Letters to the Editor, Feb. 20, 2026

Writer supports Harckham for reelection, citing pro-solar bill

To the Editor:

Planning to leave Earth for Mars?

Neither am I. That’s why I’m concerned that the Environmental Protection Agency terminated the endangerment finding of 2009 on Thursday, Feb 12, 2026. The endangerment finding is part of the Clean Air Act in which six greenhouse gases were categorized as dangerous to human health. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin stated: “If Congress wants EPA to regulate the heck out of greenhouse gases emitted from motor vehicles, then Congress can clearly make that law.”

Luckily, we have Pete Harckham, chair of the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee in the New York State Senate. Harckham is the sponsor of the Accelerate Solar for Affordable Power Act (ASAP) S.6570/A08758 in New York. 

Rather than strangle commerce with regulations as Lee Zeldin implies, the ASAP act of New York state actually opens up the free market in three ways. First, by supporting reforms to the flexible smart grid interconnection process. Second, by letting utility companies do their own work to connect “distributed energy sources, such as solar and energy storage systems, into the electric distribution system.” Third, by saving $1 billion per year across all rate payers, not just people who install solar, because New York state will decrease purchases from the wholesale energy market (Synapse Energy Economics report).

The ASAP act is supported by New York Solar Energy Industries Association employing 15,000 people in New York state.

Solar power is scalable now, versus greater than 15 years for nuclear power. It avoids the pitfalls of gas price volatility, the disaster of nuclear accident, and the pollution damaging our lungs and planet. 

Support sane government by voting for Pete Harckham for New York State Senate.

Ellen Kearns Pound Ridge

Writer: Give Conley the chance to ‘bring curtain down’ on Lawler

To the Editor:

In the wake of the recent brutality and cold-blooded executions by ICE of two U.S. citizens, CD 17 Congressman Mike Lawler saw his popularity beginning to wane. No one can accuse this most transactional politician of not reading the tea leaves.

After his enthusiastic approval and vote for the “Big Ugly Bill” transferring multi billions of dollars from those most in need to ICE, he chose to pivot to his practiced role as a bipartisan moderate. While Mike is hardly bipartisan or any kind of moderate, he plays one when addressing the electorate, hoping they do not follow his voting record too closely.

Hence his recent op-ed in The New York Times suddenly advocating for an embrace of a “new comprehensive national immigration policy.” Really, Mike? Perhaps you might have thought about that before once again demonstrating your fealty to Trump and voting to ensure this current campaign of domestic terror.  

But I must point out that his cloak of moderation is slipping and the real Lawler emerges when his immigration plan provides “a path to legal status, but not citizenship, for long-term illegal immigrants without criminal records.” 

I think he is saying we need your low cost labor, your tax dollars, the entrepreneurial spirit that has made you a dominant force within the Fortune 500 … and in return grant you squatters rights for the privilege of being here. How noble!

Last week, Congressman Lawler voted for legislation that would require us all to provide proof-of-citizenship as the midterm elections approach. It is now up to the Senate to pass the most restrictive voting bill ever before them. 

So on June 23, I encourage you to begin bringing the curtain down on Lawler’s act and casting your vote for Cait Conley, a different kind of Democrat — one who shares your values and will legislate accordingly.

Jay Forbes Peekskill

Purple Plains license renewal application questioned

To the Editor:

The Pound Ridge Town Board held a public hearing Feb. 17 seeking input from residents on an application by SMMB Inc., to renew its license to operate the Purple Plains cannabis retail store. Comments by Attorney John Nathan presented credible evidence that the original application by SMMB may not have been consistent with the legal requirements related to the award of licenses. The law gave priority to applicants with a prior conviction related to a marijuana offense. The law also required that such individuals own at least 51% of the stock of the applicant. Mr. Nathan and the town have sought without success to get a copy of the original application from SMMB. Published articles have referred to SMMB as having been formed by a father and his daughter with her fiancé also involved. In an article in the December issue of Bedford & New Canaan magazine, the daughter’s fiancé revealed in an interview that he had a prior conviction related to marijuana.  While this indicates he was the one fitting with the first requirement, there is no publicly available evidence that he owned at least 51% of the stock of SMMB. 

This disclosure at the public hearing raises serious questions as to whether SMMB followed the law with their application. The rule of law is fundamental and important. It would be reckless for the Pound Ridge board to support the renewal of this license without knowing precisely what SMMB represented in its original application and confirming that it was in full compliance with the law. Transparency and good governance also require that the Town Board make residents aware of what position it will take on the renewal of SMMB’s license.        

John D. McCown Pound Ridge