_      Last week, Christopher Lucarelli again attempted to divert your attention from serious local issues, arising from single-party rule that’s long plagued Schodack. He’s trying to hold local Democrats responsible for the national mess we’re in: ridiculous.

     It’s a default position he hopes will make you forget that our high taxes, undiminished spending, and closed government are the direct result of one clique of Republicans running the show, unchallenged, since the beginning of the Secor administration.

     They say they have held down the tax rate, but don’t mention that spending has gone unchecked, especially given the hard times the rest of us are going through. 

     In his letter, Mr. Lucarelli, husband of Council-woman Debra Young, didn’t deny that Town Board decisions are made behind closed doors with little, if any, discussion in public meetings.

     He didn’t deny the practice of appointing cronies and relatives to paid positions and jobs, out of reach for other qualified, but unconnected, residents.

     He offered no explanation for why Republican candidates declined to participate in the traditional Meet the Candidates Night, sponsored by the MHHS Participation in Government class, Schodack Planning and Development Association, to have been moderated by the League of Women Voters. This event has always been well attended and the kids were counting on it to fulfill their PIG requirements. What were incumbents afraid we’d ask them?

     While Mr. Lucarelli heaps praise on the current Board for Moody’s analysis of town finances, I care less about Moody’s take on things here than I do about the growing number of “For Sale” signs I see everywhere. Many of us are concerned about being able to stay in our homes, so great is the tax burden now. And if you do decide to move, good luck selling your house, when one look at our tax bills sends most buyers a’running.

    Re-assessments were done at the height of the housing bubble and haven’t been re-adjusted to reflect current home values. Wouldn’t the self-described incumbent “good government team” want to help struggling residents by getting assessments back in line with housing market reality?

     Perhaps Mr. Lucarelli, Schodack Republican Club president, can explain why so many signs for Democratic candidates are routinely stolen, knocked down and destroyed every election cycle, in high-school style acts of vandalism. We leave theirs alone because that’s the honorable way to behave.

     And FYI…The person Mr. Lucarelli refers to as having stolen from the Democratic Club was arrested, jailed, and is making full restitution for his crimes. An individual’s unpredictable act we dealt with decisively and effectively.

Elizabeth Gable, Schodack Democratic Town Chair

It appears that Schodack Republicans believe Barack Obama is running for a seat on the town board. This came to light in a letter to the editor written by Chris Lucarelli, who could only rail against Obama is trying to convince residents to vote for the status quo.

Sadly, the only "accomplishment" he could point to by the current board was the upgrade of the town's bond rating by Moody's. While this is certainly a good thing, it really doesn't mean much beyond the fact that the town made its bond payments on time and paid off some debt.

Lucarelli could not refute Democrat's charges that the town was run by a small clique for the benefit of that clique nor could he defend the town's practice of making decisions behind closed doors.

No, the Republicans can only bash President Obama and smash and steal campaign signs.

Linda Underwood