My Letter To The NYPSC

There have been a number of untrue accusations over time that I never wrote a letter to the NYPSC.   I find it interesting because anyone can easily look it up on the NYPSC website concerning BP's wind farm application.  Of course this is more likely just lies to make sure the marginalization campaign about my comments is continued. 

My comment is #141 on the website under public comments.  I have posted it below.  However, as you will see my comment is not slobbering all over the Art. X process and the PSC to save Cape Vincent from BP.


Dear Secretary Brilling.

The letter posted here is the most important part of a more inclusive letter that will soon be sent to your office by registered mail as well as the other parties Cc on this comment.  This site does not allow sufficient characters to post my entire letter and concerns.  I fully oppose the Art X process and the removal of critical home rule rights and have encouraged our town to not participate in it.  Our land use futures should be determined by local home rule and not be an arbitrary political system heavily influenced by politics and corporate power over politics.  The concern here is a matter of ethics.

The Town of Cape Vincent is engaged in the Art X process with BP and the NY PSC.    It has come to the attention of the Town of Cape Vincent, and its citizens via a Watertown Daily Times report that a high level NY Public Service Commissioner Maureen Harris is the wife of John S. Harris the attorney of record for BP's Cape Vincent Wind Farm.  The Town has written to you for clarification on this matter.  Your agency's initial  official reply to the paper article was inadequate and distorted political cover. The Harris relationship is very questionable even if it is only a matter that a perception of a conflict of interest exists and  should be avoided to ensure public confidence in government and itss public officials.  This in fact is what is suggested in numerous NY AG opinions to public officials, and Mrs. Harris should be familiar with these opinions since she was once a litigator in the NY AG's office under Gov. Cuomo when he was the NY AG.

As I said this letter is not to plead a case for you to save Cape Vincent from BP's wind complex proposal. I have already outlined why the States contradictory laws make that irrelevant and why it is illegitimate for your agency of any other to administer the removal of NY citizen's rights already granted by other State laws.  

This letter is to put you and your agency on notice that I will be contacting the Governor's Office and the NYS Attorney General's Office and will encourage others to do the same to investigate this matter, and to investigate for example, whether Mrs. Harris should have officially disclosed, as a high level State PSC Commissioner, the relationship her spouse has with British Petroleum.  I will also be demanding to know from the Governor and the NY AG's Office the status of a precedent setting  investigation former NYAG Cuomo announced Aug 13th 2010 of former Cape Vincent town officials, some with BP wind leases. I was part of that investigation providing research to it's initial stages.  That investigation was never completed as far as anyone can tell by Gov. Cuomo or AG Schneiderman.

Gov. Cuomo also has an Agricultural Commissioner, former Sen. Darrel Aubertine who along with his family have BP wind leases in Cape Vincent.  Gov. Cuomo apparently re-appointed Mrs. Harris knowing full well of the BP relationship and that his Ag. Commissioner  and his family have BP wind leases.

All of this questionable activity is directly attached to the Art X process and NONE of this lends itself to the integrity in NY government that Gov. Cuomo promised NY citizens, and I am sure you and your agency and ALL its staff endorse as well.  Art X is barely off the ground and already it is surrounded by very serious ethical and administrative questions.

I anxiously await your reply on this matter to further clear up this issue.
Sincerely,

Art Pundt.
Flagstaff, AZ
Seasonal resident Cape Vincent, NY