Letters to the Editor — Sept. 18

‘Never forget’ requires us to notice

To the Editor:

Last Friday, I drove past Bedford Town Hall and noticed something that immediately seemed wrong. The American flag was flying at full staff.

It was Sept. 11.

I called Town Hall and asked that it be lowered. It was. Later, I was told that the electronic notification normally prompting staff to lower the flag had not arrived.

Town Hall apologized and has since added reminders for annual nationwide half-staff observances. I appreciate the apology and corrective action.

But the explanation has stayed with me.

Twenty-five years after Sept. 11, should remembering that day depend upon an electronic notification?

Throughout that morning, Town Hall operated beneath an American flag flying at full staff on Sept. 11, and apparently no one recognized that something was wrong. That is what troubles me most.

That evening, I took my almost 2-year-old son to a Sept. 11 ceremony in Mount Kisco. He understood none of it. Someday, I hope he will.

That's part of my responsibility as his father. But remembering belongs to all of us. It belongs to parents and teachers, first responders and neighbors, public officials and the institutions that represent our communities.

Lowering a flag isn't bureaucratic housekeeping. It is an act of remembrance.

Twenty-five years ago, “Never Forget” seemed almost unnecessary. What we witnessed was so horrific that forgetting seemed impossible. But a generation has now been born with no memory of that day.

Friday's mistake was corrected. Perhaps it can still remind us of something important.

Remembering cannot be automated and assumed. It requires attention and intention.

“Never Forget” isn't simply something we say.

It's something we have to do.

Michael Palladino

Bedford

Calves keeps government moving forward

To the Editor:

I have known Ellen Calves for more than 15 years, working with her at a local nonprofit organization. That experience gave me an early look at the qualities that have made her such an effective town supervisor.

Ellen was able to translate the vision of the organization into tangible, effective programs still running today. She did it with patience, common sense and, most importantly, the ability to listen.

That is what I admire most about her leadership — Ellen is not a strong-arm politician who has to be the loudest voice in the room. She listens to opposing views, considers the facts and works to find common ground. She is the person you want at the helm when the waters get rough.

As supervisor, Ellen has faced her share of difficult issues and criticism. She has consistently shown that she can bring people together and keep town government moving forward.

The results speak for themselves. Bedford remains a desirable community with strong property values, a AAA bond rating, and a reputation for environmental leadership. Our hamlets are more vibrant, while the town has retained the character that makes Bedford special. And Ellen works to ensure that town government serves all its residents. Her door is always open.

We should reelect her as town supervisor.

Olivia H. Farr

Bedford

Calves has earned another term

To the Editor:

Ellen Calves has earned another term as Bedford town supervisor based on her record of responsible leadership and results.

During her tenure, Calves has focused on strengthening Bedford’s infrastructure while protecting the town’s character and fiscal stability. She has maintained the property tax cap, helped preserve the town’s AAA bond rating and supported investments in essential services and infrastructure.

Calves also has made sustainability an important part of town government. Under her leadership, Bedford has updated its Climate Action Plan and expanded efforts to make municipal buildings fossil-fuel-free in a responsible, cost-conscious way that will improve our community.

Affordable housing is another key part of her record. Calves has supported expanding housing opportunities for working families, seniors and others who want to remain in Bedford.

Calves has demonstrated that sustainability, sound infrastructure, and housing affordability can be pursued alongside fiscal responsibility. She brings experience, steady leadership, a record of transparency and constituent responsiveness to deliver  results for our community and families.

Bedford would benefit from continuing those efforts. I urge voters to reelect Ellen Calves as town supervisor.

Veronique Pittman

Katonah

Ellen Calves means steady leadership

To the Editor:

Let’s not confuse noise with progress. The things that matter most are usually the ones you don't notice until they stop working: safe roads, dependable services, smart spending and a town government that actually keeps its promises.

That’s why Ellen Calves has earned another term as Bedford town supervisor. Ellen doesn’t chase headlines. Instead, she does the heavy lifting of real governing, listening, planning, maintaining what we have, and making sensible upgrades when and where they are needed.

Public safety is easy to take for granted when things are running smoothly. But Bedford's security doesn't just happen. It’s the result of Ellen’s hard work behind the scenes: upgrading communication systems for first responders, improving lighting, adding safer crosswalks, and building a strong relationship between the police and the community. 

Ellen’s approach to sustainability keeps Bedford moving forward because it’s the right move for our future, not because it’s trendy. Expanding recycling and food-scrap programs, improving municipal energy use, adding EV chargers, and protecting our water quality take real persistence. It’s about stewardship, not showing off.

The same approach can be seen in Bedford’s business districts. Revitalization in Bedford Hills is moving forward because Ellen has worked patiently with residents, businesses, and other stakeholders to turn plans into results. 

While many politicians are busy chasing the next shiny object, Ellen Calves offers steady judgment and a clear commitment to Bedford. That’s exactly the kind of public service we should reward this November.

James Marcotullio

Katonah

Vote out Mike Lawler

To the Editor: 

At this month’s Republican Convention, Trump had followers pledge to vote as if he were on the ballot. He had them pledge “to the greatest president in the history of the United States, that loves us so much he can’t even breathe …” and urged them, in voting, to  “cheat like hell like they do.” (The Guardian, Sept. 11) 

You know who “they” are. Anyone who opposes his corruption and his policies. 

Trump is right. He’s on the ballot.  And key to stopping the madness is voting out MAGA Mike Lawler.  

Lawler voted for the Big Beautiful Bill (BBB) with its cruel cuts to social services including SNAP — which feeds hungry children. Many of these cuts begin after the November election, but we’re already seeing the effects. 

Trump also said “I’ve delivered on every single promise I made.” No foreign wars? Making things affordable? A reckless war in Iran is costing us multiple billions in military spending. Gas prices keep going up.   

The tariff frenzy has raised prices across the board. 

Mike Lawler supported all of these MAGA policies.  

Lawler is so important to the MAGA agenda and Elon Musk, who gave Lawler’s 2024 campaign over $1.7 million, is pouring money in to fight Cait Conley.  

MAGA needs Lawler, but we need a representative who will look out for everyday people — not corporations and the ultra-rich. 

Cait Conley will make her an extremely effective Congresswoman. An AI expert, she’ll fight for regulation of AI. She does not support a data center at Indian Point.  

Please don’t let Musk and MAGA money buy your vote! Send Cait Conley to Congress to work for us.  

Barbara Lalicki 

Ossining

Vote Conley to protect Medicare, Medicaid 

To the Editor:

Without action from Congress, your Social Security retirement fund will run out of reserves in 2032, just six years from now. 

Incoming taxes will cover only 78% of scheduled retirement benefits resulting in a 22% reduction in your planned retirement payments. 

Why is this happening?  

— Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act lowered tax liability on benefits, reducing overall trust fund revenue. Lawler signed it.

— Slower immigration growth reduces the number of active payroll contributors. Mike Lawler backs ICE.

— Lower projected birth rates mean fewer workers paying into the system

What solutions might best protect your social security?

Increasing revenues: Raising the combined employer-employee payroll tax rate- from its current 12.4% by a small %...or adjusting the current taxable maximum cap from $184,500 so high earners pay taxes on elevated earnings.

Reducing costs/adjusting benefits: Raising the full retirement age (beyond 67) to reflect rising life expectancies … or modifying cost of living adjustments (COLA) and applying some form of means testing.

Where does that leave us? 

Unfortunately, with false promises of financial retirement protection from our House representative, Mike Lawler and his even less credible boss, Donald Trump.

Both continue to refer to this insurance as some kind of” gifted entitlement” rather than monies you have contributed to and earned over your entire working lives.

In fact, going forward, this administration is already actively moving toward privatization!  

Six states are currently testing new constraints on traditional Medicare through the WISeR model, requiring prior authorization for 17 specific traditional fee-for-service Medicare procedures. They are using private contractors, utilizing AI to screen for eligibility, with final compensation based on rejection rates. 

End the chaos … A vote for Cait Conley will elect someone who represents your interests and cares about seniors who deserve a well-earned and comfortable retirement.

Jay Forbes

Peekskill