Which brings me to the distinction between censure and censor. As censure relates to the punishment of a county legislature last week for speaking his mind, there’s not much difference. Either way, it comes down to punishment and suppression of free speech.

By definition, to “censor is to remove, block or interfere with the communication of another.” Think banned books, the old Hollywood Film Code.

“Censure” is to find fault with and criticize as blame-worthy, to reprimand. Source: The Internet. How can it be wrong?

One has to do with speech, the other with actions.

The story goes back to the Ulster County Legislature’s committee meeting where Sheriff Juan Figueroa and Legislator Joe Maloney got into it over the sheriff’s policies regarding immigrants who came here without legal permission. While Ulster is not a “sanctuary county,” Figueroa took the position that his office will not arrest immigrants who illegally entered the country unless a crime is involved. Immigration, he said, is a federal issue. Maloney contended that, by definition, “illegal” immigrants (what we used to call asylum seekers) were breaking the law. He wants the sheriff’s department to cooperate with the feds in rounding them up.

What began as a disagreement between two elected officials quickly escalated into raised voices, pointed fingers, ugly language and bulging eyeballs.

Law Enforcement and Safety Committee Chair Gina Hansut, R-Highland, banged the gavel several times in an effort to restore order before adjourning the meeting to separate the combatants.

Last week, the full legislature, with Maloney abstaining, voted 19-3 to censure Maloney for his behavior. Hansut and Figueroa were treated as victims. That the battling duo were way out of bounds — I mean, really, boys? — it would appear from published reports from eyewitnesses that the sheriff gave as good, or as bad, as he got. If breaking decorum was Maloney’s offense, the sheriff was at the least a willing unindicted co-conspirator.

There are larger issues than an ugly exchange between two temporarily crazy elected officials.

Legislature Chairman Peter Criswell, D-Kingston, in a conversation with me last week, made a clear distinction between censor and censure after I opined that the legislature’s action against one of its members who was expressing an opinion might have a chilling effect on future discourse.

He disagreed. “We did not censor Maloney,” Criswell said. “He has every right to express his opinion on any subject. We censured him for his behavior.”

I think it goes deeper than that. And I don’t doubt it has something to do with Democratic support of open borders, sure to be a major issue in this fall’s election.

Rather, I believe the animosity against Maloney has to do with his constant criticism of all things Democratic, which given Democratic dominance from here to Albany, is all things.

For his many forays into this controversial subject, Maloney gets virtually no support from fellow Democrats and only occasionally from minority Republicans. It’s no small irony that the 19-3 vote to censure was typical of the usual opposition he gets against him from colleagues.

In the larger picture, this isn’t about Maloney, who can be annoying, insistent and, when aroused, forceful. In short, Maloney pisses people off.

It’s about this legislature with all 15 Democrats and a few Republicans censuring one of its members for expressing an opinion. And this is the party that says democracy is at risk in November?

As for Maloney, he will continue to probe and goad. No kind of censure or censor is going to shut up this guy. Nor should it.

PSC to Central Hudson Execs: Raises Yes, Bonuses No

I hate to say this because it’s on all of us, but the state Public Service Commission may be even more clueless — or heartless — than we ever imagined.

Denying $1.5 million in bonuses to, among others, executives who messed up the utility’s billing system to the tune of God knows how many millions, was a no-brainer. Why Central Hudson included that request in its rate request speaks to its contempt for its customers.

But raises? For the same executives?

Executives get raises based on performance. Screw up? No raise. Maybe no job. At the least they should ferret out the knuckleheads who ran that billing system into the ground.

The Orwellian-named PSC should place those raises in a fund for struggling ratepayers.

The Passing of a Matriarch

Barbara Parete, wife and business partner (at the Boiceville Inn) of John Parete for over 50 years, died last week after a brief illness.

Over the more than 60 years they were married, Barbara and John raised five children, two of whom, Richard and Robert, served as county legislators along with their father. Richard is currently the town supervisor in Marbletown. The family peacekeeper, Barbara was known to referee disagreements between her three legislators.

John might have been the frontman at what they called “The Inn,” but it was Barbara who kept the train on track while her husband was off in Kingston pursuing politics. I remember many a night when John would be holding forth across the bar and Barbara would emerge from the kitchen to set matters straight.

The Paretes are a large, close-knit family. Their matriarch will be sorely missed.

Calling hours at the E.B. Gormley Funeral Home in Phoenicia will be Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.

Next: Reflections on a hometown hero — the passing of Mike Ferraro.