Yesterday I learned that radioactive tritium-contaminated water leaked into the groundwater at the Indian Point Nuclear facility. The company reported alarming levels of radioactivity at three monitoring wells, with one well's radioactivity increasing nearly 65,000 percent. The facility reports that the contamination has not migrated off site and as such does not pose an immediate threat to public health.

Our first concern is for the health and safety of the residents close to the facility and ensuring the groundwater leak does not pose a threat.

This latest failure at Indian Point is unacceptable and I have directed Department of Environmental Conservation Acting Commissioner Basil Seggos and Department of Health Commissioner Howard Zucker to fully investigate this incident and employ all available measures, including working with Nuclear Regulatory Commission, to determine the extent of the release, its likely duration, cause and potential impacts to the environment and public health.

Governor Andrew Cuomo
Albany

Three times so far this year, in anticipation of snow that never happened, the state and county highway departments have sprayed and polluted our roads with a salt or brine solution. Is this not a waste of manpower, equipment and said solution? What effect does this solution have on plants, animals, water systems and even private wells located near highways being sprayed? What chemicals are in this solution? Has the EPA, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and even Ulster County done an environmental impact study on its effect on the above-mentioned areas? With New York City reservoirs getting the majority of their water from reservoirs located in our area, what effect does the runoff of adjacent highways have on their water system? The New York City Department of Environmental Protection should be concerned.

Bottom line: I suggest that the Ulster County Legislature ensure that this spraying and solution are safe, meet all state and federal regulations. Otherwise, they should call for the halt of this practice.

Glenn DeBrosky
High Falls

Thank you to our farmers and their farming for which we are blessed; for all they do for our community, our environment and the heritage that we "locals" embrace.

If they who complain would investigate the surroundings of the area that they consider for a move "up here" they might prefer to remain where they already live ... with the sights, the smells, the fumes and other unpleasant things, and not trade them for country living.

Don't blame our farmers for their livelihood; we "locals" take them all to our hearts. It is our quality of life.

Rosemarie Werkman
Monroe

By now most of us know about the extraordinary abuse that the government of Flint, Michigan inflicted on their citizens. This case clarifies the fact that some of our "representatives", are in truth exclusively motivated by their own personal greed. What happened in Flint feels to me like a sequel to the horror movie: "The Walking Dead"

What we now know is that Flints representatives decided that their water supply, which was coming from Detroit was too expensive, so they decided to get free water from the Flint River, even after it was rejected by the Michigan Dept. of Environmental Quality. Yes, they knowingly poisoned their citizens for their own personal greed, and have yet to be held accountable.

Flint, Michigan's population is about 100,000 and about 27 percent of them are under 18 years old, with about 8 percent being under 5 years old. About 10,000 children from Flint are likely to be mentally damaged for their lifetime. So, how can we continue to ignore this nightmare? What does the United States Of America stand for? If we don't have compassion for these children, don't we need to send a message to our "elected officials" that they can't just poison the water we drink and the air we breathe?

Let's be aware that the parents of Flint's children are mostly minorities and poor and can't afford to leave. It was one single mother of four that decided to take her toxic water to her local medical center in order to test it, that exposed the nightmare that is still going on in Flint.

Remember our fight against fracking in our backyards? We won that one, and then Nestle came and wanted to take the water from Cooper Lake and we stopped them. I'm proud to live here where citizens come together to protect one another. I'm asking that we all do whatever we can to help protect these children from a lifetime with brain damage. One thing I know about toxins is that the earlier you address them, the easier it is to correct, and if money is our only motive, earlier is far less expensive.

Jill Paperno
Glenford

Gov. Andrew Cuomo recently proposed an increase to the state's Environmental Protection Fund (EPF). If this proposal is passed in the final budget, we will see $300 million dedicated annually to protecting our environment and investing in our future.

This increase in funding, the likes of which our great state has not seen before, will improve our parks, revitalize waterfronts, launch green infrastructure initiatives and conserve critical natural areas and open space, while boosting economic development and creating jobs in a variety of sectors.

This is a monumental investment not just for the EPF, but for the quality of life in our communities.

We commend Gov. Cuomo for his leadership and urge our legislators in Albany to ensure the $300 million EPF is passed in the final budget.

Jim Delaune, Executive Director
Orange County Land Trust

Saving taxpayers money, improving participation in democracy and assuring that those who are on active duty have a full chance to participate are all good reasons to support a combined, early primary day. By getting our state office and congressional primary behind us in June, all candidates can focus on getting their messages out to voters. I also call upon the New York State Senate to not repeat their action from two years ago when they refused to come to the table and agree to a unified primary, limiting participation and forcing voters to return to the polls numerous times just to exercise this basic right of citizenship. We need to work together, across party boundaries to prove to folks that things really have changed in Albany and that partisan dysfunction and self interest is a thing of the past, that we are on a track of open, responsive government and reform. I am proud to be a co-sponsor of this important and timely legislation. Now let's return to putting the voters first.

Assemblyman Kevin Cahill
Kingston

Here's my take on the dust-up between Donald Trump and Ted Cruz. Cruz is a Constitutional conservative, and a Bible-believing Christian with a history of defending the Constitution, never compromising principles for political expediency. His down side — he has little executive experience.

Trump is right on the issues. It's reasonable to believe that as he has become more educated on the issues, he has grown in his conservative beliefs. Remember, it was Churchill who said he has no heart who is not a liberal at age 20, and he has no brain who is not a conservative at age 40.

If our primary were held today I would have to vote for Cruz for one important reason. I know where Cruz is anchored — in his accountability to God.

Trump may believe he is accountable to no one. Though he has demonstrated a great sense of courage and strength I have not seen it tempered with humility. One might ask, "Are we simply replacing a left-wing narcissist with a right-wing narcissist?" If that becomes the case I would have great concern for the future of our country.

We must pray that God will raise up the best leader for America's future.

Rev. Bill Banuchi
NY Faith and Freedom Coalition

Why are we still sending money to countries that are in crisis and have the nerve not to give us a raise in our Social Security checks? We who worked all of our lives and paid taxes are being put before everyone and everything else.

When is, to quote President Truman, "The buck stops here" going to really stop here? We are supposed to be getting a one-time payment of $580. I call that hush money. Well I don't think that will hush many of us.

Just wondering, did our illustrious political leaders get a raise?

Sally Clinton
Newburgh

President Obama has become an astute elder statesman. While some in the GOP will dislike Obama visiting a Baltimore mosque, these Republicans are needlessly hypernationalistic and xenophobic to an extreme.

The president understands the majority of the world's 1.3 billion Muslims are peaceful and they are separate from ISIS jihadist extremism. By reaching out to peaceful Muslims with this simple, friendly gesture, Obama creates a nonmilitary "Coalition of the Willing" to defeat ISIS. ISIS can be contained, and neighboring Muslim countries don't want jihadi extremism spreading to their nations. America needs to reach out to peaceful Muslim nations in their fight to defeat this minority of violent jihadists on their borders.

While international military actions are occasionally necessary in response to national security threats, a nonviolent diplomatic effort is also required. Of course, America has a "big stick," as President Teddy Roosevelt said, but we also must speak softly.

Seemingly apropos for Black History Month, Martin Luther King Jr. offered two insights into how "hatred" can be defeated, within our society and the world at large: "We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools."

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."

Jeff Akins
Highland

Ryan Brown of Grahamsville failed to feed and water numerous farm animals. The dead pony in his barn was found "tethered to a post." According to reports, his wife was quoted as saying "our animals are our family," yet they made no attempt to find help caring for their animals at a time when they felt they couldn't do it themselves.

Rahiem Brown of Woodbourne was charged with torturing and abandoning his pet dog. He also offered numerous illogical excuses for his pet's untreated injuries.

The FBI has reclassified animal abuse as a "crime against society," making it a Group A felony with its own category. In 2015, Orange County passed "Rocky's Law," which established an online registry of animal cruelty offenders and prohibits offenders from owning companion animals.

It is time for Sullivan County to join in this leadership and let perpetrators know that animal cruelty will not be tolerated. We cannot continue to dismiss cruelty to animals as a "minor" crime and allow this cycle of abuse or violence to be repeated again and again. Contact your legislators and encourage them to take action.

Bonnie Makofsky
Hurleyville