It’s not often that a single person has such an outsized influence on an issue as Basil Seggos has had on the environmental landscape in New York for the last decade. I had the good fortune to serve as Basil’s Chief of Staff at DEC, where I saw first hand how he powered New York’s fight against climate change with an unyielding energy and passion – and always with respect for staff and stakeholders. From day one, when he took on drinking water contamination in Hoosick Falls, to last week’s announcement of the protection of Follumsby Pond, not once has he wavered in his commitment to protect the community. Basil’s unprecedented longevity as commissioner is matched by the substance and size of his accomplishments. From the CLCPA to the Clean Water Infrastructure Act to the Environmental Bond Act to the ban on plastic bags to food waste recycling – to the hundreds of other initiatives all across the State – his legacy of environmental protection and of kicking the climate fight into high gear will be felt for generations. NYLCV — and the environmental and conservation movement more broadly — owes Commissioner Seggos a debt of gratitude. We thank him for his service to New York State and wish him all the best in his next chapter.
NYLCV is the only statewide environmental organization in New York that fights for clean water, clean air, renewable energy and open space through political action. We're non-partisan, pragmatic and effective.