Stony Point Supervisor tells a reporter not to quote a local environmentalist
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- April
- 10
It was about five minutes before the Stony Point Town Board meeting at Rho building at Letchworth Village on Tuesday. As I was looking for a seat to sit down, Supervisor Phil Marino came up to me and told me that he needed to talk to me.
We went to the back of the meeting room.
There, he said he had a problem with my recent story about the town’s considering a new law, “Environmental Protection and Abandoned Commercial Property Reclamation” ordinance, because I quoted George Potanovic, president of the Stony Point Action Committee for the Environment.
I quoted him because I clearly remembered that Potanovic suggested the Town Board to consider this type of law, in connection with the uncertain future of Mirant Lovett power plant and its contaminated property. The meeting was held May 8, 2007, according to our archive.
But Marino insisted that the idea of the ordinance did not come from Potanovic, and that the Journal News should not quote Potanovic because he doesn’t represent the town residents at all.
“Talk to other people,” Marino charged.
I told Marino that I asked Potanovic’s input because he’s the president of the environmental organization.
And Marino said: “We are all environmentalists!”
Well, the animosity between Marino and Potanovic, I believe, started when SPACE members held signs related to the U.S. Constitution during the town’s Memorial Day parade in 2006. The relationship seemed to get better at one point, but it appeared that it got worse recently.
Like all other reporters, I’m careful with selecting people to quote for my stories. For example, I will never quote Potanovic when I want to have comments from ordinary town residents because he represents the environmental organization.
Marino’s telling me not to quote Potanovic is absurd, if not arrogant.
This entry was posted
on Thursday, April 10th, 2008 at 6:52 pm by Akiko Matsuda.
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Fot the first time I agree with something the Stony Point Supervisor said. SPACE doesnt speak for all of us. In fact space needs to wake up and come to a balance between the enviorment and survival of the town. SPACE's ideologies are a detriment to this towns future. Good old Stevey boy is really going to turn this town into a ghost town. Maybe thats been his plan all along.
I think they (SPACE) are from outter Space.
Technophobia- Fear of technology and SPACE has it
Technophobia- Fear of technology
Prosophobia – Fear of progress = SPACE
To believe that Space projects the thoughts of the majority of Stony Point residents is a huge mistake. In the words of one of Space's leaders at a recent Town Board meeting they seem to trade on enviromental issues in an effort to obstruct nearly every project brought before the town for consideration. And now the State is releying on them for guidance as to how to design the new Rt 9W bridge. What about the rest of us? Seems like the tail wagging the dog.
Cosmic-Proso-technophobic=fear of Space-progress & technology.
There are many of us in town who agree with space also and want to see the environment and the character of Stony Point preserved. I say thank you Space for providing a balance.