Business & Green Groups to Issue Joint Plea: Gov. Cuomo, It's Time to Restore Environmental Funding

ALBANY, NY (01/14/2011)(readMedia)-- Representatives from New York State's business, agricultural and municipal sectors, as well as environmental organizations, will descend on Albany to call on Governor Andrew Cuomo to help jumpstart the state's economy by investing in New York's environment in his first Executive Budget proposal. The groups are pushing for restorations to the Environmental Protection Fund and environmental agencies, pointing to the economic stimulus provided by environmental funding. Once in the Capitol, the groups will also launch the "We Love New York" campaign for environmental funding.

WHO:

The Chamber Alliance of New York State (invited), New York State Pollution Prevention Institute, New York State Association for Reduction, Reuse and Recycling (NYSAR3), New York Farm Bureau, Empire State Forest Products Association, and dozens of members of the We Love New York campaign to restore environmental funding, including The Nature Conservancy New York and Environmental Advocates of New York.
WHAT:

The Environmental Protection Fund was cut by 40 percent in last year's budget. Staff and resources at the state's environmental agencies were also slashed almost 20 percent. These cuts were disproportionately larger than cuts proposed for other sectors of the budget. As a result of these deep cuts, the Department of Environmental Conservation is no longer able to adequately monitor air and water pollution, clean up toxic oil and chemical spills, and provide necessary permits for new businesses in a timely manner. The Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation has been forced to shutter parks. Local governments, farmers and not-for-profits working in partnership with the state have been left hanging as they wait for payments for projects already underway.
WHEN: Tuesday January 18, 2011 at 11:00AM Eastern Time (US & Canada)
WHERE: LCA Press Room
Room 130
NYS Capitol
Albany, New York 12204