July 23, 2007

Welcome to Environmental Advocates of New York’s online newsletter from the State Capital, your source for environmental news. We’ll update you every other week with tidbits and observations carefully gleaned from the halls of the Capitol.

If At First You Don't Succeed, Try Try Again
(During Special Session)

For those of you who haven't been following the issue, last week was a roller coaster ride for New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s congestion pricing plan—a measure that would charge drivers to enter Manhattan in an effort to reduce traffic and clean up the air.  

According to the Mayor, the State Legislature had to act on his proposal by Monday,  July 16, or risk losing more than $500 million in federal funding.

Well, Monday came and went without action in either house. The Mayor personally stalked the halls of the Capitol and then blasted Albany dysfunction in the media the following day for lack of support for his proposal.

Finally, on Thursday afternoon, New York's leaders announced agreements on a range of issues, including a deal on congestion pricing. Albany is full of surprises. At the time of this writing, details on what the press is calling “The Big Ugly,” are still sketchy. But it looks like New York City still has the chance to get federal funds and a congestion pricing plan may move forward.

For the record, Environmental Advocates of New York believes that congestion pricing would result in better overall air quality for the people of New York. However, the devil, as the expression goes, is in the details.

Visit www.eany.org in the coming weeks for more information.

More Good News

Governor Spitzer has signed the Environmental Protection Fund Enhancement Act into law.

Sponsored by Senator Carl Marcellino (R-Oyster Bay) and Assemblyman Robert Sweeney (D-Lindenhurst), the Act will increase funds deposited in the Environmental Protection Fund from the Real Estate Transfer Tax (RETT).

Many green groups were holding their breath for fear our new Governor wouldn't sign the bill because it didn't increase the Fund by means of expanding the state's bottle deposit law—his preferred approach.

But this measure is an important component of the Friends of New York’s Environment Coalition, of which Environmental Advocates of New York is a member, and will help ensure that critical environmental programs, including support for our municipal parks, land preservation efforts, breast cancer research, and recycling, are fully funded.  

And speaking of recycling, to meet the Coalition’s goal of a $500 million Fund by 2010, Environmental Advocates will continue pressing to expand New York’s bottle deposit law to match the drinking habits of today’s consumers and send the unclaimed nickel deposits to the Fund.  

Great Lakes, Great Lives

On their first day back in Albany for "Special Session," New York's state senators passed the Great Lakes Compact unanimously. Now it's back to the Assembly to take up the amended version of the bill.

As you may remember, the Assembly passed the Compact back in April and now needs to move on the "b print", or revised version, of the Compact before the measure can go to the Governor's desk.

Environmental Advocates of New York doesn't anticipate any problems in the Assembly the second go-round, but we're crossing our fingers the Compact gets done this year—making New York only the second Great Lakes state to ratify the historic agreement to limit harmful water withdrawals from the Basin.

We'll be sure to let you know when this bill moves on to the Governor's desk and we're ready to celebrate.

And Speaking of the Governor

Don't forget the Hudson Valley Community Preservation Act. The bill, which is a Hudson Valley-only version of the statewide opt-in Community Preservation Act, passed both houses this year and awaits the Governor's signature.

The Community Preservation Act is designed to give New York towns the power to decide for themselves how and when to fund local preservation efforts. Visit www.savenys.org for details.

While we don't want to celebrate this victory too soon, Environmental Advocates is hosting a thank you party for the bill's sponsors on August 2nd at 11 a.m. at Bylane Farm in Katonah, NY. To R.S.V.P.,  email: knadeau@eany.org.