Wikipedia example of high density housing
Editorial
It has been confusing at times to hear our governor, Kathy Hochul, expound about how important the New York State environment is to her, and how diligently she thinks she is working to keep it safeguarded as we deal with change... and a lot of that change has to do with individuals coming to the area with very limited income. But with this latest news about how she plans to deal with the problems, particularly with water in the Village of South Blooming Grove, where population and commerce have been permitted to grow unckecked and without regard to the area's water resources, traffic, social and health impacts. this latest statement offering to support unbridled and dangerous growth (much of which has demonstrated poor construction and engineering proceses resulting in fire risks), shows a clear propensity to be either almost entirely devoid of the facts in the Village, or aware of the dangers and unconcerned about her new plan's further impacts on our dwindling safety. With water being the great "equalizer", nature has told us clearly that the area in South Blooming Grove has been built to capacity and and then beyond its resources. Since "Water knows no boundaries" it is unfair to be pulling so much water from a shared aquifer that it can impact neighboring municipalities. We have been told by top hydrogeological experts and it has become the mantra of educated residents in the Village of South Blooming Grove that this longtime water emergency should be seen as a red line.... that population growth in the area has reached its limits of safety and any more significant stress on the broad area's aquifer risks permanent damage both to the aquifer and surrounding environment. To residents who have lived here for decades safely and in a well functioning community, the recent population growth has screamed "ENOUGH!". From brown drinking and bathing water, to children being killed by their own school buses, to traffic backed up for miles and dozens of accidents at a major poorly planned intersection, a near doubling of traffic and the state pushing to close the only other viable Route 17 exit that helps lessen traffic by making several other through routes available, to flooding from poor construction practices with little or no proper drainage system in place, and to killing the wildlife and forests and watersheds that help prevent flooding that the surrounding municipalities of the Town of Blooming Grove, Village of Washingtonville, Towns of Cornwall and Woodbury are and will be impacted with future flooding from the basic imbalance that results with less root structure to absorb stormwater and degradation of the natural courses the land developed over centuries to balance land and water... and then we are at risk of losing the environmental beauty that is our health, our our bounty,our tourism and visitor economic base, and our very lives that are then being put in "over the top" danger with this slate of decisions. And that is not even considering the 'flood' of new housing being proposed AND financed by major state housing construction support. Sure we need more housing, but does anyone remember the 90's lessons of the need for really "SMART PLANNING"??
HELLO? A pre-eminent hydrogeological group known throughout the WORLD for their expertise has warned us that our entire aquifer would likely be put in danger if it is further stressed. The health of an aquifer RELIES on the microbiology at it base and how it relates to the land and waters around it. Are goernment officials not listening to our own experts? Did the Governor and her support staff of experts not get correct information that they think ther is room for in excess of $2 BILLION dollars of growth? Do they think they are so much smarter than the scientists? Or do they simply not care? My guess is that they do care, but at some point they are misreading science and trusting beyond reason (and the responses from salaried consultants who are paid when new projects are considered may consciously or subcounsciously be biased toward results that try to "work around" environmental concerns.) They think that if sewage, excessive runoff of building sites under construction and a host of other problems can all be fixed easily and reliably by science. But it often comes down to simple math. All it takes for a plate to spill is for it to become overly full. I attended a public hearing on a large subdivision at the border of Washingtonville and New Windsor and one of the area's top engineers stated that their new sewage treatment process is so good that "When the water comes out of the sewer treatment plant it will be perfectly safe to drink."
Well, at this week's Public Hearing in the Village of South Blooming Grove, for the umpteenth time, residents brought glasses of dark brown water that comes out of their faucets. They offered glasses of it to the Trustees, but instead of taking up the offer the Trustees concentrated on how long each resident had left to speak. I personally DO NOT want to drink recently treated sewage water from a few acres away. Do you? This week's "The Chronicle" newspaper reported water issues plagueing both Chester and Goshen.
Governor Hochul's response... there will be billions of dollars of financing available for water related infrastructure. Well that's fine, but that just might not only ignore the environmental side-effects, but will give permission for more and more and more developments. But will the environmental impacts be more closely protected this time. So far, not so good on that front. In fact it has resulted in 3 emergencies in a 20-sq. mile area just this month.
Now, there is a larger issue for the State of New York. If Albany, is planning to help the feds build 3 MILLION new affordable houses and the Federal Govrnment help young graduates and young families buy these new homes with a $25,000 down payment will Albany start following the Climate Safe regulations they have just been accused of ignoring. And " Oh wait!!! - What about the thousands of Senior residents who have lived and given to these communities for a lifetime ... the ones on fixed incomes who are at threat of losing their homes due to the taxation that is giving these younger people and young families support here and support there, including money that gives them extra income for having children, educating them and providing money for child care as well. What are the new offers to help older citizens deal with the financial crush that ends up with sky high prices? So far their help is lower price on medications (IF they happen to take any), and rumor has it that there may be a $34 per month Social Security increase. Is it right tha elderly people with no children are losing their homes so that others can have 2, 4, 6 or whatever number of children and get paid for it?, along with childcare bonuses and tuition assistance (which many of the older generation never received). Please don't let the older citizens be "the forgotten ones".
When it comes to fair housing, when will we become advanced enough to know what limits might be set on the number of residents living in a home, especially on individual homes now renting to multiple renters, let alone how many houses per particular development and population. Smart Planning has a long way to go to get a handle on housing density issues!
Then, lastly, there is the issue of the quality and safety of the 3 million houses and apartments proposed to be built and the people living in them. Is this going to end up as it usually has in the past with rows of tenement buildings where the residents struggle to make ends meet and municipalities struggle to help support them in a process that too often often ends with crime, and crowded conditions that foster a host of viruses and other health conditions through their 'shared air' in questionably adequate cooling and heating systems with limited filtration. And what about historic issues over trash and building management of high density living? OR WILL THEY HAVE SOME KIND OF GRAND RESOURCEFUL 'NEW CITY' CONCEPT THAT AVOIDS THE DOWNFALLS THAT HAVE PLAGUED (LITERALLY) HIGH DENSITY HOUSING FOR CENTURIES.
HERE IS A THOUGHT.... WHY NOT BUILD SOME VILLAGES WHERE THERE IS NO HOUSING, NO FOREST THAT HAS TO BE CLEARCUT, NO SENSITIVE OR ENDANGERED WILDLIFE OR RIVERS STREAMS AND LAKES THAT ARE ALREADY OVERSTRESSED, AND THERE IS POTENTIAL FOR NO OVERCROWDING. BUILD SMALL VILLAGES OF ONE AND TWO-FAMILY HOUSES WITH GEEN SPACE BETWEEN. AND A SHARED PARK, AT THE SAME TIME ENTICE ONE OR TWO DOZEN BUSINESSES TO LOCATE THERE TO SPECIFICALLY GENERATE HUNDREDS OF JOBS..... THIS AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO TRYING TO BUILDING MORE "HIGH DENSITY" HOUSING IN AREAS THAT ARE DESIGNED TO BE RURAL OR ALREADY TOO CROWDED AND WHERE THE ENVIRONMENT IS SCREAMING ENOUGH! AND TOO MUCH!! If that doesn't create enough jobs for those homeowners, the new bus lines running on electric can transport 1/3 of them to a nearby town or city. Isn't that how Brooklyn developed outside of New York City, and Lower Mid-Hudson homeowners commuted to NYC if they couldn't find a good local job. In fact, I bet that is how half of our community members became homeowners, and many of those who were lucky and diligent eventually grew into new jobs near their homes as their municipality prospered. But this only works if the local environment prospers as much as its economy! Otherwise, good neighors leave.
A heartbreaking example of this poor environmental management -
For the past 20 years, our large local beautiful Lake Hildegard has been my personal measure of local environmental health.
The Town of Blooming Grove, shares its border with the Village of South Blooming Grove and the Village of Washingtonville. The majority of the Town and Village of Washingtonville have overall good environmental health, and have worked hard to keep it that way. The Town of Blooming Grove border runs from the middle of Prospect Road Westward across the Lake and Northwest to Round Hill Road (where I live) and Westward to Route 94, Lake Hildegard thus being on town property.
Above are Blooming Grove's pair of Lake Hildegarde Mute Swans, who like previous years hatched a normal group of healthy cygnets (6) this Spring. Then, through predators who had been chased from their usual homes by construction, flooding that resulted from consecutive stormwater drainage violations due to mountains of soil piled uphill from this beautiful lake, and likely sewage runoff from septic work illegally done a few dozzen feet from the lake's shore, added to this year's heat and has resulted in the worst algae on the lake in decades. Not yet tested for cyanobacteria there are no visible blue-green toxic blooms, but the pictures tell the story, along with the result of environmental decline, THE ONLY MUTE SWAN CYGNET THAT REMAINS.
Several weeks ago when I was looking for "Junior Cygnet" to make sure he was still ok, several teenagers walking along Prospect Road wanted to know what I was doing. I told them that I was looking for the cygnets, and that 5 were gone.
They looked questioningly and asked "The chickens? You are looking (looking out at the lake) for the chickens?"
EARLY AND INTENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION IS KEY,
IT WILL BE ESSENTIAL FOR OUR SURVIVAL
Swans are considered one of the most sensitive and accurate indicators of environmental health.
Then there were two.
August - Only 1 cygnet remains
OKAY, So the Governor is VERY busy. But that is why New York has HOME RULE. Did she talk to the officials of the surrounding area, who have emphasized for YEARS that former tests of new wells showed negative impacts on the wells of neighboring homes? Did she explore the potential unexpected consequences of this nice, clean, fresh-water sounding idea? Did she attend any local meetings that were open to the public. I think "no", "no", "no" and "NO".
Moreover, does she know the history of the Village of South Blooming Grove violating codes and practicing illegal engineering and construction.
Let me be clear, I am NOT saying that improvements in water and sewer infrastructure and replacement of lead water lines are not needed. I am not even saying that additional housing is not needed, but for heaven's sake don't turn it over to the same builders and officials who have made a massive mess, and expect them to do it right this time!!
Author - Edie Johnson
Executive Editor
Orange County Courier Journal
Copy will be sent to Governor Kathy Hochul. Senator James Skoufis, Assemblyman Brian Maher and Cogressman Pat Ryan
PRESS RELEASES - from NYLPI, New York Lawyers for the Public Interest
Albany's Betrayal of Environmental Codes and Climate Change Restrictions -
GOVERNOR HOCHUL'S PRESS RELEASE -$265 MILLION FOR WATER AND SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE.
Governor Hochul Announces $265 Million Investment to Make Water Infrastructure Projects Affordable Across New York State
Includes $30 Million in Grants from the Federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to Inventory Lead Service Lines in Drinking Water Systems in 30 Communities
Approval of Financial Assistance Authorizes Municipal Access to the Capital Needed for Projects that Reduce Risks to Public Health and the Environment
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) Board of Directors approved $265 million in financial assistance for water infrastructure improvement projects across the state. The Board's approval authorizes municipal access to low-cost financing and grants to get shovels in the ground for critical water and sewer infrastructure projects. Of the project funding approved today, $30 million in grants from the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) will help 30 communities across the state to inventory lead service lines in drinking water systems, a vital first step for starting replacement projects and protecting public health.
“Improving our water infrastructure is essential for building safe and healthy New York communities,” Governor Hochul said. “This financial assistance makes all the difference in being able to provide safe drinking water to New Yorkers, protect our natural resources, and ensure the projects are successful and affordable.”
The Board approved grants and financings to local governments from BIL, the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (CWSRF and DWSRF), and grants already announced pursuant to the Water Infrastructure Improvement (WIIA) program. Leveraging BIL funding with the State’s investments will continue to empower local communities to make critical system improvements to safeguard public health, protect the environment, bolster communities’ climate readiness, and promote economic development.
The Grants for the Village of South BLooming Grove:
Village of South Blooming Grove - $1,759,115 interest-free and $3,518,228 market-rate financing from the DWSRF, and a $4,702,657 WIIA grant for the construction of a new pump station at the Mangin Road storage, treatment, and pumping site, construction of a 400,000-gallon elevated steel water storage tank to replace the existing Fort Worth storage tanks, construction of two wells and associated appurtenances, and replacement of approximately one mile of existing water main and appurtenances.
Savings
The Board also took action to help ensure continued, long-term affordability of existing projects. The Board approved long-term, interest-free financing totaling over $20 million for projects undertaken by the Town of Rockland, the Village of Tupper Lake, and the Water Authority of Great Neck North.
Short-term financing provides capital for design and construction of projects. Once project construction is completed, the short-term financing is typically refinanced to long-term financing for up to 30 years, saving municipalities significant interest expenses versus financing on their own. Based on current market conditions, these long-term financings are projected to save local ratepayers an estimated $26.6 million in interest payments over the life of the financings.
New York's Commitment to Water Quality
New York State continues to increase its nation-leading investments in water infrastructure, including more than $2.2 billion in financial assistance from EFC for local water infrastructure projects in State Fiscal Year 2024 alone. With $500 million allocated for clean water infrastructure in the FY24 Enacted Budget announced by Governor Hochul, New York will have invested a total of $5.5 billion in water infrastructure between 2017 and this year.
Governor Hochul’s State of the State initiatives are helping to ensure ongoing coordination with local governments and ensure communities can leverage these investments. The Governor increased WIIA grants for wastewater projects from 25 to 50 percent of net eligible project costs for small, disadvantaged communities. The Governor also expanded EFC’s Community Assistance Teams to help small, rural and disadvantaged communities leverage this funding and address their clean water infrastructure needs. Any community that needs help with its water infrastructure is encouraged to contact EFC.
Contact the Governor's Office
Contact us by phone:
Albany: (518) 474-8418
New York City: (212) 681-4640
Contact via email: Press.office@exec.ny.gov
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