The Sullivan Times Times We cover and uncover the big stories in Sullivan County, NY. NY.
Wednesday, October 17, 2018 - Issue 6 6
Around the World With Congressman John Faso: A Discussion About American Foreign Policy Challenges Calls Russia ‘A Criminal Enterprise’ & Worries About China, Iran Story and photo by Rich Klein (The Sullivan Times interviewed Republican Congressman John Faso for almost 30-minutes last night exclusively on foreign policy issues. We made the same offer to Democrat Antonio Delgado but his campaign declined, citing a series of upcoming debates). Congressman John Faso, who represents the 19th District, said last night that the Saudi Arabian government “owes the world an explanation about the demise of Mr. (Jamal Ahmad) Khashoggi. “I think we need to to the bottom of this.” Asked what he thought of President Trump’s initial comment that it may have been a “rogue” murder, Faso said “clearly he (Trump) was speculating off the top of his head so I don’t want to read a lot into that.” Faso, 66, was less measured in talking about the threats from Iran, China and Russia. “The Iranians have never given up their effort to export their revolution,” Faso said. “And they are continually acting in a maligned and antagonistic way, not just in the Middle East but in other places around the world.” Regarding the Iran nuclear deal under President Obama, Faso said, “I opposed that (deal) from the get-go, and I know my opponent has been praising that deal. I don’t think it (the deal) was in the interest of peace or in the interest of the U.S. or our ally in the Middle East, Israel, or other allies in that region.” Faso pointed out that the Iranians have either conducted or supported terrorist activities “perhaps in response to the pressure that the U.S. and others in the West are putting on them.”
The Congressman visited Israel in 2017 for the first time, along with other Congressional members. “It’s very clear that when you are there, you really get an appreciation for how small a country it is and how difficult a neighborhood in which they live. You are also extraordinarily impressed by the entrepreneurial vigor and spirit of the people and the culture and the country. It’s really a dynamic place. As for peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians, Faso quoted Abba Eban who said, “The Arabs never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity. “ Faso added that “the unfortunate thing for the Palestinian people is that their leadership hasn’t show any real proclivity towards dealing rationally or reasonably with the geopolitical situation on the ground and continuing to pursue policies that are hostile to peace is not something that’s going to be successful in the short or long run.” Turning to Asia, Faso noted his visit to North Korea last Spring as part of a small Congressman Faso at a forum on the environment held in Callicoon in late August
delegation. “It was very revealing in terms of the attitudes of the Koreans towards their neighbors in the region,” he said. “But also you got the sense that there might actually be hope for an opening with this relatively young, Korean leader, Kim Jong-un. We have to be patient on this question because the North Koreans have shown a historic proclivity for duplicity. And so we have to be strong and steadfast and patient in our negotiations. And we also have to be cognizant of the South Korean political situation. Because many in South Korea would like to see some type of rapprochement. The younger generation is looking at the German example of the reunification of that nation and they are by no means enthusiastic about the economic consequences of reunification.” On China, he said “there’s no doubt that the Chinese are a strategic and economic rival of ours. I believe that the Chinese have not been acting in good faith in a number of areas. Number 1, their theft of US intellectual property ..their refusal to abide by WTO (World Trade Organization) agreements that they signed relating to how US companies would be treated in China. Those are areas in which China has gone back on their word. And they often can not be trusted. So I think we have to be quite frank with the Chinese. “ He added that he’s hopeful that the US. can resolve trade disputes with Europe, Canada and Mexico so they and the U.S. can then put up a united front against the Chinese trade practices. Faso disagrees with President Trump’s January 2017 decision to withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) because he believes that now-defunct agreement “was actually geared towards trying to counterbalance the Chinese influence with a new economic relationship between the United States and the other Pacific Rim nations. “The failure to move in a coherent way there leaves us open, and those nations open, to much more Chinese influence,” Faso said. “So we need to maintain strong trading
relationships with Pacific Rim countries, who are also very fearful of China. Koreans are very cautious as it relates to dealing with China because they are an enormous neighbor and they see them as a threat. The Chinese have a much of a long view in this. We have to recognize that the Chinese are a strategic, economic and military rival and we have to act accordingly. If we don’t realize that they are a patient adversary and that they are willing to take advantage of us, we are going to wake up in 20 years and find out that we’re being overtaken dramatically by them, both militarily and economically. That would be a real risk for us.” Without going into the Mueller investigation, Faso nonetheless pulled no punches in describing Russia. “Russia today is basically almost a criminal enterprise in the sense of the corruption between the government and the oligarchs who run the state-supported industries,” he said. “And I think they are, clearly under Putin, they are an entity that we have to deal with and I think the President is correct in that. But we also have to recognize that the Russians will do just about anything to expand their political, economic and military influence towards their neighbors and around the world. We have to deal with Russia, talk to Russia, and I think the President is correct about that, but I don’t think we should have any blinders on when it comes to Putin’s true intentions.” Regarding the war in Afghanistan, Faso said the new strategy that U.S. is embarking upon seems to be showing signs of working. He said the Administration is pursuing a two-track approach: a military engagement and also trying to engage elements of the Taliban to bring about some peaceful resolution. “Time will tell if this will work,” he said. “I think the American public is obviously anxious for our involvement to be concluded. But I think it’s also important for us to not lose sight of the fact that we have sacrificed the lives of our military there and I would hate to see those lives lost in vain if we would leave there and allow the same forces to congregate which brought about the attacks on 9-11.’’ As for asking NATO allies to pay more to the U.S. for their defense, Faso said he thinks Trump is correct. “Frankly the language was not traditional diplomatic language but it was actually, in some respects, refreshing,” Faso said about Trump calling out our allies about paying more. Faso was also asked about the rise of far right nationalism in countries like Hungary. “We have to respect human rights and religious rights. A lot of the same forces of nationalism from economic discontent are manifesting around the world. We have to be cognizant of it and deal with it so it doesn’t get out of control.” The Congressman, who grew up in Massapequa, Long Island, moved to Kinderhook in 1983 because there was an opportunity to win an open Assembly seat there.. He won the race for that seat in 1986 and served in the Assembly from 1987 through 2002, rising to the post of Minority Leader in 1998. Faso later lost two statewide races to people who ultimately were forced out of office. He lost a 2002 bid to become State Comptroller in a race against incumbent Alan Hevesi, his former colleague in the Assembly. Hevesi in 2006 was later convicted in a corruption case and left office the same year. In 2008, after a tough primary battle, Faso became the Republican nominee for Governor but got trounced by Democrat Eliot Spitzer. Spitzer, of course, was also forced out of office -- in March 2008 -- when a criminal investigation into his involvement with prostitutes was about to be exposed.
Millennium, Alvarez Want A Second Health Study on Highland Compressor But Sounds of Silence From Legislator Samuelson At Meeting By Rich Klein MONTICELLO, October 16, 2018 - Now that a long-awaited baseline study of air, water and sound near the Highland Compressor Station has been released by Sullivan County’s Health and Family Services Committee, both Millennium Pipeline and Luis Alvarez say they want a second study conducted once the station is operational. The study released on October 8 --with a short presentation by KC Engineering -- was long on technical data, short on conclusive text and drew surprisingly little immediate reaction from County leaders. (Note: The Sullivan Times live streamed the presentation, which can be found on our Facebook page). The initiation of the Request For Proposal (RFP) process for a study was first announced in 2016 in a news release issued by the County. That marked the beginning of a a back-and-forth of emails and phone calls between Michelle Hook, director of communications for Millennium Pipeline and County officials that primarily included District One Legislator Scott Samuelson, County Attorney Cheryl McCausland and Alyson Lewis, the County’s director of purchasing. The phone and email exchanges went on over a period of approximately 27 months. The RFP process was even once called off in a decision made during an executive session of the Legislature before being revived in mid- 2017. Both Alvarez, chair of the County Legislature and Hook told The Sullivan Times in separate interviews this week that they want a second scientific health study to be conducted by KC Engineering. And Hook said she expects the compressor to be online in January.
County Legislature Chair Luis Alvarez huddles with deputy County Manager Dan Depew at the recent meeting about the Highland study.
“There should be a second study once it (compressor station) is up and running,” Alvarez said on Monday. “We have to be concerned with the health of our residents.” He said that he intends to soon have discussions with the legislators to plan for a second phase. In response to a resident’s public criticism that there was no immediate plan for a second “operational” study planned, Nadia Rajsz said “we haven’t discussed it or decided.” No other County legislator or official spoke up on this issue at
the meeting. Dan Hust, director of communications for the County, told The Sullivan Times: “The collective reaction was what you saw
during the Committee meeting. I am not aware of legislators discussing it further amongst themselves or of any next step as yet. “ Hust added that (Public Health Director Nancy) McGraw was “consulted during the process, while Health & Family Services Commissioner Joe Todora was minimally involved in a supportive role to Director McGraw.”
Hook said that the letter of commitment between Millennium and the County calls for two studies for the $67,000 paid by Millennium to KC Engineering. She said that the second phase tests were slated for February, May, July and October in 2019. “We want the County to study us,” Hook said, adding that the baseline study “doesn’t tell us anything about Millennium’s operations.” The original fee negotiated for the study was $35,000, then moved to $50,000 before the County negotiated $67,000. Hook said that it was unprecedented for a pipeline company to fund this kind of study. Samuelson, COO of the new Eldred Preserve Project being constructed on adjoining property of the Millennium Pipeline that’s part of the Eastern System Upgrade, was surprisingly silent given that he spearheaded the effort to get the study done. Hook on Tuesday again praised Samuelson, saying he was the only County legislator who reached out to Millennium to educate himself about how compressor stations work. But Brandi Merolla, a Town of Tusten councilwoman who like Samuelson is a Democrat, said: "When I approached Scott Samuelson about my health concerns related to compressor station emissions, he told me he didn't believe it posed a problem. I believe that placing this industrial operation in a residential community is simply incompatible. I explained to him that carcinogens, neurotoxins and endocrine disruptors would be released into the air 24/7 and that it would be putting residents at risk. He wasn't concerned and said he wasn't convinced there was any health risk. His disinterest was alarming to me."
George Billard, who heads Sullivan County Residents Against Millennium (SCRAM) said that “at the heart of this (study) Samuelson needed a clean bill of health because he has a financial interest in the Eldred Preserve.” Samuelson’s Bradstan Country Hotel in Bethel will be rebuilt as part of the new $12 million-plus
District One Legislator Scott Samuelson
development that will include a revived Old Homestead Restaurant and a major event space. Dan and Joan Silna — who live in Saddle River NJ and in White Lake- have bought hundreds of acres of land adjacent to the Pipeline for the development. (See our August 27 story about the Pipeline and The Eldred Preserve Project). Jeff Haas, supervisor for the Town of Highland, reached at this week’s board meeting, said he could not comment on the study because he had to recuse himself back in 2016 since a relative was employed by Millennium. He then appointed Jim Gutekunst, the deputy supervisor, to speak for the Board on this issue. But he and Kaitlin Haas, a council member, did not reply to emails seeking their reaction to the baseline study. Merolla said that she attended a public informational meeting organized by Millennium in Rock Hill back in 2016 where she met Hook and others. At the time, she said Hook and others refused to acknowledge the health risks associated with a compressor station despite the reality that some residents living near the Hancock compressor and the one in Minisink had experienced nose bleeds and other health issues. She said that some residents were also forced to sell their homes due to decreased property values. “Naturally we wanted a comprehensive health impact study prior to the opening of the compressor station in Highland,” Merolla said. “Furthermore, since we know which toxins are emitted from compressors such as formaldehyde, we requested a health impact study to include testing current air samples for the absence or presence of these toxic chemicals. Unfortunately the testing was not comprehensive. Compressors spew out carcinogens and endocrine disruptors 24/7 and our air, land and water are now at grave risk. Millennium wants to make money and residents want clean air, water and a healthy community to live in. There is presently no future air and water testing planned. The legislature must be proactive and plan ahead requiring future testing once the compressor is operational for the sake of the health, safety and welfare of our communities.” Hook of Millennium said this week that the company sincerely wants to allay concerns of residents concerned about their health, hence the support for a second study. She added that the company has and will continue to provide some funding for the Yulan Fire Department to purchase some equipment —but that local fire departments would only be responsible for the safety of residents living nearby in the event of any emergency emanating from the compressor station.
Judge Sets Bail of $50,000 for Rape Suspect; Reduces Bail For Neo-Nazi Accused of Arson at Country Store JEFFERSONVILLE - Town of Callicoon Judge Edward T. McKenna last night (Tuesday) set bail at $50,000 cash or $100,000 in secured bond in the case of Miguel Ramos, the 22-year-old Jeffersonville man arrested last month on allegations that he raped two 15-year-olds multiple times. Neither the court nor District Attorney Jim Farrell have responded to repeated requests for information about the date (s) or general location of the alleged incidents. Ramos’ mother, grandmother and uncle sat in the back of the courtroom and his mother was visibly in tears when the judge would not reduce the bail. McKenna said that Ramos had violated a court order “a few months ago” but no further information could be obtained at press time. In his appeal to lower the bail, defense attorney Jared Hart, a former County Assistant District Attorney, told the judge about the presence of Ramos’ family in court to show that the suspect would not pose a flight risk. But McKenna responded that the felonies are “serious charges,” adding that “I feel sorry for the family but he knows better ..he’s 22 years old.. and is responsible for his own actions.” In another significant case connected to Jeffersonville, Hart was temporarily representing Jacques Pluss, a 65-year-old with a
The Front and Back of The Country Store in Jeffersonvile where suspect Jacques Pluss allegedly ignited propane tanks.
long history promoting racism, anti-Semitism and Holocaust revisionism.
Pluss is accused of severing a propane line and igniting a fire in late September at the Jeff Country Store/Sunoco Station at the corner of Route 52 and Center Street in Jeffersonville. The store is owned by the Verona Oil Company. Owner Craig Verona could not be reached for comment at press time. Pluss is married to Jessica Stephens (his second wife), who is employed at the store. She declined to discuss her husband or the case after Tuesday’s court session except to say that she believes he’s innocent. Stephens, who lived in Ridgewood NJ with Pluss a few years ago, has taken over her husband’s Facebook page while he is in jail and posted recently that she believes that he is innocent.
Hart was successful in getting the bail reduced for Pluss -- from $25,000 to $15,000. McKenna said he reduced it because of the suspect’s “service to his country.” Hart told The Sullivan Times after the arraignment that that the attorney for Pluss moving forward will be someone assigned by the Court from the Sullivan County legal aid conflicts panel, “which I believe will be Mr. (Joel) Proyect or a representative from his agency.” Pluss, a disabled Vietnam War veteran, is no stranger to law enforcement. He was convicted of bias harassment in Bergen County, NJ after making an online threat to Abraham H. Foxman, the long time national director of the Anti-Defamation League who retired in 2015 after leading the Jewish civil rights organization since 1987. (Editor’s Note: Rich Klein served as head of media relations for ADL in the late 1980s and early 1990s working closely with Foxman; photo of Pluss at right,courtesy of Southern Poverty Law Center).
Pluss is known to both the ADL and the Southern Poverty Law Center as a leading voice in the neo-Nazi movement. His own writings don’t hide his hatred of Blacks and Jews. In 2005, Pluss was fired from his job as an adjunct political science and history professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University, reportedly for too many absences. Pluss also won a New Jersey court battle that
allowed him to hang Third Reich flags at his Ridgewood home along with a display of swastikas. He later started his own publishing company and authored a book that said of Jews: “Liquidate them wherever you find them. If they hide, search them out and execute them. “ Amazon has removed the book from distribution. McKenna asked Pluss -- who was born in Sweden -- if he was receiving proper medical treatment while in custody. Pluss said he suffers from a heart condition and is a diabetic. Pluss posted this to his Facebook page on the morning of October 1 and later posted a comment on same post, urging people to spread it to the media. “During the afternoon of September 29, 2018, a fire emanating from an apparently cut and sparked propane tank line seriously damaged the rear outside south west of the Country Kitchen and Store attached to a Sunoco Gas Station owned by the Verona Oil Company. There were no casualties, and two patrons cleared the Store before any very severe damage could occur. The Jeffersonville NY Fire Department and a Sheriff's Deputy arrived shortly thereafter to take care of the remainder of the disaster and briefly question any staff and patrons on hand when the fire apparently started. There were no arrests, and of this writing, the authorities have no exact idea how the conflagration began. This writer does not know whether or not the Store is open for full business as of this report, October 1, 2018.” It’s believed that this post was a key factor in leading to his arrest.
SUNY Sullivan: No Arrangement with Thompson Education Center
LOCH SHELDRAKE - Thompson Education Center CEO Sherry Li has long touted agreements that she has made with colleges but she’s a long way from any deal with SUNY Sullivan. Cindy Bennedum-Kahan, Dean of Community Outreach, told The Sullivan Times via email this week: “Although Sherry Li came and met with President (Jay) Quaintance once, there has been no follow-up communication since that meeting, and she never forwarded any type of proposal to him.” Below is a partial description of the project from one of Li’s filings:
For a few years now, Li has a billboard on the eastbound side of Route 17 just beyond Bloomingburg touting that the Thompson Education Center at Exit 112.
EDITORIAL Villages of Monticello, Jeffersonville Need To Communicate Better Online In the 21st century, there is no excuse for local governments to not post basic information online, whether it’s a website or a simple Facebook page. This week we are calling out the Village of Jeffersonville and the Village of Monticello, in particular, for their continuous failure to inform the public about their meetings, either in advance or after meetings conclude. Jeffersonville has no copies of minutes online from any year. Monticello last posted minutes from June 2018 and rarely posts its agenda in a timely matter. By not informing, it only leads the public to believe that information is being deliberately hidden, which we know is not always the case. It’s not fair to demand that citizens visit your Village Halls in the middle of the day to obtain an agenda or copy of minutes, especially if they are working one or two jobs but who want to understand what’s happening in their neighborhoods. Facebook is free and it takes less than five minutes to take a screenshot of an agenda and post it as a jpeg. We do it on our page to keep the public informed but we often have to chase down clerks to get that information at the last minute. Citizens, too, need to demand more of their local governments to provide basic information, particularly when it’s your tax dollars being spent for services you may or may not want.
The Sullivan Times Editor & Publisher: Rich Klein PO Box 502 Jeffersonville NY 12748 sullivancatskillstimes@gmail.com On Facebook and Instagram
