The New York State Assembly passed the bill that created the Adirondack Park Agency on June 7, 1971 and the Senate did the same, the next day, on June 8, 1971.

The labor pains in giving birth to the APA appeared to be quite mild compared to what happened in the following years. I guess it’s quite unusual, but the labor pains continued and worsened after the birth until five years later when the shituation hit the fan.

Frank Casier and Bob Hunsicker established a four-page tabloid newspaper and defensively named it “The Adirondack Defender.” I am surprised the vitriolic language in the ‘news’ stories did not bring a lawsuit on my friend Frank.

Above the logo on the first page is a line, “The Freedom Fighters News,” and below the logo is this line, “In Defense of the People of the Adirondacks.” Dated March, 1976, Vol. 1, No. 1, Circulation 25,000, P.O. Box No. 1, Saranac Lake. Then a photo of the American Flag on the top right corner of page one.

My friend “Bunk” has been at it for a long time.

Excerpts…

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“Park-Wide Rebellion”

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“The mushrooming rebellion against The Adirondack Park Agency by local and statewide governments and associations is producing an ever-increasing list of resolutions to abolish the A.P.A.

“As of the first of March, 1976, the following have passed resolutions to completely abolish the a.p.a. (sic)

“To Abolish: St. Lawrence, Clinton, Franklin, Essex, Fulton and Washington. To curtail the APA: Hamilton County. Associations to abolish: N.Y.S. Supervisors and County Legislators Association; N.Y.S. Organizations of Adirondack County Governments; N.Y.S. Organizations of Villages and Towns and The New York State Farm Bureau.

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“The Voice of the People”

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“The predominant, indisputable cry and appeal from the people of the Adirondacks at the 18 public hearings held by the League of Adirondack Citizen’s Rights, Inc., (4 public meetings).The Local Government Review Board (10 public meetings) and the Legislative Task Force to Investigate the APA (4 public meetings) has been an overwhelming plea to “Abolish the APA”.

“Based on interviews, surveys and meetings held throughout the park with thousands of Adirondackers and scores of towns, the people of the Adirondacks want the following to replace the Adirondack Park Agency:

“An Adirondack Park Local Government Planning and Control Board.”

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Robert Flacke APA Chairman

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“Chairman Flack is making untrue statements about the APA before the Joint Conservation Committee of the Legislature, on television and in the newspapers.

“Mr. Flacke is supervisor of Neon Alley, the only section of the Adirondacks that has been ruined by over development, and he has done his share. His company has one of the biggest, ugliest neon signs in Lake George. His company operates a tourist trap with questionable credentials.

“Lake George might better be annexed to Coney Island than our beautiful wilderness. Adirondack citizens say, “Bob Flacke, you stay in Lake George and clean up your own mess before you come up into our unspoiled part of the Adirondacks.”

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Letters to the Editor

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“The state is supposed to manage state land. It is the poorest managed land anywhere. If they can’t manage their own state land how can they manage our own private land?”

John Sparks

[John was a former Tupper Lake Mayor and Franklin County Legislator]

“Both Governor Carey and President Ford have spoken out against bureaucracies making their own rules and regulations under the guise of law. Therefore, I recommend that the Adirondack Park Act of 1971 be rescinded.”

Harold Seaman

Supervisor of the Town of Fine

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Full Page Editorial by Mr. Casier

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[Brief Excerpts]

“Are the long tentacles of the rich and ruthless the real power behind the Adirondack Park Agency?

“Are they able to manipulate the so-called ‘Environmental Groups’, the elite extremists, and the lawmaking process to perpetuate their own selfish desires under the guise of land planning and protecting the environment?

“Does the Sierra Club have direct representation on the Adirondack Park Agency Board through Dr. Ted Hullar, past president of the Atlantic Chapter of the Sierra Club and designee of Odgen Reid? Who pays dues and large contributions to the Sierra Club and why? What is the original source of the money before it is laundered? What is the William Rockefeller of 53 Wall Street in New York City, and Peter Paine connection with the Sierra Club?

“We also believe it is possible that some commissioners and other officials, who are also attorneys, may be accepting retainers to represent interests which may be in conflict with their duties.”

[Frank’s son, David, is an attorney who lives in Vermont. He must have been apprehensive when reading his Dad’s new ‘Public Defender’ newspaper.]