<br /> <h1> Hood-winked<p> at </p>the Article X Banquet</h1>

Photo  ~ Bjørn Ottensen
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The definition of hood-winked is: “To take in by deceptive means; to deceive.”

Come along with me and imagine that four of us from Cape Vincent were invited to attend a banquet at the Roxy Hotel.  We are told that some Big-Shots from Albany are interested in what we have to say about our community.  Exciting, huh?  Can't wait, huh?

We arrive the night of the banquet and head for the door when two big ushers tell us only two can enter and sit at the table.  We begin to decide who among us will enter when the usher interrupts and tells us he decides, not the four of us.  Hmm?  We are beginning to wonder about this banquet.

The Roxy is humming with noise.  Lots of people, mostly men, running around in suits and ties, typical Albany political types.  We see a banner on the wall ARTICLE X SITING BANQUET.  We begin to get the drift of why we are here.  Some smiley, ex-high school valedictorian leads us to the banquet table that seats seven.  We are introduced to the other five sitting at the table – Mr. NYSERDA, Mr. PSC, Mr. DEC, Mr. DOH and Mr. DED.  They all smile, shake our hands, tell us we are welcome, and thank us for coming. “Glad to have you share our banquet,” said Mr. PSC at the head of the table.

Then the food begins to arrive.  Waiters fill the table with a wide assortment of great food.  The five Big-Shots ask us what we'd like for dinner.  We respond, “The turkey looks delicious and the prime rib is my favorite.”  More  smiles.  “How about some fixings,” Mr. NYSERDA asks.  “Thank you,” we respond and we are beginning to think this is really nice.  They are all so friendly and solicitous – they really seem to be interested in us.

After all the food has been served, the Big-Shots pick up the knives and forks, still smiling, and begin to eat.  As we move to do the same, the Big-Shots stop eating, stop smiling and tell us to stop.  “You two can't eat,” they shout!  “You are ad hoc invitees to the banquet, you don't get to eat,” they continued.  We dropped our forks and they began to eat, began to smile and even asked us what we thought of the food.  Can you imagine their nerve?

How would you feel if you were invited to the table, asked what you would like to eat, but then were denied the opportunity to eat?  This is exactly what is written into Governor Cuomo's Article X “Power NY Act 2011.”  The law takes away home rule in siting power projects, but allows two, token locals to sit at the table with the Big-Shots as ad hoc member.  Ad hoc means no voting rights.  They take away our home-rule rights and throw us a few crumbs, but then tell us we can't eat the crumbs.

Note:

The ad hoc members do get to vote on the procedural items, but not the actual application.  The local board makes a recommendation to the Albany siting board to either grant an application to BP or not.  Then the big shot siting board in Albany gets to make that decision.  But the rules state the ad hoc members at the local level would be voting on things like TRASHING LOCAL ZONING LAWS!

 So, the rules clarified the role of the ad hoc members, giving them some power to influence and vote on procedural matters. 

  Marcus Brace Beemer