency lowers household energy bills over time, shields families from volatile fossil fuel prices, and reduces health costs driven by air pollution.
By investing in renewable energy, we can create healthier homes, stronger local economies, and a more resilient future.
Gov. Hochul must act now and fully implement cap-and-invest programming.
The writer is NYS Advocacy Manager – Clean Air Initiatives American Lung Association.
Nonprofits have role to play in energy efficiency
The Nov. 21 news article, “GE Appliances moves production,” indicated the Haier subsidiary based in Kentucky achieved contract agreements of $150 million-plus to produce and distribute household appliances in 10 states, but not New York.
I browsed their website, wherein the 2024 report stated their consumer appliance manufacturing and distribution supply chain is responsive to market needs and preferences.
Our constitutional social services laws authorize social services districts to assist low-medium income individuals and families to reside in sanitary and safe housing, including where landowners and renters forget humanitarian building codes.
The state and county social services agencies can conduct countywide energy assessments of low-moderate income family residences.
The assessments will determine the residential market-demand for specific Energy STAR equipment and appliances to reduce energy costs and improve public health standards.
Public-private cost-sharing contracts to purchase a supply of Energy STAR equipment and systems for installation in low-medium income residences will reduce energy consumption, reduce GHG emissions, and prevent energy utilities’ blackouts.
Inclusion of nonprofit organizations to invest in establishing affordable housing with sustainable public health and safety standards will enhance manufacture and installation of Energy STAR household appliances and HVAC Systems.
Maybe nonprofit organizations can invest in the distribution and installation of Energy STAR equipment supply chain in our region to increase cost reductions.
It seems the discretion of political parties and their government officials determines government protection of our human rights and enforcement of public health and safety standards for climate smart affordable housing for our neighbors.
Question viability of Trump’s tariff dividend
Donald Trump recently announced, “A dividend of at least $2,000 a person will be paid to everyone but high income people,” and indicated the dividend would be paid from U.S. tariff revenue to all but “high income people.”
In a Truth Social post he wrote, “We are taking in trillions of dollars and will soon begin paying down our enormous debt, $37 trillion …. because people have allowed the debt to go crazy.”
Curiously, Trump did not mention that he is among those people who “have allowed the debt to go crazy.” During his first term in office alone, the national debt increased by $7.8 trillion (21% of the current $37 trillion total).
I think paying down the national debt is a terrific idea, and who would object to a $2,000 dividend check from Uncle Sam?
However, the U.S. Treasury has reported that tariffs have generated $195 billion (not “trillions”) in revenue as of Sept. 30.
Given the fact that the payments to individuals alone would total between around $300 billion and $600 billion (depending upon how “everyone” and “high income” are defined),
I’m wondering how this “dividend” to individuals and meaningful payments to reduce the national debt can possibly be accomplished simultaneously from tariff revenues.
Explanations (particularly from MAGA adherents) are encouraged and most welcome.
Event to help hungry deserved coverage
I was disappointed that The Gazette did not cover the annual Concerned for the Hungry packing of Thanksgiving food boxes for our community on Saturday, Nov. 22 at Keane Elementary.
Hundreds of local volunteers planned, ordered, collected, sorted, assembled and distributed 2,400+ boxes, each holding four days of food for local families.
The organization has held the program since 1979, but the need this year is more compelling than ever, given recent SNAP cuts.
In the days prior to the food distribution, volunteers from schools and scouts, local businesses and faith groups, helped. The entire effort takes months, and a lot of clever outreach and grant-writing.
State Sen. Jim Tedisco, Mayor McCarthy, Assemblyman Santabarbara, and, of course, Congressman Paul Tonko, were there.
The volunteers wheeled carts around the labyrinth of shrinking food mountains, assembling meal ingredients as our DJ played a 5-hour eclectic mix. We all sang and danced when Pharrell Williams’ “Happy” blasted out. Four generations took part, from toddlers cradling dusty potatoes to seniors handing out stuffing mix. We started at 9 a.m., filling the final boxes by 4:30 p.m.
The Gazette’s focus on the parade, ignoring the Concerned for the Hungry effort, was a missed opportunity in civics education.
MAGA is not making America great again
MAGA stands for “Make America Great Again.” Yet it submits to Donald Trump as an infallible savior, conceding to his every demand for more power and wealth.
It endorses his disregard for the separation of powers, rule of law, and civil liberties enshrined in our constitution.
It supports his agenda of drastic cuts to healthcare and public assistance as he exploits his elected office for personal gain.
Absolute obedience to an authority figure who feels no responsibility to the people is authoritarianism, and America has never been authoritarian.
Moreover, compared with democracies, authoritarian nations perform demonstrably worse in every measure of societal wellbeing.
So, ironically, the “Make America Great Again” movement has chosen a path that America has never been on and will certainly not lead to greatness.
Nations face complex challenges that are best met with a broad and deep pool of knowledge and expertise. This is exactly what democracy offers.
Conversely, authoritarianism brings a narrow, uncompromising, and self-serving agenda.
In American democracy, the supreme power belongs to the people. Consequently, elected and appointed government officials are public servants.
However, MAGA politicians have placed devotion to Donald Trump over service to their constituents and country. This isn’t just undemocratic – it’s un-American.
America needs leaders who remember who they work for and who unite rather than divide.
And America needs all of us to be civil with each other, patient with the democratic process, and to be willing to compromise for the greater good.
Church claim should have been verified first
It is a good practice to assume the best, and good Catholic teaching to begin with the good. My aim is to always begin by giving the benefit of the doubt, and I am writing this letter in good faith regarding your editorial page policies.
Allegations of a $50,00 gold tabernacle for incoming Bishop Mark O’Connell were made in a letter, (“Bishop joins the ranks of tone-deaf leaders,”) published on Nov. 16 by Andrea Wise.
Most readers must have been horrified; I know I was. What upset me was not the tabernacle story, because I knew it could not be true, but that the letter was published.
Diocesan spokesperson Kathy Barrans’ Nov. 19 letter, (“Writer mistaken about gift to bishop,”) stated the facts, but I am left wondering what the process is for vetting information in letters. We need letters to the editor as part of a flourishing opinion page but are they to go completely unchecked?
It seems a disservice was done to both the church and to The Daily Gazette. The Church should not be free from criticism over various things, but criticism should be based on verifiable information. As for the paper, I believe things like this cause broken trust in journalism and media. The church and the media should be institutions that can be trusted. I am hoping you will explain this process.