Remember, me?  I started the Oxford Land Group.  The Oxford coalition has since merged with the Central New York (CNY) Landowners Coalition. I am one of the original past founders of the Joint Landowners Coalition of New York (JLCNY). I helped put together the first rally (Pass Gas!), which was a great beginning. Together we stood in Albany on that cold rainy day. Every day since, many of us have been working at some capacity to help forward our right to harvest natural gas on our land here in New York under the strictest guidelines in the country. Together, with all differences set aside, we the private citizens of New York must now work together to shine light and expose the misinformation campaign that has held our deeded rights hostage.

We have come a long way. Four years ago you could ask a group if they know anyone working in the natural gas field, they would say no.  Ask the same crowd today and almost everybody knows someone working in the natural gas industry.

I was a scout leader for 12 years I was speaking with the father of one of my scouts. He was very proud his son received his master in English and Journalism. He now works on the pipelines after months of job hunting and disappointment. He at least has the opportunity to make good money and start paying back his loans while continuing to search for a job in his field.

Pipeline Welders at Work

The other night, after a Smithville Town Board meeting, a few of us who attend stopped off for a beverage afterwards. We were handing out cards for the huge July 15 event at Broome-Tioga Sports center. A young man walked over to us and said he will be at this event and will bring some friends. He said, “I want to tell you, I work for the natural gas industry. I work on the pads for wells. I come home to my family here in Smithville every night. It’s a long day. I get up at 4:30 and back home by 8:30.”

This gentlemen told us he had no formal education and thought he was going to have to move his family away from the area. He said, “Thank God for natural gas,” he makes great money, has his bills caught up and is starting to save for the future.

I could go on, but anyone reading this knows the two stories are about youth working in Pennsylvania, not New York, unfortunately.

We want our kids to have good jobs and we would love to have them a short drive from the family. Many of the folks against developing our lands do not share the same love and attachment to our communities, land and our families.

Fortunately, it is not too late to have your voice heard.

CALL GOVERNOR CUOMO NOW!

 1-866-584-6799

It’s just a few minutes out of your day check it off your list.

We need all of us working together as a team.   It’s for our kids.

Tell him to leave local politics out of it and let the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation regulate natural gas development, as it always has.

Tell Governor Cuomo you support natural gas and keeping communities and families together.

Tell him our youth are leaving the state to find jobs just a few miles over the border and soon you will move there, you will follow to be with your kids and grandchildren.

Tell him the science is there and to stand strong and stand up to the misinformation media campaign.

Please pass this on to your friends.

I hope to see you July 15, at Broome Tioga Sport Center, just 7 miles west of Whitney point on Rte. 79, for a day that we will all stand together and make history here in New York.

And, from one parent and property owner to another, thank you!