It was upsetting to hear there will be a Republican Primary in my hometown of Greenfield this June.  Kevin Veitch has worked so hard to improve the staffing at Town Hall and bring the community new events, projects and regular information.  I know that the Supervisor’s door is always open, and I think it is important for people to understand the commitment and passion Kevin has for the Town of Greenfield. 

In his early days with the Town, Kevin instituted a town newsletter.  Because of this, I really feel like I know what is going on in the town.  As the daughter of a former Town Supervisor, I know the number of events a Town Supervisor is invited to on a weekly basis.  Kevin makes every effort to attend as many events as he can.  This gives the residents of the town a chance to get to know such a dedicated public servant on a personal level.  

I know in addition to events at the Town, Kevin is active at the county level and also participates with several community organizations.  Whatever Kevin gets involved in, he gives his all.  

I am prouder than ever to be a resident of the town.  We have taken such great steps in the right direction.  Greenfield is such a special place to live and I hope all of the residents will vote to re-elect Kevin Veitch for Greenfield Town Supervisor.

– Lauren Delaney | Greenfield Center

Last summer, Saratoga Springs initiated a confusing, complex paid parking program for City-owned lots and parking garages.  It required substantial investment in hardware and software as well as the cost of registering  vehicles of City residents who could then park for free.

This year, summer paid parking has returned with the additional option for those who reside outside the City but within the City School District to pay a seasonal parking fee.  All others continue to pay two dollars an hour unless they are parking on the streets where parking continues to be free.  More confusion!

A big part of our successful downtown has been the number of regional residents who have been coming here for years.  They were looking for a safe, vibrant place to spend their time and their money.  They are not tourists.  They are loyal customers who happen to live outside of our City.

Turning our back on these patrons for three months a year is not a good strategy.  They will find other places to spend their money and may not return.

Sales and property tax revenue generated by downtown commerce has helped to keep property taxes low for our residents.  A portion of that revenue can be set aside to fund parking garage maintenance and police foot patrols without resorting to paid seasonal parking.

A limited paid parking system makes sense for Chowderfest and the Victorian Stroll and well as Friday and Saturday evenings during racing season.  But no one should have to pay to park in our downtown on a summer afternoon.

– Chris Mathiesen | Saratoga Springs

In a recent and deeply disappointing turn, Michele Madigan’s campaign for mayor has launched a flurry of misleading messages—both via Facebook and mass email—accusing John Safford of planning to incarcerate homeless individuals. In one Facebook post, Madigan claimed, “John Safford will send the homeless to prison and into forced treatment,” a statement echoed in a mass email distributed by her campaign.

This is not just false—it’s wildly dishonest. There are only two explanations: either Madigan genuinely believes the mayor has this kind of authority, or—far more troubling—she knows it’s untrue but is cynically exploiting a complex and sensitive issue for political gain.

Let’s be clear: a mayor in the United States does not have the legal power to incarcerate anyone or to mandate treatment. Suggesting otherwise is not only irresponsible, it’s dangerous in an era where misinformation already runs rampant.

Voters in Saratoga Springs are smarter than this. They deserve a campaign focused on facts and solutions—not scare tactics and political theater. Madigan owes the public a retraction and an apology.

– Michael Brandi

Dear Editor,

I recently learned that there will be a Republican Primary in my hometown Greenfield this June. I was disheartened to learn this because my family has been so impressed with our current Supervisor Kevin Veitch.

Veitch has built a staff of friendly people at Town Hall, which has made doing business with the town easier and more efficient than ever before. With the events happening all the time and all the outreach I receive, I really feel like I know what is going on in the town. My wife and I had moved out of Greenfield for a few years but recently moved back because of the incredible changes we’ve seen being made by Kevin Veitch. Not only are so many great things coming out of Town Hall, but I am always so pleased to see he always attends the events, so we all have the pleasure of knowing him personally.

I am prouder than ever to be a resident of this town. We have taken such great steps in the right direction. Greenfield is such a special place to live and I hope all of the residents will re-elect this man. Thank you,

– Chaz Senecal

Porter Corners

NO VIP ZONE: TAXPAYERS DESERVE EQUAL ACCESS AT BELMONT ON BROADWAY

With $50,000 in taxpayer funding supporting this year’s Belmont on Broadway concert, it is time to make one thing clear: the taxpayers are the VIPs for this exciting event for Saratoga Springs.

Last year’s event featured an exclusive VIP area near the stage and a hospitality tent, a glaring symbol of special treatment for a select few while residents were left outside the ropes. Despite the event being “no smoking”, the VIP area became a scene of privileged rule-breaking, including the now-infamous moment when Commissioner of Accounts Dillon Moran was caught on camera lighting up a pipe.

This kind of segregation has no place at a publicly funded event. If taxpayer dollars are footing the bill, all attendees must be treated equally. No roped-off sections. No backroom hospitality. Just a community event where every person—regardless of status or political connection—has the same access to the best viewing areas and festivities.

I am calling on event organizers to eliminate the VIP area at this year’s event. No more backroom hospitality. No more fenced-off exclusivity. No more political perks.

Mike Brandi

The people of Saratoga County are the true VIPs, and they deserve to enjoy this special event without barriers or favoritism.

Being the primary advocate for Saratoga Lake since 1936, the SLA looks forward to 2025 and as such, we wanted to bring the public up to date on the many initiatives and challenges that face both our organization and Saratoga Lake.  The SLA’s mission is to promote the environmental quality, natural beauty and safe recreational use of Saratoga Lake.  This is accomplished through education, community engagement and especially advocacy.  Our vision is to ensure that the Lake remains a safe and vibrant resource for generations to come. 

In recent years, the SLA has actively addressed critical issues such as rising boat traffic, road salt contamination, shoreline development, and the preservation of Snake Hill.  The urgency of these efforts is magnified by the fact that the Lake’s shoreline is governed by four different municipalities and its watershed spans portions of ten different towns. This fragmented jurisdiction underscores the necessity for coordinated action and makes the SLA’s role indispensable in safeguarding the lake.  

We also find time to host a number of social events throughout the year to celebrate Saratoga Lake and get to know both older and newer members. Generally our social events are on or near the Lake and support our local establishments. 

To continue to be strong advocates for the Lake we are always looking for new members and financial support. Growing our membership with individuals or businesses that are interested in the Lake’s well-being, makes us stronger advocates for the continued well being of Saratoga Lake.

Anyone interested in becoming a member or making a donation to the SLA can visit our website at saratogalake.org

Thank you!

– Saratoga Lake Board of Directors

from teaching they told me, my brother, and sister that they would be retiring to Saratoga Springs. While my Aunt lives in Saratoga Springs, our family had never been there for vacation or even visit. My parents were adventurers and we thought this would be another adventure in their list of lifelong journeys.

Upon moving to Saratoga and meeting their neighbors, they were immediately immersed in a close-knit group of people who had food competitions on the alley, celebrated birthdays, and anniversaries.

Unfortunate for us, my father fell ill and ultimately passed long before his time on earth was due. Now, my mother lives in the house by herself. My brother, sister, and I have all developed careers and families in the city’s where we live and our parents never intended us to move to Saratoga to be caregivers; nonetheless we worry.

One of the things that comforts us is that they have neighbors like Todd Agans and Chuck Marshall. Chuck and Todd never hesitate to change batteries in smoke detectors, move pieces of lawn furniture, or take care of shoveling or snow blowing my mother’s driveway and sidewalk to ensure she’s ok.

Life throws curve balls but there are still people you can count on even if those people were once strangers. My mother will be voting for Chuck Marshall this January 28th, and I encourage all of you who live there to do the same.

Chuck is an experienced, warm, and talented man. Saratoga Springs deserves a leader like him.

Do what’s right, and vote Chuck Marshall for Public Works Commissioner on January 28th.

– Jerry Schall

As a small business owner whose very livelihood depends on events like the Belmont Festival in Saratoga, I was more than a little disappointed by your short-sighted remarks to the press and the public regarding the success of this year’s event. First, to make a statement without the full financial picture in place is irresponsible. Your statements show how little you know about what it takes to run and market a successful city not to mention a slap in the face to the Saratoga Springs business community, NYRA , The Saratoga Chamber of Commerce, Discover Saratoga, The City Center Authority and all the other entities and individuals that worked tirelessly to make the Belmont Festival a success. And it was a success by many measurements: The city received national recognition on Fox News, was the focus of more than one article in the New York Times, gave your business community exposure many could not otherwise afford and brought throngs of new visitors to our city. You may not know the ROI on Belmont at this point, and you may not be able to measure it by your calculations, but I expect more out of the leaders of this city. To put a negative spin on such an incredible event is disheartening and shows your lack of leadership ability.  Belmont 2024 was a boon for the entire capital region and the city of Saratoga Springs is fortunate that we were chosen as the host city. Comments from city leaders like yours may make an entity think twice before hosting an event here in the future. Words Matter! Sincerely,

– Heidi Owen West