Letters to the Editor Wednesday, Jan. 5 The Daily Gazette – The Daily Gazette

Investigate Trumps inaction on Jan. 6On Jan. 6, Donald Trump Jr. frantically and repeatedly texted Mark Meadows, the ex-presidents chief of staff, that he had to tell his father to take steps immediately to stop the deadly riot.We need an Oval Office address. He [ex-President Trump] has to lead now. It has gone too far and gotten out of hand. This shit has to stop ASAP, he texted.Im pushing it hard. I agree, Meadows responded, who was also receiving messages from Fox News hosts Laura Ingraham and Brian Kilmeade no raging liberals urging the president to tell the rioters to go home.To me, those texts reveal Trump knew what was happening, just like the rest of us watching TV that horrible day. Clearly, he turned a deaf ear to pleas that he needed to call off the angry mob he had egged on just hours earlier, or lives could be lost.Even if he were watching reruns of Gunsmoke, he cant escape the fact that he was begged by his own son and his staunchest supporters at Fox to call off the riot.True, the former president finally got around to make a televised appearance over three hours later in which he urged the rioters to leave the Capitol and go home, adding, We love you, youre very special.That time lapse is evidence he committed a crime of omission that the Department of Justice needs to investigate right now, regardless of what the Jan. 6 Commission reports.Fred ComoBurnt Hills

Former Nisky leader wont be missedSupervisor Yasmine Syed ranks last. Over my 32 years of service as Niskayuna Town Comptroller I had the opportunity to become very well acquainted with six supervisors.I worked very closely and on a daily basis with all but Supervisor Syed. I initially had high hopes for her, as with each supervisor, and made every effort to help her succeed. Unfortunately, I never made the connection with her that I experienced with every other supervisor and felt very unappreciated.I am uncertain if it was due to our differences in age, or perhaps that I held her to the same standards as pertains to town policies. I denied two of her reimbursement requests due to unallowable expenditures and required her to reduce her deputys weekly hours to his authorized maximum. Most likely my continual criticism to staff regarding her lack of involvement made its way back to her.Yasmine was a good politician. However, she had great difficulty making decisions. She touted herself as having extensive budgeting experience but was seldom interested in working on the budget.Without the collaborative effort of Councilwoman Denise McGraw, there would not have been an adopted budget in 2020.The 4% challenge in her 2021 budget was a complete farce. Yasmine let down department heads and residents and was criticized by the state Comptrollers Office for putting forth such nonsense.Once again, I have high hopes for our new supervisor-elect and am pleased that Yasmine will soon be a distant memory.Paul SebestaNiskayuna

We must build back a better AmericaI feel the pandemic is escorting us into a new normal, that by coincidence is much more sustainable and healthier to our planet and our communities.Some people see this change as a threat and will be kicking and screaming in denial of anything that they feel threatens their consumer addiction.Currently, the Senate just passed a military spending bill worth $768 billion annually. That is four times the funding requested for the Build Back Better Bill and more military spending than the next 12 countries combined. Shouldnt we be investing in the health and safety of our world with a Build Back Better investment and not continue to go down the road of militarized global resource exploitation?The choice for me is easy. In the meantime, wear a mask.Gary J. LessardSchenectady

The facts are facts, like them or notMr. Kenneth Trumans Dec. 30 letter (Paper needs more balanced coverage) in The Daily Gazette leaves me mystified.Mr. Trumans message appears to perfectly embody the cultural/intellectual situation of our country today, post factual.The letter would have us believe that everyone is entitled to not only his own opinions, but also to his own facts. When a newspaper claims that an event or its claimed consequence has been debunked, it does so only when it has the evidence to factually disprove the events cause or consequence; likewise, a news article only describes a theory as unsupported when it has factual evidence to that effect.Apparently, the claim of the past guys press secretary that there is such a thing as an alternative truth is possible.It is ironic, I feel, that the same people who in 2015 were opposed to political correctness want now to make any event or fact that runs against their personal interest politically correct by claiming it is an opinion. It isnt true that there must be good people on both sides when those on one side are immoral according to the U.S. legal code and the Ten Commandments.One would hope Mr. Trumans letter is sarcasm, but in my opinion, the letter is clueless.Fred ChambersFort Plain

Public has right to see Jan. 6 papersIt was not only with some shock, but absolute horror and outright disgust that I read an Associated Press report (WH, Jan. 6 committee agree to shield some documents) in the Dec. 29 Gazette that indicated President Biden has agreed not to release all of the Trump Administration documents sought by the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol.The article stated that the Biden White House is working with the committee to shield some documents from being turned over, as such a release could compromise national security and executive privilege.Wait; say what? Is President Biden perhaps complicit somehow in the Jan. 6 events?Either the Trump Administration documents corroborate that the role played by Donald Trump and/or his supporters/associates etc. constitute indictable behavior(s), or they do not. There is no middle ground.And if there is evidence of the Trump Administrations collaboration or collusion with any of the individuals who stormed the nations Capitol that day, both the U.S. Congress and, more importantly, the American people deserve to know it, and those guilty need to be punished in accordance with applicable statutes.After all, no one is above the law.Or should I now remove my rose-colored glasses?Paul DeierleinSchenectady

Mask requirement is not terrorismJoe Mastroianni of the Rotterdam Town Board does not understand the definition of being terrorized or using force unnecessarily and excessively. The simple, kind, generous and gentle act of wearing a mask to protect family, neighbors, friends, coworkers, strangers, the young, the old and even enemies from a dangerous disease is not terrorism.What happened at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, is terrorism.Ellen FruehSchenectady

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Letters to the Editor Wednesday, Jan. 5 The Daily Gazette - The Daily Gazette