Menu:

 
PATH has requested that both the National Park and Forest Services continue to hold their application review process "in abeyance" until approximately 60 days after the 12th of Never, or whenever PJM finally makes a decision, whichever comes first.

"In order to accommodate the PJM study process, while providing a measure of certainty for both the PATH Companies and the NPS, the PATH Companies respectfully request that the NPS continue to hold its application review in abeyance until 60-days after the PJM Board issues a further decision on the status of the PATH Project. Promptly after being advised of such further decision by the PJM Board, the PATH Companies will notify the NPS of that decision and, within such 60-day period, submit a further request to the NPS with regard to the pending applications."

According to the letter, PJM is not expected to make a decision until sometime AFTER May 2012.

"As indicated by the PJM Staff report, additional analysis will be undertaken after completion of the May 2012 forward capacity auction results. The time required by PJM Staff to perform such analysis thereafter is not yet
known."

You're not really surprised, are you?  This is exactly what I expected would happen after Order No. 1000 was issued, delaying the retooling of PJM's planning process, and after PATH painted themselves into a corner in Virginia.

On April 12, 2011, Virginia State Corporation Commission Hearing Examiner Alexander Skirpan issued his report and recommendations on the March 17 hearing regarding PATH's withdrawal of its application in that state.  In his report, Skirpan recommended that certain conditions be placed on the filing of a new application for the project in Virginia.  One of these conditions was that the application must be based on a completed 2012 RTEP, which won't be issued until first quarter 2013.  The Virginia Commission's Order included this stipulation.

Word is that the NPS/NFS are considering PATH's request.  No decision date has been indicated.

The only "certainty" being provided here is that every year this drags on, PATH makes another $13M in pure profit, courtesy of their FERC formula rate and incentives.  There is no motivation for them to ever restart this project -- they've got $130M tucked safely away in an account that earns 12.4% profit every year.  What a sweet deal! 

All PATH's profits come directly from your pocket in the form of higher and higher electric bills.

Your orchestra has begun composing a new tune... so check back later for more on this subject.


2 Comments
 
 
This just in...  PATH's Memorandum in Support of the Potomac Edison Company's Petition for Judicial Review of the December 20, 2010 Findings and Decision of the Board of Appeals for Frederick County.  Before reading though, click here to set the proper tone and mood for your perusal because it's a sad, sad story.  I just couldn't hold back the tears... of laughter!

It's another PATHetic pity party starring poor, persecuted PATH, and winds up with a rather long-winded legal argument citing a bunch of precedent.  I'm not going to get into that aspect of it.  I'm not a lawyer and I refuse to waste my time looking up all those cases.  The Maryland opposition groups have lawyers for just that purpose.  You should consider slipping them a donation to help with their legal costs.  Visit CAKES or Sugarloaf Conservancy to show your support!

Regarding the pity party though, I simply can't resist having some fun at PATH's expense.  Here are a few quotes starring MISINFORMATION that I know you'll enjoy:

  • The Substation is permitted as a special exception in an A zoning district and is part of a larger project to be constructed in Maryland, West Virginia and Virginia that will ultimately improve the reliability of the electric transmission grid in Maryland and the mid-Atlantic region.
Nowhere in this document does PATH mention that the substation, as well as the entire PATH project, is now a moot point because PJM has determined that it is not needed.  They also fail to mention that they have withdrawn their application to construct the project and the substation in the State of Maryland.  PATH will NOT "improve the reliability of the electric transmission grid."  PATH has provided misinformation to the Circuit Court for Frederick County.
  • ...opponents, including nearby residents, environmental groups, and activists from  Maryland and out of state, offered subjective,
    emotional, and anecdotal arguments against the Substation and the motives of the Petitioner, and generally in support of a NIMBY position.  "NIMBY" refers to "Not In My Back Yard," a common position taken by certain opponents whereby the opponents do not necessarily protest the specific proposal but, rather, protest the location of the specific proposal as being too close to their own property.
PATH provides no proof that all arguments against its substation were subjective or any of those other things.  This is simply PATH's sweeping characterization of the citizens and provides MISINFORMATION.  (See, we're embarking upon a theme here, you'll see why.)  PATH is motivated by $$$ and they have not proven otherwise.  PATH even stoops to name-calling, something I can't remember the citizens ever stooping to during the hearings.  Congratulations, PATH, I'm sure your mommies are very proud of you!  Regarding PATH's definition of "NIMBY," is that their "expert" opinion or merely their subjective, emotional and anecdotal argument?  I'm thrilled that they have finally given definition to the NIMBY word they love so much in a legal document though.  I promise to make good use of that quote from here on out!
  • When authorized by the Maryland Public Service Commission, Petitioner will construct, operate, and maintain PATH in Maryland.
When pigs fly, PATH!  PATH does not even have an application on file, much less any guarantee that if they file an application in the future that the PSC will authorize it.  Awfully presumptuous, aren't we, PATH?  More MISINFORMATION through omission of crucial fact.

  • Petitioner is pursuing this judicial review because PATH cannot be built without the Substation.
PATH also cannot be built without an application to the PSC, the inclusion of the project in PJM's RTEP, and at least some semblance of "need" for the project, but don't let that stop you, PATH.  Enjoy your little MISINFORMATION fantasy!

  • Petitioner agreed to proceed in good faith with the County's special exception process under a reservation of its rights to assert the pre-emption argument at any time.
Well, what's stopping you... go right ahead, PATH, and assert your "pre-emption argument."  What?  PATH's gun is loaded with blanks because there is no argument, pre-emptive or otherwise, because PATH does not have an application for its project before the MD PSC.  I guess that fact makes this statement MISINFORMATION.
  • Prior to the first night of the special exception hearing, well-organized and extremely
    vocal opposition to, and misinformation about, PATH, including the Substation, spread in the
    news media, on the internet, and at political town hall meetings and debates. Also prior to the first night's testimony, the Board visited the Property and walked the Site. In the wake of
    resident outrage fueled by misinformation, and in light of at least one Board member's history of actively opposing projects (see the letter in the Record dated December 8, 2010 from Mr.
    Cannon to the Board), this visit appears to have been a premature death knell for Petitioner's application.
MISINFORMATION, you say?  Well, I disagree.  What fueled the opposition and outrage were THE FACTS that were revealed, not that sugar-coated bucket of MISINFORMATION you tried to spoon-feed to the public.  So, PATH, are you now admitting that we kicked your butt on the PR front?  I'm so happy that you finally agree with me that Charles Ryan Associates failed to perform.  I just knew we'd find common ground eventually!  "Premature death knell?"  It's positively EERIE that the Board's visit to your substation property foretold the eventual removal of the PATH project from PJM's RTEP because there is no need for PATH!  Do you also suppose that the Board called Miss Cleo for advice before their visit?  And all this time I thought Miss Cleo was just pulling my leg in order to swindle me...

  • Mr. Reed also testified that the Substation will not have any material adverse impact on
    area roadways. (TR 16-17, Oct. 14, 2010). The Substation will be unmanned, and will require
    four to five regular maintenance visits each month.  Mr. Reed testified that these visits would not generate high volumes of either local or regional motor vehicle traffic along the existing roadway infrastructure.
Oh, that's right, Truescape's MISINFORMATION said the substation is going to float down from the sky and magically appear at the site thereby not generating any adverse impacts on roadways during construction.

  • Petitioner also offered the expert testimony of a highly respected and well-credentialed
    real estate appraiser and consultant, Mr. Jay Goldman. Mr. Goldman was very familiar with the Property and the surrounding areas and testified he had driven through the communities, flown over them in a helicopter, studied land records and historical sales, and visited the County's land records office. (TR 438-39, Nov. 13, 2010). With this personal knowledge of the Property and proposed Substation, Mr. Goldman compared the Site to the Quarry Creek development in Charlestown, West Virginia. (TR 440-43, Nov. 13, 2010). Mr. Goldman stated that the Quarry
    Creek development is the most expensive in the area, with the value of most of the 60 to 65 houses exceeding $1 million, and three houses exceeding $5 million. Mr. Goldman testified
    that a large rock quarry and an electrical substation are located at the development's entrance. Moreover, the development is adjacent to the main line of CSX Railroad, (which transports high volumes of coal and chemicals), is intersected by power lines, and backs up to the Charleston landfill. Mr. Goldman also indicated that the development contains a water tower, a cemetery, and at least one gas well.  Mr. Goldman testified that despite these perceived negative influences, the property values for the homes in the  development remained quite high.
Jay Goldman was an embarrassment to the PATH project and the residents of West Virginia who were present.  He presented MISINFORMATION because he's from Charleston, West Virginia, which is at least 6 hours (and many worlds!) away from Frederick County, Maryland.  He turned the citizens of West Virginia into cartoon characters who jump at the chance to live near public housing and city dumps and pay a premium for an unobstructed view of AEP's John Amos coal-fired generating plant.  He also doesn't appear to know the geography of his state, unless the "error" of Charlestown vs. Charleston was made by PATH's counsel.  Apparently Geography wasn't someone's favorite subject.  Charles Town (notice it's two words) is located in Jefferson County in West Virginia's eastern panhandle.  It is an easy 30 minute (or less) drive from Frederick County and it is a place that many from Frederick have previously visited and with which they are familiar.  Charles Town doesn't have any homes overlooking the city dump that sell for more than a million dollars.  Charles Town residents oppose PATH and do not consider it a selling point.  Charleston (notice the different spelling, pronunciation and the fact that it's one word) is located in Kanawha County, WV, in the south central part of the state where out of state corporate interests have laid waste to the environment and where politicians' pockets are stuffed with "donations" from the same corporate interests.  Charles Town often finds itself at odds with Charleston because the populations are so completely opposite in thought and lifestyle.  Or was that whole Charlestown/Charleston thing just a miserably engineered attempt at legal chicanery?

  • Of the countless protestants, including representatives of three groups, testifying in
    opposition to the Substation, not a single one was: a civil engineer who had conducted a wetland study; an environmental engineer who had conducted an environmental impact review; an historical expert who had conducted a historical impact analysis; an EMF specialist; or an epidemiologist who had examined  available health impact studies.
That's right, the "countless protestants" weren't paid to spin a specific rendition of "the facts" while PATH's "experts" performed poorly, and even resorted to perjury in some instances.  Being an "expert" does not mean they are incapable of spreading MISINFORMATION, only that they are being paid to do so.
  • While the heated emotions and fears of the protestants were palpable and readily appreciated, the opposition's testimony was anecdotal and based on blogs, random  anti-substation websites, and highly  questionable "reports."
PATH provides no proof of this accusation, not even one example is given.  This statement is opinion, based on MISINFORMATION.  Amusingly, in West Virginia, one of PATH's motions to the PSC actually relied on a blog as a source to prove some point that only seemed to fully form in the minds of Randy Palmer and Phil Melick.  Quick, someone call the WAHHHHHmbulance!

  • Petitioner refers to the opposition as "protestants" or "opponents" and not "residents" given that a number of those
    testifying in opposition to the Substation do not live in the neighborhood closest to the Property, much less Frederick County or even the State of Maryland (e.g., Patience Wait of West Virginia).
Hahahahah!  It really bothered PATH that much that we attended the Frederick hearings?  Guess what, out of state corporate PATH players?  We're actually WELCOME in Frederick, you're not.  Therefore, in future weak attempts to spread MISINFORMATION, remember that people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

Very entertaining, PATH!  Now quit spreading MISINFORMATION to the Circuit Court for Frederick County and go away.  It's over, you lost.


5 Comments
 
 
Maryland intervenors and 300 pound elephants John and Terri Armand have raided PATH's little village again!

One of my favorite things about John and Terri is that they quickly and succinctly lay bare all of PATH's pretense in the Maryland case, and they do it with a dose of humor that I greatly admire.  John and Terri aren't afraid to point out that the PATH emperor is naked and hit the truth about PATH's motivation head-on every time.

The Armands correctly point out that PATH's filing of a motion on the Friday afternoon before a holiday weekend requesting to postpone this Thursday's hearing on open motions is just more of the same bad faith activity PATH has been practicing all along.  This subterfuge and game playing intended to disenfranchise the citizens of Maryland who are parties in the case is just another PATH tactic used to wear down their opponents.

It's not working, and the opposition (or, as we’re better known in PATH circles, “the 300 pound elephants”)*  is getting tired of it.  Doesn't PATH know what happens when elephants are threatened?  Looks like they're about to find out...

*Direct quote from the Armands' motion.  Love it!!
6 Comments
 
 
As a follow-up to the manufactured swill that PATH filed as a response to WV intervenor Ali Haverty's discovery request regarding FERC USofA account 426.4 "Certain Civic and Political Activities", she filed another request for additional information on Thursday afternoon.

For whatever reason, the PSC docket clerk went off for her three-day weekend without posting the pdf files or sending out the notices for a whole plethora of new additions to the docket which were filed on Thursday.  However, you can see Ali's request here.

What's really interesting in Ali's request is a copy of an invoice from one of PATH's lobbyists that she included as an example of the type of detailed invoices that she's requesting for various vendors in PATH's 426.4 account detail.

Take a look at page 5 of her request to get a feel for what PATH's lobbyists are getting paid to do, paying particular attention to the line item I highlighted.  "Working with Craig Glazer of PJM to determine strategy."

But, wait a minute, both PJM and PATH claim that there's nothing funny going on here...  PJM is not biased or favoring the PATH project and their dealings are "transparent" and aboveboard.  If that's true, then PATH isn't getting their money's worth here. 

So, which is it?  Is PATH's lobbyist working to influence PJM actions, or are they throwing their money away on a lobbyist who's billing for work never performed?  You be the judge.
Add Comment
 
 
We've had a report by a landowner on the mountain that he confronted several people he caught creeping through the woods on his property late last week.  They handed him a copy of this letter as an explanation for their trespassing.

Despite what this letter says, these PATH contractors need your permission to be on your property!  If you have not given permission for PATH to conduct surveys on your property, these people are trespassing and should be dealt with accordingly.  If they refuse to leave immediately, please contact the Sheriff to have them removed.  Their letter does NOT give them permission to trespass on private property.

If you have signed one of PATH's survey permission forms, there's not much you can do about it, aside from rescinding your permission.  Information about how to rescind permission can be found in our Landowner Resources section.  Strangers creeping around your property like they own the place without prior notification is exactly the reason we have been advising landowners against signing survey permission forms.  By signing these permission forms, you are subjecting yourself to more of this rude, bullying behavior.

Louis Berger Group employees working as contractors for PATH have also been reported as lying to landowners in order to coerce them to give permission for these surveys.  Landowners have been tracked down at their jobs, harassed by trespassers who refused to leave, been told that they would have to pay for these surveys out of their own pockets if they refuse to give permission, and other self-serving lies.  You are not required to give your permission for these surveys! 

Although the letter states that these surveys are "necessary to satisfy federal and state regulatory requirements", this is a flat-out lie.  These surveys are being conducted by PATH in order to try to circumvent real federal surveys and present "surveys" that come to PATH-ordered conclusions.  Remember, PATH always comes up with the desired answer before approaching the problem.  These surveys are not in your best interests and have NOTHING to do with the Federal Environmental Impact Survey currently being conducted.

Be smart and don't let PATH push you around... and tell your neighbors!  One of the greatest things about living in Jefferson County is that we all watch out for each other.  Discuss this with your neighbors and take appropriate action!
1 Comment
 
 
Today, in the "Making the rules up as you go" Department, PATH Assistant General Counsel Randy Palmer came up with a whole new set of "rules" for PATH's 2011 Projected Transmission Revenue Requirement Open Meeting tomorrow in DC.  Perhaps we've tightened the screws with a little too much vigor lately and thrown him into a fit of pique?  Whatever the reason, here are the new "rules":

The purpose of the meeting is to explain the PATH PTRR for Rate Year 2011 which was posted on the formula rates page of the PJM website on September 1, 2010. Participants may ask questions and seek information regarding the 2011 PTRR. To the extent that the PATH Companies’ participants do not have the information available during the meeting to answer a question or information request posed during the meeting, participants may submit written information requests pursuant to the PATH formula rate protocols set forth in Attachment H-19B of the PJM Tariff. Written information requests should be sent to rpalmer@alleghenyenergy.com. Depending on the nature of the information request, the submitter may be required to execute a Protective Agreement prior to receiving the response. Under the protocols, the current Discovery Period for submitting information requests will end on October 29, 2010.
Matters not pertaining to the 2011 PTRR, including matters pending before state and federal agencies, will not be addressed during the meeting.
Photography as well as video and audio recordings will not be permitted during the meeting or within the meeting premises before, during or after the meeting.

Pardon me while I laugh myself silly, but I see exactly where each "rule" came from.  I guess I should put my screwdriver down for a bit before he goes postal.  If this guy thinks he's getting one step ahead of me, he'd best think again.  Creativity is my middle name and "no" is never an answer, but always considered a challenge.  Keep on keeping on there, Captain Acrimony, and I'll see you tomorrow.

We can generously allow him to win a battle or two but what he doesn't realize is that he's losing the war.
3 Comments
 
 
We're a scary bunch, folks!  When we throw off the sheepskin of "calm" that PATH continually tries to smother us with, it's apparently a police matter.  Read this story in the Town Courier (if you're one of the ones who can't get this link to work, click here) about how PATH's paranoia about the prospect of citizens "raising their voices" during their Charlie Foxtrot "Public Meeting" resulted in an advance request for police presence.

Ridiculous!

Just another heavy-handed attempt to bully and intimidate the citizens, who will not be cowed into silent acceptance of a greedy, unneeded corporate initiative that intends to devalue or take their homes, endanger their health and dip into their pockets.

We will continue to voice our disapproval as loudly as possible and there's nothing PATH can do to silence us.  Hey, PATH, can you hear me now?
1 Comment
 
 
I think we may have seen the last of PATH's "Open House" style public meetings.  Last night's "public information meeting" was one gigantic, flaming, disorganized Charlie Foxtrot from beginning to end.  Last night, PATH's "public" consisted exclusively of opposition group members and angry people.  There wasn't an uninformed, malleable sheep in sight!  Instead of the expected, rental, green-shirted goons, we were treated to what appeared to be the entire arrogant staff of PATH headquarters, with hand-written, adhesive name tags, no last names.  "Hi, My Name is... Death & Ruination".  This didn't play too well with "the public" because the usual disingenuous answers to pointed, intelligent questions only served to fan the flames of public repugnance for all things PATH.

In addition to the regular cast of characters, they added in Matt Sutton, Director of Strategy and Research at Charles Ryan Associates, PATH's overpaid PR firm.  Since he didn't bear a name tag on his snazzy pink (again) shirt and didn't talk to "the public", I assume he was there to "observe" again.  I really wouldn't care if he spent all his time chatting with the other power company guys and playing on his iPhone if I wasn't sharing in the cost of his "services".  At a cost of over $3.1 million ratepayer bucks last year, CRA ought to be hustling just a little more.  I want to see Pinky doing some jumping jacks while he runs his mouth next time!

Other characters included jolly, old Jim Fields and his side-kick, whose name I do not know, so we'll give him a nice, country nickname.  I think I'll call him.... Puddin'.  These two guys show up at most of PATH's public appearances and act as their bouncers (aka "Security").  However, Jim and Puddin' seemed to be redundant last night with the addition of two "undercover" deputy sherrifs hired for the occasion (with the publics' money, remember that).  Were they expecting trouble, perhaps?

Also present was some kid from Truescape, the New Zealand company that prepared the video & photo simulations of the substation that the meeting was intended to showcase.  Try though he did to explain all the inconsistencies in the display, he seemed to be in way over his head.  Do you know what we call what you presented last night here in America?  We call it bullsh*t, son.

During our first foray into the meeting, we had our attention called to a "situation" brewing between my new friend, Jerry, and PATH EHV Manager Mike Hosier.  Jerry was giving Mike his opinion of the PATH project, and Mike was pretending he didn't have a last name or a job title.  Now that was a real smart way to defuse a tense situation, wasn't it?  I blame it on the PATH demon who possesses Hosier.  No one ever expects a demonic entity to have studied Dale Carnegie's "How to Win Friends and Influence People".  During this exchange, we took several photos of the action with our cell phones, all within plain sight of both Jim Fields and other PATH staff members.  When Hosier finally ran out of things to say, he beckoned for the "undercover" deputies, who pulled Jerry aside to give him an authoritative talking to.  I guess they were really getting into their "thug" bouncer roles because they refused to give Jerry their names and when he demanded to see a badge, it was flashed so quickly it could have been an acquisition from ToysRUs.  Nevertheless, Jerry persevered and managed to be permitted to stay.

Not so for at least 5 other people, who were bodily ejected from the meeting or asked to leave for various "infractions" of "company policy".  One gentleman was escorted by the two "undercover" fellas, one on each side, all the way down the hallway and out the building doors.  His infraction was telling one of the company Vice-Presidents (or other self-important drone) his opinion of the PATH project.  Others were ejected for "raising your voice".  Yours truly was "asked to leave" for taking a picture.  Somewhere in between the beginning of the meeting when we took pictures of Jerry and the last hour of the meeting, a "company policy" was developed that prohibited photography at this "public meeting".  Said "policy" was given to Puddin' to relay to me.  He informed me that, according to "company policy" if I took any more pictures, I would be asked to leave.  So, I took his picture.  And he asked me to leave.  And I did.  It was more fun outside with the "ejected" crowd anyhow :-) 

StopPATH WV President Roger Eitelman spent some time in a discussion with the representative of PJM who was present.  He actually had a last name and a business card!  He also admitted to Eitelman that PJM has plans to add another 765kV transmission line plus two more 500kV lines exiting the Mt. Airy substation.  Since the site is ringed by 1300 homes, there's no room for any new ROWs.  Are they going to start dissecting surrounding neighborhoods to make way for all these new lines?  Time will tell.

StopPATH WV "people person" Debbie Royalty introduced herself to PATH assistant general counsel, Randy Palmer, and soon had Palmer happily agreeing to host one of PATH's transmission towers in his backyard in Greensburg, PA.  Gosh!  That's awful nice of Randy, isn't it?  Just in case it doesn't accidentally end up there during a future reroute, we've got lots of very fine half a million dollar homes here in Jefferson County that will end up with PATH in their backyards... and they're for sale!  C'mon on down, Randy!  You can get yourself a real bargain!

Finally, here's a freebie for Todd Meyers -- don't ever lie to reporters!  He probably thinks reporters are just little chess pawns that he moves around the game board as he does his job.  NEWS FLASH!  Reporters are overworked, underpaid, under-appreciated human beings who don't have any particular affinity for arrogant suits who lie to them and treat them like they're stupid.  Someone ratted him out today, and in the spirit of the press, my sources are confidential.  Meyers was one of the ones who tried to hustle reporters away from the demonstrators outside Allegheny's office in Frederick last Thursday by personally escorting them to their cars and insisting that they immediately leave for the substation site or they would not be permitted to attend the other half of the event.  Todd, you dimwit, reporters aren't stupid and are exceptionally capable of following up with later interviews!

In summation, PATH has struck out again in Frederick County.  Isn't next week's Zoning Appeals hearing going to be fun?  See you all there!
6 Comments
 
 
Imagine you're Allegheny PR schmucks Todd Myers or Mark Nitowski (c'mon, you can at least pretend that you'd sell your own soul for a buck, can't you?)  You get up one morning expecting this, and instead you get this.

Surprise!

This is the first time I've ever planned a surprise party on two days notice, invited a thousand of my closest friends, and retained the element of complete surprise.  Either I'm getting better at this, or the guests of honor are getting dumber and easier to fool.

This morning, PATH had planned a special "media event" at the downtown Frederick Allegheny Power office where they intended to provide propaganda to the media, show them a simulation movie (created by shyster production company Truescape) of the proposed substation at PATH's terminus, and rack up a bunch of puff piece stories.

Instead, a determined, protest sign-bearing group of about 30 PATH opponents from CAKES, Sugarloaf Conservancy and StopPATH WV swooped in 10 minutes before the event began and slowly walked up and down the public sidewalk in front of Allegheny's building.  The press came running to us while the PATH guys stood inside the lobby doors with drool dripping off their chins (except for Mr. Angry who stood outside with his arms folded, clearly exasperated).  They had no clue.  Hah, hah!

Their event only lasted about an hour, after which the press came back to spend more time interviewing the protesters and tipped us off that PATH was sponsoring a real Martha Stewartesque tent soiree for the media on the substation site (paid for by you in your electric bill), so we all piled into vehicles and headed for CAKES property right across the street from the site to await the return of the press from the ratepayer-funded propaganda soiree.

When the StopPATH group finally headed for home, we were quite amused by the black sedan sitting on the side of the road near the intersection at the end of Bartholows Road with its flashers on and bearing Pennsylvania plates that banged a screeching u-turn and fell in behind our little caravan.  I hope they soon hire a real driver, because it was too easy to thwart them.  I took a picture of the car, because it had a really creative protest sign in the back window, and as we passed I recognized the passenger as Mr. Angry from the morning's protest.  After leaving them in the dust, we came upon Mark Nitowski (who drives like my Granny, btw) impeding traffic in the fast lane of I-70.  After making eye contact, he tried really hard to pretend he didn't notice us.  Seriously?  Get a grip, fellas!  We're laughing at you!

Congratulations to the opposition for very effectively shutting down PATH's propaganda machine today!  What a follow-up to last night's victory at the Planning Commission!

Now, I need your help... send me links to any of the resulting news stories you happen upon, dear readers.  Due to sheer volume, I soon lost track of the media outlets who interviewed us.  And remember to say "thank you" to PATH for getting all that press coverage for our cause!

And also send PATH these words of advice...
"Stay out of Frederick County, Maryland --  you're not welcome here!"

Press links:

Frederick News Post
NBC25 WHAG

That's it for now... looks like the rest of PATH's audience was a bunch of weeklies.  Remind me to ask PATH this question, "What if you threw a party and no one came?" We might have to bring our own press the next time we crash one of their press conferences.   Just one more disappointment from the PATH folks...

NBC25 used PATH as the subject of their daily news poll on the website.

Final Tally:

65.6% (427 votes) said PATH is not needed.
17.2% (112 votes) said PATH is needed.
17.2% (112 votes) said they needed more information.

Could public sentiment about PATH in the tri-state be any clearer?
3 Comments
 
 
Looks like PATH is planning to have a bunch more trespassing "accidents".  From their website:

Starting in August and continuing through October, multiple contract survey crews will be working in public highway rights-of-way for the PATH project. Each contract survey crew, consisting of two or more people, will be using conventional and GPS (Global Positioning System) surveying equipment. The purpose of this activity is to support preliminary engineering studies for the PATH team. This surveying will not require the contacting of private property owners.


No, this doesn't mean they are considering routing PATH up the median of the interstate.  It means that they will be utilizing what they believe are public road rights-of-way to do their surveying.  Your property has road frontage (it doesn't have to be a highway) and as part of this, your property bordering the road is under easement for operating and maintaining the roadway.  This doesn't necessarily mean that your particular easement is "public" for PATH's purposes.  However, considering PATH's track record with "accidental" trespass on numerous properties in order to carry out their "surveys", be aware that many more "accidents" could reasonably be expected to happen, so keep an eye out and know the width of your particular easement so you can determine when the trespassing begins.  If you have questions about this, consult an attorney.


If you're lucky enough to live in a subdivision with a privately maintained road system, you have every right to ask them to leave immediately.


You could wake up one morning, open the blinds, and come eye-to-eye with a PATH survey crew set up on the edge of your property along the roadside, with no prior notification or request for permission.


There are lots of great dogs on death row at your local animal shelter.  Adopt one... or more!  They truly are a man's (or woman's) best friend.
Add Comment