NYS Budget Update
May 29, 2010
Yesterday, the eve of the
Memorial Day weekend kick-off to the unofficial summer season, legislators and
the governor, under intense public pressure to keep state parks open, announced
a deal to do just that.
State Parks will get the $11
million needed to keep them open. That’s the good news, and it was achieved by
thousands of citizens—including Trail Conference members-- telling their
representatives to protect our parks.
The bad news is that in
exchange, the Environmental Protection Fund, which pays for land, water, and air
protection measures across the state, will be reduced to $134 million from the
$222 million it was at in 2009/10. This disproportionately large cut of almost
40% comes on top of the nearly $500 million that has been swept from the EPF in
recent years, and which has created a significant backlog of unfunded projects,
straining organizations, municipalities and others partnering with the state on
environmental programs.
FoFHH supports
State Parks AND the EPF and we will continue to do so. We welcome and thank you
for your continued support.
Click here to read the full statement by the group
Friends of New York’s Environment on the State Parks/EPF legislative
agreement.
Keep your letters and phone call coming…
Lists of parks that were threatened by closure are available at the Parks and Trails NY website - www.ptny.org.
Friends of Fahnestock and Hudson Highlands State Parks is asking for your help in fighting these drastic cuts. Please take these simple steps:
1) Follow up with your assemblymen and senator and ask them to restore OPRHP’s funding to avoid drastic cuts and closures. To find out your local assemblymen and senator, go to http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem and www.nysenate.gov .
2) Contact State Senator Vincent Leibell at (518) 455-3111, (845) 279-3773, orleibell@senate.state.ny.us. Fahnestock is in Senator Leibell’s district. Ask him to restore funding to the OPRHP budget to keep these two parks open.
State parks serve all New Yorkers and attendance at parks is at record high levels. Now, more than ever, our parks are our playgrounds, escapes, and vacation destinations. Please help us keep Fahnestock and the other New York State parks open.
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