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Volume 18, No. 21
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Watershed Supervisory Committee Advances Otsego Lake Protection Initiatives
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By ERIC SANTOMAURO-STENZEL
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COOPERSTOWN he Watershed Supervisory Committee, a joint effort of the Village of Cooperstown and the towns of Otsego, Middlefield, and Springfield, has completed drafts of the first three chapters of its Nine Element Watershed Management Plan. The intermunicipality group’s mission to protect the health of Otsego Lake and its watershed is aided by its recently hired watershed supervisor and grants. “It’s comprehensive, and it develops best manage-
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ment practices that will keep the lake healthy,” said Dr. Bertine McKenna, the chair of the committee. “Then from there, we have to seek grant funding to fix some of the issues that are identified.” The WSC’s mission is to “protect and enhance the health of Otsego Lake and its watershed.” Members, who are not paid, also provide updates to a broader Watershed Advisory Committee composed of more representatives. Dr. Jacob Gillette, who holds a PhD in limnology, the study of inland waters, was hired by the Village of Continued on page 7
Data Center Moratorium Public Hearing Set in Oneonta Town By ERIC SANTOMAURO-STENZEL
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ONEONTA he Town of Oneonta board unanimously voted on March 11 to set a public hearing for a one year data center and commercial cryptomining moratorium at its regular meeting on April 8. The board is likely to pass the moratorium shortly thereafter. “I just want to say thank you to the 700 community members who have shared and advocated for the community on this issue,” Town Supervisor Will Rivera (D) said just before the vote. “This is your government. We are here for you.” If passed, the five-page moratorium would offer one year for town officials to develop a more permanent law regarding data centers and cryptomining. During that period, no proposal would be “accepted, processed, approved, approved conditionally, or issued” for a data center or commercial cryptocurrency operation INSIDE ► more on the 287(g) agreement, page 2
facilities utilizing less than a certain threshold of power, though there is a blank space where the amount should be. Violating the moratorium could lead to a fine of up to $250.00 or up to 15 days imprisonment. Board member and former interim town supervisor Brett Holleran (R) argued for moving straight to a law. “I don’t think there’s a person on this board, and I could speak for everyone without actually even asking based on the conversations we had, that are not for it,” Holleran said, referring to the potential law. “So what are we investigating in a moratorium?” Rivera replied that the choice for a moratorium over an immediate law was on advice of the town attorney, which he confirmed. Chris McIlveen Photo by Eric Santomauro-Stenzel of Coughlin & Gerhart LLP said the At their regular meeting on March 11, the Town of Oneonta Town Board unanimously moratorium would allow for the town voted to set an April 8 public hearing for a one-year moratorium on data centers and com- to do a “thorough review” of potential mercial cryptomining. impacts of data centers and commerin the town. certain medical uses, municipal educa- cial cryptomining. The moratorium as provided for the tion services and functions of govern“I’m going to follow the legal advice Continued on page 7 meeting agenda offers exemptions for ment. There is also an exemption for
SUNY Oneonta Professor Co-authors New Book By BILL BELLEN
► catching up on common ONEONTA council, page 3
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n February 5, Bloomsbury Publishing released its latest new book, “Silencing Journalism by Murder?: An Overview of Six Global Case Studies.” ► the scoop on bitcoin, Co-authored by SUNY Oneonta media page 4 studies professor Gayane Torosyan, this ► NEW WELLNESS CLINIC book examines various case studies of jourPLANNED, page 5 nalists who were assassinated for doing their jobs. ► LWV SPILLS THE TEA ON Acknowledging a growing trend of DIRT, page 6 violence against the press, “Silencing ► CCS BOYS HEADED TO Journalism” aims to show readers the FINAL FOUR, page 8 dangers of being the ones who cover ► THINGS TO DO, page 12 controversy. Torosyan’s book critically examines the power of the local and global networks at play in the suppression of news media and the elimination of its journalists, 1 98715 21709 4 peeling back the layers to reveal the ugly ► sPRINGFIELD plans FOR ‘AMERICA 250,’ page 3
Photo provided
AMANI ISMAIL
Photo provided
GAYANE TOROSYAN
truths threatening freedom of information across the globe. Torosyan is well-seasoned in the world of media studies and journalism, being a frequent contributor to AllOtsego as well as the seventh edition of Roy L. Moore and Michael D. Murray’s textbook “Media Law and Ethics.” She was born and raised in Armenia during its time as a republic of the
Soviet Union, initially coming to the United States to attend first a master’s and then a doctoral program at the University of Iowa. It is here that she met fellow co-author Amani Ismail, who is now an associate dean of the School of Humanities and Creative Arts at the University of Hertfordshire in Egypt, hosted by the Global Academic Foundation. “Because of our shared professors, we stayed in touch after graduation,” Torosyan explained. “Amani’s interests are political conflict and terrorism. My interest was media history.” Torosyan noted their subjects of interest had natural overlap. Conversation between the two was sparked over the killing of Washington Post correspondent Jamal Khashoggi in late 2018, and from there the pair got to work trying to craft a new piece Continued on page 7
THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA, OTSEGO COUNTY’S AWARD-WINNING WEEKLIES 2010 WINNERS OF The Otsego County Chamber/KEY BANK SMALL BUSINESS AWARD
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