by Tom Ellis First-term Albany Common Council member Frank Commisso, Jr., has figured out how Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings operates and is determined to make substantive changes. A member of the common council’s finance committee, he led a revolt over two proposed bonding ordinances – one for $7 million to expand the city’s Rapp Road landfill yet … Jerry Jennings Blinked
Subscribe to "Dinner with Save the Pine Bush" on iTunes! Table of Contents Dan Van Riper from albanyweblog.com speaks about The Proposed Sewage Treatment Plant in Lincoln Park, May 16, 2019 Anne Pope, Rev Sam Johnson and Stephanie Woodard speak about The Rapp Road Historical Association, January 16, 2019 Ward Stone, Former NYS Wildlife Pathologist and Keith … Podcasts
by Lynne Jackson ALBANY: Dr. Gary Kleppel, professor of biology at the University of Albany, outlined the economic and environmental costs of sprawl at Save the Pine Bush’s June veggie lasagna dinner at the First Presbyterian Church in Albany. Dr. Kleppel opened his presentation by challenging conservation groups with the most important mission, “curbing urban … Sprawl Costs Money
Crossgates Shouldn’t Expand – But Who Will Stop Them? Crossgates Shouldn’t Expand But Who Will Stop Them? By Daniel Van Riper Here are some reasons why the Pyramid Corporation’s Crossgates Maul shouldn’t be allowed to double in size again: (1) They don’t pay their taxes. After the last time Crossgates doubled in size, the town … Crossgates Shouldn’t Expand – But Who Will Stop Them?
COLONIE: In the spring of 1997, developers proposed to build the Golden Bear Golf Dome on 19 acres of Pine Bush in the Town of Colonie. Save the Pine Bush volunteers attended all of the public hearings about the project, read and commented on the environmental impact statements, and made known to the Planning Board … 9
RENSSELAER, NY: Rensselaer residents took a big step toward closing the Dunn (Waste Connections) construction and demolition (C&D) debris landfill in November when they elected Mike Stammel as mayor of their city. Mr. Stammel, also chairman of the Rensselaer County Legislature, has taken an anti-dump stance and works with locals eager to immediately close the … Dunn Landfill — Stinks Up the School; Parents and Residents Protest
Action Alert! Touhey Gets A Boost Politicians Defy Voters Action Alert! Touhey Gets A Boost Politicians Defy Voters By Daniel Van Riper The Zoning Committee of the Albany Common Council handed stubborn developer Charlie Touhey a key approval of his proposed destruction of Pine Bush at 300 Washington Avenue Extension. By a vote of 3 … Action Alert! Touhey Gets A Boost Politicians Defy Voters
Public Hearings-Let Your Voice Be Heard! Public Hearings-Let Your Voice Be Heard! Jan./Feb. 91 Tuesday, January 22, 7:30 p.m.-Meeting of the Town Board of Guilderland An area of the Pine Bush has been proposed to be re-zoned to R-40, one house per acre in a clustered development. If this land cannot be purchased for preserve … Public Hearings-Let Your Voice Be Heard!
by Lynne Jackson COLONIE: The Town of Colonie held a public hearing on July 14 for its “Town of Colonie Final Draft Comprehensive Plan.” The Town began the comprehensive planning process in 2003 with a town-wide survey, and had held dozens of public meetings about the plan. The Town is expected to adopt the plan … Town of Colonie to Adopt Comprehensive Plan
We are a group of citizens in the Town of Bethlehem, in Albany County, in the State of New York, concerned with the environmental health of this town, and concerned about three fossil fuel projects being shoved down our throats by large and powerful corporations and their government apologists, namely: CSX railway terminal and … What is Bethlehem Ecodefense?
by Tom Ellis ALBANY, NY— “The future is bright,” said John Ciovacco, President of Aztech Geothermal, at the November 15 SPB dinner. He spoke about “Geothermal Heat Pump Systems as One solution to Climate Change.” Aztech was founded in 2007, the first installations were in 2009, and 350 installations have now been completed. Mr. Ciovacco … Geothermal Power is Possible in the City
Save the Pine Bush Common Council Muzzles Hearing Pine Bush Residents Outraged Common Council Muzzles Hearing Pine Bush Residents Outraged by Daniel W. Van Riper, Mar./Apr. 92 Chanting, “We want to speak! We want to speak!” some twenty or so residents from the Pinehurst and Dunes developments in the Pine Bush expressed outrage at an … 7
New York State Historic Archaeological Site Inventory Form Stanford Home Hearing Information Hearing Notes January 23 Hearing Canadians are Coming! Archeological Information Photos – Outdoor Photos – Indoor Bonding Editorial Preservation Donate Contact New York State Historic Archaeological Site Inventory Form NYS OFFICE OF PARKS, RECREATION & HISTORIC PRESERVATION (518) 237-8643 For Office … New York State Historic Archaeological Site Inventory Form
ALBANY: Eighteen supporters of Save the Pine Bush attended the Appelate Division oral argument in the case about the proposed hotel in the Pine Bush in May. Attorney Steve Downs argued the case for Save the Pine Bush. Save the Pine Bush won the case in Supreme Court. The City of Albany had asked the … Oral Argument in Hotel Case Heard in Appellate Division
ALBANY: The Honorable Dominick Calsolaro (1st Ward) discovered that a significant US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) letter was missing from the proposed hotel’s Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS). This 8-page letter, written on February 1, 2007, offers a rebuttal to many points made by the developer for this proposed project. One of the most … What is Missing?
ALBANY: First proposed in the fall of 2003, this “Residence Inn” proposal for the Albany Pine Bush is back. The developer has written a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). The public may now comment on this proposal and the DEIS at the hearing scheduled for Monday, April 18 at 7:00 at Albany City Hall, Eagle … Residence Inn Hotel – Proposal is Back!
Home From Nowhere – Book Review Home From Nowhere Book Review by Lynne Jackson As a child growing up in the suburbs in the sixties, I really wanted sidewalks. I could not understand why there were no sidewalks. I envied the children who walked to school, and were even allowed to walk home at lunch. … Home From Nowhere – Book Review
ALBANY, NY — Save the Pine Bush and the Alliance for Environmental Renewal have filed a notice of intent to sue Pyramid Crossgates over its violation of its waste water permit for the past three years. Pyramid Crossgates has a State Pollution Discharge Elimination System (“SPDES”) Permit 0107930 to discharge sodium into the Krum Kill. … SPB Files Intent to Sue
Million Worker March Million Worker March Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4 | Page 5 | Page 6 | Home Billionaires sing "Don’t Vote!" IMG_3061.JPG The media A great speaker Haitian Flags So many unions represented A woman holds a Haitian flag IMG_3072.JPG Union members from Japan Union members from … 4
Surprise! They Can’t Build There – YMCA May Move Surprise! They Can’t Build There YMCA May Move By Daniel Van Riper Finally convinced that Save the Pine Bush means business, Capital District YMCA President John Flynn has announced that he is giving up his two year old demand that State owned Pine Bush Preserve land … Surprise! They Can’t Build There – YMCA May Move
ALBANY: Theraldson, the largest hotel corporation in the United States (sometimes known as the “Wal-Mart” of hotels) is back, asking to build a hotel on occupied Karner Blue habitat. Yes, Save the Pine Bush won our lawsuit against the City of Albany over the re-zoning the 3.6 acre site of the proposed hotel project. But, … The Hotel is Back and Badder than Ever!
GUILDERLAND, NY: If you haven’t already heard or seen it, March 26 was an horrible day for the trees on the site for the proposed Costco; Respect and adherence to the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR) by the Town of Guilderland; and any expectation for a fair process from the Guilderland Planning … Tree Clear Cut
ALBANY, NY: Retired National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologist Hugh “Woody” Johnson spoke at the November 20 Save the Pine Bush dinner about “How Trump could ruin our national Weather Service and trump our chances to reverse climate change for good.” Using a multi-page Power Point, Hugh quickly covered a considerable amount of material, and, when … National Weather Service and the Climate Crisis
by Tom Ellis About 25 years back, Albany politicians made a foolish decision to purchase a large property in Coeymans (ten miles south of Albany), hoping to site a regional landfill there to replace the Rapp Road Landfill that DEC was then threatening to soon close. Albany took many years purchasing the property, eventually spending … The City is Selling 363 Acres of Land in Coeymans
Press Release from DEC and State Park on Wednesday, September 17, 2014 Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joe Martens and Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (State Parks) Commissioner Rose Harvey today released the 2014 State Open Space Conservation Plan for public comment. The plan guides State Environmental Protection Fund investments in … DEC and State Parks Release State Open Space Conservation Plan for Public Comment Public Comments Accepted Through December 17; Public Hearings to be Held Statewide
by Lynne Jackson ALBANY: Citizens asserted their right to speak to elected officials at a meeting of the Albany Common Council’s General Services, Health and Environment Committee on December 1. Only one item was on the agenda: to consider the resolution offered by the Honorable Dominick Calsolaro to dedicate the Fox Run Estate Mobile Home … Common Council votes to Suppress Public Comment
by Steve Downs On September 1, 1976, a new law, the State Environmental Quality Review Act, SEQRA, came into effect which required comprehensive environmental planning at the beginning of every environmentally significant project – the problem was that nobody was sure just how the new law worked. Just two years later the first published law … A Tribute To Lew Oliver
Congratulations to Tom Ellis for his excellent letter-to-the-editor which appeared in Thursday’s Times Union (12/30/10) concerning the SWMP plan, the proposed solid waste authority and the possibility of an incinerator being constrducted in the area. The letter is shown below. In addition to the points Tom made in his letter, it should be mentioned that … Rethink Plans for Disposal Facility
by Hugh Johnson Judith Enck, former EPA Regional Director of New York State’s Region II, spoke at the SPB dinner in June; Part One of her speech was published in the Aug/Sept newsletter; here is Part Two: ALBANY. NY: On Day 68, Trump actually traveled to the EPA Headquarters to announce a reduction in the … How Can We Reverse the Tide of Trump’s Plan to Eliminate the U.S. EPA? – Part Two
By Daniel Van Riper Every time the City of Albany Common Council Members approve a “development” in the Pine Bush, it results in a loss of revenue to the City that can only be made up by raising taxes. In other words, this year’s tax hikes are directly caused by the last few years of … Sprawl Raises Taxes: The Myth Of The Expanding Tax Base
ALBANY, NY — Members of Save the Pine Bush, Sierra Club, and residents of Avila, retirement community, support the resolution being introduced by the Honorable Dominick Calsolaro to dedicate the Fox Run Estate Mobile Home Park to the Albany Pine Bush Preserve. The City of Albany was required to dedicate this land to the Preserve … Press Conference, Monday, November 21, 2005 6:30 PM
from TheDailyGreen.com Give Up Plastic (and Paper) Bags Cost: $1Do you opt for paper or plastic when at the grocery store? Neither is a good choice. Twelve million barrels of oil were used to make the 88.5 billion plastic bags consumed in the United States last year. And it takes four times more energy to … Sally’s Recycling Corner — New Year Green Resolutions!
The Next Save the Pine Bush Dinners will be on the following dates at our new location: Westminster Presbyterian Church, 85 Chestnut Street, Albany. Parking is adjacent to the entrance on the west. January 18, 2012 Wednesday February 15, 2012 Wednesday March 22, 2012 Thursday April 18, 2012 Wednesday May 16, 2012 Wednesday June 20, … Mark Your Calendars!
Jim Travers, a resident of Coeymans, NY, attended the February 15 Save the Pine Bush dinner and heard Jack Lauber speak about Waste-to-Energy. These are Jim Travers’ comments. – Ed Please forward this email to all those on the Save The Pine Bush mail list. Feedback is welcomed. Thanks. Jim Travers I do not think … Waste to Energy Seems Like A Good Idea, But Is It Good For The Environment?
Published on Tuesday, December 1, 2020 – 17:34 in the Altamont Enterprise Lynne Jackson of Save the Pine Bush speaks at a press conference announcing a Nov. 20 court decision to halt Pyramid’s plans to build a Costco and 222 residential units near Crossgates Mall in Guilderland. GUILDERLAND — A week after a judge in Albany … Second lawsuit filed over Guilderland Planning Board’s approval of Pyramid project
by Daniel W. Van Riper, Oct./Nov. 90 Friday, October 5, SPB attorney Lewis B. Oliver filed for aninjunction to stop work on the expansion of the Albany CountyLandfill. Arguing in Albany County Court before Judge John G. Conner,Oliver presented a paper trail that convincingly demonstrated thatthe NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Cityof … Stop the Dump! SPB Files for Injunction
by John Wolcott A great unanswered environmental acquisition mystery of the Capital District is the long failed Albany County Historic and Nature Preserve and Historic and Nature Preserve Trust Law of 1976. This law was never implemented. About the only thing ever done with this well designed and well intended law was to place the … An Albany County Environmental Mystery
by John Wolcott by John Wolcott Two hundred years ago, the Town of ”Guilderlandt” was organized and set up by an act of the State Legislature. The Dutch language, at the time, was losing out to English and becoming poorly used. The Indians were continuing to lose out to non-Indians, and the environment would, eventually, … Guilderlandt
By Tom Ellis RENSSELAER: Andrew Cuomo has now been governor for ten years. He constantly congratulates himself for being a wonderful forward-looking environmentalist and as someone serious about fighting climate change. Missing from his action plans are commitments to detoxify the economy, reduce solid wastes, and correctly manage what we discard. I frequently observe tremendous … Deconstruction Not Demolition
by Tom Ellis RENSSELAER, NY: The Covid-19 pandemic highlights a major problem with government in the USA, NYS, and locally. Executive agencies employ vastly more people than legislatures despite the complaint that legislatures are bloated. Elected executives (presidents, governors, county executives) appoint commissioners and other top staff, often subject to approval by a legislative body, … COVID-19 and Dunn Landfill
by Tom Ellis ALBANY, NY: On August 21, Lou Ismay completed the lecture he began in April about his experiences teaching and leading the Environmental Forum course at the University at Albany beginning fifty years ago. Lynne Jackson introduced Lou saying Lou’s office was in the Arts building. Lou hung strings from the ceiling connected … Lou Ismay and the Environmental Forum
By Sally Cummings Sally has researched how many things that are thrown into the trash, that end up in the landfill, can actually be sold and recycled into useful products. Here’s 10 quick tips for reusing coffee grounds, March/April, 2012 Sally’s Recycling Corner –Where Can I Find a Trustworthy E-cycler? July/August, 2011 Sally’s Recycling Corner … Sally’s Recycling Corner
By Tom Ellis COHOES: Lights Out Norlite, NATURE Lab, Saratoga Sites Against Norlite Emissions, and the Hudson Mohawk Environmental Action Network held a virtual Hazardous Waste School on December 16 at which four hazardous waste experts discussed various aspects of the issue. The program concerned the Norlite hazardous waste incinerator in Cohoes. Bruce Buckheit worked … Battling Hazardous Waste Incineration
WHEREAS: Rezsin Adams was born on February 13, 1927, and grew up in the Bronx; and WHEREAS: Rezsin is an unassuming hero, a woman of small stature who always has a smile on her face. However, she has been at the heart of Albany’s peace and justice movement for decades and was dubbed the “Grande … Proclamation — Monday, February 13, 2017 to be: “Rezsin Adams Day”
by Tom Ellis Rensselaer city residents have intensified their efforts to stop nearly 100 large trucks per day from driving through the downtown. The trucks, which have 18, 22, 24, or 26 wheels. supposedly carry construction and demolition (C&D) debris wastes. They traverse Broadway and turn east onto Partition Street with its steep hill en-route … Updates in Brief — Trucks, Zero-Waste Tulipfest and a Leaking Landfill
Now We’ve Got A Bond Act: Jeff Jones of Environmental Advocates By Daniel Van Riper Jeff Jones, of Environmental Advocates, speaking at the November lasagna dinner at !st Presbyterian Church in Albany, had an interesting story about the origins of the Bond Act, which, of course, is now in effect. Earlier this year, Environmental Advocates … November SPB Dinner Speakers
Please RSVP to Mark Platt at 462-4062 or email mplaat1@nycap.rr.com Located just south of Pinehurst Boulevard, 40 Karner Road is a key parcel that links Karner Meadows and Pine Valley portions of the preserve. It also protects the headwaters of the Kiakout Kill and provides a scenic buffer along New Karner Road. 40 Karner Road … 40 Karner Road Clean Up Saturday April 16 at 9 AM
By Lewis B. Oliver Jr., Esq Dear Save the Pine Bush Newsletter: I was in Albany Med recovering from an operation on September 16 and was unable to participate in the remembrance for Reszin. (Also, I am not computer literate and could not have gone online!). What always impressed me about Reszin was her deep … Lew Oliver Remembers Rezsin and Ted Adams
by Lynne Jackson GUILDERLAND, NY: Rapp Road Development, a corporate entity of Pyramid/Crossgates, is proposing to build on about 46 acres of land. Originally, the proposal was to build 222 apartments on 20 acres of land adjacent to the Pine Bush preserve. After the Town Planning Board appointed themselves the lead agency, the project was … Proposed Crossgates Development
by Lynne Jackson, Mar./Apr. 92 The Karner Blue has been proposed to be listed as an endangered species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. If the butterfly is listed as an endangered species with a designated critical habitat, any developments proposed within the habitat would need to have a federal permit in order to … Letter-Writing Made a Difference Your Letters Needed to Help the Karner Blue Butterfly