The following letter from Rick McCabe appears in today's Advertiser.  EG Talks is happy to reproduce it here.

Our 99%

I would like to express my thanks to “the 99%”. I have been involved in East Greenbush politics for a long time.  I was a committee person in the 1970s to the mid-1980s. I have been a councilperson, deputy supervisor, and Supervisor for 14 years.  I have attended hundreds of Town Board meetings, missing only 3 during those years.

At these meetings there have been numerous differences of opinions, problems to be solved, and questions to be asked and answered.  These have been expressed by Democrat, Republican, Conservative, Independent, Working Family, Liberal, and probably the  “Rent is too damn high” party members.  In all that time, and through all those questions, 99% of the people who have addressed the Town Board have been civil, polite and concerned.  As a Board, we have listened and have taken action to help whenever we could.  If unable to act exactly as the resident asked, we have engaged in one-on-one discourse and have attempted to reach a compromise position. We have not made decisions on personality. As one movie said, it’s business.

Unfortunately, it seems that this has changed, at least for a small handful of residents, who feel justified in publicly libeling, slandering, and defaming anyone who disagrees with them.

I would like go on the record about this despicable trend.  This administration and the good people who work in town do not deserve this treatment and I will not have them be publicly insulted. This small group has made countless charges, all without validation, against this administration, saying whatever hateful thing they can think of without offering any proof of wrongdoing.  As Supervisor, I can accept criticism and reasonable disagreements that are expressed in a civil manner.  I believe that those residents of East Greenbush who have continuously acted in a responsible manner expect and deserve no less.  The same is true for the Town Board and the good people who work for the residents of East Greenbush.

To the 99%-- I want you to know how proud I am to serve as your Supervisor.  Over the years, I have come to know many of you and to call you friends.  I ask you to go out and vote on November 8.  I am asking for your continued support for our team, Toni Murphy, Sue Mangold, Phil Malone, and of course, for me, Rick McCabe. In return, you can be assured of a government that cares about the needs of East Greenbush.

Thank you, Rick McCabe