Letters to the Editor

Keep up fracking coverage

To The Editor:
Re “‘It’s our land,’ defiant owner tells fracking forum” (news article, Aug. 26):

Thank you for your numerous articles on hydrofracking gas drilling in Upstate New York.

I am a Greenwich Village resident of 30 years and own a weekend property in the Catskills by the Delaware River. Pressure to drill is great from the gas companies, local town and planning boards and large landowners. 

Natural gas development is exempt from the Safe Drinking Water Act and the gas companies do not disclose the chemicals used in the fracking process, claiming to protect their “trade secrets.” These chemicals get into the aquifers, rivers, streams, creeks, ponds and lakes. Whether it be in the New York City watershed or not, eventually Upstate water contamination will get downstate and to New York City.

In my town we, mainly New York City, second-home owners and relocated New Yorkers, formed a grassroots organization, Keep Cochecton Green, to fight the drilling (keepitgreen@cochecton.org). We get our message out through community meetings, street fairs, signs and bumper stickers, letters, faxes and e-mails.

Help from fellow New York City residents is needed to pressure politicians with e-mails, letters and faxes over the next year while the gas moratorium is in place and to work toward a statewide ban on this dangerous fracking process. Other Web sites include Catskill Citizens for Safe Energy, at www.catskillcitizens.org, and www.drillingisntsafe.org .

Again, thank you for covering this topic. It has been uplifting to see the fracking articles in my hometown Village paper, knowing someone is on the watch.
 Robin J. Solvang

Don’t be a fracking idiot!

To The Editor:
Re “‘It’s our land,’ defiant owner tells fracking forum” (news article, Aug. 26):

This man who made the comment in the article’s headline is an idiot. I heard him speak at the forum. All I can say to him is: When we have cut down the last tree, killed the last fish and poisoned the last river, man will realize: You can’t drink money!
Bel Gonzalez-Jordan

Legislation needed

To the Editor,
Being an invalid is the ultimate humiliation. The great thing the scientific world has done is bring about longevity, however too many government obstacles interfere to get much-needed help for the elderly and not necessarily for invalids: forms and more forms are made to sit out in government offices.

The invalid is the worst-off in this society, especially the elderly who do not even stand a chance to be heard. Deterioration sets in for everyone, not only the elderly, no matter how much precaution, care, and thought is given to such conditions that might happen in the future. The least that can be done is to help keep the indigent comfortable. Too many broken down elderly become too much of a burden to family and friends, and all without government help. One’s physical condition in old age does not get better. The most we can hope for is to prevent more deterioration. I cannot deny that we are better off than in early years, but we can’t get too comfortable with just halfway better off. The elderly don’t have much time. Once we become an invalid we can be written off as of no use to society and also ignored.

It’s great what the scientific world has done. The experience of the elderly will not be lost and still be of use. This usefulness can and should be helpful to our future generation. But legislation is very much needed to help our oldsters’ existence. Instead, we wait and hope for appropriate legislation to help us survive. Why after years of being useful are we only to be let down as just old and useless? I see many of the elderly just waiting for the end to come. Legislation must keep up with science. All the great scientific achievements must coincide with legislation to be of value.
Geraldine Lipschutz
A 98-year old Lower Manhattan Resident, now temporarily residing at Cabrini Nursing and Rehabilitation Nursing Home

Ears ringing

To the Editor,
There is a fan serving workers at the Brooklyn Bridge. The noise this fan puts out is both deafening and a health hazard to the residents of Southbridge Towers and the surrounding area. Residents facing the bridge can’t go on their terraces and must keep their windows closed. Upon calling 311 I was told that from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. New York City is exempt from any noise violations if doing construction on a highway or bridge. Is this fair? Please reply loudly as I now have a ringing in my ear.
 Michael Wishner

Letters policy
Downtown Express welcomes letters to The Editor. They must include the writer’s first and last name, a phone number for confirmation purposes only, and any affiliation that relates directly to the letter’s subject matter. Letters should be less than 300 words. Downtown Express reserves the right to edit letters for space, clarity, civility or libel reasons. Letters should be e-mailed to news@DowntownExpress.com or can be mailed to 145 Sixth Ave., N.Y., N.Y. 10013.