Release Date: June 10, 2025

There have been several news articles and at least one editorial focused on the threatening email we received in February. As we noted in a previous statement, the Woodstock Land Conservancy received an email with the subject line “Catskill Mountain Rail Trail” Feb. 12. The email began by stating “if you do anything to the railroad in that area….” It continued with a threat of mass murder and suicide.

We would like to reiterate once again that we contacted local, state and federal law enforcement officials. We also notified Peter Criswell, Chair of the Legislature; Legislator Jeff Collins, the individual who represents Woodstock and the chair of the U&D Corridor Advisory Committee; and County Executive staff. 

There was enhanced security at the committee meetings following these discussions. We want to clarify that WLC did not ask for the security, but we were pleased to see it implemented.

We want to provide additional information in the hopes that facts will replace misinformation related to the threat email.

1. Legislator Eric Stewart publicly stated the threat was directed against Kevin Smith, WLC’s Board Chair. (Kevin is also Chair of the Ulster County Trails Advisory Committee.) That is inaccurate. The threat did not name any individual, but it was sent to both a staff member specifically as well as WLC’s general “info@” inbox.
2. Given the enhanced security at the corridor advisory committee meetings, Kevin Smith contacted Hurley Town Supervisor Mike Boms when it became clear the Hurley Town Board would be considering a resolution related to the U&D corridor “undesignated section” in April. Smith explained that he was sharing confidential information with Supervisor Boms, because the Woodstock Land Conservancy chose not to make any of this information public while law enforcement was still investigating the threat. Our understanding is that Supervisor Boms chose to add enhanced security at the Town Board meeting out of an abundance of caution, following the procedure enacted by Ulster County. 

We were very surprised to learn that a police officer told anyone that the security at the Hurley Town Board meeting was a result of a death threat sent to the Catskill Mountain Railroad, but we have no ability to independently verify if such a statement was made, to whom it was made, or what was actually said. We encourage professional journalists to reach out to local, county, state and federal law enforcement agencies to independently verify if, indeed, such a threat was reported. We also encourage independent verification of the security measures ordered at the Hurley Town Board meeting and who was on duty that evening providing information to attendees about the nature of the security.

The Woodstock Land Conservancy took the email seriously when it was received, and we continue to take the threat seriously. We are encouraged the investigation continues, and we stand ready to answer any additional questions from law enforcement officials. We want the sender identified, and we want to ensure our staff, our Board members, our volunteers and our community are safe.

It was not our intention to make this information public while an active investigation continued. That decision was made for us when it was shared publicly, and we began to receive inquiries about it.

All we ask now is that members of the media take the time to contact us for comment and verification before continuing to print and broadcast inaccurate information that serves no public interest.