LETTERS

She Needs to Represent!

Someone needs to let Ann Marie Buerkle know that she is “Washington” now. She is now an integral part of that bad ol’ Washington she derides. Her performance in Washington, D.C., as outlined the Aug. 10 Sanity Fair article “Loco Motion,” couldn’t illustrate that fact any more clearly.

What a sad commentary on her lack of certainty that she not only voted against the debt ceiling bill, but made such nonsensical and illusionary excuses as to why.

That she didn’t even decide how to vote until the final “30 seconds,” as quoted in The Post-Standard, truly illustrates her inability to lead. To put it as delicately as possible, Ms. Buerkle is out of her depth.

With all due respect, from all that I have seen and read about Ms. Buerkle, including excellent and extensive pieces in this publication, she may know how to complain (did I mean campaign?) for votes, but she doesn’t know what she genuinely believes—how to represent her constituency well, nor how to lead. Most of all, she has never presented any real plan—or ideas—to get our country on the right track.

The Tea Party is over; it’s time to put Dan Maffei back to work for us.

—Kelly Grace Smith DeWitt

Singing the Blues

I know it’s been a while since the Blues Festival in Syracuse, but I still feel the same way it just didn’t feel like a Blues Festival. It felt like a carnival instead. Too many little kids running around. I thought it was too compact. I know they were putting two things together. I thought that the music took second billing to the other thing that was going on.

I liked it much better where it’s been before. You had much more room over at the old site (Clinton Square). The businesses around where it was probably liked it better also. Getting the younger crowd into it is good. But it wasn’t the best spot. I only stayed three hours and I went back to my hotel room. I had to try it but I didn’t like it at all. I hope they move it back to the old spot again.

—Dave Bowen Groton

Police State

Recent video coverage showed a Syracuse police officer slamming the head of a man in custody into the side-view mirror of the police car, breaking the mirror and injuring the man. The man’s neighbor recorded the incident. The man’s hands were shackled behind him and the man was not resisting arrest. He claims he had simply asked the police officer why he was being arrested. No evidence for the need of the harsh response of “brute force” appeared in the video.

The district attorney investigated without even interrogating the victim and claimed the officer’s actions were justified. I am shocked and offended by this decision! It appears to conflict with what the video documents.

I would like to see a special civilian prosecutor investigate this matter. If it is applicable I would like to see a federal investigation to see if the man’s civil rights were violated. Why aren’t we outraged by this issue? I would like some answers.

—Victor A. DeBenedittis Fayetteville

Jobs is Job 1

Our elected officials must pass the jobs act. As a member of the most under- and unemployed population—the disabled— we must do something to get this country going forward. This bill isn’t asking to put new actions in place, these actions have been proposed in the past now they are a package. Let’s get going, Washington. Do for your citizens.

—Tina Fitzgerald Mattydale

Sound Off, Write On

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