The Bares Family, of Marshacres LLC, owns the farmland that the Allegany County Industrial Development Agency has chosen to use eminent domain in order to pave the way for a Great Lakes Cheese manufacturing facility. Today they have organized a peaceful protest on the steps of the county courthouse:
“Our PEACEFUL masked (if not vaccinated) demonstration will take place on Thursday April 29,2021 at 8:30am on the steps of the Allegany County Courthouse in Belmont, NY. Our hope is to demonstrate the opposition to the ACIDA use of eminent domain condemnation of 226 acres of our farmland to lease to Great Lakes Cheese. Thank you for the support.”
The Bares have also set up a petition asking for 5000 signatures to oppose the eminent domain action. As of this morning they have received over 3100 signatures: https://www.change.org/p/acida-stop-eminent-domain-seizure-of-working-farmland
Michael T. Baldwin reports that, “Allegany County officials say they are aware of tomorrow’s planned protest on the courthouse steps in Belmont RE: eminent domain seizure of farm land for biz relocation. They note there has been no formal notification, but they were alerted by the media. The county does not plan to address/speak with the protestors. The sheriff’s office will monitor. No permits are required for the event.”
