Dragon Springs Seminar Provides Updates on Community Concerns
Chinese Associations representatives and Deerpark officials addressed issues.
By David Ofshinsky
On the rainy evening of December 18, a crowd of about 60 people filled the Deerpark Senior Center for a community seminar on Dragon Springs.
Sponsored by the Mount Hope Chinese Association and Deerpark Chinese Association, the event was billed as a forum to learn about Dragon Springs, ask questions and enjoy holiday refreshments with neighbors. Several elected officials attended: Tom Faggione, County Legislator; Gary Spears, Town of Deerpark Supervisor; and Christa Hoovler, Deerpark Councilmember.
Mela Wu, president of Mount Hope Chinese Association, started the program by introducing the panel of three speakers. They were Ben Hedges, a journalist focused on China; Levi Browde, executive director of the Falun Dafa Information Center; and Sean Lin, a microbiologist and former U.S. Army officer who is also the producer of a YouTube channel focused on the Chinese government’s transnational aggression.
Ben Hedges started the discussion by noting Chinese government infiltration in the United States. He pointed to the September arrest of Linda Sun, who had served as deputy chief of staff to Gov. Kathy Hochul and had been an aide to former Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Sean Lin also spoke on Chinese government activity in the US. He said that China has been caught operating secret ‘police stations’ in New York City to spy on and harass Chinese expatriates and followers of Falun Gong. In New York alone, during the last four years, federal prosecutors have brought at least a dozen criminal cases against more than 90 people for being covert agents advancing Chinese government interests in the US.
Levi Browde then spoke about Dragon Springs. He explained that the 400 acre site is home to a Buddhist meditation center, an accredited high school, Fei Tian Academy of the Arts, an accredited college, Fei Tian College, and the Shen Yun dance troupe.
Browde described threats to Dragon Springs, including a recent incursion by a car with two occupants that raced past the gate, and the weekly notices he receives from the U.S. Department of Justice about potential threats.
Browde then addressed the relationship between Dragon Springs and the community. He talked about the collective community, bridging cultural differences and common values. He acknowledged that the transition into the community over approximately 25 years had not gone smoothly. Cultural barriers needed to be overcome by the refugee immigrants who fled from repression and human rights violations. Given their experiences, they tended to keep to themselves and view authorities with suspicion.
Going forward, Browde said he would support more openness and maintenance of the rural environment to ensure the area is robust enough to provide jobs and safe neighborhoods.
The meeting was then opened for questions.
Mount Hope resident Frank Ketcham expressed concerns about the sewage treatment plant at Dragon Springs. He said that it currently releases 100,000 gallons of wastewater per day into the Neversink River, and that plans for a 500,000 gallon per day plant are in the works. He asked about the status of Deerpark Commons, a development proposed several years ago that he has heard is making a comeback.
Browde responded that the sewage treatment plant is operating properly and is in compliance with NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) standards. He added that he is not familiar with Deerpark Commons, as it is not affiliated with Dragon Springs.
Deerpark Town Supervisor Gary Spears then addressed the group. He also acknowledged that Dragon Springs did not get off to a good start years ago, and probably mistakes were made by both sides.
“You have to understand these folks have had it rough, coming from a Communist country,” he added. Spears also said that the sewage treatment plant in question has a capacity of 18,000 gallons per day, and it discharges into an underground leach field and not into the river. He said he is unaware of any plans for a larger plant, and the Deerpark Commons project has been dormant, but it might be revived. Spears then pointed to the paving on Galley Hill Rd. and Guymard Turnpike paid for by Dragon Springs as examples of cooperation in recent years.
Mela Wu invited everyone to stay, mingle, and enjoy refreshments. The crowd socialized among holiday decorations and tables laden with holiday treats.
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