Ask Cuomo to ban fracking
New York State is considering if the benefits of toxic industrial gas drilling (fracking) outweigh the risks. We say no! No amount of oversight and regulations can prevent the potential catastrophic consequences of fracking to our water and air, the environment and public health.
Of those across New York State who do know about fracking much of their knowledge comes from the misinformation they hear from the gas and oil industry. As an example the industry claims that natural gas will end our dependency on foreign oil. How is that possible if contracts already exist for this gas to be exported outof this country?
Please look at this 30-second commercial (tinyurl.com/7ultnnd) and then call Gov. Cuomo at 518-474-8390 as he needs to hear from each of us. Tell him he is the hero we are looking for and to ban fracking in New York State. Then send tinyurl.com/7ultnnd in an email or on Facebook to every New Yorker in the state. Your participation is crucial to help spread the truth to all New Yorkers.
For more information about fracking watch this 18-minute video (tinyurl.com/3wz982m) or go to www.frackaction.com.
Rosalyn Cherry
New Paltz
Practice what you preach
It is hard to keep up with everything going on around us, but we have a serious problem you need to know about. No matter what your party affiliation, you should be concerned with what is going on in the Ulster County Legislature.
Terry Bernardo, a political rookie just beginning her second two-year term as legislator, was elected as chair of the Ulster County Legislature on Jan. 3rd. It is no coincidence that Terry’s husband, Len, is the chairman of the Independence Party and that 19 of 23 legislators ran on the Independence Party line. Of all legislators (12 Republicans and 11 Democrats) only three didn’t vote for Bernardo. If you think her husband’s position didn’t have something to do with her victory, think again. Only two legislators had the courage to vote against her – Democrats Dave Donaldson and Peter Loughran, both of the City of Kingston, and perhaps sending his own message, Hector Rodriguez, a Democrat from New Paltz, was absent.
On January 3, the night of the Coronation Ball (excuse the sarcasm), when after her election as chairwoman, Bernardo announced the appointment of Langdon Chapman, an Orange County resident and Orange County lawyer, as attorney to the Ulster County Legislature, she was the only one clapping. Bernardo reasoned that Chapman is the most experienced lawyer around which didn’t sit well with the Ulster County Bar Association’s members who opposed the appointment of Chapman, also Senator Bonacic’s chief of staff. The appointment disturbed many seasoned politicos who know that you recruit future candidates by bringing them up through the ranks in positions such as counsel to the Legislature (i.e., young attorney who later becomes a candidate for judge). Strike one against Bernardo.
Not satisfied with getting this out-of-towner appointed to the $50,000 per year post, she requested that his paycheck be paid to Bonacic Krahulik Cuddeback McMahon & Brady, LLP, the Orange County law firm where Chapman works. Since payments of $50,000 or more require approval of the Legislature, Bernardo listed Chapman’s payment to the law firm at $49,750. This too-close-to-the-line figure didn’t fly with County Attorney Bea Havranek or the Bernardos’ buddy, Eliot Auerbach, our county comptroller who created the fiscal nightmare that nearly bankrupted the village of Ellenville during his tenure there, and they agreed that the contract must be approved by the entire Legislature on March 20th. Strike two against Bernardo.
The more recent and less publicized hiring of Sandy Mathes (Greene County resident) to fill a $28,000 per year part-time administrative position in the Legislative Clerk’s office vacated by a recently retired employee is the latest example of bad judgment by Bernardo. Mathes is the former Greene County IDA executive director called out by state comptroller Tom DiNapoli for exorbitant bonuses ($130,000 salary and $175,000 bonus). Mathes resigned the post last year. With unemployment in Ulster County hovering around 7.5 percent, we should find one of our own residents with the necessary skills for that job. Hard to believe the Ulster County Legislature passed by unanimous vote Resolution #141 (2009) in support of “buy local, hire local, use what we make.” Strike three against Bernardo.
I urge every citizen who thinks this is wrong to call the Legislature at (845) 340-3900, and tell the legislators that you are opposed to the Chapman appointment and hiring Mathes. Or send an email to [email protected] and just say – “No to Chapman and Mathes.” This must be done by March 19. Hire local, buy local, use what we make. We can thank our Legislature for this terrific piece of legislation. If only they followed it.
Robin Vaccai Yess
Highland
Deeper cuts should be made! The local taxpayer is drowning, our homes are worth less, jobs a scarce, raises are nonexistant. Isn’t it more important we provide our children safe & stable homes (free from the credit card and debt burned that creates stress and violance) with heat, hot water, food and love over the special interest school budget items that favor only select groups. Who is looking at redundancies in the system, cut backs to extracurilcular activities that can be privatly funded….. Who gets to decide my tax dollars shoudl fund a sports team and not a dance class?
Let’s not forget the entitlement programs the our dear, wise and honest legistalors promise just to help their election campaings, knowing full well they are unsustainable plocies that will become an unfair burden on the local tax payer and the very children they use as their excuse for doing so…..