One of the first questions
raised was about proposed drilling for gas in Marcellus Shale. Massa outlined the process in general, noting, “We need
that cleaner energy, but if we continue on that path this area will be uninhabitable and well water undrinkable. To the extent
we can do something, we will. Now there is no pipeline to take the gas to New York City, when the Millennium and Empire pipeline
is finished there will be. Applying the Clean Water Clean Air Act is certainly within our purview. We can’t place our
entire water table at risk. When water comes back up from the drilling it’s brine and full of chemicals. It’s
a threat to every winery, farm, home and water supply.”
The Chronicle-Express, April 22, 2009
Shortly after marking
his first 100 days serving as U. S. Congressman of the 29th District, Eric Massa took to the road to not only enlighten citizens
about the new administration, but to answer questions lingering in the minds of small town upstate New York residents.
Massa told the small crowd of about 25 people who gathered last Thursday evening
in the Benton Town Hall, “Meetings like this don’t happen in many countries and not in many Congressional districts.
I want people to know where I am and what I believe in and I am ‘educationable.’ Most people in Congress, probably
about 90 percent, are hard working people. Many are parents, grandparents or even great-grandparents. You don’t
get rich at this job.”
Massa opened up the dialogue with
questions from the audience, addressing a variety of topics, including:
•
TRASH: An audience member expressed concern for the Finger Lakes becoming a “dump yard” for city trash.
Massa said about 1800 trucks a day come to the area from New York City. “At
first this was seen as a plus for small upstate towns. But the impact is only pennies compared to the cost for road repair
and clean-up. It is a real threat to ground water,” said the man.
Massa
said he didn’t have answers. “I’m looking for suggestions on what to do.”
• GAS, OIL LEASES: When questioned about gas and oil leases, Massa described a meeting he had
with geologists from Cornell University.
“If we
continue down this path, this area will be uninhabitable. These are scientists who work in some of the most sophisticated
labs in the United States. I am not an enemy of natural gas, but in the Southern Tier most of the gas is controlled by foreign
companies. I think applying gas and oil to the Clean Water Act is necessary.”
•
COLLEGE COSTS: Massa said he voted against the bank bailout. He said there is still work to be done on increasing access
for college funding at a more reasonable rate.
• WIND ENERGY:
In the small town of Benton, where wind farms are being considered, Massa said he is very concerned about wind energy in the
Finger Lakes area and throughout the country.
“The wind
has to blow strong enough and I don’t think it does here,” he said, adding he feels a federal authority needs
to look at the issue.
• PIRATES: When asked to comment about
the acts of piracy near Somalia, Massa said he spent four years on an anti-piracy patrol and this is not a new problem, it
has just moved to the forefront by media coverage.
“I
received a call in the middle of the night when the captain was taken hostage. By golly, if you capture an American ship or
take people hostage, you had better have a good insurance policy. President Obama did just what a Commander-in-Chief should
do, he turned it over to the military,” he said.
• IMMIGRATION:
“New York farms cannot exist without migrant labor.” Massa said migrants are often classified as unskilled
laborers but the are actually quite skilled and vital to the grape, apple and cabbage farming community.
• HEALTH CARE: He seemed humbled when Bill McEvily described how Massa was the only person to
help an area girl in need of medical care that had been denied by her insurance carrier. Massa said, “We won the
battle, but to think we live in a country where you have to call your Congressman to get a health care problem taken care
of is amazing.”
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