Dunkirk Decisions

Governor “Status”Cuomo has announced $200 million of our tax dollars to build a plant for drug manufacturing in Dunkirk. Nice thought.

How many people that are going to be unemployed form the closing of the power plant and ConAgra are going to be employed in the plant? Not many as drug manufacturing is not like running a power plant or agriculture. Possible those that worked as janitors or in maintenance might have a chance. However, most of the promised high paying jobs will go to outsiders.

This leaves Dunkirk no better off than before.

What should Cuomo have done?

First: The NRG power plants in both Dunkirk and Fredonia need to be converted to alternative energy. Solar, wind, and water based. Both are near small rivers or Lake Erie and could have turbines placed in the currents that would generate electricity year round. (As long as there is water.) Scandinavian countries are doing this already and they are almost completely fossil fuel free. By expanding the possibility of solar panels on roof tops, wind mills, and water turbines, these two plants could stay operational and save jobs.

The installation of the solar panels will create jobs as a matter of fact. Many roofs will need to be upgraded- reinforced and new shingles or metal roofing. .There is all the electrical work as well.

Then there is the ConAgra plant that is closing down. Cuomo needs to use the state power of eminent domain to seize the plant and turn it over to the farmers and local universities. Many farmers that I hear talking go off on how useless the genetically modified plants are – they cost more, use expensive chemical pesticides and fertilizers, and produce less. So why waste our time and money producing them? Let's have the farmers work with agriculture and biology majors form local universities to produce the seeds that will actually grow in this region. Since they won't have to account a profit to wall street, the costs will be more affordable. If it were run as a cooperative, it would be a huge boon to the local farmers and colleges.

While cancer is a scary condition – I lost both parents to differing forms of it – none of the research that I have seen addresses causes. I know of too many farmers and their families that suffer from cancers that can be related to the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers. Then there are the cigarettes that I see to many people smoking. Add to that a diet loaded with chemical additives and preservatives and a sedentary lifestyle, and bingo! Cancer.

The plant that is going to be built will be owned by the state and “leased” to the company. They are closing down other plants across the US and bringing their production here. This is a classic case of warfare against the workers and their communities. Capitalist Cuomo offered them the biggest bribe and best deal, so they are dragging everything that they own up here. While the jobs are needed, they are leaving out those that live here. Many people that are unemployed are not trained to work in the medical fields, so they are being left out and left behind.

It is time that Capitalist “Status” Cuomo stop leaving our unemployed workers behind. We need job training programs for the new economy. I hear nothing of this. We also need to adapt the inefficient fossil fuel plants to renewable energy. This is more easily done.

Sometimes I wonder if Cuomo is the governor of New York State or Corporate America.