New York State's Environmental Protection Fund At Risk

Governor Paterson recently issued his proposed 2011 budget, which calls for a disproportionately large-33 percent cut-in the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF). The EPF was created in 1993, funding important environmental projects throughout the state, including the protection of land for the enjoyment of all New Yorkers. Throughout the Tug Hill Region, the EPF has helped fund important land protection projects. Specifically, THTLT has received funding to help protect the Bibbins and Constable Properties, Osceola, NY. THTLT has also received funding to help increase the land trust's capacity and organizational development. At risk is a recent land trust capacity grant received from Ag and Markets to increase the work in farm land protection throughout our four counties (Jefferson, Lewis, Oneida, Oswego).

Unfortunately, the governor's budget would prohibit these kinds of state investments in Tug Hill's quality of life and proposes a moratorium on all state purchases of land for recreational and environmental protection purposes.

Please call, email, send a letter, or visit your state legislators and urge them to reject the governor's proposal, and restore the EPF. Please tell your friends and colleagues.

Sample Letter to NYS Senate & Assembly (cut and paste and personalize)

Dear Senator/Assembly Member_________:

Please protect New York's environment. The Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) supports projects that provide us with clean drinking water and support tourism and agriculture - strong sectors of our state's economy.

The environment is a priority for my family and me and I respectfully ask that you work to ensure the next state budget:

* Includes an appropriation of $222M for the EPF.

* Rejects proposals to pay for non-EPF projects with EPF funding, which would harm the integrity of the EPF.

* Includes a repayment plan that returns the nearly $500M that has been removed from the EPF in the past.

Disproportionate cuts to the EPF would mean fewer parks and community gardens in our communities; fewer opportunities to protect the water supplies that we depend on for healthy, clean and safe drinking water; fewer family farms able to produce local food that sustains our agricultural industry; fewer options for public access to waterways and parks; fewer educational opportunities at our local zoos and botanical gardens, which support local businesses and school programs; and fewer recycling and solid waste programs that provide our communities important funding and keep our neighborhoods clean. The EPF is a good investment that will benefit New Yorkers for generations.

Please restore environmental funding!

Sincerely,