More views on candidates, issues in 2024 election (Your Letters)

Editor’s note: The last day to submit a letter to the editor related to the 2024 election is Oct. 21, 2024.
To the Editor:
It has taken me years to finally watch “Band of Brothers.” I had to stop every now and then because it was so realistically filmed and brutal at times. Watching it made me dwell on what’s happening in this country now. I teared up watching the sacrifices of the “Greatest Generation” and then thought of what happens to us if Donald Trump ever sits behind the Resolute Desk again.
He has no earthly idea of what true patriotism is — and could not care less. I’m old enough to remember so much of that time and what we did for the war effort. What those soldiers went through was horrendous, and they were not “suckers” and “losers,” as Trump called them.
Every soldier/veteran from World War II, and those following, will have fought and died in vain if this person is elected. He and his band of blackguards will destroy this country, and that cannot happen.
Marylea S. Lombard
Syracuse
To the Editor
For all the GOP bleating about the Southern border, the danger is already here among us in Central New York in the continuing threat to women’s health and reproductive autonomy posed by anti-choice candidates. Rep. Brandon Williams recently shared his views on abortion in an Opinion column (“Rep. Brandon Williams: Where I stand on abortion,” Sept. 5, 2024). Williams related that when his pregnant wife faced potential complications and doubts about fetal viability, “Stephanie chose to take the risks and continue on with the pregnancy.” He then drew the opposite conclusion: “That’s why I’m pro-life.”
The operative word here is choice, an option not currently available in over 20 states thanks to the recent Dobbs decision by the conservative Supreme Court majority that undid 50 years of supposedly “settled law” protecting women’s right to choose abortions. Williams’s anti-choice votes have earned him an A+ rating by Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America. Despite recent assurances, he has routinely supported MAGA initiatives damaging to the welfare of women and their families. He cannot be trusted to protect our reproductive autonomy.
Vote for state Sen. John Mannion as NY-22 US Congressman. He has consistently supported legislation in New York allowing critical healthcare decisions to be made by women and medical professionals, not by politicians.
Elizabeth Moore
Cazenovia
To the Editor:
I endorse Brandon Williams to represent New York’s 22nd Congressional District. Uniquely qualified to address critical local, national and international issues at the federal level, he is a Navy veteran successful in a sensitive post on a nuclear-powered nuclear weapons sub, as an entrepreneur, and a strong family man. A sharp, common-sense thinker, he’ll contribute most substantively and effectively in addressing issues confronting our nation.
My perspective is that of experiences in the private sector, from early days on a family farm; working mom-and-pop stores; service in military posts, active and reserve, enlisted to flag, for over 37 years; and a career in high-tech industry. Since retiring, my volunteerism continues far ranging. Having myself served during seven administrations, worked at the federal level, relocated often, resided in Europe and Japan, we are most fortunate to have Williams’s keen insights, technical expertise and outstanding character in our representative.
I’ve heard heartfeld testimonies of economic stress and military conflict from our veterans. One doesn’t wish war. But it must be deterred by preparing and having the will to do what’s necessary to act and win, should conflict come.
For the 21st century, we must inform ourselves and seek competent individuals to represent us in the corridors of national political power. Williams epitomizes the type of individual we need today, regardless of administration, to forge ahead in addressing the challenges of tomorrow.
John Paddock Jr.
Rear Admiral
United States Navy, Retired
Skaneateles
To the Editor:
The Congressional Leadership Fund knows no shame and certainly does not know John Mannion, or, most importantly, the people Brandon Williams is supposed to be serving.
I was shocked and appalled to see a picture of my son and myself in one of the PAC’s ads, returning to the dirty claim of Mannion mistreating his staff. Mannion has been nothing short of an absolute hero to us personally and to all his constituents. How ironic that the CLF would troll for images to connect to their dirty politics and select ours, when we are passionate and staunch supporters of Mannion and were in his new office opening that day to celebrate his mission and ask how we could support him even more.
Also ironic — we were discussing not only his important work and successes with special education, but also the need for better mental health care in our state and country, as my son, who is also on the Autism Spectrum, is a recent honors graduate of Le Moyne College and wants to pursue psychological research. Mannion was listening to his concerns and ideas very passionately and empathetically that day and this is reflected in our serious, but grateful expressions in the video.
Another ironic twist — I had just written a letter to the editor that very week in which I explained, as a retired fellow educator, why I am grateful for Mannion and how he has lived his entire life as a true servant leader!
The CLF does not speak for me and does not have the ethos or knowledge of me and my son to use our pictures to speak for them. I never provided consent for the CLF to utilize my or my family’s image. Moreover, it produces a misleading impression and has already affected our reputation; it uses our likeness, without permission, for political and exploitative purposes.
We can do better as human beings, regardless of our political ideologies.
Jennifer Kirchoff
Minoa
To the Editor:
I have my reasons for voting for Kamala Harris. As a working person I stand to benefit from economic policies that progressively tax the ultra-wealthy, policies that protect civil rights, and an administration that supports organized labor.
This week, however, I feel compelled to comment on the disturbing behavior of the former president. His remarks to Maria Bartiromo about people who don’t vote for him being an “enemy within” who should be handled by the military if necessary strike me as yet more chilling evidence of fascist ambition.
Also this week, we have The New York Times reporting about a donor meeting in New York where he is said to have called the vice president the R-slur. For a former president to use this dehumanizing word rather than “intellectual disability” is disturbing. It’s not a surprise, but like so much of what he says, about immigrants, about women, it creates a permission structure for people to be cruel.
Nov. 5th will be a test of our democracy. Let’s pass that test by voting for Harris for president, Mannion for Congress and Marianne Buttenschon for Assembly.
Kathleen Timpano
New Hartford
To the Editor:
As we approach the upcoming election, I urge my fellow citizens to consider the importance of voting for Republican candidates who stand for the values that have long made our community and country strong. The Republican Party is committed to protecting individual freedoms, ensuring limited government, promoting fiscal responsibility, and upholding traditional values that honor family and personal responsibility.
Voting Republican means supporting leaders like President Donald J. Trump, Congresswomen Elise Stefanik, Congressman Brandon Williams and 119th Assembly District Candidate Christine Esposito who will prioritize public safety, secure our borders and build real economic growth.
It means choosing candidates who will work to reduce taxes, encourage job growth and support policies that empower families and small businesses.
Our values are the foundation of our great nation, and it is crucial that we elect officials who will defend these principles in every decision they make. This election, let’s ensure that our voices are heard and our values are upheld by voting Republican.
Jim Zecca
Utica
To the Editor:
Michael Russo’s recent letter was less than reassuring about Donald Trump’s plan if he wins the election (“Enough. Trump disavowed Project 2025,“ Oct. 10, 2024). Russo tells us that we can’t oppose Trump over the fascist ideations of Project 2025 because Trump disavowed it. “So why would anyone think differently?” he asks.
Why, indeed. Trump is obviously a paragon of truth — if we overlook his lies about his Covid response, his lies about immigrants eating cats, his lies about having affairs and committing sexual assault, his lies about his real estate dealings, his lies about stealing classified documents, his lies about federal disaster response, his lies about his relationship with Putin and, most of all, his lies about the results of the 2020 presidential election and his attempts, including the attack on the Capitol, to invalidate a lawful election. And that’s just a small sample.
Call me a skeptic, but I’m having a hard time believing that he’ll reject the anti-democratic policies crafted by a cadre of ultra conservatives, many of whom have already worked under Trump. If he didn’t keep his word about it, what’s one more Trump lie?
As for Trump saying he wouldn’t sign a national abortion ban, his actions in appointing corrupt and politically compromised judges to the Supreme Court to put it on the agenda speak loudly. If American voters do the unthinkable to put him back in the White House, don’t be fooled, he’ll sign it if he can. Just throw another lie onto his massive pile.
If Trump goes back on his word, would Russo and other Trump soldiers call him out for lying? They haven’t yet.
Kevin Corbett
Westvale
To the Editor:
In the 2024 election, New Yorkers have the opportunity to vote “Yes” on Proposition 1 and enshrine abortion rights and other crucial rights into state law.
Across the country, politicians are restricting people’s rights and freedoms, including the right to abortion and the right for all of us to be who we are. Since Roe v. Wade was struck down by the Supreme Court, 21 states have banned or restricted abortion care. Hundreds of anti-transgender rights bills have been introduced in state legislatures.
Protecting abortion rights is popular at the ballot box. That’s why well-funded anti-abortion forces outside our state are working hard to defeat it, using the same playbook in New York that they are using across the country – using the court system to try to roll back our rights.
Though we have strong laws protecting us from discrimination here in New York, there are dangerous loopholes in our state constitution that leave us vulnerable to the whims of politicians. In 2022, Lee Zeldin, a staunchly anti-abortion politician, came within 6 percentage points of becoming our governor. In the state Legislature, pro-choice leaders have only controlled both chambers for eight of the past 58 years. That’s why we need Proposal 1, which will protect our rights and reproductive freedoms from political attacks.
Please vote Yes to pass Prop 1 and enshrine equal rights into our state constitution. This November, we must make sure all New Yorkers’ rights are protected.
Julie Gozan, on behalf of the CNY Solidarity Coalition
Syracuse
To the Editor:
As one who has participated in many aspects of our election process — phone banks, door knocking, and letters to the editor — I’d like to address something I’ve heard on occasion. I’m not a big believer that any of these channels will overly influence someone other than to open an internal decision-making process. My proposal for your consideration: We should never “vote for the person, not the party” once the primary is over.
First, the primary. This absolutely is where a judgment of character, behaviors and policy positions should enter the equation. Past corrupt practices, self-interest or erratic behavior should be front and center in our decision-making. More often we don’t, the office holder or even a leading candidate becomes entitled, and we become laden with a representative who is not worthy of their office.
Once the primary is over I’m convinced that you vote for the party that reflects most closely your policy beliefs. As I knocked or called and spoke with voters in the past three election cycles, I’d get “I know the person and while it’s not my party I trust them.” What you can trust is that person will vote with their party. One of our past congressman touted his “bipartisanship” yet voted well over 90% of the time with his party even as it became more radical and voted against the his sitting president’s first impeachment, when it was so painfully obvious he tried to extort the Ukrainian president. I can name many other scenarios of either party. They will toe the party line.
Lastly, beware the “independent.” They have a core belief system represented by their record. We have an independent trustee in the village near me who placed all Republican signs in his yard and really has never substantially broken from the Republican administration in a substantive way. This is his right. What’s not OK is to try to fool low-engagement voters to thinking they’re independent. True for any who votes either way.
To address the Trump outcry on this stance, he’d never make it through a primary. Upon close and fair policy evaluation, traditional Republicans would see he probably does not align with their own once the binary choice is established in the general election.
We need to do our research from the beginning. It’s exhausting. Yet our best and really only chances of getting the person in office is your vote in the primaries and the election.
Bob Wheeler
Manlius
To the Editor:
“Defund the police” was never meant to be taken literally. It was a campaign slogan used by demonstrators who took to the street for 40 consecutive days because they believed the need for reform was great. Some people in the Justice system (the DA and judges) have turned this slogan into a way to create fear that there will be no law and order in our community. At the time the slogan was used, police departments, including ours here in Syracuse, were investing in war surplus materials like bazookas, machine guns, and armored vehicles (mini tanks) for “riot” control (to break up peaceful demonstrations). These peaceful demonstrations were also about trying to close the racial divide which put Black folks at greater risk of arrest or death, filling prisons with African Americans, many for minor offenses. Demonstrators in Syracuse did not suggest closing the police department. They were asking us to find more equitable solutions to managing petty crimes.
Cashless bail had its origins in that same movement. When poor folks are arrested, they often find that they will be required to stay in jail longer than other residents because they cannot make bail. Then Syracuse had two gruesome murders of seniors by African American young people. Cashless bail was never intended to apply to such serious crimes. Our DA and some judges hated the idea of cashless bail and have used it indiscriminately to release serious offenders to make citizens fear that dangerous criminals walk our streets because of a law that was intended to help first-time offenders.
Many members of our community believe that helping end poverty among our African American and other ethnic groups by providing pathways to prosperity – exit ramps from turf wars to the wider world – might bring positive change. By demonizing reform rather than making it more effective our officials have trapped us in a negative status quo.
We respect our first responders, and we appreciate that their tasks are difficult (especially in our current gun culture). But since they are on the front lines their insights would have great value in bringing change. When The Century Foundation published the article “The Architecture of Segregation,” Syracuse was called out for our lack of racial mobility (2015). A study that looked back years later found us in the same place.
There is always pushback to change, but extreme Republicans, like Brandon Williams, are using disinformation about reform movements and crime rates to pretend that continuing our old tough stance on law enforcement is necessary and that ignoring pleas for help with changing old cultural patterns in our community will keep us safe. There are still times we may need to be tough, but consulting those affected by poverty and segregation, designing better futures for our neighbors, and implementing those designs are important steps in making our community better for all of us.
Please vote wisely.
Nancy Brisson
Liverpool
To the Editor;
As a teacher, morality and character are at the core of who we are. An unknown author once said, “Morality is knowing the difference between right and wrong and having the courage to choose and act on what is right, even when it’s difficult or challenging to.” As an educator for over 15 years, this is something I teach my students daily: strength of character and acting on what you know is right. We don’t take morality and ethical decisions lightly. It is at the core of who we are as educators.
As a teacher, I aspire to be apolitical in the classroom, but not apathetic toward politics. This election, I cannot sit back and be uncaring as to who represents not only myself, but my students and future generations. This election is about morality, integrity, and character — qualities that John Mannion has in abundance. As a public school teacher for almost 30 years, and now an elected official, I know Mannion is a moral and ethical leader. I want to have a leader representing us in NY22 that knows the difference between right and wrong, and who chooses righteousness every time. I want a leader my students can be proud of and not one who obfuscates and doesn’t compromise. When I teach my students about politics, character and leadership, Brandon Williams isn’t the person I point to for moral leadership. John Mannion is.
Adam O’Neill
Syracuse
To the Editor:
In 2023, the United States exported $3.1 trillion in goods and services and imported $3.8 trillion. Yes, Donald Trump’s 50% tariff proposal would dramatically reduce imports but countries that import U.S. products will reciprocate with tariffs. Prices will increase globally, inflation will rise, economic growth will fall and unemployment will spike.
The U.S. Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930 put a 20% tariff on imported farm goods to “protect” U.S. farmers. That resulted in retaliatory tariffs, which reduced total U.S. exports over 30%. Tarriffs prolonged a global depression and increased political instability in the prelude to World War II.
Trump’s tariffs would hurt consumers, lower U.S. exports, increase the U.S. deficit, severely impact stock markets and reduce retirement savings. International trade and cooperation will be damaged.
Trump says that he loves tariffs. Economists know that tariffs are incredibly destructive to economic growth, innovation, employment and global stability.
Kevin Curtis
Cazenovia