Mayor, Anti-Frackers Watch Promised Land

1/4/2013 (Updated 11:37:34 PM)

The fracking debate hit the big screen Friday with the premiere of Promised Land.

The movie follows a salesman trying to convince land owners in rural Pennsylvania to sell their land for drilling.

A film highlighting a topic near and dear to the Southern Tier didn't go unnoticed.  Binghamton Mayor Matt Ryan joined anti-frackers at the theater to watch.

"I think it's important morality play to see and for people to reflect on," says Mayor Matt Ryan. 

Although the movie doesn't go in-depth on possible air or land contamination caused by drilling - Ryan says it does speak about the issue of drilling revitalizing the economy- which he says can be done through other means.

"We're fighting hard to bring our economy back.  Governor Cuomo should also-along with all the farmers and people-get together, learn how to make farming more profitable.  Let farmers do what they do- we can grow biodiesel fuels.  We can do a lot of things," says Ryan.

For Craig Stevens of Sliver Lake Township Pennsylvania, the movie hit extremely close to home.

"We never had a town meeting like they show in here.  There was no such thing.  They snuck in and signed my 95 and a half year old grandmother in a nursing home to a lease. That's how they work," says Stevens.

And it's something he doesn't want to see here in New York.

"It will not cross the line.  I'm not allowing this industry to cross the New York, Pennsylvania state line," says Stevens.

"I encourage people to come to this, have discussions with their neighbors, have a discussion with their friends and know what they are getting into," says Ryan.

On Wednesday, hundreds of people who are against fracking will head to Albany for the Governors State of the State Address--their message, to keep the moratorium on fracking.

Ali Warner, Fox 40 HD News.




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