SHOULD DAYTOP GET THE BOOT?

That's the lead story in this week's Hudson Valley News. The issue is an old one with a new face. Daytop is a residential drug and alcohol treatment center located on an old estate in Rhinebeck. The residents are not confined in any way and can come and go at their pleasure. A few weeks ago one of the residents broke into the home of a nearby resident as they slept. Luckily for them, nobody woke up. The intruder was high as a kite and eventually stole their car before being captured a few days later. The incident conjured up vivid memories of that poor family in Connecticut slaughtered by a couple of drug crazed losers.
At a recent meeting of the Rhinebeck Town Board, the victims and other residents rose to demand Daytop be closed. The primary objection is Daytop houses convicted criminals and people with significant substance abuse issues. Should they be living side by side with residents who have neither problem? Should taxpayers be forced to roll the dice with their children's safety to accomodate a program intended to be an alternative to incarceration? In my opinion, no they shouldn't and the town is insane to incur that kind of potential legal liability. Remember if one of these victims had awakened and startled this thug, a number of people could have been murdered. Even the liberal residents of Rhinebeck seemed to get that the other night. Your thoughts?

NPR IS A JOKE

NPR contribitor and Fox analyst Juan Williams was summarily fired from his NPR gig for saying he gets nervous when he sees Muslims on a commercial airliner. So do most sane individuals but it doesn't make them bigots or racists. It makes them rational. Every terrorist event since 9/11 involving an aircraft had one common denominator. The perpetrators were Muslims and justified their cowardly and muderous actions through some distorted interpretation of the Koran. Do I or Juan Williams think every Muslim on a plane wants to kill me. No but I'm sure paying more attention to anyone of Arab or Muslim appearance who goes anywhere near the front of the plane or acts suspiciously. That's not profiling or prejudice, it's the manifestation of the human survival instinct. Normally I would say NPR is entitled to hire and fire within reason but given they are funded with taxpayer money, I have a problem. Taxpayer money means citizens of all political and religious persuasions. Their voices should be heard as well as those of the far left. But as we all know, liberal talk radio has always be a financial loser and liberals have had to rely on public funds to stay on the air. That's fine but let's not make it so obvious by firing a decent and intelligent guy like Williams.

PROPOSED HYDE PARK BUDGET REMOVED FROM WEBSITE

The revelation that the proposed tax increase generated by the 2011 Hyde Park proposed budget was 27% rather than the board's 17% pronouncement has them reeling at Town Hall. They just hate it when someone actually bothers to read and analyze the numbers. But HVN did because I wouldn't trust these clowns to make change for a $20 bill. Not surprisingly, the budget which had been posted on-line has been taken down. I wonder why? Also, we're hearing rumors Martino may have been somewhere more interesting than on vacation the last few weeks. More to follow with that.

DOES SUGAR DRINK LAW DISCRIMINATE AGAINST POOR?

There is something profoundly uncomfortable about watching billionaire New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg and Gov. David Paterson waxing on about the evils of sugar soft drinks and people accepting public assistance. There's not much dispute that these drinks, consumed in excess, can contribute to childhood obesity. But so can too many banana splits or french fries. There are two questions. One, shouldn't it be the responsibility of parents to monitor their kids caloric intake? If junior is hoovering burgers and milkshakes and not exercising, how is it Mike Bloomberg's business? But here's where it gets tricky. The proposed legislation would only apply to poor people on food stamps and other government welfare. The implication is 'THESE PEOPLE" have no family structure or dietary filter, so the government has to become their parent. Bloomberg argues these sodas will have these children in the health care system if we don't stop them. I get it but it just doesn't feel right on so many levels. I don't want the government telling me what I can eat, drink or smoke. If I want to weigh 400 lbs. what's it to Mike Bloomberg or David Paterson? The fact that these regulations would only apply to poor people is offensive. What do you think?

RUTGERS SUICIDE PROVES THERE"S A LONG WAY TO GO

Like everyone, I was saddened by the news that an 18-year-old male freshman at Rutgers committed suicide by jumping off the George Washington Bridge. Initial media reports said his roommate had put a tape og him having sex up on the internet. As distasteful as that is, I remember thinking to myself for most college freshmen that might be a badge of honor in a very juvenile way and certainly not something that would cause you to kill yourself. Then I learned the tape showed him making out with a guy. My God, how insane is that? They make movies about guys getting it on with a hot girl as half the campus tunes in but because it's not hetrosexual you have to kill yourself. We obviously have a long way to go when it comes to real acceptance of same sex relationships. I'm horrified this kid thought the only solution was to kill himself. This incident is a very sobering reminder that prejudice and hate are still very much alive even in places filled with young supposedly evolved college kids.

Brutal Boston Killings Reflect Culture

Four people including a two-year-old child were shot to death in the Mattapan neighborhood in Boston. A fifth man is in critical condition and is not expected to survive. The gunmen are still at large and police are having difficulty getting any cooperation from residents. Mattapan is a primarily minority neighborhood overrun with gangs, drugs and violence. This horrific crime says a lot about the state of many of our inner city neighborhoods. Criminals are so in control that gang-bangers walk the streets wearing "Don't Snitch" T-shirts. The few instances where someone actually came with information on a crime resulted in that person being gunned down by gangs. The reaction is always the same. Everyone turns out for a few highly publicized rallies and vigils against violence and then the TV cameras go home and the thugs come out of the shadows and resume their activities. For the most part residents in other parts of the city unaffected by these incidents say all the right things but in the end don't really care as long as "they" don't start coming into their neighborhood. I'd be curious what you would do to address this problem. Do we send in an occupying force of National Guardsmen as a Washington D.C. mayor suggested a few years ago? Or do we continue deferring to the leadership in the black community to discipline and police themselves? Let me know.

SAY GOOD NIGHT TERESA

Teresa Lewis, a 41-year-old woman convicted of ordering the murders of her husband and stepson was executed in Virginia tonight. Witnesses said Lewis appeared fearful as she was led into the execution chamber. Oh, how terrible! I found it hilarious her supporters began calling her retarded as the execution approached and played the feminist card. Hey, if you want true equality, zap women as well as men.