Categories: Letters to the Editor, OpinionSchool task: Teach, keep students safe Work harder to make  pensioners wholeThe state of New York and St. Clare’s Corp. (aka Albany Catholic Diocese) agreed to the closure of St. Clare’s Hospital in 2007 with a promise to make our pensions whole. The promise was broken, and we are not looking for a handout.Fiduciaries made some serious miscalculations for the amount needed to make our pensions whole, and St. Clare’s pensioners are paying the price for this enormous mistake by facing a bleak financial future — and as a result having to sell our homes and inability to stay afloat paying bills.As directed by the state in 2007, The Commission on Health Care Facilities in the 21st Century (known as the Berger Commission) mandated closure of Bellevue Hospital and consolidation of Ellis and St. Clare’s Hospitals; this mandate never happened. Instead, Ellis Hospital took over St. Clare’s Hospital, Bellevue remained open, and an agreement was made by the state and St. Clare’s Corporation/Albany Catholic Diocese to make St. Clare’s Pensions whole; this never transpired.In the last 14 months, we have tirelessly made strong efforts to have our voices heard by telling our personal stories; appearing in TV interviews; received support from local newspapers, politicians, AARP and TV stations; held meetings; attended rallies and court appearances; had numerous meetings with Bishop Edward Scharfenberger and politicians, and many other efforts.Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Bishop Scharfenberger — let’s work together to make our pensions whole so we can have some dignity and security in our retirement.Patricia PangburnSchenectadyThe writer is a St. Clare’s pensioner. Criticism of Polimeni a sign of hypocrisyRegarding the Jan. 15 Gazette article “NAACP calls for city to employ diversity training:” It is beyond ridiculous that Schenectady City Councilman John Polimeni’s minor speech gaffe caused such a stir.Mr. Polimeni nearly used the term “colored” before immediately correcting his own wording. But his message was that the council is “very fortunate” to have diversity of race and gender.Why would he make this statement if he was racially biased?Several meeting attendees called for city officials to receive “diversity training,” despite diversity being the very thing Mr. Polimeni praised.Members of Schenectady NAACP addressing city officials by reading the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is completely illogical, as Dr. King’s agenda was the exact opposite of today’s “tolerant” left.If meeting attendees strictly followed Dr. King’s vision of abolishing recognition of race, the word in question wouldn’t have even come up, let alone the controversy that followed.The most blatant hypocrisy of all comes in the fact that the word “colored” is right in the name of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People). The term under scrutiny is used prominently by the organization scrutinizing it.Mr. Polimeni’s intentions were clear, but intentions no longer count for anything on the political left.David NosekGlenvilleSenators should have to explain voteThe impeachment trial of Donald Trump in the United States Senate is not about whether he held back military aid to the Ukraine for “dirt” on Joe Biden.The trial is not about whether he prevented key witnesses to the event from testifying.The overwhelming evidence indicates that he did both.Rather, the trial is about whether his actions, either one or both, meet the constitutional criteria for impeachment.Each senator has taken a sworn oath to being impartial. An impartial informed decision requires all the evidence to be examined.It’s a travesty of justice to deny new discoveries from being introduced.To make the trial result even more legitimate and accepted, every senator, not on a tribal basis but on an individual basis, should explain the reason for their vote on impeachment.Charles RiellyAltamontPoliticians must put end to sex traffickingNew York City is a major sex trafficking destination in the world.When will politicians stand up and put an end to this?Question: What sort of ‘man’ enjoys sex with a ‘girl’ (or could be a boy) who was gang-raped as part of the ‘on the job training?’Gov. Andrew Cuomo, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, Congressman Paul Tonko, Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand are AWOL on this matter. Republicans do not exist on this issue either. They are spineless.Silence is golden for politicians on the sex trafficking matter. Why?Pride without honor exemplifies politicians in Washington and Albany. Congress turns a blind eye toward sex trafficking.They do have time to schedule hearings on cheating in professional sports while Albany worries about plastic bags. Silence of the lambs is how some ‘live.’Edmond DayRotterdamMore from The Daily Gazette:EDITORIAL: No chickens in city without strong regsEDITORIAL: Don’t repeal bail reform law; Fix it the right wayEDITORIAL: No more extensions on vehicle inspectionsHIGH NOTES: PPEs, fighting hunger, backpacks and supplies for kidsEDITORIAL: Beware of voter intimidation The efforts to keep our schools safe came one step closer to home, as reported by the Jan. 12 Gazette (“Parents voice school safety fears.”) It is a given that that parents, teachers and school administrators have the responsibility to make student safety a number one priority, not just part of an agenda and paying it only lip service, as public concerns were aired in a December school board meeting.While attempting to solve this dilemma, parents, teachers and school administrators had to endure pernicious twaddle from self-styled student “activists” who have never been in front of a class nor understood the dynamics of teaching, who prattle on with such useless advice as, “If you teach our children that they are valued, that they are people, that they are human beings, and that we love them, they will show up to be loved.”I was an educator and I deeply resent the inference that I was a nanny as well.I suggest that I was charged to teach young people; loving them was never part of my job description.Today’s “children” do not suffer from a lack of love.Rather, they suffer from a lack of discipline, which at one time came from the home, and have no need for any more excuses, no matter how eloquent, mitigating their behavior.The school’s task is to keep children safe.When we have successfully completed this task and the children feel safe, it stands to reason that they will learn.Michael G. DeckerSchenectadyThe writer is a retired Schenectady High School teacher.Is Congress worthy of your mountain?In the Bible, Psalm 15 starts with a question: “Lord, who may live on your holy mountain?”As I read it, I was struck by how much we would be blessed if those we elect to serve on our own Capitol Hill might be possessed of those same qualities.Katie FinneganMiddle GroveStart investing now to secure your futureI graduated high school in 1969.I bought myself a red convertible for $2,000.Had I instead invested that $2,000 in a total stock market fund and added just $2.50 per day, that little pile would now be worth over $1 million today.The moral of the story is simple. To accumulate large sums of money, one must start early, save steadily and let time and compounding do the magic for you.For those who feel the market is risky, I assure you that saving money in a lock box is much riskier.Instead of $1 million, your coffee can, lock box, mattress, whatever, would have just over $50,000. The other $950,000 in compounded earnings would be lost to you forever.Albert Einstein once said compound interest is the most powerful force in the universe. He said it is the eighth wonder of the world. It is something you should know about early in life.Don’t wake up 50 years from now and wish you did.James PavoldiDuanesburg read more