This is the latest rant from the team of Maier & Agte, who seem to have blinders on to correcting ANY safety issues along the NYS Canal System these days, including line of sight for roadways that cross over the Erie Canal.



I have included the TWO conversations that took place. In BOTH instances the group members who tried to confront & correct Ms. Maier, one of the "founders" of this Facebook group, were dealt with in the same way. Their words of truth were ignored, and they were told they were wrong, simply because it didn't jive with what "management" believes.

Both members were "corrected" by leadership, who has a firm "unwritten" rule:
Do NOT disagree with Elizabeth Agte or Virginia Maier

Virginia Borden Maier:
Mary, is this new work? What did it look like before?

Mary Kinsky:
Virginia Borden Maier yes. It’s new work as of last week. Virginia Borden Maier, it was covered in wild bushes, milkweed, wild flowers. All gone in an area before Trimmer Rd and west No shade at all

Mary's neighbor Ellen Smith replied, it's obvious she doesn't share the same opinion as the others in this group. In fact she points out a truth here that Co-Founder Maier quickly rejects, stating that canal mowing is preventing a "shaded path" for Ms Maier to walk along.

In fact, Virginia Maier quickly REJECTS that any embankment work is about "safer embankments" even though nobody in this post ever mentioned the word safety. It's all about "denial" with the founders of this social media group, especially to the public safety aspects of earthen dam maintenance.

Folks, this section of embankment NEVER provided shade for the Empire Trail. This is an earthen embankment for an access ROAD that carries Trimmer Road over a "high bridge" that crosses the Erie, just west of Spencerport.

Ellen Smith:
I have lived here for over 16 years and this is nothing but normal. Every couple years they mow down the tall grass on the steep slopes with special equipment because they can't mow that with the traditional mowers

Virginia Borden Maier:
Ellen Smith there have provided no evidence that this is safer than allowing shrubs and trees to grow on the embankments. In places where the vegetation has remained, the embankment has been just as stable as in places where they do this.

Ellen Smith:
Virginia Borden Maier would you rather let everything get overgrown and not be able to use the path at all. Don't get me wrong I'm all for trees and shade but there were no trees or shade in this entire stretch it was nothing but weeds. I know if I let my yard get this bad I would have code enforcement on my ass in a heartbeat. This has nothing to do with stability of embankment this has to do with routine maintenance

Virginia Borden Maier:
The mowing that occurred here was not to keep the path clear. Lots of areas along the canal have mature vegetation growing right up to the edge of the pathway, and yet the trail is easy to walk and bike on. The “routine maintenance” is actively preventing the development of a shaded path, something that would be more attractive and require less maintenance if allowed to develop

And then another neighbor along Trimmer Rd speaks up, Ms. Crandall identifies that the clearing work was really about a clear "line of sight" for motorist using that Trimmer Rd bridge over the canal. She is quickly admonished by Ginny Maier who states it's not about road maintenance and goes on about how this trimming is unscientific and excessive, all vegetation control is "hurting trail user comfort".

What about DRIVER safety, Ms. Maier... doesn't that matter?

Seems once again Ms. Maier's concern doesn't extend to canal neighbors living below these unsafe earthen dams. And it doesn't include all of the drivers who drive near or over the Erie Canal system, who all need overgrown trees & brush cleared for safer travel.

No it's all about Virginia's "trail travel comfort", in an area along the Erie Canal that Ms. Maier neither walks along or ever drives over, go figure!

Read Ms. Maier's rather dismissive comments to Ms Crandall below

Courtney Crandall:
As someone who crosses that bridge at least once a day, I'm thankful that you can now see oncoming traffic when crossing in both directions. Before you know it, it will be green again.

Virginia Borden Maier:
Courtney Crandall this is not mere maintenance of road sight lines. This is unscientific, not supported by evidence, excessive vegetation “control” to the detriment of wildlife, aesthetic concerns, and trail user comfort.

Courtney Crandall:
Virginia Borden Maier We likely should agree to disagree rather than have a Facebook argument. However, in the tune of always being willing to see and learn more, I would love to read your direct scientific findings on the long term effects of trimming weeds on vegetation and wildlife on a man made Canal.

Virginia Borden Maier:
I appreciate your willingness to read the literature we have collected, which you can find links to on this FB page and also at stopthecanalclearcut.org

Unfortunately group member Crandall asked Virginia Maier for something that can't be produced by the STCC group - Direct Scientific Findings that actually support the bogus claims that embankment dams are safer and better with trees and other invasive vegetation covering them. The group has NO experts in Dam Safety supporting them, and NO science that backs up their claim that "trees on earthen dams are OK".

Remember there are only "2 Rules" for the STCC Group, both right from the admins who seem to ignore them the most




There's must be a third "unspoken" rule: Never ever disagree with the MISINFORMATION being spread by either Ms. Agte or by Ms. Maier, under penalty of being chastised or corrected on their very "unsocial" Facebook page.

So members just hold their tongues, rather than listen to Agte or Maier whine about other members words of TRUTH being shared...sad.

This time Ms. Crandall & Ms. Smith are the only ones telling the truth, and being reprimanded for doing so. Ladies, the ECNA hears you loud and clear... you are correct in your understanding of the situation here. Driver safety was improved, and embankment maintenance is a normal part of owning a man-made waterway held up with earthen embankment dams.

Maybe you two should LEAVE this group of Facebook whiners, like hundreds of others that have left since this past April. We would love to have you join our conversation here, which is centered on Erie Canal safety, both for the Canal System, and those living in its flood hazard zones.


You can read more "Maier Madness" here - https://ecna.createaforum.com/the-stop-the-clearcut-argument/maier-madness/

How "member dissent" is dealt with in the STCC - https://ecna.createaforum.com/the-stop-the-clearcut-argument/dissent-amongst-the-ranks-of-the-stcc/