Poughkeepsie Journal, Thursday, June 6, 2002
Letters to the Editor
Residents will fight E. Fishkill overpass
As a speaker at the recent East Fishkill public hearing on the 2002
Comprehensive Master Plan, I would like to thank those who worked so
hard at putting the plan together. We may disagree on points, but their
work is appreciated.
After I spoke in opposition to the part of the plan dealing with
transportation, specifically the proposed bridge over the Taconic State
Parkway at Carpenter Road, town board member Ethel Walker commented,
"The Town of East Fishkill is not building the overpass on County Route
29. That was an idea of the New York State Department of Transportation.
It's not something that we came up with."
This is disingenuous at best. The town will not build the bridge, but it
has certainly done everything it can to bring about its existence. For
Ms. Walker to make such a statement suggests she and the board believes
the people to be gullible and ignorant.
Ms. Walker and the board will find out that is not so. We are determined
to be heard. We will not be railroaded into accepting a flawed plan, one
that will make East Fishkill no longer a great place to live. The board
will say it has a responsibility to the entire town. It also has a
responsibility to listen to the people. Arrogance and verbal chicanery
have no place in dealing with the residents. Make no mistake about it; a
bridge at Carpenter Road would ruin an entire neighborhood. Make no
mistake about it; the residents don't want it.
John Pisacano, Hopewell Junction