Letters to the editor

Posted 10/9/19

Temperament and leadership skills

The reoccurring theme that I am hearing in the election between Russell Reeves and David Sager for the position of Sullivan County Clerk is that Russell Reeves …

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Letters to the editor

Posted

Temperament and leadership skills

The reoccurring theme that I am hearing in the election between Russell Reeves and David Sager for the position of Sullivan County Clerk is that Russell Reeves has the temperament and leadership skills to run the Clerk’s office successfully. As the former public works superintendent of the Village of Monticello who worked under former village manager David Sager, I couldn’t agree more with that assessment. Mr. Sager’s management style did not foster a cohesive work environment among the staff of the village, which resulted in poor customer service and good people leaving to find employment elsewhere. In fact, if you remember from published news reports, I was subjected to a “chest bumping” incident by David Sager when he got mad at a village board meeting, which led me to file a report with the sheriff’s department. This is one of those elections where political party shouldn’t matter. We need to vote for the right person who will treat both the employees and public with dignity and respect. Russell Reeves, who is the current deputy county clerk, has already proven himself. The choice is clear. Vote Russell Reeves for Sullivan County Clerk.

Jim Steinberg
Forestburgh, NY

Stop foie gras abuse now

Banning foie gras production is back in the news. Those who profit from the hideous suffering of the animals involved continue to deny and try to justify this abuse, making misleading statements designed to deflect from the real issue: the suffering and abuse of animals. The profiteers of this abuse speak of a humane (sic) facility where ducks are force fed. Force feeding is never humane. When “6,000 ducks scatter” at the mere approach of a human, they are not being handled humanely. Animals do not run in terror from benign handlers. Most of the civilized world has banned foie gras production and sale. Profit mongers seek out economically depressed and desperate areas like Sullivan County that allow abusive businesses like this to operate. Sad to say some local politicians have succumbed to the jobs, jobs, jobs mantra the profiteers use to smear foie gras protests as attacking farmers, and discriminating against farm workers. Foie gras protestors care about stopping the egregious animal abuse and protecting the welfare of workers forced by economic circumstances to work in these places. By turning a blind eye, Sullivan County is complicit in allowing this ongoing abuse of animals and workers to continue. To protect both animals and workers, foie gras production must be stopped now.

Star Hesse
Narrowsburg, NY

Sullivan County Clerk, Russel Reeves, David Sager, foie gras

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  • mhenley

    I am certain Star Hesse has never visited a foie gras farm. With no experience, how can these comments be made? If anything should be banned it is uninformed commentary that yes, does impact the jobs, families and communities of Sullivan County. The California Department of Food and Agriculture said foie gras farming is a farming practice well established in humane animal treatment. The leadership of the American Veterinarian Medical Association visited Sullivan County foie gras farms for years and rejected attempts to call foie gras farming detrimental to animal welfare. Shame, shame on people who have no experience and cast stones against responsible farmers. The Sullivan County politicians who support the farms have visited the farms before they supported them. This is no mantra and the truth is in Ferndale, visited by politicians, veterinarians, chefs and many more. Only the people without experience, or vegan activists who have a greater agenda, criticize the farms. Rise up and stop this attack on good farmers and our community.

    https://foiegrasfacts.org/foodchoice/

    Marcus Henley

    Wednesday, October 9, 2019 Report this