South Queens, NY – New York State Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato rallied with local and state-wide environmental groups, along with residents who live along Jamaica Bay, to call on Governor Kathy Hochul to sign A.9036, “The Jamaica Bay Bill.” The bill, which passed unanimously in the State Legislature, would enact a 5-year moratorium on dumping materials or filling of the borrow pits in Jamaica Bay. In addition, the bill would implement a study to determine the ecological restoration needs of Jamaica Bay by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). The Bay has not been properly surveyed in over 20 years, meaning all the data and mapping are completely outdated, along with the Bay having no legal protections against dumping. Through Pheffer Amato’s bill, that would change.

For years, Pheffer Amato has introduced and unanimously passed a bill to implement protections for Jamaica Bay. Each year, the bill had been vetoed by the executive, despite the calls of groups and several elected officials to enact these protections. This year, the Assemblywoman connected with DEC to review the concerns and create a new bill that would address the needs of the Bay. “The crown jewel of New York needs to be protected,” said Assemblywoman Pheffer Amato, referring to Jamaica Bay. “The data is outdated, and the long-lasting moratorium that prevented dumping materials into the borrow pits in the Bay has expired. We are asking the Governor to conduct a study for updated maps so our agencies can better understand Jamaica Bay, and reinstate the moratorium to protect the water, the many species that call the Bay home, and the communities of Broad Channel, the Rockaway Peninsula, Hamilton Beach, Howard Beach and South Brooklyn.”

The Assemblywoman referenced that not conducting this study and implementing these protections was counterproductive due to the amount of money that has already been allocated to Jamaica Bay in recent years. Taxpayer funding through the Environmental Bond Act, a 2022 proposal that was approved by the voters, has been allocated to repair the shorelines. In addition, the Assemblywoman, who serves as Chairwoman of the Jamaica Bay Task Force, touted that their efforts resulted in an $18 million investment from the federal government for marsh restoration and new protections for Jamaica Bay. The Assemblywoman highlighted how these efforts have already paid off as “just last week we saw a pod of dolphins playing in the water. Marine life has come back to Jamaica Bay! The State and Federal governments have made the investments in Jamaica Bay - but now it’s time to enshrine protections to make sure our crown jewel stays safe.”

Senator Roxanne Persaud, who is the Senate sponsor of the bill also called on the Governor to sign this bill. "I support the call for Governor Hochul to sign S.8547 (A.9036), the Jamaica Bay Bill, because it aims to protect this vital ecosystem from harmful dumping and dredging activities. This is a critically urgent call from our community, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding Jamaica Bay for current residents and future generations," said Senator Roxanne J. Persaud.

Representatives from groups who attended the rally also voiced their support for the bill. “The Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy supports this bill and its commitment to the invaluable ecosystem of Jamaica Bay,” said Terri Carta, Executive Director of the Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy. “The last Jamaica Bay study conducted by DEC 20 years ago set off a robust program of investments to improve water quality. A new study of the Bay is needed to measure the impacts of those investments, to comprehensively plan for future ecological restoration, and to model how future human interventions – including potential filling of borrow pits – will impact the overall health of the Bay.”

Dan Mundy, a resident of Broad Channel and the leader of the Jamaica Bay Ecowatchers said, “The Jamaica Bay Ecowatchers have been working for over 20 years to preserve and protect Jamaica Bay. We have made tremendous progress in upgrading water quality at waste treatment plants, and in restoring wetlands, and oysters to the bay. We are now noting some of the cleanest water quality that’s been documented in over 20 years. With all this progress there still remains the threat posed by multiple plans over the years to dump contaminated sediment into the deep portions of Jamaica Bay. That is why Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato’s legislation that she has introduced and has passed in both the Assembly and Senate is so critical. It would prohibit any dumping of sediment into the deep portions of the bay and would also require a focused study of these areas of the bay by the State DEC in consultation with local stakeholders. We commend her for her steadfast commitment to Jamaica Bay over the years and for this current legislation, which now only needs the governor's signature to become law.”

"The American Littoral Society is happy to be a great supporter of Assemblywoman Pheffer Amato. She has worked tirelessly to make life and the environment better for people in Rockaway and Broad Channel,” said Don Riepe, Jamaica Bay Guardian. 

"Bill A9036 promotes long-term environmental planning and sustainability and would direct the Department of Environmental Conservation to conduct a study on the ecological restoration needs of Jamaica Bay which is crucial to prevent further environmental degradation and to allow the Bay’s ecosystems to recover. By focusing on the Bay’s ecological needs, this study will help identify the most effective ways to restore and protect the Bay’s natural habitats while imposing a five-year moratorium on placing sediment or fill in the borrow pits of Jamaica Bay. Jamaica Bay is the backyard for many residents in the surrounding areas. Just as you wouldn’t want harmful activities in your own backyard, it’s essential to protect this vital natural resource for the well-being of the community and future generations. Bill A9036 will lead to healthier water quality, improved habitats for wildlife, and enhanced recreational opportunities for the community,” said Roger Gendron, President of the New Hamilton Beach Civic Association.

“For over a decade, Sadhana has been dedicating countless hours towards protecting our local community’s wildlife sanctuary Jamaica Bay through monthly cleanups. Our goal has always been to preserve dear cultural traditions while promoting environmental justice and climate resilience. The Bay is utilized by so many New Yorkers, including devout Indo-Caribbean Hindus, and we owe it to ourselves to promote policies that safeguard the ecosystem and landscape of the Bay. We thus call on Governor Hochul to sign the Jamaica Bay Bill into law,” said Aminta Kilawan-Narine, Co-Founder of Sadhana: Coalition of Progressive Hindus and Founder and Executive Director of South Queens Women's March.

"As a part of the diverse group of community stakeholders supporting the environmental restoration and protection of Jamaica Bay, Billion Oyster Project strongly supports the legislation proposed by New York Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato to advance protections for New York City's most productive waterbody and wildlife habitat. We look forward to working alongside the Assemblywoman to protect and preserve the Bay and the millions of creatures that call it home,” said Pete Malinowski, Executive Director of Billion Oyster Project.

A.9036/S.8547 passed unanimously in both the State Senate and State Assembly. The bill currently waits for the signing, or veto, by Governor Kathy Hochul.