Environmental Advocates of New York

the [green] capitol insider

March 8, 2010

Welcome to Environmental Advocates of New York’s online newsletter from the State Capital, your source for environmental news. We update you every other week with insider news and observations carefully gleaned from the halls of the Capitol.

EPF ISO FS LTR WITH NYS LAWMAKERS

Tomorrow, dozens of conservation, community, environmental, public health, parks, zoos, botanical gardens and other groups, including Environmental Advocates of New York will launch an advertising campaign that calls on New York leaders and lawmakers to restore critical resources to the State’s Environmental Protection Fund. Governor Paterson proposed slashing the Fund by $69 million or 33 percent in his 2010-2011 Executive Budget.

“We Love New York” includes ads asking state leaders to demonstrate their love for New York by restoring the Fund to $222 million during budget negotiations this month.

This is the second year in a row that the Governor has proposed to disproportionately cut the Fund, which helps ensure the health and safety of New York's air and water, updates sewage treatment facilities, keeps working farms operating, preserves historic heritage and open space, revitalizes waterfronts, and much more.

The launch of the campaign includes advertisements in and around the State Capital during the heat of budget season and a website www.KeepProtectingNY.org to serve as a destination to learn more about the campaign.

We’re also placing ads in newspapers and online news sources across the state. Keep your eyes peeled for the headline in the days and weeks to come.

*Translation: Environmental Protection Fund in search of financially secure long-term relationship with New York State lawmaker.

Visit www.KeepProtectingNY.org to learn more about “We Love New York.”

Groups underwriting the campaign include:

Adirondack Council, Audubon New York, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Environmental Advocates of New York, Environmental Defense Fund, Friends of Hudson River Park, Hudson Riverkeeper, Land Trust Alliance, Long Island Pine Barrens Society, New York League of Conservation Voters, North Shore Land Alliance, Open Space Institute, Scenic Hudson, The Nature Conservancy, Trust for Public Land and Wildlife Conservation Society.

S.O.S. FOR PARKS

Hundreds of New Yorkers and more than a few state legislators representing both sides of the aisle turned out to “Save Our State Parks” last week on the steps of the Capitol.

Governor Paterson has proposed to slash the Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation’s budget and released a long list of parks closures. The Governor’s rush to find revenue could result in the shutdown of at least 41, and possibly more, of New York’s 178 state parks. Here’s the full list.

Aside from the Governor, we’re hard pressed to find anyone who supports closing parks and historic sites. New York has kept our parks open even in the worst of times, including the Great Depression, because state leaders understood that voters love their parks. It’s as simple as that.

Lawmakers at the rally noted that they’ve received more telephone calls, emails and other communications from constituents about the Governor’s plan to shutter parks than any other issue. Ever. So while the Governor doesn’t plan to run again, shuttering state parks is something New Yorkers won’t soon forget.