Unalienable, Civil and God Given Rights

On October 30th I participated in two events that enabled me to exercise the 1st Amendment to our constitution, by speaking-up and testifying in two different public venues. The first was at a public hearing related to the I84/Druring Lane Interchange Project, that will impact on certain wetlands and ultimately lead to the development of approximately a thousand acres of the Stewart Buffer Lands. The hearing was held in the Montgomery Town Hall and was sponsored by the NYSDEC, the NYS Thruway Authority and the Army Corps of Engineers. The hearing was presided over by a judge and her decision is forthcoming. An similar evening session was also held in the Valley Central High School. My personal observations of the afternoon session tells me that of those who testified -- the majority spoke out against the project. I understand that the evening session was the same. My personal testimony, for your information, follows. 

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To: The NYSDOT, NYS Thruway Authority, The NYSDEC and the Army Corps of Engineers

Subject: The (PM) Public Hearing re the I84/Drury Lane Interchange Project

in the Town of Newburgh -- 10/30/01 (Montgomery Town Govt. Center).

Good afternoon. My name is Frank Carbone Jr. -- I am a resident of the Town of Newburgh and I represent thousands of Concerned Citizens Around Stewart Airport who couldn’t fit into this room today -- but who may want to speak up through me. Some of the folks, who may be in this room, call themselves representatives of the people are really representatives of the business community and big business. I would also call them snake-oil salesmen -- they tell you something is good for you when it isn’t.

We have all been here before, to the meetings, to the hearings, to the protests, on TV, the radio and in the newspapers. Even the newspapers have spoken-up about this project -- the need, and the fact that it will take many folks miles out of their way just to enter the airport. An airport whose business was failing long before September 11, 2001. We’ve even tried to talk to our own public servants in Orange County and Albany. It all seems to fall on the deaf ears of a government that is out of touch with the people but very much in touch with big business, party bosses and big bucks from taxes of the people to spend as government wishes to mismanage and misappropriate.

The existing I84/Drury Lane Bridge has to be the best built bridge in the county perhaps all of NYS. It is in perfect condition. Why? Because several years ago it was completely rebuilt, beefed-up and modernized. Why was this done? Perhaps to prepare this bridge for a new future interchange. Millions upon millions have been spent to accomplish this reconstruction and also to plan for the interchange -- Perhaps for more than 10 years. Now we know that this bridge is planned to be demolished.

While the agencies have wasted invaluable, time, money, manpower and materials on this boondoggle, other existing important bridges have been sorely neglected all over NYS.

 

I bring everyone’s attention to another bridge nearby, at the intersection of Route 84 and Taft Ave in the Town of Newburgh. This bridge is in need of an entire rebuild from the piers on up. It is crumbling and deteriorating under the weight and high volumes of I84 Traffic. It is currently shored-up with makeshift heavy timbers and temporary steel beams -- stop by to take a look at it for yourself. There is a difference here in that the I84/Taft Ave Bridge carries all four lanes of a busy interstate while the existing I84/Drury Lane Bridge carries traffic from an Orange County country road.

When one considers if a potential project is a want or a need -- the I84/Drury Lane project is a want -- by big business and big business operatives. And looking at the other example -- the I84/Taft Ave. project is a definite need and so is more than 33% of all NYS bridges in need of immediate repair and maintenance. We already have an interchange for the airport and it is the I84/17K Interchange.

This project should be cancelled until further notice and until someone in NYS government -- maybe Mr. Pataki -- can justify and prove to the people that this project’s needs come before all of the other more needy bridges that are in need of repairs and rebuilding.

Sincerely, and thank you for considering my comments -- have a good day.

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On the evening of October 30th I was given the opportunity to moderate a public forum in the Town of Newburgh. I formulated the questions that I asked the majority of the candidates that evening. This I feel was also exercising my civil right of our First Amendment. Hopefully we can all learn from our experiences in life by getting involved in our communities, county and state. We will all be better for it. If you have the ability to write, speak or can somehow get involved in your community I would highly recommend it -- you can make a difference and you are more important than you think.

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I will never understand Governor Pataki and his decision making process. Last year he was responsible for pushing through the “most intrusive gun laws” in the nation (according to the NRA, others and me). Then, after the [9-11] terrorist attacks, he deployed NY Guard troops to all NYS airports. But they were ordered not to keep a live round in the chamber of their rifles. We soon found out that they weren’t allowed to have a loaded clip in the rifle either. Then we saw on TV that many of the troops who were deployed at the airports and in the cities weren’t carrying a firearm at all. Are we playing “tidily winks” or are we at war? Each time that I read the 2nd Amendment to the Constitution the word “militia” has an even more important and salient meaning to me today -- than it ever has before. Resident, citizen firearm-owners are the true militia in this state and all 50 states. The sales of firearms, ammunition and applications for full carry concealed handgun at this time has definitely increased.

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“A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” Article 2 of the Original Ten Amendments to the Constitution. In force December 15, 1791.

The 2nd Amendment protects all of the rest.

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Locally, opening day for the firearms deer season in our region is November 19th. Deer are very plentiful in our region and many antler-less deer permits were made available by the DEC. My best advice is to hunt safe, utilize fluorescent orange clothing or material always and for at least the opening week of the season -- ambush (staying put as long as you can) hunters will be very successful. Have a safe, successful, enjoyable deer season and share your bounty with those less fortunate -- Hunters Feeding the Hungry -- call Bob Ewald 361-5069. Please respect property owners and your fellow hunter -- practice the good neighbor policy.

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Youth Day at the Stewart Buffer Lands’ Hunting Co-op was held on October 20th and sponsored by the Region #3 Staff of the NYSDEC. Approximately 65 youngsters (including 3 girls) hunted recently on the Stewart Buffer Lands accompanied by their parents or an approved adult. Many took their first pheasant of their hunting career. NYSDEC staff was on hand to give the youngsters a whole bag of gifts and bluebird nesting boxes. The staff also fed the young hunters hot dogs, and hamburgers that were cooked on location, on a huge charcoal grill, at the Check Station on Weed Rd. just off of Rte. 207 in New Windsor. It was a great day for the youngsters that they will never forget. I’m sure that it was an even better day for all of the adults who participated. The Orange County Trappers were also on hand with a display.