Earlier this month I called every politician I could think of to alert them to the potential trouble the Highland Valley development could cause between neighboring municipalities. Here is the e-mail response I received today from Congressman John Hall:

June 25, 2010

Dear Ms. Famularo,

Thank you for contacting me about Highland Valley Industries, Inc. proposed low-income housing development. I appreciate hearing your thoughts on this issue.

This is a local issue and is not in my jurisdiction as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. I suggest contacting your New York State and locally elected representatives with any concerns you may have.

Again, thank you for contacting me. If I can assist in any other way, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

John Hall
Member of Congress

How politic was this? Is he running for re-election? I wish he had seemed a bit more concerned! Woe!!!

Yes, either John Hall is confused or he has already given up. How can we help him get unconfused?

Yes, he is running for re-election - the Congress is ALWAYS running for re-election. (anybody else out there think 2 year terms are stupid?)

Given New York's Home Rule setup, though, it isn't in his jurisdiction, as he's at the wrong level of government. This email clearly was handled by a staff person, and I continue to be disappointed in his staff and their tone-deafness. They never manage to sound like caring humans in their communication with the public.

Hall is not alone, though: apparently the DEC has declined requests to participate as a Lead Agent in this project, and it is most certainly in their jurisidiction.

This may not be Federal in scope, but the Highland Valley Development Project present the same challenges as those discussed extensively in the media around the Virigina coal mine explosions and the Gulf of Mexico oil spill: How to protect people's health and welfare from financial interests that would put them in harms way? How to protect environmental resources from exploitation by financial interest?

Don't let John Hall's office (or anyone else) tell us water security is not within his/her jurisdiction. John Hall should be on to the EPA and the DEC about this. We're his constituents and his influence and access can help here.

Tell him so!