County legislator praised for speaking out on Parkway, but writer wonders why silence from legislators on other local issues
Editor:
The fact that Orleans County Legislator Ken DeRoller considered the interests of Orleans County residents and recently weighed in on the future of the Lake Ontario State Parkway was a breath of fresh air whether one agrees with his view or not. (I heard today from a charter boat owner first hand that the condition of the Parkway is affecting tourism adjacent to the Lake.) DeRoller’s statement represented a much-needed dose of leadership.
It would be/have been refreshing and appropriate in my opinion to have County Legislators reveal similar leadership instincts where disgraceful Canal tree cutting is/was concerned. Perhaps I missed them, but where were our Legislators on that disgrace? It didn’t take a degree in rocket science to anticipate what would very likely happen once the cutting progressed in Monroe County. Looks like those who stand up really do get counted on occasion.
Where have our overpaid Legislators (Ken Longer’s comments on the Gaines Town Board may apply elsewhere as well) been on turning Yates and Barre into industrial wind farms (Sorry, but wind ‘farms’ are for abandoned oil fields and barren areas good for little else) to the detriment of the County’s environmental and wildlife habitat assets? Oh well, giving away County assets hasn’t cost them yet.
When have we heard any of our Legislators—and I may have missed them—indicate where they stand on the somewhat controversial proposed stone quarry in proximity to The Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge in Shelby? What if it actually does “drain the swamp”? Of course, it would be impacted negatively regardless.
The selection of an “old guard” Legislator to chair the group (in place of one who had nothing to do with past errors in judgment) suggests that, rather than look forward, the majority has decided there are no regrets about the many errors in judgment made by the three who are way past needing replacement.
When you’re good at shifting the blame, it just keeps working.
Sincerely yours,
Gary Kent
Albion
