Friends of Rural New York

“If there’s one thing that’s been clear to me since I became senator, it’s that being effective means hitting the road and meeting with people around the state,” Schumer said.

The problem is that the Senator is not hearing much from the “people”. During his visit to Cayuga County on Tuesday, Dec. 27th, the room was packed with politicians and wannabees. There were only about 5 farmers in the audience. One farmer told us that the meeting had not been very well publicized. In fact they found out about it that very morning.

The Senator took questions from the audience but basically, he did most of the talking. He dominated the conversation. We estimate that he spoke for 45 minutes out of his one hour visit and, although the meeting was advertised to be about farms and energy costs, he took many non-farm-related questions and gave those questions lengthy answers.

The Senator expressed surprise that independent farmers are wary of immigrant labor. Where is he getting his advice from? Must be from CAFO supporters who love cheap labor. He claimed that Americans don’t want to do farm work. The farmer who sat behind us groaned over that one (having worked at his farm chores all day).

Schumer wants to reduce costs for new equipment. Who buys new equipment? CAFO owners do. The independents usually have to make do with the old stuff.

The farmers reaction to Senator Schumer’s visit?  The Senator is clueless regarding the reasons for economic devestation in rural New York State- and he talks too damn much.