Morning Read: DEC commissioner Peter Grannis fired

The Albany Times-Union is reporting this morning that Governor David Paterson has fired the commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation.

According to a report in the newspaper’s blog, Peter Grannis was forced out after a memo was leaked last week questioning Paterson’s plan to cut additional jobs from the agency.

”Here I am being called on the carpet for doing what we were supposed to do, for being asked to tell the administration what the cuts they want meant,” Grannis said. “Apparently facts don’t sit well with this administration.”

Grannis protested that the memo was not leaked with his knowledge, and left two telephone messages with Paterson, one Wednesday evening and another Thursday morning, seeking a chance to make his case.

“Larry Schwartz said the governor would not talk to me,” Grannis said.

According to an email exchange made public by Grannis, Paterson demanded his resignation, but he refused to step aside.

Grannis, a former state Assemblyman, was appointed in 2007 and confirmed by the state Senate after occasionally contentious hearings.  He also worked for the DEC in the 1970s.

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6 Comments on “Morning Read: DEC commissioner Peter Grannis fired”

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  1. George Nagle says:

    A pity.

    Peter Berle, a man of integrity, was also forced out as DEC commissioner. Grannis is in good company.

  2. Bret4207 says:

    I wonder what else was behind this? I seriously doubt this was the only thing to cause Patterson to do this.

    Not that it matters now, but I felt Grannis was the wrong man for the job. An anti-sportsman, preservationist really isn’t the best guy to head up DEC.

  3. Pete Klein says:

    Here is living proof that “The Truth will set you free.”

  4. mary says:

    marcellus shale gas drilling — read about it.

    at least the adirondacks is spared this controversy.

  5. tourpro says:

    “The Truth will set you free.”……..fired, just like Juan.

  6. Read above and below about the imbroglio around Niagara Falls and Niagara County, NY, that has been condoned, perpetuated and confounded by Grannis’ state Department of Environmental Conservation.

    Also, take a read about the nuclear waste situation in Niagara County at www Artvoice dot com. Search: “nuclear,” “atomic,” the “Manhattan Project,” “Atomic Energy Commission” and other environmental activities written about in this publication.

    Niagara Falls’ Love Canal was merely the tip of the proverbial pollution iceberg. Waste sites splotch the landscape along the Niagara River and around Lake Ontario that are less than contained and are going UN-addressed. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control hold disastrous A.O.C. (Area of Concern) health records which have been ignored by Peter Grannis and Co.

    After being involved in politics (dirty and otherwise) for 40 years, including being the head of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Mr. Grannis needed to go.

    This is a good start within that agency. Keep going and thank you Gov. Patterson!

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