STATE BUDGET KEY TO SMART GROWTH FOR VALLEY
Speak up for valley's beauty, quality of life and lasting prosperity In his State of the State address, Gov. Eliot Spitzer proposed a smart growth initiative to encourage development in city and village centers while protecting land from costly, sprawling overdevelopment. This won't get done without some money. That's why it's critical that the 2008 budget the governor is developing include three crucial items. Together, you and Scenic Hudson can make smart growth a front-and-center budget issue -- which will fuel efforts to beat back threats to our region's natural beauty and environmental health while again energizing riverfront communities as great places to live, work and have fun.

1. Funds to create an Office of Smart Growth. This office, accountable to the governor, would work with state agencies to ensure that all spending supports smart growth goals. It also would oversee incentives and technical assistance to empower municipalities to create smart growth plans.
2. $500 million for the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) by 2010. The EPF provides much of the monies used to stop sprawl -- by protecting natural areas and working farms that produce local food supplies and help drive our economy, as well as creating neighborhood parks that are used by people of all ages and bring communities together. The funds also make sure our children enjoy safe water and clean air. The 2008 budget should include a minimum of $300 million for the EPF.
3. Expand funding for the Hudson River Estuary Management Program to $10 million. This program has added vastly to our knowledge of the Hudson River and is important to the health of our water. The funds will allow for better community-based management of the Hudson Valley through greater access, more research, grant-making and technical support -- leading to even healthier water and more opportunities for all of us to enjoy the Hudson and its tributaries.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I'm a Hudson Valley resident -- and Scenic Hudson member -- who applauds your smart growth proposals to develop city and village centers while preserving landscapes from costly, sprawling overdevelopment. This won't get done without some money, which is why I am writing to urge you to include THREE CRUCIAL ITEMS in your 2008 budget. All will fuel efforts to beat back threats to our state's natural beauty and environmental health while again energizing downtown communities as great places to live, work and have fun.

1. FUNDS TO CREATE AN OFFICE OF SMART GROWTH. This office, accountable to you, would work with state agencies to ensure that all spending supports smart growth goals. It also would oversee incentives and technical assistance to empower municipalities to create smart growth plans.

2. $500 MILLION FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION FUND (EPF) BY 2010. The EPF provides much of the monies used to stop sprawl -- by protecting natural areas and working farms that produce local food supplies and help drive our economy, as well as creating neighborhood parks that are used by people of all ages and bring communities together. The funds also make sure our children enjoy safe water and clean air. Your 2008 budget should include a minimum of $300 million for the EPF.

3. EXPAND FUNDING FOR THE HUDSON RIVER ESTUARY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM TO $10 MILLION. This program has added vastly to our knowledge of the Hudson River and is important to the health of our water. The funds will allow for better community-based management of the Hudson Valley through greater access, more research, grant-making and technical support -- leading to even healthier water and more opportunities for all of us to enjoy the Hudson and its tributaries.

I welcome your commitment to smart growth and to protecting New York's inspiring landscapes and improving the quality of our water and air. These budget items will help you create a safe, healthy and prosperous New York for future generations.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
January 05, 2007