Dear Gov. Cuomo:

I’ve been a local journalist in and around Sullivan County for over 30 years. I’ve watched and reported on the county’s casino efforts—state constitutional amendments, Indian casinos and the rest throughout my career.

I remember trying to get a response about casinos from your dad when he spoke at the state press association convention (at the old Concord) in 1987. He out-foxed me, but that’s another story. The point is that it has been difficult to get an answer about Sullivan County’s problems from anybody in Albany for many years.

That brings me to the fracking issue. I’m a native of our gorgeous Delaware River Valley and have spent my adult life reporting on its issues. Our region is more than the Mid-Hudson, more than the Borscht Belt. It’s also the Upper Delaware. You should come and check it out. I know we don’t have the votes or the pull, but we’ve got some beautiful scenery and lots of visitors.

But I digress. Given decades of experience with Albany, I and many others developed a well-earned cynicism about the chances of the state seriously responding to our local concerns about air and water quality and industrial impacts, so I expected more of the same in taking on powerful oil/gas industry interests.

With all that background, I can’t really tell you how surprised and amazed I was this week with both the casino commission decision and your decision about fracking. You and your administration have made me proud of being a New Yorker for the first time in many years. I’m proud of you and I’m sure your dad is as well.

Thank you.

Dave Hulse

Barryville, NY

[Note: Dave Hulse writes freelance news stories for The River Reporter.]