STATEMENT REGARDING GOVERNOR ELIOT SPITZER'S BUDGET

(HUDSON VALLEY) - Scenic Hudson President Ned Sullivan issued the following statement in response to Gov. Eliot Spitzer's Executive Budget:

"Eliot Spitzer articulated a bold and ambitious environmental and smart-growthagenda during his campaign and State of the State address that must be pursued in parallel with his reform and economic development programs."

His executive budget begins to lay out how he intends to carry that out:

STAFFING AT ENVIRONMENT AND PARKS AGENCIES
Ned Sullivan said, "Scenic Hudson applauds Governor Spitzer for restoring 109 positions to the Department of Environmental Conservation, since the agency plays an important role in both the economic and environmental health of New York." Mr. Sullivan added, "Beleaguered by staff cuts during the prior administration, the agency's manpower and morale will get a needed shot in the arm at a time when the governor will be looking to the agency to be a partner in jump-starting the economies of upstate cities. Since the DEC is a critical player in infrastructure, brownfield restoration and facility permitting, these new staff positions will enable the agency to participate in the revitalization of our urban areas."

Mr. Sullivan praised the governor for creating a new team of 12 at DEC to staff a climate change office. "Governor Spitzer has said global climate change is the most urgent environmental issue of our time. He's right, and now the agency will be able to take proactive steps to cut New York's carbon emissions across all sectors."

Scenic Hudson Senior Vice President Steve Rosenberg praised the governor for boosting staff by 52 positions at the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. "OPRHP has an important role in serving as the steward of our fabulous state park system. It must have the resources to care for these lands, ensure that the park facilities are safe and well maintained, and that the ecological resources are protected and restored. These new positions will help achieve those goals."

SMART GROWTH
Mr. Sullivan said, "Governor Spitzer has pledged to wake up the economies of upstate cities, while preventing the sprawling development that has sapped our urban areas of their vitality, young people and hope. His budget takes the first steps in making good on this pledge by allocating $2 million for smart-growth investments and additional funds for creating and upgrading inner city and municipal parks. In addition, his funding of new staff at DEC for the brownfield program will accelerate the cleanup of blighted urban properties. New historic preservation resources at OPRHP will facilitate the restoration of housing stock in downtown areas.

"A key strategy to achieve the governor's smart-growth agenda is preservation of farmland, a goal that has been bolstered by the increase of state funds for the purchase of development rights from $23 million last year to $28 million this year. Scenic Hudson has been working to maintain farming as a part of the economy of the valley by protecting a 'critical mass' of farms in sub-regions in Columbia, Dutchess, Ulster and Orange counties. Nearly 6,000 acres of land have been locked up for farming by Scenic Hudson in this way. This new state funding is desperately needed in the Hudson Valley and throughout the state to preserve the single most important ingredient for the survival off farming -- the land," stated Mr. Sullivan.

"While the governor's budget does not yet specify the creation of a smart growth office, we look forward to hearing how the governor intends to ensure that the spending of the Empire State Development Corporation and the Department of Transportation and other agencies with major capital budgets will channel their funds to upstate cities and choke off the sprawling development that is destroying the fabric of the Hudson Valley and wasting resources through increased transportation and other costs," added Mr. Sullivan.

HUDSON RIVER ESTUARY PROGRAM
"The Hudson River Estuary Program plays a vital role in conducting scientific research, public education and increasing public access to the Hudson River. The governor has demonstrated his commitment to the goals of this crucial program by increasing its annual budget from $5 million to $5.5 million."

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION FUND
"The Governor's budget includes an increase in the Environmental Protection fund from $225 to $250 million that will help protect more critical open space for public parkland, revitalize waterfronts and pay for needed environmental infrastructure like wastewater treatment plants. Funding for the increase will come from the Bigger Better Bottle bill, a double benefit since this law will reduce roadside and shorefront trash that is increasing littered with nonredeemable water, tea and other containers. Scenic Hudson will work for passage of this important element of the governor's budget," concluded Mr. Sullivan.