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 New
York Times, Westchester Section
Letters to the Editor
January 18, 2004
Regarding "One River, One Vision" (Soapbox, Jan. 4):
Ned Sullivan, the former commissioner of the Maine Department
of Environmental Protection and president of Scenic Hudson, reiterates
a familiar position in regard to waterfront change at Tarrytown
and Sleepy Hollow. Key phrases like "public renewal"
and "participate actively and constructively" are familiar
for a reason. They constitute a formula that works. Applied with
energy and imagination, it will work again. By stating this formula,
Scenic Hudson appears to share a common vision with citizens,
the developer and with village officials. Scenic Hudson, however,
is not necessarily consistent. In time, Scenic Hudson may return
with a contradictory position as it has done recently concerning
the threatened species issue in the Fishkill Ridge area.
Scenic Hudson intervened to prevent Sour Mountain Realty from
creating a mine on the Fishkill Ridge, ostensibly because mining
would put the threatened Eastern Timber rattlesnake at risk. Yet
only months later and less than a stone's throw away on the opposite
side of Route 9, Scenic Hudson appears to have completely reversed
its position on the snake issue.
Scenic Hudson not only supports the continuance of the Thalle
Mine, it also requested that the size of the expansion be increased.
Presumably further expansion might make it easier to plant trees
in an attempt to hide the scarring that has resulted from mining.
Thalle accommodated Scenic Hudson by making a last-minute change
in its permit application.
Fishkill Ridge Community Heritage opposes mining the Fishkill
Ridge area, including the Eastern Timber rattlesnake habitat on
both sides of Route 9. Once destroyed, habitat of such magnificence
cannot be recreated by the hand of man.
Ann LaGoy
President
Fishkill Ridge Community Heritage |
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