- By Hugh Bahar
- Opinions
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From what I understand, the Lansing community asked the same questions I've asked of the sewer committee (which have remained unanswered via their unresponsive website) and in this editorial column in the past:
1. On which page and paragraph of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) does it say that properly maintained residential septic systems in the Town of Lansing are causing ecological problems with the lake, and that the chosen route ("initial service area")is the right route to offer protection to the lake?2. Which committee members have a financial interest in developable land along the route, either under their name or via associations with others, and to what extent is that interest?
3. Why are certain neighborhoods, such as Autumn Ridge and East Lake, getting an exemption from the sewer tax (excluded from the initial service area), when they are the closest of all the large communities to the lake? Why are other older neighborhoods, with septic systems nearing the end of life, left out?
I was told that the Sewer Committee, faced with fierce questioning from the community about the personal financial interests of Committee and similar intelligent questions, began to waffle and cite non-specific environmental doom if this sewer isn't built. I suspect this smoke and mirrors shift will become more prevalent over time, and is designed to deflect criticisms from members of the audience regarding the highly suspect sewer route and project as a whole.
Do not mistake community resentment towards the Sewer Committee and their inability to answer logical, intelligent questions from Lansingites as a certain nail in the coffin regarding this project. The powers whom want to develop residential and commercial land along the lake and in the Town of Lansing have a huge stake in this. They have lots of connections and wealth, and they will pull out all the stops to keep the Lansing community from blocking this project. To wit, they have gotten Senator Nozzolio to publicly support the project; and Assemblywoman Lifton, while quick to point out how she is trying to get us tax relief, is silent regarding my email to her on this sewer project.
If you want to kill this project, you need to show up to vote on the trunk line and town sewer, and call or write Nozzolio and Lifton, Schumer and Clinton, and the Tompkins County Legislature. Otherwise, you will wake up one morning to a new $850 annual tax (IF they don't blow the construction budget), a monthly sewerage fee, and a connect fee while the developers are enjoying the free ticket we bought them to develop their land.
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