For some reason, likely because they have no voice and can’t vote, children have endured an unreasonably high percentage of the numerous COVID restrictions implemented since March of 2020.

From multi-week quarantines at home away from friends, remote schooling, eating lunches alone at desks many feet from peers to playing soccer and field hockey with masks on, outside!

However, as a parent of a 4-year in pre-school,  the recent news that 2 to 4 year old children are now required to mask-up at Pre-K centers and daycare facilities was a final gut punch to me.

Experts from Harvard Medical School have come out and indicated that ‘We lack credible evidence for benefits of masking kids aged 2 to 5’.

In spite of this information, our politicians and local health officials have pursued this strategy. My opinion is that this strategy, which is not being implemented anywhere else in the World, is being done to make the adults feel safer psychologically, and not for the benefit of the children.

Even if masks were proven to be somewhat affective in reducing COVID transmission, I don’t think we can ignore the negative consequences of masking 2 to 4 year old kids.

Covering a small child’s face can impact communication and language development, potentially cause breathing issues and affect social and emotional development. These factors should not be ignored.

The people implementing this mandate absolutely should provide evidence of a substantial benefit, which they have yet to do.

I’m recommending that all parents in a similar situation as myself contact their US Congress person, their State Assembly person, or County health official. Perhaps they will listen and provide a voice for these children and help get the face diapers removed from the children’s faces.

I know my 4-year wants the mask madness to end as he asked me today if he still had to wear it, and I’m sure there are many other kids feeling the same way, so we need the parents to stand up and end it for them.

– John Venditte

Hello fellow Saratogians. I’m running for the Board of Education on May 18 and want to take an opportunity to introduce myself.

I’ve been a resident of Saratoga Springs for over 10 years. A native of the Boston area, I’ve lived all over the country and was excited when I had the opportunity to relocate to Saratoga for work. I instantly fell in love with Saratoga’s unique combination of history, nature, and the arts and was grateful to settle here and start my family.

I’m a single mother and mompreneur. I have two young daughters who are enrolled at Caroline Street Elementary School. I’m a literacy advocate working with a children’s publisher on both a local and national level. Previously, I worked in the non-profit arts sector. I’ve been an active member of the Caroline Street PTA for three years and serve as a Girl Scout Troop Leader.

Raised by two educators, one of whom was a public school English teacher for over 30 years, I’ve always had a passion for education. However, after the past year, I feel even more committed to ensuring our community’s children have a safe and healthy environment in which to learn and that all students have equal access to educational opportunities. The events of 2020 shined a light on the importance of a healthy family unit, the unique and pivotal role our schools play in children’s lives on many levels, and the need for balanced conversations among parents, educators and administration.

Thank you for taking some time to learn more about me! I’d love to hear from you and what matters to you in regards to our school district. Please feel free to email me at ReadingMamaUBAM@gmail.com. I look forward to hearing from you!   

– Amanda Ellithorpe

I’m writing to you about Connie Woytowich, a brilliant woman and strong candidate for Saratoga’s Board of education. Connie is a mother of four and a NYS master teacher with over 20 years of experience. As a mother and a professional, I stand in awe of Connie’s dedication to our community. 

When my eldest began kindergarten, Connie was the PTA President. Her thoughtful leadership ensured that our first experiences in Saratoga Schools were amazing. Our school’s fun and educational STEM Expo, which Connie not only built from the ground up, but has improved on and added to each year has remained a family favorite. Connie was also the past director of Camp Invention, which our children absolutely loved. As parents, we were thrilled to have our children inspired and challenged in a fun and exciting way. 

As a neighbor, Connie will always be known for her friendliness, willingness to help and ability to bring people together. Each Labor Day, she organized a back-to-school breakfast for the families on and around her street to help get everyone in back-to-school mode. 

Connie knows that “it takes a village.” Her commitment to kids, families and community is needed now more than ever. 

– Christina Cicardi, Saratoga Springs

Like many parents across the Saratoga Springs City School District, I am looking forward to the 2021-2022 school year with a full-time, in-person educational experience for our children that fosters a healthy routine, puts learning at the center of every decision, and highlights the need for community, mental health awareness, respect for others, a safe learning environment, and a sense of love and belonging. 

In addition to being a parent and community volunteer, I am a lifelong learner with urban, rural, and suburban teaching and leadership experience at the K-12 level. My extensive network in the educational community in the Capital Region and state are a result of my selection and work as a New York State Master Teacher, former PTA President, and former Camp Invention Director.

I am running for the school board to continue my service to education and our community. The knowledge and skills that I have honed over the past 20 years make me the ideal candidate for handling the critical issues related to instruction, policy, and budget, especially in light of the pandemic. I urge you to take the time to learn more at connieforschoolboard.com and appreciate your vote on May 18. 

– Connie Woytowich, NYS Master Teacher, Saratoga Springs 

As we endure the 10th month of the pandemic many activities still remain off-limits. But if communities having access to books, reading should not be one. However, the Saratoga Springs Public Library’s response to the pandemic has made this opportunity difficult. Initially when the library reopened, their “Phase 2” response led to waiting over a week after requesting a book, having it be pulled from the shelf and then setting up an appointment to pick it up (which wasn’t possible on the same day). Then over the summer in accordance with the lower positivity rate, in-person browsing was allowed which made borrowing books much more possible. Throughout the pandemic, books undergo a 4-day quarantine, even though “spread from touching surfaces is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads” (CDC).

Now, however, the library as of January 11 has closed again and no books are being lent out. I appreciate the vigilance the library is taking in their response to COVID-19. Nevertheless, accessibility to reading materials is even more crucial whilst the public is inside with limited activities. There are other options than completely closing down the library and should be greater nuance in the protocol as more is learned about the virus. Lack of access to the library affects those lower in socioeconomic status disproportionately who don’t have the means to obtain books otherwise. 

Many other downtown businesses have adapted curbside pickup programs which fills orders within 1-2 hours and allows minimal contact between customers and staff. Was this considered for the library? 

There are many more options that allow library staff to still feel safe but ensuring tax-paying community members still have access to reading materials while waiting out the pandemic. I am asking the Saratoga Spring Public Library to reconsider its current policy to become more user friendly and allow the public to have access to reading materials. 

– Kathryn Cuneo, Saratoga Springs 

We have watched with interest the charter debate in Saratoga Springs, NY.   Having lived in New Hampshire for 40 years before moving to Saratoga Springs, we lived and worked in communities that had a city or town manager form of government.  We took it for granted that competent professionals with expertise in their areas were using their skills to manage the city/town departments that made those communities great places to live.  We have been disheartened, however, after attending meet-the-candidates’ nights for a previous city election, to learn that the city relies upon a system where lack of expertise or professional qualifications are not a bar to city office.  It seems to us that family connections or who you know are the way to get elected.  We urge our fellow Saratogians, new and old, to vote to adopt charter reform – a system of government that will provide professional leadership in the form of a city manager and city-wide neighborhood ward representatives.

– Bill and Janice Christiano, Saratoga Springs

For the first time (that I’m aware of), the Saratoga Springs Professional Firefighters have taken an official position on a charter election and recommend voting no. 

This is especially important because of the respect that firefighters have earned. Their letter has been posted on their Facebook page, and reads as follows: 

The Saratoga Springs Firefighters IAFF Local 343, proudly endorses the City of Saratoga Springs current form of government and opposes the charter change being proposed on the ballot this year (2020). We, as the Saratoga Springs Firefighters IAFF Local 343, confidently support Saratoga Works, Saratoga Success, and One Saratoga. Sincerely, Nicholas Colucci    Secretary     IAFF Local #343

– Richard Sellers, Spokesman for SUCCESS, Saratoga Springs

Under Saratoga’s current commission form of government, no one is in charge at City Hall. City staff are divided among 5 independent departments supervised by 5 elected officials and their 5 political deputies. Commissioners spend more time protecting their turf than collaborating on issues. When council members don’t get along, their departments don’t work together. Services suffer, and our government wastes lots of time and money.

Few people who would make good city council representatives have the time and expertise to run a department for a part-time salary. You can’t vote out somebody you don’t like, because nobody else will run. In their last election, 3 out of 5 city council incumbents went unchallenged.

The last Charter Review Commission surveyed City Hall employees. An overwhelming majority said our current charter promotes wasteful spending and prevents the effective management of the city. 65 percent said yes to a city manager.

In the new charter, direct responsibility for city operations is transferred from 5 elected officials to a single professional manager, and city staff work together as a single team. That’s going to save money. Freed from direct management responsibilities, more young people with jobs and families from all political parties will run for office and have a voice in city government.

We hear that a new manager and an assistant can’t replace 5 commissioners and their deputies. But I’ve spoken with the managers of other cities in the state, and they all told me – no problem. They’d work directly with the highly-paid department heads already on our payroll. Currently, 50 city employees make over $100,000, and 16 make over $130,000. They’ll be glad to give up 2 layers of bickering politicians for a streamlined system under a single professional manager, who will work under a more vibrant and representative city council.

It’s time, Saratoga. Turn over the ballot and vote yes! 

– Rick Fenton, Saratoga Springs 

My name is Ronald Kim. I was Saratoga Springs Commissioner of Public Safety for four years. While it was privilege to serve this City, what I witnessed dismayed me. 

The central problem with the Commission form of government is that Departments under their elected Commissioner work in silos. Silos discourage coordination. Silos encourage wasteful spending. Silos prevent real representation. 

The silo problem stares us in the face today. Amid pandemic caused fiscal stress, the City Council silos have done nothing to stop lavish spending on a Commissioner’s offices not covered by storm related insurance.Just the new furniture, delivered in April 2020, cost $57,000!The silo walls between Commissioners prevented any true checks and balances of this wasteful spending while revenues shrunk.   

This November we can put this behind us. The new City Charter will be more accountable, transparent and will give citizens real representation. The Mayor will be a policy leader, while a six-member City Council composed of citizens, elected from the neighborhoods will represent you. You will not have to hire an attorney to be heard in City Hall, you can just go down the street to your neighbor and tell them what is on your mind. A City Manager will coordinate all the departments. No more silos.There will be a City Auditor to watch the books—we could have used that as offices got renovated at the expense of our children’s recreational programs.    

Please vote YES on Charter Reform for a future of accountability, transparency and representation.

– Ronald Kim

In a 2016 survey city employees estimated they spent a third to half their work time navigating the politicized silos in City Hall that make up the current commission form of our government. If these insiders couldn’t always determine who would work with them, or what issues and problems were the purview of what department, is it any wonder that the average citizen of Saratoga Springs with a simple question or issue is often helplessly shunted from office-to-office in fruitless attempts to get someone to own the issues that are at the root of their concerns?

Add to this the ineffectiveness, waste, and self-dealing that are hallmarks of the commission form of government, and you’d be hard pressed to deny that we’re overspending for representation that’s underproviding. From lifetime health insurance perks, to hiring family members, to not pooling common purchasing needs if they originate in separate departments, to awarding dubious contracts to the politically connected, the inadequacies inherent in our current form of government are legion.

Enter regular city residents, elected to serve and be accessible to the needs of their neighbors, to work with a strong mayor, and to hire and supervise a professional city manager. This person’s charge is to tighten our belt, take advantage of efficiencies, and negotiate all contracts and spending with only the good of the whole citizenry in mind. Envision that, and you’ve got a snapshot of what our government could look like under a new charter. 

Don’t be cowed by the other side that arrogantly calls neighborhood representatives “uninformed newbies” incapable of making solid governance decisions.  Take citizen control of your city back and vote YES for charter reform.

– Tony Krackeler, Saratoga Springs