While there are Negative Nancy’s everywhere, on so many levels I thought 2020 was one of the best years of my life
While there are Negative Nancy’s everywhere, on so many levels I thought 2020 was one of the best years of my life. 😀
While COVID closed some doors, it opened many others – remote work was a lot of fun especially in the summer months. While interest rates have been in the shitter, the markets were outstanding at least on paper. My work while busy throughout the year, also was varied and quite interesting. I learned a lot of new skills, especially at using Microsoft Excel and Census Bureau stasticals data and did some quality work. And while I messed up some things, I also learned how to be better and more effective leader, and more thoughtful to boot. I taught myself new mapping and data management skills, and are so fascinated by what I discovered with 3D Mapping and georeferencing data..
I didn’t really have a choice to live through or not when it came to 2020. Kind of like that congested area, you have to get through it to get out to countryside. But I think I am heck of a lot better off and my future much brighter thanks to the many changes and lessons learned during the year that came and went much too quickly. I look forward to all the adventures that are coming in the second year of decade, both good and bad.
2 Comments
Hello, came across your name while researching the Wilcox Wild Forest, Unit Management Plan.
I had submitted comments to DEC several years ago and was checking back to see if plan was ever finalized.
Are you an activist interested in a story?
I think we know the answer to the story.
1) Official answer: The DEC lacks the resources in Lands and Forests to finish writing the plan.
2) The truth: The DEC knows that if they adopt a final plan, it has to be in compliance with the Adirondack State Land Master Plan or risk being sued and mandated by the court to do amend the plan. That means taking unpopular actions, putting up gates, closing campsites, snowmobile trails and roads, which are likely to be vandalized and ignored all while furthering anger at the department and it’s employees who then risk the wrath not just of the public but also the governor and his appointees.
Moreover, they know that while the Adirondack State Land Master Plan prohibits improvements to state land while a plan is in a draft stages, it allows maintenance of existing facilities, and the administrative regulations are too vague to go to court to distinguish between an improvement and maintance of an existing facility, and that the courts generally give wide latitude to administrative agencies to define necessary maintenance and protection of a natural resource. Courts defer to administrative agencies, as they lack the technical ability to decide what is necessary to protect a natural resource, public safety and welfare.
Plus the structure of state land operations in New York State is very decentralized, giving forest managers wide latitude with little centralized administration, except when the Adirondack Park Agency really wants to lean upon the DEC Regional offices, which is rare, because the APA is busy and they don’t want to anger to necessary partners in DEC.