Her convicted murderer, Brian McCarthy, plead guilty on Thursday, August 13, 1987 and was convicted to 23 years to life for her murder. He was denied parole at his first hearing in 2009. New York State law allows for subsequent parole hearings every 24 months. Every two years, my brother, mother, sister and I meet with the Victim Impact Unit of NYS Corrections Dept to make formal statements to ask for his parole to continue to be denied. Every 24 months we recount the horrific details for her murder and the lack of remorse and repeated offenses that her killer has shown while in prison. Every 24 months, we remind them that in one of his parole hearings, he didn’t even know Katy’s name when asked about his victim. We remind them of the beautiful life that he took and how we miss her every day.

Every 24 months we present our ongoing online petition to the board as a way to remind them that she is not forgotten, and we demand justice for the life he took. Justice demands that he be made to spend every day of his life in prison for taking the life of an innocent victim.

- Understand the unique historic and cultural importance of the Wailuanuiahoʻāno area, including the former Coco Palms Hotel site;

- Are concerned for the long term preservation of the ancient fishpond system, burial grounds, and culturally significant sites located within the former hotel parcels;

- Ask that all agencies and government officials, both county and state, ensure that the highest level of protections are taken during the demolition of the hotel structure, to ensure that the integrity of the fishponds, and the cultural and environmental features, are maintained;

- Do not believe that a 350 room hotel development is suitable at this site and oppose the reconstruction of a hotel in this location; and

- Support a collaborative community-based effort that ensures that the only future of this property is one of conversion into a thriving cultural, educational, and community space that honors the rich history of this place, both ancient and modern, as well as its environmental values.
]]> Thu, 6 Apr 2023 04:21 UTC 112301 https://www.gopetition.com/petitions/put-valdese-infrastructure-first.html?utm_medium=rss The Valdese NC Town Council is considering using tax dollars that are direly needed to support Valdese's infrastructure for the 300-acres Lakeside Park. Further, the Town is weighing options for new fire and police facilities. Yet, the century-old infrastructure of streets, sidewalks, water and sewer systems are literally crumbling.

Concerned citizens are requesting Town Council develop a plan to meet current infrastructure repair and maintenance needs, before spending tax dollars on a regional park and to put the specific use of tax dollars to fund Lakeside Park up for ballot.

Many of us donated over $100,000 of the $150,000 goal to provide needed park amenities. The proposed plan completed by a consultant, hired for $40k, estimates 20 times the original fund-drive goal, or $3.1 million. Town Management proposed funding 75% of the cost with debt financing - on top of several $ million existing debt - to be paid by a Valdese tax increase of 3.5 cents. Other considerations include a phased approach, yet still drawing on tax dollars. We believe that the Registered Voters of the Town of Valdese should have input via public ballot for or against any increased debt, tax increase or spending of tax dollars to specifically fund the proposed amenities at the 300+- acre Lakeside Park.

The 'sudden' discovery that a town facility that was partially abandoned 15 years ago is no longer suitable for police and fire occupancy is a further example of the need for long-range planning.