I grew up reading The Chronicle-Express, so I probably started in the mid 1950s. My mother referred to it as ‘ Sidney’s Effort,’ a nod to Sidney E. Ayres, editor from 1928 to 1960. When I went off to college, my parents saved the paper every week so I could read it when I got home. When I went abroad for a number of years, my dad gave me a subscription to the paper, so I could follow the home town issues and news. It almost always made it to wherever I was, at least six weeks late, but it kept me informed and made me feel like a member of the Yates County community despite the miles between me and my county. I relished reading every bit!
I took the paper for granted, believing that it would always be around, shrinking a bit, perhaps, but remaining present as an anchor in the community. My assumptions have been shaken greatly by the announcement that the paper would cease publication.
Just recently, I became one of the Yates County History Center volunteers who selects the articles for The Chronicle-Express’s “Pages Past” column. My first task was doing the August gleanings for the paper. That will be my last task, unfortunately, but what a lot I learned. And not just about political spats, rattlesnakes, and summer recreation doings. I read about elections: who was running and why. I read birth notices, wedding notices, and of course, my favorite for getting information, obituaries. I read about 4Hers and scouts and what important awards they won. I’ll bet their parents and grandparents were proud to see their names in print. I also read stories that I imagine did not sit well with those whose names appeared in the paper – these were usually under the police beat. I read about controversies: Should Penn Yan build a new high school? And more recently: should the public (and employees) be required to leave their weapons at the county office building’s door?
My recent immersion in the old issues of The Chronicle-Express has made me saddened and worried about what will happen to us here in the county when we have lost our major source of local information. I fervently hope the community can rally together to find alternative ways to gather and publish vital information and, in the meantime, I entreat all to support the Observer-Review and the Finger Lakes Times.
Stephanie Olsen Penn Yan
EDITOR’S NOTE: Letter writers are responsible for making sure the information they submit is accurate and factual.
Constitutional County movement a deeply disturbing political fringe
Recently a small group of perhaps four individuals requested that Yates County pursue becoming a Constitutional County. Based on that request, the Chair of the Legislature formed an ad hoc committee to study and report back on the pros and cons of becoming a Constitutional County. When we learned of this and knowing very little about the Constitutional County movement, we decided to do some research as well. At first the notion of a Constitutional County sounded innocuous; however, as we delved into the literature, videos, and podcasts promoting it, we learned that The Constitutional County movement is a deeply disturbing political fringe.
The Constitutional County movement is a trademark brand, founded by Kirk Mackenzie who is a Montana based 2020 presidential election denier, who also organizes around other conspiracies that are rife with misinformation, sweeping generalizations and inflammatory rhetoric. For one example, Constitutional Sheriffs essentially vow to not enforce laws that they alone claim are unconstitutional. McKenzie actively promotes grassroots activity to expand his Constitutional County brand across the country. Ultimately he and his followers share the belief that “every level of government – federal, state and even local have been corrupted and are no longer representative.” In one of his videos, Mackenzie affirmed that groups like the Oath Keepers are part of a “pretty good list” of like-minded groups to include at the local level in order to establish a Constitutional County.
Is it a coincidence that an online promotion for Constitutional Counties is prominently dated January 6, 2021? In carrying out their civic responsibilities, could the Yates Legislature with clear conscience endorse any affiliation with the likes of the Oath Keepers? We are alarmed by the rhetoric of these extremists and that this brand of political action is seeping into Yates County government.
We attended the Aug. 22 meeting of the Legislature’s Ad hoc Committee and heard about a visit to Cattaraugus County, a Constitutional County. Our legislators only met with those officials from Cattaraugus who were the advocates for the idea. The public who attended this meeting spoke out and put forth the need for a much broader, more objective view to include counties that have rejected the Constitutional County affiliation. We left the meeting with doubts any further fact finding had previously been intended.
We understand the underlying conflicts between governmental units over unfunded mandates and controversial COVID directives, as examples, but these problems are better addressed through mainstream political, legislative, and judicial processes. From our look at the Cattaraugus materials, we do not see any official actions that Cattaraugus took regarding their inter-governmental conflicts that were enabled or made successful by their Constitutional County brand.
We heard no compelling reason to affiliate with the Constitutional County movement from the committee. Opposition views were expressed by the large majority of citizens who attended and spoke at the meeting. That majority included Republicans, Democrats, independents, liberals, and conservatives. The Yates County Legislature should dig into the materials embedded in the official website https://theconstitutionalcounty. com, stop in its tracks, and reject an irrational movement that would be an affront to the greatest — though not perfect — democracy in the world.
Michele Howland and William Banaszewski Penn Yan EDITOR’S NOTE: Letter writers are responsible for making sure the information they submit is accurate and factual.