10 Sunday, September 25, 2016 | Times Herald-Record

EDITORIAL BOARD OUR OPINION Joe Vanderhoof Barry Lewis Fred Stanton Gretchen Pina-Breedy President and Publisher Executive Editor Production Director Human Resources Director

EDITORIAL ANOTHER VIEW Paying for power in Albany ocal protestors have been plant generated for 15 years. Lcalling the CPV natural That would have been worth gas power plant under about $100 million and make construction in Wawayanda, in it significantly easier for the effect, the wrong plant, at the company to get financing wrong time, in the wrong place. for the plant. The complaint Last week, a federal prosecutor alleges that even when it was said there was awhole lot more obvious the agreement was wrong with the project. not forthcoming, Percoco kept U.S . Attorney Preet Bharara, promising to use his influence who has made a career convict- so that CPV would keep his ing corrupt state legislators, wife on the payroll. turned his attention to the The governor said, if the executive branch, charging allegations are true, he is eight people with corruption “saddened and profoundly involving business develop- disappointed.” That’s under- ment in the state. Among them standable, given his close are Peter Galbraith Kelly Jr., a relationship with Percoco. former top executive of CPV However, the prevailing who allegedly arranged for feelings locally are anger and more than $315,000 in pay- betrayal and Cuomo needs to ments and gratuities to Joseph do something about that. All Percoco, also named. He is a work at the CPV plant needs close friend and former “right- to be halted immediately and hand man” to Gov. Andrew whatever governmental agen- ANOTHER VIEW Cuomo, who allegedly sought cies state and local that have and accepted bribes to help been involved in the permit- make the CPV project happen. ting process need to suspend Robert Downey Jr. honors the American Way Bharara alleges that Kelly, their approvals and the entire Percoco and Todd Howe, a process reviewed by an inde- By Jonathan Bernstein On the other hand, it’s not as My real defense of celebrity consultant to CPV, engaged in pendent agent. Bloomberg View if very many people are going participation in politics, how- a “multi year bribery scheme” Kelly has been fired by to switch away from Clinton ever, is that even if it has no effect going back to 2010, whereby CPV and Howe has pleaded Let’s talk celebrities and because actor Clark Gregg likes at all it’s still good, healthy fun. Kelly arranged for Howe to guilty and is cooperating with politics. Joss Whedon (creator of her, or away from Trump because In particular, over the last two make secret payments from authorities. Percoco’s lawyer the “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” reality star Omarosa supports or three decades the U.S. has CPV to Percoco in return for says his client did nothing TV show and director of the him. So it’s unlikely any of this become a nation with more patri- his official assistance to the illegal, but Bharara’s record two blockbuster “Avengers” does any harm to the candidates. otic rituals that evoke its military company. The bribes allegedly of convictions on corruption movies) has formed a pro- And collectively, it’s probably (such as flyovers at sports events) included creating a $90,000- speaks for itself. Clinton PAC with $1 million of true that these sorts of things are rather than those which are cen- a year, low show job for It’s simple. The “pay- to- his own money and is produc- real cues to voters who aren’t tered in democracy as the core of Percoco’s wife, who was not play” culture that has infested ing a series of videos with big particularly interested in poli- the nation. With all due respect named in the complaint. Albany erodes confidence in Hollywood celebrities. The first tics that, hey, there’s an election to the military, this should Percoco’s help appears to government. Bribery bespeaks one urges voters to register to coming! For some of us, the elec- dismay us. The U.S. should be have been significant. He is a lack of confidence in one’s vote and features movie and TV tion has been going on forever proud of its democracy, and that said to have convinced a top project to stand on its own. stars including Avengers Robert and we’re counting down the means (among other things) state official to reverse course Combined with extortion, it Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson days until it finally ends — but for celebrating elections, which are and approve an agreement with suggests a cavalier disregard and Mark Ruffalo. many other Americans, politics symbolically (and to some extent CPV to buy cheaper power for the law. What other corners Meanwhile, Donald Trump is sort of a droning background substantively, although that’s emissions in New York that might have been cut? campaigned Tuesday with noise most of the time, and they more complicated) the central could be applied to a plant it The CPV Valley Energy boxing promoter Don King and only really pay attention in last action of a mass democracy. planned to build in New Jersey. Center is a 650 megawatt natu- former college basketball coach few weeks of the campaign. Which seems to be what Percoco also is said to have ral gas -fired power plant off Bobby Knight, while many are That might be more helpful Whedon’s celebrity-studded promised to use his influence Route 6 in Wawayanda. Health traveling to Ohio on behalf of now than it was in the old, pre- video is all about: registering to to help CPV gain an agree- and safety are primary con- Hillary Clinton. internet days of three broadcast vote and voting. I’ll choose to ment with New York to buy cerns. Without trust, it cannot No, voters aren’t going to base networks and a public televi- interpret the celebrities’ mes- virtually all the power the be allowed to proceed. their vote choice on what some sion station. Back in the 1960s sage not as the elitism of famous actor or sports hero tells them to and 1970s, it was harder to people, but as one of participa- do. The celebrities doing these be isolated from big political tion for everyone. And that’s WHAT DO YOU THINK? We welcome letters to the editor from local readers. things, whatever their inten- news. So it’s not that any one worth celebrating. Letters should be 250 words or less, must be signed and must contain an address and telephone number for verifi cation. Letters may be edited tions, are probably doing more particular ad does much, but for length. Email to: [email protected]. Mail to: Letters to the Editor, to promote themselves than to collectively these things do —Jonathan Bernstein is a Bloom- Times Herald-Record, 40 Mulberry St., Middletown, NY 10940-6302. Fax: promote their candidate. At best, eventually remind people that berg View columnist covering 845-343-2170. Information: 845-346-3142. the direct effects are really small. it’s time to pay attention. U.S. politics.