Liberty Bicentennial Provides Opportunity

by: Bill Liblick

Liberty will be celebrating its bicentennial this year. Not only will it give residents the occasion to look back and pay tribute to the great past, but it will also provide vision for the future.

Let me start off by saying that Liberty as in any township in Sullivan County has countless reasons to rejoice. A bicentennial makes it even more exceptional. To those who are organizing the events, I salute you.

Nonetheless, as everyone gears up for this great celebration, there must also be open discussion and debate on issues facing those who live in Liberty, both in the township and village. We must analyze how our leaders in government along with the business community are confronting them.

Unfortunately, while events are being scheduled to celebrate Liberty’s bicentennial, crime appears to be on an increase. Just ask hardworking prosecuting Assistant District Attorney James Farrell about all the cases he has encompassing in the village alone. On one recent Tuesday he was flooded with over 80 criminal cases just in one single day.

The Village of Liberty Police Department is clearly doing their job in protecting us from crime, judging by all the recent arrests they have made. But, it also represents the fact that criminal activity has gotten out of hand. Liberty is not alone. The influx of illegal drugs in Monticello and the rest of Sullivan County are devastating. Gun trafficking and gang activity is also at an all time high in our region.

Clearly our police force and prosecutors throughout Sullivan County have their hands full. They are underpaid, overworked, and sometimes unappreciated by the people they serve. Nonetheless, they continue full steam ahead with their commitment to make Sullivan County a safe and secure place in which to live.

In a step to combat unlawful activity, Legislator Jodi Goodman has secured funding for the installation of cameras throughout the Village of Liberty to monitor crime. This is similar to what is used in Port Jervis. She has been working hard in obtaining monies for the project.

The idea of the installation of cameras came as a result of a meeting Goodman had with Village of Liberty Police Chief Michael DeFrank. They discussed what needed to be done to help secure the Village and assist in combating crime. DeFrank brought up the subject of cameras with Goodman, who then called Senator John Bonacic about securing monies for the project.

Goodman told me she was “thrilled” to do this for the residents of Liberty, the business owners on Main Street, and the Village of Liberty Police Department to assist in their war on crime.

Critics might argue that all cameras will do is move criminal activity elsewhere, but it will also send a clear-cut message that something is being done.

As Bicentennial events are planned, Village and Town officials must be more proactive when it comes to economic development. There are too many vacant stores in Liberty. And, the reasons for that are far more reaching than the increased illegal activity I mentioned. Let me make it clear, the Village of Liberty is not a dangerous place to conduct business.

I hear all too often complaints from residents in both the Town and Village of Liberty that they feel their concerns and needs are not being met. They argue that there is a small group of people with whom those in power continually vest their interests in.

Look, there are those who will criticize and express disgust with the way things are run in any municipality. The names and faces just change. And, of course, depending with whom one speaks with there is also high acclaim.

The political season this year in Liberty will be brisk, many of the elected positions of those who run the government are about to expire. Voters will have the opportunity to be heard and make some change if they want to.

Those who are content with the way government is run in Liberty will also have the opportunity to give those elected officials a “thumbs up” and a vote of confidence by reelecting them.

When politicians are up for reelection they are the most vulnerable, that is a fact. That is why voters can really make a difference and have an impact on the issues.

In the Village of Liberty, the Mayor and two of the four Trustees will be facing the electorate this March. In the Town of Liberty, the Supervisor, and two of the four Council positions will be up for grabs come November. Those elected in both the Town and Village will have the power to control the affairs of Liberty for the next several years to come.

That is why it is important that along with planning bicentennial celebrations, residents look into the future, and elect those whom they feel have the ability, desire, and fortitude to lead Liberty.

Voters will decide if they stay the course or not. Participation is imperative.

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