Green Groups Send Message to Albany Lawmakers: Thank You For Showing You Love New York in Budget Proposals

ALBANY, NY (03/14/2011)(readMedia)-- Members of the We Love New York campaign, a broad coalition of organizations committed to protecting the state's air and water quality, open spaces, botanical gardens, farms and zoos, and other resources, today traveled to Albany to urge state leaders and lawmakers to maintain environmental funding during state budget negotiations. The groups also expanded a targeted advertising campaign calling on state lawmakers to maintain the state's Environmental Protection Fund (EPF). Governor Andrew Cuomo proposed sustaining the Fund at $134 million in his 2011–2012 Executive Budget. Budget proposals released over the weekend by the State Senate and Assembly maintain the appropriation included in the Governor's budget.

A prime example of the public-private partnerships supported by environmental funding, include the Department of Environmental Conservation and Land Trust Alliance's announcement of $1.4 million in Conservation Partnership Program grants provided by the EPF. These grants will enable local nonprofit land trusts to increase the pace, improve the quality, and ensure the permanence of voluntary conservation of private lands, resulting in significant environmental and economic benefits for communities across the state.

"New York's Environmental Protection Fund safeguards the places and things we love most about our state. Environmental funding also leverages smart public investments to generate big returns in the private sector, in terms of forestry, tourism, farming, and more. We are encouraged and thankful that budget proposals released by the Governor, Senate and Assembly would all maintain the Fund. We look forward to working with Governor Cuomo and the Legislature to increase sustainable environmental investments in the future, which will benefit New York's economy," said Jessica Ottney, Director of State Government Relations, The Nature Conservancy New York.

Members of the We Love New York campaign noted that EPF investments contribute billions to the state's economy, including the state's $7 billion forestry industry and New York's agricultural industry, which contributes $23 billion to the state's economy. The EPF helps pay for the protection of farmland and provides funding to farmers to comply with pollution control programs. These programs ensure that agricultural operations produce healthy food while maintaining water quality. EPF funds also directly help New York businesses increase efficiency, reduce pollution, and lower the cost of doing business. In addition, the EPF benefits local governments by providing funding for important services for taxpayers.

Resources for environmental agencies and the EPF have been disproportionately cut in recent years, threatening New York's ability to continue public-private partnerships. The cuts threaten the Fund's support to economic sectors such as agriculture, tourism, forestry, recreation, and recycling-all big employers across the state. Last year's state budget cut the EPF by 40 percent, on top of the $500 million already swept from the dedicated fund since 2001. State agency budgets were also targeted. The Department of Environmental Conservation and the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, were cut by more than 20 percent. These cuts threatened to close state parks and historic sites, put public health at risk, and slowed down the process of permitting new businesses in New York State.

The We Love New York campaign includes radio, online, and print advertisements slated to appear in Albany. The ads ask state leaders to demonstrate love for New York by supporting the Environmental Protection Fund. Ads are available at www.KeepProtectingNY.org.

The Environmental Protection Fund was created in 1993 to provide a reliable source of funds for essential environmental projects, such as landfill closure, recycling facilities, and open space/watershed protection. The current EPF is $134 million.

Campaign underwriters include: The Adirondack Council, Alliance for New York State Parks, Audubon New York, Conservation Campaign, Environmental Advocates of New York, Friends of Hudson River Park, Group for the East End, New York League of Conservation Voters, Riverkeeper, Scenic Hudson, The Nature Conservancy-New York, and the Wildlife Conservation Society.

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