Author Archives: Ed Kowalski

Tuesday’s primary elections in New York weren’t just another chapter in the state’s political calendar. They may have marked a turning point in the battle over who will define the future of the Democratic Party—and they should serve as a warning sign for Hudson Valley Democrats who have long tried to straddle the line betweenContinue reading “Valley Viewpoint: Is the Democratic Party Leaving the Middle Behind?”

The news that WKIP has laid off Uncle Mike is disappointing—not just because another familiar voice has left local radio, but because people like Mike are becoming increasingly rare. I had the chance to do some shows with Mike, and they were screamingly funny—full of the kind of genuine, unscripted humor that made listeners feelContinue reading “When Local Radio Loses People Like Uncle Mike, We All Lose”

If you want to understand why so many Americans have lost confidence in our institutions, look no further than the latest immigration ruling coming out of California. A single federal district court judge has now blocked the Trump Administration’s policy allowing ICE agents to arrest illegal immigrants at immigration courthouses—not just in California, not justContinue reading “Valley Viewpoint: One Federal Judge, 330 Million Americans”

Three years ago, relocating Town Hall to Boardman Road was one of the defining issues in the Town of Poughkeepsie Supervisor’s race. Rebecca Edwards and her supporters argued that the proposal advanced by the Town Board at the time was too expensive and would result in higher taxes for residents. Campaign literature warned taxpayers aboutContinue reading “Valley Viewpoint: What Changed on Boardman Road?”

For years, Americans were told that questioning the origins of COVID-19 was irresponsible, even dangerous. The possibility that the virus escaped from a laboratory in Wuhan was dismissed by many in government, media, and public health as a fringe conspiracy theory. Social media companies restricted debate. Scientists who raised questions risked criticism. Ordinary citizens whoContinue reading “Valley Viewpoint: The Truth Matters More Than the Narrative — Especially Here at Home”

A recently passed Dutchess County resolution may not make national headlines. There won’t be cable news panels dissecting it. There won’t be celebrities weighing in on social media. But for the people of Dutchess County, it matters. And that’s why I was encouraged to see a political candidate do something surprisingly uncommon in modern politics:Continue reading “Valley Viewpoint: Before You Lead, You Have to Read”

There was a time in America when we didn’t agree on everything, but we generally agreed on something important: there was such a thing as right and wrong. Today, that consensus is evaporating. Ideas and behaviors once considered fringe, immoral, or simply inappropriate are increasingly celebrated, promoted, and institutionalized. Meanwhile, those who express reservations—or holdContinue reading “Valley Viewpoint: When a Nation Loses Confidence in Right and Wrong”

The world lost a music legend this week with the passing of Walter Parazaider, one of the founders of Chicago. Like millions of fans, I knew Walt first through the music. The soaring horns. The unforgettable melodies. The soundtrack to first dates, weddings, road trips, and moments we never forget. But years ago, I hadContinue reading “Walt Parazaider: The Man Behind the Horns”

The verdict is in. Pleasant Valley Highway Superintendent John Baxter has been found guilty of two misdemeanor counts of attempted unlawful surveillance after a bench trial in LaGrange Justice Court. The charges stem from allegations that Baxter placed a hidden camera beneath his secretary’s desk in an apparent attempt to capture intimate images without herContinue reading “When Public Trust Is Violated: The Baxter Verdict and the Questions That Remain”

New York taxpayers didn’t just get sticker shock. They got a lesson in how Albany works. For weeks, Governor Kathy Hochul and legislative leaders celebrated a state budget they said totaled $268 billion. Press conferences were held. Victory laps were taken. Talking points were distributed. Then came the revelation: the budget wasn’t $268 billion afterContinue reading “Valley Viewpoint: Albany’s $9 Billion Surprise Isn’t a Mistake. It’s a Warning.”

Next Monday, a judge will decide whether Pleasant Valley Highway Superintendent John Baxter is guilty of attempted unlawful surveillance. The legal verdict will belong to the court. But regardless of what happens in LaGrange Justice Court, the residents of Pleasant Valley are already wrestling with a larger question: What happens when public trust is putContinue reading “Valley Viewpoint: A Verdict Beyond One Man”

Government works only when the public trusts the people placed in positions of authority. That trust becomes even more important in local government, where employees work side-by-side every day and where residents often know their elected and appointed officials personally. This week in LaGrange Justice Court, that trust is at the center of the trialContinue reading “A Public Trust Put on Trial”