Members of our homeowners association have written directly to Governor Kathy Hochul and Commissioner Dominguez. Here are two of those letters:
Letter to Governor Kathy Hochul
June 24, 2025
I'm writing not only as a concerned homeowner, but as a lifelong New Yorker and sailor whose connection to our state's lakes runs deep.
I grew up sailing in the Finger Lakes, and from a young age I dreamed of one day owning a home where I could step outside, walk down to the water, and raise my sail. That dream became a reality when I moved to Saratoga Lake—until six years ago, when emergency DOT roadwork on Route 9P stripped away the very access that made that dream possible.
The construction, which included the erection of a retaining wall 12 foot high and 200 foot long. They also added a fence and eliminated staircases leading to the lake. Homeowners like myself, who once had direct access to enjoy the water, were suddenly cut off. For me, this wasn't just about property values or recreational inconvenience—it was a loss of something deeply personal and meaningful. My boat, now sidelined, has become a symbol of how quickly something cherished can be taken away.
Despite promises of compensation, the state's response has been far from just or timely. Offers have come in at a fraction of the cost it would take to restore what was lost. My neighbors and I have written letters, filed claims, and made every reasonable attempt to find a resolution—only to be met with delays, indifference, and silence.
This isn't about special treatment for lakeside homeowners. It's about the principle that when the state damages private property, it must make people whole again. We are not asking for favors; we are asking for fairness.
Governor, we are your constituents. We are New Yorkers who have built our lives around these lakes and communities. I ask you to ensure the DOT honors its commitment—not just in words, but in action. Please help restore our access, our sense of trust, and a bit of the joy that makes this state such a special place to call home.
Sincerely,
Charlie Murphy
Spruce Ridge Association
Letter to Governor Kathy Hochul and NYS DOT Commissioner Dominguez
June 24, 2025
Governor Hochul, Commissioner Dominguez, and Staff:
On June 19, the Albany Times Union printed an editorial: DOT Roadwork Leaves Steps Untaken. It's a pretty good headline. If your staff has not shared the piece with you, I've included a link and its full text in this letter.
When I was growing up, my father taught me some valuable life lessons (he was a proud state worker for his entire career). Two lessons in particular resonate with me in this moment:
If you break it, you fix it.
And, if you make a promise, you keep your promise.
I'm hoping each lesson will resonate with you as well.
Promises made, promises not kept
The Times Union's editorial does a good job summarizing a six-year long broken promise by the New York State Department of Transportation. (The one exception is the paper's assumption that anyone living on Saratoga Lake is presumed to be "affluent." I can promise you, I am not affluent. I am part of a small four-home HOA, all of us retired, most of us living on modest fixed incomes.)
At the crux of the issue is a spoken and written promise by DOT to replace and repair our dock stairs leading down to our shared lakefront property which the state destroyed when it repaired a failing roadway on Route 9P in 2019. The State claims it was an "emergency repair" – a dangerous road condition that continued to deteriorate over 10 years after being brought to the attention of DOT to now become an "emergency."
DOT can dance and claim one policy or code or another – which it has done for these six years – but the simple fact is we have done our very best to work with DOT to find a fair and equitable resolution. We have invited its various representatives (at least eight different staffers at last count) to multiple meetings, plus a stack of emails and letters – with the one constant being excuses and roadblocks at every turn. Pun intended. I believe they were slow-playing us, hoping we would just go away. Bluntly, we are not going away.
New York State Department of Transportation has failed
As taxpayers, we are disappointed: we maintain the State has been irresponsible and unprofessional. We took the State's word, in good faith, that they would replace our stairs it destroyed, and repair the damage to our docks when it took the stairs away. That is all we are asking: a fair and equitable resolution. We are asking the State to keep its written promise, to fix what it broke.
Yet here we are: a last resort after all other appeals have failed, seeking resolution through the court of public opinion, and writing to you, the Governor of New York and the DOT Commissioner because NYS DOT has failed.
I mentioned earlier that I am one of the homeowners who is retired. I bought my small bungalow where I now live in anticipation of retiring and enjoying the simple pleasures of kayaking across the smooth early morning water, or sitting on our dock and experiencing the simple exhilaration of a sunset across the way. Mother Nature at her best.
We acted in good faith. We are all hoping you can help restore our faith by doing the right thing.
Another life lesson: do the right thing, for the right reasons.
I look forward to your response. We would be happy to meet and answer any questions you or your staff may have. We would be even happier if you could expedite access to our lake front property.
Thank you in advance for your consideration.
Peter Hopper
Spruce Ridge Association HOA, President
