GOVERNOR ANDREW M. CUOMO'S PSEG/LIPAGATE - A COMMUNITY'S TRAVESTY

I'm sorry to say that it's been almost two months since I've blogged. I've been rewriting my new YA novel, Flat-Tops and Ponytails -1969 and alerting, educating, and organizing my neighbors regarding a community travesty that has befallen us. Our East Hampton community, voted one of the most beautiful villages in America, is under siege. Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, hired PSEG, a New Jersey based utility company to take over Long Island's antiquated electric system. What Governor Cuomo failed to tell the people of Long Island was that the contractual agreement he signed with PSEG-LI provided the utility with free reign to butcher our trees, install toxic 52 to 61 foot poles within 25 feet of our homes,  pollute our scenic vistas, pollute our groundwater and soil, devalue our property values, and string high-tension lines along quaint, narrow village streets 25 feet from our children's bedrooms.

This is an outrage!

In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln reminded Americans that "this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom - and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." Actions speak louder than words. The actions of the Governor, our local officials, and PSEG-LI have demonstrated that this is no longer a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.

If the governor thinks he’ll win our votes by allowing PSEG-LI to bulldoze their way through our villages and towns, installing 61 foot toxic poles along scenic roads and tiny quaint village streets, he’s mistaken. These high-tension wires are known to cause the following:  brain tumors, childhood leukemia, breast cancer, miscarriages, birth defects, lymphomas, depression, fatigue, headaches, aggravate the onset of Alzheimer’s and dementia and other known cancers, burning and/or tingling of the skin, and rashes for a starter. These fifty-six to sixty-one foot poles are rated for 130 mile an hour winds. What happens if and when we get a hurricane like the one we had in ’38? If these poles were to fall, they will fall on homes, homes with people and pets – the very same people who voted the governor into office. If these poles should fall in front of our firehouse, our first responders will not be able to get the trucks out to help local residents. The chemicals that have been applied to these poles smell badly. Residents in NJ claim that they are suffering from upper respiratory illnesses caused by the poisons used to preserve these poles. The chemicals used on these poles are toxic and carcinogenic and are leeching into our soil and ground water. The chemicals used on these poles have been outlawed on wood structures that are built in our playgrounds. In the HUD manual it states that a real estate appraiser should note if the property in question is near high-tension wires – if it is, lenders are advised not to lend money. There is no denying that Long Island needs to upgrade its electric system, but it needs to be done in a responsible, safe manner.

STOP THE POLES – BURY THEM UNDERGROUND.

 

 This is a travesty created by the governor, and he’s the only one who has the ability to stop it. Who says that things in motion can’t be stopped?  In the late 1980’s, the governor’s father, former Governor Mario Cuomo, conceded that the on-line Shoreham Nuclear Reactor needed to be shut down. There was no safe evacuation for Long Islanders.  There’s no reason to think that any project PSEG has begun can’t be stopped. Anything in motion can be stopped – All the governor needs to do is stop it.  PSEG-LI failed to notify the majority of residents living along the 6 mile East Hampton to Amagansett transmission line project. We were denied a voice due to this failure to notify.  PSEG hasn’t followed our East Hampton 2005 Comprehensive Plan.  PSEG hasn’t created a reliable and responsible 21^st century upgrade for Long Island’s electric system.  PSEG has ruined our scenic vistas.  PSEG has disregarded our historic sites.  PSEG has put our residents in an unhealthy environment.  PSEG has contaminated our drinking water.  PSEG has devalued our property values.  PSEG has disregarded our safety.

 The governor recently held a phone - town hall meeting where he asked residents to contact their local state representatives asking them to encourage small local towns and villages to reduce their overhead spending by 1%. If the local government is successful, the Governor will "throw us a carrot" - he'll freeze our property taxes for a year.

So why is the governor wasting our money? Every day he allows this utility to continue work on this high-tension installation, he's spending money that doesn't need to be spent.  The governor needs to let this utility off the hook. David Daly, the chief-operating officer for PSEG-LI, has told us that they are under a contract to finish this project before summer 2014 or else they will be fired. The Governor needs to let them out of that part of their contractual agreement, so that they can stop and reevaluate the situation at hand.

When you look at this map you wonder why they zig-zagged though 6 miles of  tiny village roads and scenic town lanes instead of putting the lines on a direct route from one sub-station to another - only 4 miles in length, and not impacting anyone or anything.

 

The Governor needs to contact PSEG-LI and tell them that they will not be fired if they stop the installation.

The Governor isn't doing his job - to protect and serve the people of the state of New York. He needs to stop this travesty immediately.

 Our goals are clear:

1. Instruct PSEG to immediately stop all work on the new transmission line between East Hampton and Amagansett.

2. Insist that PSEG remove all newly installed utility poles.

And finally,

3. Demand that PSEG reroute the transmission lines underground along the Long Island Rail Road major corridor.

This is the safest, least invasive, most cost effective direct route for the East Hampton Community. We are asking Governor Cuomo to use the FEMA money he received from the federal government to upgrade our electric grid. The longer he hesitates to stop this travesty - the more expensive this project becomes. Why do we need to pay for the utility company to put up the toxic poles, take the toxic poles down, and then to bury the high-tension transmission lines. If he were doing what he's asked local governments to do - he'd be doing the least expensive, safe, reliable upgrade available to us. East Hampton’s Comprehensive Plan includes putting all future power lines underground. We want to:

·         Minimize electromagnetic fields.

·         Stop the butchering of our trees.

                        ·         Improve the safety of our roads, and,                         ·         Improve the aesthetics of our town. 

 Putting the poles underground is the only responsible 21^st century upgrade.

Governor Cuomo frequents East Hampton when he needs to raise money for his political campaigns. Scott Martella, the Governor's Suffolk County regional representative told me that the Governor had no intention of stopping this installation. What's up with that?

First it was Nixon and Watergate; then it was Christie and Bridgegate; and now it's Cuomo and PSEG/LIPAGATE. What a disappointment our federal, state, and local representatives have been with response to this horrific situation.

It is our Democratic right to peacefully protest and voice our opinions. It is our right and our responsibility. This is how we create change. Margaret Mead was right when she said that, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."