County leg candidate pledges to bridge gap in public trust
To the editor:
There is a gap in trust between the public and their government today. That gap exists from the top on down, from federal to local politics. Even recent events in Lysander have shown there to be a gap between what we want from our elected public officials and what we get. Unfortunately, less is now what we expect. We deserve more than that. We deserve better for our towns, counties, and communities. We deserve to have people that are doing the right thing, for the right reasons. Setting expectations is important and that is why I am writing to set my expectation if elected to the Onondaga County Legislature.
Firstly, I believe in term limits. We cannot expect change if we do not change the decision makers. That is why, if elected, I would serve no more than four terms on the county legislature.
Secondly, voters should choose our politicians, politicians should not choose their voters. That is why I support an independent drawing of legislative lines after the next census not by either party, but in a non-partisan manner.
Thirdly, I believe that the closer you are to the public the better the decision can be made. That is why I have supported increasing the local share of sales tax that flows directly from the county down to the towns so our towns can spend money on the priorities our local communities care about. From infrastructure to tax relief, towns should have a greater say in how their tax dollars are spent. Good government is not a substitution for self-government.
Most importantly, I believe that public service is the reward when you become involved in local government. There are countless individuals in our community who serve in leadership roles with organizations such as the PTA, numerous churches and religious groups, and various civic organizations. These leaders serve the community without compensation. That is why, if elected, I would donate the net proceeds of the roughly $30,000 county legislator salary to local causes within the district. It is a small but important way to show my commitment to our community and how government should operate.
I appreciate your support and your vote in November.
Justin K. Neal
Candidate for Onondaga County Legislature, 1st District
Reelect Saraceni for Lysander supervisor
To the editor:
On Nov. 5, 2019, I am planning to vote for Joe Saraceni for Lysander Town Supervisor and I encourage others to do so as well. Joe has lived in Lysander most of his life and has a pride and passion for this area that is hard to beat.
During Joe’s time in office he’s shown himself to be fiscally conservative. Under his leadership the town of Lysander has held the lowest town tax rate in Onondaga County. At the same time, he’s spearheaded projects that improved the quality of life for this community, including the Lysander Spray Park. The spray park just opened in August but has already become a favorite destination on hot days for young children and their families. Seeing, and hearing, our local kids having so much fun is truly a joy. The spray park was built with existing park money, grants obtained by the town board and grassroots fundraising — a very responsible funding of a project that helps to make the town of Lysander a great place to live.
Joe Saraceni has proven to be both a fiscally responsible and forward-thinking supervisor for the town of Lysander. Please help him to continue leading the town of Lysander by voting for Joe Saraceni as Lysander Town Supervisor on election day!
Martha Pelcher
Baldwinsville
War on women in Lysander
To the editor:
It’s no secret that Lysander Town Councilor Roman Diamond was arrested for physical and verbal harassment of his wife. Since then I’ve been waiting for our town leaders to come out against his alleged behavior and state in no uncertain terms that if he is convicted (or pleads to a crime) he needs to resign as town councilor. The town supervisor has not suspended his service pending adjudication of the charges. But maybe the circumstances weren’t as appalling as I think they were. Let’s look at excerpts from the Baldwinsville Police Department’s witness statement from Kate Diamond, Roman’s wife, dated Sept. 9, 2019:
“Roman came home drunk…and said he was ‘going to (expletive) kill you’…He grabbed me by the arm…he gave me a black eye and busted my nose…bite marks on my face and bruises…I couldn’t call for help….Roman had a knife in his hand like he was going to stab me….I ran out the back door. Roman followed me outside…He then pinned me up against my car and I was screaming for help. Roman then put his hand over my mouth…Roman saw the officers show up and told me not to say anything or he would slit my throat.”
I am in shock every time I read the full statement! Yes, he is legally innocent until proven guilty. But there was enough smoke here for Kate Diamond to be granted an order of protection against Roman. There is the possibility that an unpredictable drunk and violent man is being allowed to sit in leadership of our town. Until these charges have found their completion in the court system, he needs to recuse himself from town business. He is a stain on the good reputation and good works of the town of Lysander.
But there is more to this story. There are four other leaders that sit on the town council. All of them are just as privy to the details of this report as I am. Yet none of them feel that his behavior is unacceptable for a leader of our town. In fact, Councilor Peter Moore used his comment time to campaign for his seat this year instead of setting clear boundaries for Roman Diamond to be removed from his position pending the outcome of these charges. They are participating in a culture of protecting the abuser. Every single councilor and the town supervisor should resign in shame, immediately, for their dereliction of duty to our town by allowing this to become the scandal it is, and for their complicity in the abuse of women. Because everything about that witness statement points to abuse.
Participating in a culture of protecting abusers hints that there is more to this story, or other stories yet to come to the attention of the public. But rest assured, the light will shine, and those who are abusing and harassing women will be held accountable. These five men are masquerading as leaders. What they have shown us is that they can’t tell right from wrong. It’s time for new leadership in Lysander, with a strong moral and ethical compass. Lysander, I trust you to do the right thing on Nov. 5.
Gail Tosh
Lysander
Candidate for Lysander Town Board
