Pace University and Kingston sewage
Woke up early - as I went off to visit a friend in New Jersey before going back to Pace University. Eric and Krystyn went around Manhattan and visited the wreckage. I tried to get into the Lincoln Tunnel - and was repeatedly lost and driving into areas where I was not supposed to be - but finally ended up in the right line - stopped by police and checked over thoroughly before being allowed to enter the Tunnel. Every car was checked. I hurried through the tunnel to get to the other side. Was very happy to get back into the light.
Made it back to Pace around 1:30 and attended the Pace Environmental Law Clinic case review. This was a great privledge to be part of this. As a lawyer I was allowed to sit in for parts of the open discussions about all the cases the Alliance is working on although everything was confidential. However, I can comment on the process and say how amazing it is and how great it would be to have the same process here. Karl Coplan - truly a distinguished litigator and scholar - led the class with Bobby Kennedy, the head of the Clinic and WKA. The students and WKA lawyers sat around a huge table with them and discussed cases and strategies, sharing experiences. Everyone is kept up to speed on all the cases and files, getting help and support from all different corners.
At 3:30 we headed back to Kingston.
Talked to Janet by phone in Kingston and she reported that the City of Kingston was now officially under investigation for the raw sewage going into the Lake. Very good news to hear on our trip - especially since on the way up I was reading in the Environment Canada publication on Lake Ontario Management how the Kingston sewage system was a great success. Goes to show you how little you can believe coming from government representatives paid to make us think everything is okay. The writer, John Allen, is the same John Allen who is quoted in the Whig Standard. Let us know what you think of this situation - it strikes me as a bit odd.
Arrived at the U.S. border around 10:00 - although no cars on the 25 mile strip of highway between Watertown and the Ivy League Bridge and only one truck - there was a good 45 minute wait at border. The NY State patrol had it down to one lane - checking every vehicle and truck. They looked through our car thoroughly - the car now having been checked 4 times so far this trip - before letting us go on. Then Canada Customs did the same (5 times). Back to Wolfe Island.
-- Mark Mattson
