The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Letters & Comments

Letter to the Editor

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The Dunn Landfill has existed for almost 10 years next to the 1,000 student public school—what gives?

by Robert Welton, Rensselaer Environmental Coalition

Environmental injustice is alive and well in Rensselaer, NY. The city is a disadvantaged community based on the income levels of the residents.

The Dunn Construction and Demolition Landfill, owned and operated by the multi-billion dollar corporation Waste Connections takes debris from seven states with up to 100 trucks coming through the residential areas of the city on their way to dumping their debris in the landfill, which is only 200 feet from the school

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Letter to the Editor: Light Pollution

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Submitted by Susie Lair, Climate Smart Committee of East Nassau
Most people think of “pollution” as coming from fossil fuels causing excessive and harmful amounts of CO2 in our atmosphere. Or they may conjure up pictures of huge garage dumps or tainted water from dangerous chemicals. There is a kind of pollution we don’t often consider, and that is light pollution. Light pollution is the presence of any unwanted, inappropriate, or excessive artificial lighting

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Letter to the Editor

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Written and Submitted by Joyce Davis
I am writing today to inform you and your readers about a bill that has been proposed in Congress. If passed, the deceptive and shoddily concocted Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) Act (H.R.4417/S.2019) could hurt animals, farmers, American consumers, and the environment in vast and unimaginable ways. According to a recent report from Harvard Law School, the “EATS Act could affect everything from commercial fishing regulations to the slaughter of horses, creating cascading effects far beyond” the issues it purportedly seeks to address. It is critical that New Yorkers come together in opposition to this bill.

The EATS Act, which seeks to block state and local governments from passing their own laws and regulations governing the sale of “agricultural products,” is being sold as a way to help farmers by sparing them from excessive regulation. In reality, the EATS Act will only benefit and further the interests of the hyper-consolidated, multibillion-dollar factory farm industry. [Read more…] about Letter to the Editor

Letter To The Editor

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In Support Of The HFCS Capital Project

It is important to remember that on Tuesday October 17th, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., you can cast your vote to support your public school’s capital project.
The Hoosick Falls Central School has been blessed with public support throughout its history. This is an opportunity to restore the building, addressing all of its current needs at bare minimum expense to us, the taxpayers of Hoosick.
Support your community, the students and the staff. Show your pride in a district that is achieving high standards, and in our beautiful 57 year old facility.
All details and ongoing Community presentations can be found on the school website:www.hoosickfallscsd.org. Or call the district office at 518-686-7012.
Sincerely,
David Sutton
Hoosick Town Council

Letters To The Editor

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Let’s Restore The Cupola!
To The Editor:
Upon reading the July 21 article on the New Lebanon town board meeting, I must give some input on the subject of the Union Free School cupola. First of all, what a fitting title to the article “Cupola to be saved ….. One of these days.” How often I’ve seen the wheels spin on such projects. Like the beautiful Dutch Reformed Church in Nassau. Years ago that was put on the back burner for so long as people haggled over its demise that eventually, it had to be put out of its misery and be destroyed, leaving a blank space in its fine history.
My wife and I took a ride down to the location of the cupola and were surprised at its condition after being perched atop the school for so long. I stood scratching my head and tried to see how one would spend $40,000 to $80,000 to bring it back to life. I submitted a proposal to restore the cupola to satisfactory condition for a fraction of the low price of $40,000 to Councilman Baumli. He did acknowledge receipt of this bid at the beginning of the meeting, which was much appreciated. This bid also included moving the cupola in three pieces to my shop to begin work on it after removal of the very heavy slate roof to be reinstalled after the restored cupola is positioned on a suitable base somewhere in the town. I thought what a great addition to the Town’s coming anniversary year!
Soon after the short discussion on the cupola, they went back to discussing amendment after amendment on laws already on the books.
So much time spent regulating signs that local business people use to bring income into their businesses as well as making the town more appealing to new businesses. Of course, there should be regs of some sort, but a cute plywood cup of coffee advertising a local cafe was far from non-appealing to the eye. Everyone I have spoken to about it has expressed the same feelings about its loss on Route 20/22. Signs are the one least expensive way to advertise a business and let people know what is available in the establishment. And the hours and hours of time spent “regulating” the installation of solar panels on residential housing when we all know that solar power will soon become as prevalent as electricity as a utility and not nearly as ugly as the time worn poles and miles of wire strung up and down our main street. Let the CEO make the decision when someone comes in to inquire about setting up a solar array for their use to cut down on utility bills and also save our environment. These solar regulations are so confusing that even the people on the committee seem confused when discussing it at meetings. And all these regulations seem to do is grow the already huge legal fee budget over the amount allowed and now move another $25,000 to help with the drafting of even more rules and regulation in this town. By the way, this figure is still much higher than the proposal I made on repairing the cupola to satisfactory condition. At the high end of cupola restoration of $80,000 for a historic restoration, does this mean the materials used would be of historic value as opposed to store bought lumber and nails? Just where did Supervisor Teal get these figures!? Shouldn’t we the citizens know that? Last I was taught was that a government is “by the people, for the people.”
So many questions and so little time. I will keep a close eye on the future of the fine cupola and am wondering if an inexpensive tarp could protect it until a decision is made.
Timothy Laraway
Route 20, New Lebanon