LEAD TAINTS SCHOOL WATER

Lead taints school water  is a front page headline in today's Times Union. We read that six Albany city elementary schools have elevated lead levels in the drinking water. The school district has shut down water fountains and begun replacing fixtures.

Lead is a neuro toxin. Exposure to low levels, over time, can cause low IQ, attention deficit disorder (ADD) and poor school performance. Exposure to high levels of lead can cause brain, red blood cell and kidney damage.

Is it possible that the elevated lead levels in drinking water extends to those homes and buildings which were required to have lead connector lines to the water mains, by the ruling political party?

Should the city , county and state health departments, and EPA conduct city wide water testing to determine if  those homes and buildings, with lead connector lines, have excessive lead levels, and to what extent this has caused long term cognitive  health  and behavioral problems for the residents.

If this is found to be the case, perhaps, this could, partly. explain a host of local problems, including poor school performance, an increasing violent crime rate, and a variety of political behaviors, including blind party line voting and an ever declining voter turn out in elections.

If there is a citywide problem of lead contamination in the drinking water supply, perhaps the millions to be spent on dredging PCB's from the Hudson River sediments, might better be spent on getting the lead out of the city water supply.

                                                                                    J P Sullivan

LEAD TAINTS SCHOOL WATER

Lead taints school water  is a front page headline in today's Times Union (3/23/07).

Exposure to even low levels of lead can lower IQ's, increase attention deficit disorder resulting in poor performance in school (and life). Lead is a neuro toxin which, in high levels, can cause brain,.kidney and red blood cell damage.

We are told that the Albany schools are replacing faucet fixtures.

Is it possible that the problem extends far beyond the schools, to homes, bars, restaurants in the city of Albany, located in those parts of the city that were built at a time when the ruling political party required that lead lines were required to connect structures to city water mains?

Perhaps, the city  or health department should order a citywide test of  residents, homes and businesses ,to determine if there is a long term lead exposure problem resulting from the extensive use of lead water line connecters, and how serious the problem is?

If it turns out that this is the case, perhaps, the millions of dollars which are to be spent on getting the PCB's out of the Hudson River sediments, might be better spent on getting the lead out of the city water supply.

Low levels of lead exposure not only can cause impaired mental ability, other health problems, attention deficit disorder (ADD) and poor school performance - this could also extend to problems with political behavior, including blind party line voting and ever decreasing voter turnout in elections.

                                                                                               J P Sullivan

Return Albany Schools k-8

Now the Superintendent wants to close Livingston Middle School - reason low enrollment, poor student performance. Not mentioned was the fact that PS 20 in North Albany is a K-8 school. Also, charter middle schools compete with Livingston..offering better and safer learning environments for serious students.

SO,   WE REALLY DIDN"T NEED A THIRD MIDDLE SCHOOL ON WHITEHALL RD. BIG WASTE OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

THE SMART MOVE WOULD BE A RETURN TO A K-8 NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL SYSTEM IN ALBANY.

PUT THIS QUESTION TO ALBANY VOTERS IN THE COMING MAY SCHOOL BUDGET/ PROPERTY TAX INCREASE/ MULTI MILLION DOLLAR REFERENDUM TO REHAB THE ALBANY HIGH SCHOOL.

WHEN ARE ALBANY PROPERTY TAXPAYERS GOING TO WISE UP AND SAY....ENOUGH?

THE ALBANY SCHOOL BOARD, SUPERINTENDENT'S POSITION AND MOST OF THE TOP HEAVY ADMINISTRATION POSITIONS SHOULD BE ABOLISHED.

MERGE THE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT WITH CITY GOVERNMENT. MAKE THE MAYOR AND COMMON COUNCIL RESPONSIBLE AND
ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE CITY SCHOOLS.  HAVE ONE PROPERTY TAX.

HOLD SCHOOL BUDGET VOTES AT NOVEMBER ELECTIONS. RESULTS FINAL. NO RE-RUNS.

MORE MONEY AND MORE BUILDINGS WILL NOT RESOLVE THE FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM OF UNMOTIVATED STUDENTS FROM
DYSFUNCTIONAL HOUSEHOLDS.

SCHOOL UNIFORMS AND STRICT CONDUCT CODES ARE NEEDED. REMOVE UNRULY AND UNMOTIVATED INDIVIDUALS FROM CLASSROOMS SO THAT THOSE STUDENTS WHO WANT TO LEARN, MAY LEARN.

ESTABLISH BOOT CAMP AND OTHER ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL FORMS FOR THE UNRULY AND UNMOTIVATED.

                                                                         J P Sullivan

 

CIVIL CONFINEMENT LAW FOR TERRORISTS?

NYS Governor and Legislature enact CIVIL CONFINEMENT law . Governor signed it into law 3/14/07.

 NOW, WILL THE GOVERNOR AND STATE LEGISLATORS ENACT A CIVIL CONFINEMENT LAW  FOR TERRORISTS AND WOULD BE TERRORISTS?

                                                                                   J P Sullivan

Top News- Senate Republicans Thwart Iraq Pullout Plan - AOL News

Top News- Senate Republicans Thwart Iraq Pullout Plan - AOL News :

 

Three cheers for Senator Mitch McConnell and those Senators who blocked this plan.

Wiser heads in Senate prevailed over misguided House Dems.

 

                                                                                     J P Sullivan

 

Smart Growth Planning

  Hon Ray Joyce, Chairman        For entry in record of 3/8/07 Planning Board Meeting

  and Members  Albany City                 Re: Hopi St proposed subdivision application

  Planning Board

 

 

This statement is in opposition to the Hopi St subdivision proposal to build 6 housing    units on  the 2.6 acre parcel at the foot of Hopi St, opposite Zuni St.

 

 I respectfully ask the Planning Board  to DENY this application for the following reasons:

 

       1. The site is a relic landfill and not suitable for building  quality homes that will attract  buyers seeking to buy such homes.

 

       2. The costs of site remediation as conditions stipulated in the now expired 1999 conditional approval of this Board make it highly unlikely that the developer would make a profit  on the proposed 6 units of housing.

 

       3. The site is essentially a cul de sac at the juncture of two narrow lanes (streets) that poses  problems for traffic flow, emergency vehicle access, and snow plowing. Approval of said application would only accentuate those problems.

 

       4. Neighbors complain of insufficient pressure in the water and sewer systems that now exist.

 

       5, New Scotland Avenue is already a busy commuter road at morning and evening rush hours. This makes egress from narrow tributary lanes such as Hopi St hazardous as it is. 6 more housing units and 12 or more vehicles would only increase traffic flow problems, thereby increasing the risks of accidents. Traffic on New Scotland Ave/Rd routinely exceeds posted speed limits.

 

 

The City of Albany is faced with a need to  maintain or increase a declining population base; and to maintain and improve the city property tax base.

 

The answer is not to build substandard housing on marginal sites, like this relic landfill, or that being built as an extension ofBuckingham Mews on Krum Kill Rd at Friebel Lane, that on Bender St, or the subdivision proposed for the steep slopped, wooded ravine, containing two small wetlands and a tributary of the Normans Kill, on Krum Kill Rd, opposite Ohav Shalom.

 

Such clustered or townhouse units do not readily find buyers.  They only diminish the residential integrity and quality of life of the single family zoned neighborhoods wherein they are located. This, in turn, rather than increasing the city property tax , erodes that property tax base, which supports city schools and city services.

 

Such housing units would best be built mid town or downtown on the large city inventory of vacant lands/buildings.

 

In sum, Smart Growth Planning can be achieved by (1) maintaining  and improving residential integrity and quality of life in existing Uptown single family residential zones and 2) steering the cluster, townhouse type housing to the those vacant lands and buildings in the city inventory, which are in walking distance of places of employment.

 

This Smart Growth Planning strategy  (1) maintains the Uptown property tax base (2) adds new housing to the city property tax base in mid and downtown as well as rejuvenating those neighborhoods and (3) reduces the increasing traffic flows on main corridors like New Scotland, allowing workers to live in city neighborhoods and walk or take a bus to work.

 

Smart Growth Planning far exceeds the current piecemeal approval and construction of substandard housing units on marginal sites, which is currently underway along the Upper New Scotland Ave/Rd and Krum Kill Rd corridors.

 

The Planning Board should DENY the Hopi Rd subdivision, as well as the proposed "town house or condo" proposals at Whitehall and New Scotland and the 7.2 acre wooded, wetland site on Krum Kill Rd.

 

Thank you.                                                           Joseph P Sullivan, President

                                                                            Buckingham Pond/Crestwood

                                                                            Neighborhood Association Albany

 

    3/7/07                                                              Tel /Fax 438 5230

 

NOTE: See also Letter to Mayor Jennings

http://bpcnanews.blogspot.com/2007/01/january-26-2007-hon.html

THOUGHTS ABOUT THE 2008 ELECTION

     SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT THE 2008 ELECTION

                            

  Demo candidates Hillary, Obama and Edwards  are unacceptable and are dividing

  their party vote  with many Dems looking at Republican candidates

 

 Rudy G stands out, in age of terror, as a leader because of 9-11 attack and his  demeanor immediately afterwards.  Whether or not Americans admit it,  the war on

 terror and homeland safety are the principal concerns when deciding who the next 

 President will be. These concerns (fears) transcend party affiliations.

 

 Political parties have little meaning today. The political field is dominated by

  individuals, with name recognition and money (and the ability to raise tons more).

 

  Political parties are nothing more than ballot lines. Political party organizations

  exist largely in name only and on paper. TV and radio adds, and media coverage

  have largely replaced committeemen who no longer go door to door or work their

  districts.

 

  Pro Life voters have to make a choice: does their concern for the fate of the unborn

  outweigh their concern for the living, including themselves and their loved ones?

 

  The 2008 national election is about survival of our nation and our way of life, neither of

  which is without flaws. Those who view the 2008 election as politics as usual, about

  political power or entertainment are dead wrong.

 

  As with most elections, it comes down to choosing the lesser of two evils, and putting

  our trust in an individual who shows the most promise as a leader who can serve as

  an effective Commander In Chief in the struggle against Islamic militants at home and

  abroad, for years to come.

 

  The Democratic Senators and Members of Congress, along with some Republicans

  who are promoting resolutions to undermine the war effort in Iraq and Afghanistan are

  doing a great injustice to our troops, and ultimately, great harm to our nation. Their

  politically motivated resolutions are destroying any chance we have of prevailing in

  our efforts to provide stability in the Middle East thereby denying nation state bases

  for the Islamic militant terrorists who seek to destroy us.

 

  The troops may come home, but it will not be long before they will see action in

  America's cities engaging the foreign terrorists , and their allies from among the millions

  of illegal immigrants and native-born malcontents, who dwell amongst us and who have

  no respect us, our history, our culture and our institutions.

 

The images of Baghdad we see in the papers and on tv, today, are destined to appear in urban America before long. Cutting and running in the Middle East and Afghanistan   will only hasten that day.

 

None of the current crop of Presidential contenders has shown the courage of

Australian Prime Minister Howard, and other Aussies, who have clearly laid it on

 the line to Islamic malcontents and militants, as well as any other immigrant group. To paraphrase: respect our history, culture, institutions, way of life; speak English

or clear off! Go to some other part of this planet.

 

 The American voters will be voting for their  own survival, or demise, in 2008.

 

 

                                                                                                       Joe Sullivan