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Highlights
Celebrating our Annual Equinox Gala
We had an amazing night celebrating 37 years of grassroots accomplishments with our partners, supporters, and friends at our annual Equinox Gala. This year we were overjoyed to honor Matthew Aracich, President of the Long Island Building and Construction Trades, for his work promoting offshore wind and fighting climate change; and Charles Vigliotti, President of American Organic Energy, for his leadership in food waste recycling and his work to reduce solid waste in New York. A huge thank you to everyone who came out and made the night so unforgettable!
Happenings
Prop 1: NY’s Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Bond Act
On November 8th, New Yorkers will have the opportunity to vote on Prop 1: The Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Bond Act. If enacted, the Bond Act will allocate $4.2 billion to a variety of critical environmental programs and projects from Buffalo to Long Island that will protect drinking water and upgrade infrastructure, protect communities from flooding and extreme weather, conserve open space and family farms, and fight climate change. We are working around the state to educate the public on the benefits of this important funding and reminding everyone to flip your ballot in November and vote on Prop 1. In September, we joined our Senate and Assembly members, Long Island elected officials, labor leaders, community stakeholders, and environmentalists for a press conference and rally in support of the Bond Act. This month, we are also going to be hosting a Lunch and Learn on the importance of the Bond Act on October 18th from 12:00pm -1:00pm. Register for the zoom forum today.
Combatting ‘Forever Chemicals’ in NY
The EPA has indicated that there is no safe level of exposure to PFAS chemicals in drinking water. Hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers live in communities that discovered PFOA, PFOS, and other PFAS chemicals in their water, but at levels below NY's current and proposed standards—meaning that these communities are not required to clean up their water. In September, we joined environmental groups, public health advocates, and community leaders to call on the NYS Department of Health and Governor Hochul to strengthen standards for harmful PFAS chemicals in drinking water.
Talking about Long Island’s Offshore Wind Future
Last month we co-hosted the Offshore Wind Developers Meet and Greet Networking Forum with the NY League of Conservation Voters and the New York Offshore Wind Alliance. The event brought together 80 stakeholders—community leaders, labor, businesses, environmental groups, civic organizations, elected officials, and academics—with the wind developers that have projects and/or leases off the coast of New York. Updates were provided by Equinor on the Empire and Beacon Wind Projects, Ørsted on the Sunrise and South Fork projects, and each of the six companies that acquired offshore wind area leases in the New York Bight earlier this year. It was beneficial to have all the developers and so many key decision makers and wind advocates together in one room to get to know one another and to discuss the future of offshore wind for Long Island. Thank you everyone that joined us!
Protecting Crab Meadow Watershed on Long Island
This summer, the Huntington Town Board unanimously accepted a plan 10 years in the making to protect the environmental asset known as the Crab Meadow Watershed. The Crab Meadow Watershed Hydrology Study and Stewardship Plan studied this unique and special area of glacially formed features that drains into Long Island Sound. The Crab Meadow Watershed is designated as a “Long Island Sound Stewardship Area,” meaning that a high level of protection is needed. We stood with local residents to urge the Huntington Town Board to act now to protect this special coastal resource and not continue to approve development that will further degrade it.
Restoring the South Shore Estuary Reserve
Last month, New York released an updated Comprehensive Management Plan for the South Shore Estuary Reserve, which spans the Western Bays to Shinnecock Bay along the south shore of Long Island. This document will drive protection efforts to restore water quality in our bays and to combat nitrogen pollution, climate change, harmful algal blooms, and more. We joined New York Department of State Deputy Secretary of State Kisha Santiago Martinez and our friends at Seatuck, The Nature Conservancy, and Operation Splash for the release of this crucial plan and to take a boat tour of the beautiful SSER bays.
Preserving the Long Pond Greenbelt
PSEG has proposed to drill an underground 69kv transmission cable through Long Pond Greenbelt, a preserved ecologically diverse area which is home to critical vernal ponds, wetlands, and habitat. Millions of dollars have been spent to protect this important resource, which is considered a jewel of the community and a critical public resource. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement for this proposal includes an alternate route, which would leave Long Pond Greenbelt preserved and untouched. In September, we joined community leaders and Southampton residents to urge PSEG to choose this alternate route and protecting the Long Pond Greenbelt.
Educating Visitors at the New York Aquarium
We were thrilled to join the Wildlife Conservation Society at the New York Aquarium in Coney Island for the Blue Beacon Dive into Hudson Canyon event. We had a great time visiting the aquarium and talking to visitors about our work on offshore wind, reducing plastic pollution, the Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Bond Act and more.