Save the Pine Bush Action Alert! 
Action Alerts!
December, 1998/January 1999
Albany Residents – Call/Write
To Your Alderman
to Oppose the Drumlin Fields Office Complex
Capital District Residents – Call/Write
to Local Elected Officials Please call/write to Oppose these
Guilderland and Albany Developments
ACTION ALERT!!
Write or Call Your State Legislators Today
Ask for Money to Buy Pine Bush
Your Voice Makes a Big
Difference!
The New York State Budget is being prepared and it’s that time of year when the commonfolk scramble to catch a few crumbs that may fall from the Emperor’s plate. Letters and visits by supporters of Pine Bush preservation had beneficial results last year; we need to continue the effort this year. We need to let all of our state legislators know that there is much more Pine Bush to be purchased.
Write or call your legislators. Tell them that the Pine Bush is globally rare and extremely important to preserve. Tell them in your own words what the Pine Bush means to you. Tell them that you want money from the Environmental Protection Fund and the 1996 Environmental Bond Act to go towards purchasing more Pine Bush.
Money is available from the Environmental Protection Fund and the 1996 Bond Act.
The Pine Bush is the top priority identified by the New York State Open Space Protection Plan for preservation. Its great to be number one &emdash; but we need to be sure that that there is money to buy the land. Properties under immediate threat that should be acquired in this year’s funding cycle include the Rao, Serafini, and Hungerkill area properties in Guilderland, the Touhey and Landess properties in the City of Albany, and the Phibbs and proposed Golf Range in Colonie. All of these owners have announced plans to develop the land, but many of them have also indicated a willingness to sell for preservation if the State has funds. In addition to these immediate acquisitions, we would like to see the State make commitments to other Pine Bush landowners that their land will be purchased by a certain date. Property tax abatements should be offered to these owners as an incentive not to develop their land in the meantime.
If you have any more questions on this, or would like to join Save the Pine Bush volunteers to visit legislators, please call Lynne Jackson at 434-1954.
Please phone and write your legislators’ and Governor’s offices and tell them:We would like to see all of the remaining unprotected lands in the Albany Pine Bush, including the properties listed above, be acquired by the State on behalf of the public.
If you have any more questions on this, or would like to join Save the Pine Bush volunteers to visit legislators, please email pinebush@aol.com.
Please phone and write your legislators’ and Governor’s offices and tell them:We would like to see all of the remaining unprotected lands in the Albany Pine Bush, including the properties listed above, be acquired by the State on behalf of the public.
In the State Assembly:
- Assemblyman John McEneny – 518/455-4178 (the Pine Bush is in his district). Rm 648 LOB.
- Assemblyman Richard Brodsky – 518/455-3791 (Chair of Environ. Comm.) Rm 625 LOB.
- Assemblyman Sheldon Silver – 518/455-3791 (Speaker of the House) Rm. 932 LOB.
In the State Senate:
- Senator Stafford – 518/455-3411 (Chair Senate Finance Comm.) Rm 310 LOB
- Senator Bruno – 518/455-2892 (Senate majority leader) Rm. 330 LOB
- Senator Hugh Farley – 518/455-2181 (“the leading Senate Repub. on Env.issues”(?) 412 LOB
- Senator Neil Breslin – 455-2225 Rm. 808 LOB
And for letter-writing:
Representative _______ / Legislative Office Building, Room ___/Albany, NY 12247
