New York Gubernatorial Candidate Praises Gas Drilling

Bob Joseph/WNBF News [file][/caption]Some environmental activists from the region are objecting to a visit to Vestal May 6 by New York gubernatorial hopeful Robert Astorino during which the Republican touted the benefits of natural gas drilling in the region.

Astorino visited Vestal Asphalt, which says dealings with the fracking industry in Pennsylvania has led to close to 100 new jobs as it has supplied paving materials to municipalities and has provided trucking services to natural gas companies.

Citizen action and Save the Southern Tier Network spokesperson Isaac Silberman-Gorn claimed the candidate for New York Governor has not explored the effects of drilling on the region and is wrongfully pointing to Texas as an example of the positive effects of drilling.

Astorino says Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo is holding the upstate economy back by keeping an extended ban on natural gas exploration in effect.

The Westchester County Executive has vowed to allow natural gas drilling in New York if he is elected governor but still plans to put public health concerns first.