Staff Sergeant Christopher F. Cabacoy and Private First Class Edwin C. Wood were killed when insurgents attacked their vehicle with an improvised explosive device. The soldiers were assigned to 1st Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, NY.

“I join with all New Yorkers in expressing our sympathy to the family and friends and fellow soldiers of Staff Sergeant Christopher Cabacoy and Private First Class Edwin Wood,” Governor Paterson said. “While not native New Yorkers, we consider all those who serve at Fort Drum to be part of our New York family and we honor their service to our nation.”

Governor Paterson has directed the flags on all State buildings to be lowered to half-staff in honor and tribute to our State’s service members who are killed in action or die in a combat zone.

Lieutenant Colonel Thomas P. Belkofer and Lieutenant Colonel Paul R. Bartz were killed when enemy forces attacked their convoy with a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device. The officers were assigned to Headquarters Battalion of the 10th Mountain Division and lived at Fort Drum with their families.

“I join with all New Yorkers in expressing our sympathy to the family and friends and fellow soldiers of Lt. Col. Thomas Belkofer and Lt. Col. Paul Bartz,” Governor Paterson said. “These officers served their country with distinction. We join the Fort Drum community in mourning their loss but we will honor their service to our nation.”

Governor Paterson has directed the flags on all State buildings to be lowered to half-staff in honor and tribute to our State’s service members who are killed in action or die in a combat zone.

ALBANY, NY (02/05/2010)(readMedia)– New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis recently announced that the cleanup of the former Frink America snowplow manufacturing site in Clayton (Jefferson County) is complete, clearing the way for the 8-acre parcel along the St. Lawrence River to return to productive use.

The cleanup of the site was made possible by $1.5 million in grants from the Environmental Restoration Program (ERP). The DEC-run program helps municipalities stuck with cleaning up abandoned industrial sites when the former site owner or other responsible party cannot be forced to pay for remediation, and developers willing to take over the cleanup cannot be found.

“The contamination of this site took decades. But by working in close collaboration with local officials, we completed a comprehensive cleanup in a few short years,” Commissioner Grannis said. “The former Frink America site – attractive because of its location on the St. Lawrence River, near the town docks and with beautiful views of the islands – can now return to productive use. That’s good news for the environment, public health and the local economy.”

Local officials have proposed mixed-use development for the site. This may include park areas, green space and light commercial development.

“Any time a small local government like the Town of Clayton takes on a major project like this, collaboration is essential,” said Clayton Supervisor Justin A. Taylor. “We’ve benefited from the help of many partners, including the Clayton Local Development Corporation, the Village of Clayton, Jefferson County, the Development Authority of the North Country, the state Department of Health and the DEC on this project. All of those involved were positive and pro-active and that has brought the task at hand to a successful completion. The Clayton community and the region will benefit from this for decades to come.”

“This project provides a great example of how we can work together at the state and local level to ensure contaminated properties are made safe and productive once again,” said Sen. Darrel J. Aubertine. “This cleanup project has created the conditions needed for private investment on this site to create jobs and contribute to the local tax base for generations. As a cornerstone in this village, a redeveloped Frink site will be a welcome addition here, where town and village officials have done a great job fostering development along the beautiful St. Lawrence River. I want to thank the DEC for its role in the process and Commissioner Grannis for recognizing the significance of this project.”

“The return of this site to productive use will greatly benefit the local economy,” said Assemblywoman Addie Russell. “Our river frontage is one of our best assets and the proposed mixed use will provide wonderful opportunities for everyone while preserving the viewshed. I commend all of the local officials who worked so hard to complete the site cleanup in such a relatively short period of time, and to Commissioner Grannis and the DEC for understanding the importance of this project for Clayton and the surrounding communities.”

The site, located at the intersection of Webb Street and Riverside Drive, historically had been used as a rail yard and an ice house, and at times served as a storage area for lumber and coal, among other uses. It became the home to Frink America in the 1920s when Carl A. Frink moved his burgeoning snowplow business to the property. Previously a local tire shop owner, Frink launched his new company after he successfully constructed a steel snowplow to clear a bus route from Clayton to Watertown. Frink America operated at the site until 2000.

The snowplow fabrication process involved the cutting, welding, rolling and painting of raw steel. Unfortunately, the process resulted in soil and groundwater contamination that included metals, non-chlorinated solvents (toluene and xylene) and petroleum (releases from on-site fuel tanks and a petroleum bulk storage operation). While DEC was negotiating the remediation of these issues, the facility was sold to a Quebec company that abruptly closed the factory. The town later acquired the site through foreclosure and applied for ERP assistance in 2005.

The comprehensive cleanup included demolishing structures that contained paint waste and asbestos, digging out petroleum tanks and waste-storage tanks and removing contaminated soils – approximately 20,000 tons of soil were excavated at depths ranging from two to eight feet below the surface.

Following the completion of these actions, the town conducted a follow-up investigation of soils, surface water and groundwater, and soil vapors. Based on the results, DEC, in consultation with the state Department of Health, determined that the site no longer poses a threat to human health or the environment.

 Crawford said that she’s considering a run because, like so many Upstate New Yorkers, she’s tired of seeing family and friends forced out of state by ever-increasing taxes and a lack of opportunity.

“Central New York and the Mohawk Valley are wonderful places to live, filled with hard-working people,” said Crawford. “But Albany is driving our state into the ground. At what point do we rise up and say, ‘enough is enough?’”

Crawford believes that any plan for economic growth, jobs and recovery starts with reigning in Albany and providing tax relief for middle-class families and small businesses instead of higher taxes and more government spending.

“For Upstate New York to retain its most valuable asset – its people – we need jobs and an economy where individuals, families and small businesses can reach their full potential,” said Crawford.

In preparation to run, Crawford has opened a campaign bank account, Friends of Jessica Crawford, and has met with Republican Party officials in the 49th District and Albany.

“If I do this, my goal will be to help create an Upstate New York that people want to move to rather than leave,” said Crawford.

The 49th District comprises all of Madison County and parts of Oneida, Onondaga and Cayuga counties. Republicans slightly outnumber Democrats, 56,195 to 55,207.

About Jessica

A motivated, business woman and energetic community leader, Jessica Crawford envisions an Upstate New York that people want to move to rather than leave.

As a business woman, she knows what it takes to create jobs in Central New York and the Mohawk Valley. Jessica Crawford’s work with some of the area’s fastest-growing employers has significantly strengthened their commitment to the local economy. 

As a community leader, she understands that for Upstate New York to retain its most valuable asset – its people – we need jobs and an economy where individuals and families can reach their potential.

Upstate Roots

Born and raised in Watertown, NY, Jessica Crawford is the youngest of seven children. Her mom was a nurse and her dad sold agricultural products and served in the Air National Guard.

Two brothers served in the Navy and the Air Force.

Both sets of great grandparents were farmers in the Watertown area. Her paternal grandparents were farmers in Baldwinsville.

Studied at Syracuse University and earned her bachelor’s of arts in economics and policy studies.

Continued her graduate studies at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and received a Master of Public Administration degree (MPA).

Jessica Crawford has called the City of Syracuse home for 13 years.

Local Experience

Jessica Crawford is an executive with one the fastest-growing employers in Upstate New York – SRC, formerly Syracuse Research Corporation. Along with its manufacturing arm SRCTec, SRC is a nationally recognized, R&D company that produces life-saving equipment for our service men and women. SRC has more than doubled its workforce since 2002, today employing over 1000 people.

Managed external relations for employee-owned and Syracuse-based engineering firm O’Brien & Gere. A dedicated member of the business community, O’Brien & Gere is moving its headquarters to downtown Syracuse.

Served as associate director of the Office of Government and Community Relations at Syracuse University where she helped to improve ties between the University and the region.

Community Leadership

Jessica Crawford is the founding chair of 40 Below. One of the largest young professional organizations in the nation, 40 Below is dedicated to reversing the migration of young people out of Upstate New York and giving them reasons to stay.

Member of the United Way Gifts Cabinet and co-chaired SRC’s corporate campaign for the last two years, raising a record total of more than $208,000 and earning the United Way’s Campaign Excellence Award.  

Recently elected to the Board of Trustees for the Crouse Health Foundation, the fundraising arm of Crouse Hospital.

Why is She Running?

Like so many families in the region, after 30 years, Jessica Crawford’s parents are selling their home and moving out of state to seek relief from higher taxes. 

Her sister and brother-in-law are cutting back on their own expenses while New York State is increasing spending by 9% and taking away STAR rebates, forcing struggling families to shoulder additional burdens in the form of higher taxes and fees.

Jessica doesn’t accept the fact that we live in a state where crushing taxes and out of control spending are driving her parents out. Upstate families deserve better.

She won’t accept that many of her friends and peers believe that their only path for success is to leave New York. It does not have to be this way.

Free Upstate

Jessica Crawford is a job-creator that will be a voice for people who want to stay in Upstate New York, but are being crushed, pushed out, or otherwise ignored by the state government in Albany.

She believes that any plan for economic growth, jobs and rapid recovery starts with tax relief for middle-class families and small businesses instead of higher taxes and more spending by Albany politicians.

According to the non-partisan Tax Foundation, New York ranks as the 49^th worst state in which to do business. Albany’s war on jobs and prosperity must be stopped.  Punishing taxes and runaway spending are driving people and businesses away and destroying the state.

Jessica Crawford believes that we need to regain our independence and our spirit of innovation from Downstate political dominance and bring integrity back to public office.  It is time to finally free Upstate from Albany’s certain recipe for failure.