Good to be politicians during the shutdown

I like the way some of our local politicians are not taking their pay as long as the government shutdown remains.

However they don’t mention how they will receive their back pay once the closure is over. There are government workers who still have to go work while not receiving pay or back pay. The politicians should be forced to go to work as long as the shutdown runs with no back pay.

In a grad course at SUNY, I learned that a company has a statement but there is an underlying reality. These politicians say they want to serve to help the public. Sounds good, but the bottom line is the salary and benefits. A mother hopes her daughter will marry a doctor. Now they’ll be thrilled to have her marry a politician. Term limits and prorated pensions can help the situation.

Pete Pidgeon

Scotia

Schenectady budget will harm community

Over the years, I have been proud to be a cheerleader for Schenectady – a shining example of how a city can turn around years of industrial decline and start anew while embracing its culture and history.

Crime has decreased, downtown has become a destination, Mohawk Harbor has been transformed, and surrounding neighborhoods have seen investment and hope. With more work still to be done, of course.

So this year’s whopping 17% tax increase and another significant increase in garbage fees proposed by the mayor is inexcusable and unacceptable.

He claims the issue is loss of ARPA funding and increasing healthcare costs - ARPA funding we knew wasn’t reoccurring and went to several capital projects and struggling nonprofits. And every municipality is facing increasing healthcare costs, yet none have proposed a giant tax increase.

In addition, the mayor previously........

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