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Governor-Hopeful Cuomo Visits Ithaca
You might not expect the favorite in the polls to be the next governor of New York to be greeted by many protesters.
But that was the scene in Ithaca Thursday as Andrew Cuomo stopped through town on the campaign trail.
Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the building where Cuomo was scheduled to speak.
They insist that the draft general environmental impact statement, or DGEIS, would not fully protect the Southern Tier if and when hydro fracking is allowed in New York.
"Reject that draft, get rid of it, eat it, send it back to the drawing board," said Walter Hang.
"It's woefully inadequate," said Ellen Harrison of Caroline, NY.
Inside, Cuomo took to the podium, but did not comment on drilling during his speech.
Afterwards, the democratic candidate for governor tip-toed around the issue.
"If there's an economic advantage to pursue, we should pursue it. However, we should not pursue it unless and until we know that environmentally it is safe, for the environment, health and safety, water resources etcetera," Cuomo said.
'Safety' is a great start, activists say, but if elected governor, Cuomo needs to translate that into action.
"The question is how is that going to happen in light of this weak, inadequate proposed set of regulations," Hang said.
And some say that if it's up to them, Cuomo won't become governor if he doesn't take a hard stance on drilling.
"If he supports hydro fracking, I will not vote for him," Decastro said.
Cuomo will face the winner of the Republican primary between Rick Lazio and Carl Paladino in November's election.
***FOX 40's CHRIS WHALEN REPORTING***
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Hydro-Fracking Issue Follows Cuomo On The Campaign Trail
Andrew Cuomo may have high approval ratings, but the Democratic gubernatorial candidate was twice confronted by protesters Thursday as he swung through central New York over plan to tap natural gas. NY1’s Josh Robin filed the following report.
The roving Cuomo camp hit a speed bump in the Finger Lakes region this week.
At issue was hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking, which is tapping natural gas well below the ground. It's a process environmentalists describe as dangerous and dirty.
Drills are lowered vertically, and sometimes horizontally. Chemicals and waters are sprayed in, coaxing the gas out of the rock.
“We need to have [Cuomo] speak very clearly, very succinctly about what he wants to do about this immense challenge to his administration, if he gets elected,” said Walter Hang of the advocacy group Toxic Targeting.
At stake is drinking water, not only along the state's southern border, but also millions of taps in New York City, where water is pumped in from upstate.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg is opposed to drilling in the watershed, and earlier this year won tough state regulations there.
As for the rest of the state, Cuomo is waiting for a final review. But critics’ charge that based on a preliminary examination, the document promises to be woefully inadequate.
What's more, after protesters came out by the dozens, some were peeved Cuomo didn't take questions from the podium.
“I suspect that’s because he didn’t want an embarrassing political moment,” said one environmental activist.
“I feel like he’s listening. I don’t feel like he knows the facts,” said another. “Perhaps he does. That’s just my guess.”
The candidate did spend a total of about 20 minutes speaking one on one.
“If there’s an economic advantage to pursue, we should pursue; however, we should not pursue it unless and until we know that environmentally it is safe,” Cuomo said. “
On the other side of the issue are those concerned about jobs. They say this long economically-troubled area could benefit from the lucrative drilling contracts.
“They’re going to bring jobs. They’re going to bring shopping. They’re going to bring families,” said Montour Falls Mayor Donna Kelley. “They’re going to bring other companies that work with these gas wall people. And it’s just going to be growth.
As for Cuomo, he tried some compliments to woo voters – that their activism is welcome and needed.
The final report was once due at the end of the year. Now state officials say they have no timetable – meaning the next governor is very likely to be the one facing the decision of whether to drill or not.
Cuomo campaign drives into Ithaca
Ithacans learned a lot about their attorney general and potential future governor, Andrew Cuomo, on Thursday. He loves to drive. He's a loser when it comes to pingpong. And he also wants to reform Albany.
Many of the fun facts came from Michaela, one of Cuomo's three daughters and the first of the family to address the capacity crowd of around 300 who gathered at the Women's Community Building.
"I've lived with this man for my whole life," the 12-year-old quipped. "In those years, I've come to this conclusion: he loves New York and he'll fight for it."
The Democrat and former federal secretary for Housing and Urban Development pulled into the parking lot behind the wheel of an RV. It was the first stop of the day and one of many in Cuomo's "Drive for a New NY" tour, which he explained is part vacation, part campaign tour.
Cuomo said he spent the trip down from Geneva trying to explain to his daughters the history and ethics of Ithaca, where "people like to question authority."
"And then we pulled into town and it was all said for me," Cuomo said, referring to the mass of hydraulic fracturing protesters who lined the streets and surrounded the building.
His "wait and see what the studies say" stance on the gas drilling issue did not seem to satisfy those who swarmed around him afterward, but he did try to appeal to their spirit of activism.
A leader in several major reform movements, including women's suffrage and worker's rights, New York must "raise the progressive beacon once again," Cuomo said.
"You want to know when things are going to change? They are going to change when the people of this state demand change," Cuomo said. "You know this better in Ithaca than anyone: Activism counts. We need to mobilize; we need to make people get engaged."
Most of Cuomo's 15 minutes at the podium were devoted to pushing his reform agenda.
He vowed to clean up the ethical mess in Albany, get the state's fiscal house in order and regain the trust of its people.
Cuomo said he opposed raising taxes, both on property and income, arguing that the state must deal with its spending rather than rely on raising revenue.
"I'm not in favor of raising taxes; I think it's irresponsible," he said.
He would start by downsizing, both internally and throughout the state, and said he is a proponent of municipal mergers and consolidation.
"There are around 1,000 state agencies now -- we think. No one is really sure," Cuomo said. "When you don't even know how many agencies you have, you have too many agencies."
Asked afterward about his vow to push for campaign finance reform while still accepting large campaign contributions, Cuomo replied: "I want to reform the campaign finance system. To do that, I have to get elected. To get elected, I have to raise money."
Hank Dullea, who worked for Andrew's father, Mario, when he was governor in the 1980s, said he was pleased with the presentation and Cuomo's record thus far, both in Washington and as attorney general in New York since 2006.
"He is for change and he has the capacity to motivate the people of this state to get behind the change agenda," Dullea said.
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Anti-fracking activists in Ithaca get a word in but no promises from Cuomo
ITHACA -- They stood on different sides of the podium on Thursday, but their message was the same: if the people lead, politicians will follow.
In the case of Andrew Cuomo, it was meant to be a rallying cry to voters to back his reform agenda as he attempts to move from New York attorney general to governor this November.
For Toxics Targeting president and gas drilling activist Walter Hang, it was a call to action to the hundreds of protesters who lined the streets and surrounded the Women's Community Building to greet the candidate as he came to town.
One was dressed in a hazardous material suit marked with the phrase "Inspector for 1,000 wells" and holding a "box of loopholes." Another held an empty leash and a sign that read "My dog drank the water."
In a gathering on The Ithaca Commons before Cuomo's scheduled appearance, Hang congratulated local activists for helping to put the brakes on moves to allow hydraulic fracturing gas drilling exploration in the Marcellus Shale, and said they should continue to do so.
"The longer we push this off, the longer the de facto moratorium on gas drilling stays in place," Hang said.
He held up a recent letter from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency outlining significant concerns with the scope and content of the state Department of Conservation's environmental impact statement draft under review.
"This could be our salvation," Hang said. "We've got to kill the draft with the EPA's help."
He encouraged everyone to continue to educate each other and question officials, starting with Cuomo.
"He's a total political pro; he is going to be like Yoda dodging a laser sword. Be nice, but try to scare him," Hang said.
"We have the ability to change elections through the power of the vote, but most importantly we have the ability to change the way people think," he added.
They took the advice to heart, and several who managed to squeeze into the crowded hall and swarm around Cuomo as he tried to circulate the room asked him to address the issue.
Cuomo's response, which he repeated several times, was that he wanted to wait and see.
"I understand your fears, but I want to get the studies, get the facts. Until we know exactly what's happening, we don't do anything," Cuomo said.
Newfield resident Joan Victoria, who lined up early to speak to the gubernatorial hopeful, left disappointed. She said she regrets leasing the mineral rights of her land to a drilling company a few years ago and now fears for the safety of her water supply. The message she wanted to relay?
"I'm too old to set my world on fire, but I don't want to set my water on fire," Victoria said.
Cuomo, gas drilling activists meet in Ithaca
ITHACA -- Andrew Cuomo made the campaign rounds through the Finger Lakes and Southern Tier on Thursday, promoting his call for reform in Albany.
While here, the Democratic candidate for governor heard from many promoting the need to prevent natural gas drilling in the region's Marcellus Shale.
Cuomo spoke in Ithaca and in Montour Falls on Thursday, finding natural gas protesters at both sites, especially in Ithaca.
One was dressed in a hazardous material suit marked with the phrase "Inspector for 1,000 wells" and holding a "box of loopholes." Another held an empty leash and a sign that read "My dog drank the water."
In a gathering on The Ithaca Commons before Cuomo's scheduled appearance, Toxics Targeting president and gas drilling activist Walter Hang congratulated local activists for helping to put the brakes on drilling.
"The longer we push this off, the longer the de facto moratorium on gas drilling stays in place," Hang said.
He held up a recent letter from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency outlining significant concerns with the scope and content of the state Department of Conservation's environmental impact statement draft under review.
"This could be our salvation," Hang said. "We've got to kill the draft with the EPA's help."
Cuomo said he was expecting such a reaction.
The state Attorney General said he spent the drive down from Geneva to Ithaca trying to explain to his daughters -- Maria and Cara, 15 and Michaela, 12 -- the history and ethics of Ithaca, where "people like to question authority.
"And then we pulled into town and it was all said for me," Cuomo said, referring to the mass of hydraulic fracturing protesters who lined the streets and surrounded the Women's Community Building, where he spoke.
His "wait and see what the studies say" stance on the gas drilling issue did not seem to satisfy those who swarmed around him afterward, but he did try to appeal to their spirit of activism.
A leader in several major reform movements, including women's suffrage and worker's rights, New York must "raise the progressive beacon once again," Cuomo said.
"You want to know when things are going to change? They are going to change when the people of this state demand change," Cuomo said. "You know this better in Ithaca than anyone: Activism counts. We need to mobilize; we need to make people get engaged."
Most of Cuomo's 15 minutes at the podium were devoted to pushing his reform agenda.
He vowed to clean up the ethical mess in Albany, get the state's fiscal house in order and regain the trust of its people.
Cuomo said he opposed raising taxes, both on property and income, arguing that the state must deal with its spending rather than rely on raising revenue.
"I'm not in favor of raising taxes; I think it's irresponsible," he said.
He would start by downsizing, both internally and throughout the state, and said he is a proponent of municipal mergers and consolidation.
"There are around 1,000 state agencies now -- we think. No one is really sure," Cuomo said. "When you don't even know how many agencies you have, you have too many agencies."
Asked afterward about his vow to push for campaign finance reform while still accepting large campaign contributions, Cuomo replied: "I want to reform the campaign finance system. To do that, I have to get elected. To get elected, I have to raise money."
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