Who are the outside agitators?

As I walked today in the woods near my home in Eldred I thought about the rumor that those of us opposing Millennium’s compressor station are a small group of outside agitators with limited attachment to the area and no right to speak. Since I have lived, run a business, raised a family and enjoyed the outdoors here for more than 30 years, and I oppose the station, this rumor bothers me deeply.

Then, as I walked, I began to wonder: Where is Millennium from? What are their ties to our community? Why should people listen to them and not me? I will bet that the top brass of Millennium don’t live in Sullivan County. They don’t walk the paths here that I do. I will never see them hunt or fish in our woods and streams. I’ll bet they don’t attend Bethel Woods, or go kayaking on our lakes and rivers. I’m even certain they will not be buying a second home here, certainly not near a compressor station.

Their only purpose in our community is to run roughshod over our zoning, spend as little as they can get away with in the process, and make lots of money for their stockholders. They are the true outside agitators. Our county legislators and business leaders should join us. They should be skeptical of the promises of Millennium. We are your neighbors, here for the long run. They have no attachment to our county and no real incentive to do well by us, except to get the job done and move on.

Walter “Bo” Stevens

Eldred, NY