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    In what must be ranked as one of the most short sighted environmental decisions of the 2002 State Legislative session the NYS legislators have approved the sale of the publicly owned Henrietta Riverton Golf Course and Riverbend Nature Park beside the Genesee River. Despite the fact that the DEC this year lists three important State initiatives backed by Governor Pataki to create river front parks (such as the $4.6 million spent on the Irvington Riverfront Park) Supervisor James Breese of Henrietta has been successful in his three year effort to sell the 123 acre river front golf course and park to his personal friend and political supporter James DeMino.

Here is how our local Assembly delegation voted on the sale (which was sponsored by Assemblyman Joseph Errigo):

Susan John (Democrat) - District 131 - No

Joe Morelle - (Democrat) District 132 - Yes

David Gantt - (Democrat) District 133 - Yes (Gantt had successfully delayed the bill for two years.)

Joe Robach - (Republican to be) District 134 - Yes

David Koon - (Democrat) District 135 - No

Joseph Errigo - (Republican) -District 136 - Yes (sponsor)

Charles Nesbitt -(Republican) - District 137 - Yes

On the Senate Republican side the bill was repeatedly sponsored by Republican Senator James Alesi ( District 55) and passed without debate.

1) Riverton Golf Course and Park was created in 1973 using Federal HUD money and NYS conservation funds amounting to $995,568. This equates to more than $3.6 million in today’s dollars.

2) The 123 acre park will be sold by Henrietta for $450,000. Henrietta claims that the "sale" price is $509,000 but they supplemented the DeMino bid by giving him the $59,000 Riverton Park maintenance fund. The Breese administration has been accused of bid rigging.

3) The original public play ground and park areas (including baseball diamond, backstop, river front benches, trail, drinking fountain, & volleyball court) were purposefully destroyed using heavy duty machinery, but Henrietta took no action to prosecute.

4) The DeMino family has claimed they intend to enlarge the golf course from 9 to 18 holes but they have never disclosed any maps, plans, deeds or other proof that they can accomplish this promise.

5) The Town and DeMinos claim they have agreed to reserve a 10 ft. right-of-way along the Genesee River which was formally a 50 foot walking path. There are no funds or plans to develop the promised hiking-biking trail along the river, nor will this be a public trail.

6) The 28 acre nature park is a significant wildlife area and contains beaver, coyote, nesting hawks, blue birds (State bird), and many other types of life associated with the river which winds around the area in a great bend. This area will be destroyed if a new golf course is built.

Although there is slim chance the Governor will veto this wrong legislative action Sierra Club advises citizens to write and call him on the Breese sell out of this fully developed public park.

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