New York affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation
May 7, 2009
Welcome to Environmental Advocates of New York’s online newsletter from the State Capital, your source for environmental news. We update you every other week with tidbits and observations carefully gleaned from the halls of the Capitol.
Done (MTA) Deal
It’s not perfect, but the Metropolitan Transportation
Authority (MTA) got what it needed to avoid widespread service cuts
and a massive fare increase. Late last night, New York State
lawmakers passed a refinancing rescue plan for the beleaguered MTA.
And just in time, too.
Without a plan in place, the MTA would have been forced to cut
service and hike fares by May 31. The plan includes a payroll tax in
the New York City metro area (with reimbursement for school
districts), as well as other fees, such as $.50 per taxi ride.
Questions remain about the MTA’s longer-term capital needs, but for
now service will be maintained and fares will be raised from $2 to
$2.25, a more “rider friendly” hike than the 20 to 30 percent
proposed by the MTA. And there’s enough cash to allow some necessary
capital improvements in the MTA’s extensive system of commuter rail
and bus lines.
A robust MTA makes a big dent in New York’s global warming
pollution. And while the rescue plan may be incomplete, and we
encourage state lawmakers to work out a long-term solution, it will
avoid service cuts and a fare hike that would put more cars on the
road and more climate-altering pollution in our air.
There’s no
end of opinions about the rescue, from Poughkeepsie to Long Island
and the places in between.
Read more here,
Bigger Better Bottle News on Earth Day Lobby Day
At the green community’s annual Earth Day Lobby Day, Governor Paterson announced (surprise!) an Executive Order (click here to read #18) that will phase out state purchases of bottled water.
More than 100 environmentalists from across the state were on hand to hear the Governor’s announcement while visiting the State Capital to meet with legislators in support of the green community’s priority Super Bills. Click here to learn more about the 2009 Super Bills. Or visit our facebook page to see pictures from Earth Day Lobby Day.
New York is now the third state to cut purchases of bottled water. Virginia and Illinois came first.
Assembly
Moves on Super Bills
In celebration of Earth Day, on Tuesday, May 5th
the New York State Assembly passed several bills designed to address
some of the state’s most pressing environmental challenges.
Among the
legislation passed are three of our priority Super Bills for
2009—the Global Warming Pollution Cap, Wetlands Protection Act and
the Electronic Waste Recycling Act. The Environmental Access to
Justice Act was passed by the Assembly in February, and the state’s
bottle deposit law, also among the Super Bills, was included in the
state budget. The Assembly also passed legislation designed to
protect drinking water and phase-out the use of toxic chemicals,
among other bills.
Now it's the State Senate's turn to take up the measures. We'll keep
you posted.
Bills on the Move
Every week during the State Legislative Session, Environmental Advocates of New York looks at the measures that will impact the environment for good or ill. Here are this week’s Bills on the Move.
Two trees for MTA Refinancing. This bill will refinance the MTA’s operating and short-term capital needs by imposing a series of fees and taxes, as well as a payroll tax within the metro commuter transportation district. The bill will also make changes to the public authority’s law related to financial reporting, the qualifications of board members, and includes provisions related to the auditing of MTA finances. Maintaining the New York City metropolitan area’s transportation system is critical to preserving the state’s overall environmental health. A contraction of that system or failure to maintain current levels of services would be a significant blow to New York’s air quality and hamper the state’s efforts to reduce global warming pollution.
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