Lee Strong for Gates Town Board/Town Council

  I visited the Dolomite Forest and Wildlife Area, gaining access through a road that enters part of it. The area is at the center of a controversy. The 110 acres donated to the Town were initially intended for parkland and nature trails, but the Town of Gates began considering using some of the land to relocate the Town Highway Department. The facilities would be in view of a number of homes. Neighbors are concerned about the noise, the heavy traffic, the pollution, and the lowering of property values. Neighbors protested, as they continue do, and Town officials said it's not a done deal - despite thousands being already spent and even proposed site plans being developed. The neighbors are skeptical.  Below are some of the homes that can be seen from the proposed site of the Department's buildings and garages: This is the site of one of the proposed entrance roads - between two houses! Imagine heavy equipment driving between these homes. Trees would have to be removed. The si...

  Imagine looking our your back window and seeing something like the above. That's what some residents along Hinchey Road and Howard Road might see if the Town of Gates does ultimately decide to relocate the Highway Department to part of the Dolomite Forest and Wildlife area.  Although the buildings will be newer, and there may be some landscaping, there will still be buildings in clear view from backyards. Some of those buildings will likely be taller. There would also be vehicles parked there. And, as time passes, the facilities will wear down.  If elected as a Councilman, I will oppose any efforts to use the Dolomite nature area for this purpose. The area should be left for parkland and nature trails. Gates needs more green space. The Highway Department facilities do need improvement. But there are more appropriate sites where the Department can be housed - including the current site where improved facilities can be built.

 

How to Answer the GOP Question OCT 17 The one question I am often asked by people of my faith tradition is why I left the GOP. It’s not an easy one to answer. My reasons for first edging towards the door and eventually running screaming from the room are often their reasons for staying. However I am starting to find more and more Catholics who are unwilling to hold their noses and vote for the proffered GOP candidate. They are becoming truly conflicted. Sure, the GOP seems to be a pro-life party when it comes to abortion. Some of them can even justify their continued support of the Republican Party because they consider opposing abortion the most important part of being pro-life. They are, however, becoming quickly disenchanted with the childish debates and the continued love affair with the former President as he winds his way through the court system. They do not like the present administration (neither do I) but their perceived “only course of political action” is starting to stink ...

  A check of the Monroe County Board of Elections database for party enrollments shows that it follows the state practice and breaks out only the four parties the state recognizes: Democratic, Republican, Conservative, and Working Family. That is due to a rule that only those parties that tallied 50,000 votes in the most gubernatorial election are officially recognized. That means that small parties like the American Solidarity Party are all tossed under the category "Blanks" - along with the voters who did not register with a particular party. Why? Is this a way to control and hide those third parties? Is this a way to try to prevent them from getting attention and followers? Is this a way to make it more difficult for them to get candidates on the ballot? One wonders. When it comes to Gates, here's the breakdown as of October 2023: Registered voters: 19,898      Democratic 7,482      Republican 5,714      Conservative 433   ...

The  New York State Assembly and Senate this past year considered a bill - A995/S2445 - that would have allowed doctors to prescribe lethal medications to terminally ill patents. Physician-assisted suicide. A step on the slippery slope to euthanasia. The Legislative session ended in 2023 without a final vote, but it is anticipated the bill will be resurrected in January. If elected to the Gates Town Board, I will seek to have the Board issue a resolution opposing any such physician-assisted suicide legislation. Even  though such a town resolution would not be binding on the State Legislature, it would still be the moral and ethical thing to do, and it might help to bring attention to the issue and to objections to legalizing physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia in our state. The American Solidarity Party opposes assisted suicide and euthanasia, stating in its Principles: We recognize that assisted suicide and euthanasia are violations of disability rights, medical ethics,...

  The American Solidarity Party recognizes that firearms are uniquely effective tools for both legitimate uses (such as hunting and personal protection) and illegitimate uses (such as criminal homicide and suicide). We also acknowledge that our country has both a long history of private firearm ownership and a current problem of gun violence, and that the root causes of such violence go deeper than access to firearms. We believe that regulations and policies surrounding firearms must be evidence-based and balance the interests of public safety and individual rights. We support strengthening the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) by fully funding it and expanding its capacity to process all background check requests within a 72-hour period.  State and Federal agencies must also report all relevant information to NICS in a timely manner. We support the standardization of criminal definitions across federal and state agencies to prevent misreporting information t...

The American Solidarity Party believes that we are responsible for caring for God’s creation so that present and future generations can enjoy the benefits of a healthy environment, including clean air and water, and the rich biodiversity that is our heritage. The American Solidarity Party rejects the notion that environmental stewardship requires either diminished workers’ rights or population control. Maintaining our environment will require individuals, businesses, and local communities taking responsibility for their contributions; however, due to the national and global nature of our natural resources, we see an appropriate role for our federal and state governments in adopting and enforcing evidence-based policies regarding pollution, climate change, and alternative forms of energy. We support the strengthening of public infrastructure and planning to ensure that no home in America lacks easy access to clean drinking water and fresh food. We call for reviewing environmental laws t...

What are my qualifications to run for Gates Town Board? Gates resident for 29 years. Active member of Parish of the Holy Family; as a volunteer there I help to deliver food and supplies to needy individuals and families, and to agencies serving the needy. Former President of the Friends of the Gate Public Library Board. Long-time member of the Gates Historical Society. Gates Blogger for the Democrat and Chronicle , covering the government of Gates, and Gates groups, news stories, and individuals. Retired English/History teacher. Worked full-time for more than a decade as an award-winning print reporter/editor, covering government, social issues, health care, and more. Worked for more than 20 years as part-time reporter/newscaster/local host for WXXI AM 1370, covering local government and politics, health care, and more.

 

T he Republicans are running three candidates for Gates Town Board (Supervisor, and two Councilmen), and the Democrats have no candidates. If that is indeed the case, that's unfortunate. In a democracy, it's healthy to have opposition, to have discussion and debate to improve and refine ideas, and to provide different perspectives and ideas. One-party rule too often leads to laziness and rubber-stamping, and, when less honorable people are involved, the risk of corruption. Moreover, the voters should have a choice. So as a member of the American Solidarity Party, I offer myself as a write-in candidate. The Party stands for Common Good, Common Ground, Common Sense.