DON'T ASK, TELL!

A sentence from a front-page article in the Dec. 9 Gazette reads, "Buffardi
has asked the police union for the ability to drug test [corrections]
officers routinely in collective bargaining sessions, but has always been
denied."

Who is running Schenectady, the manager or the unions? Buffardi has to ask
the unions for permission to drug test corrections officers! If Buffardi
thinks that it is really necessary to drug test the officers regularly,
then he should make that a condition of continued employment at the county
jail. If the officers do not like it, they are at perfect liberty to quit
and go find other employment.

I often see reports of a similar nature in the Gazette regarding other
public service employees, both at the state and local levels. Is this what
is called "management by the people for the people"?

SIDNEY J. WOODCOCK, Niskayuna