This is a little bit of a catch-up, but with blog problems interrupting, and endorsement hearings ongoing, I haven’t had a chance to comment on this until now.

A few weeks ago, the state Department of Transportation announced that it would rethink, and scale back, its plans for a much-needed replacement of the James A. Farley Memorial Bridge in Stony Point.
The news was remarkable for many reasons: It saved some property that many in town considered important to their history. It actually was a plan that fit the town’s needs and desires, rather than a state agency’s predictions and designs.
But, the really amazing part was that when people rallied, and participated in the process by speaking at public meetings and writing letters, a state agency responded.
Refreshing, huh?
And, we really do need to acknowledge that the Stony Point Action Committee for the Environment (SPACE) did very significant heavy lifting on this. Their push to get people to turn out and speak up, and their belief that the system can work is what made it work.
It seemed so odd at the time that residents, many of whom were likely the ones to be stuck in traffic on Route 9W, were the ones pushing for a more modest, and smaller crossing. They didn’t see the need for a bigger, wider bridge across Cedar Pond Brook.
Good for town residents, who, instead of picking from two DOT plans, sought a better alternative. Good for Town Supervisor Phil Marino for listening, and agreeing with his constituents. Good for SPACE for pushing not for the better of two alternatives, but for the best possible outcome.
Yes, we are aware that there’s now plenty of politicking going on among, between, against and around these different factions as Nov. 6 nears. But on this, even with politics always lurking under the surface, it’s important to acknowledge the work, and success, that happened in Stony Point.