Letters to the Editor

FALSE PUBLIC STATEMENT
We know the duty of the Woodstock Democratic Committee is to elect Democrats, but chairman Peter Occhiogrosso should base his public statements on fact. His saying that Mike Stock "hasn't done anything of service to the town" is totally false.
Here are the facts: Mike gave six years to the planning board (a no-pay job) and co-chaired with John Lewis. He served four years on the town board.
He gave most generously, money, time or equipment (sometimes all) to such worthy Woodstock projects as rehabbing Andy Lee and Rick Volz softball fields and little league parks. He gave to bring the Youth Center to its current excellent state. He gave a generous amount of topsoil to the Zena school for its memorial garden. He gave labor and equipment to the rehabilitation of the Shakespeare stage at the Comeau (and here add standing applause for Rennie Cantine and his fabulous work building the new stage.) Donated work, his men and equipment to the construction of the new firehouse for our volunteers. He is well remembered by the Arts Board when it undertook the huge task of rebuilding the Woodstock Playhouse from the ashes. He donated labor and equipment to remove rubble and did the necessary digging for the new foundation.
Community organizations such as our library, the Guild, the Woodstock Film Festival and the Playhouse are most grateful for his being instrumental in securing grants for them.
On the political front, it was Mike who spearheaded opening the Republican caucus to the public (long a Democratic wish list item). Voted for rescinding the operating license of Indian Point. He broke with his party to see the top position of County Highway and Bridges went to the eminently qualified Democrat David Sheeley. (Mike is no GOP puppet.) He fought for the County RX program to make prescription drugs more affordavle. He is a tireless fighter for the alternate method of apportioning county taxes through the Large Parcel law. Mike increased our veteran's exemptions.
With a lifelong knowledge of Woodstock and a Democrat, I know if you want to be believed, never say Mike has done nothing for Woodstock.
Kiki Randolph
Woodstock

Woodstock Times August 11,2005

Mike’s Woodstock Record
I realize that it is the duty of the Woodstock Democratic Committee to elect Democrats, but Chairman Peter Occhiogrosso should become familiar with certain facts known to many Woodstockers. His assertion that Mike Stock has done nothing for the community is egregiously incorrect.
Mike has contributed generously to our town both financially and with time and equipment.  He has helped rehabilitate the Shakespeare stage at Comeau (as has Rennie Cantine, a Democrat). Mike has also helped to rehabilitate Rick Voltz and Andy Lee fields for the Little Leaguers. He has done the same for both the Zena and Woodstock elementary schools. His donation of men and equipment helped in the building of the new firehouse. Mike Stock was also instrumental in getting grant money for the Woodstock Library, the Woodstock Guild, the Woodstock Playhouse and the Woodstock Film Festival.
I don’t agree with anyone in either party one hundred per cent of the time, but politically Mike has made the county legislature more open. He voted to rescind the operating license of Indian Point. He broke with his party to vote for eminently qualified David Sheeley, a Democrat, to head the Ulster County Highway and Bridge Department. He supported the R/x program making prescriptions more affordable for county residents and he helped increase veterans’ exemptions.
One can disagree with Mike on issues but to say he has done nothing for Woodstock is simply incorrect. That’s it. I just wanted as a registered Democrat to set the record straight.

Sasha Gillman
Shady

OCCHIOGROSSO'S WRONG ABOUT STOCK
I read, with a sense of bemusement, the article in the July 21st issue of the Woodstock Times, in which Peter Occhiogrosso said that Mike Stock "...hasn't done anything of service to the town." This is an awkward letter for me to write, as I have been a life long registered Democrat and, honestly, can't remember ever having written anything positive about any Republican, but I think Mr. Occhiogrosso went too far. As Warner Wolfe said, let's go to the videotape.
Here are some of the things Mike Stock has done for the town: Opposed casinos in Ulster County (against the position of the head of New York's Republican party), gotten grants for the library, the playhouse and the sidewalk fund, gotten the town board to allow local businesses to but up banners at Rick Voltz Field, so the field can be properly maintained and been an active supporter of the town's Christmas Eve and Halloween celebrations.
On the other hand, here are some of the things Mr. Occhiogrosso has done as a member of the town's Democratic committee: Closed the meetings to anyone but the members, refused requests to attend the meetings, refused to announce the time and place their meetings were being held and finally, and most importantly, sat firmly on their hands and did nothing to help Lisa Childers' bid for the school board. The result of the last "accomplishment" was a 28 percent voter turnout in Woodstock, the election of the pro-Olive slate and everyone's school taxes going up a lot.
David Gross
Woodstock

Mike responds
To the Editor
I don’t normally respond to letters to the editor written about me, but in the case of David Donaldson’s letter of June 2, 2005, I felt compelled to separate fact from fiction.
I first would like to state that I have always shown Dave the respect he deserves as the Minority Leader and a fellow Legislator. I was surprised that Dave didn’t give me the same courtesy of at least a phone call to discuss the issues mentioned in his letter, but maybe I shouldn’t have been surprised because of his non-action in the past. Last year I defended him at a county committee meeting, I was later chastised by my own party for doing so. The only thank you I received came from his daughter in a letter to the editor in the Daily Freeman a week later.
With regards to the budget reform resolution that failed on the floor, I was as disappointed as many others were. I suggested budget reform earlier in the year in my Majority Leader speech and voted for its’ passage on the floor that evening and will support it when it comes to the floor again. Mr. Donaldson’s comment that I never said a word to him prior to the meeting about the intended vote, is true. This was a result of
Mr. Donaldson’s late arrival from his Democratic caucus, as usual. The guest speaker for the Empire State Games was already making his presentation and was standing between
Dave and I at the podium. Dave mentioned the Republicans response to his question why they voted against badly needed budget reform, was “…because we can and to prove a point.” I have not been able to find one person in my caucus who made that comment to him. So much for trust and credibility!
It is interesting that Mr. Donaldson blames all the financial difficulties the county is facing on the Republicans. What I find disturbing about his finger pointing in the press is his understanding of the crisis and cooperative attitude that he displays in the leadership meetings when his Democratic colleagues and the press are not present. Perhaps
Mr. Donaldson should look in the mirror and see the Minority Leader who has not been able to control his own caucus (by the way which are now 16 of the 17-16 Legislature) that has added to the financial woes of the County. It takes 22 votes to pass any bond resolution.
Last years budget process was difficult to say the least. I will admit it took a lot of work in part by both sides of the isle to present the final product. Mr. Donaldson’s statement that the Republicans “…implemented a tax in the last hour to an unsuspecting industry” is totally false. A mortgage tax of one-quarter percent was suggested as a revenue source in the proposed final document. Mr. Donaldson, with a take-it or leave-it attitude, substituted the mortgage tax with the motel/hotel tax. Had we not accepted their demands (the budget would have failed) the county taxpayers would have been faced with a 23.7% increase in taxes rather than the 11% increase.
Drastic changes are needed in Ulster County. I appreciated the County Treasurer’s forecast in particular Mike Hein’s thorough report on the County’s financial status. As
Mr. Donaldson admits if the County continues as it is, there will be a 23 million dollar shortfall by the end of 2006 and money would be needed for this year to pay for day to day operations. I believe the Treasurer has given us an opportunity to make the adjustments and changes to help strengthen the Counties financial position. As I have stated, this will take both sides of the isle working together to resolve these problems.
I can’t understand what Mr. Donaldson finds ironic with being cooperative.
In conclusion, I took the liberty of calling Mr. Donaldson the day I read his letter to the editor to discuss these very issues. After a brief conversation he told me he had to start a class. I understood that and I told him I expected a call back from him later in the day to continue this discussion. As of the writing of this letter he has not made any attempt to contact me. Hence the disappointment! Michael L. Stock
Majority Leader Ulster County Legislature


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