Weekend opinion: Hands off Big Tupper, share ORDA with Catskills

Morning, folks.  Here’s a look at some of the opinion floating out there in the North Country webosphere this weekend.

The Adirondack Daily Enterprise pivots from the APA’s historic decision on the Adirondack Club and Resort, arguing that a legal challenge by green groups would be unwise.

Some of the more strident of the Park’s environmental groups have indicated that they might sue the state to overturn the decision. We hope the overwhelming nature of the vote dissuades them from such an action.

While they might see legal grounds for it, they are in a small minority in that view. The Park’s largest environmental advocacy group, the Adirondack Council, says the project meets the APA’s requirements. Cecil Wray, a lawyer and veteran commissioner who has always stood up strongly for environmental protection, voted yes to a permit.

The Plattsburgh Press Republican, meanwhile, is endorsing Governor Cuomo’s idea of having the Olympic Regional Development Authority take over management of the Belleayre ski area in the Catskills.

There is no doubt that ORDA is the right organization for any winter-resort management in New York state.

Another advantage to the move would be to further the state’s avowed goal of shrinking government: less management apparatus, fewer people to do a better job.

An incidental advantage locally is that the takeover makes ORDA more vital to New York state and its residents and taxpayers. It compartmentalizes duties in a more focused way, as should be the case.

There is no need for DEC to be in the ski business. It has plenty to do without running Belleayre.

The Watertown Daily Times says President Obama botched it when he said no to the Keystone pipeline from Canada.

The United States needs the oil that is being offered. A timely decision would provide thousands of American jobs. It makes sense to take advantage of energy resources right here in North America rather than rely on suppliers in the Middle East and elsewhere in the world.

The Glens Falls Post Star is praising Governor Cuomo’s emphasis on infrastructure spending.

Much of the economic development the governor proposes involves infrastructure work – $723 million to rebuild highways and bridges, parks, dams and higher education facilities. The state will also take advantage of federal funding, private capital and revenue from state authorities in its push to shore up the aging sinews that knit New York together.

In hard times, you have to hunker down and take care of basic needs and, in his focus on infrastructure, the governor is doing that. Spending millions now on roads and bridges will save billions over time, as the state avoids fiascoes like the implosion of the Champlain Bridge, which crippled commerce in the northern Champlain Valley for two years.

So there you go.  Plenty to chew on.  Comments, as always, welcome.

Tags: adirondacks, opinion