Subject: Employment opportunities

Fundraising professional and program director
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Innovative international development agency in Ithaca seeks highly motivated, independent, and skilled  director. Excellent writing, communication, people, and organizational skills essential. Fund-raising background necessary. Half time position pays between $20,000 and $24,000, depending on experience. Visit our website at www.etc-nepal.org to see our exciting work.  Apply on or before Oct. 15, 2011: Director Search, PO Box 414, Ithaca, NY 14851-0414
•     Location: Ithaca, NY
•     Compensation: $20,000 - $24,000
•     This is a part-time job.
•     This is at a non-profit organization.
•     OK to highlight this job opening for persons with disabilities
•     Principals only. Recruiters, please don’t contact this job poster.
•     Phone calls about this job are ok.
•     Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.
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Certified Home Health Aide

Visiting Nurse Service of Ithaca and Tompkins County has immediate job openings for part time Certified Home Health Aides (HHA’s). HHA’s will follow a care plan established by a nurse and/or therapist according to physician orders.  HHA’s must be able to transfer and position patients using appropriate devices. Applicant must have a valid driver’s license, clear a background check and provide copy of HHA certificate.  Starting pay is $11.00 an hour plus mileage reimbursement between patient.

Download an application from VNS website at www.vnsithaca.org and email it or a resume to: Cheryll Vosburgh, Human Resource Manager at cvosburgh@vnsithaca.org. Or stop into the office located at 138 Cecil A. Malone Drive, Ithaca, NY 14850.

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The Southside Community Center seeks a part-time bicycle mechanic for its Recycle Ithaca’s Bicycles (RIBs) community bike program. This is a temporary position lasting through December 1st, 2011. The ideal candidate must be able to teach novice, intermediate, and advanced bicycle maintenance and repair to a diverse population. The position pays $10 per hour and averages about 7 hours per week. All interested parties should submit a resume and cover letter by Friday, October 14th to the following address: Southside Community Center, 305 S. Plain St., Ithaca, NY 14850. Electronic copies should be sent to the following email address: mali@sscc-ithaca.org.
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Position: Youth Advocate Program, Inc., Assistant Director in Tompkins County
posting closing: 10/14/11

Status: Salaried, Full-Time, Exempt

Summary of the Position: The Assistant Director will be responsible for completing family assessments and creating individualized service plans.  The Assistant Director will be responsible for providing primarily advocacy derived from an assessment in order to make changes in the home to prevent continued CPS involvement. The Assistant Director will report to the Director. Travel will be necessary as well as willingness to work some nights and weekends and provide 24/7 crisis support to the caseload. A travel stipend will be given.

Qualifications/Requirements: Qualified candidates must have at least a BA in social work or a related field.  Previous child welfare and human services experience is preferred. This position requires heavy field work, so all applicants must have their own vehicle and a clean Driver’s license.  All applicants will receive a background check and are subject to a screening from the New York State Central Registry for child abuse.

Benefits Available: Medical/Prescription, Dental, Vision, Short Term Disability, AFLAC, Paid time off, Holiday Pay, and 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan.

Contact Person: Jerame Hawkins at Jhawkins@yapinc.org . Please send cover letter, resume, and three professional and two personal references.

Youth Advocate Program, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Woman and Minorities are encouraged to apply
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Early Head Start Teacher - FT; Responsible for an Early Head Start infant/toddler classroom program. Implement adopted curriculum as well as department initiatives for children ages 6 weeks to 3 years. Utilize developmentally appropriate strategies for classroom management techniques, environmental set up, planning, and individualization. Complete and utilize anecdotal notes for individualized planning, completing assessments, parent/teacher conferencing, reporting, and supporting transitional requirements.; Min. Req.: Associate Degree in Early Childhood with 12 credits in infant/toddler development and 2 years of related experience working with children, new born to 3 years old OR CDA with specific Infant/Toddler training and 4 years of experience working with children, new born to 3 years old.

Head Start Teacher - FT; Responsible for implementing a center based Head Start classroom program; work in accordance with Head Start Performance Standards, regulatory guidelines and TCAction policies and procedures. Implement adopted curriculum approach as well as defined department initiatives for children ages 3 - 5 years. Use space, materials and routine as resources to encourage active exploration, physical, cognitive, and social/emotional development. Utilize developmentally appropriate strategies as the foundation for classroom management techniques, environmental set up, planning, and individualization. Complete and utilize anecdotal notes as the basis for individualized planning, completing assessments, parent/teacher conferencing, reporting, and supporting transitional requirements.; Min. Req.: Bachelor’s degree with at least 12 credits in Early Childhood Education, child development or related field AND Two (2) years of related experience working with children, 3 to 5 year old.

For detailed job descriptions: access our website: www.tcaction.org.   Mail, fax, or email resume w/ cover letter to Professional Development Director, TCAction, 701 Spencer Road, Ithaca, NY 14850; Fax# (607) 273-3293; email: jobs@tcaction.org

Applications accepted until Tuesday, October 25, 2011. AA/EEO.

In the latest step of a process that has taken more than a year, the Legislature’s Health and Services Committee today recommended the firm HCR, based in Rochester, NY, to purchase the operating certificate of the County’s Certified Home Health Agency (CHHA).  The recommendation came by a 4-0 vote, with Legislator Will Burbank excused.

HCR was one two firms to respond to the County’s Request for Proposals to take over the CHHA, issued following the Legislature’s decision earlier this year to divest of the agency, operated by the County Health Department.  HCR offered to purchase the agency for $850,000, and was the unanimous choice of the special committee appointed by County Administrator Joe Mareane (made up of Health Department staff, County Legislators, members of the Board of Health, and County Administration) to develop and review responses to the RFP.  The review committee concluded that HCR was the appropriate choice for Tompkins County.

Administrator Mareane praised the review process as “very effective,” and noted that preserving quality of care was a core concern throughout.  “We are firmly convinced that HCR can maintain the quality of care this community is accustomed to,” he said. 

The matter next goes to the budget committee and then to the full Legislature.

HCR is a proprietary, employee-owned Certified Home Health Agency in Monroe, Genesee, and Orleans Counties.  It currently operates agencies in Schoharie and Cortland Counties under management agreements and will begin operating in Madison, Delaware, and Wayne Counties under similar agreements over the next few months.

Administrator Mareane said that, once sale of operating certificate is approved by the Legislature, the next step will be for the County to enter into a contract with HCR, under which HCR will assume management of the local CHHA on the County’s behalf over the next year or so while the County completes the process to secure necessary State approval for the sale.  Costs associated with that management agreement are expected to be more than offset by sale proceeds.

Legislator Kathy Luz Herrera, who was one who had not supported divestment of the CHHA, said that she was supporting sale of the operating certificate to HCR, since the Health Department is in support of that arrangement.  Committee Chair Frank Proto thanked Health Department staff for their effort in bringing the effort forward, while always preserving quality patient care, during what was at times a “strained process.”

Tompkins County made the difficult decision to divest of the County-run CHHA in light of deep state aid cuts for operation of such agencies, forcing annual expenditure in local dollars of $400,000 each year.

Contact:  Frank Proto, Chair, Health and Human Services Committee, 277-4875; County Administrator Joe Mareane, 274-5551.

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Marcia E. Lynch

Public Information Officer

Tompkins County

125 E. Court Street

Ithaca, NY  14850

Tel: 607-274-5555/Fax: 607-274-5558 

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: October 12, 2011 For More Information: Erica Ringewald, 518.210.9903

SENATOR LEE ZELDIN NAMED NYS ENVIRONMENT’S ENEMY #1
(ALBANY, NY)—In the only scorecard that grades New York State lawmakers according to their votes on bills that could help or harm our air, land and water, today in the group’s annual Voters’ Guide, EPL/Environmental Advocates honored Assembly member Barbara Lifton (D-Ithaca) as its 2011 “Legislator of the Year.” The green honor is awarded to the public figure who has done the most to advance environmentally beneficial policy. Lifton received the award for her work to protect New York’s waters and communities from industrial gas drilling by means of high volume hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking.” Senator Lee Zeldin (R-Hauppage) received the 2011 “Oil Slick” award in the annual green scorecard for his attacks on public transportation, among other dirty deeds. For the complete scorecard, visit www.eplvotersguide.org.
“I’m very happy to be receiving this important recognition for my work on hydro-fracking, and I want to thank EPL/Environmental Advocates for this great honor. I also thank the thousands of my constituents who have worked so hard on this issue, I have listened to them and taken their plea to the Capital. I also want to thank Speaker Silver and my colleagues in the Assembly for their support in getting three important hydro-fracking bills passed in the Assembly this year. I will continue to fight for the health and safety of my constituents and all New Yorkers—for clean water and clean air, and for the good, green jobs of a sustainable future,” said Assembly member Lifton.
“Fracking is front and central in this year’s environmental Voters’ Guide, and our Legislator of the Year Assembly member Barbara Lifton distinguished herself by doing everything in her power to bring New Yorkers’ concerns about industrial gas drilling to light. And while fracking may be a determining factor in next year’s elections, it’s not the only story in Albany. Thanks to Governor Cuomo and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, New York has new laws on the books to reduce wasteful water withdrawals, make our streets more pedestrian friendly and establish a power plant sting process with robust community participation and green performance standards,” said Robert Moore, executive director of EPL/Environmental Advocates. “This year’s green Voters’ Guide documents state leaders’ steps forward—and attempts to roll back—New York’s environmental protections.”
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Page 2 – Environmental Voters’ Guide
A consistent top scorer in EPL’s annual green scorecard, Assembly member Lifton sponsored several pieces of legislation designed to protect New York’s waters and communities from fracking this year. She was the prime sponsor of a bill that would clarify local government authority over such drilling, and with a top score of 105, she cemented her legacy as one of New York’s most committed environmental champions.
The 2011 Voters’ Guide awarded honorable mentions to longtime environmental hero Assembly member Robert Sweeney (D-Lindenhurst), Chair of the Assembly’s Environmental Conservation Committee, for his efforts to secure passage of the Water Resources Protection Act, which will protect state waters from wasteful withdrawals; Freshman Senator Mark Grisanti (R-Buffalo), for steering the water protection bill through the upper house; and Senator Charles Fuschillo (R-Massapequa), for serving as the driving force behind Complete Streets legislation this year.
Also a freshman in the New York State Senate, Lee Zeldin (R- Hauppage) earned this year’s “Oil Slick” award for his efforts to de-fund public transportation, which would result in service cuts and fare increases while discouraging the use of public transit. His bill was rated the dirtiest piece of legislation introduced in 2011, because it would worsen air quality and increase climate-altering pollution and traffic congestion. Thankfully, the legislation failed to receive an Assembly vote. Senator Zeldin was also behind efforts to force taxpayers to subsidize Long Island fisherman and divert funds meant for sewage infrastructure improvements.
Although the executive branch is not scored in the Voters’ Guide, Governor Cuomo’s actions will have the most profound and lasting effect on the state’s environment. The Governor is currently poised to open New York State to fracking without the protections necessary to safeguard the health and safety of our water supplies or our communities. This ill-considered approach would sully his otherwise relatively “green” record. After years of cuts, his leadership kept the Environmental Protection Fund safe from harm during budget negotiations this year. However, Governor Cuomo’s next steps on fracking will cement his environmental legacy.
On average, Republican senators scored worse than their Democratic Party colleagues (57 to 83) in the environmental scorecard. Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R- Rockville Centre) received a score of 55 this year, while Minority Leader John Sampson (D-Brooklyn) earned an 85. -more-
Page 3 – Environmental Voters’ Guide In the Assembly, Republican members scored a 62 on average, while their Democratic Party colleagues scored 101. Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-NYC) and Majority Leader Ron Canestrari (D-Albany) are among top scores with 102, and Minority Leader Brian Kolb (R-Geneva) received a 54.
Assembly member Robert Castelli (R-White Plains) saw the biggest score increase in 2011, from 76 to 101, while his colleague Bill Reilich (R-Rochester) saw his score decrease from 57 to 46. New York City senators Jose Serrano, Thomas Duane and Bill Perkins increased their scores to 99 from 85, while Senator Malcolm Smith (D-Hollis) score dropped precipitously from 79 to 56.
The Assembly passed four of the environmental community’s five “Super Bills” in 2011. The Senate took up two of the priority bills; both were signed into law by Governor Cuomo. The Water Resources Protection Act will protect state waters from wasteful withdrawals. The Complete Streets law requires that transportation projects eligible for state and federal funding consider features that encourage walking, biking and public transit, thus reducing pollution. The passage of these two measures could have resulted in improved green grades for many members of the Senate majority. However, passage of eight bills deemed detrimental for New York’s environment resulted in many failing grades in the upper house.
EPL/Environmental Advocates calculates lawmakers’ scores using the ratings of its sister organization, Environmental Advocates of New York. Legislators earn between one and three points respectively for votes in support of bills that received one, two or three “trees.” Tree-rated bills are those deemed beneficial to the environment. Likewise, legislators earn between one and three points for voting against bills that were give a rating of one, two or three “smokestacks.” Smokestack-rated bills are those deemed detrimental to the environment. Votes on priority “Super Bills” are given extra weight in the guide. The Voters’ Guide is the first and only record of New York State lawmakers’ votes on legislation that will impact the environment. The Guide has been produced and distributed statewide for more than 40 years.
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EPL/Environmental Advocates was founded in 1969 as one of the first organizations in the nation to advocate for the future of a state’s environment and the health of its citizens. Through lobbying, advocacy, coalition building, citizen education and policy development, EPL/Environmental Advocates has been New York’s environmental conscience—ensuring that environmental laws are enforced; that new measures are enacted when necessary; and that the public is informed of, and participates in, important environmental policy debates.

Workshops and events from Business CENTS are always open to all in the community.“So You Want to Be Your Own Boss?”  An Intro to Entrepreneurship…When:  Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Time:  6:00 - 8:30 pm
Where:  Alternatives’ 2nd floor conference room
Cost:  $20
Registration required:  contact Alison, alison@alternatives.orgWinter “Getting Down to Business” courseWhen:  Tuesdays, January 17 through March 13, 2012
Time:  6:00 - 9:00 pm
Where:  Alternatives’ 2nd floor conference room
Cost:  sliding scale, $80 - 300
Registration required: contact Alison, alison@alternatives.org�
* Registration will close at 5:00 pm on Friday, January 13 (or sooner, if class becomes full)The calendar is winding toward the chilly season, and registration for our winter course is now open!  “Getting Down to Business” is our comprehensive business planning course, covering all major aspects of business start-up and management.  We’ll address bookkeeping and financial feasibility, financial statements, business taxes, marketing strategies and foundations, legal issues for small businesses, banking and financing, and more!Class participants must be able to commit to an intensive, nine-week course with outside research and homework. It takes time and dedication to create a successful enterprise!

Interested in starting a business or working for yourself, but not really sure what that will take?  Join us for our special introductory workshop, designed for those who are at the “idea stage” or just generally interested in small business.  We’ll address topics including:

– What business owners need to know
– How to research a business idea
– How to learn about the market and competition
– How to determine if your idea is financially feasible
– What resources are available for more help….
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“Getting Down to Business” is designed for people who:
- have a definite business concept that they are committed to, and
- are ready to move forward with their business planning process, and
- expect to get their business off the ground within the next 6-12 months, OR
- have very recently started a business and need help.

With the snip of a ribbon displaying examples of the many things that can now be recycled, representatives of Tompkins County and its private partners ReCommunity and Casella Waste Services today celebrated the grand reopening of Tompkins County’s new and improved Recycling and Solid Waste Center. 

All parties agreed that the $2.5 million capital project, and the innovative public-private partnership that brought it to fruition, are truly “groundbreaking,”will enable the County to meet its ambitious goal of 75% waste diversion by 2015, and will make it easy for everyone to recycle.

County Solid Waste Manager Barbara Eckstrom called the ten-year partnership with Casella and ReCommunity that began last February “the best marriage of partners,” and said the new Center is an important product of that partnership.  ReCommunity president Sean Duffy noted the partners have designed the new Center in a thoughtful way to make use of it safe, simple, and user-friendly for all.

Visitors to the Center will find a “Recycling Market,” where they can drop off many different types of items for recycling, under separate covered bays.  A one-way traffic flow keeps traffic moving safely, with residential and commercial traffic separated.

Manager Eckstrom noted the arrangement with ReCommunity and Casella, in which materials collected through single stream recycling are transported to Casella’s state-of-the-art facility in Ontario County for processing, has given her program “room to grow.”  That arrangement has freed up space in the Center to support specialized programs that are diverting more materials from the waste stream.

Commercial loads that contain a high percentage of fiber and sorted loads of cardboard or high grade paper are now baled at the Center and shipped to market, maximizing revenue.  Through a new waste diversion line, recyclable and reusable material from certain recycling-rich loads of garbage are now separated and diverted from the waste.

Eckstrom reported the County still expects a grant from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to cover half of the Center’s construction cost.

Through this public-private partnership, Eckstrom said, her program is “doing good and doing well.”  Casella Waste chief executive John Casella observed that, by working together, “the best of the private and public sectors can really do amazing things.”

Contact:  Barbara Eckstrom, Manager, Solid Waste Management Division, 607-273-6632.

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Marcia E. Lynch

Public Information Officer

Tompkins County

125 E. Court Street

Ithaca, NY  14850

Tel: 607-274-5555/Fax: 607-274-5558 

October 3, 2011

Contact: Leslie Schill, Tompkins County Planning Department

LSchill@tompkins-co.org

Interested in developing affordable housing in Tompkins County?

The Housing Fund - Funding Round 4: Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) now open for the Community Housing Affordability Program and Community Housing Trust Program

The Housing Fund, which consists of the Community Housing Affordability Program and the Community Housing Trust Program, is a joint effort of Tompkins County, the City of Ithaca, and Cornell University that was created to help communities and organizations throughout Tompkins County respond to the diverse affordable housing needs of local residents.  The Housing Fund was formed specifically to support the development of affordable housing units for low and moderate-income households in the County.

Community Housing Affordability Program Overview

The Community Housing Affordability Program is a locally funded and administered fund that assists with the pre-development costs associated with residential and mixed-use real estate development projects. Eligible uses of the fund include costs associated with establishing preliminary feasibility, pre-permitting, or pre-construction for a specific non-student housing project. Funds will be provided as a 0% interest loan that will be repaid from construction or permanent financing for the project. Eligible borrowers include both for-profit and non-profit developers. Funds may be available for preliminary and advanced feasibility. Funding will not be made available for administrative costs.

Community Housing Trust Program Overview

The Community Housing Trust Program is designed to ensure that newly constructed housing units or rehabilitated housing units remain affordable to successive buyers. Permanent affordability is retained by such measures as separating the ownership of the land from the ownership of the housing unit, whereby only the housing unit is purchased by the homebuyer, and by restricting the amount of equity that a homeowner can take

from the housing unit upon sale, or other equivalent mechanisms. Eligible uses of the fund include the cost of land, construction costs, or any other hard cost that will reduce overall cost of the housing units developed as long as these housing units remain permanently affordable by such measures as the Community Housing Trust or another acceptable mechanism.

For more information about the Community Housing Affordability Program and Community Housing Trust Program, to receive the NOFA, or for questions pertaining to the NOFA, please contact the Tompkins County Planning Department at 274-5560 or email planning@tompkins-co.org.  The NOFA can be picked up at 121 East Court Street, Ithaca, NY or is available online at:

http://www.tompkins-co.org/planning/housing_choices/HousingFund.htm

Answers to NOFA questions will be posted periodically on the Tompkins County Planning Department website.

Applications for the NOFA are due by Monday, November 14, 2011 at 4 p.m.

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Marcia E. Lynch

Public Information Officer

Tompkins County

125 E. Court Street

Ithaca, NY  14850

Tel: 607-274-5555/Fax: 607-274-5558 

                                                                                                                                                 For Information Contact:

               January 4, 2010                                                                                                                                                  Roger Downs 518.426.9144                              

                                                                                                                                                               Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter

NY Legislators Join Environmentalists To Tell Governor Paterson That The NYS DEC Draft SGEIS For Horizontal Drilling And Hydraulic Fracturing for Gas in the Marcellus Shale Is Deeply Flawed

NY legislators and environmentalists unite for first time in opposition to gas drilling document

NEW YORK, NY - New York City, county, state and federal legislators representing districts across the state gathered at a press conference on the steps of New York City Hall Monday, January 4th, 2010, at 11 AM, to voice their concerns with the very serious inadequacies of the draft Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement (dSGEIS) issued by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to govern horizontal drilling with hydraulic fracturing in the Marcellus and Utica Shale formations. Many of the speakers called on Governor Paterson to withdraw the document in its entirety and submit a revised document that will satisfy the requirements of the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA).

Speakers included Congressmen Eric Massa, Michael Arcuri, and Jerrold Nadler, State Senators Tom Duane and Eric Schneiderman, State Assemblymembers James Brennan, William Colton and Brian Kavanagh, Tompkins County Legislator Martha Robertson, NYC Council Speaker Christine Quinn, NYC Council Chair of the Environmental Protection Committee James Gennaro, NYC Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito and former Council Member Tony Avella, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, and Gregory  Meyer, Legislative Counsel for State Senator Jose Serrano, and Wendi Paster, Chief of Staff for Assemblyman Richard Gottfried, read statements of support. Though unable to attend, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr., Assembly Members Barbara Lifton and Sam Hoyt sent additional statements of support.

Many legislators added their voices to the request made to Governor Paterson last month by 25 environmental organizations asking the Governor to withdraw the dSGEIS. Representatives of five of the environmental groups also spoke at the press conference, including Kate Sinding, NRDC Senior Attorney, who moderated the event as well, Alex Mathiessen, Riverkeeper President, Wes Gillingham, Catskill Mountainkeeper Program Director, Joel Kupferman, New York Environmental Law and Jusice Project, Joe Levine, Co-Founder and Chairman NYH2O, Deborah Goldberg, Earthjustice Managing Attorney, and Annie Wilson, Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter Energy Committee Chair.

This event marked the first time the environmental community has come together with New York’s legislators at city, county, state and federal levels as one united bloc on the gas drilling issue. Other stakeholders echoing similar concerns are the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Steward Council Division 189 of the Public Employees Federation, representing 2000 of the DEC’s scientific, professional, and technical workers. (See quote from article and letter below.)

12/30/09 Times Union article:

“The union representing professional workers at DEC urged Governor Paterson to not allow gas drilling for at least another year to allow the agency to tighten the proposal. According to the letter from Steward Council of Division 189 of the Public Employees Federation, extra time is needed to study what will be done with tainted drilling water, which can contain radiation, salts and dissolved solids.  In its proposal, DEC has identified sewage treatment plants as places to process the water, although few treatment plants appear ready to accept it. “Sewage treatment plants must be identified, and technologically modernized, where necessary, to handle contaminated waters,” according to the PEF letter. The letter also urged the state to wait until after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency studies the environmental impact of hydrofracking.”  http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=883182#ixzz0bBcvx5T3 

EPA 12/31/09 letter to NYSDEC quote:

“EPA believes that the analysis and discussion of cumulative and indirect impacts in the draft SGEIS need to be significantly expanded. Even with its generic format, the draft SGEIS should discuss the impacts that may result from past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future projects as well as those impacts associated with gas drilling and hydro fracturing that may

occur later in time or at a distance from the immediate project site…EPA recommends a very cautious approach in all watershed areas so that NYSDEC can gain experience with, as well as ensure it has the resource capacity for regulating, high volume hydraulic fracturing activities.”

http://www.epa.gov/region2/spmm/Marcellus_dSGEIS_Comment_Letter_plus_Enclosure.pdf.

Susan Lawrence, Chair, Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter sent this statement:

        “The DEC needs to withdraw the very seriously deficient dSGEIS that does not conform with SEQRA. It needs to instead produce a new dSGEIS, a truly working plan that will cover the cumulative impacts of all aspects of the proposed massive drilling. This is absolutely critical to protect precious water supplies, other natural resources, and public health in our state.”

Assemblymember Brian Kavanagh sent this statement:

“Many of us have already called for banning high-volume hydrofracture gas drilling in the New York City Watershed, but before we permit this massive industrial activity anywhere in our state, we must fully understand and address the risks it poses to our environment, our health, and our quality of life. The review process must include a realistic assessment of the harm caused where this kind of drilling has been permitted.”

Assembly Member Barbara Lifton sent this statement: 

“With the disturbing videos that have recently come out, showing serious accidents, spills and contamination that have virtually destroyed the homes and land of a number of New York families…we can no longer say drilling in New York is safe and well-regulated, as we have been assured many times that it is.”

Assemblymember Sam Hoyt sent this statement:

“I share the deep concern that we all have regarding the potential negative impact natural gas hydraulic fracturing could pose to this state’s protected environment. I represent many constituents who fear that invasive hydrofracking will be allowed to occur inside one of this state’s most valuable ecological resources in Allegany State Park…We need to stand united in our opposition to natural gas hydrofracking when the future of our state’s environment is at stake.”

Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal  sent this statement:

“I call on the governor to withdraw the environmental impact statement, which has failed to adequately assess the dangers to public health and to the environment associated with the hydraulic fracturing used to extract gas from rock. This folly must be stopped before the state does irreparable, long-term harm in the watershed area and beyond.”

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr., sent this statement (see Bronx Borough Board Resolution attached):

“The Bronx Borough Board unequivocally urges Governor Patterson, the New York State Legislature and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to prohibit the use of hydraulic fracturing in the State of New York.”

Martha Robertson, Tompkins County Legislator said:
“Even with the toughest safeguards, is extracting Marcellus gas the smart thing to do? We are told that using natural gas will reduce global warming because it’s ‘cleaner’ than coal. However this is only true if the emissions from extraction are NOT included, and if there are no leaks in the system… Drilling the Marcellus Shale may increase New York’s greenhouse gas emissions, not reduce them. Can we afford to proceed without knowing?”

Congressman Eric Massa said:

“The bottom line is that the DEC’s current proposal for natural gas drilling regulations in New York State will not protect the health of our water resources and our communities. Until the State gets serious about this issue and puts something on the table that will keep the people of my district safe from the threats hydraulic fracturing poses, we cannot allow companies to start drilling thousands of potentially dangerous well projects across the region.”

Kate Sinding, NRDC Senior Attorney said:

“The state’s draft study is fatally flawed and doesn’t come close to protecting New Yorkers from the health or environmental risks associated with fracking. We must not jeopardize safe drinking water in New York. In order to drill responsibly, the Governor has no choice but to start over.”

Alex Matthiessen, President of Riverkeeper said:

“The State’s draft environmental review is deeply flawed and must be withdrawn. Our detailed analysis revealed that in the Governor’s headlong rush to roll out the red carpet for oil and gas companies, the State side-stepped many issues, none more critical than protecting the state’s drinking water.”

         Annie Wilson, Chair, Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter Energy Committee said:

        “Intelligent energy policy must not contaminate our watersheds and threaten our public health with toxic substances. Our climate crisis requires that we do not expand fossil fuel infrastructures. We must support activities and policies that promote energy efficiency, conservation, and the use of renewable resources, such as wind, solar, and geothermal.”

        NYC Council Member and Chair of Environmental Committee James Gennaro said:       

The scientific verdict is in on fracking and the DSGEIS, and we come together today to proclaim it with one voice to the Paterson Administration, and call upon Gov. Paterson to withdraw the DSGEIS and start this process anew with a new perspective - one that prioritizes the preservation of drinking water quality over the production of natural gas.”

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