OCOSA ALERT - PLEASE FORWARD
Dear OCOSA (Orange County Open Space Alliance)members and open space supporters. - The Community Preservation Act will be introduced in the NY legislature on Earth Day 4/22. It would enable municipalities to put a referendum for a real eastate transfer tax of up to 2% before their voters, the proceeds of which would be used for the preservation of open space in any municipality in which such a referendum passes.
It is statewide enabling legislation - municipalities (except for a handful in Suffolk County where such a tax has raised many millions) currently do not even have the right to propose this to their voters.
This is obviously another important tool and funding stream in our ongoing efforts. It has a provision exempting any homes below the median purchase price in a given county from the tax which will ensure that it doesn't impact affordability (or what's left of affordability in our area!)
Please contact your state legislators regarding this organizations!): Thanks so much for your support of the proposed Community Preservation Act, and a special thanks to those who participated in our February Day of Advocacy on this bill. We personally distributed a brochure on the legislation to each of the 212 legislators in Albany, and teams of supporters visited 32 key legislators. This was excellent work, and laid a fine groundwork for pushing this bill forward this year. But there is much more to be done! The proposal will face stiff opposition from the builders and realtors of NYS, and we need to continue to educate legislators about the specifics of this bill, namely that it is an option for local governments interested in finding ways to protect working farms, open space, and historic buildings, and that it does not mandate any town to take action. Also - that is a proven approach that has been used in the five East End towns of Long Island to protect open space in the face of rapid sprawl. The bill sponsors are still working on specific language for the bill, so we don't yet have bill numbers for this legislative session. When that happens, we will inform all the supporting organizations and update the brochure accordingly. In the meantime. . . WHAT CAN YOUR ORGANIZATION DO TO PUSH THIS BILL FORWARD? Four ideas ... *** Post the Community Preservation Act brochure on your organization's website and use the information in newsletters. A copy of the brochure is attached. *** Forward the brochure to your email and mailing lists and ask other groups that you work with to sign-on as supporters. **** Ask your local elected or appointed officials to support the bill by making a presentation before a Town planning board, governing council, conservation commission or other relevant town entity. Ask them to pass a resolution in support of the bill. Then, send copies of the resolution to your Assemblymember and Senator to solicit their support. (Also send any resolutions to Environmental Advocates of NY so we can keep track of supporters) *** Send a letter in support of the bill from your organization to the Assemblymembers and Senators that represent the areas your organization covers. Any questions, call David Higby at Environmental Advocates 518-462-5526 ext. 239. or email him at dhigby@eany.org. Thanks again, Anne Reynolds Anne K. Reynolds Director, Air and Energy Programs Environmental Advocates of New York 353 Hamilton Street, Albany, NY 12210 ph: 518.462.5526 ext. 238; fax: 518.427.0381 www.EANY.org
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Feel free to Contact State and County Legislators about issues and concerns.
(2004 - list subject to change after redistrict)
CONTACT INFO for State legislators for Orange County :
ASSEMBLY:
Nancy Calhoun Thomas Kirwan Howard Mills Aileen Gunther
318 Legislative 663 Legislative 544 Legislative 417 Legislative
Office Bldg. Office Bldg. Office Bldg. Office Bldg.
Albany NY 12248 Albany NY 12248 Albany NY 12248 Albany NY 12248
518 455 5441 518 455 5762 518 455 5991 518 455 5355
2011 D St. 190 South Park Rd 41 High St 20 Anawana Lake Rd
New Windsor NY 12553 Newburgh NY 12248 Goshen NY 10924 Monticello NY 12701
845 564 1330 845 562 0888 845 291 3631 845 794 5807
calhoun@assembly.state.ny.us
SENATE:
Thomas Morahan William Larkin John Bonacic
808 Legislative 915 Legislative 815 Legislative
Office Bldg. Office Bldg. Office Bldg.
Albany NY 12247 Albany NY 12247 Albany NY 12247
518 455 3261 518 455 2770 518 455 3181
150 Airport Executive 1093 Little Britain Rd 279 Main St Suite 202
Park, Nanuet NY 10954 New Windsor NY 12553 New Paltz NY 12561
845 425 1818 845 567 1270 845 255 9656
morahan@senate.state.ny.us larkin@senate.state.ny.us
CONTACT YOUR COUNTY LEGISLATORS .
Contact Planning Dept (291 2318) or email: planning@co.orange.ny.us
if you need further information.
mail to Dept of Planning 124 Main St Goshen NY 10924-2124
or email - planning@co.orange.ny.us
or fax - 845 291 2533
Also send comments to your legislator (see below)
LEGISLATORS
1st dist. Central Valley - Michael Amo 427 7929
2nd " Port Jervis - Melissa Bonacic 858 2546
3rd " Florida - Mike Pillmeier 651-7415
4th " Newburgh - Harvey Burger 561 6925 h , 562 7135 w
5th " Chester - Frank Fornario 469 8292
6th " Newburgh - Patrick Berardinelli 561 5372
7th " Monroe - Spencer McLaughlin 782 5383 h, 888 2456 w
8th " Sugar Loaf - Dimitrios Lambros 469 2858 w
9th " Montgomery - Stephen Brescia 457 4492 h, 457 1914 w
10h " Greenwood Lake - Ben Winstanley 477 8847 h
11th " New Windsor - William Lahey 562 4065 h
12th " Salisbury Mills - Alan Seidman - 291 4800
13th " Cuddebackville - Wayne Decker 754 8226 h
14th " Highland Falls - Roxanne Donnery 446 2231 or 446 2368
15th " New Windsor - George Green 561 1328
16th " Newburgh - Leigh Benton 569 8036 h, 457 4021 w
17th " Newburgh - Anthony Marino 564 4276h
18th " Middletown - Bonie Kraham 845 551 2179 cell
19th " Middletown - Michael Paduch 692 8193 h
20th " Middletown - Jeffrey Berkman 342 6813 h
21st " New Hampton - Thomas Pahucki 374 8118 h 294 2095 w
If you're unsure who your legislator is, or would like their mailing address, call the legislative office @ 291 4800. Contacting Alan Seidman, who is the legislative chair, in addition to your legislator wouldn't hurt! Frank Fornario 10 Rose Anne Lane, Chester
Spencer McLaughlin 334 Round Lake Terrace, Monroe
Dimitrios Lambros P.O. Box 550, Sugar Loaf
