FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 14, 2016
CONTACT: Jordan Levine 917-392-8965 / jlevine@
NEW YORK — In response to the Assembly and Senate’s one-house budget bills, NYLCV President Marcia Bystryn issued the following statement:
We are encouraged to see environmental funding levels in both the Senate’s and Assembly’s one house bills that clearly demonstrate they understand how critical these issues are to the future of New York State:
- Water Quality: Water quality crises around the state have underscored the need for additional investment in infrastructure and both the Senate and Assembly came through with additional funding. Beyond the $125 million Governor Cuomo proposed, the Assembly would add an extra $50 million over two years and the Senate went even further, adding $200 million over two years. Either allocation would bring us closer to leveraging the estimated $800 million of water infrastructure investment needed statewide annually.
- Environmental Protection Fund: Both houses maintained the Governor’s historic EPF increase of $300 million per year and they supported increased allocations for critical programs such as the Municipal Parks Grants Program, Waterfront Revitalization Initiative, and increased funding for farmland protection.
- Transportation: The Assembly included funding to help jumpstart Phase II of the Second Avenue Subway, which would extend the line to 125th Street. Both houses also included incentives to drivers who convert to electric vehicles, in addition to funding for charging infrastructure.
With talks heading in the right direction, we are hopeful that these critical priorities will continue to move forward in a positive manner and be approved in the final agreement.
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