Relentless.. That word was selected for this post because of it's dual meaning. It is a good trait at times, and also can be a bad one. For those who don't know the meaning take a look at what the dictionary says.

Something has bothered me about this STCC group from the very beginning, maybe because I could have ended up in their dilemma myself. If you did not know it (some in the STCC ranks can confirm this fact) I actually started the NY Canal Corporation project on the side opposing the Embankment Repair, and was actively distributing flyers to my neighbors for a week. They were messing with my backyard and I wanted to fight back!
Then I took the time to read and understand the information the NY Canal Corporation was discussing. I looked at those linked DEC, FEMA and US Army Corps of Engineer documents and guidelines. It took some time, a bit of reading, but soon it was apparent the issue was NOT about trees but about Embankment Dam safety... and yes, my wife and I live BELOW the waterline so it was easy to see that these were Earthen Embankment Dams being addressed.
I changed my view, put my support behind safety and insured that the local Mayor of Brockport also understood that the idea of fighting against safety was just not "common sense". She agreed as well. You see logical people get safety, they get the idea that it's not good to be in an "unsafe state". You see Mayors, Town Officials and the sort are responsible for the public and represent that public, they HAVE to be concerned first and foremost about public safety issues.
Our Mayor spoke with other Western NY Mayors between Brockport & Medina and decided as a group not to fight the Canal Corporation on this Public Safety Project, which is exactly what this Embankment Restoration project is all about. And now, after 2 tough years the Embankment Dams are getting cleared, reshaped, grass will be growing soon and the Canal Corp has a personalized the barrier replanting process started that will help the Erie Canal Neighbors out here get back some of the privacy that they lost making the community safer.
The NY Canal Corporation doesn't need to do this as part of the Embankment Remediation process, they made a promise and they are keeping it.
Whats' Wrong with the STCC?In my long career as a Manufacturing Engineer & Research Scientist, I've learned that most people, when confronted with evidence that their viewpoint may be flawed with incorrect information, will normally work to understand if the new information is correct or if their view & fact set is incorrect. It's an internal mechanism that lies somewhere between "cover your ass' and " I never knew that" and most people will "auto-correct" when faced with overwhelming evidence their viewpoint may be flawed. Some call it holding a "mirror" up to yourself, some say it's an adjustment of the filters in your life. Some how we all figure out how to weed out the incorrect ideas we all have eventually
This is also what seems to be missing with the STCC Leadership and anyone who still supports the idea that there is NO safety issue on the Erie Canal... no mirror...no filter. The facts are overwhelming, and now in video form EERP PROJECT VIDEO -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5wXVUZq690 PERINTON SAFETY VIDEO -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbuJ31xvoOASadly the STCC leadership of Maier, Gouldthorpe, Agte and Miller has taken the approach of complete denial of facts that conflict with their "opinions or feelings" about the Erie Canal and then resort to calling those with the contrary facts "liars or fakes"... but not directly
to their face. The not to their face part changed in the past couple days though, showing their mounting frustration.
The Evidence is Growing:The ECNA does not make these claims lightly. We have recently uncovered more evidence that the STCC Leadership is not acting in "good faith" with either their supporters, the local community where they live, or the Village & Town Leadership for Pittsford, Brighton, Perinton or Fairport. We will present that evidence in this posting and let the community at large decide.
The ECNA knows what is bothering the STCC these days, it's the release of these new Erie Canal Embankment Videos. The Perinton Embankment Safety video and the Canal Corporation Embankment Project, regarding work on the Erie Canal, has them
in an uproar... and why?
Well, because it a very healthy dose of the truth about this Canal project.. the fact that it's always been about safety, a topic that the STCC claims is "non true" with zero corroborating evidence. They simply chose to ignore safety and talk about trees. This STCC group, who has watched over this Earthen Embankment Repair Project like a hawk, preening any mis-step by the NY Canal Corp with a fine tooth comb.. claims that somehow they had "missed" the two MOST important videos when they recently posted links to those videos on their Facebook website.
The ECNA says hogwash.. and we have proof. Here's the time line as far as the ECNA can figure it out, around these new Canal Corp Embankment Videos and their release:
Jan.02, 2019 - NYCC releases Perinton Embankment Safety Video to Canal Corporation's YouTube Channel
February 22, - NYCC releases Erie Canal Embankment Project Video to CC's YouTube Channel
February 22, - ECNA (DK) links Erie Canal Embankment Video to a NEW post on their ECNA.US Forum
February 23, - STCC Leadership (Virginia Maier) creates letter to local legislators regarding Erie Canal Embankment Video
February 24, - STCC (Maier) completes her 2-page letter, presumed sent out to their desired audience
February 25, - ECNA (DK) links the Perinton Embankment Safety Video to a NEW post on their ECNA.US Forum
February 25, - ECNA (Caswell) links ECNA post on Perinton Safety to Nextdoor.com - Perinton where it's viewed by 1000s
February 25, - STCC (Maier) creates post including link to Embankment Project video on STCC Facebook & STCC Google direct Youtube link
February 26, - STCC (Maier) creates post including link to Perinton Safety video on STCC Facebook page only.
February 27, - STCC (Gouldthorpe) replies to Maiers's Perinton Embankment Safety post about possible fake video coverage
February 27, - STCC (Agte) replies to Maiers's Perinton Embankment Safety post calls it "lies & propaganda"
February 27, - ECNA posts reply to Gouldthorpe's video foul claim and questions their motives behind it.
February 28, - STCC has still refused to post a link of the Perinton Embankment video to their Google STCC Page
March 1, - ECNA creates post refuting STCC's video propaganda claim and questions integrity of the STCC Leadership.
You have to ask yourself why didn't the STCC post the Embankment video on February 22 or 23 when Ms. Maier found it, presumably through this ECNA Forum. You see the ECNA is open to all, STCC folk included. No, instead Ms Maier saw the Embankment Project video and started crafting a letter slamming the video to local legislators immediately because the rest of the STCC really doesn't have any voice but that of the leadership it appears.
Also ask yourself why she chose to spend 4-5 hours writing this letter to her "legislators" regarding upcoming meetings when she could have taken 5 minutes to post and inform the STCC members of new information and gotten their feedback in the two days it took to craft a two page letter.
No instead the "leaders", a term used loosely here, decided to fight safety once again. I have included the Letter to Legislators at the end of this post for those who want to read it. For a group that spouts off about NYCC "propaganda" all I can say is something about Glass Houses.
Here's an example of what the STCC Leaders think about the recent Canal Corporation's Embankment Videos, one on SAFETY in Perinton and another on the general Embankment Restoration project. Here's the STCC video reviews that have been sent into the ECNA:
Not very flattering, and full of that "good ole STCC venom"... but that has become the "MO" of this very dangerous "tree-roots" group.. lol.
Sadly the claims made by the STCC are coming from a group and leadership that has consistently failed to provide one credible expert who agrees with their position that the Embankment Dams do not need to be cleared.
They have no experts who support their claim that the Erie Canal is bordered by levees & stream banks.
In fact they have no experts that agree with their unsubstantiated claim there is "nothing wrong with the Erie Canal"
Even their own work, trying to prove the NY Canal Corporation was wrong about calling the Embankment Dams, backfired when their Hydrology expert sided with the NYCC and ECNA.
What's Next?Folks, the recent release of two videos by the NY canal Corporation regarding the Embankment Restoration project & overall Safety of the Perinton Embankment Dams has cemented the truth about this Erie Canal project for all to see. Do you think a state agency, responsible for insuring the Erie Canal remains the centerpiece of the Erie Canal National Heritage landmark status would make statements about safety if they were lies? With all the transparency in this new digital / social connected age is highly unlikely that would even be considered. No the Embankments are aging, there hasn't been a proper restoration of the earthen dams in over 80 years and the system is failing safety inspections.. that's the truth.
The STCC can't hide behind it's lies and innuendo any longer, it's time for the STCC to face the truth, it's time for the citizens in three Towns east of Rochester to be called out publicly for it's reckless and irresponsible behavior. Please STCC... before you look even more foolish then you do right now, reconsider what you are trying to represent with the existence of your Stop the Canal Clearcut group.
Here's a picture of the Word file's statistic's page that proves my statements in this post about when it was written and how long it took as well as the name of the author.. see the highlight arrows.
I've posted the Virgina Maier's letter at the end of this post... for anyone who wants to take a read.
RELENTLESS: Exactly what the ECNA has been in the pursuit & acceptance of the Truth about Embankment Dam Safety.