Comments for OurHudson.org

Comment on A Young Newburgh Native Reflects on Renewal by Steven

Steven — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 02:01:10 +0000

What has to be develop is around the hospital (where a lot of the gangs and drugs are) and the whole broadway corridor. One should be able to walk from west st/broadway straight down to the waterfront without feeling like they will get rob or mugged.

Comment on Culinary Treasure Hunt by Myriam Bouchard

Myriam Bouchard — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 20:58:55 +0000

Thank you for helping promote the wonderful culinary treasures of the Hudson Valley!

Other annual events include the Taste of New Paltz, the Ribfest, and many OctoberFests throughout the area!

Myriam
http://www.VisitTheHudsonValley.com

Comment on Photos by In the Footsteps of Frederic Church: Larry Lederman Exhibit at Olana

In the Footsteps of Frederic Church: Larry Lederman Exhibit at Olana — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 21:24:45 +0000

[...] Aronson VideosCommunity VideosPhotosCommunity PhotosExhibitsAbout UsGet InvolvedTerms of UsePrivacy PolicyWelcomeHOME Print [...]

Comment on Agriculture Proposition 3 by Lea Cullen

Lea Cullen — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 00:16:26 +0000

Access to cooperative processing facilities is important for farmers in our region. Preserving the abundant harvests by creating value added products can provide year round income for more farmers.

A great example of this is Kingston’s Farm to Table cooperative processing plant.

http://www.greengurunetwork.com/land-use.html

Comment on Culture & Education Proposition 1 by Betsy Jacks

Betsy Jacks — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 18:43:23 +0000

I applaud the dedicated participants of “Our Hudson” for doing this important work. It is wonderful that this legacy project was suggested, organized and implemented. It is encouraging to see such great minds working together. Thank you all for giving your time and attention to our beloved Hudson River.
If I may, I do have a comment/suggestion for the “Culture and Education” Task Force. The report deals with the important issue of conservation and education, but I wondered if there might be an additional report somewhere that deals specifically with culture? America’s cultural heritage began here in the Valley, with the birthplace of this country’s first great art movement, the Hudson River School.
Thank you again for making this project a success.

Comment on John Haworth, Voices of the Valley by Laurie Seeman

Laurie Seeman — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 02:39:23 +0000

“One of my colleagues coined the phrase ‘no child without wet feet.’ And I loved it because that kind of said it all.
This idea that the river really defines the experience of living, and working, and thriving, and flourishing in the region.

This sentence was one of the best I heard at the Hyde Park presentation.
Thank you for re-circulating it. I wholeheartedly share this vision. That is what we are working towards at Strawtown Studio. It was a great surprise to hear this said by John Haworth and team as the lead phrase for their goal setting mission. ‘No child without wet feet’, also says clean running streams and rivers. I love it.

Laurie Seeman

Director, Lead Educator
Strawtown Studio / Outdoor Nature, Art & Science Programming
West Nyack, NY

Member, Rockland Coalition for Sustainable Water

Comment on Land Use Proposition 3 by Mark Gilliland

Mark Gilliland — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 20:32:08 +0000

A current example of the urgent need to re-balance economic and environmental needs in land use can been experienced along the Catskill Aqueduct and elsewhere in Westchester County. Here, over the last few years, Con Edison has been implementing it’s Transmission Line Vegetation Management Policy (TVMP), resulting in the widening of the right-of-way (ROW) to it’s maximum extent – up to 200 feet on either side of the transmission towers). The widening has been accomplished by clear cutting every tree and shrub from the corridor, and thence applying herbicides to slow possible re-growth. The public outcry from local environmental organizations, from town, city and county governments and from local citizens concerning the severe environmental and aesthetic impacts of this activity has caused the Public Service Commission (PSC) to re-examine it’s vegetation management guidelines for all in-state transmission operators (Case 10-E-0155 ongoing).

At the core of this issue is that of the need for local notification, review and input for TVMP activity. A mandatory SEQRA process would ensure that ecological impacts, health impacts, property value impacts (and the like) would be fully considered, and that proper and appropriate mitigation would be planned.

We, as a community of Hudson Valley residents – whether homeowners, businesses or energy providers, need to work together to ensure smart, responsible solutions for our region. Solutions which balance energy needs with environmental concerns. The time to say that ‘anything goes’ in the name of electricity and growth has long past – we must focus on solutions which embody understanding of global warming, ecosystem services and restoration, value view sheds, riparian buffers and wetlands, protect both endangered and not-so-unique local flora and fauna.

For more background information on the Transmission Line Vegetation Management issue and on PSC Case 10-E-0155, please visit the Greenburgh Environmental Forum’s LORAX working group’s website: loraxwg.blogspot.com

Comment on Culture & Education Proposition 1 by Angela Manno

Angela Manno — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 02:08:45 +0000

When are we going to address the elephant in the living room:

The Lyme disease epidemic in the Hudson Valley, in particular Columbia, Rensalaer and Dutchess counties?

How can business owners and residents press for a vaccine for Lyme disease? It has afflicted everyone I know in the area including myself. This is a deterrent and presents a burden to living here. It must be addressed for this region to be viable in the long term.

Comment on Transportation Proposition 1 by Angela Manno

Angela Manno — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 02:00:38 +0000

It is a shame that public transportation to and from Manhattan is so expensive and inaccessible in the Hudson Valley.
My house in New Lebanon is 45 minutes from Hudson by car (about the same to Albany) and costs sometimes $50 one way. How can we ever reduce our impact on the environment with these prohibitive costs, and when pets are not permitted on the trains either? It leaves may people no option but to drive.

This is shameful in this age of fossil fuel abuse and lip service to “green jobs” etc. It would be awesome for there to be a fleet of biodiesel shuttle busses that serves people throughout the region. I know someone who provides biodiesel in the TriState area. I would be happy to pass along information.

Comment on The Death of Upstate by Rip Hayman

Rip Hayman — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 14:49:10 +0000

Mr. Fleischer’s analysis of the urban decay matched with suburban sprawl is cogent and vital.
This fate is the result of decades of automobile economy which bypasses urban centers for the convenience and cost incentive of outer development, drawing our communities apart.
NY State has one great advantage over other regions: our waterway system.
The Canal is an important connector to the state, but very much abandoned by commerce. Even more so is the Hudson, the great river that made the state one waterway for centuries. Alas, it is now an empty waterway other than recreational vessels. But go to the many European rivers, the Nile, Yangzi or Amazon and one can see the vitality of river communities and thier upland neighbors brought to the shore to transport and business.
The Hudson is the only major river in the world without any transport service along its navigable length.

Ten years ago a group of marine and travel professionals prepared a business plan for a renewed and profitable Hudson River Line for daily liner transport from NYC to Troy and 12 ports between. Alas, the proposal was dismissed by NY State officials and naysayed by NY financial circles busy with their own vanishing schemes.
The economic letdown after 9/11 shelved the enterprise.

I recently returned to my joint venture company in China for the launch of the world’s largest river liner – the Victoria Jenna – carrying 450 passenger with full cruise services on the Yangzi River.
There the river towns are thriving along the busy waterways drawing communities together.

When will NY State have some initiative for this basic river service?
When will the restored waters be used for more than fishing and paddling
while the highways roar and sprawl spread on and on?