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LATEST NEWS
Friends of Hudson had an indoor booth at this year's Columbia County Fair, which ran Thursday, August 29th through Sunday, September 2nd in Chatham. The booth was organized by Judy Grunberg, Carrie Fertig, Sue Bellinger, Jim Cashen, and a large crew of dedicated volunteers. Hundreds of new petition signatures were gathered, and three terrific prizes were raffled off to lucky winners (a Trek mountain bike, Broadway tickets, and a gift certificate to the Blue Plate in Chatham). Above, member Andi Weiss-Bartczak of Catskill opens the booth Friday morning. New CAN! billboard 
A striking new billboard has appeared in Chatham, driving south on Route 66 between Main Street and the Fairgrounds. The billboard is sponsored by Columbia Action Now! (CAN!), a citizens group based in northern Columbia County. To view a larger-sized image of the billboard, or to donate to the CAN! billboard project, click HERE. Parties respond to latest SLC p.r. stunt After a lackluster presentation to the media about economic impacts by St. Lawrence Cement consultants Ernst & Young on Thursday (Aug. 29), opponents of the company's massive coal-fired proposal issued the following immediate comments. As the company did not immediately release its full report, these parties are reserving more detailed comment until their own analysts have proper time to digest its claims: * This morning’s presentation failed to address or explain the following statements from St. Lawrence Cement’s own application: -- “In total, there is no net new spending in the regional economy in the future.” St. Lawrence Cement Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), April 27, 2001, Section 3.4.2, Page 3-15 -- “There would be no appreciable change in the workforce necessary” for the new plant.” DEIS, Section 3.4.4, Page 3-18 -- “The proposed project would result in little net change to SLC employment.” Page 3-15 * Jim Cashen, lawyer, labor arbitrator, Chamber of Commerce board member, and president of Friends of Hudson: “I was disappointed that after waiting two years, they still did not provide the full report to those of us who attended. Until we see that report, it is impossible to know what ‘inputs’ they used, the sources of that data, and whether they have addressed the net impacts on both Greene and Columbia County.” * Warren Reiss, General Council, Scenic Hudson: “SLC has once again embarked on a public relations disinformation campaign. Their new rosy claims of economic benefits fly in the face of their prior projections contained in their own application. What’s changed? Not the project, just the accounting methods and the spin. SLC’s economic claims, just like their pollution claims need to be fully examined within the review process, as ruled by two judges -- not in an press conference.” * Margaret Davidson, board member, The Olana Partnership: “We are very concerned at Olana that this massive project will limit our future ability to contribute to the local, regional and state economy. Our own projection is that Olana’s recently-approved plan to build a new museum and visitors center, and to restore the house and landscape, will contribute a total annual impact of $24.7 million statewide including $12.2 million in Columbia County. SLC’s puts those benefits at risk.” * Elizabeth Nyland, a marketing research consultant who has held senior positions at firms such as American Express, Chase Manhattan, and others, and a member of Concerned Women of Claverack: “I attended the SLC forum two years ago on economic impacts. At that time, we were told there would be ‘case studies’ -- plural. But today, the company’s consultants presented a partial case study in one Michigan community. They didn’t do what they said they were going to do. What happened to the others? And why did they switch to a different accounting model for this analysis?” * Don Christensen, financial analyst, published author, and Hudson resident: “This strikes me as just another smoke and mirrors attempt by SLC to spin their numbers in the press. They’re pointing to a shining example in Michigan, just like they pointed to the Midlothian plant in Texas -- a public relations exercise which has backfired on the company. Meanwhile, their application continues to say: No new net spending, no real change to jobs.” * Sam Pratt, executive director, Friends of Hudson: “Any honest analysis of economic impacts needs to take into account the regional picture. According to SLC, 80% of the existing employees in Catskill would transfer to the Greenport plant, but would continue to live exactly where they already live, and make purchases in the same businesses they already frequent. Moreover, SLC has said that they will continue to use the same vendors at essentially the same levels they already do. If there is no real change in employment, and no real change in spending patterns, there cannot be any spin-off benefits to the region. SLC admits that in their application, but not in their public relations campaign.” Note:In addition to their consulting work for SLC Ernst & Young was also awarded the accounting contract with SLC parent company Holcim earlier this year. B R E A K I N G ~ N E W S Assemblyman calls for a full trial of the issues FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 26, 2002 Friends of Hudson Contact: Sam Pratt, (518) 822-0334 Hudson Valley Preservation Coalition Contact: Alix Gerosa, (845) 473-4440 x 226 The Olana Partnership Contact: Margaret Davidson, (212) 580-4325 HUDSON / POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. -- Challengers of the coal-fired St. Lawrence Cement proposal have received a copy of an August 21st letter sent by Assemblyman Patrick Manning (R-Hopewell Junction) to Commissioner Erin Crotty of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and are releasing the following brief statements. Discussing the coal-fired St. Lawrence Cement proposal for Hudson and Greenort, the Manning letter urges Commissioner Crotty "to proceed with hearings on the issues brought forth by [Administrative Law Judge Helene] Goldberger" on December 7th, 2001. Plant opponents agree with the Assemblyman that a full trial is necessary for the public to have any confidence in the outcome, and continue to expect there will be a full, fair hearing on the issues. St. Lawrence Cement filed a 300-page appeal of the judges' decision in February 2002, demanding that the State instead grant permits for the project without any adjudication of the 8 main issues identified by the judges. If successful, SLC’s appeal would mean the DEC would take no sworn testimony or cross-examination of experts on this high-impact, high-profile project. Noting the high level of detail and number of sources cited in the Manning letter, Margaret Davidson of The Olana Partnership says that "It is always welcome to see a public official doing his own independent research on an issue of serious concern to his or her constituents, so we are heartened by the Assemblyman's position." Speaking on behalf of The Hudson Valley Preservation Coalition, Scenic Hudson president Ned Sullivan says that "Assemblyman Manning is absolutely correct in calling for full adjudication of the issues regarding the massive St. Lawrence Cement proposal. Citing significant concerns over the full range of issues, from air pollution and its impacts on human health and agriculture, to St. Lawrence's abysmal track record at other company owned facilities, Assemblyman Manning correctly calls upon Commissioner Crotty of the DEC to allow the full slate of issues to be adjudicated. It's what we've been fighting for, and what St. Lawrence is desperately trying to avoid. As former Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis once observed : 'A little sunlight is the best disinfectant.'" "For the past 8 months, our experts have been standing by -- ready, willing and able to go to trial, " adds Friends of Hudson’s executive director Sam Pratt. "It speaks volumes that St. Lawrence Cement is unwilling to put any of their supposed experts under oath. Instead, the company continues to flood the local airwaves and print media with advertising slogans which they refuse to back up in court. And it's ironic that SLC's appeal has now wasted more time than a full trial might have required, so there can be no question of opponents causing ‘delays.’ It's time for St. Lawrence to live up to their public rhetoric by withdrawing their appeal and letting the review go forward." A copy of the 3-page Manning letter can be obtained by calling Friends of Hudson at (518) 822-0334. The good Doctor checks in on SLC Dr. Alan Chartock -- SUNY professor, Legislative Gazette founder, WAMC chair/executive director, and newspaper columnist -- has recently written a syndicated column on the St. Lawrence Cement issue, published in such media outlets as The Independent, The Kingston Daily Freeman, the West Side Spirit, et al. Click HERE to read the column, reprinted by permission of the author. HOME | ARCHIVES BOX 326 HUDSON NY 12534 (518) 822-0334 TEL (518) 822-9435 FAX  |