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In visit to Ithaca, little-known challenger to Gov. Cuomo promises ‘upset of the century’
Ithaca, N.Y. — Zephyr Teachout, who is competing against Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary, visited Ithaca on Saturday.
The Fordham law professor gave a speech to a crowd of about 30 before taking a tour of the Farmers Market. Preceding the speech was an announcement that Teachout had received the endorsement of former Binghamton mayor Matthew Ryan, which she described as her biggest endorsement to date.
Touching on a host of issues, Teachout looked to highlight the flaws of the Cuomo administration while presenting her alternatives. She said her greatest challenge in the race was name recognition.
Cuomo’s program Start Up New York , which seeks to attract business to New York primarily by creating tax-free zones within the state, was a main target for Teachout.
She described the program as, “top-down, trickle-down Reaganism.”
“It seeks to bring in business from outside of New York while ignoring the business that is already here,” she said. “We need to invest in the people of New York rather than trying to attract people from out of the state.”
Teachout said she is a staunch opponent of Cuomo’s property tax cap , of which both officials within the Ithaca City School District and administrative members of Tompkins County have been critical.
The policy, Teachout said, “takes power away from local counties and puts it in the hands of Albany.”
Teachout condemned Cuomo’s alleged tampering with the anti-corruption Moreland Commission, while brushing aside her own legal questions. Teachout’s status as a New York State resident has been under attack by the Cuomo campaign, which challenged her to prove in court that she had lived in New York the required five years. Teachout said she’s unconcerned about the challenge.
She said she believed that the paradigm of power in New York State between counties and the state was backwards. She explained that greater funding should come from the state, while greater power should go to the counties.
This position led her to support full state funding for Medicaid, rather than county contributions, and a shift to state funding for rural public transportation.
Her stance on environmental issues was made clear. She said that as governor she would ban hydraulic fracturing in New York State, and put her full support behind wind, solar, and hydro energy.
“I would ensure that there would not be another parking lot built in the state that is not solar power dependent,” she added.
Teachout remains relatively unknown in New York. A poll conducted in July suggested that only two in ten New Yorkers had heard of her.
However, Teachout remains optimistic.
“We’re going to pull off the upset of the century.”
The Democratic primary is slated for September 9.
Environmentalists: SGEIS Outdated; Urge Cuomo to Withdraw Study
Anti-fracking activists make a new call to Governor Cuomo to withdraw the state's environmental impact statement, or SGEIS, because they say it is outdated.
The activists, including former Binghamton Mayor Matt Ryan, say the 2009 document is inadequate since it doesn't include research conducted since then. They are sending Governor Cuomo a letter calling for him to withdraw the SGEIS.
Walter Hang, president of Toxics Targeting said, "so it is simply not current. It is not reflecting the most recent understanding of what's going on with regard to shale fracking, threats to public health and the environment."
“If you're really going to have the safest protocol in the whole country you have to look at what's happening recently and update your documents accordingly,” said Ryan.
Fracking critics hope to see a comprehensive state health study completed on the issue before the state allows the drilling process.
Critics won a major victory last week after New York’s highest court’s ruled that local governments had the right to ban fracking.
Anti-Frackers Demand Governor Cuomo Takes New Action
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. -- An anti-fracking coalition says a lot has happened in the past five years. With recent studies, government investigations, and new technology and information available, they are demanding the governor keep up with the times. They are asking him to withdraw the current DEC Draft Environmental Impact Statement on hydraulic fracturing.
"It's not current. It lacks literally hundreds of new studies and that’s why it has got to be stopped," said Walter Hang, Toxics Targeting president.
Hang wants Gov. Andrew Cuomo to take new action. He calls the current draft, "ancient" and not suitable for the governor to make a final decision on fracking.
"He hasn’t been able to approve shale fracking because he hasn’t been able to complete the Department of Health Review conducted totally in secret and he hasn’t been able to adopt comprehensive public health and environment safeguards pursuant to a final SGEIS," Hang said.
Former Binghamton Mayor Matt Ryan says an updated statement is necessary to completely understand the potential hazards.
“It’s never been all put together to see what the real public health impacts of this industry are,” Ryan said.
Supporters of natural gas drilling say if the draft has been successful thus far, it should not be withdrawn.
"There has been fracking in New York state for 60 years, they have not had incidents. The regulations as they stand were very effective and efficient. There is no need to update the regulations," said Gary VanDriesen, 7911 Landowners Coalition leader.
The Department of Health Commissioner recently resigned before completing his review of the health impact analysis, an evaluation that must be completed before a final impact statement is adopted.
The coalition's letter to the governor currently has more than 875 signatures.
To view the draft: head to this link
To view the letter: head to this link