Letters to the Editor - July 12 2012

Working toward sustainable development

Question: What do United Nations Agenda 21, Northern Dutchess Alliance and Brooke Lehman, who wants to open an educational center in the town of North East, have in common? Answer: They all want to implement sustainable development through capacity building. Chapter 37 of Agenda 21 describes capacity building, the identifying and mobilizing of individuals and organizations to implement sustainable development.

The Northern Dutchess Alliance’s (NDA) Blueprint for Economic Development talks about building capacity to promote sustainable development. Ms. Lehman also supports sustainable development. Her Watershed Center lists capacity building as a main function (www.taxexemptworld.com).

Behind each of these entities is communitarianism. There is virtually no difference in the eventual end result of their activities. All will result in totalitarian collectivism. In fact, Agenda 21 and the Northern Dutchess Alliance are more insidious than activist Lehman because many people still regard Agenda 21 as a conspiracy theory. To have this notion dispelled, visit United Nations Economic and Social Development; Division for Sustainable Development at www.un.org/esa/dsd and find the United States of America’s National Reports to the United Nations on how well the United States is doing in implementing Agenda 21.

Hopefully Ms. Lehman will be stopped before she can establish herself here. Unfortunately, Agenda 21 has already infiltrated every layer of government and is being pushed by a multitude of nongovernmental organizations like the Northern Dutchess Alliance. Their representative, Dr. Gerald Benjamin of SUNY New Paltz, came before the North East Town Board recently, saying he wants to help the town save money through collaboration with other towns via the NDA. Benjamin was instrumental in making more changes to New York City’s charter than it had seen in a century. Now he has his sights on our New York State Constitution. He wants to ease referendum requirements for structural changes in local governments.

Benjamin is promoting a so-called regional vision. His Center for Research Regional Education and Outreach (CRREO) website illustrates that vision is sustainable development. Benjamin received an award from Pattern for Progress, which is itself promoting the Global Hudson Valley Initiative (which regards how we fit into the global economy).

What’s the harm in all this? Nothing, if you want to be told where and how you can live and be monitored 24/7 for any infractions against the community. Oh, and no Hannaford store for you — it’s outside the growth boundary.

Here’s the good news: we can still stop the sustainable collectivist juggernaut. Some members of the North East Planning Board were recently disappointed to realize that since our zoning was never changed to comply with our sustainable development-infested comprehensive plan, there is no basis for holding up the Hannaford application. The Greenway is still just a guide, and the growth boundary is not yet enforceable. Dr. Benjamin acknowledged he can only provide a model for regional government collaboration/consolidation — until you vote for it or he manages to change New York State’s Constitution, eliminating your right to home rule. Stop the collectivists from achieving a final consolidation of power.

Pamela Michaud
Millerton

Generous community

Our town is filled with generous and community-minded people. A huge thank you to one of them: Victor Trivelli, owner and chef at Manna Dew Restaurant. Last Friday night he hosted a barbecue as a fundraiser for the North East Community Center, serving gourmet chicken and burgers long after the restaurant normally closes. Wonderful musicians Jonny G, Mimi Harney and Dani Hill played for hours, and the serving staff even gave up their tips to help provide donations for NECC.

Over $400 was raised for our summer food service program, which provides free lunch to over 60 children every day. Thank you, Victor!

Jenny Hansell
Executive Director, NECC
Millerton

Many thanks

We would like to express our heartfelt appreciation to all the kind, caring and professional members of Dover Fire and Rescue, Northern Dutchess Paramedics and the New York State Police of Troop K in Dover Plains for their assistance, comfort and aid during our auto accident on May 31.

Thank you also to our many thoughtful friends and neighbors for their generous assistance and prayers during this difficult time.

Sharon & Kathleen Goessinger
Amenia