Thursday, November 12, 2009
Ruffled feathers
New Square needs to stop dragging its heels on holding a public hearing on controversial plans to site a kosher chicken processing plant in town. The proposal, for which a dearth of information has been made public, has stirred anger and nervousness in neighboring residential communities. A public hearing might allay some of those concerns; even if not, neighbors are entitled to get answers to their many questions.
The processing plant may, as supporters have described, be a state-of-the-art facility that will have minimal impacts on its neighbors. It may increase jobs. It may be a worthwhile investment, as deemed by the Empire State Development office, which has awarded a $1.62 million Restore New York grant to the venture.
If that truly is the case, though, New Square’s leaders and the plant’s prospective operator, Adir Poultry Processing Plant, should be eager to share the substantiating information. Unfortunately, that has not been the case as scheduled public hearings have twice been postponed. Officials have said Adir needs more time to gather environmental impact information for the plant.
New Square Deputy Mayor Israel Spitzer, spokesman for the Hasidic municipality, said he has had discussions with those opposed to the plant, but these have been private affairs, not public meetings. He recounts speaking with one activist, who he said came around to the view that the plan was no detriment. Spitzer, however, declined to identify the activist.
"I think it was very wrong for the neighbors to not reach out with the village and try to arrange a meeting with village officials and get the facts straight before rushing into demonstrations and protests," Spitzer said.
Perhaps, but wishing for such restraint is futile where, as here, obfuscation has been the rule.
http://www.lohud.com/article/20091112/OPINION/911120317/1015/OPINION01/Ruffled-feathers
The processing plant may, as supporters have described, be a state-of-the-art facility that will have minimal impacts on its neighbors. It may increase jobs. It may be a worthwhile investment, as deemed by the Empire State Development office, which has awarded a $1.62 million Restore New York grant to the venture.
If that truly is the case, though, New Square’s leaders and the plant’s prospective operator, Adir Poultry Processing Plant, should be eager to share the substantiating information. Unfortunately, that has not been the case as scheduled public hearings have twice been postponed. Officials have said Adir needs more time to gather environmental impact information for the plant.
New Square Deputy Mayor Israel Spitzer, spokesman for the Hasidic municipality, said he has had discussions with those opposed to the plant, but these have been private affairs, not public meetings. He recounts speaking with one activist, who he said came around to the view that the plan was no detriment. Spitzer, however, declined to identify the activist.
"I think it was very wrong for the neighbors to not reach out with the village and try to arrange a meeting with village officials and get the facts straight before rushing into demonstrations and protests," Spitzer said.
Perhaps, but wishing for such restraint is futile where, as here, obfuscation has been the rule.
http://www.lohud.com/article/20091112/OPINION/911120317/1015/OPINION01/Ruffled-feathers
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