Letter to the Editor: Resident Addresses Concerns Over Howe Caverns Casino

Dear Editor:

The non-profit Center for Sustainable Rural Communities does not oppose casino development nor does it oppose the siting of a casino in Schoharie County. While we would prefer the allocation of resources for the revitalization of Schoharie County’s downtowns and other projects that would better enhance the quality of life in our rural communities, we understand the critical need for job creation, the failure thus far of tourism initiatives and the plurality of support for a casino by County residents. That being said, we are concerned about both the viability and impacts of the Howe Caverns proposal and the choice of development partners.

While Howe Caverns representatives sound optimistic when they discuss their chances for approval, the reality is that other applicants may be more favorably positioned because of better vetted and funded partners, proximity to interstate rail lines, airports, existing infrastructure, lodging and other amenities. Additionally, Howe Caverns representatives persist in making inaccurate statements about completed environmental reviews (SEQRA) that purport to underscore the site’s “shovel ready” status but actually cast doubt on the developer’s understanding of the regulatory process and their truthfulness. In short, an environmental review can only be completed for a specific project whose phases, scope, footprint and operating conditions have been clearly defined in a documented site plan. That has not happened and a legitimate and defensible environmental review for a casino project has not been completed despite claims to the contrary by Howe Caverns. Repeating the false assertion that a potentially massive development project has gained environmental approval before it has been fully defined and reviewed does little to support Howe Cavern’s credibility or its chances of gaining a casino license.

Disclosures by Schoharie News that Howe Cavern’s partner in the proposed casino project has a record of financial irregularities, fines, association with a Ponzi scheme and sentencing for domestic violence does little to instill confidence in an application that must be scrutinized and approved by a State Gaming Commission which is highly sensitive to even the appearance of criminality, unethical behavior and/or financial shenanigans.

The recent knee-jerk vote by the Schoharie County Board of Supervisor’s to support a casino proposal without conducting a cultural and economic impact analysis and without full knowledge of the people involved is disheartening. Blog posts by County residents insisting that we should ignore the developer’s troubling history because we are desperate for jobs and a recent editorial in the Times-Journal that infers that the “OK” of a powerful local businessman trumps the disturbing reports of criminal activity, are also disheartening.

What is most disturbing is the potential for a County that has suffered through devastating natural disasters, protracted economic hardship and previous exploitation by unscrupulous developers may yet again face the emotional roller-coaster that comes with the belief in of a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow that does not exist. There is the potential that when the initial excitement of a proposed casino fades we will have a much clearer view of the hidden costs to a community of ill-conceived plans, false statements and questionable participants. We hope that in the end, the Gaming Commission, local officials and the public make the best decision possible.

Bob Nied

Board of Directors

Center for Sustainable Rural Communities

Letter to the Editor: Cherry Has No Interest in Administrator

Dear Editor,

My name has been mentioned several times in conjunction with the creation of a possible appointed County Administrator position in Schoharie County.  These references have been made in various print news articles, in two separate newspaper editorials over the past few weeks, and in several on-line postings.   Up until now I have remained silent regarding the subject.  It seemed premature for me to take a public stance on the issue, since the position does not presently exist in Schoharie County.  Given the reluctance of the majority of the Board of Supervisors, both past and present, to accept the fact that running a complex organization with an annual operating budget of $72 million requires full-time, day-to-day professional management in order to function properly, many of us have serious doubts about whether the position will ever be created.

However, since my name keeps getting published almost every time the issue gets raised, I guess it’s appropriate for me to clear the air once and for all.  I don’t want the job.  Let me say that again… I will not apply for, nor accept, an administrator position that serves at the pleasure of the Board of Supervisors.  Why would I ever surrender the independence and fiscal authority that the voters of this county have entrusted to me for the past 19 years in order to become an appointee of the Board of Supervisors?  Serving as a county-wide elected official has allowed me to independently manage and safeguard county finances, and to publically criticize the Board when I felt they were making a decision that would adversely impact taxpayer dollars.  If I had been serving at their pleasure, rather than at the pleasure of the 32,000 people of this county, the Board of Supervisors would have fired me long before now.  

I can understand why my name has been associated with the County Administrator position.  It is probably because there have been many times over the years where the Board has tapped me to take on a difficult project, or clean up a challenging situation, outside my role as County Treasurer.  I always felt that it was my duty to say yes, because if left unattended or uncorrected, the problem would likely cost the taxpayers even more money.  My college degree in Public Administration, along with my professional training and job experience qualifies me to hold the position of County Administrator.  But in this case, regarding that particular position, my answer has to be thanks, but no thanks.

In my mind there can be no doubt that Schoharie County government needs professional, day-to-day management.  But whether that goal can be achieved under someone who has to try to stay in the good graces of the Board of Supervisors in order to keep their job is a whole other story.  Perhaps the only way to truly achieve effective leadership at the county level will be to someday move toward the creation of an elected County Executive working side-by-side, and in conjunction with, with a County Legislature.  

Whether the Board eventually creates the position of appointed Administrator, and if so, who they hire to do that job, is as yet unknown.  One thing is certain however…  it won’t be me.  I have absolutely no intention of walking away from the commitment that I have made to serve the people of Schoharie County as their independent, straight-talking, County Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, until such time as they decide that I should do so.

Respectfully,

William Cherry,
Schoharie County Treasurer

Letter to the Editor: Officials Allowing Pipeline Endangers Residents

Dear Editor:

Constitution Pipeline is proposing to build a “contractor yard” along Route 7 in Richmondville on the former Sabta Farm, near Shirley’s Restaurant. Lancaster Development has signed a three year deal to lease the land to Constitution. The site would be the hub for heavy construction activity, the transportation of multi-ton steel pipe and the staging of equipment and construction activity. Constitution has announced that because of extensive shallow bedrock, large stretches of the pipeline route through Schoharie County will require blasting. The proposed contractor yard would likely serve as the storage and staging area for explosives and blasting materials. Constitution has identified the type of storage that will be used for those explosives but has not identified any security measures beyond warning signs.

The contractor yard and its associated heavy equipment activity will intersect the primary school bus route for the Cobleskill-Richmondville school district. The contractor yard will be less than a half mile from the high school and a little more than a mile from the elementary school.  Heavy trucks carry equipment and explosives will travel on the same roads and at the same time as our kids. That traffic will be just feet way from students who walk to school or run along the road for the track team. The danger to our kids is real and significant. Our organization notified the Cobleskill-Richmondville Board of Education on multiple occasions and they chose to do nothing to address these dangers.

Unlike Cobleskill-Richmondville School Board, the Schenevus School Board faced with a similar contractor yard less than a half mile from their school, took swift and immediate action. They wrote a formal comment to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and to Constitution Pipeline strongly opposing the location of the yard. Constitution, presumably at the urging of FERC, cancelled plans for the contractor yard in Schenevus.  Constitution also proposed to run the pipeline through the BOCES campus in Schoharie. BOCES also took swift and immediate action and submitted formal comments to FERC and sent representatives to a FERC public hearing to vocally and assertively oppose the route. Constitution, presumably at the urging of FERC, moved the route off of the BOCES campus.

Both the Schenevus School Board and BOCES acted decisively to protect the safety of the students for whom they have responsibility, the Cobleskill-Richmondville School Board, on the other hand, failed their students miserably.

The Town of Richmondville has zoning authority to approve the location and condition of the proposed contractor yard. Our organization submitted a 60 page document to the Town detailing a blatant conflict of interest on the part of a town official with voting authority on the contractor yard and other pipeline infrastructure. The family of that official received nearly $60,000 in payments from the pipeline company yet refuses to recuse himself and has advocated for fast track approval of a permit the company is not eligible to receive.  The New York State Attorney General’s Office called the situation “an absolute conflict of Interest” yet the Town of Richmondville has done nothing to address the situation.

If families of Schoharie County are placed in danger by the pipeline contractor yard and other pipeline related activity it won’t be because a dedicated, hardworking group of citizens didn’t do everything they could to stop it. It will be because many elected and appointed officials in Schoharie County from Town Boards to Planning Boards to School Boards are disengaged, timid, inept, corrupt or all of the above. That is the shameful reality of our County for which we constantly pay the price.

Bob Nied

Letter to the Editor: County Government in Crisis

Over the last several months much has been written  with regard to the administration and leadership of Schoharie County Government. And with good reason, based on the recent history of personnel scandals, fiscal mismanagement, and a general inability to work in a concerted effort. Our County appears to be in dire straights.

This past years lengthy and expensive investigation into possibly corruption coming from the Office of Personnel was enlightening if for nothing else than revealing just how dysfunctional our present government has become. As is typical in these matters, what we know as the general public is only the tip of the county government iceberg.

I foolishly thought that based on the election results of last fall with several incumbents not being re-elected and others winning by the narrowest of margins, the Board of Supervisors had been given a mandate to seriously consider how to provide better representation to the electorate. Alas, it was not to happen as at the eleventh hour a parliamentary move put an apparent end of what appeared to be a balanced study of alternative forms of government.

In a letter to the editor in the Times-Journal Supervisor Gene Milone made a very candid remark. Mr. Malone stated that on occasion he does not have the time to acquaint himself fully with all the issues which come before the Board for a vote. And from where I sit, I can fully relate with him. Supervisors, particularly those who are also committee chairs at the county level and represent relatively populated towns, have an incredible work burden in addition to their regular jobs they may hold. It is not an exaggeration to state that they have meetings four of five evenings a week in addition to their monthly marathon, the Full Board meeting.

Is it any wonder that the Board's effectiveness has waned in our highly over regulated State. It is interesting to note that of the fifty-seven counties outside of NYC, thirty-one use the appointed administrator/manager form of government, seventeen have and elected County Executive. While only nine counties continue to be managed by a legislative Board. Simply put, it's not the seventies any longer. Committees regardless of how effectively they are structured can not meet timely enough for today's fast paced and highly complicated decision making.

If this is our past and present, then what might be our future? Many ideas have been advanced over the years. One being a county legislature made up of any number of local districts. Surprisingly this system is used not only by the largest Counties within the State but some of the more moderately sized, with a significant amount agricultural base. We have also seen some local movement regarding the appointed County Administrator and to a lesser extent the elected County Manager forms of government. All have their respective pluses and minuses. Yet unfortunately due to the recent action or better said inaction of the Board of Supervisors we may never know what might best fit Schoharie County.

From a practical standpoint I don't envision the County Legislature concept ever moving forward as the Board lacks the political courage to essentially end their current way of life. While the elected County Executive is less of a blow as the Board remains intact, it means there would be a publicly elected official whom some may perceive as having greater authority (translation = power) than the Supervisors themselves. Again, a somewhat unlikely scenario.

This leaves an appointed County Administrator or Manager as the only viable political option. True, appointed by the Board, yet able to act independently in part by the protection afforded by his/her employment contract. This could allow the County to hire a fresh face, unscarred by local combat. Someone with a Master's Degree in Public Administration and having enough real world experience to lead a multi-million dollar service oriented company of some four-hundred plus employees, which is Schoharie  County.

Hopefully and perhaps ideally, gone would be the seemingly never ending sagas of questionable management practices at the great expense of tax payers hard earned dollars. I am hopeful that the County Board of Supervisors, particularly those taking office the result of the last election cycle, can convince their colleagues to reopen their study on alternatives forms of local government. And eventually exercise the political courage and visionary leadership skills the voters know you are capable of producing.

Brian DeFeo

Huntersland

Mr. DeFeo serves on the Middleburgh Town Board.

Letter to the Editor: Residents Need to Remain Vigilant on Pipeline

Dear Editor:

For almost two years residents of Schoharie County have faced the possibility that a large, high-pressure natural gas pipeline would cut through the heart of the County while landowners in its path would face the seizure of their property under eminent domain or be forced to settle for a small one-time payment in exchange for giving up control of their property to Constitution Pipeline Company forever. At the same time many read news stories about the terrible safety record of the very companies proposing to build the pipeline, with almost monthly reports of fires and explosions, all to facilitate the export of fracked gas to Canada and ultimately overseas.

To their credit, many area residents organized and resisted bullying by the pipeline company, while simultaneously, the NY State DEC and other agencies called the pipeline company’s proposal inadequate and potentially harmful to the environment.  As a result, the Constitution Pipeline approval process has been significantly delayed and the project may never be built.

But before beleaguered landowners could breathe a sigh of relief they now have a second pipeline proposal slashing through many of the same properties. It is clear Schoharie County is a target for exploitation by gas companies who think they can do what they want to rural communities and ultimately, build an infrastructure that will help them frack our farms, fields and backyards.

The only way to stop them is to refuse to allow them to survey, to refuse to sign your rights away. Constitution is in trouble because the residents of our region have said “no” in large numbers. So far Schoharie County has been stronger than the drillers and the pipeline companies. We need to continue to be strong and not allow the dangerous industrialization of our rural communities.

If you receive a letter from a pipeline company return it to them with a registered letter denying them permission to come on your property.  If they knock on your door, send them away without permission to survey. If, at any time, you are harassed, threatened, intimidated or trespassed upon by pipeline representatives call the Center for Sustainable Rural Communities toll-free Landowner Response Line at 1-800-795-1467 and we will stand with you and help you protect your rights.

For additional information visit the Stop the Pipeline web site: www.stopthepipeline.org and consider attending the Stop the Pipeline meetings held monthly in Oneonta.

Bob Nied

Board of Directors

Center for Sustainable Rural Communities

Letter to the Editor: Wu Questions Rville's Maranatha Priorities

"Richmondville officials are demanding that Stella McKenna tell them about plans to sell her closed Maranatha gym in Warnerville."

What gall they have, to "demand", that Maranatha be sold, when in fact, it was they who stopped the gym from being sold, open for business, and from all debts, both to the local government and all B2Bs, being paid in full. With that said, before all of the 'Good Ole Boys', as well as their rable-rouser cohorts, start claiming that I neither had the capital nor a business plan to bail the club out, please let it be known that the investment that I made purchasing fitness equipment in my Sharon Springs location is both more advanced, as well as more costly and greater in both quality and quantity than what was in Maranatha, and, that I also paid for all of it up-front, so there is zero debt. In addition, not only am I renting a commercial location in Sharon Springs, I have also been paying bills on a domicile in Cobleskill for the past year, as well as paying for a residence in Sharon Springs for my whole family since April, since, they are now managing the that location. Lastly, I recently had a code review on the Grand Union building in Middleburgh done by a well-known architect from the city, Jim Lagone, specifically, to open my second location, as I was denied the opportunity to open a club in the Maranatha building. At least in Middleburgh, the mayor of that village--who was the one who invited me to so--and the supervisor of that town, both have the foresight to provide something beneficial for all of their constituents.

Everyone in the county needs to watch Schopeg or access the Richmondville town board minutes for December. They spent 45 minutes discussing asking the state for a waiver of the recapture agreement for the $2.3 million dollar grant, which is the same EXACT waiver which I asked them to ask the state for in September, October, and November, to which they refused each time, even though the state told them many times to ask for it as well. In fact, the state became so exasperated with the whole situation, that they asked them to only write one sentence, and one sentence only: "Please waive the recapture clause of the grant agreement so that Da-lai Wu can invest in, and re-open, the Maranatha Fitness Center". Simple...no? However, they would not ask for said waiver, which, totally protects only them and their constituents, since, after receiving the waiver, the state can never come after them for any part of the $2.3 million dollars. So how do they say 'no'? 

Please be advised that now that the town has the waiver, the club's founder can sell the building and the property to anyone, and does not have to notify anyone about anything. The town's 'demand' can, and should be, ignored. So why did the town turn down the opportunity to have their water bill and audit fees paid, as well as the village's electricity bill? Why did they turn down free office space on the undeveloped second floor of the club's building, which they could have built to their specifications, preferring to assume that the state would give them a grant for their offices, which they were subsequently denied last month? How is it that they believed that the waiver that the state and I both asked them to ask for, was different from that which they themselves asked for and received in December, and after the business model was already totally untenable--not to mention the fact that without a plan, carte blanche with regards to selling the property became a reality?

I lived though this past winter here in Cobleskill, and there is not a lot of things to do besides hibernate, nor, many places to recreate, even though, our state taxes pay for a huge facility in Cobleskill. However, we cannot access the gym, pool, fitness center, nor indoor tennis courts, which is a standard perk at other institutions where they rent facilities to the community at large to earn revenue for their own in-house community, and by doing so, they make real money, hand-over-fist. So what is up with the mentality in these two towns? Why does no one want to receive additional revenue, no strings attached, and to have all arrears paid in full? Why does no one there wish to provide for their neighbors in the community? And why, do residents even allow this situation to occur? 

IMPO, it's time to act. It's time to put the pedal to the metal, and make these 'Good Ole Boys' in both towns, act responsibly, and for the benefit for all. What do you think???

Da-lai Wu

Letter to the Editor: Resident Cites Richmondville as Example of Corruption

Dear Editor:

Government corruption takes many forms, all of which harm people and communities. Most people recognize the most blatant examples of bribery, extortion and influence peddling. But low-level chronic corruption is often confused with the “way it has always been done” and not considered for the damage it does to our small rural communities.

The Schoharie County Town of Richmondville makes a perfect case study. Following the collapse of the $5.6 million dollar publically funded Maranatha Project, the Office of the State Comptroller placed much of the blame squarely on the shoulders of local officials who wasted no time in making excuses for their lack of due diligence.

Town Attorney, J.R. Parshall was quoted as saying “we did everything by the book.” Perhaps that would have been true if the book were about ineptness, unprofessionalism and the legendary good ol’ boy network that forms the fabric of Richmondville’s long and unsavory history.

In reality, three separate Town Supervisors starting with Betsy Bernocco, then the late John Barlow and eventually Dick Lape advocated for the highly flawed project while being warned of everything from shockingly unrealistic business plans, to unverifiable job creation claims to grossly inadequate environmental reviews. They all chose to ignore the warnings, failed to do their homework and looked the other way when informed of questionable relationships between the developer and public officials.

Internal emails and memos obtained under the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) paint a picture of poor oversight, improperly authorized payments, massive cost overruns and other irregularities. The Town’s own consultant felt compelled to warn them in an email about the legal implications of misusing public funds. Never daunted by hard facts or rational thought, Richmondville officials have taken cover behind the “aw shucks, we are just small town officials” ruse, pretending that they should not have been expected to pay attention to all the bad stuff going on.

Having public officials who are oblivious, inept or content with inappropriate conduct is, indeed, corruption.  

In August of 2013 while many residents of Richmondville and other communities were in a panic digesting the fact that they faced seizure of their property by Cabot Oil and its partners who intended to build a massive high-pressure gas pipeline through the region, an attorney for the non-profit Center for Sustainable Rural Communities sent the Town a letter informing them that one of their officials with voting authority to approve parts of the pipeline project had an “appearance of impropriety” and a potential conflict of interest related to the pipeline and was in violation of the Town’s own ethics laws. Supervisor Lape, the Town Attorney and the Councilmen all chose to do nothing.  In April of this year, the Center informed the Town of Richmondville, in writing, that the family of the public official had received more than $58,000 in payments from the pipeline company while the official continued to hold voting authority on parts of the pipeline project at both the Town and County level. To date, Supervisor Lape, the Town Attorney and the Councilman have once again done nothing despite 70 pages of documentation provided to the Town detailing the payments and the conflicts.

I suspect that if the pipeline is approved and local residents have to endure violations of their property rights, seriously diminished home values and the fear of living next to a pipeline built by a company far too familiar with fires and explosions, the Town will again shrug their shoulders, say “aw shucks” and insist they did everything by the book. In that case it would be true if the book were “The International Handbook on the Economics of Corruption” by Susan Rose-Ackerman.

Having public officials who ignore evidence of questionable conduct and value politics and cronyism over the safety, security and economic health of their constituents is still corruption. In fact, it could be argued that it is the worst kind of corruption, that silently persists as part of an entrenched culture that ultimately, harms the community just as much as bribery, extortion and influence peddling.

The decision to finally change this situation can be made by the voters who can write their own book about the power of democracy, perhaps titled “We No Longer Wish to Live with Corruption” or simply “Enough.”

Bob Nied

Center for Sustainable Rural Communities

Letter to the Editor: Federice Responds to "Unwilling to Act" Editorial

Editor's note: the original op-ed published on the Schoharie News Wednesday afternoon can be found here. We appreciate Mr. Federice's response and hope other Supervisors will in join the discussion as well, as debate is essential to our thriving democracy. 

Dear Editor, 

I find unfortunate your assertion that the Schoharie Board of Supervisors is unwilling to act.  The vote against a County Administrator you cite as an example was not on the agenda.  Supervisor Milone who brought up the subject was not asking for a vote at that time. He was asking when we could could continue the conversation.  Unfortunately, the discussion turned into a debate which frankly we were not prepared to have.

I voted against the Administrator with the comment during the role call vote that we need to continue this discussion.  We simply did not have all the facts yet to conduct a final vote on the subject.  More information such as salary, job description, expectations of an Administrator, qualifications, etc. need to be discussed with specificity. Perhaps, in my view, an Administrator may not be a good idea for Schoharie County but in all fairness the discussion has not covered all the points to make a final decision.     

Lastly, I take umbrage at your characterization of the monthly Board Meetings being a three ring circus. We frequently have disagreements and we can be passionate in arguing for what we think is best.  What is wrong with that?  Isn't that what our founding fathers had in mind in establishing a representative democracy?    

Bill Federice, Conesville Town Supervisor

Letter to the Editor: Resident Blasts Schumer on Fracking

Senator Chuck Schumer says fracking is good and there is widespread support for it. Congress just gave the green light to ship LNG overseas, and he's wasting no time getting the message out to the industry that Upstate NY is for sale.

Mr. Schumer, we want fracking about as much as we want skin rashes, nosebleeds, lung cancer, earthquakes, tap water you can light with a match and the greenhouse gas, methane.

Why is that over 210 municipalities have adopted legislation to ban fracking in NY State? Maybe it's because we've done our homework and seen the destruction this industry leaves in its wake.

New Yorkers will not be lured by the promise of jobs when it means sacrificing the health of our families and our homeland for the profit of a large corporation. What happened to the jobs that were promised by the rebuilding of our infrastructure, or green energy jobs that would restore a sustainable planet.

Annually, $52 Billion US tax dollars go to oil, gas and coal companies in Federal subsidies. Someone please wake up Senator Schumer, he's spending too much time in bed with the fossil fuelers.

Regards,

Deborah Krol

Letter to the Editor: Milone Urges County Administrator Approval

Dear Editor,

It has been five months since I introduced a Local Law calling for the appointment of a County Administrator, someone who would shoulder the responsibilities of a Chief Administrator working in conjunction with the County Board of Supervisors on a daily basis concerning the overall administration of county government. This is something our county has never had and is in desperate need of.  He or she would also become the go-to person on a daily basis pertaining to issues that affect not only the work force but, the general public as well.  This individual would appoint such office staff authorized by the board, take recommendations to the appropriate committee or to the Chairman of the Board, including recommendations to hire department head positions, work in conjunction with and coordinate activities of county department heads and the administration of all units of county government in order to most efficiently implement the directions of the Board of Supervisors.  He or she would have general supervision of all county departments and agencies, including supervision of purchasing and auditing functions, work with each department on the development of an annual plan (goals) for the most effective and efficient operation of county government, to aid the Board of Supervisors in evaluating proposals presented and make recommendations concerning such proposals, to serve as an adviser in developing policies and procedures, to initiate and oversee the collective bargaining process with organized employees and to serve as the Labor Relations Director to resolve grievances, to execute and approve contracts in the name of the county and be authorized to transfer funds within the adopted budget and to have such powers to perform other duties empowered by the Board of Supervisors.

This brief overview is what would be expected of this individual, creating something which has been missing in county government for a long time, that being accountability as well as someone watching the store on a daily basis which any successful business owner can appreciate.  The current state of our county government continues to leave a lot to be desired.  We have been without an IT Director for almost a year and a half, the Health Dept. still does not have a permanent director as well as the Personnel Dept.  Major contracts have been jeopardized by incompetence and we still have some individuals in place that were part of a conspiracy unveiled by the Fitzmaurice report.

It has been the philosophy of the Board of Supervisors for years that they, and only they, run the county, never willing to recognize that perhaps in many instances they were in over their heads on issues.  While it is not my intention to discredit my colleagues that I sit with at the County, because I appreciate and care about them all, I am willing to recognize that we are in need of help.  If that is not apparent then we become part of the problem and not part of the cure.  It remains my wish that the County Board and the general public take a serious look at the local law that was introduced.  Take a bold step forward in an attempt to remedy the issues which have plagued our county for years and if this concept proves successful we will have afforded our constituents the type of representation and government they well deserve.

Collectively we can stop county government from floundering on a daily basis.  We have an obligation to provide efficient and meaningful government.  Change never comes easy but if we can recognize change is necessary it becomes a lot more palatable. 

Gene Milone

Schoharie Supervisor

Letter to the Editor: "Rural Myth" That Lowes Was Pushed Out of Cobleskill

Dear Editor:

The Schoharie News recent op-ed piece discussing Schoharie County’s unemployment crisis was important and timely. By repeating a “rural myth,” however, the piece serves to mire the discussion in persistent misinformation. The Editor recounts the reoccurring notion that a Lowes Home Center was not built in Cobleskill because of “inaction and community tension.” Simply repeating something over and over again does not make it true. The unfounded Lowes legend is no exception. What is true is there is absolutely no documentation to support the claim that Lowes’ decision not to invest in a store in Cobleskill was anything other than a reasoned and careful decision made by an experienced corporation after a lengthy analysis of economic conditions and demographic data.

While people like former Cobleskill Supervisor Murray successfully spun the Lowes’s myth to help promote an unnecessary and absurdly expensive water and sewer expansion to Howes Caves and former Mayor Galasso leveraged the same myth as an excuse to attack the most basic of zoning protections, Lowes did not “leave” because of water or sewer issues or onerous zoning regulations. In fact, they didn’t leave at all. They were never here, only exploring one of many siting options in a manner that is consistent with its business model.

Lowes rejects potential sites far more than it finalizes them. For example, In 2011 Lowes decided against building in the populous community of Huntington Station, Long island after it had spent millions to acquire land. (See http://thehuntingtonian.com/2011/11/07/opinion-lowes-demographics-costs-etc/). They did so because they knew the store could not be sustained in even a densely populated location with a declining economy. When Lowes identifies a potentially profitable location it overcomes obstacles far more complex that a small town zoning regulations or the need for a commercial scale septic system. The reality is that building a large home store in an area like Schoharie County with a depressed economy, near zero home growth, high vacancy rates and below average median income (11% living below the poverty level) is not prudent. A visit to the often near empty Lowes store in Oneonta drives this point home. The population density of Oneonta is more than 2,000 people per square mile. The population density of Cobleskill is 110 people per square mile. For Lowes, investing in Cobleskill made absolutely no sense.

What also doesn’t make sense is the absolute lack of a County-wide economic development plan that is informed by sound policy or infused with even the slightest amount of energy and creativity. Schoharie County Economic Development Agency, in particular, continues to grasp at an outdated model that dreams of the large employer or big box store to solve the county’s employment problem, waits like a dejected lover for a manufacturing company to bring its operations back from China and buy the old Interknitting building or falls head over heels for a half-baked business plan and money grab for public funds, in the style of Maranatha.

Economic development in Schoharie County will only be successful when new approaches are embraced like the wide-spread expansion of high speed Internet access to fuel the growth of home-based, entrepreneurial business; non-traditional agricultural markets that benefit small farms, market gardens and boutique farm product production; proactive and aggressive searches within high-tech sectors for small startup business willing to locate in the County; and a serious push for tourism that incorporates progressive community planning, support for eco and agri-tourism and a real effort to resist the bland and off-putting landscape of fast food corridors like Route 7. Finally, the community must throw real energy behind addressing the relatively low number young people with college degrees (nearly 13% lower than the State average) and the uptick in dropout rates (almost 9%). Without an educated workforce we have little to offer.

Alternatively, we could all sit back and hope that Lowes or Home Deport will come to the rescue. If that is the choice, we should be prepared for a long wait and ever-growing unemployment. 

- Bob Nied

Letter to the Editor: Resident Questions County's Reversal on Casino

Dear Editor,

I was wondering what kind of pitch the representatives from Howe Caverns gave the supervisors for them to make a complete 360 and vote "yes" for a casino. They voted "no" just last month. 

Could it be that the main player in the game is Chris Tague? He wears many hats in Schoharie County. Mr. Tague is General Manager of Cobleskill Stone and also the representative and spokesman for Howe Caverns. Another hat he wears is for the Republican Party of Schoharie County. He is the Vice Chairman.

That concerns this taxpayer very much as the Republicans hold a majority on the board. It just might be a conflict of interest. I hate to say it, but it looks like the Good Ole Boys are at it again. 

Jerry Fiore

Letter to the Editor: Know the Facts About Self-Harm

Editors Note: Self-harm is a very real threat facing millions of people in this county and the facts and signs described in this letter by Ms. Weightman should be heeded by all friends and families concerned of their loved ones. 

Dear Editor,

March is National Self-Harm Awareness Month.  Self-harm (or self-injury)  is an all too common method used by some to manage their feelings, deal with stressors or anxiety, and/or  to help a person to bring himself/herself out of a state of feeling numb.  Self-harm can take many forms, but is always an unhealthy coping mechanism that can be replaced with new, safe skills and increased social supports.  Secrecy, shame, and guilt often accompany self- injury- leading people to suffer in silence and furthering a vicious cycle of continued self- harming behavior.  It is important to have accurate information about what self-injury is, to dispel myths, and to know what resources are available to treat the issue and support those trying to recover from a pattern of self-harming behavior.

Self-injury is defined as deliberate, repetitive, and non-lethal behaviors that are aimed at alleviating emotional pain or distress.  Self-harm can encompass a range of behaviors, including cutting oneself with a sharp or jagged object or tool, burning, scratching, head-banging, picking scabs or interfering with wound healing, punching self or objects, bruising oneself, or breaking bones.  Self-harming behavior often begins as a behavior that someone uses to regain  emotional control in their lives- allowing for a physical expression of the turmoil they feel inside , but can easily become  ritualistic, compulsive, and no longer within that individual’s control.  

But why would someone hurt themselves on purpose?  People who engage in self-injury do so for a variety of reasons. Many report feelings of loneliness, anxiety/fear, emptiness, detachment, anger, feelings of self-hatred or worthlessness, guilt, etc.  For some,  self-harming harming acts as a temporary reprieve from stress and anxiety they are experiencing.  For others who may struggle with feelings of emptiness, emotional detachment and numbness; the self-injury and pain lets them feel SOMETHING and reminds them that they are indeed alive.; the brain also releases endorphins –chemicals that are thought  to “soothe” people.   The relief, however, is temporary.  Feelings, stressors, conflicts come back, and so does the urge to self-harm. A self-destructive pattern often develops without intervention.

There are many myths and misconceptions about self-harm, so it is important to have the facts.  Taboos and misconceptions can get in the way of you or someone else getting the help they need.  Let’s explore some commonly held myths and discuss the facts.

Myth: People who self-harm are just trying to get attention-talking too much about it will just them make them do it more.

Fact: People who self-harm often do it in secret.  People carry an immense amount of fear, shame and guilt about the behavior.  Talking about it is the first step to that person feeling connected to someone else and opening the door to more healthy coping strategies.

Myth:  People who self-harm are trying to kill themselves.

Fact:  The majority of people who self-injure do NOT want to die.  They are trying to cope with their emotional pain.  In fact, for many it is the only way they have found to go on living.  However, self-injury is closely linked with depression and a higher risk of suicide, which is why it is so important to seek help.

Myth: A person has to be “crazy” or dangerous to cut or hurt himself/herself on purpose.

Fact:  Many people who self-harm suffer from depression, anxiety, and/or a history of trauma-just like millions of others in the general population.  Many have a history of sexual and/or physical abuse. A trigger, such as conflict, or remembering a traumatic event can lead a person to utilize self-harm as a way of coping with the feelings.  It is estimated that approximately 1% of the population engages   in self-injurious behavior. 

Myth: Only teenage girls cut- and they will grow out of it.

Fact:  Although the prevalence of females who self-harm is higher than in males, there are boys who engage in self-harm as a way of managing their feelings.  Self-harm often begins in puberty, but without treatment can persist into adulthood.

Self-injury can be hard to detect, but there are some signs, or “red flags” to look for if you are worried about someone you care about:

Unexplained cuts, bruises, scars-often on wrists, arms, thighs, or chest

Sharp objects or cutting instruments in a person’s belongings- such as razors, knives, tacks, or safety pins, needles, glass shards, etc.

Frequent “ accidents” used to explain away chronic injuries, cuts, or bruises

Covering up- insisting on wearing long-sleeved pants and shirts even in hot weather

Isolation and irritability, spending time alone for extended periods of time ( especially in bedroom or bathroom)

Frequent blood stains on clothing, towels, bedding, or blood-stained/soaked tissues

If you or someone you care about is struggling with self-harming behavior there are resources, supports, and professional treatment available.  Connecting with a support network and ending the secrecy that often accompanies this behavior can be a big step in regaining control over self-harm.    For more information visit:

National Institute of Mental Health

SAFE (Self Abuse Finally Ends) Alternatives

National Suicide Prevention Hotline

The help and support of a professional may also be needed while a person is working to overcome the cycle of self-injurious behavior.  A therapist can assist a person in identifying roots and triggers, communicating assertively, and managing emotions through healthy coping strategies.  Your local mental health clinic will have information on service providers and treatment options in your area.

Shannon Weightman, LCSW-R

Staff Social Worker

Schoharie County Mental Health Clinic

Letter to the Editor: Citizen Blasts Constitution's "Grants"

Dear Editor:

The people behind the Constitution Pipeline have been very busy applying enormous pressure to landowners along the proposed route, continuing to insist that the pipeline is inevitable and that giving up and giving in is better than fighting. They have been aggressive, telling residents that if they don’t give Constitution what they want, Constitution will simply take them to court and take their land. At the same time they are engaging in a public relations campaign to convince regulators and naive members of the public that they are just nice folks.

They recently doled out a new set of “grants” that included money to the Richmondville Emergency Squad, which took the money despite the many residents in their town who will face seizure of their land and who will live near a pipeline built by a company with a terrible safety record. They took the money despite being in a town that has passed a formal resolution opposing the pipeline. They took the money despite being in a community that has overwhelmingly spoken out against the pipeline.

So why is taking the money a bad thing?

By taking the money they are helping the pipeline get built and are helping to ensure that their neighbors will lose their land, their property values and their safety. By taking the money they help Constitution pretend that they are just out to help the community while they exploit it. By taking the money they help Constitution get approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

The Iroquois Museum also took the money. Despite insisting they are dedicated to highlighting the culture and history of Native peoples, they conveniently forgot that having land taken away is a terrible part of Native history. They don’t seem to care that patrons and neighbors of the Museum will lose their land to Constitution.  They also conveniently ignore the fact that not far from here the Onondaga Nation is waging a bitter battle against their own pipeline threat and helping activists in Schoharie County fight the very pipeline from whom the Museum has taken the money.  They have blindly cashed a check from Constitution to fund a museum dedicated to indigenous peoples while indigenous peoples around the world are actively fighting exploitation by the same gas and oil companies that are behind the Constitution Pipeline.

It is often said that everyone has a price and so it seems that some in our community indeed have a price. I am deeply proud of those who do not have a price and who have said no to the bullying tactics of the pipeline company and no to the sleazy efforts of that company to buy community support with payments that represent a ridiculously tiny fraction of their enormous profits.  I am deeply proud of those landowners who have stood up to protect the land of their parents and the land of their children. I am proud of every non-profit, fire company, emergency squad and struggling museum that has refused to sell out their neighbors.   I am also committed to fighting an arrogant pipeline company that thinks all it takes for a community to surrender is a few dollars in one hand and the threat of eminent domain in the other.

Bob Nied

Letter to the Editor: Gigandet Expresses Thanks, Gratitude for Board's Decision

Dear Editor,

I am writing to thank the Schoharie County Board of Supervisors which voted on Friday to return me to my position in the Health Department, one I lost in December of 2011. 

Gratitude goes to not only the Board Members present on Friday, many of whom have been tireless champions of truth and right, but also to the Clerks of the Board, department colleagues, other department employees and Directors, retired employees, community members, and dear friends who have been so supportive throughout this difficult journey. Also to www.theschoharienews.com for the unbiased and consistent reporting. 

As word spread in the building it was clear that this decision, which also returns my colleague to her job, was cause for celebration not just for us, but represented a very positive turn for many, many others.

I am looking forward to rejoining the team, sprinkled throughout the county and adjoining ones, that works to give us all resources to respond and recover from a variety of disasters.

    

Most Sincerely,

Eva Gigandet

(returning) Schoharie County Public Health Preparedness Coordinator

Letter to the Editor: Wu Sets Record Straight

Dear Editor,

In light of some online rabble-rouser’s absurd and untruthful comments, it is time for me to set the record straight regarding my involvement in the Maranatha Fitness Center (MFC). My willingness to invest in the MFC was offered with the specific intention of salvaging a recreation facility both needed and wanted by the community. All grant monies had already been spent almost a year before my awareness of MFC, much less my involvement, and my only intent was to move forward.

Every business has its model, including a health club. Records showed that the majority of MFC's revenue occurred from December through part of March, which is well within the industry's standard parameters. However, the drop-off in membership from May through September was so large and is so unique to this locale, that the limited revenue-producing time period specifically requires an abundance of success just to keep the business running without some exceptionally creative programming during the warmer months—which I was confident that I could provide. Additionally, to invest in a business which was running such a large deficit and with no working capital, required that the business model be altered to produce a greater percentage of return on the investment, including, equity ownership. With that said, in September 2013 I asked for two concessions from the Town and the Village of Richmondville in order to have a reasonable amount of time to get the business running again before having to cover all the arrears.

I first asked the Town to allow me to postpone a federally requested grant audit that cost $20,000 dollars, and which carried absolutely no penalty if not done. They agreed to give me a postponement opportunity, but wanted me to put $20,000 dollars in escrow, which is the same as not giving me a postponement. I also asked the Village of Richmondville's board to stretch out the electric bill payment of $31,000 dollars over three months, which they denied. Since neither the town nor the village was willing to make any concessions, under the health club model described above, in which the profits of the winter months must carry the business through the lack of activity in the summer months, the requirement of such a large initial payment after the winter term had already begun, made the investment untenable.

On top of that, the town’s delay in requesting a waiver from the state regarding the recapture of any funds related to the grant—the only way to have allowed me to obtain equity ownership—and which the state offered in late September, as well as numerous times in October and November, made it almost impossible to work within the business model and timetable required to make MFC successful. The need for a substantial infusion of capital then became way more than the business model's standard. By the time the town requested the waiver in mid-December, (which protects the taxpayers from having the state ask for any recapture of funds from the original grant) it was just too late in the season to get MFC’s doors open and viable.

The rabble-rousers who protested and focused on what was, and not what is, over these past couple of years—like they were Soviet citizens protesting the USA hockey team's win over their own team in Sochi, days after the game already ended—and especially, since those actions so severely affected the town officials' courage and their ability to move forward with what was necessary to allow the business model to flourish until after Election Day, has caused the facility to remain closed, and for all of the public debts to become solely the taxpayer's responsibility.

In my opinion, that is exactly why all in the community should ignore those who want to cry about what went wrong back in the day, and who refuse to make any efforts to find a way to currently make the situation better for everyone. They make a lot of noise which benefits no one, while this valuable community resource remains closed, and most likely, affected in a grossly negative manner by this year's intense weather conditions. The bottom line is that the facility could have easily been reopened, and everyone in the community would have had something healthy and enjoyable to occupy their time without having to hibernate in their homes due to all of the cold and snowy weather conditions which we are now experiencing.

Sincerely,

Da-lai Wu

Letter to the Editor: CARRT Encourages Family Activities in February

Dear Editor,

I am writing to you as a member of the Child At Risk Response Team (CARRT) of Schoharie County.  Over the past 10+ years, I have had the privilege and honor of working with this professional group of men and women who are passionately dedicated to the health and well-being of every Schoharie County child and adolescent.  We work together to prevent, investigate, and prosecute child maltreatment when it occurs here in our own community.

As a team we are celebrating February as the month to encourage Family Activities.  Given this long winter season, February is an opportune time to connect and bond with our close family members.  Consider cooking or baking together, going outside for some sledding or ice skating, rent a family friendly movie, pop the popcorn and snuggle together in the warmth of your TV room.  Spending time together making positive memories is a sure way to increase your family well-being and communication. 

I would like to extend personal appreciation to the numerous folks in our community who have invested in the creation of family friendly activities in our communities such as the Fox Creek Park Ice Skating, Middleburgh Ice Skating, SUNY Cobleskill’s Family Swim Hours, and many other opportunities!  Please consider posting your activities on CARRT’s Facebook Page and we would be happy to help you promote your family friendly activities.  We believe that supporting healthy family activities in our community is an important step in the prevention child abuse and neglect.

The CARRT’s Child Advocacy Center provides: (1) Centrally located services to prevent, intervene, investigate and prosecute as appropriate cases of child abuse and neglect; (2) A non-threatening, child-friendly setting where services can be coordinated; (3) Support for the child and non-offending family members and caregivers during a difficult time, Advocacy throughout investigation, court proceeding and aftercare; and (4) Community education.

Sincerely,

Jennifer M. Schultz, LMSW

CRCS School Social Worker

Middleburgh, NY

Letter to the Editor: Resident Invites Da-Lai Wu to Hold Maranatha Discussion

Dear Editor:

Da-Lai Wu is a businessman who asked for concessions from the Town of Richmondville and the State of New York in exchange for investing in the failed Maranatha Family Center.  Despite receiving concessions he has not come forward to invest in the facility or to pay any of its substantial debt.  Mr. Wu recently posted comments on the Schoharie News Facebook page in which he blamed critics of the facility for its failure and claimed that Maranatha was a positive thing for the community, despite millions in taxpayer monies that are now gone.

Mr. Wu’s statements point to what could be the saddest legacy of this failed facility – a failure to learn anything from its demise. Most of the community understands the Center closed after a year despite millions in grants, low interest loans and tax exemptions, but little more. Most people do not know that for more than four years red flags were raised about the projects planning, approval, funding and oversight. They also may not know that internal emails sent by those directly involved in the project called out financial irregularities, cast doubt on the honesty and accuracy of claims made by the developer and even warned about potential jail time for misusing public funds. Most area residents do not understand how many mistakes were made by local, County and State government agencies that repeatedly ignored poorly defined business plans, ever changing and unrealistic blueprints, unauthenticated claims of job creation and absurdly incomplete zoning and environmental reviews while the powers that be responded to intense pressure from influential politicians and fast tracked the ill-conceived project in hopes of a quick gold-shovel photo op.

Mr. Wu is inadvertently correct that the developer was not fully to blame. She, after all, just wanted to build a multi-million dollar facility with no real capital, no expertise to run it and little sense of responsibility to the community she thought should pay for it. The real culprits were those who helped her do it. With smoke screens like those thrown up by Mr. Wu we will never address the egregious failures that occurred at the Town, County and State Level.  Instead the millions lost will be swept under the carpet and written off at taxpayer expense and the real reasons why it all happened will never be addressed.

In response to Mr. Wu’s comments,  I have invited him to participate in a public discussion of the details of the Maranatha failure, including the project’s review and approval, allocation and accounting of funds and the various claims made to justify continued public funding as the project careened towards failure. I believe such a discussion is important to the community and would be eye opening, even to Mr. Wu, who is either joking or really believes that those who exposed the problems with Maranatha somehow caused them to not pay their bills and go bust.

If the taxpayers deserve anything for the money they invested in, and lost to, Maranatha it is the knowledge that such a blatant violation of the public trust and welfare will not happen again. To date Mr. Wu has not responded to my invitation.

Bob Nied