Letters to the Editor: March 22

Ban fracking on federal public lands

A new Environment New York report highlights fracking’s dirty track record. The analysis of the oil and gas industry in Pennsylvania shows that all types of gas fracking companies are prone to infractions of environmental and public health protections. Over a nearly four-year period, the top 20 violators of regulations included Fortune 500 companies, mom-and-pop operators, and even companies like Chevron which touts its green records. Taken all together, the worst offenders averaged a violation every single day that posed real risks to human health, air quality, or drinking water.

This is just the latest study showing that fracking is a failure for our environment and health. That’s why we’re calling on New York’s Congressional Delegation to support a ban on fracking on federal public lands.

Heather Leibowitz Director, Environment New York

Upstate poised for revitalization if leaders act boldly

As New York’s political leaders begin to negotiate the state’s budget in earnest, we believe that financial investment in the Upstate economy must be the centerpiece of this year’s spending plan.

The Upstate economy deserves its fair share! It continues to lag behind New York City. As business and community leaders from Buffalo to Binghamton to the beautiful Hudson Valley and bucolic North County, we strongly believe that with the proposed plan in the budget, our communities are poised to not only fully recover from The Great Recession, but also recover from decades of decline and despair.

Since 2011, New York state has begun to make unprecedented financial commitments to Upstate New York.

Just look at the Buffalo Billion – it’s working! The investments being made in Buffalo are projected to return ten-fold over the next five years, and create 14,000 jobs. We need to replicate that model in other Upstate regions.

There are some people who say the last great bold commercial idea New York state government had for Upstate New York happened in 1825, when the Erie Canal opened. We believe we have incredible days ahead of us and we remain committed to contributing to New York’s economy. We believe strongly that it’s time for our leaders in New York state to be bold again.

That’s why today, we are calling for the Legislature and the Governor to commit $2.5 billion, $1 billion more than Governor Cuomo announced at his budget presentation, for the Upstate New York Revitalization Competition.

The investment will grow jobs, revitalize neighborhoods and improve quality of life. If we follow The Buffalo Billion model, this $2.5 billion could mean $25 billion in returns. That’s incredibly significant when you consider the GDP of various Upstate cities – Rochester ($40 billion), Albany ($35 billion), Syracuse ($26 billion), Binghamton ($7 billion), for example. When you consider the data, this initiative makes incredible sense.

There are those who will say that Upstate New York should get less of a share than New York City. The truth is that New York City is one of the globe’s largest economies at $1.3 trillion and is incredibly resilient.

In 2008, when New York’s financial services sector was under duress, the entire country anxiously anticipated the worst for New York. When you review what happened in New York City and its suburbs, we see that although the financial services sector was the epicenter of the recession, the New York City area as a whole entered the recession late and exited early. They are fully recovered and prospering.

In Upstate New York, the situation is much different. The economy continues to lag. Opportunities continue to be missed. As we have seen over the past several decades, there are no silver bullet solutions to turn things around. The solution lies in harvesting the great assets of each region, encouraging partnerships from business, government, academia and the community, and bringing excitement and energy to great regionally inspired ideas. As New York state leaders decide where to budget funds, Upstate New York deserves and needs additional attention, right now.

Strategic public investments made by the state since 2011 have attracted private sector investment. $2.5 billion for Upstate New York this year will demonstrate that New York’s political leaders are serious about a turnaround and have confidence in our regional economies, which in turn, will inspire confidence from the private sector. It would be a bold statement that must be taken NOW, and one that our regional economies, our communities and our families will benefit from for decades to come.

Steve Aiello, president/partner, COR Development; John Bennett, president & CEO, Capital District Physicians Health Plan; James Barba, president & CEO, Albany Medical Center; Kimberly Boynton, CEO, Crouse Hospital; Dan Braveman, president, Nazareth College; Michael Castellana, president & CEO, SEFCU; Paul Ciminelli, president & CEO, Ciminelli Real Estate Group; Anthony Collins, president, Clarkson University; Lauren Dixon, CEO, Cixon-SchwablD; Charles M. Edmondson, president, Alfred University; Ray Gillen, chairman, Schenectady Metroplex; Robert Goia, president, John R. Oishei Foundation; Paul Harder, CEO, Clinical Support Services; Tom Judson, chairman, the Pike Co.; James Laurito, president & CEO, Central Hudson Gas and Electric; Dr. Linda LeMura, president, LeMoyne College; Martin Mucci, president & CEO, Paychex; Joseph Nicolla, president & founder, Columbia Development; Ed Pettinella, president & CEO, Home Properties, David Buicko, COO, Galesi Group; Louis Ciminelli, chairman & CEO, LP Ciminelli; Dottie Gallagher Cohen, president & CEO, Buffalo Niagara Partnership; Gary Crosby, president & CEO, First Niagara Financial Group Inc.; Robert Duffy, president & CEO, Rochester Business Alliance; David Fiedler, director & CEO, ESL Federal Credit Union; James Gaspo, president, Citizens Bank; William Gisel, president & CEO, Rich Products Corporation; Mark Hamister, chairman & CEO, Hamister Group; Brian Hickey, executive vice president, M&T Bank; Thomas Kucharski, president & CEO, Buffalo Niagara Enterprise; Wayne LeChase, chairman, LeChase Construction; Tony Masiello, president, Masiello, Martucci, Calabrese and Assoc.; Dr. Neil Murphy, Sr. Fellow for Environmental & Sustainable Systems, SUNY ESF; John Pitton, market president, Bank of America; Tom Reynolds, Senior Strategic Policy Advisor, Nixon Peabody; Robert Sands, president & CEO, Constellation Brands; Rob Simpson, president & CEO, Centerstate CEO; Kent Syverud, chancellor & president, Syracuse University; Omar Usmani, executive partner, Aeon Nexus; Malcolm Wolcott, chairman of Northeast Middle Market, JP Morgan Chase & Co.; Raymond Rudolph, chairman, CHA Consulting; Joel Seligman, president, University of Rochester; Paul Speranza, vice chairman, general counsel and secretary, Wegman’s Supermarkets; Terry Taber, chief technology officer & senior VP, Kodak; Tom Tranter, president, Corning Enterprises; Danny Wegman, CEO, Wegman’s Supermarkets; Tom Young, former Syracuse mayor

Brighter Choice Schools should be closed permanently

The New York State Board of Regents (a.k.a. Cuomo’s Puppets) should close the Brighter Choice Elementary Schools. However it is poised to allow them a new 3 year charter instead of the usual 5 year gift of taxpayer dollars. While this is a bit of a slap at the Brighter Choice owners who profit from these schools, it is not the closure they deserve.

There are significant concerns about the financial management of the schools.

1. The management/administration expenses are more than double what they should be for schools their size.

2. The debt level for the schools exceeds acceptable levels.

3. Cash reserves are not at the level they should be.

The State Education officials who oversee the school noted that the school “is not in sound financial condition.”

Since these schools are funded with New York state taxpayer dollars, this should be of significant concern to the Governor and New York State legislature. In short, the financial practices of these schools result in a waste of taxpayer dollars. A conventional public school which filed an audit similar to this would be sanctioned by the same state education department that is rewarding the charter schools with an extension. Double standard?

Dr. John Metallo Retired teacher, principal, superintendent of schools Slingerands

E-mail scandal will end Hillary Clinton’s political career

Hillary Rodham Clinton has finally self destructed and is D.O.A. for any more political office or elections. Why she would come up with the lame excuse of deleting her e-mail is beyond me. She surely must know that when former president Tricky Dick Nixon erased the Watergate tapes it led to his impeachment. Using her own private e-mail account was clearly against regulations and wrong. I think she knew she’d be caught and now is playing the political martyr. Women will rise up in her support and blame the good old boys for framing her. She thinks that will get her elected. It’s a clever plan and typical of Hillary. “I can’t recall” and other lame excuses in the past have gotten her by. But, this time it’s serious. Underestimating the American voters to understand terrorists and the threat they pose is her fatal mistake. Allowing them to possibily get their hands on her e-mails, the terror thugs will win. That’s why she’s finished.

Tom King Shaftsbury, Vermont