Seneca groups utilize different tactics

SCHUYLER COUNTY--With the controversy surrounding the Crestwood salt cavern gas storage project in the town of Reading, several groups have formed to oppose the storage expansion. Two of these regional groups include Gas Free Seneca and We Are Seneca Lake. While both have similar goals of opposing the project, the two groups have different ways of achieving this goal.
"Gas Free Seneca has valiantly led the fight against gas storage for many years and has pursued a science-based approach, which as a biologist I really respect," Sandra Steingraber of We Are Seneca Lake said. "[...] We Are Seneca Lake only formed after all legal avenues were blocked toward the approval of the methane part of the storage. At that point, We Are Seneca Lake launched our civil disobedience campaign once the final construction approvals were given from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)."
According to Gas Free Seneca's website, the group was formed in early 2011 in response to the plan to build a gas storage and transportation hub in the town of Reading. It includes a coalition of concerned citizens, local business owners and regional environmental groups who aim to protect Seneca Lake and the surrounding area from industrialization.
However, there are some who believe the two groups have been more involved in the past. Burdett resident and Atwater Estate Vineyards owner Ted Marks wrote a letter to the editor published in the Wednesday, Oct. 5 issue of the REVIEW&EXPRESS claiming Gas Free Seneca co-founders Yvonne Taylor and Joseph Campbell orchestrated the protests that have resulted in more than 600 arrests. However, Taylor and Campbell responded that neither they nor Gas Free Seneca are involved in organizing any protests at the gate that have led to arrests.
"Marks is using this public forum to perpetuate another myth, that Gas Free Seneca (GFS) co-founders Yvonne Taylor and Joseph Campbell are 'orchestrating' the protests at the Crestwood gate," said Campbell in a letter to the editor (for full letter, see page 5). "[...] Repeating this lie over and over is an attempt to discredit GFS, deflecting attention from the real issues."
"Marks is either confused, has forgotten a personal email exchange dated Sept. 4, 2015 where he acknowledges the group We Are Seneca Lake, a distinctly separate group from Gas Free Seneca, is responsible for the arrests at Crestwood's gates, or he is purposefully and maliciously attempting to discredit the lawful and scientific work of Gas Free Seneca by conflating the two groups and slandering the principals of this organization," Gas Free Seneca Vice President Yvonne Taylor added. "We hope it is the former."
Marks later clarified his statement, acknowledging the correspondence they had stating Gas Free Seneca was not organizing the protests at the Crestwood gate. However, Marks added, "In my opinion, they helped start the thing."
"There is no denying that they are trying to distance themselves, so my opinion is basically they helped start it, and people of their board have been arrested," Marks claimed. "If they are on their board, they represent their organization."
Marks again highlighted the costs associated with arresting the hundreds of protestors and taking them to trial, adding, "We could accomplish so much more if we worked together."
It can also be seen in a photo and video on the We Are Seneca Lake website that there have been people holding Gas Free Seneca signs at We Are Seneca Lake rallies. However, Steingraber said the decision to be arrested or participate in the protests is a personal choice, adding while some members of Gas Free Seneca may have chosen to be arrested, it is not necessarily done in the name of Gas Free Seneca. She also said while Campbell spoke at the first We Are Seneca Lake Rally in 2014, he was there as a guest speaker and did not take part in the organization of the event. While Gas Free Seneca has also been part of other public demonstrations, these did not result in any arrests.