Bikable Buses - It's great to be able to take you bike on the bus. 5/9.
Pretenous - It's sometimes difficult to have a personality yet not be over the top. 5/9.
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Andy Arthur
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“The state Assembly passed legislation Wednesday to impose a one-year delay on foreclosures when New York homeowners default on mortgage payments, while the Senate was poised to consider a related measure backed by Gov. David Paterson.” Com'nt P'Link
“Karl Rove, the former senior advisor and deputy chief of staff to President George W. Bush, says the chances of Sen. Hillary Clinton winning the Democratic presidential nomination are slim after Sen. Barack Obama's decisive victory in the North Carolina primary and her close win in Indiana earlier this week.” Com'nt P'Link
“Hundreds of people were arrested in New York for civil disobedience, as protesters demonstrated against the acquittals of three New York detectives charged in the 2006 shooting death of Sean Bell. We get insight from NPR correspondent Margot Adler — who covered the demonstrations — and the Rev. Herb Daughtry, who held a protest outside his House of Lords Church in Brooklyn, New York.” Com'nt P'Link
Inventor of LSD is Dead. Albert Hofmann the inventor of the chemical that changed a generation is dead. The Economist had a good biography of the man.
HIS first experience was “rather agreeable”. As he worked in the Sandoz research laboratory in Basel in Switzerland on April 16th 1943, isolating and synthesising the unstable alkaloids of the ergot fungus, Albert Hofmann began to feel a slight lightheadedness. He could not think why. His lab was shared with two other chemists; frugality and company had taught him careful habits. And this was a man whose doctoral thesis had revolved around the gastrointestinal juices of the vineyard snail.
Perhaps, he supposed, he had inhaled the fumes of the solvent he was using. In any event, he took himself home and lay down on the sofa. There the world exploded, dissolving into a kaleidoscope of colours, shapes, spirals and light. It seemed to have something to do with lysergic acid diethylamide, LSD-25, the substance he had been working on. He had synthesised it five years before, but had found it “uninteresting” and stopped. Now, like some prince in faery, he had got the stuff on his fingertips, rubbed it into his eyes and seen the secrets of the universe.
The next Monday, ever the good scientist, he deliberately took 0.25 milligrams of LSD diluted with 10cc of water. It tasted of nothing. But by 5 o'clock the lab was distorting, and his limbs were stiffening. The last words he managed to scrawl in his lab journal were “desire to laugh”. That desire soon left him. As he cycled home with a companion, perhaps the most famous bike ride in history, he had no idea he was moving. But in his house the furniture was ghoulishly mutating and spinning, and the neighbour who brought him milk as an antidote was “a witch with a coloured mask”. He realised now that LSD was the devil he couldn't shake off, though in his senseless body he screamed and writhed on the sofa, certain that he was dying.
Albert Hofman suggested people could get many of the effects of acid without taking it:
Without it, however, Mr Hofmann knew it was still possible to get to the same place. As a child, wandering in May on a forest path above Baden in a year he had forgotten, he had suddenly been filled with such a sense of the radiance and oneness of creation that he thought the vision would last for ever. “Miraculous, powerful, unfathomable reality” had ambushed him elsewhere, too: the wind in a field of yellow chrysanthemums, leaves in the sunlit garden after a shower of rain. When he had drunk LSD in solution on that fateful April afternoon he had recovered those insights, but had not surpassed them. His advice to would-be trippers, therefore, was simple. “Go to the meadow, go to the garden, go to the woods. Open your eyes!”
Read Albert Hofmann on Economist.com. Com'nt P'Link
Vito Fossella admits he has love child with Virginia woman. From the article:
Disgraced Staten Island Rep. Vito Fossella admitted Thursday he fathered a 3-year-old love child in an illicit affair with the woman who rescued him from a Virginia drunk tank.
It looks like another Republican in Congress is in real danger of losing his seat.
Read Vito Fossella admits he has love child with Virginia woman in Newsday. Com'nt P'Link
“Democrat Barack Obama on Thursday did not rule out selecting rival Hillary Clinton as his vice presidential running mate if he ultimately defeats her in a race in which he has an almost insurmountable lead.” Com'nt P'Link
This Farm Bill Needs a Veto? From the article:
We appear to be right up on it- a farm bill will probably pass Congress before May 16th. It appears the deals are (almost) done. All that remains are few contentious issues, and we're not all that concerned with how those turn out because all of the options on the table, frankly, stink like a hog lagoon in mid-August.
So while we haven't seen the final language of the entire farm bill, we have a pretty good idea of where everything stands. There are wins, and there are losses, but perhaps more important is to remember where we are and where we came from.
Two years ago, when I started working at the Center for Rural Affairs, there was an uncertain aura around the Farm Bill. Nobody really knew what all could be accomplished, but we definitely knew that there was going to be intense public interest in the bill, more than ever before. The Michael Pollan effect was multiplying rapidly. There was a general consensus that good things could be done, but questions about how much we could actually succeed at.
Read This Farm Bill Needs a Veto Report from Center for Rural Affairs. Com'nt P'Link
Farm Bill conference Report Called "Mixed Bag". From the Environmental Defense Press Release:
The 2008 farm bill conference report appears to include important new investments in conservation, but will not do enough to meet the growing need to expand and improve conservation programs, or to reform our antiquated system of farm subsidies, according to Environmental Defense Fund (E°F).
While the full text of the conference report is not available, E°F cited the $4 billion in new outlays for conservation programs announced by conferees during a news conference this afternoon as an important step forward, but it is still insufficient to meet farmer demand. Since enactment of the 2002 farm bill, $13.5 billion in requests for conservation assistance from almost half a million farmers and ranchers have gone unfunded.
“The good news is that conference committee members recognized the need to boost conservation funding at a time when very high commodity prices are increasing pressure on our land, water, and important wildlife habitat,” said Sara Hopper, an attorney with E°F who was a staff member of the Senate Agriculture Committee during the 2002 farm bill. “The bad news is that this new funding falls short of what’s needed to provide farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners with the resources they need to help us solve some of the nation’s biggest environmental problems.”
E°F also criticized the House-Senate conference committee for increasing, rather than decreasing, farm subsidies.
Read Farm Bill conference Report Called "Mixed Bag" on ENS-News. Com'nt P'Link
“Duanesburg officials have drafted Schenectady County’s first ordinance aimed at regulating wind turbine developments.” Com'nt P'Link
“A 17,000-gallon diesel spill at the Croton-Harmon train yard has led to the arrest of the Metro-North’s assistant director of environmental compliance and services. The Westchester County Police arrested 56-year old Kenneth McHale of White Plains, who reported the diesel spill on March 29. ” Com'nt P'Link
Portrait of an oil-addicted former superpower. From Grist:
Nineteen years ago, the fall of the Berlin Wall effectively eliminated the Soviet Union as the world's other superpower. Yes, the USSR as a political entity stumbled on for another two years, but it was clearly an ex-superpower from the moment it lost control over its satellites in Eastern Europe.
Less than a month ago, the United States similarly lost its claim to superpower status when a barrel crude oil roared past $110 on the international market, gasoline prices crossed the $3.50 threshold at American pumps, and diesel fuel topped $4.00. As was true of the USSR following the dismantling of the Berlin Wall, the USA will no doubt continue to stumble on like the superpower it once was; but as the nation's economy continues to be eviscerated to pay for its daily oil fix, it, too, will be seen by increasing numbers of savvy observers as an ex-superpower-in-the-making.
That the fall of the Berlin Wall spelled the erasure of the Soviet Union's superpower status was obvious to international observers at the time. After all, the USSR visibly ceased to exercise dominion over an empire (and an associated military-industrial complex) encompassing nearly half of Europe and much of Central Asia. The relationship between rising oil prices and the obliteration of America's superpower status is, however, hardly as self-evident. So let's consider the connection.
Read Portrait of an oil-addicted former superpower on Gristmill. Com'nt P'Link
“ People believe that the first wave of global warming disasters will come sometime in the distant future from rising sea levels. It is now clear that long before rising sea levels make their inevitable catastrophic impact, we will be faced with serious problems with our food supply. Food crises and the social unrest that follows represent the first wave of global warming disasters. The United Nations has even called this a “Silent Tsunami.” Poor countries, with little greenhouse gas emissions, will suffer first and the most because they are the least able to adapt. But, we who live in developed countries are not immune. With the planet warming at a much faster pace than previously predicted, even scientists can’t predict when or what will be next. ” Com'nt P'Link
“Mercury released from products such as thermometers and dental amalgam is much lower now than it was in 1990, but such releases continue to be a dangerous source of environmental contamination, according to new research conducted by an environmental scientist with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA. ” Com'nt P'Link
“Census figures show that population growth in New York is way behind the national average and that's forcing some hard decisions in rural school districts. Hudson Valley bureau chief Susan Barnett looks at the issue in one of the largest districts in the state.” Com'nt P'Link
“Los Angeles County officials recently passed a law that makes it a misdemeanor to park a taco truck in the same place for more than an hour. Violators face penalties of up to $1,000 in fines or six months in jail. ” Com'nt P'Link
Fed's Supeona Bruno's Ethics Opinions. From the Times Union:
ALBANY—An FBI investigation of Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno is focusing on several opinions he received more than a decade ago from the Legislative Ethics Commission that relate to his personal business ventures, including real estate development and horse breeding, the Times Union has learned.
Two FBI agents hand-delivered a federal grand jury subpoena to the ethics commission staff about two months ago requesting copies of the opinions, which were promptly turned over, a person familiar with the matter said.
Another person close to the investigation said federal authorities are closely examining the process by which Bruno may have received authorization from within state government for his various private business dealings.
Bruno, R-Brunswick, has sought at least four opinions from the commission, which was known as the Legislative Ethics Committee before being renamed last year. The opinions, which have never been made public, were issued more than 10 years ago in the early 1990s, the person familiar with the ethics rulings said.
Read Bruno probe focus on ethics opinions in the Times Union. Com'nt P'Link
This is a Lot of Fun. How to keep your dog busy when you are out of the house. From NPR's Bryant Project / Youtube:
New Scotland for Sound Economic Development Preservation. They put together an excellent presentation on the downside of this absurdly large shopping mall proposed for the Bender Mellon fields off Route 85A.
The associated audio is also online which explains it a little better.
It's great news to see this now defeated. Com'nt P'Link
New Scotland Enacts Commercial Zoning Moratorium. In an effort to get there house in order prior to taking up the massive development proposed by Sphere Developers, they have decided to enact a commercial development moratorium in their town. It was a packed meeting, full of people in suits (like myself), people in Carharts, and everything in between. There where hundreds of pickup trucks, cars, and other vechicles parked on every imaginable spot on the grass of the high school. The auditorium was so full that it was far beyond the fire safe limits, and crowds where piled out into the hall.
The New Scotland Town Board voted unanimously in support a little after 10 PM to past the zoning moratorium. This was after 3 hours of passionate public comment in favor of the moritorium. Only one town resident out of well over 100 speakers spoke in opposition.
The meeting started a little after 7 PM. I was late as I got stuck in the earlier meeting at City Hall regarding the landfill (see this week's Enviroman Blog for details). The developer, Sphere Development stated why they where opposed to the moratorium—suggesting the town was locking them "up in jail" for being a bunch of out of towners, and that there proposal was sustainable.
The opposition by New Scotlandlers for Sound Economic Growth was much better. They showed the enormous scale of the project. It would be the forth largest mall in the Capital Region, bigger then all of the shopping plazas in Bethlehem combined. It was absurdly big, and they would argue to accommodate it would require a 4 lane road, carved deeply through Slingerlands and other areas without the right of way to build it.
New Scotland for Sound Economic Growth had a massive presentation, well organized, with many speakers including Bethlehem Mayor Jack Cuttingham and former Assemblyman Bob Prentis, who now lives in New Scotland. Prentis was particularly funny, and kept referring to the board as "Mr. Speaker". Only one speaker from the town briefly spoke in opposition to the moratorium. He was concerned about potential lost tax revenue and what it would say to business.
I was surpised not to hear more opposition. The Town Planning Board the previous night unanimously opposed this act, claiming that it took power from the planning board which could adequately address the proposal with existing laws. In other words, they didn't want to give up power. Planning board members are appointed for fixed terms, and do not serve at the pleasure of the town board, so they are free to express whatever opinions that they want. Some of the Planning Board appointments are older the current Town Board, which was recently elected.
People where understandbly quite angry and tense at the meeting after the previous night. But they where happy when their electeds did what they had hoped. It's not that surpising, as both the Town Supervisor/Democratic Leader Tom Dollan, Boardman/Republican Leader Doug LaGrange was previously on the record as supporting it. It sure made voters feel good that their elected where listening to them at the end of the night.
I decided not to speak. I felt most of the people who lived in the town had already said almost anything that needed to be said on the proposal. Let's hope that over the next 6 months that the town board will decide on the rules for development, and make good choices for the future of the town. Com'nt P'Link
“ "I'll never go back when they have them out there, hopefully they don't invade New York because it's going to change the whole game," Dutrow said. "It's something that we don't need." ” Com'nt P'Link
New Scotland: Moratorium, No Vision? That's what's Terri's concerns on her Farm Life blog:
The Town of New Scotland now has a Moratorium. As much as it was obvious the majority of the Town did not want a big box store, the real vision for the town is not as obvious (to me, anyway).
It is time to get those ducks-in-a-row, and figure out a plan for the future, albeit there is no way to please all the people all the time. It will be a true test of communication and working together; the opportunity is there and it will be fascinating to watch what becomes of it.
Short of all the Town’s people pooling their funds and buying the property to proclaim it forever ‘farmland’, I think that finding success stories from similar situations is the way to go. And yes, they do exist.
Read Okay, New Scotland gets a Moratorium on the TU Farm Life Blog. Com'nt P'Link
Suppressed Aviation Report Forecasts 'Massive Environmental Damage'. ENS News reports that airplanes may be the most destructive growing technology out there:
Climate change emissions by the airline industry, airport noise, and local air pollution are all trending sharply upwards, according to a suppressed report based on information contained in U.S., European and UK government databases maintained by regulatory agencies.
The technical report was submitted to the 7th US/Europe Air Traffic Management Research and Development Seminar held in Barcelona, Spain last summer.
But it was not accepted for publication by seminar organizers and remained unpublished until released to the public on April 24 by the Aviation Environment Federation, the principal UK nonprofit concerned with the environmental effects of aviation.An Airbus A380 departs from London's Heathrow Airport. (Photo by Ian Britton courtesy FreeFoto.com)
Calling it a "shock report," the Aviation Environment Federation says that between the years 2000 and 2025 the rapid growth in aviation globally is set to generate "massive environmental damage."
I'm not on the whole surprised. Airplanes consume massive amounts of energy, and spew out all kinds of toxic chemicals.
We as a society should be looking towards more efficient ways of moving people around quickly, including combining rail and air together. Rather then have an airport in Albany, it would be much cheaper and sensible to merge with JFK and have high-speed trains take people directly from Albany to their terminal at JFK.
Read Suppressed Aviation Report Forecasts 'Massive Environmental Damage' on ENS News. Com'nt P'Link
Diesel Fuel in a Bottle of Water. It takes a ton of diesel to bring all that bottled water to your tap:
An article in today’s local newspaper explained now Nestl� plans to tap some local springs near Nathrop (between Buena Vista and Salida in Chaffee County, Colo.) for its Arrowhead bottled water.
The company proposes to collect 0.3 cubic feet per second (about 135 gallons) and transport the water by truck to its bottling plant in Denver. That works out to 194,400 gallons per day. A gallon of water weighs 8.35 pounds, so that’s 1,622,268 pounds, or about 811 tons, to be hauled from Nathrop to Denver every day.
The newspaper article said there would be 20 truckloads a day, but if Nestl� is really taking 0.3 cfs, then it will be more like 30 trucks. I called a local trucking company, where the manager told me that the maximum legal weight on the relevant highway, U.S. 285, is 85,000 pounds, or 42.5 tons. An empty semi tractor and tank weigh about 15 tons, she said, so the maximum payload would be 27.5 tons. Divide that into the 811 daily tons of water, and you get 30 loads per day.
Nathrop is about 125 miles from Denver, so the round trip would be 250 miles. With 30 round trips, full loads to Denver and empty runs back to Nathrop, that’s 7,500 miles per day.
The trucking manger said the big diesel rigs get 4.5 miles per gallon on average, which includes both loaded and empty. So just getting the water from the springs to the bottling plant would burn 1,667 gallons of diesel fuel every day, or more than 600,000 gallons per year.
And that doesn’t count the petroleum used to make the plastic bottles, or the fuel used to transport Arrowhead water from the bottling plant to the cooler in your neighborhood convenience store, or the energy used by that refrigeration.
Read The diesel fuel in the water bottle on GOAT - A High Country News Blog. Com'nt P'Link
Notes from the Albany City Council Finance Committee Meeting. They discussed the future of the landfill, including routine big purchases and the landfill expansion last night.
Here are some brief notes that I took down during the meeting. All of these ordinances relate to the bonding for big purchases, relating to the landfill.
Ordinance Number 26.42.08: AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING CERTAIN PROJECTS BY THE CITY OF ALBANY, NEW YORK AT A MAXIMUM ESTIMATED COST OF $35,000.00 AND AUTHORIZING THE LEASE FINANCING OR THE ISSUANCE OF $35,000.00 SERIAL BONDS OF SAID CITY TO PAY THE COST THEREOF. (ONE TON PICKUP- LANDFILL)
Sano stated this was a routine replacement of end of lifespan equipment.
Ordinance Number 27.42.08: AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING CERTAIN PROJECTS BY THE CITY OF ALBANY, NEW YORK AT A MAXIMUM ESTIMATED COST OF $56,650.00 AND AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF $56,650.00 SERIAL BONDS OF SAID CITY TO PAY THE COST THEREOF. (FLARE GAS ANALYZER)
Sano stated this would be used to implement flare gas monitoring per agreement with the DEC. Sano asked Nitido about the status of the flare gas contract. He said that negogations where continuing. Conti asked D’Antonio about whether or not they could convert landfill equipment over natural gas/methane.
D’Antonio stated it would be difficult to store, compress, and convert the gas, so currently it would be impractical to get permitted. D’Antonio agreed with Conti’s concerns about high diesel prices, and said the city was taking various steps to conserve energy at the landfill.
Ordinance Number 28.42.08: AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING CERTAIN PROJECTS BY THE CITY OF ALBANY, NEW YORK AT A MAXIMUM ESTIMATED COST OF $120,000.00 AND AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF $120,000.00 SERIAL BONDS OF SAID CITY TO PAY THE COST THEREOF. (SCADA SYSTEM LANDFILL)
Sano stated this would be used for remote monitoring of gas well pressure equipment. D’Antonio said this would increase productivity and save on fuel by reducing the number of trips running around to the 15 or so wells “several” times a day.
Ordinance Number 29.42.08: AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING CERTAIN PROJECTS BY THE CITY OF ALBANY, NEW YORK AT A MAXIMUM ESTIMATED COST OF $205,000.00 AND AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF $205,000.00 SERIAL BONDS OF SAID CITY TO PAY THE COST THEREOF. (CAES GPS LANDFILL GRADING SYSTEM)
Sano stated that this would help the city maximize their landfill. D’Antonio explained this system puts a series of indicator lights on bulldozers and graders, to tell operators whether or not they are grading the landfill too steep or shallow. Too steep can cause engineering problems such as excessive run-off, while too shallow wastes valuable space taken up later by landfill cover.
D’Antonio described this system as high-tech and is used by the newest landfill systems in our country. It works by a plan developed in the central office to DEC specs, and ensures that the landfill is built exactly to engineering specs, rather then by a series of estimates by equipment operators.
D’Antonio described this system as potentially earning the city millions of dollars. He said if this technology had been available a decade ago, they would not be discussing a landfill expansion currently.
Ordinance Number 30.42.08: AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING CERTAIN PROJECTS BY THE CITY OF ALBANY, NEW YORK AT A MAXIMUM ESTIMATED COST OF $155,000.00 AND AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF $155,000.00 SERIAL BONDS OF SAID CITY TO PAY THE COST THEREOF. (POSISHELL EQUIPMENT LANDFILL)
Sano responsed that this would be used purchase Posishell applicator equipment that they use to apply the daily cover. Right now the city leases this equipment from the Posishell Corporation per their former agreement. The city has recently changed their agreement with Posishell to be able to purchase the equipment.
City operators, according to D'Antosio operate Posishell equipment. This bonding will allow the purchase of the equipment, at a much cheaper rate then leasing.
Ordinance Number 31.42.08: AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING CERTAIN PROJECTS BY THE CITY OF ALBANY, NEW YORK AT A MAXIMUM ESTIMATED COST OF $6,991,000.00 AND AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF $6,991,000.00 SERIAL BONDS OF SAID CITY TO PAY THE COST THEREOF. (LANDFILL EXPANSION)
Sano said this was necessary to ensure that the city could afford, at a reasonable price, to start their expansion by 2010 at a reasonable price if the city would be granted permission by DEC. Calsolaro asked D’Antonio for a status update with the DEC. D’Anonitio stated that negogations are ongoing, but they do not have a definite answer yet. He said he would not state on the record what the odds where of approval.
Sano said that while they will pass this ordinance out of the committee, he would rather wait to send them to the whole body for a vote until it seemed likely that the DEC would approve their permit.
Nitido explained the necessity of floating these bonds when the city went to the bond market on July 1st. If the city did not float the bonds they could still get a short term notes from the market, but it would make bonding the $6 million “dramatically” more expensive.
Nitido stated the city’s preferred method would be to take out the bonds, and if they are unused invest them in the market. He said that was not a perfect solution, and would have costs. Nitido said the city could not take in any profits from putting those bonds on the market after receiving the payments, and would have return any money gained in excess of what is necessary to pay back the bonds or risk paying a significant fine from the IRS, which has ruled it illegal for municipalities to bond then put the proceeds on the market and take in the profit.
Calsolaro pressed Nitido to delineate the costs of taking the bonds and then investing them in the markets. Nitido stated that he fully expects to make enough off the market to easily make debt service payment. However, due to the IRS ban on municipalities profiting off their bonds, the city would have to forfeit the costs of floating the bonds in the first place. He estimated those costs to be the in the several thousands of dollars range. The board seemed to concur that was a risk they where willing to take.
Sano pressed Nitido on the last possible date the council would have to decide on floating these bonds. Nitidio initially said by the last common council meeting of the month, but on Sano’s pressure he looked at his calendar and said it should be okay if the city decided by June 2nd. Sano told D’Antonio that he wanted him to personally pressure the DEC to give them more information on how they are leaning with the expansion. Sano stated that he would be willing to go forward floating the bonds without DEC approval, but he would like to better know the likelihood of DEC approval before investing taxpayer money in such a potentially risky investment.
Calsolaro asked Nitido about net revenue projection for landfill this year. Nitido responded $2.5 to 4 million. Calsolaro asked if this was after debt service. Nitido responded this number was after all expenses where factored in.
Ordinance Number 32.42.08: AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING CERTAIN PROJECTS BY THE CITY OF ALBANY, NEW YORK AT A MAXIMUM ESTIMATED COST OF $1,700,000.00 AND AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF $1,700,000.00 SERIAL BONDS OF SAID CITY TO PAY THE COST THEREOF. (PINE BUSH RESTORATION)
Sano stated that they would have to pay for this – the first phase of the restoration, regardless of the city’s choice, as it was the only realistic way that the city could get an expansion permit from the DEC.
Ordinance Number 33.42.08: AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING CERTAIN PROJECTS BY THE CITY OF ALBANY, NEW YORK AT A MAXIMUM ESTIMATED COST OF $287,400.00 AND AUTHORIZING THE LEASE FINANCING OR THE ISSUANCE OF $287,400.00 SERIAL BONDS OF SAID CITY TO PAY THE COST THEREOF. (EXCAVATOR-LANDFILL)
D'Antonio stated the purpose was to purchase an additional excavator to replace an older one. The older one would remain in commission until it became too expensive to maintain, however its primary function would be as a backup machine should the newer excavators fail.
Ordinance Number 34.42.08: AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING CERTAIN PROJECTS BY THE CITY OF ALBANY, NEW YORK AT A MAXIMUM ESTIMATED COST OF $123,600.00 AND AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF $123,600.00 SERIAL BONDS OF SAID CITY TO PAY THE COST THEREOF. (VIBRATORY ROLLER LANDFILL)
D'Antonio stated that this was another “efficiency” upgrade for the landfill. This would better compact the trash face for building roads on the landfill by vibrating the surface and applying downward pressure, rather then the conventional bulldozer which just pushes across. This would mean more landfill space would be available.
Ordinance Number 35.42.08: AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING CERTAIN PROJECTS BY THE CITY OF ALBANY, NEW YORK AT A MAXIMUM ESTIMATED COST OF $329,600.00 AND AUTHORIZING THE LEASE FINANCING OR THE ISSUANCE OF $329,600.00 SERIAL BONDS OF SAID CITY TO PAY THE COST THEREOF. (ARTICULATED DUMP TRUCK-LANDFILL)
Sano said this was simply a routine purchase to replace end of age equipment.
Ordinance Number 36.42.08: AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING CERTAIN PROJECTS BY THE CITY OF ALBANY, NEW YORK AT A MAXIMUM ESTIMATED COST OF $750,000.00 AND AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF $750,000.00 SERIAL BONDS OF SAID CITY TO PAY THE COST THEREOF. (PROFESSIONAL FEES LANDFILL)
Colasaro asked Nitido about whether or not these bonds would be used to pay legal services. Nitido stated that these would be “used for contracts for engineering services”. Colasaro pressed on asking whether or not those would be used in efforts relating to the expansion of the landfill. Nitido essentially dodged this question, responding that “it would make no sense to change engineers at this point in the game.”
Colasaro asked of all these items where on budget. Nitido stated that all of these items where in the mayor’s budget.
Nitido requested that all resolutions be amended to include the option of lease for all landfill bonding ordinances excluding the “two big ticket items” – the expansion, the Pine Bush reconstruction. They later added “professional fees” landfill also to that list as that can not be leased.
Nitido said it was the city’s policy to include the option of lease in all new vehicle or equipment purchases. This way if the item could not be purchase immediately, proceeds from the bond could be used to lease in the interim.
Sano responded that as he had previously understood it that the lease provisions only applied to the purchase of vehicles and not equipment, but would consider amending the aforementioned resolutions to include such a provision.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: No public comments where given on the landfill purchase despite being an “open” period to do as such. There where only two other people there to discuss another bill.
It will be interesting to see if they proceed on the bonding of the landfill expansion. If they pull the bonds, assume the landfill expansion is basically dead. A decision will have to be made in the next two or three weeks, and we will have to be watching very carefully. Com'nt P'Link
“The state Senate has passed legislation to suspend state gasoline taxes for the summer, but the initiative has little traction because of opposition from the Assembly and Gov. David Paterson” Com'nt P'Link
“The McCain Agenda: Despite the accolades he receives, McCain's record shows a candidate who is behind the times on climate policy and lacks conviction on environment.” Com'nt P'Link
“While the day-to-day focus of US military planning remains Iraq and Afghanistan, American strategists are increasingly looking beyond these two conflicts to envision the global combat environment of the emerging period--and the world they see is one where the struggle over vital resources, rather than ideology or balance-of-power politics, dominates the martial landscape. Believing that the United States must reconfigure its doctrines and forces in order to prevail in such an environment, senior officials have taken steps to enhance strategic planning and combat capabilities. Although little of this has reached the public domain, there have been a number of key indicators. ” Com'nt P'Link
“On Wednesday morning, after watching the candidates spin the results of the North Carolina and Indiana primaries, McGovern came to the conclusion that many savvy political observers have reached: Clinton is not going to be the 2008 Democratic presidential nominee. ” Com'nt P'Link
Schenectadians Upset About Public Library Closing for Reconstruction. They note that many patrons won't be able to access the library while it's being renovated over the next year.
The Friends of the Schenectady County Public Library are a little less friendly these days toward the Democratic-controlled county Legislature.
The library support group has launched an effort to prevent the county from closing the central branch of the library for the next 10-12 months as part of a $7.7 million overhaul. Earlier estimates placed the shutdown at 18 months.
Several members of the volunteer group, which raises money for and provides free help to the library system, attended a presentation on the proposal at Monday night’s committee meeting of the Schenectady County Legislature. They were not allowed to speak; the privilege of the floor is reserved for the regular monthly meeting, to be held May 13.
However, Friends President Bernard Allanson said after the presentation he has serious concerns about the closure, scheduled to begin this summer. The Friends are concerned about the public’s loss of programming and access to free Internet, the closure’s effect on downtown businesses and the way the Legislature pushed the project through without any public discussion.
...
Engberg Anderson Design Partnership of Milwaukee prepared the final design. It calls for the addition of 9,000 square feet to the first floor. While this is less than the originally proposed 15,000-square-foot expansion, the new design contains double the space for the children’s room, a small cafe, a performance center and a private reading room. It also retains the building’s architectural look through the use of brick and precast and poured concrete.
The design will remove the protruding semicircular McChesney Room from the library’s Clinton Street side and make the entire wall flush. Library officials will rename another area the McChesney Room.
Preservationist group Schenectady Heritage Foundation opposes the demolition of the McChesney Room. It says the library’s current configuration is historically significant architecture that should be preserved.
Eleanor Rowland said the design change pushed up the cost. “No one wanted the new entrance, not the Friends, not the trustees,” she said.
The reconstruction looks like a quite nice of the old brutalist building that certainly was showing the age. It's great to see that they will be able to save this building and turn it into something nicer and newer. Too often people's gut reaction is to demolish buildings without thinking how unique and beautiful they truly can be.
New Building:
Old Building:
Read Library closure plan draws fire in the Daily Gazette. Com'nt P'Link
“Independent analysis of new census numbers indicate that New York is heading for trouble. And even local counties ending the fiscal year with a surplus are concerned. Hudson Valley bureau chief Susan Barnett reports. ” Com'nt P'Link
“Senator Barack Obama won a commanding victory in the North Carolina primary on Tuesday and lost narrowly to Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton in Indiana, an outcome that injected a boost of momentum to Mr. Obama’s candidacy as the Democratic nominating contest entered its final month.” Com'nt P'Link
“The Republican-led Senate is pouring millions of dollars in taxpayer money into "pork" projects where GOP incumbents face difficult re-election campaigns this fall.” Com'nt P'Link
“Under order of the Appellate Division of State Supreme Court, the Lewis Family Farm Inc. paid $50,000 Monday to the Essex County Clerk's Office. ” Com'nt P'Link
“Stocks are down sharply after the price of a barrel of oil surged soared to a record near $124.” Com'nt P'Link
“Dr. Jay Stein will leave the University of Florida to take the No. 2 position at Plattsburgh State. He plans to devote some of his focus to “green” issues.” Com'nt P'Link
“Father of drowning victims cites dangers, but access supporters want full use of Ausable River. ” Com'nt P'Link
An Online Tour of Seneca Meadows. Interested in how the biggest landfill in our state works, and what it looks like?
Go to this Live Search Map.
Head west Salcman Rd to the weighing station. Look at the hundreds of long haul tractor trailers filled with trash, contaminated soils, coal ash, and many other waste materials being hauled to the biggest landfill in New York.
Head North past the weighting station to the tipping area. Look at the "active face" compared to the rest of the landfill. Scroll around, it's pretty breath-taking. And see the Seneca Meadows Tour on their website.
And see Wendy Skinner's Dumped article. Com'nt P'Link
Lake area positioned well for wind power. From the article:
President Bush said in his 2006 State of the Union speech that the country could meet 20 percent of its electricity needs in 2030 through wind power.
Right now, wind power accounts for just under 1.5 percent of that need.
The difference between those numbers probably explains why organizers were wondering whether they had enough information packets for all the people attending the first meeting of the Great Lakes Wind Collaborative in the Hyatt Regency Buffalo on Tuesday.
Several hundred people — advocates, businesspeople, government representatives, scientists and others — crowded into a meeting room to be briefed on what is a rapidly expanding form of power generation.
Read Lake area positioned well for wind power in The Buffalo News. Com'nt P'Link
Watch AMD, Speakers Urge. From the Daily Gazette:
The town must take a role in monitoring whether the proposed Advanced Micro Devices computer chip plant complies with environmental protection rules, speakers said at a public hearing Monday.
“You really need to hire someone to monitor what’s going on there, because nobody else will look out for yourselves like yourselves,” said resident Carol Henry.
Henry was among eight speakers at a Town Board hearing on an updated environmental impact statement being done by AMD, and also on zoning changes being sought by the company.
Read Watch AMD, speakers urge in the Daily Gazette. Com'nt P'Link
A City Committed to Recycling Is Ready for More. From the article:
SAN FRANCISCO — Mayor Gavin Newsom is competitive about many things, garbage included. When the city found out a few weeks ago that it was keeping 70 percent of its disposable waste out of local landfills, he embraced the statistic the way other mayors embrace winning sports teams, improved test scores or declining crime rates.
The San Francisco Recycling Center processes about 750 tons of recyclables a day, and Mayor Gavin Newsom wants to add to that total.
Workers sort plastics at the San Francisco Recycling Center. The city, with 7,800 tons of waste a day, keeps 70 percent of it out of landfills. Mayor Gavin Newsom is shooting for 75 percent.
But the city wants more.
So Mr. Newsom will soon be sending the city’s Board of Supervisors a proposal that would make the recycling of cans, bottles, paper, yard waste and food scraps mandatory instead of voluntary, on the pain of having garbage pickups suspended.
“Without that, we don’t think we can get to 75 percent,” the mayor said of the proposal. His aides said it stood a good chance of passing.
How does he describe his fixation with recycling dominance? “It’s purposefulness that could otherwise be construed as ego,” Mr. Newsom said. “You want to be the greatest city. You want to be the leading city. You want to be on the cutting edge. I’m very intense about it.”
Read A City Committed to Recycling Is Ready for More in New York Times. Com'nt P'Link
Smart Grid Interest is Growing. From the article:
It will stop being merely a passive supplier of juice. Instead, power companies will be able to cue us, like those amber lights in Tsapoitis' house, to make choices about when and how we consume power. And most likely, we'll have our computers and appliances carry out those decisions for us.
Done right, the smarter grid should save consumers money in the long run by reducing the need for new power plants, which we pay off in our monthly electric bills. However, if people fail to react properly to conservation signals, their bills could spike.
And certainly a smart grid that can encourage us to conserve will feel different. Envision your kitchen appliances in silent communication with their power source: The fridge bumps its temperature up a degree on one day, and the dishwasher kicks on a bit later on another.
Smart-grid technologies have had small tests throughout North America, as utilities and regulators scout how to coax people to reduce their demand for power. But there's little doubt it's coming. The utility Xcel Energy Inc. plans to soon begin a $100 million smart grid project reaching 100,000 homes in Boulder, Colo.
That makes a lot of sense. When the power demand goes up, the dirtiest sources of power are utilized to keep the lights from dimming or the grid from failing from overload. Older plants that are normally too expensive to run come on to keep the grid running, even though they are normally offline 350 days a year.
Then there is all this wasted energy that isn't used because some sorts of generators crank out power at night when there isn't a heavy demand. Nuclear plants, hydro, and other renewables, provide energy all the time, regardless of demand. Even big fossil fuel generators can't instantly change their output, often taking 24 hours to go from full bore to off line in case of big coal plants.
Read Smarter electric grid could be key to saving power in The Journal News. Com'nt P'Link
Ethanol Plant Great For The Environment. That's what the New York League of Conservation Voters has to say about it.
In Niagara Falls, a Toronto-based firm building an ethanol plant in the city will provide 500 construction job, and over 100 full time positions. This all depends on the if the project is accepted in the state brown-field cleanup program.
Northern Ethanol , the name of the power plant has the option to purchase 70-acre parcel of land from Praxair Inc. for the construction of the million dollar plant. Natalie Horrell spokeswoman of Northern Ethanol said on Monday, "The land is quite contaminated, and that acceptance is the key to the project going ahead." According to the Buffalo News the state Department of Environmental Conservation imposed a 90-day moratorium on new applications to obtain tax credits in return for cleaning up and redeveloping contaminated sites. City and county leaders have backed the project and want it approved.
Read Ethanol Plant Great For The Environment on the NYLCV EcoPolitics Daily. Com'nt P'Link
EPA Tells the Pentagon Don't Worry About Cleaning Up Your Mess. The EPA says they plan to tell the public about the dangers of perchlorate rocket fuel, but doesn't plan any restrictions on it's use.
An EPA official said Tuesday there’s a “distinct possibility” the agency won’t take action to rid drinking water of a toxic rocket fuel ingredient that has contaminated public water supplies around the country.
Democratic senators called that unacceptable. They argued that states and local communities shouldn’t have to bear the expense of cleansing their drinking water of perchlorate, which has been found in at least 395 sites in 35 states — or the risk of not doing so.
The toxin interferes with thyroid function and poses developmental health risks, particularly to fetuses.
I would agree that's not acceptable. If you make the mess, you should be responsible for cleaning it up. The defense department has a massive budget, and even if this inconveniences them a little bit, they should take the effort to take care of the problem.
Read EPA might not act on polluted water on MSN NBC. Com'nt P'Link
“Oil jumped to another record on Tuesday, and the government said it expected gasoline prices to peak at a national average of $3.73 a gallon in June, just as the summer driving season kicks off.” Com'nt P'Link
“With gasoline prices nearing $4 a gallon, the Senate planned to pass a bill today that would suspend the state's gasoline taxes for the summer months. But the Republican-backed measure faces opposition in the Assembly and reservations in the governor's office. ” Com'nt P'Link
“In December, Ayman al-Zawahiri, considered second only to Osama bin Laden in al-Qaida's ranks, invited fellow jihadists to pose questions to him on the Internet. Last month, Zawahiri started answering.” Com'nt P'Link
“A multi-year investigation leads federal agents to search the Office of Special Counsel's building. Employees have alleged the agency was misused for political purposes.” Com'nt P'Link
“The Republican-led Senate is pouring millions of dollars in taxpayer money into "pork" projects where GOP incumbents face difficult re-election campaigns this fall.” Com'nt P'Link
“Gov. David Paterson is proving to be a far more cautious chief executive than his more aggressive and free-wheeling predecessor, Eliot Spitzer.” Com'nt P'Link
“People have criticized the practice. Assemblyman Joseph D. Morelle, a Rochester-area Democrat, and several colleagues introduced legislation last year that would ban the naming of buildings after elected officials in cases where the officials had helped steer public money to the owner of the building. Some critics said they believed the practice may already be illegal under state ethics and campaign finance laws. Putting a sitting official’s name on an edifice built wholly or in part with public funds, they say, may violate an existing ban on using public funds to promote elected officials. The naming of a building after an official could also constitute an in-kind campaign donation subject to legal limits.” Com'nt P'Link
“What has irked some lawmakers is what they saw as a threat in the cover letter accompanying the questionnaire. In the letter, the league said it would use its new political action committee, Climate Action, to support candidates who advanced the group’s agenda. Some legislators said they viewed that as a veiled warning that the league would use the money it raised through its committee to defeat candidates who opposed Mayor Bloomberg, above, and his congestion pricing plan.” Com'nt P'Link
“In Vermont, mud season is the limbo between winter and spring, when the snow melts, the crocuses start peeking through and rubber boots and low gears are needed to navigate the mess that takes over many roads and fields.” Com'nt P'Link
“ This non-technical summary article compares the cost, climate protection potential, reliability, financial risk, market success, deployment speed, and energy contribution of new nuclear power with those of its low- or no-carbon competitors. It explains why soaring taxpayer subsidies aren't attracting investors. Capitalists instead favor climate-protecting competitors with less cost, construction time, and financial risk. The nuclear industry claims it has no serious rivals, let alone those competitors -- which, however, already outproduce nuclear power worldwide and are growing enormously faster.” Com'nt P'Link
Abu Dhabi Aims to Build First Carbon-Neutral City. This proposed city in oil rich UAE is quite impressive.
In Abu Dhabi, there's an area of nothing but wind-swept desert. But 10 years from now, if all goes according to plan, a city of 6 square kilometers housing 50,000 people will rise in the United Arab Emirates — and it will be carbon neutral.
The project, called Masdar City, will burn no gas or oil, so its contribution to greenhouse gases will be minimal. Masdar is the centerpiece of emirate Abu Dhabi's plans to get into the renewable energy market, a hedge against the day its oil wells run dry.
It sounds an awful lot like Brasilia—except this city is carbon neutral and energy efficient. It sounds neat, assuming that it is built. Of course, I'm sure it will have real environmental impacts we haven't yet even started to think about.
Read Abu Dhabi Aims to Build First Carbon-Neutral City on NPR. Com'nt P'Link
Franklin County Plans 600 Acre Landfill Expansion. While they may only be planning to add some 300 acres of trash capacity to their relatively small landfill to make the county a lot more money. The other 300 acres would be the required buffer.
300 acres is a fairly big landfill, especially for a county the size of Franklin County, population 51,134. Albany wants to build a 52 acre landfill for their next 20 years of trash dumping. In other words, they are building something like 100 years of capacity or much less depending on how much trash they can import and make the county wealthy.
The expansion project is massive—it makes little tiny existing Franklin County Landfill look, in comparison, to a little tiny dump that you might find on the bankside of a farm somewhere. If you have a fast internet connection, a massive P°F map of the proposal will display below.
From Franklin County SWA:
A Draft Public Scoping Document has been approved by the County of Franklin Solid Waste Management Authority (CFSWMA) and is now available for public comment. Comments regarding specific environmental issues or areas of concern are being solicited at this time. Public comments must be received by May 30, 2008, in order to be accepted. A public scoping meeting will be held at the Franklin County Courthouse in Malone on May 22, 2008, at 7:00 P.M.
If not attending the meeting, comments may also be made in written form and submitted to Mr. George Eades, CFSWMA, 828 County Route 20, Constable, New York, 12926. In addition, electronic submissions are also being accepted during this review period.If submitting an e-mail comment please be sure to include your first and last name and your full mailing address. Submissions that do not include this information will not be considered as a substantive comment.
They provide these documents on the web:
Here is a map of it's location on Google Maps:
A good arterial photograph of the existing landfill is on Microsoft Live Maps. I can not embed that picture into the web page. Com'nt P'Link
“The pain of rocketing gasoline prices is sharp and is spreading through the economy, enflaming every touch point from transportation costs to food costs, aviation, tourism, you name it.” Com'nt P'Link
“Four of five falcon eggs laid under one of the Capital Region's busiest bridges have hatched. Viewers can follow the young birds' progress in still photographs on the Internet.” Com'nt P'Link
Where Energy Will Most Likely Come From In the United States. The EIA has several interesting graphs that you can take a look at below such as energy consumption, type, and per capita consumption—assuming all other factors remain equal.
Goldman Sachs: $200/Barrel Oil By Summer 2010. That's the grim new prediction that Goldman Sachs is making this morning.
Oil could shoot up to $200 within the next two years as part of a "super-spike" driven by poor growth in oil supplies, investment bank Goldman Sachs said in a research note.
"We believe the current energy crisis may be coming to a head, as a lack of adequate supply growth is becoming apparent," Goldman said in the note made available to Reuters on Tuesday.
Oil hit a new record near $121 a barrel on Tuesday, continuing an advance which has seen it double over the past 12 months.
"The possibility of $150-$200 per barrel seems increasingly likely over the next six-24 months, though predicting the ultimate peak in oil prices as well as the remaining duration of the upcycle remains a major uncertainty," Goldman said.
Goldman, which was one of the first to point to a triple digit oil price more than two years ago, said it believed the market was approaching the crunch in the "super-spike."
The "super-spike" theory argues that a lack of adequate supply growth along with price-insulated demand growth in non-OECD countries will lead to a dramatic and continuous rise in oil prices that will ultimately lead to a sharp correction in oil demand.
Goldman analysts said the underlying drivers of the rise in oil prices remained firmly in place, noting poor growth in non-OPEC supplies, low OPEC spare capacity, restriction on foreign investment in key oil producing nations and healthy demand growth in non-OECD economies.
"In our view, a gradual rally in prices is likely to be longer lasting than a sharp, sudden spike," the note written by U.S.-based analyst Arjun Murti said.
Goldman said it had raised its spot oil price forecasts for U.S. WTI crude for 2008 through to 2011 to $108 rising to $110 and $120 a barrel, up from from $96 rising to $105 and $110 respectively in its earlier forecast.
"We see risk to our 2008 and 2009 forecasts as distinctly to the upside," it said.
A barrel of oil is pegged at 42 gallons, a bit smaller then those 55-gallon drums that food and chemicals like newspaper ink come in. That makes about 20 gallons of gasoline, although more can be made by further refining. The other unused parts of crude are fully used from asphalt to diesel to other fuels, so it's not like that part of the barrel is wasted. Therefore to divide the cost of crude going into gasoline, divide by 42 gallons in a barrel.
So following the EIA own numbers at $36.98 a barrel (2004) the crude cost $0.86. The final gasoline product was $1.85 a gallon.
At $121 a barrel, crude costs $2.88 a gallon. Add in refining, taxes, the cost of hauling gasoline and paying the gas station clerk, and your up to around $3.75 a gallon. As you can see, refiners, tax agents, gas bulk truckers, and gas stations are big losers here.
At $200 a barrel crude costs $4.76 a gallon. Assuming a slightly tighter margin all around for refiners, gas stations, tax agents, bulk haulers, your still talking around $5.50 or so a gallon. That's a lot of money, especially if your burning a gallon or two a day—or making any trip of distance.
In a 20 MPG car it would mean that 28¢ a mile driving. That's quite a bit of money.
Read Oil could top $200 in two years: Goldman in Reuters. Com'nt P'Link
“Oil futures rose to an all-time high near US$121 a barrel Tuesday with new concerns about a threat to supply and a weaker dollar.” Com'nt P'Link
“This chronology was originally published by the Department of Energy's Office of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, Analysis Division. Updates for 1995 - March 2000 are from the Energy Information Administration. Please click here for a more detailed year/monthly chronology. ” Com'nt P'Link
“Have you tuned up your bicycle for the season? If not, now is the time to get into gear. May is National Bicycle Month. To celebrate, the Albany Bicycle Coalition and the New York Bicycle Coalition have planned events to raise awareness and bring together champions of two-wheeled transport and recreation. Some highlights are listed below, but for the full roster, go to http://www.albanybicyclecoalition.com/.” Com'nt P'Link
“That reverberating thud we're hearing is the sound of the other shoe dropping now that the New York Thruway Authority has announced its plans for another toll increase in the not-so-distant future. Despite the news having been met by negative comments from every elected official in the state, the authority will not be deterred.” Com'nt P'Link
“The result is taxpayers statewide pay to support gun clubs and abortion-rights groups, clubs and charities -- whose funding never gets a public vote -- in addition to the health and social service programs that depend on the annual funds.” Com'nt P'Link
Cohoes Does It Right. They're school district won't be raising taxes this year !
The Cohoes City School District’s board of education recently adopted a $35 million district budget with no expected change in the tax rate, officials said.
“We are enthusiastic about the budget we are presenting to the community,” said Superintendent Charles Dedrick. “Our budget has no projected tax rate impact this year, and we will continue to enable the Cohoes schools to provide sound educational opportunities for our students.”
The proposed budget has a spending increase of nearly $1.9 million which is 5.57 percent more than the current $33.2 million budget.
“The proposed increase in spending is driven primarily be costs incurred through district building projects approved by voters in 2006,” said Monica Lester, school communications specialist. “These building project costs, however, will be nearly all offset by state building aid.”
Read the article in the TroyRecord.com. Com'nt P'Link
“The new, city-operated refuse and recycling program that took effect Thursday will likely save the city more than 20 percent this year on garbage removal costs.” Com'nt P'Link
“The taxes and fees in this state are already too high; we continue to force individuals and business to flee this state. The only solution we ever get from Albany is the need to raise more taxes and fees to cover the losses of having fewer people. This is a vicious cycle that needs to stop.” Com'nt P'Link
“A federal appeals court had an opportunity late last month to send a strong message to government officials to check their facts before issuing statements on health and public safety. Instead, the court sent the wrong message by letting Christine Todd Whitman, the former administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, off the hook for assuring residents and rescue workers near the World Trade Center that the air was safe to breathe after the 2001 terrorist attacks.” Com'nt P'Link
“Sponsored by Gary Domalewicz, the proposal would establish a new local law preventing sex offenders from being housed in emergency shelters with the general population. The proposed law is intended to protect Albany County residents, particularly children, who have to take shelter in public places during times of crisis.” Com'nt P'Link
Fort Orange Club Wants to Demolish 118-120 Washington Avenue. From the Times Union:
The Fort Orange Club wants to demolish two buildings next door on Washington Avenue for a parking lot, but opponents say their removal will ruin the streetscape a block from the Capitol.
The 128-year-old social club would raze the multistory office buildings it owns at 118-120 Washington Ave. The space would be used to expand the parking lot from 51 to 73 spaces. The club, next to the Alfred E. Smith Building, proposes to add a wrought-iron fence, stone and mature greenery to block the view. Approval is required from several city agencies, but the plan is being opposed by the Center Square, Hudson/Park and Washington Park Neighborhood associations and the council member representing the area.
"We shouldn't be demolishing structurally sound buildings and replacing them with parking lots," said Richard Conti, the Common Council's president pro tempore.
The buildings, which are connected, are not historic, nor is the neighborhood labeled a historic district.
Conti said that should be irrelevant because removing the buildings would have an impact on a highly visible stretch of the city.
"It's nothing against the Fort Orange Club," Conti said. "It's an important part of the community."
Susan Holland, executive director of Historic Albany Foundation, said the board opposes the demolition of buildings to create parking lots.
This is the building they propose to demolish:
Not exactly a building people particularly get worked up about saving. It's ugly and has limited function. Yet, as Conti notes, it is a functional building whose use is far higher then any value gained from turning it into a parking lot for the elite of Albany.
Even if it was a tacky building covered with vinyl siding, one would have to pause before demolishing a building that provides a purpose that is of a higher use then just providing parking spots. After all, those building tenants will have to move somewhere else if they lose their building.
Read Demolition plans draw opposition in the Times Union. Com'nt P'Link
Troy Record: Mistake' isn't Acceptable Answer. From the article:
Certain questions raised by the State Police raid have never been satisfactorily answered, despite three probes — and then-State Police Superintendent Preston Felton’s promise of transparency in explaining the incident.
As we noted just days afterward: “Official accounts describe the fatal incident as a furious assault on an isolated building that was wholly surrounded by police and contained no known hostages.”
So, with Trim on the inside, surrounded by the police on the outside, where was the urgency in staging a raid?
Where were the police negotiators?
What warranted police armed with assault rifles jamming themselves into a confined space to grab a perp who essentially had captured himself?
Two inquiries — led by the State Police and the Delaware County DA — focused on basic “criminal” aspects of the case. Quite rightly, the fugitive — who also died — was the only one who could be considered to have committed a crime.
Read Guest Editorial: 'Mistake' isn't acceptable answer in the TroyRecord.com. Com'nt P'Link
“At 70 years old and four years into retirement, Jim McCauley might have to go back to work, possibly in the construction sector.” Com'nt P'Link
“The officer who arrested a man now at the center of a police excessive force case acted with scant information, Schenectady County District Attorney Robert Carney said.” Com'nt P'Link
“Party officials are praising the embattled Staten Island Republican for apologizing for his drunken-driving arrest. There's no talk of pressuring Fossella to step down or take a pass on his reelection bid this fall, they say, even if he ends up serving a short jail term for the offense. ” Com'nt P'Link
“Republican Eryn Foster dropped out of the 109th Assembly District race this morning, saying he did so in the interests of party unity.” Com'nt P'Link
“NYPIRG sent over a spreadsheet of the Senate member items for 2008-09, organized by senator. There’s also a separate tab that ranks the senators by pork allocation. ” Com'nt P'Link
Trapani to Run Against Morelle (again!). From the article:
Republican Sam Trapani will face Assemblyman Joseph Morelle, D-Irondequoit, in November, the Monroe County Republican Committee announced Monday.
Trapani, a small-business owner, ran against Morelle in 2006, with the support of the Republican, Independence and Conservative parties.
Morelle won with 69 percent of the vote.
Read Businessman to run again against Morelle in the Democrat and Chronicle. Com'nt P'Link
Strong Opposition to the Shopping Center. From today's Times Union, a LtE on the proposed shopping center in New Scotland.
Ever since Sphere Development stated its plans to build a large-scale commercial development in New Scotland, our town has been roused into action like never before. In great opposition to building a 750,000-square-foot shopping center in our small town, more than 400 people have come out to two meetings the Town Board has held. A group has formed to call for a large-scale building moratorium to provide the Town Board time to consider the consequences of weak zoning laws. A petition campaign is under way to ensure that all our board members understand their constituents' feelings on this matter.
Professional consultants, 43 organizations and concerned citizen groups all gave input to New Scotland's comprehensive land use plan, which reiterates building "in balance with the rural nature of the community" and limiting development to serving exclusively the needs of our town.
Given the state of the roads leading here, I'm not sure why Sphere would make such an inappropriate placement. Even worse than such a monstrosity operating here would be to endure an abandoned shopping mall when it proves unsustainable.
It just doesn't make sense. No matter what Sphere is promising, commercial development that is utterly out of scale with our town infrastructure will irretrievably change the character of our beloved town. As the comprehensive plan makes clear, we just can't accept this. And we won't.
Thanks to Supervisor Tom Dolin and board member Doug LaGrange for supporting a moratorium. I urge the rest of the board members to vote for one.
I also urge everyone to come to the Wednesday public hearing at the Performing Arts Center in New Scotland and show your support for the moratorium.
Read Much opposition to proposed shopping center in the Times Union. Com'nt P'Link
“Higher gas prices and a renewed hunger for locally grown food have wholesale food distributors and farmers anticipating a strong season at the Capital District Farmers Market this year, where the 75th season of the regional food trade hub begins today.” Com'nt P'Link
“The Bush administration on Wednesday announced its intent to shoot down federal rules that prohibit individuals from carrying loaded firearms in U.S. national parks and wildlife refuges. The proposal would permit individuals to carry loaded and concealed weapons if permitted by state laws in the state where the park or refuge is located, a change many current and retired park rangers contend is unnecessary and potentially dangerous. ” Com'nt P'Link
Aubertine Speaks Up Against ATV Trail Closings. From the Syracuse News 10 Cable:
State Senator Darrel Aubertine is speaking out about the DEC's decision to close ATV trails in Lewis, Jefferson and Oswego Counties. Aubertine said the decision cuts off a vital segment of the economy in the Tug Hill region.
Aubertine goes on to say that closing the trails has effectively halted efforts to create a safe and well maintained trail system stretching from Oswego to Barnes Corners in Lewis County.
According to a study by Camoin Associates of Saratoga Springs, non-resident ATV riders contributed as much as $35 million to the regional economy.
The DEC closed the trails last month because they were not in accordance with the state vehicle and traffic law.
Video linked from Aubertine against ATV trail closings on News 10 Now.
Aubertine sent out this press release:
Sen. Aubertine Urges DEC to Open Truck Trails to ATVs
Safe, well-maintained trails bring in $35 million annually
Local ATV leadership must help mitigate environmental concernsALBANY—State Sen. Darrel J. Aubertine (D-Cape Vincent) has called upon the leadership of the state Department of Conservation to reverse its decision to reclassify truck trails in Jefferson, Oswego and Lewis counties as roads.
Mr. Aubertine followed up recent talks with Commissioner Alexander B. “Pete” Grannis, by reiterating in a letter his strong opposition to DEC’s actions in regard to the closing of 52 truck trails to ATV traffic. The senator emphasized the economic impact of ATV tourism in his region and neighboring counties and the negative impact of the DEC actions.
“Like snowmobilers in the winter, ATV riders in the spring and summer make large contributions to the Tug Hill region’s economy,” Sen. Aubertine said. “We need to ensure that riders have safe and well-maintained trails so the impact on our roadways and the environment is minimized. The local ATV leadership has shown a willingness to address concerns about this vital industry’s environmental impact.”
An economic analysis done several years ago by Camoin Associates of Saratoga Springs found that non resident ATV use directly contributes $23 million to the region’s economy, including $7.9 million in wages. When factoring indirect and induced economic impacts, the numbers jump to $35.2 million and almost $11.4 million in wages.
“Because Region 6 has not had this classification before this year, it had grown into a sanctuary in New York State for ATV riders,” Sen. Aubertine said. “The counties that benefit have trail coordinators to oversee these areas and mitigate concerns so that the economic benefits of this tourism can be shared by all. We must have these truck trails opened to legal ATV traffic again.”
The Senator asked the DEC to look into opening the most important trails as soon as possible. The local trail coordinators have put together a comprehensive report on these trails and indicated to the DEC which ones were most critical to the ATV tourism industry. Mr. Aubertine said the DEC should open 6 critical trails and another dozen of the more important links within the fledgling ATV trail system.
“I intend to stay on top of this issue and I hope Mr. Grannis will take into account the impact of this decision,” Sen. Aubertine said. “We would like him to act quickly, remembering the history of ATV tourism in this region, its impact and the steps taken by the counties here to oversee the trails. We can work together to resolve this issue.”
Sen. Aubertine will follow up his letter to Commissioner Grannis by meeting with Oswego County ATV Club President Steve Cronk, Jefferson County Trail Coordinator Scott Burto, Jefferson County Soil & Water Executive Director Brian J. Wohnseidler and Lewis County Trail Coordinator Robert C. Diehl on May 9.
The leaders in the ATV community expressed their support for Sen. Aubertine’s efforts:
“It’s good to have the Senator voice his opinion. We appreciate his support and the work he’s done to address this issue. This issue goes far beyond the boundaries of any single senate district or political party,” said Lewis County Coordinator Robert Diehl. “It’s about the recreation destination we have become and the economic benefits that keep our communities alive during the summer tourism season. There is a reason that Region 6 was the last DEC Region with ATV access on its Truck Trails.”
“As President of the Oswego County ATV Club, we are happy to have Senator Aubertine speak out in support of our region’s ATV issues, and show his concern and willingness to work with us,” said Steve Cronk.
“It is encouraging to see all local politicians getting involved in the sensitive ATV issues that have widespread impacts to our region’s quality of life,” said Jefferson County Trail Coordinator Scott Burto. “We look forward to working with all of our politicians to resolve these regional ATV issues.”
Why New Scotland Needs A Development Moratorium. This letter posted to Terri's Farm Blog explains exactly why New Scotland should be taking time to decide on the future of this town, particularly like when the mega-shopping center is proposed for the Bender Mellon fields.
NS4SED - URGENT!
Thursday, May 1, 2008Dear Friends and neighbors of the Town of New Scotland, New York,
New Scotland Town Board members Rich Reilly, Peg Neri, and Deb Baron have not committed to vote for a moratorium. As such, we are concerned that we don’t have the votes to enact the proposed six-month moratorium. Furthermore, we expect that most of the Planning Board, chaired
