To the Editor:

When members of the Albany County Legislature approved a citizens’ commission to review the county charter, most of us did so to give our people a greater voice in amending this document that controls county government and directly affects our residents and local businesses.

I supported the citizens’ charter recommendations including downsizing the legislature; having a medical examiner replace the existing coroners; codifying our laws, resolutions, and ordinances; privatizing our Albany County Nursing Home; and establishing a bi-partisan Reapportionment Committee composed of citizens, not elected officials.

Knowing that their political powers would be diminished, the Democratic majority in the Albany County Legislature convened a legislative committee made up of legislators to review the citizens’ suggestions and make amendments to the citizens’ recommendations.  For the most part, this was a sham designed by the majority to ensure it would remain in charge of every aspect of Albany County government.

For instance, when the citizens’ commission recommended downsizing the County Legislature, it did so with the residents’ best interest in mind. The commission knew that the Albany County Legislature was the largest in New York State, and knew it could function more efficiently and be less costly with fewer members.

However, the legislative committee, fearing the possibility of current Democrat leaders losing their influence, power, and authority, amended this recommendation and gave oversight of downsizing to the legislature itself.

The citizens’ commission realized that the privatization of our nursing home would improve conditions at the facility, have it function more productively, and serve the needs of our residents in a more efficient manner. It knew that the costly administration of the home could be addressed while still meeting the needs and improving conditions for the current residents and future residents of the Albany County Nursing Home.

Fearful of losing control over this facility and its employees, Democratic leaders entered into a costly and less-efficient agreement that not only compromises the future of our nursing home, but also puts an expensive burden on our Albany County citizens. This financial obligation continues to grow, and the future does not appear to be optimistic because of our failure to address the needs of the facility head-on.

The citizens’ commission recommended a bi-partisan Reapportionment Committee made up of residents, not elected officials or public employees. Once again, the majority was fearful that this would take away its power and changed the recommendation to allow the Albany County Legislature to appoint whomever it chose to this Reapportionment Committee, including legislative members and/or staff.

Unfortunately, Albany County residents will not have the choice of supporting their fellow citizens’ recommendations. Instead, the majority of the recommendations submitted are those of the Albany County Legislature’s own committee. They will be presented to the voters on the Nov. 3, 2015 ballot.

Based on the fact the majority party and its leadership overrode some of the most important proposals presented by your fellow citizens, I am hoping that you reject this partisan grandstanding and vote ‘no’ on this proposition.

It’s time for our citizens to take back power from the selected few in the Albany County Legislature who believe they can dictate and bully us into submission. It’s time to tell them “no” and make them realize that it is our needs that should be addressed by Albany County government — not the needs of the elected officials who are in power.

Deborah Busch, legislator

District 39

Knox

Editor’s note: Republican Deborah Busch is running for a second term, representing District 39 in the Albany County Legislature, against Christopher Smith, running on the Democratic line.