Protecting Long Island Sound
There have been great advances in the water quality of Long Island Sound over the past 25 years. Westchester County and New York State depend upon a vibrant Long Island Sound for tourism, recreation, public health and continued high property values.
When I ran for the Assembly, I indicated that I would make Long Island Sound and environmental issues a priority. The enactment of the Water Infrastructure Improvement Act has been the highlight of those efforts. With the strong support of Governor Cuomo, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and my Assembly colleagues, we have created the first state direct grant program in the nation to help fund local water quality projects. The program was created in the 2015-16 state budget and expanded this year to a total of $425 million.
I have also been an advocate of increased funding for New York’s Environmental Protection Fund. I am pleased to report EPF funding was increased from $174 to $300 million in this year’s state budget.
I am an active member of the Assembly Committee on Environmental Conservation, serve as Chair of the Legislative Commission on Solid Waste Management and as a member the Assembly Climate Change Work Group. In March 2016, I was honored to receive Audubon New York’s prestigious William Hoyt Environmental Excellence Award.
I have been working on environmental issues at the local, county and state level for decades. I have been able to continue that advocacy in the Assembly through my involvement on a wide variety of issues and help guide a number of Long Island Sound projects to a successful conclusion. I will continue that role and leadership for the Sound in the State Assembly.