by Lynne Jackson

ALBANY, NY: On the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, Save the Pine Bush volunteers attended the Albany County Legislature’s budget hearing.

At the 17 minute hearing, only eight people spoke. Seven of us spoke about the Pine Bush Preservation! I will admit to be surprised that so few people attended and spoke at the hearing about Albany County’s budget of over $700 million. After the hearing, William Clay came over to speak with us. He is the legislator for the Pine Bush and lives in Pinehurst – one of the developments that was part of our first lawsuit in 1978. Mr. Clay asked questions about the controlled burns in the Pine Bush and about what land is available to be purchased. We had a good conversation.

This is the year to ask for money to purchase land in the Pine Bush. We need to ask New York State and the Albany County Legislature for funds to buy land. We will need to continue our efforts to bring attention to the issue of acquiring all of the remaining privately-owned land in the Pine Bush. We will be back to lobby our legislature this year.