Despite what the opposition claims, Prop 1 is about abortion and protecting our rights and freedoms from changing political tides.
Up for Debate
Aquinas embraces the real Christian values of love and acceptance
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Aquinas is attempting to become a more welcoming place to students, no matter their sex, race, sexual orientation, or political beliefs. When Robert Agostinelli made hurtful comments against discriminated communities, walking out was not disrespectful; it showed personal strength and character.
Up for Debate
Pandemic and the ‘fog of war’
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Jim Ryan Jr. argues that it’s time to restart the economy and end Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s New York State on PAUSE executive order. In Ryan’s piece for the Beacon, he contends the policy response to COVID-19 has been an overreaction fueled by media sensationalism and politicians’ fear of being perceived as weak or indecisive.
Kent Gardner
He also finds comfort in a few individuals suggesting that the case fatality rate may be no more than the seasonal flu, about 0.1 percent. Ryan also notes that 61,000 flu deaths in the 2017-18 flu season did not spur such a dramatic response (the Centers for Disease Control estimates the COVID-19 toll in the U.S. as 55,000 as of April 28). Have we overreacted? Should New York’s lockdown end?
Up for Debate
It is time to reopen
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Just two years ago the flu reared its ugly head, causing over 60,000 deaths and 810,000 hospitalizations across the U.S. In contrast, COVID-19 so far has caused roughly 55,000 deaths and roughly 95,000 hospitalizations. Given the severity of the 2017-2018 flu, one would have expected the country to shutter in fear the way it has for COVID-19, especially given that the last line of defense—a proven vaccine—was significantly stymied by this virus strain.
Jim Ryan Jr.
But, as we all know, fear and panic did not materialize for this particular flu. Life continued on as normal. Although occasionally mentioned in the press, the outbreak was essentially a non-issue and the public seemed almost uninterested. Instead of the COVID-19 government mandates creating massive unemployment and destroying trillions of dollars of wealth, the economy during this flu season boomed. Businesses prospered and the consumer was king as the interactive retail sector became red hot.
Up for Debate
The Finger Lakes region can do better than incinerating NYC trash
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Michael Warren Thomas
I must admit it feels like insider sabotage to have a Rochester company propose one of the largest trash incinerators in the United States for tiny Romulus (population 4,345 in 2017) in the heart of the Finger Lakes. The region has spent most of the past decade trying to keep a billion-dollar Texas gas company from industrializing Watkins Glen. Circular enerG is attempting to inundate the Finger Lakes with an endless supply of garbage from outside the region, much of it probably from New York City. Our air, our soil, and our water will suffer the consequences of decades of trash burning if the region allows the construction of this facility. According to this proposal, nearly 3,000 additional tons of New York City trash would be burned in Romulus every day.
Up for Debate
Why waste-to-energy municipal solid waste management is good public policy
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David A. Elsperger
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that municipal solid waste totaled 262 million tons in 2015, up 26 percent from 1990. Reducing, reusing and recycling are proven methods to cut the amount of municipal solid waste, but a significant quantity is sent to landfills every year. Modern incineration technology can dramatically reduce the amount of municipal solid waste that needs to be landfilled and also generate electrical energy for nearby residents. The charts below show trends in municipal solid waste from 1960 to 2015, as reported by the EPA. The U.N. Food and Agricultural Organization reports that food is the largest component of materials sent to landfills and the primary source of landfill gas.