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Carbon dioxide from fossil fuels traps energy in the atmosphere, which leads to more wind; we are feeling it here in the Northeast. In California, the wind-born fire burned our niece’s home to the ground. Climate change is coming to all of us. Everybody, please increase your efforts to reduce carbon fuel use.

Published Jan. 20, 2025

The feisty editorial calling out the fossil fuel industry for its deeds particularly its cynical ploy of blaming us for our use of their products was a good antidote to the helplessness that many of us feel in the face of climate chaos (“Climate bill comes due,” Jan 7).

It’s easy to look at the pervasive role fossil fuels play in our lives and decide that climate disruption is just inevitable. But the combustion juggernaut that is causing it, far from being inevitable, can come to a halt if our leaders have sufficient political will.

By signing the Climate Change Superfund Act, Gov. Kathy Hochul has shown that will. The fund will help defray the enormous costs of adapting to and repairing the ravages of our newly unpredictable climate.

Her attention to two other measures will prevent the emissions that cause climate chaos in the first place. One is the NY Home Energy Affordable Transition Act. This will put a cap on consumers' energy costs and limit the expansion of new gas pipelines. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie must put this bill before the Assembly this year. Another is the Cap and Invest Program, which must be implemented rigorously enough to provide the funds needed for a fast transition to renewable energy.

When the governor acts boldly on legislation like this, she frees all of us from the paralysis caused by too much bad climate news and reminds us that positive action is still possible.

Published Jan. 20, 2025

Perhaps no school district in New York has done more to honor Native American heritage than Shenendehowa. Every school building carries an Indigenous language name (Mohawk) and students are taught the meaning and significance of each name.

“Shenendehowa” translates roughly to “Great Plain,” referring to an area lying east and southeast of Ballston Lake. Hence the name “Plainsmen” refers to a location — not to a racial profile or Indigenous imagery. “Plainsmen” refers to students from a place. It is not a mascot and never was.

It is true that for some time an Indian mascot roamed the Shen sidelines, 20 or more years ago. I am told that there never was an official mascot and thankfully this mascot was dispensed with and “officially” succeeded by a horse.

Names such as “Redskins,” “Indians,” “Warriors” and “Raiders” have quite properly been discarded by New York school districts, and understandably so.

But the state Education Department also mandated that Shenendehowa discontinue the use of “Plainsmen.”

I sympathize with Tom Templeton, school board vice president, who wrote in a September letter that the district had no choice but to comply. The board chose the prudent course.

However, I have to ask: Who is making these decisions at the state Education Department? Certainly no one I ever voted for or have ever heard of. Bureaucratic bullies always thrive in anonymity.

Shouldn’t the state be more concerned with our........

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