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Give 'new' APA a chance Two state regulatory agencies that have long been the targets of local brickbats are trying to change their faces from scowls to smiles. This area, which is so used to the scowls, will have to be shown that the smiles are sincere. The Department of Environmental Conservation has assumed a new posture of friendliness and accessibili- ty. That may be hard for some people in the North Country to accept. But the one that's really going to be hard to swallow is a similar new ap- proach from the Adirondack Park Agency. North Country residents have had 20 years to build up a stout resentment of the APA. The agency scores badly top to bottom, in the eyes of its constit- uents. That's because, to begin with, its mission is to regulate private, as well as public, land. Its charge is to tell people what they may and may not do with their property' — not a welcome message, to most people's way of thinking. Under those circumstances, the op- portunities for ill will have been abun- dant, and the APA has capitalized on many. The agency's reputation is that it's hard-hearted and lacks a spirit of com- promise. Whether that reputation is deserved is hard to say, but when you start out with such an unattractive mission, a friendly bedside manner is unlikely to be perceived. The hearings held throughout the Adirondack Park during the formation of the APA in the early 1970s were the scenes of unprecedented rancor in this region. The rancor has subsided only slightly since. So when the APA and DEC — which suffers similar tarring and feathering by virtue of its sisterhood with the APA, deserved or not — say they want to put on a friendlier face, the notion is welcome. It's the execution that will count, though. This is a region of skeptics made that way by unpleasant confrontations. When the source of that historic irrita- tion suddenly announces its intention to change its spots, the skeptics aren't convinced. But that doesn't mean the DEC and APA aren't sincere. There is new management and, with it, new op- timism. Give them a chance. But don't expect miracles. Custody at issue Defending America No American must die in Bosnia Retired Col. Larry Joyce and his wife, Gail, will never forgive Bill Clinton for his decision to resort to the military solu- tion in the Somalia fiasco that took their son Casey's life. Casey died on Oct. 3, 1993, along with 17 other warriors, while on a mis- sion to snatch Somali Gen. Mohammed Aidid's hen- chmen. Pictures of our dead soldiers being dragged through the streets caused the American people to demand that our forces be pulled out. The people well knew that the 45\ mainly young men who died there died in vain, and the $2 billion, spent there disappeared down a rat hole. - Somalia is once again a runaway casualty~lTsE7 with brother killing brother in a tragic civil war that won't go away. So much was lost and nothing gained when Clinton confused humanitarian aid with-war fighting. My son Ben is just 18 — dying age. As the Joyces loved their Casey, I love Ben., They had great hopes for Casey, and I have great hopes for Ben. Perhaps, one day, Ben will make this un- forgiving planet more forgiving. Perhaps, I pray, one day he'll influence humankind to find some way to resolve its differences other than blowing each other up. Now Clinton — who like so many of our shakers and movers now in Congress and the administra- tion was a stalwart peacenik in the 1960s, only to morph into a superhawk in the 1990s •— wants to stick our kids into another war in which the United States has no vital interests other than saving NATO from a long overdue obituary. He wants to uphold his pledge to send Americans to keep peace in a land which, like Somalia, is not ready for peace. Clinton is not going to stuff Ben into a body bag and then, as he did with Casey, lie about how he got there. I'll follow Clinton's example and send Ben to London to demonstrate with foreign an- tiwar protestors against a president's policies. I'll do whatever it takes to keep him alive. Mr. Clinton, Ben Hackworth ain't going to help you find a way out of the mess you've made! I never wanted Ben to be a soldier because soldiering is a hard, dangerous and lonely life. But if an enemy threatened our country, I would want him to join up, and I would fight alongside him, just as Hackworth fathers and sons have done ever since we helped free this land from the British long ago. Congress is doing its usual theater about whether to send troops to the Bosnian killing fields, saying things like \Sending U.S. peacekeepers is dumb.\ But when it comes to the final vote, Congress will cave in, even though Bosnia hasn't one damn thing to do with America's security. * Unless stopped, Congress will send our loved ones to die' at the hands of extremists on all three sides in that hate-driven civil war and to be blown . sky-high by the million and a half mines that litter \ffiaTwar-torn land. And count on it, not one U.S. lawmaker will have a grunt son there who will be in harm's way. Nor will Chelsea, like her dad before her, ever suf- fer a foxhole, ^L A well-placed Republican says, \Here's the Republican game plan: Gingrich and Dole, after much grandstanding, will let Clinton commit troops to Bosnia, and when things go to hell in 1996, they'll lead the charge to beat him up.\ Do I think this is the straight skinny? Having lived through decades of Tonkin Gulf shams, Viet- nam deceptions and lies about what happened in Latin America, Lebanon, Grenada, Panama, Watergate and Contra Irangate, I believe most pro- fessional politicians will do anything to increase or hang on to their power, and that includes filling body bags with American youth. Every concerned citizen must ask, Would I give my life to stop the Bosnian civil war? If the answer is no, then ask, Should my Ben, should the Bens and Caseys and their sisters who live next door or across town give their lives to police a civil war that can never be stopped by outside force? Hey, it's your country, your kids and mine. It's up to you and me to tell Clinton and Congress to smarten up! King Features Syndicate, Inc. -In Waihington- Rep. John McHugh 24th Congressional District Room 416 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Phone:(202)225-4611 (518) 563-1406 Sen. Alfonse D'Amato 520 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Phone: (202) 224-6542 Sen. Daniel P. Moynihan Room SR-464 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Phone: (202) 224-4451 Your voices in government -In Albany - Rep. Gerald Solomon 22nd Congressional District 2265 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Phone: (202) 225-5614 (518) 477-2703 Sen. Ronald Stafford 45th Senatorial District Room 502, Capitol Albany, N.Y. 12247 Phone: (518) 455-2811 (518) 561-2430 Auemblyman Chris Ordoff 110th Assembly District Room 450 Legislative Office Building Albany, NX 12248 Phone: (518) 455-5943 (518) 562-1986 (518) 483-9930 Assemblyman James P. King 109th Assembly District Room 722 Legislative Office Building Albany, N.Y. 12248 Phone: (518) 455-5565 (518) 792-4546 •*- To the Editor: This letter is in response to Robin Koch's letter of Oct. 23. First of all, what world do you live on where \many fa- thers are given custody?\ In New York state, 90 percent of legal and physical custody is awarded to the mother. Most lawyers will discourage the father from pur- suing custody because his chances of winning are slim. It is also very expensive to fight for custody, so many fathers drop their case based on simple eco- nomics not because they don't care. I would like to know where you got the idea that fathers are not as nurturing and loving as mothers. Most fathers I know are there for their children in all the situations that you described in your letter. Society has stigmatized fathers as the macho man who shows no affection for his children and as you put it \is a wallet to his children.\ These antiquated portrayals of fatherhood are just as prejudiced and outrageous as the denigrating slurs that were once popular in the pre-women's lib- eration era. A woman's place is in the home, women should only speak when spoken too. Or the all-time slap in the face to women, keep them barefoot in the summer and pregnant in the winter. The court system in New York is not supposed to be gender biased, but that is rarely the case \ in child-custody cases. Do a little research, Ms. Koch. Go to Essex County Family Court and ask to see the records on how many fa- thers who fought .for child custody were awarded it. Your final statement was that \Fathers have more rights now then ever in history.\ Well, so do women. So, wake up and smell the roses. Your situation may be unique, but in the real world dads are just as loving as moms. The father usually ends up on the short end of a child custody case. If there was true equality in our family court system, then joint legal and physical custody would bet the solution. Gill DuBrey Rouses Point In touch with people To the Editor: I would like to speak on behalf of John (Bob) Fellion, candidate for town coun- cilman in our upcoming election Nov. 7. John has lived all his life in this community, has been a businessman here for 39 years, and has been in politics for eight years. Being a downtown businessman, John is in touch with the people of this communi- ty every day. As can be evidenced by accounts in this newspaper, at town board meetings, he speaks up and tries very hard to see that our tax dollar is not spent fool- ishly. It's refreshing for me to know that there is someone on the board who is straightforward and not afraid to state his fopi- The Press-Republican wel- comes letters to the editor. All letters must be signed (except e-mail) and include the address and telephone number of the author. Letters must not contain moire than 300 words. They should be typewritten. Those letters not meeting the criteria will not be published and will be returned. The Press-Repub- lican reserves the right not to publish letters it judges to be inappropriate. By mail: Letters to the Editor Press-Republican P.O. Box 459 Plattsburgh, N.Y. 12901 Bye-mail: PRepub@aol.com By fax: 561-3362 nion and position on any issue. I need a councilman whom I can go to with my grievances who won't talk over my head and will listen. John understands that the taxpayers of this town expect \competent\ service Tor their ^ax- dollar and he can provide that service. John has proven his dedication to the people of this town. He tries hard to research each issue brought before the town. For these reasons, I am voting for John Fellion in the up- coming election and I urge you to do the same. Jackie LoPlant Malone Diligent watchdog To the Editor: Dear voter: Soon you will be making a very impor- tant decision between Clyde Rabideau'and Mark Dame. A mayor who works mostly on things that will put him in the public eye or a man who for four years sat on the Commr Council and represented the people. As a former city employee for 31 plus years, I feel I can make a sound judgment. The city has lost hundreds of thousands of dollars first by not trying to obtain from the state, the service maintenance con- tracts for Routes 3, 9 and 22, and second by lost revenue in stlil uncollected bills when we com- bined Finance with MLD. Other examples: Boynton Avenue: Rabideau wanted around 300 feet of side- walk installed. About three weeks later, it was torn up for the Boynton Avenue Hill Project. Beekman Street and North Catherine Street: Crack sealer was laid down. A few months later, they reconstructed a new street. Broad Street and Cornelia Street: Crack sealer was laid down. Approximately three weeks later, it was torn up and a new section of street installed. All this at the extra cost of thou- sands of tax-paying dollars. When Mark Dame was coun- cilor, he scrutinized all work orders and purchase orders, like the MLD car that the council disapproved. So the mayor and Bob Metz went to a state con- tract which needed no council approval. This car only gained Dame's approval for payment when it was agreed to be given to the Police Department, much to the mayor's dissatisfaction. Since Mark Dame left the council, it seems that several department heads have acquired new vehicles. Therefore, I feel that we need Mark Dame for mayor as he will be a diligent watchdog of our tax dollars. Harold Hicks Plattsburgh Moose Club horse show To the Editor: On Sept. 9, the Tangled Reins 4-H Club held a 4-H fun Horse Show at the Clin- ton County Fairgrounds. It was sponsored entirely by the Moose Lodge 2390 of Plattsburgh. Through their generosity, over 20 Clinton County 4-H'ers were able to enjoy a day of games and - riding instruction. At lunch time,^ all the families gathered for a tailgate picnic. At a time when budget cuts in many areas eliminate or cut many youth programs, it's nice to see a local organization like the Moose Lodge 2390 step in and support a family oriented event. The Tangled Reins 4-H Club members and parents along with all the Clinton Count 4-H'ers in- volved with the horse program would like to send a very big Thank You to the Moose Lodge and all its members for their support. We hope you will con- tinue to support local youth pro- grams. Keeping our youth in- volved with their families and other youth with common inter- ests is very important in our rural communities. We need more organizations like you. Many thanks again. Donna Sorrell Toma Matott Leaders, Tangled Raines 4-H Club Champlain The blame for the game To the Editor: Atlanta \Braves Distasteful name, Cleveland \Indians what a shame. If I were you, Chief, Now I'd Sioux, But harvest topknots just the same. Leon S. Harding Plattsburgh Press-Republican 170 Margaret Si., Plattiburgri, N..Y. 12901 (USPS 443-240) SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4,1995 The Republican 1811, The Press 1894, The Press-Republican 1942 Brehda I. Tallman Publisher Daniel B. Swift, General Manager James D. Dynko, Editor Robert J. Grady, Managing Editor Lois M. Qermonl, News Editor Bruce Rowland, Business Editor John Downs, Design Editor Robert O. Goetz, Sportt Editor David Paczsk, Photo Editor Damian Fanelli, Sundsy Editor Sean T. McNamara, Marketing—Sales Manager Lyrnan O. Beiio, Classified Advertising Manager George Rock. Retail Advertising Manager Cbria Christian, Circulation Manager Catherine A. Duquette, Controller Virgil L. Cross, Press Foreman Daniel L. Thayer, Production Manager James O. Frenya, Distribution Supervisor Published daily each morning except certain holidays at 170 Margaret Street, Plattsburgh, N.Y. Telephone 561-2300. Second class postage paid at Plattsburgh, N.Y. 12901. The Press-Republican is Dallas, postage i published^ the Plattsburgh Publishing Con Vdvertising Representative: 3119, Areaa Codee 214-969-00C-.. Subscription rates by U.S. Mall |195.00 one year; $107.90 six months; $53.95 three months. (Mail rates not applicable in areas served by carrier or motor delivery). Rates for all other places and special out-of-town servicemen rates on request. National Advertising Texas'76201-3119, Arei •burgh Publishing Company Division of Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. g Representative'. Papert Companies, 400 North Street Paul No. 800, Cod 214-969-0000 DOONESBURY Garry Trudeau 5H&FINE. IT TOO,BABB. tB&NlB ANY7R0UBLB? ££JK? 1 'Mi mm 5HB? HOW'S MOM? CONFUS&P.l ROSLYN, 1 more than frv debate, Rosly decided to ha students on d tion against ficials annour
