Write a commentIt’s been a while since I attended an Oswego County Legislature meeting. Last Thursday I did and was not surprised to find that little has changed.
With a 23 to 2 Republican controlled membership, it came as no surprise that the meeting consisted of a number of resolutions passed with little discussion and a solid block voting in favor. And as has been the case, the meeting was adjourned and the public comments time was held afterwards, with a 5-minute time limit to speak. Interesting how the public interest portion is not part of the meeting and thus not included in the official minutes. And to add further insult to those citizens attending, representatives are allowed to leave after the gavel is dropped. Rather disrespectful, I thought.
During the segment called “Public Comments,” residents were invited to speak on various issues affecting their community. I was most alarmed when the topic of ICE and Border Patrol overreach was addressed. A number of incidences have been carried out in and around Oswego County during the past few weeks. The most outrageous one documented included a number of agents dressed entirely in black with black hoods, peeking in houses and cars around Fulton. How frightening for anyone. What if a youngster was to open the door and see this?
How could this be, I asked myself. So, I spent some time the next day researching the law and found that while their mandate is very clear, dressing in black with no identification has never been required. This inappropriate overreach is only one of the many issues occurring around our community and it must stop. I kept thinking of the recent case in Sackets Harbor. And now it’s happening right here in our back yard.
The County Legislature was presented with a number of signed petitions asking that a “No-Collusion Resolution” be passed prohibiting the Oswego County Sheriff and Probation Department’s from assisting officials from ICE.
Please call your county district legislator and ask that they support this effort. I would also encourage residents to contact their state representatives asking that they support the NY4A Act which would guarantee that state and local governments not collude with ICE on civil aspects of federal immigration.
This year the Oswego County Legislature schedule includes 8 meeting at 2 pm and 3 at 7 pm. December has one at 2 pm and another at 7 pm. The next County Legislature meeting is on Thursday June 12th at 7 pm. Make your voices heard. Show up, stand up, speak up!
Lynne Lyons, Fulton, NY
