Alexander "Pete" Grannis Died In Service of the DEC

Today the "New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is in the weakest position that it has been since it was created 40 years ago," with many "core programs hanging by a thread". Systematically dismantled with the precision of a hatchet over the last few years by America's most short sighted governor, the shell shocked DEC now has no leader.

Governor Paterson, not sufficiently happy gutting the DEC's budget, forcing layoffs and early retirements to unprecedented and dangerous levels, nor bargaining the state park system for part of the environmental protection fund, decided to go straight for the head of what he must feel is the states most greedy department, the DEC. No department of New York state has suffered larger cuts to it's budget than the DEC under Paterson's reign, and Friday it officially suffered the loss of it's commissioner, a rare man in politics who actually stood up for what was right.

Fired for insubordination, because he refused to resign, Alexander "Pete" Grannis is the most noteworthy in of victims in Governor Paterson's very aggressive goal of destroying the ability of the DEC to manage New Yorks environment, now and long into the future. Over the last 3 years about 20 percent of the DEC's scientists, engineers and enforcement officials have disappeared under Paterson's draconian budget cuts that seem to aggressively target the DEC more so than any other state agency.

Commissioner Grannis did a noble thing, he stood up to the lunatic running this state, and for it he lost his job. Grannis has been well liked by both hard core environmentalist, the groups those environmentalist support, and he's worked well enough with the other side to not be disliked. As a matter of fact, business and oil, gas, and mining lobbies were shocked that Grannis was fired. He was well liked within the DEC, starting as a lawyer with the DEC when it was founded 40 years ago, he then moved on to politics for 3 decades before being appointed by Governor Spitzer in 2007 to rebuild the DEC. You could say he was a model citizen, and a good public servant.

Paterson on the other hand has an absolutely appalling record when it comes to the environment, open space, regulation, and even appointments to the APA. He has used the DEC as his punching bag. A soft target that he can beat on without much opposition. There is not a single area this governor can be commended for when it comes to environmental protection. As I normally try to do, I'll leave Governor Paterson's string of sketchy ethical and personal character issues out of this discussion, but I will point out Pete Grannis lacks this trail of moral detritus.

Pete Grannis simply alerted Governor Paterson, via an internal memo, that the cuts that were being made once again to the DEC were unsustainable in the interest of the environmental health of New York State, and ultimately the health and well being of it's tax paying citizens. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, someone leaked that memo, and the geniuses that most likely puppeteer Governor Paterson shot first and asked questions later. Unlike most politicians, Governor Paterson was neither elected to his current office, nor will he ever serve in elected office again. He has absolutely no reason to care what anyone thinks or what the repercussions of his actions are. For all we know, after he finishes turning the entire state into a "brown field", he might be off to another state that was run with more foresight.  Furthermore, because New York has no way to recall a governor, Paterson has absolutely no reason to care.

What Pete Grannis was trying to explain in his memo is precisely what many of my blog post over the past year have been about. Quite simply, the DEC cannot do it's job as outlined under New York State environmental conservation law with the minimal resources it has left. Apparently Paterson doesn't want you to know that. He must think it better for you to assume your water isn't being polluted and your air is safe to breath. That your forest and fisheries aren't being mismanaged, and that your economic well being isn't being jeopardized. After all, being blind works for him (and that statement I assure you has very little to do with his actual disability), why shouldn't it work for you! Just close your eyes, everything will be OK!

Or will it...

From Commissioner Grannis memo:

"The public would be shocked to learn how thin we are in many areas. In many instances we have offices or sections responsible for important permitting and monitoring functions staffed by only one or two people. Some regional offices have no capacity in certain areas because key items are unoccupied and can’t be filled. As a result, we are unable to meet the expectations of both the regulated community and the public with respect to countless activities...All of the meat has been stripped off the bones, and in some cases the bones have disappeared." -Pete Grannis

"Unlike many other agencies, DEC by design has a multi-faceted mission and our core activities accordingly encompass a wide variety of areas. For example, we are  responsible for ensuring environmental quality through the implementation of regulatory programs aimed at protecting air quality, water quality, managing hazardous and non-hazardous waste and cleaning up dangerously contaminated sites. We have statutory responsibility for the state’s invaluable natural resources, including all state lands, fish and wildlife populations, water-bodies such as the Hudson River, the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain, and our vast coastline. As a core element of our mission, we also provide recreational opportunities for the public, many of which are paid for directly by user fees and include heavily relied upon programs for sportsmen and sportswomen, as well as camping and hiking in New York’s constitutionally protected forest preserve. Each of our programs has a daily impact on people's lives and the health and economic well-being of the state. While each program has a vocal, politically active constituency, for purposes of this exercise we cannot treat all of them equally and still be able to operate."  -Pete Grannis

• The DEC comprises 2.5% of the NYS workforce subject to executive control, yet it is required to layoff 10% of the 2,000 total positions planned to be cut
• State agencies with 100% Federal or SRO funding are NOT required by Paterson to layoff workers. However, the DEC is disproportionately required to layoff
• Although the DEC has an operations budget of $500M 75% of that budget is either federally funded OR from SRO (special revenue, other)
• The Clean Air and Water Act for example is federally funded
• SROs via game licenses fund fish hatcheries, pheasant farm, game law enforcement, wildlife and fishery biologist
•  SROs finance discrete activities which means they cannot be used for the general fund

• Prior to Governor Spitzer's administration the DEC was about 800 staff members short, while the regulatory responsibilities of the DEC actually grew over that decade! 
• The 2007-2008 budget added 108 positions, which was a first step to returning to necessary staffing levels to "core" programs
•  Since April 2008 the DEC has lost 595 employees or 16% of it's workforce

• When the additional cuts called to be eliminated in 2010-2011 the DEC will have lost 21% of it's workforce since 2008

• Since fiscal year 2009-2010 the DEC has absorbed a 40% NPS budget decrease and a general fund budget decrease of 13%
• Commissioner Grannis does not feel the "extreme reductions" enable the DEC to fulfill it's state and federal mandates for regulation and enforcement
• Each quarter the DEC reduces essential services to the public including
• waste water enforcement, air emissions enforcement,hazardous waste, wetlands development, dam inspections, mining and drilling safety, shellfish safety, increase in time for issuance of impact studies, delays in permit approval, well plugging, reduction in game enforcement, reduction in backcountry patrols, transfer of responsibilities from sections of staff to singular individuals
• Commissioner Grannis found it ironic that while the states wildlands have seen increased use, and in many areas of the state the DEC administered Forest Preserve is the chief source of economic sustainability, the DEC is taking the brunt of the cuts
• DEC administered lands account for billions of dollars in tourism and business revenue
• Economic development projects CANNOT start with DEC review and approval which now is severely backlogged, these include:
• mining
• shellfishing
• oil and gas drilling
• all water dependent activities
• brown field site development
• most manufacturing
• commercial fishing
• energy generation
• general construction of bridges, tunnels, and power generating facilities
• Commissioner Grannis points out that the Governors staff reduction requirements, which reduce DEC staffing by an additional 6% do not take into account the fact that many DEC staff are not paid for by the state
• He further points out that the Governors goals actually inhibit the ability of the DEC to fill positions using federal or SRO only funding, essentially losing jobs that they aren't even paying for

All things considered, Governor Paterson's decisions are troubling because they do not look at the states health 5, 10, 15 years into the future. True, the governor can claim he hasn't mortgaged the financial future of the state with irresponsible budgets, but it's hard to not wonder if this isn't mortgaging the health -economic, environmental and human- of this state far into the future. Rebuilding the DEC will not be an overnight task, and the cuts the DEC has absorbed; the loss of skilled staff, scientist, engineers, and others will perhaps take a decade to undue. Paterson might not be carrying a deficit, but I have to argue that he has foolishly mortgaged the future of New York State!

Data cited from the full memo of Pete Grannis to Governor Paterson's Division of Budget:

http://www.pressconnects.com/assets/pdf/CB1657851021.PDF

Legislature Successfully Defends Paterson's Assualt On EPF

The following is not without some negative. The legislature did in some ways gut the EPF, but it didn't allow David A. Paterson to milk the EPF to cover his shortcomings as a leader. The legislature prevented him from using the EPF as a rainy day fund for the states day to day expenses, which was his initial goal.

The bottom line was that they cut about $78 million out of the EPF to fund the $11 million it (supposedly) cost to reopen the state parks and campgrounds that were closed.

I'm the first one to admit I'm not super smooth at math, but something isn't right. Basically Paterson held the NY State Parks as hostages while he demanded the funds from the EPF. So what he did was he said, the park system, which saw record visitation last year (and I'll assume near record revenue, or I'll again assume probably broke even in expenses) was too expensive to run, so if the legislature wanted to appease it's constituents it would have to deal the EPF.

See, unlike most of the Forest Preserve or the EPF, people and towns feel the crunch of the park closures instantly. It really hits home. Paterson tossed a grenade into the assembly and senate chambers and waited for someone to dive on it. Of course, there probably isn't one upstanding human being in the legislature, so they did the only thing they could, they tossed the EPF on it to save themselves.

Paterson is gutless, he's potentially a moron, but someone smart is pulling the puppet strings behind this guy. This was a move Joe "Prison Bound" Bruno would have been proud of.

Regardless, it's good to see New York State politics remain as corrupt as when Theodore Roosevelt literally had to break a leg off a chair to defend himself on the floor of the state capitol because he was one of just a few members of our government who would not tolerate the corrupt antics of our law makers.

ALBANY, N.Y. – The Adirondack Council today thanked the leaders of the NYS Senate and Assembly for standing up to a flurry of attacks on the NYS Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) proposed by Gov. David Paterson during this year’s budget negotiations.

Legislators today passed bills agreed to yesterday with Gov. Paterson that would reopen the state parks, historic sites and campgrounds closed by the Governor, while also preserving the funding and traditional spending priorities of the EPF.

While the overall spending levels for the EPF for FY 2010-11 are lower than the organization had hoped, the group praised the two Environmental Conservation committee Chairmen (Sen. Antoine Thompson of Buffalo and Assemblyman Robert Sweeney of Lindenhurst), as well as Senate Conference Leader John Sampson and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, for making numerous improvements to the EPF in light of a $9 billion budget deficit.

“Today’s legislation would preserve the reliable funding source and the integrity of the Environmental Protection Fund, while reopening the state’s parks and campgrounds before the Memorial Day weekend,” said Brian L. Houseal, Executive Director of the Adirondack Council. “It would also allow the state to live up to some of its existing commitments to purchase and protect critical lands and waters that have been identified by the public for their recreational and ecological importance.”

The EPF’s 2010-11 total funding will be $134 million, down significantly from $222 million last year. The open space account for 2010-11 contains $17.6 million, much less than the $60 million from 2009-10, but it also rescinds Governor Paterson’s proposed moratorium on land protection. It is our understanding that the Governor has agreed to spend this money on land protection projects that the Legislature has allocated.

Not included in the EPF’s expenses are $11 million the Governor had proposed for paying state employees and day-to-day expenses at parks and historic sites. Also not included in the EPF’s expenses are $5 million for a portion of the state’s payment of taxes to local governments for state-owned land across the state. Both of those expenses are due to come from the state budget’s General Fund, as they have in past years.

“Legislative leaders recognize that all New Yorkers need clean air, clean water and safe places to play. We also need the tourism revenue that our parks, campgrounds and Forest Preserves and other open spaces provide to our citizens,” Houseal said. “We are grateful that they did so much to improve on the Governor’s plan.”

The EPF was created in 1993 and is funded primarily through a small Real Estate Transfer fee, to fund major environmental expenses. Eligible projects include municipal landfill closure, purchase and construction of recycling facilities and transfer stations; as well as the purchase of new lands and parks for environmental protection, recreation and historic preservation.

The EPF is a capital-projects-only fund, to ensure that its revenues would not be siphoned into paying day-to-day expenses, such as state employee salaries and benefits.

“If state agencies were allowed to pay their employees out of the EPF account, the EPF would be dry in just a few years,” Houseal explained. “We would never fund another capital project out of it. We’d be right back to borrowing for everything. Nobody wants that.”

“Governor Paterson followed the lead of his predecessors and tried to use the EPF to pay for staff and other administrative expenses,” Houseal said. “He wanted to change the very structure of the EPF. We are pleased the Legislature said ‘no.’”

The final agreement on the EPF passed both houses earlier today. The Assembly passed the bill by a vote of 86-47 just before 3 AM early Friday morning. The Senate passed the bill by a vote of 32-27 at 2:30 PM.

The Adirondack Council’s mission is to ensure the ecological integrity and wild character of the Adirondack Park. Founded in 1975, the Council is a privately funded not-for-profit organization with 18,000 members in all 50 United States. The Council carries out its mission through research, education, advocacy and legal action.

Additional comments on the "poisoned pill" compromise:

Land state should buy isn’t all in Ad’ks

To the editor:

In regard to your June 3 editorial ("This year, of all years, NY can't afford land"), it is critically important that Daily Enterprise readers understand that the Environmental Protection Fund preserves sensitive habitat, not just in the Adirondacks but around the state.

While the North County is blessed with abundant nature and open space, such is not the case in more crowded areas like the Hudson Valley and Long Island. For example, in the Long Island Pine Barrens - a sensitive ecosystem that protects clean drinking water for thousands of people - the threat of development is not simply an aesthetic one.

Conservationists have been in discussions with land owners in the Pine Barrens for years, in an effort to convince them not to sell out to another strip mall or subdivision. When Gov. Paterson threatened to suspend all habitat purchases earlier this year, the threat of defunding the open space line of the EPF nearly derailed negotiations and put the public's well being at risk.

Your criticism about very modest open space funding would be better directed at the cynical political process that gutted the Environmental Protection Fund in its entirety. By hiding a massive EPF cut in the bill that reopened state parks, Albany legislators slipped in a "poison pill" that truly shortchanged New York's treasured natural heritage.

We encourage Daily Enterprise readers who hunt, fish and otherwise enjoy the area's natural splendors to find out how their Albany representatives voted on environmental funding this year - and keep that information in mind when they go to vote next fall.Marcia Bystryn, president

New York League of Conservation Voters

via: Adirondack Daily Enterprise

It's Just Like A Facebook Update, Only It Matters!

In reference to my last post on the environmental protection fund, here is how you contact your assemblyman in New York via email today and beyond. Below this I've attached a full list of assembly members with district and email addresses. If you don't know who your assemblyman is just click this -->link and enter your zip code to find out.

It's sort of like a Facebook status update (you know the 60 or so you post a day) or voting on American Idol, only it can actually make a difference.

It's really pretty simple:

1) Figure out your district, then scroll down to it, and click the email link of the member of that district.

2) Type a few words, to the effect of "Dear Assemblyman XXXXX, I would like to remind you that the New York State EPF is important to all New Yorker's and that we would like it's funding maintained etc etc etc... It doesn't have to be eloquent, spelled perfectly, or a masterpiece of American prose, just type words that sound something like what I wrote above without the "etc" or heck, leave 'em in if you want.

3) Hit the send button and feel good that you are probably less apathetic than the guy/gal next to you.

4) Congrats, you are a real live stars and stripes waving American whom did exactly what our founding fathers had in mind over 225 years ago when they created this representative democracy. Even Sarah Palin would "probably" consider you a real American! Pop open a well deserved cold one for all your hard work, sit back with a flag draped over your shoulders, and hum the Star Spangled banner!

Oh, and of course post a status update to Facebook and Twitter while you are at it!


Assembly Member E-mail Addresses

*Assembly Member
*E-mail address
*District

Abbate, Jr., Peter J.
AbbateP@assembly.state.ny.us
49th
Alessi, Marc S.
AlessiM@assembly.state.ny.us
1st
Alfano, Tom
AlfanoT@assembly.state.ny.us
21st
Amedore, George
AmedoreG@assembly.state.ny.us
105th
Arroyo, Carmen E.
ArroyoC@assembly.state.ny.us
84th
Assembly District Thirty Nine
39th
Aubry, Jeffrion L.
AubryJ@assembly.state.ny.us
35th
Bacalles, Jim
BacallesJ@assembly.state.ny.us
136th
Ball, Greg
BallG@assembly.state.ny.us
99th
Barclay, William A.
BarclaW@assembly.state.ny.us
124th
Barra, Bob
BarraR@assembly.state.ny.us
14th
Barron, Inez D.
BarronI@assembly.state.ny.us
40th
Benedetto, Michael
BenedeM@assembly.state.ny.us
82nd
Benjamin, Michael
BenjamM@assembly.state.ny.us
79th
Bing, Jonathan L.
BingJ@assembly.state.ny.us
73rd
Boyland, Jr., William F.
BoylandW@assembly.state.ny.us
55th
Boyle, Philip
BoyleP@assembly.state.ny.us
8th
Brennan, James F.
BrennaJ@assembly.state.ny.us
44th
Brodsky, Richard L.
BrodskR@assembly.state.ny.us
92nd
Brook-Krasny, Alec
BrookKrasnyA@assembly.state.ny.us
46th
Burling, Daniel J.
147th
Butler, Marc W.
ButlerM@assembly.state.ny.us
117th
Cahill, Kevin A.
CahillK@assembly.state.ny.us
101st
Calhoun, Nancy
CalhouN@assembly.state.ny.us
96th
Camara, Karim
CamaraK@assembly.state.ny.us
43rd
Canestrari, Ron
CanestR@assembly.state.ny.us
106th
Carrozza, Ann-Margaret
CarrozzaA@assembly.state.ny.us
26th
Castelli, Robert J.
CastelliR@assembly.state.ny.us
89th
Castro, Nelson L.
Castronl@assembly.state.ny.us
86th
Christensen, Joan K.
ChristensenJ@assembly.state.ny.us
119th
Clark, Barbara M.
ClarkB@assembly.state.ny.us
33rd
Colton, William
ColtonW@assembly.state.ny.us
47th
Conte, James D.
ConteJ@assembly.state.ny.us
10th
Cook, Vivian E.
CookV@assembly.state.ny.us
32nd
Corwin, Jane L.
CorwinJ@assembly.state.ny.us
142nd
Crespo, Marcos A.
CrespoM@assembly.state.ny.us
85th
Crouch, Clifford W.
CrouchC@assembly.state.ny.us
107th
Cusick, Michael
CusickM@assembly.state.ny.us
63rd
Cymbrowitz, Steven
CymbroS@assembly.state.ny.us
45th
DelMonte, Francine
DelMonF@assembly.state.ny.us
138th
DenDekker, Michael G.
DenDekkerM@assembly.state.ny.us
34th
Destito, RoAnn M.
DestitR@assembly.state.ny.us
116th
Dinowitz, Jeffrey
DinowiJ@assembly.state.ny.us
81st
Duprey, Janet L.
DupreyJ@assembly.state.ny.us
114th
Englebright, Steve
EngleS@assembly.state.ny.us
4th
Errigo, Joseph A.
ErrigoJ@assembly.state.ny.us
130th
Espaillat, Adriano
EspailA@assembly.state.ny.us
72nd
Farrell, Jr., Herman D.
FarrelH@assembly.state.ny.us
71st
Fields, Ginny
FieldsG@assembly.state.ny.us
5th
Finch, Gary D.
FinchG@assembly.state.ny.us
123rd
Fitzpatrick, Michael J.
FitzpatrickM@assembly.state.ny.us
7th
Gabryszak, Dennis H.
GabryszakD@assembly.state.ny.us
143rd
Galef, Sandy
GalefS@assembly.state.ny.us
90th
Gantt, David F.
GanttD@assembly.state.ny.us
133rd
Gianaris, Michael N.
GianarM@assembly.state.ny.us
36th
Gibson, Vanessa L.
GibsonV@assembly.state.ny.us
77th
Giglio, Joe
GiglioJ@assembly.state.ny.us
149th
Glick, Deborah J.
GlickD@assembly.state.ny.us
66th
Gordon, Tim
GordonT@assembly.state.ny.us
108th
Gottfried, Richard N.
GottfriedR@assembly.state.ny.us
75th
Gunther, Aileen M.
GuntheA@assembly.state.ny.us
98th
Hawley, Stephen
HawleyS@assembly.state.ny.us
139th
Hayes, Jim
HayesJ@assembly.state.ny.us
148th
Heastie, Carl E.
HeastieC@assembly.state.ny.us
83rd
Hevesi, Andrew
HevesiA@assembly.state.ny.us
28th
Hikind, Dov
HikindD@assembly.state.ny.us
48th
Hooper, Earlene
18th
Hoyt, Sam
HoytS@assembly.state.ny.us
144th
Hyer-Spencer, Janele
HyerSpencerD@assembly.state.ny.us
60th
Jacobs, Rhoda
JacobsR@assembly.state.ny.us
42nd
Jaffee, Ellen
JaffeeE@assembly.state.ny.us
95th
Jeffries, Hakeem
JeffriesH@assembly.state.ny.us
57th
John, Susan V.
JohnS@assembly.state.ny.us
131st
Jordan, Tony
JordanJ@assembly.state.ny.us
112th
Kavanagh, Brian
KavanaghB@assembly.state.ny.us
74th
Kellner, Micah
KellnerM@assembly.state.ny.us
65th
Kolb, Brian M.
KolbB@assembly.state.ny.us
129th
Koon, David
KoonD@assembly.state.ny.us
135th
Lancman, Rory I.
LancmanR@assembly.state.ny.us
25th
Latimer, George S.
LatimeG@assembly.state.ny.us
91st
Lavine, Charles D.
LavineC@assembly.state.ny.us
13th
Lentol, Joseph R.
LentolJ@assembly.state.ny.us
50th
Lifton, Barbara
LiftonB@assembly.state.ny.us
125th
Lopez, Peter D.
LopezP@assembly.state.ny.us
127th
Lopez, Vito J.
LopezV@assembly.state.ny.us
53rd
Lupardo, Donna A.
LupardoD@assembly.state.ny.us
126th
Magee, William
MageeW@assembly.state.ny.us
111th
Magnarelli, William B.
MagnarW@assembly.state.ny.us
120th
Maisel, Alan
MaiselA@assembly.state.ny.us
59th
Markey, Margaret M.
MarkeyM@assembly.state.ny.us
30th
Mayersohn, Nettie
MayersN@assembly.state.ny.us
27th
McDonough, David G.
McDonoD@assembly.state.ny.us
19th
McEneny, John J.
McEnenJ@assembly.state.ny.us
104th
McKevitt, Tom
MckeviT@assembly.state.ny.us
17th
Meng, Grace
MengG@assembly.state.ny.us
22nd
Miller, Joel M.
MillerJ@assembly.state.ny.us
102nd
Miller, Michael
MillerMG@assembly.state.ny.us
38th
Millman, Joan L.
MillmaJ@assembly.state.ny.us
52nd
Molinaro, Marcus
MolinaroM@assembly.state.ny.us
103rd
Montesano, Michael
MontesanoM@assembly.state.ny.us
15th
Morelle, Joseph D.
morellej@assembly.state.ny.us
132nd
Murray, Dean
MurrayD@assembly.state.ny.us
3rd
Nolan, Catherine
NolanC@assembly.state.ny.us
37th
O'Donnell, Daniel J.
OdonnellD@assembly.state.ny.us
69th
O'Mara, Thomas F.
OmaraT@assembly.state.ny.us
137th
Oaks, Bob
OaksR@assembly.state.ny.us
128th
Ortiz, Félix
OrtizF@assembly.state.ny.us
51st
Parment, William L.
ParmenW@assembly.state.ny.us
150th
Paulin, Amy
PaulinA@assembly.state.ny.us
88th
Peoples-Stokes, Crystal D.
PeopleC@assembly.state.ny.us
141st
Perry, N. Nick
PerryN@assembly.state.ny.us
58th
Pheffer, Audrey I.
PheffeA@assembly.state.ny.us
23rd
Powell, IV, Adam Clayton
PowellA@assembly.state.ny.us
68th
Pretlow, J. Gary
PretloJ@assembly.state.ny.us
87th
Quinn, Jack
QuinnJ@assembly.state.ny.us
146th
Rabbitt, Annie
RabbitA@assembly.state.ny.us
97th
Raia, Andrew P.
RaiaA@assembly.state.ny.us
9th
Ramos, Phil
RamosP@assembly.state.ny.us
6th
Reilich, Bill
ReilicW@assembly.state.ny.us
134th
Reilly, Bob
ReillyR@assembly.state.ny.us
109th
Rivera, José
RiveraJ@assembly.state.ny.us
78th
Rivera, Naomi
RiveraN@assembly.state.ny.us
80th
Rivera, Peter M.
RiveraP@assembly.state.ny.us
76th
Robinson, Annette
RobinsonA@assembly.state.ny.us
56th
Rosenthal, Linda B.
RosentL@assembly.state.ny.us
67th
Russell, Addie J.
RussellA@assembly.state.ny.us
118th
Saladino, Joseph S.
SaladiJ@assembly.state.ny.us
12th
Sayward, Teresa R.
SaywarT@assembly.state.ny.us
113th
Scarborough, William
ScarboW@assembly.state.ny.us
29th
Schimel, Michelle
SchimelM@assembly.state.ny.us
16th
Schimminger, Robin
SchimmR@assembly.state.ny.us
140th
Schroeder, Mark J. F.
SchroeM@assembly.state.ny.us
145th
Scozzafava, Dede
ScozzaD@assembly.state.ny.us
122nd
Silver, Sheldon
Speaker@assembly.state.ny.us
64th
Skartados, Frank K.
SkartadosF@assembly.state.ny.us
100th
Spano, Mike
SpanoM@assembly.state.ny.us
93rd
Stirpe, Al
StirpeA@assembly.state.ny.us
121st
Sweeney, Robert K.
Sweeney@assembly.state.ny.us
11th
Tedisco, James
TediscJ@assembly.state.ny.us
110th
Thiele, Jr., Fred W.
ThieleF@assembly.state.ny.us
2nd
Titone, Matthew
TitoneM@assembly.state.ny.us
61st
Titus, Michele R.
TitusM@assembly.state.ny.us
31st
Tobacco, Lou
TobaccoL@assembly.state.ny.us
62nd
Towns, Darryl C.
TownsD@assembly.state.ny.us
54th
Townsend, David R.
TownseD@assembly.state.ny.us
115th
Weinstein, Helene E.
41st
Weisenberg, Harvey
WeisenH@assembly.state.ny.us
20th
Weprin, David I.
24th
Wright, Keith L.T.
WrightK@assembly.state.ny.us
70th
Zebrowski, Kenneth
ZebrowskiK@assembly.state.ny.us
94th

Governor Paterson declares war on ENCON...

Starting with Governor Paterson forcing the Department of Environmental Conservation (aka. DEC or ENCON) to illegally scrap the float plane ban on Low's Lake, followed by Paterson leaving The Nature Conservancy with 81,000 acres of land the state agreed to buy and incorporate into the forest preserve, and now Paterson outright decimating the DEC's budget to the point it compromises the ability to carry out it's duties is absolutely shameful.

New York has been graced by many governors whom have taken great pride in preserving and enhancing New York's environment, park system, and forest preserve. RecentlyMario Coumo, George Pataki, and Elliot Spitzer (primarily as attorney general) have been praised highly for their work. On the other hand, David Paterson appears to have the opposite goal, to leave a legacy as New York's least environmentally friendly governor.

A lot of people are unaware how much the DEC does within the state. While the Forest Rangers and ECOs (environmental conservation officers) are a big part of the DEC, it is far more than that.

The DECs mission:



"To conserve, improve and protect New York's natural resources and environment and to prevent, abate and control water, land and air pollution, in order to enhance the health, safety and welfare of the people of the state and their overall economic and social well-being."

DEC is responsible for administration and enforcement of the Environmental Conservation Law. The Department's major responsibilities as assigned in Environmental Conservation Law are:

• Regulate the disposal, transport and treatment of hazardous and toxic wastes in an environmentally sound manner;
• Manage the state program for oil and chemical spills;
• Provide for the abatement of water, land and air pollution, including pesticides;
• Monitor environmental conditions and test for contaminants;
• Encourage recycling, recovery and reuse of all solid waste to conserve resources and reduce waste;
• Administer fish and wildlife laws, carry out sound fish and wildlife management practices, and conduct fish and wildlife research;
• Manage New York's marine and coastal resources;
• Conduct sound forestry management practices on state lands, provide assistance to private forest landowners and manage fire prevention and control efforts;
• Manage the Adirondack and Catskill forest preserves and recreational facilities, including campsites and the Belleayre Mountain ski center;
• Protect tidal and freshwater wetlands and flood plains;
• Promote the wise use of water resources;
• Administer the wild, scenic and recreational rivers program;
• Regulate mining, including reclamation of mined lands, extraction of oil and gas, and underground storage of natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas;
• Inform the public about environmental conservation principles and encourage their participation in environmental affairs.

Worst of all, of the $1 billion dollars Paterson is slashing from the state agency budget over50% of it comes from the DEC. How is this equitable? And does it put everyone at risk? Remember the DEC doesn't just steward your state wild lands, it is also the protector of your backyard environment, the water your drink and the air your breathe.

Governor Paterson hasn't stopped there, he is proposing to wipe out New York's state park system. The oldest park system in the US, and a system that didn't even close a single park during the Great Depression, in fact a great deal of New York's state park system was created during the Great Depression.

Ironically, in a time of economic crisis New York State parks reached record attendance last year, and like the Forest Preserve are a major tourist attraction for New Yorker's and those from other states and regions.

"State lawmakers said they would fight to restore funding for parks, which reached record attendance levels last year at nearly 56 million visitors, up by 1.9 million from 2008. The parks represent a major tourism draw across the state, said Assembly Tourism and Parks Committee Chairman Steve Englebright, D-Suffolk County."
--Politics On The Hudson

It could be fairly argued that the Forest Preserve and park system are two of the least economically prejudiced outlets for entertainment, exercise and recreation the state offers it's residents. Park fees while increasing are generally modest, and the forest preserve is free (well fee free, we all pay for it in our taxes) to the people of New York. That is to say, all New Yorker's regardless of income, education, sex, or race can enjoy recreating in the park and forest system without undue restrictions. Where else can a family of 5 spend a week during the summer camping and recreating for a few hundred dollars including transportation, camping and food cost?

Ironically, Governor Paterson is also proposing a soda tax to reduce obesity in the state. If I understand this correctly he is closing places for people to recreate (aka. exercise and become fit), , while at the same time penalizing them for being (possibly) unhealthy. Honestly the only thing left to tax after this is the air we breathe, which unfortunately might not be worth much when Paterson is done hacking the Department of Environmental Conservation budget.

Sadly, New York has no ability to recall a governor, and although it's possible Paterson will eventually have to resign or be impeached for the mounting list of improprieties he appears to be so fond of, it is evident we are more then likely stuck with the pinnacle of incompetence at the helm for the duration of his term.

The state legislature, while equally spineless, incompetent and corrupt, is our last resort. However, unlike Paterson, they do actually have to answer to the people at some point if they want to continue in politics. The only thing we can do is contact our state representatives and tell them to take a stand against Paterson. Those elected officials certainly don't want to be associated with anything that is the spawn of Paterson's incompetence.


From the Adirondack Councils website:

How Would Your Office Operate With A 70% Budget Cut?

This is the crisis the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is facing. In FY 2009-2010, DEC received a 30% cut to their nonpersonal service (NPS) budget. The Governor’s 2010-2011 budget proposal recommends and additional 40% reduction, putting a severe strain on out of office meetings, field visits and other travel and related expenses for DEC staff.

Severe Cuts To The DEC Budget

DEC is being disproportionately cut. Out of the $1 billion in agency cuts proposed by Governor Paterson, over $500 million comes from DEC, which is already hamstrung by staff reductions. Over 135 DEC employees recently accepted the early retirement package, representing over 13% of all workers who took the buyout and whose positions have now been eliminated.

The popular and successful Assistant Ranger program at DEC is in jeopardy due to the proposed
nonpersonal service cuts. Despite a sufficient level of staff for this program, it may end without sufficient funding to provide uniforms and other necessary supplies and travel expenses.

What You Can Do

Restore the cuts to DEC and ensure that all New Yorkers will enjoy a healthy environment that is properly managed. You must adequately fund DEC’s staffing and NPS budgets.


www.adirondackcouncil.org

The Adirondack Council is a member based not-for-profit organization dedicated to preserving the ecological integrity and wild character of the Adirondack Park. The Adirondack Council does not take government funding or make endorsements.

Information on Governor Paterson's planned park closures can be found HERE.