Daily Freeman: Dear Editor: We’ve all seen oil spills. They’re ugly, impossible to clean up, and prove deadly to the animals and vegetation.

Now imagine an oil spill on the Hudson River between Yonkers and Kingston. It would affect the entire Hudson River estuary from the Troy dam to New York City.

The tug and barge industry is proposing the establishment of 10 anchorage sites for up to 43 crude oil storage barges on our scenic and historic river, which brings great enjoyment and tourist dollars to our region. In case of a spill, Poughkeepsie, Port Ewen and Highland would be scrambling for a substitute water source. In addition, the Hudson serves as water of last resort for New York City in our already drought-ridden country.

The New York State Association of Realtors, as well as the Realtors’ associations from every county flanking both sides of the river from Yonkers to Dutchess/Ulster, oppose these anchorage grounds. Read more.