This letter is in response to Carole Estabrook's column in the June 11 “My View.” She states that she is hesitant to support any measure to maintain the status quo regarding the Social Security Office located in Auburn.

Her thinking is that since the Auburn office has a high turnover and operates on a limited schedule of hours, she is not going to get up in arms to save a branch, which hasn't been functioning adequately.

My reasoning is, the office is not functioning properly because it is severely understaffed and the three employees working there are overwhelmed by the work load. Doesn't this fact alone ring some alarm bells? Auburn and Cayuga County have a large number of citizens on Social Security and SSI. These people are the elderly and the disabled. They will experience extreme difficulty if they are forced to travel to Geneva or Syracuse for assistance in solving their problems.

The suggestion that they use the Internet is impractical since many people do not have access to this expensive tool. Many do not have transportation, either.

Unfortunately, the sympathy Ms. Estabrook says she has for the elderly and disabled doesn't solve any problems. What we need is strong action from our elected officials to correct this unfortunate situation and to guarantee the present and future recipients of Social Security and SSI adequate service.

Has anyone stopped to consider the hardships this office closure will cause thousands of Cayuga County citizens? Remember seniors and the disabled vote.

RoseMarie Gauthier

Auburn