TAKE ACTION in support of the Community Preservation Act (CPA). This law would enable towns to establish dedicated accounts for protecting water, farmland, inspiring viewsheds and historic buildings -- all irreplaceable treasures and economic engines threatened by sprawling overdevelopment.

Under current law, each municipality that wants a Community Preservation Fund (CPF) must gain senate and assembly approval, a time-consuming process, before bringing it to a public vote.

The CPA gives your town the right to decide its future without government red tape. It's a fair way of protecting Hudson Valley communities from fierce development pressures and the tax hikes caused by runaway growth. CPFs cost existing homeowners nothing and have little affect on first-time homebuyers. CPFs are funded through a real estate transfer fee paid only by buyers of the highest-priced homes in a community. In other words, people moving in offset their own impacts on land use.

Protecting farms and other open space has many benefits:

• safeguarding drinking water
• supporting the farms that supply healthy food and help drive the local economy
• preserving the unique character of our towns

Let your senator know that passage of the Community Preservation Act is a MUST! Send a letter -- either by clicking on the link below or by drafting your own -- THIS WEEK. Remember, a personal message makes the biggest impact.

You can send a letter either by clicking on this link or by drafting your own. Remember, a personal message makes the biggest impact.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I am writing to urge your support for the Community Preservation Act (S.03836), which would allow towns to establish dedicated accounts for protecting farmland, inspiring viewsheds and historic buildings -- all irreplaceable treasures and economic engines threatened by sprawling overdevelopment.

The Community Preservation Act reinforces the concept of home rule. It also provides a fair way of protecting Hudson Valley communities from fierce development pressures. Because money for a Community Preservation Fund (CPF) comes from a real estate transfer fee paid by buyers, it costs current residents nothing. The people moving in offset their impact on land use.

Voters in the communities of Red Hook, Dutchess County, and Warwick, Orange County have passed Community Preservation Funds. Bond acts to protect open space have been successful in Dutchess, Orange, Rockland, Ulster and Westchester counties. Clearly, momentum is building for empowering all municipalities to refer CPFs to their local voters.

Protecting farms and other open space offers communities many benefits. It safeguards drinking water, keeps farms running so they can supply healthy food and support the local economy, and preserves our region's rural character -- what attracted many of us to live in the Hudson Valley. Preserving historic buildings is the key to creating economically vibrant downtowns.

Giving towns the right to protect their open space and historic architecture by creating CPFs is a critical component in the fight to preserve the valley's threatened beauty, quality of life and lasting prosperity. I hope I can count on your vote.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
April 30, 2007