Friends of NY's Environment Urge Legislators Not to Cut Environmental Fund As Stop-Gap Measure to Reopen Parks

ALBANY, NY (05/24/2010)(readMedia)-- On Tuesday, May 25, conservation, community, environmental, public health, zoos, botanical gardens and other groups will gather to call on members of the New York State Assembly and Senate to block Gov. David Paterson's plan to reopen state parks by cutting the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF).

The effort coincides with EPF Lobby Day, an effort in which scores of local residents and advocates will meet with legislators to urge them to protect the EPF's integrity.

WHO:

Speakers will include:

Rob Moore, Executive Director, Environmental Advocates of New York

Al Caccese, Executive Director, Audubon NY

Dan Hendrick, Communications Director, NY League of Conservation Voters
WHAT:

Gov. Paterson has announced a plan to reopen 41 state parks and 14 historic sites by dramatically restructuring and cutting the EPF, which plays a key role in protecting clean drinking water, preserving wildlife habitat and supporting zoos and botanical gardens. The EPF also plays an important role in the state’s economic recovery.

While the Friends for New York’s Environment strongly believes state parks should be opened as soon as possible, the governor’s proposal is yet another attempt to balance the state budget on the back of the EPF, by offloading state agency staffing and operations into a dedicated fund that was never intended for that purpose.
WHEN: Tuesday May 25, 2010 at 10:00AM Eastern Time (US & Canada)
WHERE: LCA Press Room, Room 130
Legislative Office Building
Albany, New York 12247