NYLCV Responds to Spitzer's Budget Proposal
NYLCV Responds to Spitzer's Budget Proposal
Spitzer’s Environmental Agenda Is Significant Step Forward A Call for Investments in Smart Economic Growth, New Climate Change Office, Increase in EPF Funding Set Stage for 2007 Session
Spitzer’s Environmental Agenda Is Significant Step Forward
A Call for Investments in Smart Economic Growth, New Climate Change Office, Increase in EPF Funding Set Stage for 2007 Session
New York, New York --- Governor Spitzer’s proposed environmental budget lays out a new smart growth strategy that takes a significant step toward fostering economic growth in upstate urban centers, stopping extensive suburban sprawl, and protecting farming and farmlands.
Budget highlights on smart growth are:
- $2 million for smart growth programs
- $5 million increase over last year to preserve farmland
- A commitment of 25 percent of funding for local parks and waterfront redevelopment to go to underserved communities
- $300 million to ESDC for an upstate New Investment Fund, which would provide support for green industry, renewables, and clean technology
- $500,000 in the agriculture and markets budget to open a New York City wholesale market using locally grown food
“Spitzer’s environmental budget is a huge step in the right direction. It puts a serious smart growth strategy under deliberation by the entire state government. We looking forward to working with the governor to advance this agenda, including the creation of an Office of Smart Growth to administer the new programs,” said Executive Director Marcia Bystryn.
The governor’s budget also proposes a bold new plan for environmental funding. It calls for an update of the bottle bill and the expansion of the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) by at least $100 million over two years.
The budget also makes strides in other key issue areas, including continuing New York’s leadership on climate change and increasing funding for mass transit. Specifically, NYLCV commends the governor for proposing the following:
- Creating a new climate change office at DEC to implement and expand RGGI
- Bolstering the capacity of DEC, OPRHP, and the Adirondack Park Agency by restoring 166 staff positions
- Budgeting $2.2 billion in the MTA operating budget to offset the need for fare increases
The New York League of Conservation Voters was founded in 1989 as a non-partisan, policy making and political action organization that works to make environmental protection a top priority with elected officials, decision makers, and voters by evaluating incumbent performance and endorsing and electing environmental leaders to office in New York State.
