By Doug La Rocque
The drinking water crisis was a topic at the debate between the 107th Assembly District candidates last Wednesday evening, sponsored by The Eastwick Press. Both incumbent Assemblyman Jake Ashby and his Democratic challenger Tistrya Houghtling agreed the State has been dragging its heels on the problem. Ms. Houghtling came to Hoosick Falls this past Sunday, October 20, to unveil her plan to address the issue. Her stated ideas include protecting the region’s natural resources and supporting green energy initiatives.
Ms. Houghtling also promised to hold polluters accountable for their actions. “I will fight to ensure that polluters pay for the entire cost of the demolition and clean up of contaminated sites.” She also promised to invest in water infrastructure projects and enact measures to protect private wells that many residents rely on.
The two Rensselaer County Legislators that represent areas of the Taconic Valley impacted by PFOA and other water contaminants, are also expressing their displeasure with the NYS Drinking Water Quality Committee’s failure to take action to set new limits on emerging contaminants in drinking water. The Committee’s report was due October 2, but they missed that deadline, not having met since February of this year.
When the committee did meet last week, they took no action on setting contaminant levels.
Speaking with The Eastwick Press, legislator Bruce Patire called the committee’s inaction “ludicrous, and politics at its worst.” Patire goes on to say the people of our area have been begging the state to take action on contaminant levels for over two years. Governor Cuomo pledged to take action if the Federal Government didn’t. He is quick to criticize the feds, but slow to act. “This isn’t a federal immigration issue, it is the health of New Yorkers that is a risk.”
In a press release, legislator Jeff Wysocki said “we are happy that the committee has finally met, but we are extremely disappointed that no definitive actions were taken to set contaminant levels to protect our residents. These delays are unacceptable. Our residents deserve better.”