Bureaucracy at it's Best, …..........It's Pretty Damn Bad!

After reading and re-reading, (I couldn't believe if what I thought I read was what I was actually reading), the Freeman's front page article Wednesday, Sept. 7^th, “Lowering of Reservoir to get look”, even the most uninformed, 'big government' proponents had to have said: “Wuh the @#*%@”?

Lets see if I got this right: US Senator Chuck Schumer, (D-NY) tells DEC. (Dept of Conservation), the DEC tells County Executive Michael Hein, (D-Ulster), and Michael Hein asks the DEP, (Dept of Environmental Protection), the DEP refers back to the DEC which refers back to Hein who refers back to the DEP, DEC, back to Hein and so on and so forth, (good old Chucky Schumer is long gone by now).

If it weren't so tragic for local residents it might actually be funny, where are Abbot & Costello when you need them............Who's on First?.

We all remember the turbidity which turned the Esopus Creek into a scene from Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory! Hein complained, the DEC deflected to the DEP the DEP told Hein it was a DEC concern...What? “ No, no, What's on second!”....... so on and so forth. The result at the time was devastating to all the residents living along the Esopus, many of whom are still waiting for some form of remediation, and all who must now confront additional flooding, loss of power, some even the loss of their homes, the destruction of property and endless bureaucratic red tape sure to follow, All while Hein refers back to the DEP which defers to the DEC which refers to the now infamous 'verbal agreement', which if it had a voice of it's own would probably ask why 'Uncle Chucky left so soon. “I don't know.........Third Base”!

Just as tragic is Michael Hein's procrastination, Let's see, the media begins discussing potential damage from Irene on or about August 21^st, the Ashokan is already at flood stage but it takes Mr. Hein till August 25^th to begin a process that will surely take weeks to resolve. Uh Oh! August 27 arrives and so does Irene! “I don't Know”............Because...Oh, he's our Center Fielder!”

Meanwhile, down on the farm...........sorry, there is no more farm! Just ask John Gill owner of Gills Corn Farm of Hurley Mt Rd. who lost 380+ acres of corn to Hurricane Irene.

(see the flooding of Mt Tremper, Boiceville and Rte 28 see attached video via url below)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdfEXzMLGdc&feature=email

If you have trouble with the above link...cut & paste into your browser

Thank you local volunteers, EMS, Fire and Police Depts. THEY SAVED LIVES!

Did you see the photo's of the Mt Tremper Flood Control Project built by the Army Corp of Engineers now "controlled" by the DEC off Rte 28? There is a well planned project for you.

Ok, so maybe this was a 100 year event.......... why must it take just as long for the bureaucracies to sort out the wrinkles and actually do the right thing?

As of the writing of this article, we are in the middle of the second 100 year event is as many hours, three days and counting, local schools closed, power outages, flooding, property damage, Oh, and the Ashokan issue, remains unresloved. Look out Ulster, Nate is just around the corner.

But not to worry, Chucky is here, I'm sure he'll just wave his hand and part the Esopus, dry up the Schoharie Reservoir and hold up the Shandaken Tunnel..............all of course with some government stimulus and the President's new Infrastructure investment bank, all because if things weren't shovel ready in 09', they are certainly 'SHOVEL READY” now! “Heck, we've been knee deep in that stuff they've been shoveling for years”!.

Mike, don't ya just wish Hinchey would retire right about now, it's a good time to get outta' Dodge! Why.....I don't know.....he's on third and I don't give a damn...........that's our Short Stop!

Thanks, Bud & Lou, we all could use a little laughter these days!