New York State Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr. (I, D, WF, WE-Sag Harbor), a 22 year member of the State Assembly Committee on Environmental Conservation, has introduced State legislation which would place a $5 billion Community Preservation Fund Bond Act on the ballot for a statewide referendum this November. $4 billion of the bond act would be devoted to water quality improvement projects and $1 billion would be devoted to open space preservation projects.

Thiele stated, “Since 1960, the voters of the State of New York have approved seven bond acts to finance environmental initiatives. However, the last bond act was more than 20 years ago in 1996 when then-Governor Pataki shepherded the 1996 Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act to a successful referendum vote. Since that time, the State has been largely reliant on the State Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) to finance the State’s environmental capital needs. In 2016, the EPF was funded at $300 million.”

Thiele added that the need for environmental capital funding is well documented. “The demand for clean water infrastructure in New York State exceeds $36 billion, with $7 billion alone on Long Island. The need for remediation can be seen as far and wide as Hoosick Falls, Newburgh, and Westhampton. We will never reverse the continued degradation of our water resources without a major influx of capital funding to address our crumbling green infrastructure.”

Thiele, Chair of the Assembly Committee on Small Business also explained that the construction of green infrastructure also would be good for jobs and the economy. “First, we cannot have a viable economy without clean water. Many industries, including tourism, fishing, and agriculture depend on clean water. Second, a major green infrastructure construction program will create construction jobs from Montauk to Niagara Falls.”

Finally, the East End legislator stated that the public will strongly support the protection of land and water. “On the East End, 72% to 80% of voters in the five East End Towns approved a 20 year extension on the Peconic Bay Community Preservation Fund to protect land and water. I would expect similar support for this initiative. I am hopeful that this idea will get serious consideration during the 2017 Session.”