Drilling's economic outlook not good
The vision that Anna Marie Lusins-McLachlan sees in the future for gas drilling, as a "promising industry" (Feb. 20 letter to the editor) doesn't look quite so promising when one looks more closely at actual figures.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics data for Pennsylvania, New York and nationally for 2003 to late 2009 concerning rates for civilian unemployment and average weekly wages shows: the five-year average monthly unemployment was 5.51 percent for Pennsylvania, 5.57 percent for New York and 5.88 percent nationally. The average weekly wage for that period _ $805 for Pennsylvania, $868 for New York and $757 nationally. Economic vitality for Pennsylvania? Hardly.
Compare also annual oil and gas extraction industry employees as percentage of total employees in Pennsylvania: From 2001 to 2007, they were 0.03 percent, 0.03 percent, 0.07 percent, 0.07 percent, 0.04 percent 0.04 percent and 0.05 percent. The industry's annual payrolls as a percentage of statewide annual payrolls from 2001 to 2007 respectively were 0.04 percent, 0.05 percent, 0.1 percent, 0.1 percent, 0.06 percent, 0.07 percent and 0.07 percent. Economic boon?
These figures indicate that New York state will not experience significant economic impact from gas drilling. Meanwhile, shale-gas extraction has brought environmental degradation to Pennsylvania's air, water and soil. We in New York are facing these same threats, as well as the loss of millions of gallons of fresh water per well, pipelines crisscrossing the land, problems with disposal of fracking fluids, destruction of roads and lands by heavy truck traffic, noise, lowering of property values, health threats from polluted air and water, radioactivity from the wells and loss of aesthetic values of living in a clean, quiet, rural area.
By far, the best approach is dedicated conservation of our resources and great caution at every step of any proposed gas drilling.
Jean T. Miller
Maryland
Town pays plenty for city services
In reference to Mr. Griswold's Feb. 18 letter, I would like to explain and show the budget figures for the services he mentions.
Our fire contract with the city was negotiated by past fire commissioners based on a very rich formula. The town board has no jurisdiction over this contract. For 2010, the town will pay $842,398, an increase of 23.65 percent over last year.
The ambulance contract is $15,500 to have the ambulance available. To this, town residents are charged $300 to $400 depending on crew and equipment needed. Plus there is a mileage charge for town residents. I speak from experience on this subject. I am thankful they were available.
OPT bus service: The town pays $5,250 per year for the West End and East End routes. The Southside routes are contracted out to private businesses. Plus each rider pays the regular fee to ride.
City police don't patrol the town streets and roads. We have our town constables. Also, the Sheriff's Department and state police are available.
In the town budget, the library receives $40,000. Thirty-eight percent of town residents use the library.
Water and sewer: Town residents and businesses pay about 50 percent more for these services than the city residents.
The town also has pool in the West End, which is used by many city residents at no charge. Cost to the town to maintain the pool this year is budgeted for $50,000, including the water charge from the city.
New developers in the town of Oneonta pay for the infrastructure in their developments. Once done and inspected, they are taken over by the town. The city then collects water and sewer rents from the residents and businesses. In the West End area, we have been paying for more than 20 years for our sewer lines.
Carleton J. Delameter
Oneonta
Delameter is an Oneonta town councilman.
Gas drilling would have huge benefits
Why was the mayor of a 180-person town in Texas traveling throughout the Southern Tier? Jake Palmateer's Feb. 17 article, "More than 120 attend meeting on gas drilling," highlights the presentation that Mayor Calvin Tillman of DISH, Texas, recently delivered to a group in Oneonta.
Working with national environmental groups from California, Colorado and New York City, Mayor Tillman's fundamental message is that the development of clean-burning natural gas resources isn't the right move for New York _ notwithstanding that it may have helped his town build a library, a playground and provide essential public services. To support his claims, Mayor Tillman is armed with a series of studies that have been near-universally panned as "rudimentary" back in Texas. No matter: He's here on a mission. And that mission is to deny New Yorkers the jobs, revenues and low-cost energy that comes from responsibly producing those resources at home.
Mr. Tillman's pep rally _ events that The Daily Star reports are caked with "anti-drilling bumper stickers" _ is an unfortunate distraction from the fact that safe, responsible, tightly regulated shale-gas production in upstate New York could create thousands of jobs, generate millions in economic activity and deliver affordable energy to families and small businesses in the region.
Brad Gill
Lakeview
Gill is executive director of the Independent Oil and Gas Association of New York and an adviser to EnergyInDepth.org.
Outside investigation into police needed
Thank you to The Daily Star for its recent opinion column on the Oneonta police scandal. I have always been told, when you see one cockroach in your kitchen, chances are there's a lot more where that came from.
I am not saying that all the policemen are bad cops. In fact, many are upstanding citizens in our community.
But to have this happen and everyone, from the top down, want to "move on"? What are they trying to hide? What are the chances this was just a one-time incident?
How difficult would it be to have an outside investigation? Yes, that would put to rest all the questions that the community is asking and get our police force back in good standing with the city.
As it stands now, the rumors and jokes are much worse than what the police chief and mayor are trying to avoid.
Robert Gill
Oneonta
Doesn't seem right to use same name
Country Buffet on Route 7 in Oneonta closed because of name infringement.
Now how can someone come in and use the Polar Bear name when someone else has for years been using the original name and operation?
Explain this to us, please.
Robert and Virginia Miller
Maryland
