Silent majority in Town of Callicoon? In rare move, Sullivan County denies approval of town plan

Posted 9/30/09

President Richard Nixon famously appealed to the “silent majority” in 1969 to support his efforts in waging the war in Vietnam, while the supposedly vocal minority took to the streets in …

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Silent majority in Town of Callicoon? In rare move, Sullivan County denies approval of town plan

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President Richard Nixon famously appealed to the “silent majority” in 1969 to support his efforts in waging the war in Vietnam, while the supposedly vocal minority took to the streets in opposition to the war.

The silent majority was invoked at a public hearing in Jeffersonville on February 6, as residents sounded off about the proposed comprehensive plan, which, in the eyes of critics, invites gas drilling and hydraulic fracturing into the town.

Resident John Ebert said, “I wholeheartedly endorse this plan as written, not only for myself but for the silent majority of citizens in this township. We also have a minority group with a lot of mouth, money and misinformation to slow progressive progress in this township. Please listen to the silent majority and approve this as written.”

On the other side of the issue was resident Michael Vreeland, who said, “There is no silent majority in the town that is pro-fracking. I’ve heard that argument from several pro-fracking people. That’s a false argument. The board has heard the passionate voices of the residents in surveys letters and at meetings, the majority of those voices are against fracking, or at least in favor of restricting it.”

Whatever the truth about the silent majority, the speaking majority at this gathering once again came down on the side of keeping gas drilling out of the town. About eight residents spoke in favor of the proposed comprehensive plan, while about 25 spoke against it, which is consistent with the ratios of speakers at previous meetings on the topic.

In reference to polls and surveys that have indicated a majority of residents oppose fracking, Rodney Gaebel, a former town supervisor and former county legislator, said the only poll that really matters is the one that happens at election time in November.

The current legislator, Cindy Geiger, held up a three-inch stack of papers that she said were emails and letters of complaints about the proposed comprehensive plan, which were more numerous than complaints generated by any other topic.

In a sign that awareness about fracking, four years after the topic of gas drilling first surfaced in the region, is still spreading is that about eight residents who spoke in opposition to fracking had not spoken publicly about it in the past. On the pro-fracking side, according to those who have been closely following the issue in the town, there was one resident who has not spoken publicly about it in the past.

One resident who had not spoken publicly before was Jennifer Bergen who said, “Your comprehensive plan is incomprehensible… now that I’m awake, you’ll hear my vote next time around.”

It’s not clear when or if the town board will vote to adopt the comprehensive plan, but if they do, that vote may well spark a lawsuit; environmental lawyers Helen and David Slottje, who have advised numerous towns in the state about adopting drilling bans or moratoria, have contacted county officials about the comprehensive plan, which must be reviewed by the county planning department.

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