Gas, Gas and More Gas in Catskill

C M Y K

Windham Journal The Daily Mail SEE PAGE A6 Copyright 2020, Columbia-Greene Media All Rights Reserved The nation’s fourth-oldest newspaper • Serving Greene County since 1792 Price $1.50 Volume 228, No. 155 THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 2020 n FORECASTWEATHER FOR HUDSON/CA TODAY TONIGHT FRI Cuomo to lead US governors By Kate Lisa beside all of you as we lead this Wednesday’s annual gathering Johnson Newspaper Corp. nation forward,” Cuomo said. “I was slated to be held in Portland, Mostly sunny Cooler; a Gov. Andrew Cuomo took the am honored to be taking the gav- Maine, but was held digitally and and less Partly cloudy p.m. t-storm humid reins — and literally the gavel el from Gov. [Larry] Hogan and livestreamed because of the CO- — Wednesday afternoon as the the great Executive Committee.” VID-19 pandemic. HIGH LOW 74 leader of the National Governor’s The NGA unanimously voted Republican Gov. Larry Hogan 80 63 63 Association during the bipartisan for Cuomo, who will become of Maryland served as the asso- organization’s annual summer the longest-serving governor in ciation chairman for the last year Complete weather, A2 meeting. the nation next year, to serve as after beginning his term at the or- Cuomo, D-NY, assumed the NGA’s chairman. He is the first ganization’s meeting last July in role of association chairman New York governor to hold the Salt Lake City, Utah. n SPORTS Wednesday during the associa- office. “It was the honor of a lifetime,” tion’s 112th annual gathering. The association, which meets Hogan said. “I could not be more Gov. William Asa Hutchinson II, in areas across the nation to ad- proud of this organization of ev- COURTESY OF GOV. ANDREW CUOMO’S OFFICE R-Ark., will take Cuomo’s place dress issues plaguing states ery single one of our governors Gov. Andrew Cuomo took the gavel after a unanimous as vice chairman. each year, traditionally hosts a vote to lead the National Governor’s Association for the See CUOMO A8 “I am honored to be standing winter and summer meeting. next year as the bipartisan organization’s chairman. Senator: Baseball League playoffs Federal Orioles, Mudcats to clash in HRCBL semis PAGE B1 funding n REGION critical By Melanie Lekocevic Columbia-Greene Media As Congress negotiates the next round of coronavirus relief legislation, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., is calling on the federal government to address the needs of struggling families. The pandemic, now in its sixth month, continues to rage across Isaias delivers Gas, gas and more the nation, taking its toll on both public health and the economy. knockout blow Republicans and Democrats Storm leaves thousands in Washington have been do- ing battle over the specifics of the in area without power proposed $3 trillion legislation, PAGE A3 gas in Catskill known as the Health and Econom- ic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions, or HEROES, Act. n WORLD BILL WILLIAMS/COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA “The House [of Representa- The building that once housed Mountain T-Shirts has been razed to make way for a new Stewart’s. tives] passed the HEROES Act two-and-a-half months ago. That By Sarah Trafton to decide whether to grant a northbound cars now have to Seeley said. An issue that means Sen. [Mitch] McConnell Columbia-Greene Media variance to Gas Land, Village wait, hold up traffic just to get came up at the July 29 hearing has had more than enough time CATSKILL — With demoli- Trustee Joseph Kozloski said. across several lanes of traffic was an aquifer that runs un- to bring it to the floor for debate tion complete on Mountain “If they get the variance, in some cases. Not to men- derground, Kozloski said. and/or to present a workable alter- T-Shirts on the corner of West they go back to the planning tion the northbound vehicles “They may have to contend native,” Gillibrand said in a video Main Street and West Bridge board,” he said. that need to make a mad dash with that, we don’t know,” he conference call Wednesday after- Street for a new Stewart’s and The village also contacted across the highway.” said, adding that soil samples noon. “Instead, he has dragged his another gas station proposal the county planning board for The project needs the vari- will have to be taken. feet.” under review by the village input because the project is ance because the property, Residents at lower eleva- The virus outbreak that began Another layer Zoning Board of Appeals, near a major highway, he said. which is home to Cats Rental, tions were concerned about in mid-March and continues un- some residents are wonder- “We always ask opinions an equipment rental compa- the effect the project could abated nationwide has caused the of hardship ing how many gas stations have on their water, he said. largest contraction of the econo- Catskill needs. Beirut blast comes with “When the state did work my in recent memory, Gillibrand A new Sunoco station pro- “I do hear the ‘why do we need another on 9W it changed the way un- said. Lebanon in massive crisis posed by Gas Land Inc., if gas station, pizza place or Chinese food derground water ran,” he said. “More than 31 million Ameri- PAGE A2 approved, will join the ranks “People who had very little cans were out of work last month of the Speedway, Cumber- place, etc. My response is that any busi- water in their basement now and receiving unemployment in- land Farms and Asads Gas on ness that fits our zoning has done their have a lot of water.” surance,” she said. n INDEX Route 9W. On Route 23, an- market research, has a solid business The company has done The level of unemployment Region A3 other Sunoco Station and a a preliminary traffic study, insurance benefits provided by Opinion A4 Valero sit on opposite sides of plan, has the capital and wants to be part which the village is waiting to the Heroes Act is among the most the highway. hotly contested differences be- State/Nation A5 of our growing community; let’s get them receive results on, Kozloski Obituaries A5 Village President Vincent said. tween Republican and Demo- Seeley addressed these con- Sports B1 to the table. What if the next business “Traffic is definitely an area cratic elected officials. Under the cerns Wednesday, Classified B4-5 we are going to focus on, and CARES Act — the first pandemic “I do hear the ‘why do we born in Catskill becomes the next Pizza Comics/Advice B7-8 we will use this opportunity to relief legislation — those who lost need another gas station, their jobs during the outbreak Hut, Domino’s or P.F. Chang’s and they discuss stop lights and turning pizza place or Chinese food became eligible for an additional On the web lanes with the state Depart- place, etc,’” Seeley said. “My build their corporate headquarters here?” $600 weekly in unemployment www.HudsonValley360.com response is that any business ment of Transportation,” See- — VILLAGE PRESIDENT VINCENT SEELEY insurance, above the standard that fits our zoning has done ley said. amount they would otherwise Twitter their market research, has a Stewart’s have received. Democrats want to Follow: solid business plan, has the The former Mountain T- maintain unemployment benefits @CatskillDailyMail capital and wants to be part on projects like that; it doesn’t ny, is not zoned for a gas sta- Shirts shop was nothing but at that same level, while Republi- mean we have to follow the tion, Kozloski said. rubble on Wednesday. Cone Facebook of our growing community; cans want to reduce the additional let’s get them to the table. recommendation,” he said. “There was a one fam- E Island Ice Cream across the amount people receive to $200. www.facebook.com/ What if the next business The village will be bringing ily house, where a lady owns street will remain. Republicans argue that the en- CatskillDailyMail/ born in Catskill becomes the in its own engineering firm to a sewing business and a small Village planners approved hanced benefits are discouraging next Pizza Hut, Domino’s or review the plans, Seeley said. building for equipment rent- the site plan for the new some people from going back to P.F. Chang’s and they build “This location, if approved, als,” he said. 3,996-square-foot Stewart’s work, opting instead to continue their corporate headquarters would be the only gas station The buildings would be tak- Shop and two gas pumps in receiving unemployment ben- here?” on the right-hand side go- en down to construct a new May. efits. Following the public hearing northbound from Sau- 2,175-square-foot gas station/ The project is on schedule Gillibrand said that argument ing at the zoning board last gerties to Ravena,” he said. convenience store. Gas Land to be completed in October, See FUNDING A8 week, the board has 62 days “This is important because is proposing three pumps, Seeley said.