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I Am Oz Speaker: Winona LaDuke
by Eoin Gallagher
Oswego, NY- Environmentalist and former Green Party Vice Presidential candidate Winona LaDuke spoke to members of the Oswego State community on Mar. 28. Her talk is part of the “I Am Oz” diversity speaker series.
LaDuke spoke on current political issues Americans and Native Americans are facing as well as the role we have in society. She stressed the idea that college students have the opportunity to think critically.
“As college students you have the full opportunity to be critical thinkers and do good,” LaDuke said.
The biggest issue she discussed was climate change and the steps the government should be taking in order to be more aware of it.
LaDuke has an extensive background in the environmental field. She has put her knowledge to work by challenging government and taking on big oil companies, including her involvement in the Dakota Access Pipeline protests. She is also the founder of the White Earth Land Recovery Project.
LaDuke says the key to changing the Earth is think about what it will be like seven years from now. At the current rate, she believes it may be inhabitable by then. She challenged her audience at the end of speech to change the Earth.
“Let us be creative,” she said. “Let us do what the great leader Sitting Bull said, and let us put our minds together to see what kind of future we can make for our children.”
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Emerson and Connors Lead Lakers
By Amanda Zumpano
The Lakers found themselves in six extra man opportunities against Alfred on Tuesday utilizing three of them to go on and win 11-7. Bobby Emerson and Robbie Connors had six goals apiece while Kevin O’Donnell had six saves. Tim Schof and Tyler Nason each had three assists. Teddy Phillips helped the Lakers by forcing Alfred to turn the ball over four times. Oswego will play again on Saturday at one when they host Keuka.
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City of Oswego, Port Authority officials take construction feud to court
OSWEGO N.Y. — Construction of a storage facility at the port, meant for the transport of pot-ash or salt, is now at a standstill after city officials took the Port Authority to court.
“Their whole attitude should have been one of picking up the phone and talking to us,” the Executive Director of the Port Authority, William Scriber said.
Now, Port Authority officials are trying to prove that the structure will help the city if completed.
“With this project, we’re putting a lot of money into this local economy,” Scriber said.
Scriber explained that the port runs as its own business, creating jobs, and opening opportunities for the local economy without the help of tax money. But Mayor Barlow said they are going about the project in the wrong way – upset that the structure will block the view of the iconic Oswego lighthouse coming into the city.
“What would really be the win is for the port to build what they originally proposed, that being the 55 foot dome..What you can do is completely skirt the entire review process,” Mayor Billy Barlow said.
What stands now is a roughly 68-70 foot tall square structure, something city officials said they never agreed on. But Scriber said the height difference won’t change that view of the lighthouse from the Marina.
Photo of the structure as it stands now from First West St. in Oswego, NY. Photo by reporter Melanie Higgins. “If you’re not changing the holding capacity, or position…It’s not a major change…It’s still going to block that view, which by the way, isn’t a historical registered view,” Scriber said.
But Fort Ontario on the other hand is a historical view of the lighthouse, and Scriber said that was the view that they worked through with the SHPO review – where the State Historic Preservation Office reviewed and eventually approved the initial proposal of the 55 foot dome.
“The view of the Fort is not in the least obstructed by the building,” Scriber added.
City residents are split, some feeling as though the structure isn’t a big deal, and others agreeing with the Mayor. Lee Chetney is a city resident who said the view of the lighthouse is going to be, ”forever changed.”“You used to be able to come into the city…and ‘wow, I made it to Oswego, and look at how beautiful it is’ now they put that thing up and I hope they take it down because it’s just terrible,” city resident Lee Chetney said.
