The Real “State” of the State is Gloomy without Natural Gas
Rachael Colley and Joe Massaro
EID Marcellus Field Directors
This week, in Albany two fairly large groups met head-to-head just prior to Governor Cuomo’s State of the State Address. One group was there to show support for natural gas development as the leverage to bring jobs and a prosperous economy back to the New York’s Southern Tier, while the other was bent on deliberately frustrating those efforts.
We attended the rally, where we interviewed those opposed to natural gas development.
While these opponents were a very vocal group, it was readily apparent from our investigations that many of them didn’t have a grip on the facts. Keep in mind many people in support of natural gas cannot leave their jobs or farms on a Wednesday to travel to Albany for a protest. Our friends on the opposite side, though, seem to have nothing but time; time to travel, time to protest and time to shout.
Entering the Empire State Plaza Concourse we saw two groups of people holding very different signs. One group, composed mostly of children and young adults, batted drums and chanted about New York being a “sacrifice zone.” The other held signs asking Gov. Cuomo to keep his promise and make a decision based on science, not emotion. This group – the friends of natural gas development – called for an end to the emotional hysteria surrounding this issue. This was perhaps, naive, because all we got was hysteria from the other side. Check out this video and ask yourself if these folks were there for the cause or the fun. It should be obvious. Yet, these are the folks undermining landowner rights and economic development in the Southern Tier.
Yes, these are the people determined to strip away the mineral rights of property owners and keep the Southern Tier in pastoral poverty. They frolic like it’s still the 1960′s, but seem not to understand hydraulic fracturing and the science behind it. Here’s Joe asking one activist opposed to natural gas development a few questions.
What do you do for a living? “I am an activist.” One wonders if that’s what these nice folks (and many were very nice) will put on their resumes when they apply for jobs. Perhaps, I’m assuming too much, however. I wish I could say I was surprised when I heard this.
Here is another activist opposed to natural gas development, a very polite and sincere individual who lives on Seneca lake and doesn’t believe the industry and wine tourism will be able to co-exist together.
One would hope, as someone living on Seneca Lake, this individual would know about the 100 or so wells located at the north end of the lake. She is a perfect example of how many otherwise well-intended people don’t take the time to understand or educate themselves on the issue. The gas industry has co-existed with the wine industry for years in the Finger Lake region. This person did say “I don’t know a lot,” which tells us she’s honest. She’s probably also willing to listen, but shouldn’t someone get the facts about the wells located on the lake where they live before rushing to Albany to protest others?
Amidst the dancing and chanting, those who came to Albany to support natural gas development in New York stood their ground and gave those who passed by an alternative view on this debate.
Out of the many pictures we took throughout the day, the one that stuck out the most was a gentleman holding a sign that read “Let your heart guide you.“ This message was clearly directed toward Gov. Cuomo as he continues to decide whether to permit this process in New York state. This sign essentially calls on everyone to stop looking at science and decide on emotion. It appears that those opposed are starting to understand that science is on our side and emotion may be the only way left for them to come out on top.
Those opposed call for emotion not science
As we wait, anxiously and tirelessly, for Gov. Cuomo to make a final decision whether or not to permit high volume hydraulic fracturing in New York, we can only hope that unlike many of the people at the rally, Gov. Cuomo takes the time to understand the science and base his decision on that.
During the State of the State Address Gov. Cuomo did not mention natural gas development at all; he instead danced around the topic. This was frustrating, perhaps the most frustrating moment of the day. The “state” of New York State is grimm. Natural gas development could be the light at the end of the gloomy tunnel and it was not even mentioned, although there are signs good happenings are happening behind the scenes. Click here for other photos and scenes from the day.
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Glad to hear that Gov. Cuomo did not mention gas drilling in his State Address.
Since when did gas drilling become the new “Jesus” that will save you from yourselves
and make everything all right, like a mother would do for her children.
Looks like most of the people who testified yesterday to the State Assembly were anti-gas
and don’t consider gas to be the answer to the economic ills and woes of their State.
If you all believe in this so much and have so many on your side, how come you are in such a minority testifying and protesting in your State.
And don’t tell me it’s because you are the only ones with jobs. Many of the people I know who are unhappy about gas drilling have jobs and are willing to take time off and there are many who are retired on your side who could make the effort and show up.
Taking time off from jobs is not an impossibility. Others can do it on our side.
Looks like the borders of NY are going to stay closed.
Don’t count on it, Vera!
Also, I was in Dimock today and happened to run into a local farmer I’ve never met before. I was with a TV reporter who asked what he thought about gas drilling. His answer? “It saved my farm.” He also talked about the water testing before, during an after drilling, all of which showed zero impact. Also, saw a very busy Montrose.
Like you tell us, Tom, you see what you want to see.
I’m sure you didn’t find anyone against drilling and talk with them.
Or did you check out the empty stores and closing and selling businesses
in and out of Montrose.
None are so blind as those who refuse to see, Vera, and you are one of those.
Sorry Vera… Unlike you i was at yesterdays pointless inquisition where only 9 legislators were present at the inquisition you refer to as a hearing. It was a total farse. When testimony is suppose to be taken but is offered from those whoo are suppose to take it it really show the true colors of the way Some in Albany work… Guess what Vera… You lose. I checked tos ee if I could submitt a comment on the DEC website and it said the comment period is closed…. no more fracking delays.
I was in in front of the area where the attendees entered the auditorium along the roped-off area near the state police as the politicians went left, through security, into the hall. I was surrounded by anti-fracking signs and protestors. I was holding a Friends of NY sign. As the Assembly and Senate members and their staff walked by, many noticed me as the lone advocate for gas development among the loud, obnoxious protestors. Of the 10 or so politicians that looked my way and acknowledged me, 9 gave me a “thumbs-up” or a nod yes, or made an affirmative gesture to me. One even came over and shook my hand.
As I stood among the vocal opposition, it was a great feeling.
Congratulations! There’s nothing so validating as knowing who you are and being willing to speak truth to power, which is what you were doing amongst a sea of conformists, though none of them seem to realize it.
First question: Why does Albany allow this obstruction of government business, inside our taxpayer funded buildings?
Second: Why do the unemployed, unproductive members of society have a voice over productive, taxpaying landowners? If one believes this mis-states fact, then why the delays? The delays were caused by this un-productive group. Had the naysayers led our nation in the past two decades, where would we be today?
Third: Why do all of these people continue using fossil fuels? Hypocrites.
I am flat out tired of this. The anti-movement is pathetic. Sorry for the harsh comments, but I find it hard to see this in any other light.
It should be easy for the DEC to go through the 204,000 comments. Since many many many comments were three-peated submitted by e-mail and hard copied twice for regular mail then to just be handed in again in Albany on the 10th as scripted by nyrad at both Ithaca , & Binghamton Unitarian churches by NYRAD leaders their plans may have back fired on them to hold up the release with multiple comments. Unable to come up with their own comments NYRAD members were directed to websites like “30 days of fracking” and the moutain keepers to sign geniric pre writen comments for submision. I would think it’s quite safe to divide the comments first by 3 to answer too the tripple submission mentioned above which drops the count immediately to 68,000. Now because of the web sites set up and offering about 10 pre-written comments you can divide the 68,0000 by 10 taking care of the many many many duplicate submissions by apprximately 1300 people who are diehards in the anti gas movement and your left with 6,800. since the great majority of the comments are going to be repetitive and pooled together by the time they have to respond to the comments there may be if your lucky… 68 comments that need review. Is it not amazing how many trees the obstructionist killed to waste your tax dollars to try and waste more of your tax dollars to get this process stopped?
Two comments on this blog. First about the woman that when asked what she does for a living stated that she was an activist. Some of the “environmental” organizations hire activists. http://www.simplyhired.com/a/jobs/list/q-environmental+activist . There were postings a while back for activists for the New York area. They were either filled or the listings were pulled when they were “outed” by people that support nat gas development.
Second, about Vic’s comments on the multiple pre-written comments. The majority of the pre-written comments will be ignored. The decision to allow gas development will be based on factors such as environmental impact and the legal issues involved in land owners rights. It is not going to be based on who is the loudest and how many times the exact same comment is made.
Rachael and Joe,
As an attendee/participant to this circus/show/rally (and I am being very nice here), all I have to say is … WOW! Is this what our country is coming to? What a shame! It makes me feel very proud to look at my clean cut, hard working sons. They were taught, as I was, by my parents to respect all people especially your elders, make eye contact with those talking to you, believe and trust in God, respect our flag, help and give all you possibly can to those in need and put your nose to the grind stone and work (that’s right – work for a living at a job).
Now, with that said, here is what we had the ultimate pleasure to see during the day; bongo players, snake charmers and smokers (if you know what I mean). I almost forgot… a large majority of them were children and college kids! By the way, most didn’t have a clue why they were there “Man”! Basically what I heard was they were just protecting Mother Earth, Man! Look at what this does, it kills moo cows, horses, chickens, cats, dogs, people, blah, blah, blah They said it was poisoning all our water and killing us (and where is the location of this so called poisoned water?) *cricket*cricket*cricket*(*silence) they said they were told to go there and were promised a concert afterward and maybe college credits!!!! I am sorry, but this is pathetic! WOW!!!! To give some credit, I did talk to some very nice activists (that also didn’t have a clue why they were there). I also could not find a one that came from the southern tier! Hmmmmm….go figure! Wonder where they came from?
On the other hand, there was a sweet, German lady in our group who was called a Nazi by an activist. I also witnessed watching a World War II Vet mocked as two activists danced some type of weird dance around him. I’ve never witnessed such disrespect in my life! I will bet the farm that if it was proposed to re-instate the draft, you would first hear silence, then the thud of “No Frack” signs hitting the floor and then the stampeded out of the building.
Our presence there is one of Energy Independence keep our children home here with us and out of oil wars! Put people back to work, give landowners and farmers back their rites so they can have a chance to lead a good life! A wise man, a man that I look up to (Mr. Knowles) once told me if you are not for natural gas (here at home) then you are for foreign oil. How true it is! Mr. Cuomo, we know you will do the right thing; please do not strip us of our rights, let’s move on , let’s start exploring for natural gas and gain our energy independence! You know who we are (the mostly silent, civil, respectful, hard working, tax paying, landowners, farmers, construction workers, small business and self-employed people that had to take off work and barn chores to be here! That’s right…lose our day’s pay to be there (we didn’t earn college credits for this). We were there to stand up for our rights!
Thank you!
Ken Beers
P.S. I would like to thank everyone at EID for what they do! But mostly, Vic Furman and the wonderful, hard-working people on the bus that we had the pleasure of going to Albany with.
Again, thank you!
We like Vic, too, but he is not part of EID – just one very formidable proponent for natural gas!
Mr. Beers
I am inspired not by greed, not for self gratification,
I am inspired by the people like you… People who’s sense of value come from their parents and the education they received both in the schools, and throughout life. The people who know what the golden rule is. “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”. People who know that they are no better then anyone else just because they were born into money or given the gift of education. America is the greatest country that ever was!
The problem with America today is values have been lost to ideals that will not sustain freedom and self thinking, taking away the drive to be the best we can be. Your draft analogy is right on the money. If those who oppose Americas science and technology today to harvest our natural gas win this fight it will not stop there. Coal too will fall and soon the only ones who could live in the north would be the one percent. Who else would live in cold regions depending on solar and wind?
Should these people win they will legalize drugs like pot… which health studies have already proven their hazard to human health is the same as cigarettes. They will not stop until they un-arm America and allow us to live in fear of those with arms. There is a lot more at stake here then America’s natural gas. I take no joy in labeling these people as communist cells living amongst us to cause our downfall, but that is how I see them and because of that I must be a redneck, according to them a stupid one. They testify at their meetings and to anyone who will listen that the issue of natural gas is dividing neighbor against neighbor…the truth… their fear mongering lies is what is dividing neighbors and isolating them from the truth along with the apathy to seek the truth for ones self. They seek out people who they can manipulate into their fold and present them in their so called list of the harmed. They promise not to sell out and sign a non disclosure. but do… when the science prevails.
Their best two advocates both have arrest records for trespassing,traffic, and assault and even theft for a total of 37 combined charges. One post here often and the other carries a brown jug of water that is a lie within itself. They are my inspiration the ones who keep me going… every time I get ready to quit because I am tired of this bs… they do,write, or say something that reinvigorates me to continue on in the fight for our rights to live as our fathers have lived… in a free America where we are not told how to live but live in how we believe. I do this for people like you who support me with a simple thanks and have never taken a dime for something I am willing to die for. 6000 of them have signed a pledge to stop you, I and others from doing what we believe is right. Civil or not there presence on my property will be engaged as a threatening mob force and I will send them into martyrdom
For those of us that work for a living, own our own business, take care of our wives and children, pay TAXES and BILLS… actually function socially and productively to society; where does the bottom line start for these “activists”? When one loses their self worth im sure it is just easy to give up and fight against the one thing you can’t acheive: SUCCESS. How does anyone afford to be a self-proclaimed “activist” for a living with a straight face?? These people are no more than a simple circus act and are viewed (by any normal, productive peron) as such. Do they really believe that the governor views them as an amazing rebuttal to our fight and our plea to get our energy independence on the correct track? From what I have seen; the governor appears to shower everyday, go to work, conduct himself as a normal, professional human being… not; smoking weed, dancing in public conventions, smelling like the dickens, or wearing a poncho. Without an excessive doubt in my mind, professionalism comes first and makes the greatest impression among othe professional individuals. I am sure that our actions have been well recieved by the governor and he has duely noted our professionalism.
I have several friends who have been/are deployed currently, fighting for our freedom and protecting oil that has claimed too many already. I do not wish this on any of my friends/family to give all they can for god and country only to be killed for a resource that we do not have to kill for. We have heard many times the mention of little baby birds dieing in oil soaked oceans and streams, or poor baby deer drinking poisoned water supplies.. animals die every day. People die everyday. Organisms die every day… THIS is a FACT of life my friends. Has one peson that has complained of these poor, innocent baby animals ever been able to prove that the deaths of the creatures has been linked to NY oil production/harvesting? Absolutely not. Can we assume that many american lives were lost protecting an oil reserve when we could have an easy alternative right at home? Absolutely we can, and its a proven fact.
It’s time to lift this blindfold off of the hippies eyes and allow them to see whats really going on. Stop bathing in our streams and give the working man’s shower a try, its a wonderful thing. Why dont they stop while they’re ahead and start attacking a new objective: an economy, a real economy that will start working for us again, so we dont have to struggle to keep our childrens bellies full. New York as well as any state right now could you all the new jobs and economical stimulation it can get! If these activists laid off for a while and allowed the positve, and correct objective to go through, maybe even they could have a real job and understand what the “working man” has to go through everyday, unfotunately we all dont have the luxury of living in some shanty in the woods. Some do have responsibilites, and i personally will make sure that I can provide for my family and myself at any cost as this is most important to me.
Tom, Can we talk this week? (805) 462-1250
All these groups against natural gas development, do they realize that natural gas can be used to near 100% energy efficiency?
Do they know that if this natural gas is used this efficiently that there is not much difference in GHG emissions between these and solar and wind once manufactured and put into place?
Our battles are not supposed to be between each other, but how can we complement each other in our effort to improve our environment in North and South America.
What is our ultimate goal? Is it for ourselves, or for our grand children and great grand children’s lives?
So there should be No argument. We want the best for them.
So lets make it happen!!