The $4.2 billion Environmental Protection Act, if passed, would be the first bill since 1996. New Yorkers have the opportunity to vote during the midterm elections. ///Photo credit: Erich Westendarp.
New Yorkers’ vote in the midterm elections is for the $4.2 billion environmental bill. The Clean Air, Clean Water, Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act, labeled Proposition 1, if passed, would be the first since 1996.
Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment (CCE), a Long Island-based nonprofit advocating for the environment, said:
A minimum of $1.1 billion will be used for rehabilitation and flood risk reduction, $650 million for water quality and infrastructure restoration, and $1.5 billion for climate change mitigation. In addition, 35% of his funding will go towards environmental justice, creating 100,000 environmental jobs.
“What I see is that they are going to direct about a third of their funding to disadvantaged communities,” he says, focusing on geographic information systems and focusing on sustainability and geography. Junior Natalie Correa, majoring in “We aim to protect open spaces and increase recreational access to them. We aim to improve water quality and infrastructure, a key issue on Long Island, and to fund infrastructure to protect against flooding. I have.”
Esposito said the move would particularly benefit Long Island, as it has 30,000 acres of undeveloped land that can be preserved. Additionally, Long Island has been plagued with contaminated groundwater and drinking water for several years.
“Our sewage infrastructure is old and crumbling,” says Esposito. “Normally, sewer structures are invisible and oblivious until they break down and untreated sewage begins to flow into a street, bay, or port. Our drinking water will be cleaner because advanced treatment will be paid for.”
Long Islanders need to learn the importance of this act, Esposito said.
“Long Island is the most vulnerable to sea-level rise and climate impacts,” Esposito said. “That is why we need to restore wetlands and use nature-based solutions to strengthen our coastlines so that floods don’t damage our homes and communities. I get the most benefit from supporting the
But Esposito is concerned about how many people are unaware of this practice.
“[Members of CCE] I am concerned that it has been a very quiet campaign so far,” she said.
Jason Valverde, a senior sustainability major, said not enough people knew or cared about the practice.
“If you want to have the beaches that we have, if you want to have the wineries that we have, if you want to use them for the rest of your life,” Valverde said. Move forward trying to save it first. ”
In response, CCE partnered with a coalition of over 300 groups around New York to inform citizens about the Environmental Bond Act and encourage them to vote during the midterm elections.
“Not all states have taken steps like this,” Valverde said. Change. “
Correa feels the bill, if passed, will set a precedent for other states to follow.
“To me, Proposition 1 represents the ability of local governments to have more diverse action plans on climate change,” Correa said.
According to Esposito, the last environmental protection law was 25 years ago. “I can’t wait,” she said. “The sewerage infrastructure and drinking water problems are not solved by themselves. All these programs are necessities, not luxuries.”
If passed, the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Green Jobs Environmental Bonds Act will provide significant funding to fight climate change in New York. Starting Tuesday, November 8th, New Yorkers will decide if they deserve a vote.
