Letter To The Editor – Wake Up Hoosick!

To the Editor:
The Councilman’s [Patire] opinions may not be based on facts. Is anybody really buying Bruce Patire’s story that he is acting in the best interest of the taxpayers? It seems Mr. Patire left something out of his letter to the Editor. (The letter appeared in area newspapers earlier this week.) He mentioned that he attended a [Town] Board meeting but failed to mention that he (after he was elected to the Board) explained why he thought the best option for the Town was to have the Town purchase the Patire used car dealership on Main Street in Hoosick Falls.
Did you notice that he pointed out that “over half of the group raised their hands to save the Armory?” Well, I was at both meetings when the citizens were asked to raise hands in support of the Armory. Mr. Patire may be interested to know that 95% is much more than half. In this particular instance I dare say my ability to estimate numbers is far superior to the Councilman’s. Yes, Bruce Patire’s comment is, at best, meant to deceive the readers.
Bruce goes on to talk about his concern that the Town would have legal liability for action brought against the Town for lead, asbestos, fire codes, ADA, soil contamination or mold. The codes he references exist to protect the Town employees and community at large. If he truly cares and truly believes that these issues exist, he should have already taken action since the employees currently inhabit the Armory and the community is exposed (in his mind) daily to the hidden dangers he talks about. How dare he knowingly expose our community to these hazards that he says exist!
As for the numbers Mr. Patire put forth, I have very little faith in what he has to say regarding money or finances. In an earlier Board meeting, he was the one who verbally attacked (from the floor) me while I was addressing the Board regarding the budget process. He was the one who said that it wasn’t possible to budget for things such as snowstorms. Oh, he apologized for showing a lack of respect but not before giving a reason that he thought justified his verbal assault on a Town citizen speaking at a Board meeting.
Mr. Patire, at one point in his letter, says that taxes are “reaching a breaking point in our small rural town.” Yet later in his diatribe, he comments that “we have one of the best school systems in the State and affordable property taxes.” So, his view changes dependent on what point he is trying to make.
Perhaps that’s the reason the local newspapers haven’t represented his side. They may be confused by the information he puts out. However, I suspect it is because the Councilman really hasn’t said much in the public forum regarding his stance on the issue. You see, it’s much easier to go to a newspaper where no one can call on you to verify your information.
Last, but not least, Mr. Patire neglected one very important point. The Board has already voted to purchase the Armory. They should only be waiting for the attorney to draft the resolution to purchase it from the State for one dollar. Since he and the Supervisor were the only Board members to vote against it, I’m assuming he knows that the motion passed to purchase the Armory. Of course, he may have been distracted thinking about the letter to the Editor that he needed to write.
Jim Martinez
Church Street, Hoosick Falls
Editor’s Response: Mr. Martinez is correct is saying that newspapers, generally, do not verify the information in letters to the editor. Letters to the editor are clearly understood, by most readers, to be the letter writer’s opinion and are not presented as fact by the newspaper.