Letter to the Editor: "Too much of the same-old, same-old" in Ulster Co. DA's office

To the Editor:

We’re now hearing there will soon be a second indictment of a Kingston Police Department (KPD) officer, this time a retired one.

It looks like getting to the bottom of KPD corruption will require a full investigation, and it ought to be done by an independent group, not local officials. Despite the close connections between the Police and the District Attorney’s office, the Ulster County DA has yet to recuse himself in the Tim Matthews case, even though he’ll be a witness in that case.

There is something that doesn’t add up about the Ulster County DA. We’re supposed to forget costly economic crimes like the huge cost overruns for the Ulster County Jail, where no one was indicted. And then there was the abuse of employees and procedures at the Ulster County Resource Recovery Agency, which hasn’t been investigated. Too much of the same-old, same-old is going on here for me.

I’d like to see a new face in the District Attorney’s office. The Democratic candidate, Jon Sennett, has the experience and the tough-on-crime attitude that we really need now in Ulster County. Jon’s 17-year career as an attorney and his administrative experience overseeing a 20-person staff in the Bronx DA’s office gives him the experience we need. He’s active in the community and has a thriving criminal law practice here, giving him the background he needs to move into the DA’s office. Jon’s got my vote on November 8.

Sincerely,

Beth Murphy
Saugerties, NY