On November 8th there is a bond issue on the back of the ballot that needs your support. The $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act is a bond for projects related to the environment, natural resources, water infrastructure and climate change mitigation. It has been over 20 years since the last environmental bond act and it is time for NY citizens to support the issues addressed in this bond.
Some of the features of the bond act are $1.1 billion for restoration of coastlines and shorelines, flood risk reduction, repairing flood-prone infrastructure including roadways and other ecological projects that pertain to flooding. Hurricane Sandy and other recent flooding events make it imperative to plan and remediate to prevent future disasters.
There is $650 million for land conservation, new recreation areas and farmland preservation easements. There is money for renewable energy and energy conservation in state owned buildings and $500 million for schools to purchase electric school buses and the infrastructure that will be needed. Exhaust from school buses is a contributing factor to NY air pollution and associated illness in children. For further health benefits there is money to replace lead water service lines, replace and extend sewer lines, improve septic infrastructure, reduce storm water runoff and prevent pollution discharge to waterways as well as address our problems with algal blooms.
The plan is set up so that 35% of the monies on projects created by the bond are to benefit disadvantaged communities. The bond is estimated to create as many as 84,000 jobs. The bond act will also allow for refinancing of the debt to take advantage of future lower interest rates and will not increase your tax bill.
This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to commit to a cleaner and healthier life for all of us. Supporters of this bond include the Nature Conservancy, Protect the Adirondacks, Scenic Hudson, League of Conservation Voters, AFL-CIO, the editors of Newsday and many towns and environmental groups. Remember to FLIP IT OVER and vote yes on the bond issue.
Submitted by UCAN member
Laurie Feine-Dudley
Cazenovia
UCAN United Climate Action Network 