Email for For March to August, 2006
August 26 Great Sacandaga And Albany
August 11 The Thruway Is The Problem
August 5 Suburbia Commits Suicide
July 17 Triathletes In The Pine Bush
July 8 Suburbanizing Albany
June 8 Upscale In The South End
May 21 Albany’s Corrupt
Planning Board
May14 The Human Dumping Issue
May 6 Buldozers Attack
The Pine Bush Preserve
April 10 Showing The Kids Which Way To Go
March 26 Where The Dump Grows
March 5 An Unprovoked Attack By The Corporate Media
Previous Emails
August 26 Great Sacandaga And Albany
Mr. Van Riper --
Thanks for calling my attention to your excellent post on Great Sacandaga
Lake. In a future BBAC Newsletter, I'll give our members a link to it.
Do you receive copies of our newsletter? If not, I'd be happy to add
you to our mailing list.
It's a disgrace that this beautiful lake is under the thumb of a bunch
of political hacks. After stirring up a hornet's nest of angry property
owners -- with an election only two months off -- they are now hunkering
down and trying to maintain a low profile during the transition to a
new governor. I hope he gives them the boot.
Mr. Spitzer and about 20 other elected officials and agency heads are
on the mailing list for the BBAC Newsletter. He has ignored requests
from our members that he 1) spell out how he would deal with the Regulating
District, and 2) send someone from his staff as an observer at the District's
rule-revision meetings.
Pete VanAvery
Batchellorville Bridge Action Committee (BBAC)
August 11 The Thruway Is The Problem
Hi Dan! :
Mucho thanx for those strong notes supporting my views on what the
Thru-Way Authority and NYSDOT are doing wrong and what they can do to
make amends and more.
It's extremely doubtful that they'll do anything unless a lot of people
and groups get on their cases. They have all kinds of facts and statistics
which they are all too glad to twist and pervert in favor of leading
the lemming parade. You are absolutely right, even though they came across
royally with the Hikers Underpass, this latest request is doubtless too
much without a thorough staff turnover, especially in the upper descision
and policy making echelons.
It's too bad. They never noticed that the church where they held their
hearing ( I think it was, actually in 2005 ) is named " Hagia Sophia " which
has long been wrongly Englished as "Saint Sophia.” It really
means Holy Wisdom. Look it up in any lexicon or in any history of Byzantium/
Constantinople, or any account of Constantine and Theodora. Without wisdom,
facts information and knowledge are subject to be twisted, perverted
and misused. I had thought of noting this at the hearing, but I had spoken
long enough already, and it probably would been just Greek to them anyway.
What I wrote in the Gazette article was actually about the same as my
comments at that hearing. So I didn't get these notions from Al Gore's
movie which I haven't seen yet, but certainly want to. By the way thanx
for correcting carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide. I sent that correction
in to the Gazette but don't know if they printed it yet.
John Wolcott
-------------------------
In case anybody is wondering, John is referring to the hiker’s
underpass, which can be seen from a speeding vehicle on the Thruway.
It is located under the north side of the Route 155 overpass, located
west of Exit 24. The idea is to allow hikers to walk from Rensselaer
Lake to the western part of the Pine Bush without crossing a major
highway.
The hiker’s underpass is there solely because John did it. He
bugged the right people at the right time and convinced them that it
was in their best interests to provide this trail connection. John has
done a lot of little things like that over the years 1) for which he
receives no credit, 2) for which others take credit, and 3) for which
he does not care to receive credit, only rejoicing in that the necessary
things have gotten done.
August 5 Suburbia Commits Suicide
Hi Dan,
Your August 5th posting, "Suburbia Commits Suicide
- Luther Forest will destroy Saratoga County" was interesting but
- please don't take offense - it contains some very serious factual errors.
There are good reasons, though, for your making those errors. The
folks behind the chip fab plant's development on this site with don't
want the truth to come out and have been very careful to keep it
hidden.
If you recall, a few years ago they first tried to get Semitech to
locate here. Being unsuccessful in that effort, it now seems they've
had better luck in luring AMD to Malta. Perhaps the inviting bait,
dangling a billion tax payers' dollars before AMD's execs, is what
sealed the deal this time around.
I am familiar with this site. My sister lives nearby and a friend's
back yard borders the subject land. In fact, it was from this friend
that I first learned about the problems of the proposed site.
"Why, you might ask, are they not building their plant on vacant
General Electric land in Schenectady, or some other burnt out industrial
landscape? Why on pristine land?"
Although the land may appear to be 'pristine' as you state in your
article, it is far from being that.
It is in fact a known Superfund site.
It is well known to immediate area residents as being polluted with
dangerous toxins. It is cordoned off and posted, warning all not
to enter.
This land, at least part of it, was an old military research facility
complex where NASA, GE, and others over the years tested rocket fuel,
among other things, and carelessly disposed waste chemicals. GE always "brings
good things to life" before their chemicals kill sundry lifeforms.
Please see: http://www.epa.gov/region02/superfund/npl/0202084c.pdf
Another omission from your article and from almost all press related
to the chip fab plant is the enormous quantity of water a chip fab
plant requires.
Millions of gallons of water is needed daily to quench the chip plant's
thirst.
I only heard one brief mention of the plant's water demands by WTEN's
John McLoughlin perhaps a month or so ago. There was also this August
5, 2006 TU article, too: "County leader douses pipe plan" by
Brian Nearing. I've pasted it below, as it is no longer available free
online.
Here's the TU article:
The next link is to a toxics release inventory map of the area. Malta
is Exit 12 on the Northway. Please note that this map does not list all
of the area's known "Hot spots". The second link below will
reveal one of the sites to be a Lockheed Martin Defense Systems site
and the other the Rocket fuel site.
http://www.toxicstargeting.com/toxicmaps/saratoga/malta_t.htm
http://134.67.99.122/enviro/emef.asp
This is an enlarged map of the area. If you have a problem with this
link, please try this, its start page:
http://134.67.99.122/enviro/emef.asp?xl=-73.987571&yt=43.070332&xr=-73.746436&yb=42.921015
The next link is to Saratoga Economic Development Corporation's site
plan for the proposed technology park:
http://www.saratogaedc.com/lutherforesttechnology.html
Here's a link to an artist's rendering pdf map of the site:
http://www.stillwaterny.org/Town/LutherForest/MasterPlan_LutherForestTechPark.pdf
Lastly, I thought I'd mention the natural gas demands of the plant.
It will require an unending 10,500 cfh. 10,500 cubic feet of gas per
hour. I don't suppose that this will impact us though. (sarcasm inferred)
A quarter million cubic feet of natural gas daily certainly won't cut
into the supply and cause residential consumers price to increase,
will it? (nearly 100 million cubic feet of gas a year diverted to supply
this one manufacturer.)
So, a few questions remain to be answered.
Where will the enormous quantity of water necessary come from? The
Hudson? Nearby Saratoga or Round lakes?
Will the water be treated and cleansed of the toxins it acquires from
the chip manufacturing process, before being returned to the underlying
aquifer or river?
So, while the politicos all rave about the many jobs AMD's plant will
create, their real gift to Saratoga County will be a certain increase
in residents taxes for many years to come and an increase in their
water and natural gas costs.
I have no idea what the electrical demands of this plant will be, but
I'm sure they too, will be enormous.
Perhaps you'll remember the problems the developer of Luther Forest
had providing water to homeowners several years ago - their wells ran
dry continually.
Jim Travers
Well, Jim, now that you have demonstrated that the site is a toxic waste
dump, it should be interesting to see if they are still eligible for
485B tax subsidies.
It was only much later after posting the article that I realized that
I had not mentioned that the subsidies for AMD without 485B amounted
to 1.2 BILLION DOLLARS. And AMD has no responsibilities, no financial
or legal penalties if they fail to keep their promises.
If that doesn’t prove that our corporate socialist elected officials
are hopelessly corrupt and ought to all be thrown in prison for the rest
of their lives, then nothing will.
July 17 Triathletes In The Pine Bush
Congrats to TW... She is indeed a role model for the Slow Fat Unathletes
of Albany. Hope she feels better soon -- there's nothing quite like suffering
from a sinus infection during a 90-degree heat wave.
Catherine E. Kirkland
---------------------
Catherine was one of the participants, also inspired by Jayne Williams.
I made sure that TW (The Wife, in case folks were wondering) got your
message and she returns the compliment.
------------------------------------------
Hey, that's awesome! I assume that The Wife was Lynne... I'm sorry her
sinuses acted up again but I was glad to see her at the race. Good job
supporting her!
-jw, sft
(Jayne Williams, Slow Fat
Triathlete)
July 8 Suburbanizing Albany
Hey Dan,
Another great post on your blog!
I have a bit of an off topic question for you. You mentioned that you
get your health care cheaper and with more benefits than what the chamber
offers. I’m actually shopping around for insurance and was wondering
what you’re using?
Take care,
Perry Woodin
Sheesh. The things people pick up on. You really want to know? I sent
away for this home surgery kit and I’ve been practicing on the
cats. We’ve pretty much run out of housepets, but I think I’m
ready the next time The Wife gets a sinus infection.
---------------------
I just wanted to privately and confidentially take issue with your "romanticizing" Eva
Joseph.
She was the instructional "leader" for seven years before
she became the superintendent and she is responsible for the lack of
educational responsiveness and effectiveness in our public schools. She
held the school board "hostage" to get the job and this fear
based decision resulted in a betrayal of public trust by abandoning a
public commitment to a national search. The fraudulent school violence
incidents report coupled with the misrepresentation of high school regents
results should be enough to see that there is a serious integrity issue
with her administration.
Our son is a junior at Albany High and when the high achieving kids
(mostly White) are expected to take the regents in January and then again
in June (we refused to participate in the fraud.) It becomes transparent.
to some of us that under her "leadership" there has been an
undermining of what little confidence is left in our school district.
Even though she has brought the National Urban School Alliance in as
a resource, it is window dressing because she fundamentally refuses to
see and alter a de facto segregated school system that is inherently
racist and elitist. Eva Joseph certainly is within the comfort zone of
most White folks for whom the schools may be working because many of
their honors' kids get a private education in the public schools. But
in a school district where approximately 70% of its students are Black,
this is a travesty and educational tragedy for far too many young people.
Her proposal to close Livingston Middle School with no thought to the
possibilities of reopening it as a newly designed school that is committed
to making education work for the community who sends there children there,
is just another example of "not getting it."
The persistent use of charter schools as her "whipping board" for
school budget problems without acknowledging why nearly 1,200 Black families
are choosing them is another example. Granted there should be funding
relief for public schools impacted by charter schools but at what point
do White folks begin to realize the exodus of Black children to charter
schools is a quest that represents a refusal to no longer "defer
the dream."
I could go on but as someone who has worked in the Albany Public Schools,
lived in Albany since 1987 and whose son has attended the public schools
since kindergarten, I am in hopes that what I have shared, at the very
least, gives you pause to see that the Eva Joseph picture has a history,
and from my perspective is intricately woven into why the schools are
failing our young people. The Class of 2006 had 334 graduates from Albany
High in June from a class that was nearly 900 when it started!
No coincidence that I can hear Aretha Franklin's "Think" playing
from my son's room. "Think about it!" Thanks for your web blog,
postings and the opportunity for exchange it presents.
Name Witheld By Request
I’ll have to say that your letter has made me do a lot of thinking
about our public schools and about Eva Joseph. To tell you the truth
I’ve been stunned to learn how deeply resented she is by the Black
community. I confess that I don’t really understand it. At some
point in the future I’ll be writing about her and the public schools...
when I get a handle on it.
Meanwhile, it is clear as crystal water that so-called “charter” schools
are not the answer. Study after study has shown that “charter” schools
perform consistently worse than even the lousiest public schools. The
reason is not hard to see. All public schools, even the most dysfunctional,
are accountable to the public. “Charter” schools are accountable
to nothing except the bottom line. The kids attend these scam operations
to funnel tax dollars into dirty pockets, and for no other reason.
But your point is that folks are so fed up that they are allowing themselves
to fall for the false promises of “charter” schools. This
is sort of like curing pnuemonia by jumping in front of a train, but
desperation will make you do that.
June 8 Upscale In The South End
Dan,
You blast the suburbs in no uncertain terms.
Gregg Bell
---------------------
Who, me?
May
21 Albany's Corrupt
Planning Board
-I only received a couple of emails on this article. However, it has
had quite an impact. I’ve had dozens of people come up to me and
express amazement at how the Planning Board operates. Hopefully this
will result in some much needed reform.
------------------------------------------
Dan-
Shawn [Albany Common Council President Shawn Morris] and I are looking
into developing some legislation that will change the way the Planning
Board operates.
Funny, I haven't gotten a call back from the Planning Dept. yet with
a list of the conditions on the site plan for 41 Holland Avenue. I will
have to stop by there, maybe tomorrow.
Cathy Fahey
Albany Common Council
7th Ward
---------------------
Thanks for your work, Cathy. It’s good to know that some of our
elected officials in Albany are working for the citizens and taxpayers,
and not spending their time making sleazy suburbanites rich.
------------------------------------------
Dan-
I think we have met on the Internet, I am Len Morgenbesser PhD, from
Ward 14, good friend of Hon Dominick Calsolaro.
A friend of mine is having problems accessing your site. I want to
share with him your insightful perspective on the Albany Planning Board,
the experience of "The Wife" etc.
Are you able to send me via email this piece on the Planning Board.
Thanks, Dan
Len
---------------------
Thanks for passing along the article to others. Actually, Lenny, we’ve
known each other for years in person. I hope that someday soon you get
a chance to connect the real world me with the virtual me.
For anyone who doesn’t know, Lenny is trying singlehandedly to
end gun violence in Albany. he refuses to give up, and every public official,
neighborhood activist and purveyors of information in the City are familiar
with him. I expect to be writing about him and the gun issue some time
soon.
May14 The Human Dumping Issue
Dan
Thank you for publishing my reply. I think.
Tom McPheeters
------------------------------------------
Unfortunately, Dan, things in e-mails are probably misunderstood far
more than telephone conversation, let alone face-to-face. I think someone
has done studies to that effect. I believe that's why they invented the
smileyface and other symbols- to suggest the nuance that the medium otherwise
lacks.
I know your heart, and I know what you meant.
Roger Owen
---------------------
Well, that’s why I write this blog, so that I can be understood.
If you can catch a glimpse of my heart, then so much the better.
------------------------------------------
Dear Mr. Van Riper,
My name is Kimberly Wingfield, and I'm a fairly recent addition to Albany
(moved here last summer,) and I thoroughly enjoy your blog, which I stumbled
upon a few months ago. Your most recent post about the "human dumping
problem" in the South End, however, was one that really got me thinking,
and prompted me to do a little research as well.
You see, when I was growing up, I had nearly no experience w/homeless
people. As an adult, I moved to a borderline-shady area of Utica where
homeless people were fairly common. It was pretty common knowledge in
Utica that almost all of their homeless population was either foreign-born,
from NYC, or had been released during a purge of local mental institutions.
(Brilliant urban planning, that!) I knew that shipping homeless people
to Upstate cities was something that NYC was wont to do, but the problem
of the suburbs shipping their indigents off to the nearest urban center
never really occurred to me, and your article was definitely an eye-opener!
I got around to thinking about that particular point, and looked up
the NYS sex offender registry, as it seemed to be the most reliable sample
of a criminal population that I could readily get my hands on. (I realize
that this doesn't necessarily directly address the issue of homelessness,
but it does address the issue of human exiles to Albany and other places.)
If you'll pull up almost any ZIP code in Albany, (or for that matter,
other Upstate NY cities,) you'll notice that a huge chunk of the offenders
were arrested in either the suburbs or the exurban areas of Albany, and
unsurprisingly, another huge chunk were arrested and charged in NYC courts.
In addition, a fairly large handful of others have out-of-state convictions.
Just thought I'd pass along some potentially useful information, and
a bit of encouragement to keep fighting the good fight!
Sincerely,
Kim Wingfield
---------------------
Thanks, Kim. I know a fellow who is a long time mental health professional,
a guy who deals with schizophrenics. A few years ago he transferred to
downtown Schenectady from CDPC in Albany. During a visit to his home,
he stunned me by saying, “Schenectady is a terrible place, full
of mentally ill people and criminals. There must be something about the
place that attracts these people. No wonder no one wants to live there.”
After I got through sputtering all over his living room, I explained
to him as gently as I could manage that maybe just maybe “these
people” had “taken over” downtown Schenectady because
of public policy. He was bemused by the notion, but then he started to
realize that there really wasn’t any other rational reason for
this situation. “Hmm,” he said, “I’ll give that
some thought.” Thank goodness.
------------------------------------------
Dan:
“It is unfortunate that Lucille Mcknight, who served for many
years as chair of the Albany County Legislature's Social Services Committee,
continues to focus on this issue rather than the causes of homelessness.” (Tom
McPheeters, from his letter to albanyweblog.)
Well, I am shocked to read what Tom has stated about my non-focus on
root causes of homelessness in Albany County. I am a former employee
of the Albany County Mobile Crisis Unit and worked at the Travelers Aid
Office when it was located at Albany Housing Authority, 200 Green Street,
this was before Tom McPheeters moved to Albany City/County.
I worked as A Mental Health Case Manager, assigned to stabilize the
lives of homeless mentally ill people. My unit was created after the
Albany Police Officers shot Jessie Davis, a Black MH Client who lived
on Clinton Ave. in 1984. I stayed in this job with Albany County Mental
Health until I ran for Office in 1991. I worked very hard in my position
and still have a lot of empathy for the homeless population.
I feel that everyone deserves a decent living environment and each county
in New York State must provide for the indigent, sick, frail and the
most needy of our society. As the Albany County Commissioner of the Capital
District Regional Planning Commission, I recently voted to support and
participate in the Albany County Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness. I
recommended Citizens like Tom, the Markovics, John Miller and numerous
others to serve on this first of a kind, homeless initiative in this
region.
A few years back I met with the folks in the Lutheran Focus Church group
about this issue and I made it crystal clear that homelessness is a regional
problem and this is why CDRPC is involved. Now, Rensselaer County has
started a plan similar to Albany's. I am hopeful that we all can get
a better understanding of this very complex issue.
It is so true that I have openly stated "that the South-End is
oversaturated with homelessness and social service agencies". While
working with the Centralized Emergency Shelter Intake System (CESIS)
in the early 90's, it was common knowledge that many surrounding areas
would purchase a Greyhound ticket and send their homeless to the South-End.
This certainly places a heavy economical burden not only on the South-End
Community but on all the tax payers in Albany County.
I recall expanding the shelter system to open a large Marillac facility
on Washington Ave. Extension just for families while I was Chair,of DSS.
Tom should study some of my great work as Legislator for the Second District
before he speak ill of my performance. I invite him to visit my Legislative
Chambers in Albany County Courthouse and make a statement like this in
the presence of my colleagues. They all hold me in high regard and truly
respect my leadership.
Respectfully submitted
Lucille M. McKnight
Albany County Legislator
May 6 Buldozers Attack The Pine Bush Preserve
For the record, it took me 20 minutes to get from downtown back to the
Discovery Center.
Chris Hawver
Executive Director
Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission
------------------------------------------
Hey Dan...great story! congrats to Lynne! I am in Florida for a few
days, back tonight, I am visiting with my folks. I told my mom a little
history on our dump issues...she's ready to come up and help protest....I
told her not to get arrested though, she thinks her AARP card gives her
super-human powers! haha...
Sandey LeVan
------------------------------------------
You are a very FUNNY guy--a little rude maybe-- but very FUNNY. And,
of course, you have the right politics as far as I am concerned. But
you better lay off the comments about the wife's posterior. I would not
stand for it and I hope she doesn't either! Your articles are "must
reads" for my 17 and 20 year old kids.
Cathy Fahey
Albany Common Council
7th Ward
---------------------
Sigh.
Perhaps I should have noted that it was The Wife herself that was going
around making comments about her rump appearing on the front page of
the Hearst Rag. That same weekend her butt also appeared on page 10 of
the Sunday Gazette, this time on a bicycle. “Someday, I hope they
show my face,” said she.
Also, note these emails that I received:
I saw Lynne's now-famous behind early this morning. Looked really good!
-Barbara Quint
I saw that heroic butt and was horrified... not by the butt of course,
but
by the destruction. -Louise McNeilly
---------------------
So Cathy, I’m sorry to hear that your 17 and 20 year old sons
were so overwhelmed by the mention of The Wife’s butt that they
both ran away to Clifton Park and are now smoking crack . I take full
responsibility for ruining their lives. No one should end up in Clifton
Park.
April 10 Showing The Kids Which Way To Go
The article was great and it's good to hear other peoples views on the
show, clearly through all the mistakes and mess-ups, you got the message!
and that's what I always hope for.
Thanks
Latasha Mcbride
...And I got a kick out of your wife winning the raffle -
I thought it was cute.
Tasha
------------------------------------------
Dan -
I thought you might like to know I linked to your entry on our new Albany
PTA blog.
See http://blogs.timesunion.com/albanypta/?p=11
Thanks.
Mark Mishler
Albany PTA
Thanks Mark! That sure makes me feel legitimate.
March 26 Where The Dump Grows
“Indeed, there is a widespread perception that she has exchanged
support for The Mayor and his projects for a visible central role in
the South End Revitalization Plan".
I don't usually engage in this type of banter, but I must defend my
honor and integrity. There has been no exchange of my soul and conscious
for a position on the South End Action Committee. For those who have
been hiding under a rock or in the Pine Bush, I have been intimately
involved with the South End planning process for several years. Ask me
and I will tell you my concerns and opinions. Don't assume you know what
I am thiniking or how I will vote on any topic.
Carolyn McLaughlin
Albany Common Council, 2nd Ward
-----------------------
The key words in the quotation that you selected, Carolyn, are “widespread
perception.” People talk, I report what they are saying.
I’ve been reluctant to agree with the widespread perception about
how you align yourself with the Mayor. But lately, I have to admit that
reluctance has been fading. How else to explain your senseless support
for the unwanted Walgreens on HollandMorton Avenue, which will adversely
affect nearby businesses which employ some of your constituents?
March 5 An Unprovoked Attack By The Corporate Media
Dan,
This is the letter that I spoke to you about earlier this evening that
I have been meaning to send you in reply to your 3-5-06 post 'An Unprovoked
Attack ...'. It is from the blog site deconsumption and I've pasted
below a bit from their's of March 7th, which I happened to read immediately
after I read yours.
So there might be something to the saying 'there are no coincidences'
after all.
Bill Herbst is an astrologer.
decomsumption's author was impressed after he found the following on
Herbst's site and I it found especially interesting, having just finished
reading what you had to say about your experience with Ch 13' blinding
you, but reporting that you were 'hiding' from the camera.
I've included a link to decomsumption below. What Herbst has to about
our near future is more frightening and can be found there. Whether
or not one believes in astrology, I feel he's right on target.
Herbst's words:
"I have written before, in earlier essays and in different contexts,
that the great triumph of 20th-century psychology occurred not in the
therapeutic fields of mental health and individual well-being, but in
the nitty-gritty industrial psychology of mass manipulation and group
mind-control. For all its sophistication and theories, psychotherapy
has been largely a failed experiment, whereas the more mundane and crude
commercial inducements of marketing and advertising have been a phenomenal
success—-not merely to sell products, but to sell ideas and shape
opinion in the public mind. Psychology discovered that effectively manipulating
individual human beings is difficult, but manipulating masses of human
beings is easy, almost child’s play."
http://deconsumption.typepad.com/deconsumption/2006/03/the_latest_from.html
Jim Travers
----------------------
Well, Jim, I think astrology is a bunch of horse diarhea. I acknowledge
exactly three celestial bodies that have an effect on my life: the Earth,
the Sun and the Moon. (Okay, there was that celestial body with the short
tight skirt I saw walking down Lark Street the other night, make it four.)
My favorite way to demonstrate this is to compare the more familiar
Babylonian astroloigy with Chinese astrology, both of which are based
on approximately the same sky above us. For example, my own birth signs
in the two systems describe completely opposite and incompatible people,
one very dynamic and the other very static. But since I am neither Chinese
nor Babylonian, it really doesn’t matter.
But I do know very well that people often take funny routes to arrive
at reality. Indeed, it sometimes is necessary to take a wacky road to
get to the truth when the usual methods aren’t adequate.
One thing is for sure. No one will ever learn the truth about the corporate
media by watching TV. Or reading the daily papers. Or listening to NPR.
More Reader Responses, January-March,
2006
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