By Rebecca Martin
We were pleased to be on hand last evening to document the City of Kingston’s Natural Resource Inventory Project, an undertaking by the Kingston Conservation Advisory Council. We’ll post more information as we receive it.
Month: January 2017
VIDEO AND MATERIALS: KingstonCitizens.org presents “The Proposed Pilgrim Pipeline: What Ulster County Citizens Need To Know
By Rebecca Martin
Our educational forum on the proposed Pilgrim Pipelines project brought in an estimated 402 people to Kingston City Hall with another 1,400 or so who streamed our event live yesterday. KingstonCitizens.org is pleased to share with you video from the entire event as well as materials for your review and to follow along.
As a reminder, in Ulster County, if you live in the City of Kingston, Town of Ulster, Town of Marlborough, Town of Lloyd, Town of Esopus, Town of Saugerties, Town of Rosendale, Village and Town of New Paltz or Town of Plattekill, then you are one of the potentially impacted communities listed in the proposed Pilgrim Pipelines project and are considered an ‘Involved’ Agency in SEQRA.
Take LOCAL ACTION TODAY and contact your elected officials in impacted communities to request that they make commenting on the upcoming draft ‘Scope’ document a priority by taking a proactive approach to identify potential impacts of the proposed Pilgrim Pipelines project that are unique to your community. If your municipality is not listed above, but you live in Ulster County, please contact Ulster County Executive Mike Hein and ask that the county work with us to organize a countywide coordinated draft scope review. VIEW for step by step instructions, emails, and phone numbers.
Please join KingstonCitizens.org’s mailing list by subscribing to our newsletter for important future updates. We have much in store. SIGN-UP for KingstonCitizens.org’s mailing list.
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KingstonCitizens.org presents “The Proposed Pilgrim Pipeline: What Ulster County Citizens Need To Know
MATERIALS: Please follow along
Local Call To Action: VIEW
Power Point Presentation VIEW
SEQRA Scoping FAQ Sheet VIEW
VIDEO ONE
00:00 – 08:04
Rebecca Martin, Co-Founder
KingstonCitizens.org
8:05 – 13:19
Mayor Steve Noble
City of Kingston, NY
“We have environmental staff that works on these issues….dedicated volunteers on a Conservation Advisory Council. We hope that Kingston can be a model for other communities up and down the Hudson River Valley”
13:20 – 21:47
Assemblyman Kevin Cahill
District 103
“I see many, many Kingstonians here, but I also see friends from other communities. Let me join our Mayor in welcoming you to Standing Rock New York.”
22:18 – 27:12
Jon Bowermaster
27:14 – 44:50
Hudson River at Risk #6: “A Pipeline Runs Through It”
45:20 – 59:50
Powerpoint and Panel Discussion
Sue Rosenberg, CAPP-NY
Jeremy Cherson, Riverkeeper
Andy Bicking, Scenic Hudson
Jennifer Metzger, Citizens for Local Power and Rosendale Councilwoman
VIDEO TWO
00:00 – 59:19
(Continued) Powerpoint and Panel Discussion
59:20 – 59:50
List of Co-Sponsors and Supporters
VIDEO THREE
00:52 – 07:27
Brooke Pickering – Cole
Local Economies Project
Hudson Valley Farm Hub
07:38 – 14:00
Jennifer Schwartz Berky
District 7 County Legislator
KingstonCitizens.org Policy and Planning
14:01 – 18:20
Callie Jayne
Citizen Action NY
18:27 – 20:21
Local Call To Action VIEW
Rebecca Martin, KingstonCitizens.org
20:33 – 27:31
Kevin J. Smith
Woodstock Land Conservancy
“There is a pumping station proposed in the Town of Ulster, and there is a trailer park directly across the Sawkill creek fro the very site of the pumping station. When we speak about Environmental Justice? Here we are. The trailer park has been flooded out several times. It is my understanding that the Heritage Energy property has been flooded out several times as well. All of this is just upstream from the confluence of the Sawkill with the Lower Esopus which is something of a delta. It’s where the Sawkill comes out of the mountains and the le wins it way out of the Rondout valley and they meet….what’s also there is the Town of Ulster’s wellheads. These are the kinds of things I would encourage you to get informed about and to reach out to your public officials.” VIEW: Local Call To Action
28:17 – 32:52
Citizen Question
“Who are the owning parties of Pilgrim Pipelines, LLC?”
33:14 – 38:42
Citizen Question
“Where is the oil being refined when it gets to where it’s going with the Pilgrim Pipelines?”
38:44 – 40:05
Citizen Question
“Can you clear up the confusion for me from the film we saw today that speaks about two different pipelines?
40:06 – 42:57
Citizen Question
“Since the oil export ban was lifted, is there any action in NYS to overstep the 1909 act that it’s in place?”
43:00 – 46:10
Citizen Question
“If this is a private corporation using pipelines for private gain, where is the public good? Noticeably absent today is Congressman Faso. How do you foresee working with him as he seems to be in the pocket of big oil?”
46:12 – 50:00
Citizen Question
“You mentioned the federal government hadn’t a role in this project because it’s an NYS issue. What would Congressman Faso’s role be then?”
50:02 – 51:11
Senator Amedore’s position on the Pilgrim Pipeline. “Senator Amedore stands with localities as it’s his belief that they know best of the effects it has on the community and its residents. We are located at 721 Broadway in Kingston, and we always welcome feedback. We are in the information gathering stages…we are here for you.”
51:20 – 52:43
At KingstonCitizens.org, we encourage you to get deep into your community and local government. Learn the law and process there first.” – Rebecca Martin, KingstonCitizens.org
Thank you: Lee Kalish, Daniel Clark and Prime Print Shop; Carly Winnie, Megan Weiss-Rowe, Kyle McIntosh of the City of Kingston; our KingstonCitizens.org volunteers: Kayce Waters, Heather Schwegler, Debra Bresnan. The Kingston News and all of our co-sponsors and supporters.
LOCAL CALL TO ACTION: Ulster County Citizen’s Role in State Environmental Review Act (SEQRA) and the Proposed Pilgrim Pipelines.
By Rebecca Martin
On Saturday, January 28th from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm, KingstonCitizens.org will host an educational forum on the proposed Pilgrim Pipelines project. Our end goal for the day will be to clarify what are the important next steps in SEQRA for citizens living in potentially impacted communities of the proposed Pilgrim Pipelines project in Ulster County.
Until then, and after which (up until the scoping document arrives), here is a simple call to action that you can take to help your community prepare for the upcoming draft scoping document.
Although this effort is specific to our region, what we are working to accomplish can easily be applied to all of those living in potentially impacted communities up and down the proposed corridor of the Pilgrim Pipelines project. Imagine if we could create a strong push for citizens to call their elected officials and request the scoping process was placed high on their list and to prepare in advance? What an impact it could make in the State of New York and New Jersey!
We look forward to seeing you on Saturday. VIEW our event on Facebook
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Local Call To Action: Your role in State Environmental Review Act (SEQRA) and the “Scoping” Process for the Proposed Pilgrim Pipelines.
On September 14, 2016, the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the New York State Thruway Authority (NYSTA), the co-lead agencies for the environmental review of the proposed Pilgrim Pipelines project, issued a positive declaration in SEQRA.
“A positive declaration, or “pos dec”, is a determination by the lead agency[s] that an action may result in one or more significant environmental impacts and so will require the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) before agency decisions may be made regarding the action.”
In addition to the pos dec, the co-lead agencies agreed to initiate a scoping process and extend the comment period for the draft scope once it is publically available. The purpose of a scoping comment period is to offer the public and interested parties the option to offer their feedback and “help determine the scope of subjects that will be studied in the DEIS concerning the Pilgrim Pipelines.” The DEIS is the primary source of environmental information to help involved agencies consider environmental concerns in making decisions about a proposed action. The DEIS examines the nature and extent of an action that is identified as a potential environmental impact, as well as steps that could be taken to avoid or minimize these impacts.
VIEW: FAQ Sheet on the SEQR “Scoping” Process.
In Ulster County, if you live in the City of Kingston, Town of Ulster, Town of Marlborough, Town of Lloyd, Town of Esopus, Town of Saugerties, Town of Rosendale, Village and Town of New Paltz or Town of Plattekill, then you are one of the potentially impacted communities listed in the proposed Pilgrim Pipelines project and are considered an ‘Involved’ Agency in SEQRA.
HELP YOUR COMMUNITY PREPARE. TAKE THESE SIMPLE STEPS FORWARD IMMEDIATELY:
1) LOCATE the proposed Pilgrim Pipelines project’s desired path through your community. VIEW and scroll down to find Ulster County. From there, locate your municipality.
2) Are you a citizen living in any of the listed potentially impacted communities? If you are, continue reading. If you are not, but you are an Ulster County resident, please go to #4.
CALL and/or WRITE your Town Supervisor or your Village/City Mayor. Include your Council or Board Member President or Chair, too. REQUEST that they make commenting on the upcoming draft ‘Scope’ document a priority by taking a proactive approach to identify potential impacts of the proposed Pilgrim Pipelines project that are UNIQUE to your community.
CITY OF KINGSTON: Mayor Steve Noble (845) 334-3902
TOWN OF ULSTER: Supervisor James Quigley (845) 382-2765
TOWN OF MARLBORO: Supervisor Al Lanzetta 845-795-5100 Ext. 2
TOWN OF LLOYD: Supervisor Paul J. Hansut 845-691-2144
TOWN OF ESOPUS: Supervisor Diane McCord 845-331-0676
TOWN OF SAUGERTIES: Greg Helsmoortel 845-246-2800 x 345
TOWN OF ROSENDALE: Jeanne L. Walsh 845-658-3159 ext. 3
VILLAGE OF NEW PALTZ (Interested Agency): Mayor Tim Rogers (845) 255-0130
TOWN OF NEW PALTZ: Supervisor Neil Bettez: 845-255-0604
TOWN OF PLATTEKILL: Supervisor Joseph Croce 845-883-7331 ext. 11
These items include: Land use, zoning and public policy; Vegetation and wildlife; Geology, soils and topography; Storm water, waste water; Water Supply, drinking water, water surface water, ground water; Wetlands; Cultural and Historical resources; Solid waste; Air quality; Noise; Community character, community services; Socioeconomic, fiscal. (Click the image attached to view the Town of Rosendale’s document. Suggest that it could be used as a model for community).
3) DISCUSS with your elected officials who could help to prepare your community document. Does your town or city have a Conservation Advisory Council? Could your local planning department be of assistance? Visit your local municipal website to find contacts and phone numbers.
4) CALL the Ulster County government offices and request that the county as an “Involved” Agency in SEQRA help to coordinate all Ulster County potentially impacted localities in the draft “Scoping” process:
Office of Ulster County Executive Mike Hein (845) 340-3800
Ulster County Legislator: Chairman Kenneth J. Ronk, Jr. (845) 566-7663
Ulster County Legislator: Majority Leader Mary Beth Maio (845) 546-7878
Ulster County Legislator: Minority Leader Hector S. Rodriguez (845) 401-2000
Ulster County Legislator: Energy and Environment Committee Chair Richard A. Parete (845) 687-4255
Ulster County Legislator: Energy and Environment Committee Deputy Chairwoman Tracey A. Bartels (845) 255-0804
OPINION: On Unity and Tolerance.
By Rebecca Martin
UNITY: The state of being united or joined as a whole.
TOLERANCE: The ability or willingness to tolerate something, in particular, the existence of opinions or behavior that one does not necessarily agree with.
I think a lot about narratives in my community work because narratives and strategic messaging is key to achieving a good end result. Generally, when things turn out to worse, it’s because the majority doesn’t have good, factual information in a format that they can understand. Words matter – and when we fail, it’s because – at least in part – that our emotion got the best of us without a good, trusted (and factual) message to turn to.
So is it ‘unity’ or is it ‘tolerance’ that is most realistic in America if a dialogue is our end game?
“For everyone to be joined as a whole” as unity suggests, means the majority of one side needs to move over to the other. That’s beyond optimistic. That’s pollyanna.
Tolerance on the other hand, “the ability or willingness to tolerate something, in particular, the existence of opinions or behavior that one does not necessarily agree with” seems achievable in potentially bringing together more who live in a polarized state. Neither side loses anything by listening and, there is hope to learn something in that process. There is also a better chance at keeping relationships that matter intact.
There have been moments in the last several months where I haven’t been very ‘tolerant’ while trying to ‘unify’. Recently, I was told by a conservative friend in a moment of emotion, “Now you know how I have felt throughout the Obama administration.” To try to unify in that moment made me more indignant.
Had my narrative been one of tolerance, I might have had a different personal reaction. I know this because in contemplating it now, I am already more at ease.
I work hard and want to learn. Being human, I make mistakes and have patterns that require me at times to take several turns around the barn. The topical in learning is to listen. The deeper, more complicated parts are to pay attention to the tapes running insistently through our minds, trying to decipher what is true and what is not at any given moment. The gift in the work is from time to time, having access to our unique roadmap with a wisdom that is both mysterious and ancient.
On an even more personal note, music is the most compassionate teacher that I know. Beyond what I want it to do for me in the material world, what it provides is that infinite wisdom that I refer to and my access to it relies completely on the truth. To struggle to get there isn’t a punishment. It is work to get back to simple. Synchronicity and glimpses of grace, its reward. The same could be said for having a child. For having a pet. For getting lost in the woods. What a glorious opportunity to see simple in it’s most raw and real form. These are all miraculous reminders as we age and when we think we have seen and know it all.
Therefore, my personal reflection and new narrative today, that of tolerance. I’ll place the concept of unifying in the sandbox where it belongs.
President Trump’s First 100 Days: New York State and Local Initiatives, Policy and Laws Document
By Rebecca Martin
VIEW: Trump Initiatives and NYS Local/State Policy and Laws
Something has changed throughout the recent presidential campaign that led to Donald J. Trump becoming president. Whichever end of the spectrum you found yourself on, the citizen dialogue was unlike anything I have ever seen before. Over the past couple of years, I have witnessed hateful rhetoric. Anonymous blogs and posters throughout social media debating half truths fed by the media, slaying people in ways that were unfair, inappropriate and in some cases downright violent in nature. As overt as it has been, the anger leading up to where we are today has been a slow and simmering trajectory downward.
So now what? America is about to inaugurate an unapologetically crass multi-national business man turned reality star celebrity who lost the popular vote to become president. A man without any political experience on the grand stage to be the leader of the free world.
It is our aim at KingstonCitizens.org with the issues that we take on to understand the law and process around them. Whatever side one leans towards, we appreciate the bureaucratic processes in place because we know that when ciitzens choose to lean in, there is that to protect them as they come to better understand governing. When it’s not working, then there is a need for reform. Coming to better know the law and process provides a baseline, and these safeguards will most certainly erode if citizens do not become familiar with them.
Since December, KingstonCitizens.org has spent time preparing a document that outlines Trump’s initiatives for the first 100 days of his being in office and disseminating their context to better match initiatives, policy and laws as they pertain to NYS, Ulster County and our locality. It’s a ‘living’ document that we will work on throughout 2017 with volunteers to provide insight so that your civic efforts might be more focused and pointed.
Government on every level is a civic responsibility. Beyond Trump, the challenges that we face today is a burden that we all must shoulder. To protect our republic for generations to come – if a future republic is even possible at this point- we must hold our neighbors hand no matter who that is or how different their point of view is from yours – and get to work.
A special thanks to all of our volunteer contributors.
VIEW: Trump Initiatives and NYS Local/State Policy and Laws
VIDEO: Kingston Common Council Reaffirms Kingston as “Welcoming and Inclusive” in a Memoralizing Resolution.
VIEW
FAQ Sheet and a copy of the memorializing resolution and letter from Kingston’s faith community.
We are pleased to bring you video from last night’s Common Council meeting, where more than 300 people turned out at Kingston City Hall. 62 speakers signed up to speak in support or in opposition of a memorizing resolution to reaffirm Kingston as a ‘welcoming and inclusive city’.
In the end, those who spoke in favor of the common council passing the memorizing resolution held a margin of about two-to-one.
After hours of testimony, the memorializing resolution was adopted 5/3. Those in favor were Eckert (ward 1), Scott-Childress (ward 3), Dawson (ward 4), Carey (ward 5), Schabot (ward 8). Opposed were Davis (ward 6), Mills (ward 7) and Brown (ward 9)
Following, the council discussed and voted upon a fee schedule for metered parking and kiosks.
Video from last evening is brought to you by KingstonCitizens.org with thanks to Kingston News.
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VIDEO: 1 of 5
Public Comment.
VIDEO: 2 of 5
Public Comment.
STATE OF THE CITY 2017: Mayor Steve Noble Annual Address.
Mayor Steve Noble’s annual “State of the City” address. This video was brought to you by KingstonCitizens.org with thanks to Kingston News.
Mayor Steve Noble
State of the City Address
2017
“Good evening. I want to thank you all for joining us tonight for what I am confident will be another fine example of democracy in action. While I appreciate the opportunity to share with you what I believe are a number of significant accomplishments we have achieved together, tonight, just like any other night, is about the work. Following this annual message, the Common Council will resume its regular business, starting with an opportunity for public comment. It is this mechanism- this opportunity in which any individual can independently and respectfully express their support, opposition or general thoughts on city matters- that ensures your elected officials hear you. For those of you who showed up tonight to support a memorializing resolution I proposed reaffirming our great city as a welcoming and inclusive community- thank you. For those of you who showed up tonight to oppose this memorializing resolution- I want to thank you as well. If one of our greatest achievements will be to have created an environment in which the public is welcomed and engaged in the decision-making process of its local government, then I know we will have done right. While it is uncomfortable to hear opinions or views that are in such great conflict with our own, it is how we handle this conflict and how we treat those with whom we are in conflict that defines who we are as a community. I believe that tonight, just like any other night, Kingston will shine.
This year, some of our most challenging issues transcended the boundaries of our small city and reflected a greater divide of philosophy and values in our nation. Questions of gun control or immigration, both of which are long-standing, divisive topics that have yet to be resolved on the national level, entered into our daily conversations with our neighbors and friends. We eventually updated our City’s firearms law and are now considering a memorializing resolution to reaffirm the City of Kingston as a welcoming and inclusive community for all, including immigrants- something that has never been done before in our community. These have not been easy topics to broach and deliberate. Even our discussions around parking fees, an issue that most cities must grapple with, have delved into important questions of fairness and equity.
However, the fact that our community members hold such conflicting and opposing values from each other reminds me that Kingston is indeed a diverse community. It is my responsibility as your Mayor to ensure that each of you, regardless of our differences, is heard.
As we reflect upon our successes and challenges of 2016, I am more confident than ever before that we are moving forward. As you will see from the annual report that will be posted on our website this week, our departments are providing an incredible variety of essential public services.
A glimpse into our successes
FAQ Sheet: The City of Kingston as a “Welcoming and Inclusive City”.
Here are key facts to clarify much of the misinformation on the matter of Kingston’s proposed memorializing resolution on being “welcoming and inclusive”. We hope it is helpful to citizens of Kingston as they prepare their testimony on Tuesday, January 10, 2017. Please arrive at Kingston City Hall (420 Broadway, Kingston – council chambers) at 6:45pm to sign-up to speak and to get a seat. The Mayor’s ‘state of the city’ address will begin at 7:00pm, and the Common Council will have their January council meeting following at approximately 7:30pm. Public comment will take place at that time.
VIEW
Initial letter from 21 City of Kingston faith groups requesting Kingston declare itself a ‘sanctuary city’.
VIEW
Memoralizing Resolution
“Kingston as a Welcoming and Inclusive City”.
IS THE CITY OF KINGSTON DECLARING ITSELF A “SANCTUARY CITY”?
No. In the memorializing resolution, although the “whereas” states that “these practices are generally considered to be ‘sanctuary city’ principles”, the proposed action of the City of Kingston is simply to reaffirm that it has always been and will always be that of “a welcoming and inclusive city”.
VIEW: Mayor Steve Noble’s reasoning why the memorializing resolution is not titled a ‘sanctuary city’. (Begins at 23:56 – 25:28)
WHAT IS A MEMORALIZING RESOLUTION?
A memoralizing resolution does not set forth policy or law. Instead, it creates text to cause people to remember. It is a tool to both educate and in this case, to remind us of our principles and values.
WHY IS THE CITY OF KINGSTON PROPOSING A MEMORALIZING RESOLUTION THAT “REAFFIRMS KINGSTON AS A WELCOMING AND INCLUSIVE CITY”?
In November of 2016, Kingston’s Mayor Steve Noble received a letter from 21 members of the local faith community requesting that Kingston declare itself a ‘Sanctuary City”. In response and following process, the mayor issued a communication to Alderman-at-Large James Noble requesting that their concerns be referred to the appropriate council committee for discussion. The matter was assigned to the Kingston Common Council’s Laws and Rules Committee. After much research and collaboration, extensive questioning of both Mayor Noble and Police Chief Egidio Tinti, debate and public comment, a memoralizing resolution was drafted based on models adopted by municipalities from across the nation, reaffirming Kingston as a “welcoming and inclusive city”. The memorializing resolution passed positively out of the Kingston Common Council Laws and Rules Committee for a full council vote on January 10th.
VIEW: Mayor Steve Noble explains the context of the memorializing resolution (begins at 1:10 – 7:54).
IS THE CITY OF KINGSTON VIOLATING ANY LAWS BY PASSING A MEMORALIZING RESOLUTION THAT “REAFFIRMS KINGSTON AS A WELCOMING AND INCLUSIVE CITY”?
No. The City of Kingston Police Chief Egidio Tinti reviewed the memoralizing resolution and found no conflicts with existing practices and procedures of the Kingston Police Department. Immigration is federal law, not local law. Kingston, and all US municipalities, is barred from making laws relating to immigration.
IS THE CITY OF KINGSTON AT RISK OF LOSING FEDERAL FUNDING BY PASSING A MEMORALIZING RESOLUTION THAT “REAFFIRMS KINGSTON AS A WELCOMING AND INCLUSIVE CITY”?
No. The current memoralizing resolution does not change any existing laws, rules or practices of the City of Kingston or the Kingston Police Department and is consistent with the principles of the NYS and US Constitution.
READ: “Trump Can’t Force “sancutary cities” to enforce his deportation plans.” in the Washington Post.