Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, The presence of numerous rowdy labor and union proponents at last night's Belleayre Resort public hearing was only a surficial and transparent show of support for the project. It is obvious that Dean Gitter has made an effort to rally some people to his cause, but despite their vocal and boisterous support it was evident that this was only a paper dragon. Jobs are critical for all of us, but not in any location, of any kind, or at any cost. Most of these folks presumably do not live in these mountains, and even fewer, probably none, have read a single page of the DEIS. More than one did not even know where this project was to be located or what it entailed. They told us to judge the project on the facts and not to simply oppose it for the sake of opposing it, but this smacks of hypocrisy. They themselves did not make judgments from a careful study of the project, they were simply motivated by money and showed up to say what they were told to say. I also resent the fact that these people from outside our community worked hard to increase divisiveness, and spur an Us vs. Them attitude. In this case it was Jobs vs. the Environmentalists. It is far too naïve and simplistic to pin the diverse and widespread opposition to this project on simple environmentalism, or to say that it is orchestrated by outside environmental forces. Yes, many of us are concerned about environmental impacts, but also about impacts to our way of life, degradation of our rural, scenic, small-town character, increased secondary development, increased taxes, gentrification, traffic headaches, etc. The labor proponents see job availability as the be-all end-all of keeping people in the area, but low paying jobs at the resort will not keep people here when land values and property taxes spurred by the resort escalate beyond those people's means. I am one of those people they talked about who are lucky to have one home to work for, let alone two, and I don't want my land values and property taxes to rise so fast that I can't keep it. Having grown up on a farm in a rural area, there is nothing I would like more than a couple hundred acres to hunt on and cut firewood on and keep a few cows on, but that possibility is out of my grasp in this place (not just Shandaken, but Delaware County too) where land values are already too high for someone making a modest salary to achieve such a dream. The noise made by the four labor reps who spoke, and their numerous backers in the crowd, was nothing more than a commodity bought by the developer. True sentiment about this project came in waves after the labor folks left, as it has in all of the previous hearings. Chris Olney Highmount, NY Dear Editor, As a former President of the ertswhile Bowery Savings Bank ($5.5 billion when I was there), I have some sense of what is financially feasible, and what is not. I also supervised literally billions of distressed commercial real estate while in government (federal), and witnessed enormous losses created out of developer meglomania. The Crossroads venture simply does not pass the smell test for my prominent proboscis. The New York Time's article on Crossroads was pregnant with issues that remain unaddressed, or elided by Mr. Gitter. These excerpts, with my comments, are representative of those issues needing answers. The Times reports: "The $250 million year-round resort - which is supported by most local officials and businessmen - would draw thousands of visitors from the city, 120 miles away, Mr. Gitter says, just as the Catskills' legendary trout streams and misty landscapes drew them a century ago." Two Hundred Fifty Million? Where is that money coming from? Does Mr. Gitter have commitments for financing such a project? When the Concord Hotel was in Chapter 11 a few short years ago, and seeking a plan for exiting the reorganization proceedings, the Murphy group made repeated representations that it had financing for restoring the resort and taking over the reorganization. But on closer examination by the judge, Mr. Murphy could not produce any credible evidence of financial commitments. In short, Murphy was blowing smoke. What has Dean Gitter been smoking? The Times also reports, "If we are perceived as being pro-development or anti-development for whatever reason, it will jeopardize the integrity of the memorandum of agreement," said Christopher O. Ward, commissioner of the city's Department of Environmental Protection." While Mr. Ward's caution is quite understandable, the DEP could take another tack, and one which would be consistent with its mission, by requiring credible demonstrations of unconditional commitments for financing, and also for completion bonding, before spade is driven into the ground, and turned. Again, The Times reports: "Mr. Gitter said he is ready to begin construction as soon as the project passes an environmental review." No doubt he is, but there is a disconnect between beginning construction, and being able to achieve all the blue sky benefits promised by Mr. Gitter. His ability to start ripping up the mountainside is not in question. Rather it is his ability to complete the project, involving some of the most difficult of all improvements to finance, namely time-shares. Many institutional lenders will not touch such fragile real estate structures. So where is Mr. Gitter getting his funds? And if he cannot say, for whatever reason, should he be allowed willy-nilly to "start" construction? Finally,as if the foregoing were not enough, the Times informs us: "He also has been involved in several big projects outside the Catskills that were never built. In the late 1980's Mr.Gitter had plans for a $500 million China-United Statestrade center outside Stewart Airport in Newburgh. Local homeowners opposed it, and Mr. Gitter took his plans to Baltimore County, Maryland, but that project was scuttled too. 'What difference does that make?' Mr. Gitter said angrily when asked about those projects. 'I've been here a long time and I've done a lot of credible things.' Q.E.D., for Mr. Gitter. His dismissiveness of his own failures in large project development augurs poorly for his ability to obtain financing, let alone bringing a destination resort of the $250,000,000 to completion. Even the experienced and resourceful Gleneagles/Guiness organization misfired when in 1988 it undertook to take over the Lake Placid Club and make it into an Adirondacks destination resort. And it had the financing to do so. These examples should be huge crimson-red flags for those decision makers who are trustees of the environment, and also of the Shandaken financial structure [the town stands to be the big loser financially if the development tanks]. Mr. Gitter relies on the market-place to make his plans a success. But what exactly is the financial marketplace telling him about their willingness to finance the complete venture? That is at least one of the critical questions that require addressing, in detail, before he is allowed to "start" construction. Finally, the closest the Times gets to solving the financial conundrum presented by Mr. Gitter is hardly reassuring: The Times reports: "Mr. Gitter said several economic studies over the last 40 years have all concluded that year-round tourism is the best way to reinvigorate the Catskill economy. And he said the project has to be big to attract a major hotel chain and lenders willing to put up more than $150 million in financing. He said he also has to offset the cost of bringing in roads, water treatment plants and electric lines." Does this mean that the financing is in the bag? Clearly not, otherwise he would have said as much. Instead it merely reinforces the proposition that he does not have completion funding which would cover the cost of "roads, water treatment plants and electric lines." But that is only the beginning of the laundry list of costs of improvements and operation inherent in his grand design. Are his promises of glory sufficient to wait and see if he can get financing after he starts tearing up the landscape? Certainly not! I also looked at one of the several DEIS volumes that appeared to be bear on financial information, but it was sadly lacking. I am not surprised that Gitter would try to obscure this aspect of the development - he is hoping, I presume, that no one will have any sophistication in this area. And in fairness, the DEIS does not require it -- and that is the reason why the community should demand it. And, of course, a mountainside torn up is possibly the worst possible type of environmental disaster. His oblique references to major franchises, and to the Fisher money, is - to my mind - worthless. Let's see the commitments -- that is the way financing is done. Do I sound like a broken record? oh well. Stuart D. Root Livingston Manor, NY Dear Editor, There was another promise of hundreds of jobs in this area some 300 years ago that we should remember when considering Dean Gitter's proposed Belleayre Resort project. In 1710, thousands of people arrived in New York from the Pfalz Palatinate in Germany, fleeing war, hardship and religious persecution in their homeland. I'm descended from a dozen of those families; a look at the families listed on the Palatine Monument in West Camp will show many names still common in Ulster County. New York's governor, Robert Hunter, had plans to put the Palatines to work in the Hudson River Valley producing tar and turpentine for the Royal Navy. However, while the area was rich in pine trees, they were not the kind from which tar and turpentine could be made. With all their hopes set on a single industry that couldn't support itself, they soon fell into grinding poverty. Their subsidies cut off by Governor Hunter, some of them boiled grass and ate leaves to survive the harsh winter of 1712/13. We remember, too, the disruptions when IBM withdrew hundreds of jobs from this area. Have we not learned that depending too much on one major employer, especially in a situation where the profits will not necessarily stay in the area, has the same hazards of monoculture in agriculture? While we need jobs and lodging in western Ulster County, let us figure out how we can achieve this through strengthening our diverse range of small independent businesses, rather than depending on the capricious fortunes of a single employer. Carol Maltby Olivebridge, NY Dear Editor, History, especially here in our Catskills, is often forgotten. Over the years we have had a plethora of sumptuous spas impregnated on our mountains, which catered to the celebrity and the genteel, the gourmand and the gourmet. The Hotel Kaaterskill, the Overlook, the Grand Hotel, the magnificent Catskill Mountain House and many many others. History asks - where are they? And history answers - all went bankrupt, and all are dust. Now, Mister Dean Gitter and his backers propose funding a huge enterprise down the road from me, atop a mountain, that requires the destruction of a forest, its animals, and its flora and fauna. In their place will be erected two golf courses, hotels, condos, residential subdivisions and lots of places in which to park cars. This is a terrible idea. First, the disruption of the land will not end with the completion of the building project. In a way the worst begins after the fact. The oily leachings from all that blacktop and the toxic residues from the phenomenal arsenal of chemicals, pesticides, fertilizers, etc., that the minions of a tip-top, first-rate golf course are required to employ for an artificial green will eventually find their way to the bottom of the mountain and thus into our rivers and streams. Rascally nineteenth century poachers would occasionally kill trout in our streams by throwing lye into the water. They'd net their dead catch and be off to the market to make a profit. But in this age the year-round continuing infusions of golf course leakings will have a more terrible effect on the fish and their watery havens. Dead fish and more dead fish for no particular reason. Let us talk business for a minute. In particular, the mega-golf-hotel-condo-heaven on earth-business. The embarrassing truth is that throughout the U.S., in fact throughout the rest of the high-roller golfing world (Great Britain, Japan, etc.), resorts like the one proposed by Crossroads Ventures, LLC, have been going under by the hundreds. There seems to be a downward trend for such operations, and golf, as an industry, is financially troubled. Check out the internet. Would you buy this company's stock? I wouldn't. Mike O'Neil Phoenicia, NY Dear Editor, N. Gregory Mankiw, the chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers said, this week, that outsourcing of American jobs is good for our country. His boss, George Bush signed the report in which the claim is made. "Outsourcing is just a new way of doing international trade," Mankiw told reporters. Bush should tell that to the 9 million Americans out of work. There is a simple solution for the problem: Republicans, Independents and Democrats need to unite and vote Bush out in November, 2004. Tobe Carey, Glenford, NY Dear Editor, It had been a long time since I looked up at the sky at night to stare at the stars. My husband and I used to do that almost every night we spent in the Catskills. With the increase of new homes over the last couple of years, I started to notice fewer stars. I couldn't make out the milky way anymore and I can't see that endless blanket where the more you looked the more you saw more and more stars... One of our newer neighbors put in a very bright, hung very high, bare flourescent light. With celabrations for the 100th year aniversary of the Catskills a time to also bring public awareness to our Catskill environment, what a wonderful time to educate our neighbors of light polution. There are lots of alternatives to lighting our yards and woods and mountains, where bulbs are not exposed and aimed toward the ground. Not only does that make it easier for our eyes to naturally adjust to the night, it doesn't pollute our sky. Perhaps now is the time for Our towns to pass laws againest bare light bulbs and flouresent(7Eleven?) or excessively bright lighting. Let's not lose the beauty and wonder of our night lights, the stars. J. Douglas Olive Bridge, NY Dear Editor, We, the 5th grade classes at Phoenicia Elementary School, would like to say "THANK-YOU" to Aaron Bennett of The Catskill Center! Aaron came in as a guest speaker to talk about the geography and geology of The Catskill Mountains. We learned about the last ice-age in The Catskills, cirques, v shaped valleys, ....it was TERRIFIC!!!! Aaron....you're the best! Thanks for always supporting our school! Sharon McInerney Maryanne Kenly Phoenicia, NY Dear Editor, On behalf of the Planning Board of the Town of Shandaken, I would like to thank Robert Kalb for his many years of service to the Planning Board. Bob has been a member of this board since August 1998, and served as its chairman for three years prior to 2002. He also represents the Town of Shandaken as a member of the Ulster County Planning Board. The number of hours he spent as a volunteer serving the Town of Shandaken is inestimable, and he deserves a hearty round of applause. Bethia Waterman, Chair Shandaken Planning Board Dear Editor, When a large sampling of Americans were asked what they thought of the president's bold ten trillion dollar ($10,000,000,000,000) initiative to build a domed baseball stadium on the planet Pluto by the year 2019, 49 percent were in favor, 41 percent were opposed and 9 percent felt that we should first land a man on the Sun before tackling Pluto (astronomers believe solar landings would be possible once we develop a super high SPF suntan lotion). When told that the average temperature on Pluto was minus 350 F, many questioned if a football stadium might not be more appropriate. (Note: because of Pluto's small mass a 300 lb. lineman would weigh a mere 24 lbs.) Apparently those in favor are the same ditto heads who were sure that weapons of mass destruction would turn up in droves in Iraq, that Baghdad would easily be transformed into a modern city on the order of Miami Beach, and that the Bush's family history of lusting after oil, played no part in creating a war policy which has already and will continue to be disastrous for this country. But you don't have to be a rocket scientist to realize that the key electoral states California, Texas and Florida are homes to the greatest number of space industry jobs. Coming the very same week as the president's proposal to allow migrant workers to work legally in the United States (for three years only) and thus appealing to the large Hispanic vote in these same three states, it becomes clear that the whole space reverence act is not about "man's quest for knowledge" but instead George's quest for job security (something no one else has). So, if you're waiting to find out who'd going to throw out the first pitch on Pluto, I should let you know that the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge is going on sale next week and I will refuse no reasonable offer. Allan Sachs Red Hook, NY Dear Editor, I am not in favor of the proposed Crossroads Ventures mega-resort. To put a golf course on top of a mountain is like putting your feet up on the dining table! The environmental impact report says that there are no endangered species threatened. I do not agree. As a steward of Earth, I feel the responsibility to insure that other species be granted refuge from the greed and onslaught of human ambition. We are interdependent with all of creation. The human domination of the planet has resulted in unattended consequences, which we are just now discovering. "Wilderness," and the members of the human family that wish to live in respect of and in harmony with wilderness, are two endangered species! The proposed site is situated in the middle of one of the few remaining wilderness sites in our country. Wilderness is not something humans can re-manufacture after we infringe upon it. By definition wilderness describes areas that humans have not violated. Once gone we cannot bring it back. In the Crossroads blueprint there is an area called called "Wild Acres." This is an oxymoron. Wild acres are what would be there if Crossroads is stopped from making this monolith. How many "Pine Groves" and "Maple Lanes" have we visited where all that remains are a few token trees? In his book The Dream of the Earth Thomas Berry says: "We should be clear about what happens when we destroy the living forms of this planet. The first consequence is that we destroy modes of divine presence. The Crossroads Ventures mega-resort is not only a local issue. We are at a critical crossroads where the very survival of life as we know it is at stake. On January 8, 2004, the following headline appeared in the Guardian/UK: "An Unnatural Disaster: Global Warming to Kill Off 1 Million Species Scientists Shocked by Results of Research; 1 in 10 animals and plants extinct by 2050," by Paul Brown. This is a report of scientific findings, not the ranting of a tabloid, trying to sell papers through sensationalism. The article goes on to state, "The risk of extinction increases as global warming interacts with other factors - such as landscape modification, species invasions and build-up of carbon dioxide - to disrupt communities and ecological interactions." The Ashokan reservoir is one of the most precious and important resources of the city and other local municipalities. Given the critical need for water, one would think that even the most remote chance that this resource could be tainted would lead to measures to protect and insure that no chance be taken that might result in unintended results. I think it's time that power and money aren't allowed to control and dominate the outcome of issues that concern the very quality of our life here in the Hudson Valley and throughout the entire planet. Please prevent this potential catastrophe from coming into existence. Esther Frances Kerhonkson Dear Editor, THIS IS A TRUE STORY My daughter and I had just finished a salad at a Neiman-Marcus Cafe in Dallas, and we decided to have a small dessert. Because both of us are such cookie lovers, we decided to try the "Neiman-Marcus cookie. It was so excellent that I asked if they would give me the recipe, and the waitress said with a small frown, "I'm afraid not, but you can buy the recipe." Well, I asked how much, and she responded, "Only two fifty-it's a great deal!" I agreed to that, and told her to just add it to my tab. Thirty days later, I received my VISA statement, and the Neiman-Marcus charge was $285.00! I looked at it again, and I remembered I had only spent $9.95 for two salads and about $20.00 for a scarf. As I glanced at the bottom of the statement, it said, "Cookie Recipe-$250.00". That was outrageous!.. I called Neiman's Accounting Department and told them the waitress said it was "two fifty", which clearly does not mean "two hundred and fifty dollars" by any reasonable interpretation of the phrase. Neiman-Marcus refused to budge. They would not refund my money because, according to them, "What the waitress told you is not our problem. You have already seen the recipe. We absolutely will not refund your money at this point." I explained to the Accounting Department lady the criminal statutes, which govern fraud in the state of Texas. I threatened to report them to the Better Business Bureau and the Texas Attorney General's office for engaging in fraud. I was basically told, do what you want. Don't bother thinking of how you can get even, and don't bother trying to get any of your money back." I just said, okay, you folks got my $250, and now I'm going to have $250 worth of fun." I told her that I was going to see to it that every cookie lover in the United States with an e-mail account has a $250 cookie recipe from Neiman-Marcus...for free. She replied, "I wish you wouldn't do this." I said, "Well, perhaps you should have thought of that before you ripped me off!" and slammed down the phone. So here it is! Please, please, please pass it on to everyone you can possibly think of. I paid $250 for this, and I don't want Neiman-Marcus to EVER make another penny off of this recipe! NEIMAN-MARCUS COOKIES (Recipe may be halved) 2 cups butter 24 oz. chocolate chips 4 cups flour 2 cups brown sugar 2 tsp. (Bicarb) soda 1 tsp. salt 2 cups sugar 1 8 oz. Hershey Bar (grated) 5 cups blended oatmeal 4 eggs 2 tsp. baking powder 2 tsp. vanilla 3 cups chopped nuts (your choice) Measure oatmeal, and blend in a blender to a fine powder. Cream the butter and both sugars. Add eggs and vanilla, mix together with flour, oatmeal, salt, baking powder, and Bicarb (soda). Add chocolate chips, Hershey Bar, and nuts. Roll into balls, and place two inches apart on a cookie sheet. Bake for 10 minutes at (180) 375 degrees. The above quantities makes 112 cookies. PLEASE READ THE RECIPE AND SEND IT TO EVERY PERSON YOU KNOW WHO HAS AN E-MAIL ADDRESS! THIS IS REALLY TERRIFIC!! Have fun! This is not a joke-it's a true story. Ride free, citizens! Janie Hennerich St. Louis, MO Dear Editor, I recently attended all four public hearings held in Margaretville and Boiceville. The purpose of the meetings was to allow citizens to comment on the proposed Belleayre Resort Development. I and other supporters listened without comment as distorted and inaccurate statements were repeatedly made. For example, opponents frequently made absurd traffic projections suggesting that the resort would generate 500 cars per hour, every hour of every day of the week. For this to happen, every guest and employee would have to be on the road at the same tine several times a day. A second distortion often heard was to present household income statistics as though they were per person wage income. This is an important distinction because the government calculates household income on the basis of ALL income brought into the household from ALL members of that household (Mom, Dad, teenagers and anyone else sharing living quarters). An honest discussion of wages can only take place if we use common terminology. Eventually, if the process works, the DEC will sift out the facts. My primary reason for writing this letter is concern over a statement frequently repeated that the project by its proposed existence has created divisiveness in our community. It was not project supporters who rudely interrupted speakers; it was not project supporters who hissed and booed; it was not project supporters who were chastised by the judge to allow speakers to speak. It seems to me that a vociferous group has decided that if you don't agree with them, you don't deserve to be heard. It's not the project that's the problem, it's the tone adopted by those who are opposed Martie Gailes Big Indian, NY Dear Editor, In your issue of January 29 you did a column titled 'King and Them.' We would very much appreciate if in the future you would confirm your information. You stated and I Quote, 'Audiences have grown accustomed to HIGH CALIBER PRODUCTIONS under Dennis Metnick, most notably 'Cabaret' and 'Fiddler on the Roof' (Fiddler on the Roof was directed by Rob Stanley).'. As for the many waiting to see if STS will remain at that level of quality, I assure you that we will. STS has been doing high quality productions under various directors, including the 'Sound of Music,' 'My Fair Lady,' 'Oliver,' 'Wizard of Oz,' 'Camelot,' 'Harvey,' Barefoot in the Park' and many more. In your issue of February 4, 2004 you stated that Timothy Scheren was arrested and charged with having sex with a ten-year-old girl while he was acting in plays at the Shandaken Theatrical Society from 1996-1998. First of all, Mr. Scheren did only two performances for STS; one for a fundraiser at the theater and one at the Parish Hall. At no time was he in contact with children. Other papers stated that these occurrences took place in Shandaken. We have tried over the years not only to present good theater, but also to set HIGH STANDARDS for our youth, and we will continue to do so. Sincerely, Dorothy Casey, President Board of Directors, STS Dear Editor, I attended the final public Belleayre Resort Hearing on Feb.19th. Based on the testimony of the union members present, it was apparent that the developer had recently signed an agreement with several labor unions promising to use local, union labor for all aspects of the construction. This seemed strange to me because in the DEIS it was stated, to paraphrase, that there is not enough local labor to fill the construction and service jobs. I mentioned this to a couple of the labor leaders and asked if they had read any of the DEIS. They said they had not . We discussed the apparent unequivocal support of the project by the unions and I was told that the unions will only support the project if the DEIS passes muster by the lead agency, NYS DEC. I told them that without reading the DEIS it looked like the union workers were being used as pawns by the developer. It was also apparent from our conversation that they were not familiar with the project's location in the Catskill Park. One union member who had traveled all the way from southern Ulster County asked me where the proposed development was located and then said he is a member of the "Save The Ridge" coalition - the group fighting development on the Shawangunk Ridge! Perhaps the unions need to qualify their "support" and read the DEIS before they are asked to stand up in public again and give their blessing to this "shining resort on a hill." Larry Federman President, Northern Catskills Audubon Society Palenville, NY what they were told to say. I also resent the fact that these people from outside our community worked hard to increase divisiveness, and spur an Us vs. Them attitude. In this case it was Jobs vs. the Environmentalists. It is far too naïve and simplistic to pin the diverse and widespread opposition to this project on simple environmentalism, or to say that it is orchestrated by outside environmental forces. Yes, many of us are concerned about environmental impacts, but also about impacts to our way of life, degradation of our rural, scenic, small-town character, increased secondary development, increased taxes, gentrification, traffic headaches, etc. The labor proponents see job availability as the be-all end-all of keeping people in the area, but low paying jobs at the resort will not keep people here when land values and property taxes spurred by the resort escalate beyond those people's means. I am one of those people they talked about who are lucky to have one home to work for, let alone two, and I don't want my land values and property taxes to rise so fast that I can't keep it. Having grown up on a farm in a rural area, there is nothing I would like more than a couple hundred acres to hunt on and cut firewood on and keep a few cows on, but that possibility is out of my grasp in this place (not just Shandaken, but Delaware County too) where land values are already too high for someone making a modest salary to achieve such a dream. The noise made by the four labor reps who spoke, and their numerous backers in the crowd, was nothing more than a commodity bought by the developer. True sentiment about this project came in waves after the labor folks left, as it has in all of the previous hearings. Chris Olney Highmount, NY Dear Editor, As a former President of the ertswhile Bowery Savings Bank ($5.5 billion when I was there), I have some sense of what is financially feasible, and what is not. I also supervised literally billions of distressed commercial real estate while in government (federal), and witnessed enormous losses created out of developer meglomania. The Crossroads venture simply does not pass the smell test for my prominent proboscis. The New York Time's article on Crossroads was pregnant with issues that remain unaddressed, or elided by Mr. Gitter. These excerpts, with my comments, are representative of those issues needing answers. The Times reports: "The $250 million year-round resort - which is supported by most local officials and businessmen - would draw thousands of visitors from the city, 120 miles away, Mr. Gitter says, just as the Catskills' legendary trout streams and misty landscapes drew them a century ago." Two Hundred Fifty Million? Where is that money coming from? Does Mr. Gitter have commitments for financing such a project? When the Concord Hotel was in Chapter 11 a few short years ago, and seeking a plan for exiting the reorganization proceedings, the Murphy group made repeated representations that it had financing for restoring the resort and taking over the reorganization. But on closer examination by the judge, Mr. Murphy could not produce any credible evidence of financial commitments. In short, Murphy was blowing smoke. What has Dean Gitter been smoking? The Times also reports, "If we are perceived as being pro-development or anti-development for whatever reason, it will jeopardize the integrity of the memorandum of agreement," said Christopher O. Ward, commissioner of the city's Department of Environmental Protection." While Mr. Ward's caution is quite understandable, the DEP could take another tack, and one which would be consistent with its mission, by requiring credible demonstrations of unconditional commitments for financing, and also for completion bonding, before spade is driven into the ground, and turned. Again, The Times reports: "Mr. Gitter said he is ready to begin construction as soon as the project passes an environmental review." No doubt he is, but there is a disconnect between beginning construction, and being able to achieve all the blue sky benefits promised by Mr. Gitter. His ability to start ripping up the mountainside is not in question. Rather it is his ability to complete the project, involving some of the most difficult of all improvements to finance, namely time-shares. Many institutional lenders will not touch such fragile real estate structures. So where is Mr. Gitter getting his funds? And if he cannot say, for whatever reason, should he be allowed willy-nilly to "start" construction? Finally,as if the foregoing were not enough, the Times informs us: "He also has been involved in several big projects outside the Catskills that were never built. In the late 1980's Mr.Gitter had plans for a $500 million China-United Statestrade center outside Stewart Airport in Newburgh. Local homeowners opposed it, and Mr. Gitter took his plans to Baltimore County, Maryland, but that project was scuttled too. 'What difference does that make?' Mr. Gitter said angrily when asked about those projects. 'I've been here a long time and I've done a lot of credible things.' Q.E.D., for Mr. Gitter. His dismissiveness of his own failures in large project development augurs poorly for his ability to obtain financing, let alone bringing a destination resort of the $250,000,000 to completion. Even the experienced and resourceful Gleneagles/Guiness organization misfired when in 1988 it undertook to take over the Lake Placid Club and make it into an Adirondacks destination resort. And it had the financing to do so. These examples should be huge crimson-red flags for those decision makers who are trustees of the environment, and also of the Shandaken financial structure [the town stands to be the big loser financially if the development tanks]. Mr. Gitter relies on the market-place to make his plans a success. But what exactly is the financial marketplace telling him about their willingness to finance the complete venture? That is at least one of the critical questions that require addressing, in detail, before he is allowed to "start" construction. Finally, the closest the Times gets to solving the financial conundrum presented by Mr. Gitter is hardly reassuring: The Times reports: "Mr. Gitter said several economic studies over the last 40 years have all concluded that year-round tourism is the best way to reinvigorate the Catskill economy. And he said the project has to be big to attract a major hotel chain and lenders willing to put up more than $150 million in financing. He said he also has to offset the cost of bringing in roads, water treatment plants and electric lines." Does this mean that the financing is in the bag? Clearly not, otherwise he would have said as much. Instead it merely reinforces the proposition that he does not have completion funding which would cover the cost of "roads, water treatment plants and electric lines." But that is only the beginning of the laundry list of costs of improvements and operation inherent in his grand design. Are his promises of glory sufficient to wait and see if he can get financing after he starts tearing up the landscape? Certainly not! I also looked at one of the several DEIS volumes that appeared to be bear on financial information, but it was sadly lacking. I am not surprised that Gitter would try to obscure this aspect of the development - he is hoping, I presume, that no one will have any sophistication in this area. And in fairness, the DEIS does not require it -- and that is the reason why the community should demand it. And, of course, a mountainside torn up is possibly the worst possible type of environmental disaster. His oblique references to major franchises, and to the Fisher money, is - to my mind - worthless. Let's see the commitments -- that is the way financing is done. Do I sound like a broken record? oh well. Stuart D. Root Livingston Manor, NY Dear Editor, There was another promise of hundreds of jobs in this area some 300 years ago that we should remember when considering Dean Gitter's proposed Belleayre Resort project. In 1710, thousands of people arrived in New York from the Pfalz Palatinate in Germany, fleeing war, hardship and religious persecution in their homeland. I'm descended from a dozen of those families; a look at the families listed on the Palatine Monument in West Camp will show many names still common in Ulster County. New York's governor, Robert Hunter, had plans to put the Palatines to work in the Hudson River Valley producing tar and turpentine for the Royal Navy. However, while the area was rich in pine trees, they were not the kind from which tar and turpentine could be made. With all their hopes set on a single industry that couldn't support itself, they soon fell into grinding poverty. Their subsidies cut off by Governor Hunter, some of them boiled grass and ate leaves to survive the harsh winter of 1712/13. We remember, too, the disruptions when IBM withdrew hundreds of jobs from this area. Have we not learned that depending too much on one major employer, especially in a situation where the profits will not necessarily stay in the area, has the same hazards of monoculture in agriculture? While we need jobs and lodging in western Ulster County, let us figure out how we can achieve this through strengthening our diverse range of small independent businesses, rather than depending on the capricious fortunes of a single employer. Carol Maltby Olivebridge, NY Dear Editor, History, especially here in our Catskills, is often forgotten. Over the years we have had a plethora of sumptuous spas impregnated on our mountains, which catered to the celebrity and the genteel, the gourmand and the gourmet. The Hotel Kaaterskill, the Overlook, the Grand Hotel, the magnificent Catskill Mountain House and many many others. History asks - where are they? And history answers - all went bankrupt, and all are dust. Now, Mister Dean Gitter and his backers propose funding a huge enterprise down the road from me, atop a mountain, that requires the destruction of a forest, its animals, and its flora and fauna. In their place will be erected two golf courses, hotels, condos, residential subdivisions and lots of places in which to park cars. This is a terrible idea. First, the disruption of the land will not end with the completion of the building project. In a way the worst begins after the fact. The oily leachings from all that blacktop and the toxic residues from the phenomenal arsenal of chemicals, pesticides, fertilizers, etc., that the minions of a tip-top, first-rate golf course are required to employ for an artificial green will eventually find their way to the bottom of the mountain and thus into our rivers and streams. Rascally nineteenth century poachers would occasionally kill trout in our streams by throwing lye into the water. They'd net their dead catch and be off to the market to make a profit. But in this age the year-round continuing infusions of golf course leakings will have a more terrible effect on the fish and their watery havens. Dead fish and more dead fish for no particular reason. Let us talk business for a minute. In particular, the mega-golf-hotel-condo-heaven on earth-business. The embarrassing truth is that throughout the U.S., in fact throughout the rest of the high-roller golfing world (Great Britain, Japan, etc.), resorts like the one proposed by Crossroads Ventures, LLC, have been going under by the hundreds. There seems to be a downward trend for such operations, and golf, as an industry, is financially troubled. Check out the internet. Would you buy this company's stock? I wouldn't. Mike O'Neil Phoenicia, NY Dear Editor, N. Gregory Mankiw, the chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers said, this week, that outsourcing of American jobs is good for our country. His boss, George Bush signed the report in which the claim is made. "Outsourcing is just a new way of doing international trade," Mankiw told reporters. Bush should tell that to the 9 million Americans out of work. There is a simple solution for the problem: Republicans, Independents and Democrats need to unite and vote Bush out in November, 2004. Tobe Carey, Glenford, NY Dear Editor, It had been a long time since I looked up at the sky at night to stare at the stars. My husband and I used to do that almost every night we spent in the Catskills. With the increase of new homes over the last couple of years, I started to notice fewer stars. I couldn't make out the milky way anymore and I can't see that endless blanket where the more you looked the more you saw more and more stars... One of our newer neighbors put in a very bright, hung very high, bare flourescent light. With celabrations for the 100th year aniversary of the Catskills a time to also bring public awareness to our Catskill environment, what a wonderful time to educate our neighbors of light polution. There are lots of alternatives to lighting our yards and woods and mountains, where bulbs are not exposed and aimed toward the ground. Not only does that make it easier for our eyes to naturally adjust to the night, it doesn't pollute our sky. Perhaps now is the time for Our towns to pass laws againest bare light bulbs and flouresent(7Eleven?) or excessively bright lighting. Let's not lose the beauty and wonder of our night lights, the stars. J. Douglas Olive Bridge, NY Dear Editor, History, especially here in our Catskills, is often forgotten. Over the years we have had a plethora of sumptuous spas impregnated on our mountains, which catered to the celebrity and the genteel, the gourmand and the gourmet. The Hotel Kaaterskill, the Overlook, the Grand Hotel, the magnificent Catskill Mountain House and many many others. History asks - where are they? And history answers - all went bankrupt, and all are dust. Now, Mister Dean Gitter and his backers propose funding a huge enterprise down the road from me, atop a mountain, that requires the destruction of a forest, its animals, and its flora and fauna. In their place will be erected two golf courses, hotels, condos, residential subdivisions and lots of places in which to park cars. This is a terrible idea. First, the disruption of the land will not end with the completion of the building project. In a way the worst begins after the fact. The oily leachings from all that blacktop and the toxic residues from the phenomenal arsenal of chemicals, pesticides, fertilizers, etc., that the minions of a tip-top, first-rate golf course are required to employ for an artificial green will eventually find their way to the bottom of the mountain and thus into our rivers and streams. Rascally nineteenth century poachers would occasionally kill trout in our streams by throwing lye into the water. They'd net their dead catch and be off to the market to make a profit. But in this age the year-round continuing infusions of golf course leakings will have a more terrible effect on the fish and their watery havens. Dead fish and more dead fish for no particular reason. Let us talk business for a minute. In particular, the mega-golf-hotel-condo-heaven on earth-business. The embarrassing truth is that throughout the U.S., in fact throughout the rest of the high-roller golfing world (Great Britain, Japan, etc.), resorts like the one proposed by Crossroads Ventures, LLC, have been going under by the hundreds. There seems to be a downward trend for such operations, and golf, as an industry, is financially troubled. Check out the internet. Would you buy this company's stock? I wouldn't. Mike O'Neil Phoenicia Dear Editor, We, the 5th grade classes at Phoenicia Elementary School, would like to say "THANK-YOU" to Aaron Bennett of The Catskill Center! Aaron came in as a guest speaker to talk about the geography and geology of The Catskill Mountains. We learned about the last ice-age in The Catskills, cirques, v shaped valleys, ....it was TERRIFIC!!!! Aaron....you're the best! Thanks for always supporting our school! Sharon McInerney Maryanne Kenly Phoenicia, NY Dear Editor, On behalf of the Planning Board of the Town of Shandaken, I would like to thank Robert Kalb for his many years of service to the Planning Board. Bob has been a member of this board since August 1998, and served as its chairman for three years prior to 2002. He also represents the Town of Shandaken as a member of the Ulster County Planning Board. The number of hours he spent as a volunteer serving the Town of Shandaken is inestimable, and he deserves a hearty round of applause. Bethia Waterman, Chair Shandaken Planning Board Dear Editor, When a large sampling of Americans were asked what they thought of the president's bold ten trillion dollar ($10,000,000,000,000) initiative to build a domed baseball stadium on the planet Pluto by the year 2019, 49 percent were in favor, 41 percent were opposed and 9 percent felt that we should first land a man on the Sun before tackling Pluto (astronomers believe solar landings would be possible once we develop a super high SPF suntan lotion). When told that the average temperature on Pluto was minus 350 F, many questioned if a football stadium might not be more appropriate. (Note: because of Pluto's small mass a 300 lb. lineman would weigh a mere 24 lbs.) Apparently those in favor are the same ditto heads who were sure that weapons of mass destruction would turn up in droves in Iraq, that Baghdad would easily be transformed into a modern city on the order of Miami Beach, and that the Bush's family history of lusting after oil, played no part in creating a war policy which has already and will continue to be disastrous for this country. But you don't have to be a rocket scientist to realize that the key electoral states California, Texas and Florida are homes to the greatest number of space industry jobs. Coming the very same week as the president's proposal to allow migrant workers to work legally in the United States (for three years only) and thus appealing to the large Hispanic vote in these same three states, it becomes clear that the whole space reverence act is not about "man's quest for knowledge" but instead George's quest for job security (something no one else has). So, if you're waiting to find out who'd going to throw out the first pitch on Pluto, I should let you know that the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge is going on sale next week and I will refuse no reasonable offer. Allan Sachs Red Hook, NY Dear Editor, I am not in favor of the proposed Crossroads Ventures mega-resort. To put a golf course on top of a mountain is like putting your feet up on the dining table! The environmental impact report says that there are no endangered species threatened. I do not agree. As a steward of Earth, I feel the responsibility to insure that other species be granted refuge from the greed and onslaught of human ambition. We are interdependent with all of creation. The human domination of the planet has resulted in unattended consequences, which we are just now discovering. "Wilderness," and the members of the human family that wish to live in respect of and in harmony with wilderness, are two endangered species! The proposed site is situated in the middle of one of the few remaining wilderness sites in our country. Wilderness is not something humans can re-manufacture after we infringe upon it. By definition wilderness describes areas that humans have not violated. Once gone we cannot bring it back. In the Crossroads blueprint there is an area called called "Wild Acres." This is an oxymoron. Wild acres are what would be there if Crossroads is stopped from making this monolith. How many "Pine Groves" and "Maple Lanes" have we visited where all that remains are a few token trees? In his book The Dream of the Earth Thomas Berry says: "We should be clear about what happens when we destroy the living forms of this planet. The first consequence is that we destroy modes of divine presence. The Crossroads Ventures mega-resort is not only a local issue. We are at a critical crossroads where the very survival of life as we know it is at stake. On January 8, 2004, the following headline appeared in the Guardian/UK: "An Unnatural Disaster: Global Warming to Kill Off 1 Million Species Scientists Shocked by Results of Research; 1 in 10 animals and plants extinct by 2050," by Paul Brown. This is a report of scientific findings, not the ranting of a tabloid, trying to sell papers through sensationalism. The article goes on to state, "The risk of extinction increases as global warming interacts with other factors - such as landscape modification, species invasions and build-up of carbon dioxide - to disrupt communities and ecological interactions." The Ashokan reservoir is one of the most precious and important resources of the city and other local municipalities. Given the critical need for water, one would think that even the most remote chance that this resource could be tainted would lead to measures to protect and insure that no chance be taken that might result in unintended results. I think it's time that power and money aren't allowed to control and dominate the outcome of issues that concern the very quality of our life here in the Hudson Valley and throughout the entire planet. Please prevent this potential catastrophe from coming into existence. Esther Frances Kerhonkson Dear Editor, THIS IS A TRUE STORY My daughter and I had just finished a salad at a Neiman-Marcus Cafe in Dallas, and we decided to have a small dessert. Because both of us are such cookie lovers, we decided to try the "Neiman-Marcus cookie. It was so excellent that I asked if they would give me the recipe, and the waitress said with a small frown, "I'm afraid not, but you can buy the recipe." Well, I asked how much, and she responded, "Only two fifty-it's a great deal!" I agreed to that, and told her to just add it to my tab. Thirty days later, I received my VISA statement, and the Neiman-Marcus charge was $285.00! I looked at it again, and I remembered I had only spent $9.95 for two salads and about $20.00 for a scarf. As I glanced at the bottom of the statement, it said, "Cookie Recipe-$250.00". That was outrageous!.. I called Neiman's Accounting Department and told them the waitress said it was "two fifty", which clearly does not mean "two hundred and fifty dollars" by any reasonable interpretation of the phrase. Neiman-Marcus refused to budge. They would not refund my money because, according to them, "What the waitress told you is not our problem. You have already seen the recipe. We absolutely will not refund your money at this point." I explained to the Accounting Department lady the criminal statutes, which govern fraud in the state of Texas. I threatened to report them to the Better Business Bureau and the Texas Attorney General's office for engaging in fraud. I was basically told, do what you want. Don't bother thinking of how you can get even, and don't bother trying to get any of your money back." I just said, okay, you folks got my $250, and now I'm going to have $250 worth of fun." I told her that I was going to see to it that every cookie lover in the United States with an e-mail account has a $250 cookie recipe from Neiman-Marcus...for free. She replied, "I wish you wouldn't do this." I said, "Well, perhaps you should have thought of that before you ripped me off!" and slammed down the phone. So here it is! Please, please, please pass it on to everyone you can possibly think of. I paid $250 for this, and I don't want Neiman-Marcus to EVER make another penny off of this recipe! NEIMAN-MARCUS COOKIES (Recipe may be halved) 2 cups butter 24 oz. chocolate chips 4 cups flour 2 cups brown sugar 2 tsp. (Bicarb) soda 1 tsp. salt 2 cups sugar 1 8 oz. Hershey Bar (grated) 5 cups blended oatmeal 4 eggs 2 tsp. baking powder 2 tsp. vanilla 3 cups chopped nuts (your choice) Measure oatmeal, and blend in a blender to a fine powder. Cream the butter and both sugars. Add eggs and vanilla, mix together with flour, oatmeal, salt, baking powder, and Bicarb (soda). Add chocolate chips, Hershey Bar, and nuts. Roll into balls, and place two inches apart on a cookie sheet. Bake for 10 minutes at (180) 375 degrees. The above quantities makes 112 cookies. PLEASE READ THE RECIPE AND SEND IT TO EVERY PERSON YOU KNOW WHO HAS AN E-MAIL ADDRESS! THIS IS REALLY TERRIFIC!! Have fun! This is not a joke-it's a true story. Ride free, citizens! Janie Hennerich St. Louis, MO Dear Editor, I recently attended all four public hearings held in Margaretville and Boiceville. The purpose of the meetings was to allow citizens to comment on the proposed Belleayre Resort Development. I and other supporters listened without comment as distorted and inaccurate statements were repeatedly made. For example, opponents frequently made absurd traffic projections suggesting that the resort would generate 500 cars per hour, every hour of every day of the week. For this to happen, every guest and employee would have to be on the road at the same tine several times a day. A second distortion often heard was to present household income statistics as though they were per person wage income. This is an important distinction because the government calculates hou6ehold income on the basis of ALL income brought into the household from ALL members of that household (Mom, Dad, teenagers and anyone else sharing living quarter6). An honest discussion of wages can only take place if we use common terminology. Eventually, if the process works, the DEC will sift out the facts. My primary reason for writing this letter is concern over a statement frequently repeated that the project by its proposed existence has created divisiveness in our community. It was not project supporters who rudely interrupted speakers; it was not project supporters who hissed and booed; it was not project supporters who were chastised by the judge to allow speakers to speak. It seems to me that a vociferous group has decided that if you don't agree with them, you don't deserve to be heard. It's not the project that's the problem, it's the tone adopted by those who are opposed Martie Gailes Big Indian, NY Dear Editor, In your issue of January 29 you did a column titled 'King and Them.' We would very much appreciate if in the future you would confirm your information. You stated and I Quote, 'Audiences have grown accustomed to HIGH CALIBER PRODUCTIONS under Dennis Metnick, most notably 'Cabaret' and 'Fiddler on the Roof' (Fiddler on the Roof was directed by Rob Stanley).'. As for the many waiting to see if STS will remain at that level of quality, I assure you that we will. STS has been doing high quality productions under various directors, including the 'Sound of Music,' 'My Fair Lady,' 'Oliver,' 'Wizard of Oz,' 'Camelot,' 'Harvey,' Barefoot in the Park' and many more. In your issue of February 4, 2004 you stated that Timothy Scheren was arrested and charged with having sex with a ten-year-old girl while he was acting in plays at the Shandaken Theatrical Society from 1996-1998. First of all, Mr. Scheren did only two performances for STS; one for a fundraiser at the theater and one at the Parish Hall. At no time was he in contact with children. Other papers stated that these occurrences took place in Shandaken. We have tried over the years not only to present good theater, but also to set HIGH STANDARDS for our youth, and we will continue to do so. Sincerely, Dorothy Casey, President Board of Directors, STS Dear Editor, I attended the final public Belleayre Resort Hearing on Feb.19th. Based on the testimony of the union members present, it was apparent that the developer had recently signed an agreement with several labor unions promising to use local, union labor for all aspects of the construction. This seemed strange to me because in the DEIS it was stated, to paraphrase, that there is not enough local labor to fill the construction and service jobs. I mentioned this to a couple of the labor leaders and asked if they had read any of the DEIS. They said they had not . We discussed the apparent unequivocal support of the project by the unions and I was told that the unions will only support the project if the DEIS passes muster by the lead agency, NYS DEC. I told them that without reading the DEIS it looked like the union workers were being used as pawns by the developer. It was also apparent from our conversation that they were not familiar with the project's location in the Catskill Park. One union member who had traveled all the way from southern Ulster County asked me where the proposed development was located and then said he is a member of the "Save The Ridge" coalition - the group fighting development on the Shawangunk Ridge! Perhaps the unions need to qualify their "support" and read the DEIS before they are asked to stand up in public again and give their blessing to this "shining resort on a hill." Larry Federman President, Northern Catskills Audubon Society Palenville, NY |