Arrests At Crestwood Continue

Arrests are continuing at the Crestwood facility in the Town of Reading, where federal approval has been given for the Texas based company to construct the infrastructure to store LP Gas in abandoned salt caverns around and under Seneca Lake. I've written about that plan previously. This week arrests began on Monday morning Nov. 17th. Ten people were arrested for blocking the entrance to Crestwood off of Rt 14. Then again this morning, eight others blockaded two gates at about 7am and were arrested by 7:30. They join others who have been arrested over the past few weeks.

These are brave citizens in my opinion. They have worked tirelessly to educate themselves and others about the issue of Gas Storage in Reading. They have taken steps to communicate and request action with and from government officials. They've studied civil disobedience and understand its consequences and value. They are a mix of young and old.

Most recently they are being attacked for being outsiders and for putting the citizens of Schuyler County at risk and in danger by tying up police agencies and resources with their activities. These attacks are pretty typical arguments by people in power who try to discredit demonstrators. They are the same criticisms made in every case of public assembly to protest the status quo. When these attacks occur, they are usually prefaced or followed by statements supporting the first amendment and peoples' right to protest but........The but is always there - but others are being put in danger - but there are better ways to make your point - but what if everyone did this - but the law has to be upheld. There are many more buts and we'll most likely hear them while people explain their support of the first amendment, but.

Now to be clear, these Lake Defenders are doing more then expressing their first amendment rights. They are challenging the law. They are blocking access to private property. They are also prepared to take the consequences.

What about the fact that they're outsiders? Well, some are and some aren't but so what. Crestwood is an outsider. Tourists are outsiders. Companies being sought for economic development tend to be outsiders. None of this really matters in the world we live in today. We're all connected - sometimes in ways that are good and sometimes in very bad ways. But let's accept the fact that these are people who are concerned about water that impacts 100,000 plus people.

These folks are a danger to public safety? The argument goes something like this. Schuyler is a small, rural county. Its police agency is limited and when they are tied up with protests and arresting people, everyone else is at risk because they (the police) could not respond appropriately to an emergency. Police agencies have the responsibility to protect all citizens, including those protesting and expressing their displeasure with government. They have the responsibility to enforce the law. It seems pretty ludicrous though to say this fairly small group of protesters are endangering public safety when what they are protesting is the storage of volatile gas under an important source of clean and critical water. It's also ludicrous to believe these activities somehow are equal to the stress placed on police agencies when 90,000+ people attend the NASCAR event in Watkins Glen. There are also many festivals, events and just increased traffic related to tourism that places stress and/or danger on public safety. The reality though is that how those situations are dealt with are through proper management and cooperation with other police agencies.

These folks are breaking the law and they know it. At this point it's one of the only avenues that they have left to get the attention of government, the media and the public. They are willing to pay the consequences for their actions. You can read about them at their website We Are Seneca Lake. You may even be able to catch a live feed of their actions.