To The Editor:
So it continues with a small but vocal group known as the Catskill Heritage Alliance. On the record as being against cell towers, against full expansion of the Belleayre Ski Center, against the Belleayre Resort and against unrestricted public use of newly acquired State lands. What they are in favor of is severely restricting the use of private property – your property – for any uses that they deem unfit.
As they have no rational or even valid environmental arguments to sustain their opposition to the proposed Resort, the Catskill Heritage Alliance resorts to scare tactics and deceit to try and dupe the uninformed. Knowing full well that any possibility of organized gambling at the Resort was extinguished forever through deed restrictions and knowing that all storm water runoff was addressed with state of the art facilities, they continue to rant. Their idea of this “MEGA” Resort is actually a fraction of the size of comparable facilities at Hunter and Windham and negligible compared to facilities at most Northeast ski centers. The 218 acre Resort would be set among over 58,000 acres of State and City owned land in Shandaken alone. Guess that’s just not enough “forever wild” space for some people.
Through the 15 years of studies, reviews, modifications and comments the Resort has become one of the most “Green” facilities to have ever been proposed. It is specifically designed to attract skiers, hikers, bikers, fisherman, and other outdoor recreationists who are exactly the clientele to revere the wonderful environment we live in. Though the Catskill Heritage Alliance feigns to be environmentally progressive, they attack the very proposal that would bring environmentally appreciative families to this area to help this community and the environment flourish.
It has become obvious the Catskill Heritage Alliance is just another loud group of extremists with abundant free time and inflated views of their own opinions. Opinions they force onto the entire community. They will decide what’s best for others and vilify anyone who would dare to disagree. How long will citizen’ interests be held hostage by such a fanatical group?
One can only hope that the citizens finally wake up, become informed, speak up and end the stranglehold that the Catskill Heritage Alliance seems to have on this community. If not I fear that they will achieve their goal to kill what little life the area economy has left. I encourage everyone to find out the facts and to attend the public hearing on May 29th at Belleayre. This is YOUR community. Speak out now.
John Michelotti
Big Indian
