Prattsville: Our Local Katrina
Lee Jamison
Christian and I took a trip to Prattsville this afternoon. At the recent March Town Board Meeting, Stuyvesant received a thank you from this Catskill town for a donation of $394 which was authorized in the September 2011 Town Meeting and represented the proceeds of the Ken Hummel 5K Race. We had been hearing stories of the devastation there from our engineer friend Bob Clark. He has been volunteering his time with a group of other retired engineers to provide free structural engineering reports for homeowners. People need these reports to facilitate insurance claims and kick-start repairs. Obviously, most Prattsville residents are spending whatever resources on day-to-day survival and not engineering fees.
http://youtu.be/xb8hczNy7L is a link to a YouTube of the immediate aftermath of the floods from Storms Irene and Lee last August.
While a number of homes and businesses have been cleaned up and repaired, many remain in sad shape. Houses are simply missing or worse-- gaping pits. The river banks are massively eroded. Work continues removing uprooted trees. Behind town, is a field with a development of what seems to be emergency housing modulars. It is densely packed but neat, tidy and new. There are still heaps of debris by the road and riverside.
Bob reminded us that the Governor deployed the Reserves for just one weekend to help clean-up. They worked hard and accomplished enormous amounts of debris removal but clearly were needed for more time. Sorry, no more time. Sad to say, our Congressman, along with his other Tea Party members, voted to authorize only half the disaster funds requested. Our local Katrina.
Here are some of the photos I took, now, 6 months later:
Didi Barrett Announces for the 103rd!
Dear Family and Friends,
I am honored to share the news with you that I have accepted the nomination of the Dutchess and Columbia County Democratic and Working Families Parties to be their candidate in a special election for NY State Assembly on March 20, 2012. The election will fill the open seat vacated when Marcus Molinaro, our former assemblyman, was elected Dutchess County Executive last November.
This is a very short time for a campaign, and fortunately a good part of the 103rd AD overlaps the State Senate district I ran in two years ago. We created a lot of good will and name recognition during that campaign and I have been touched by the outpouring of support encouraging me to run. Representing this district in the State Assembly (known as the Peoples' House) would allow me to work with our Hudson Valley communities to create jobs and bring relief from unfunded mandates. It will give me a greater platform as I continue to be a passionate advocate for this beautiful region, helping us realize the potential of our agricultural, natural, cultural and historic resources as economic engines.
I continue to feel strongly that we need more women's voices in Albany. I'm sure you will be as surprised as I was to learn that New York State now ranks 34th of the 50 states in the number of women in the state legislature. As more social policies are decided at the state level it is essential that we all feel represented.
A special election is a unique opportunity. Our challenge is to first let folks know there is an important election on March 20th and then to be sure they get out and vote. This must all happen in the next six weeks, so I need your help now.
Please visit our new website www.didibarrett.com. We need financial support, phone banking and canvassing. If you live in the 103rd AD please circle March 20th on you calendar and remember to vote. If you know people in the district tell them about the election. They can vote with absentee ballots or in person.
I thank you for your friendship and continued support. As always, be in touch if you have any questions or suggestions.
Warmly,
Didi
