To promote this idea, BP will be using the results of the
ZOGBY poll as proof that the majority of the community supports BP's project.
They will do this by focusing on the numbers from
the ZOGBY Poll e.g. 47% support wind versus 41% opposed to wind. This data is all they have to support their claim that
this project is wanted by the community at large.
The
updated Comprehensive plan examines the ZOGBY Poll and details how the figures at face value can be misleading. Additionally, the polling questions were formulated
under the watchful eye of two conflicted board members. The question of
conflicts of interest was not addressed in this survey, nor were respondents
asked if they or any of their relatives have wind leases.
From the Updated Comprehensive plan
The ZOGBY Community Vision Poll,
2011.
This phone poll was conducted by the Zogby
Group at the request of the Town Board. It was a sample of 300
seasonal and year-round residents. The object of the poll was to gain an insight into community
support for two wind projects that were proposed for Cape Vincent.
The results showed that:
a. 82% had a favorable opinion toward Cape Vincent (Q:3
b. 79% were positive about the quality of life,
but 66% were negative about the economy (Q:4-5).
c. 59% said the biggest issue facing the Town was industrial wind (Q:6).
d.47% supported industrial wind projects and 41% were opposed (Q: 7).
e. For those supportive of wind, the biggest collective reason for their support was economic - 40%
listed money and economy as a reason (Q: 8).
f. The biggest reason for opposition was view, scenic and natural beauty (20%, Q: 8).
g. Although 47% of respondents supported industrial wind,
they qualified their support:
i. 47% said wind turbines would decrease
tourism (Q: 10) and 89% said tourism was
very important in Cape Vincent(Q:14-16
ii.Only6% thought wind turbines would increase
tourism (Q: 10)
iii.57% believed wind turbines would decrease land values and 7%said land
values would increase (Q: 11).
Summary of the
Wind Issue: The ZOGBY poll in 2011 clearly showed that industrial wind was
the biggest issue and challenge that faced Cape Vincent and its municipal
leadership; that view remains unchanged today. In 2007 the survey done by the Cape Vincent LDC
showed 60% support
for industrial wind projects, but in 2011 ZOGBY reported that support declined
to 47%, compared to 41% who were opposed. It could be argued that from
2007 to 2011 Cape
residents became better educated about potential wind impacts and part
of that education process included installation and operation of the Wolfe Island Wind Project directly across the St. Lawrence River from the Village of Cape Vincent. Moreover, if both surveys are
studied carefully then support for wind is seen as qualified; not unequivocal
support.
ZOGBY showed the principal reason for supporting industrial wind was
because people believed it would help the local economy, and a majority of
respondents (66%) believed the local economy needed help. But, most respondents also
believed tourism,
recreation and land
values are important too, and that industrial wind development would, at the same time, have
a detrimental
impact on these factors.
Although the Cape Vincent Local Development Corporation(CVLDC reported a majority of support for industrial wind projects, they also reported
industrial wind would negatively affect Cape Vincent’s character (51%negative
versus 22% positive), quality of life (45% negative versus 29% positive), and
natural beauty (57% negative versus 13% positive). Similar qualifiers
existed in Zogby’s data as well –
47% said tourism would decrease (6% increase) and 57% believed land values
would diminish (7% increase).
These other surveys of community attitudes
collectively help us understand the apparent contradiction in
attitudes toward industrial wind. The potential benefit of
industrial wind is purely economic for some Cape Vincent residents. But,
the economic potential provided by industrial wind would not come without
some economic loss and damage to our community. The listing of strategies in the
1992 and 2007 surveys showed very strong support for using
Cape Vincent’s historic and cultural resources and making
the best use of our unique natural resource gifts - the lake and
river. Furthermore, in both these surveys strategies that focused on
industrial development were low on the Cape’s list of development alternatives.
The best way to sum community attitude toward industrial wind in 2012 is to go
back to1992 in a concluding statement in “Shaping the Future,“They
(Cape Vincent residents) would like to see improved job opportunities
and services, but not at the expense or sacrifice of the very qualities that
make Cape Vincent so appealing – its beauty, history and small town
atmosphere.”
The results of the Cape Vincent ZOGBY poll
clearly indicated that three out of five surveyed want the Cape Vincent Town
Board to impose a moratorium on wind turbines. In addition, (59%) said that
they wanted the wind moratorium to allow time to amend the zoning law to
address industrial and individual wind turbines. In accordance to the wishes of
the community as indicated by the ZOGBY, poll.
Comprehensive plan link
16 comments:
BP is hardly inexperienced in these matters. Conducting the Zogby poll could be the dumbest move Supervisor Herschey made in his tenure.
This poll will be manipulated to validate whatever BP needs for their PIP to be successful.
Here's an old adage from the Barnaby Jones show that might apply here - "never ask a witness a question you don't already know the answer to, the answer could be your undoing"
One point mentioned in this post speaks to the legitimacy of Zogby's report, the fact there was no mention of conflicts of interest.
Zogby's techniques, statistics and analysis may have been professional, but not including the issue of conflicts of interest was a serious lapse.
How can anyone discuss the history of the wind issue in this town without considering conflicts? In fact, it could be argued that the issue of conflicts of interest by municipal officials was a bigger issue than wind itself.
As we all know, there were no questions regarding conflicts of interest because at the time there were two board members with wind contracts and another whose relatives had contracts. Zogby's survey was flawed because of the limits imposed on the study by the conflicted board members, and the blame should be placed squarely on the Town Board.
"In fact, it could be argued that the issue of conflicts of interest by municipal officials was a bigger issue than wind itself."
Wait until this stuff gets brought to the courts. You ain't seen nothing yet until you see the documentation coming forth showing the collaboration and antics against the community by pro wind.
Then why go to any Bp public events and get mauled by wind thugs? You are right. I give up. My home is going to be for sale and Bp can have this town. Thank you Dave and Art for the reality check. I'm done. You win.
With every line printed by Art I feel a little vomit moving up my throat.
Since the poll was taken we have learned a tremendous amount about the negative impacts of big wind. The best reference we have now to prove the wishes of the voters is the fact that all the windies (the conflicted, the corrupt and the whimps) are gone (either by resignation, the voters or possibly the State AG recommendations). That's the most current data available and all that is necessary for the PSC to conclude that big wind is hated in the Cape.
Mr. Pundt,
You take every opportunity to question the judgment, performance and even the trustworthiness and credibility of Urban Hirschey. Sometimes you do so directly and sometimes more indirectly, but you never fail to make your point that you believe him to be part of the problem and not part of the solution. OK. Fine. You have really made no secret of that. But some readers of this blog may not be familiar with your long standing view about this. Just want to make that observation so most of your comments can be taken in the proper context.
Thanks Art for getting to the nitty gritty. This board is an embarrassment not to be trusted. It took you and Dave to bring people around to vote for Paul. You are a force to be reckoned with and taken seriously. Regards.
6:20 let me put this so your limited intelligence can understand BULLSHIT!!!
Your boy will go down just like the others in the absentee vote count.
Like I said, Art.
You have confirmed the lunacy of the Hirschey administration and you are correct on all accounts that they were not wise. As for your distrust of Hirschey, it is obvious by what you have told the neighborhood ins the past. Nothing wrong with being right all along Art. They will lose this big but our boy will win. Goodbye.
Nobody is suggesting blindly following anybody, Art.
But at some point in a struggle, any struggle, you have to decide which side you're on. You keep your strategy complaints internal and you refrain from daily public explosions of outrage. You have to decide between your enemy and your friends. At some point you have to be a good soldier and trust your fellow soldiers on your flanks on your side of the line. But I guess you just aren't wired that way.
I just get a warm feeling running down my leg every time Art gets on here. I love to see how he promotes himself, we all know how much he likes to talk and tell everyone how much he has done and how much he knows. Plus the fact that he does it over and over again, that is good to hear, he is our voice , thank you Art, please keep telling us what it is we should know.
They have made a lot of bad mistakes and you have always been an inspiration, Art. They should have listened to you and Dave.
Thank you Mr. Pundt for speaking out against the gutless, delusional, anonymous people.
Art
You should go back to school and get yout PHD
so you can lecture students. We are not your students and if we were,the majority of us would quit your class. There is a reason you no longer have a teaching license. Verbal abuse is not a good teaching tool. While you are at it learn how to make a point in 100 words or less. Insyead of badgering anyone who disagrees with your "my way or the highway" philosophy why don't you just go file a law suit against the state through the organization you and Dave believe will save us all from damnmation.
Don't bother to respond. I have reached a point of skipping down and ignoring your posts. Blah blah blah blah blah.
Please, Art.
Come on. You have as many anonymous comments on this blog and on JLL as anyone. You like to use the word, "deflection." You are a master of deflection when you don't wish to directly respond to something.
Yours,
Anonymous
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