I’m hoping you are as concerned as I am about the recent train derailment in a small town on the Ohio/Pennsylvania border.

Are toxic chemicals on trains passing daily through Syracuse, Utica, Central New York and Mohawk Valley communities?

I’m especially concerned about Utica because the Adirondack Bank Center, as well as the hospital and sports complex could all be within a one-by-two-mile evacuation area, such as that implemented in Ohio.

As though evacuating a hospital wouldn’t be enough of a nightmare, imagine doing so when there’s the usual 3,860 capacity hockey game crowd at the Adirondack Bank Center.

Though these are admittedly somewhat remote possibilities, it could only be a matter of time before we could face a disastrous situation.

The former administration eliminated or weakened, safety regulations in all government departments especially safeguards that protect us on the railways and waterways. 

No matter what age, gender, nationality ,religion or politics, we all want to be safe and protected.

I call my local, state and federal legislators to express my concerns.

I challenge you to do the same.

— Carole Gehrig, Whitesboro