Dear Constituent:

Below is the text of an Op-Ed piece that was originally published in The Riverdale Press on February 7, 2007 regarding Con Edison’s M29 power line proposal. I urge you to read this l etter and consider submitting comments to the Public Service Commission.

Let your voices be heard

This past fall, I attended the first Public Service Commission public statement hearing on this matter. I was the only person to attend, not surprising given its remote location at Hostos Community College. I demanded that the PSC hold another public statement hearing in Riverdale.

I have helped organize the M29 Joint Monitoring Committee, a coalition of community leaders and elected officials from all three affected communities. I have hosted a series of meetings with members of the committee, which consists of elected officials and community leaders from Yonkers, the Bronx, and Northern Manhattan, including Councilman Oliver Koppell, Congressman Eliot Engel, State Senators Eric Schneiderman and Jeff Klein, Congressman Charles Rangel, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, and many other elected officials as well as members of Bronx Community Board 8 and Manhattan Community Board 12.

We haven’t simply said “no” to the power line, since we recognize the need for it. Instead we have proposed an alternative route along I-87 where there would be little or no disruption, particularly because work can be done at night. Contrast that with Con Ed’s preferred route, which includes a firehouse, 7 schools, 6 houses of worship, 20 apartment buildings, 65 private homes, 3 construction sites, 145 businesses, 8 bus routes – and a previous street collapse. And that’s just the Bronx portion! Con Ed never took into account the effect its proposal would have on our community. This was clear when we cross- examined Con Ed’s witnesses at the recent evidentiary hearing at the PSC. Their so-called experts were unaware of the existence of most of the schools and bus lines along their route. They didn’t even know about the fire station on Henry Hudson Parkway. The just didn’t do their homework. They deserve a failing grade for their proposal. Given the recent scathing report by the PSC about Con Ed’s handling of last year’s blackout in Queens, it’s fair to say that Con Ed is not unfamiliar with failing grades.

A huge crowd turned out for the public statement hearing that was held on my insistence on January 22 at the Riverdale YM-YWHA. Residents, business owners, and elected officials from all three communities let the Public Service Commission know that they oppose Con Ed’s plan and support our alternative proposal. The PSC needs to hear from as many people as possible. I urge you to submit your thoughts on this proposal to the PSC. Comments may be mailed to Jaclyn A. Brilling, Secretary, Public Service Commission, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12223-1350 or online via the “PSC Comment Form” in the “Consumer Assistance” file accessed through the Commission’s Web site at www.dps.state.ny.us or via the “Contact Us” link at http://www.AskPSC.com. Let your voices be heard!

Jeffrey Dinowitz is the Assemblyman for the 81st District

145 businesses
3 construction sites
5 gas stations
20 apartment buildings
65 private homes
6 houses of worship
7 schools
1 firehouse
1 previous street collapse

Bus Routes:
Bx1, Bx7, Bx9, Bx10, Bx20,
BxM1, BxM2, BxM18

Our Alternative Route:

2 gas stations

	Our Route
	Con Ed’s Route

It is important that residents of our community continue to speak out on this issue. You can do so by communicating with the PSC. I would urge you to tell the PSC that Con Ed’s preferred route would have a serious negative impact on our community and that Con Ed should install the M29 Transmission Line along I-87, minimizing community impact. Your comments should refer to “Case 06-T-0710 Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. M29 Transmission Line Project.”

Mail: Comments may be mailed to Jaclyn A. Brilling, Secretary, Public Service Commission, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12223-1350.

Toll-free Opinion Line: Comments may also be submitted through the Commission’s Opinion Line at 1-800-335-2120. This number is designed to take comments about pending cases from in-state callers, 24 hours a day. Callers should select English or Spanish and press “1” to leave comments about the electric facility proposal.

The Internet: Comments may also be submitted via the “PSC Comment Form” in the “Consumer Assistance” file accessed through the Commission’s Web site at www.dps.state.ny.us or via the “Contact Us” link at http://www.AskPSC.com.