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Saving Farms & Agriculture in Putnam Valley
To The Editor:
Sam Oliverio, Jr. is correct as regards his duties and the use of his legislative powers. The Agricultural District comes under the aegis of State and County laws so as to prevent interference by town officials and their cronies, under the guise of "Home Rule."
In my seven years of operation here not one single person has called, written or visited this farm to complain about anything; there has also never been a complaint to this farm or myself from any employee of the Town Highway Department regarding 'these violations', whatever that may mean.
There is an old saying: 'if it looks like a farm and smells like a farm, it is a farm'. Our 450 acres, Valley View Farm and Cimarron Ranch certainly is a farm, the largest for a long ways. The constant hounding by town officials hardens our resolve and fight to survive, (or will force us into the arms of a developer). Should we take the $$millions and run or should we let the Town of Putnam Valley and its good people spend countless $$thousands on legal battles with us, the outcome of which is far from assured. Even if they won, to what gain or public good anyway? The farm spends $1000 per week on legal fees; could that money be better used by the Fire Department, the Ambulance Corps or on musical instruments for the children in our schools?
Our fight goes much further than the touted (and illegal) 'town enforcement of agricultural district laws'. It goes to the fundamental rights of landowners as to what they may and may not reasonably do on their property. If Davis has his way he might well object to the food and beverages served at my home but the next elections will stop him before this can occur. Cohen has not been to our 'notorious' farm but is welcome (sans banjo, please), as all are, especially to prove the libelous 'waste' and 'dumping' allegations he so casually uses.
As to 'exemptions': in all the years I served as chair of the Putnam County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board I never stated that farms should be exempt from any town's zoning ordinances, only that all those involved should work together so the few remaining large farmland tracts can be preserved for future generations.
Alexander Kaspar Director, Valley View Farm Putnam Valley
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