Citizens Campaign for the Environment Backs Statewide "We Love New York" Effort to Save Environmental Fund

BUFFALO, NY (03/18/2010)(readMedia)-- On Thursday, March 18th, Citizens Campaign for the Environment unveiled an advertisement in support of the statewide "We Love New York" advertising campaign calling on New York leaders and lawmakers to restore critical resources to the State's Environmental Protection Fund (EPF). Governor Paterson has proposed slashing the Fund by $69 million, or 33 percent, in his Executive Budget for 2010-2011.

The campaign includes billboard, online and print advertisements, including personal ads, asking state leaders to demonstrate their love for New York by supporting the Environmental Protection Fund. The ad thanking New York State Senator Antoine Thompson for supporting restorations to the Fund is running in this week's edition of ArtVoice. Campaign ads are available at www.KeepProtectingNY.org.

This is the second year in a row that the Governor has 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 sites and open space, revitalizes waterfronts, monitors pesticide use, and much more. Last year, state lawmakers bucked the Governor and restored EPF dollars during budget negotiations.

The campaign, the largest mounted by environmentalists in state history, was unveiled in Albany on March 9th. It calls on state lawmakers to restore the cuts to environmental programs. At 33 percent, the Governor's proposed cut to the EPF is dramatically higher than other budget areas. Cuts to the EPF adversely affect every county in the state, all of which depend on its resources to support vital programs. Locally, the EPF cuts would compromise programs intended to revitalize Buffalo's waterfront, support our zoo and aquarium, protect local farms, and more.

"Buffalo will be severely impacted if the cuts to the Environmental Protection Fund are not restored. We're calling on State Senate Environmental Conservation Committee Chair Antoine Thompson to continue his diligent efforts to fully restore New York's environmental trust fund along with the open space and parks purchase component," said Brian Smith, WNY Program Director, Citizens Campaign for the Environment. "The Environmental Protection Fund benefits everyone who loves New York State and the place we all call home."

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

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