Finally, after sixteen years of struggle and lawsuits, there is a light at the end of the tunnel for Pine Bush preservation. It is a very tiny light, but with your help, we may actually be able to reach it.

Two things are occurring to create this light. One is the change in the political climate in Albany with the new mayor, Jerry Jennings (who has a history of supporting Pine Bush preservation), and new alderpersons. The other is the NYS Environmental Protection Fund, which was created this year to buy land for preservation. This fund is the key.

We need to ask that monies from this fund be used to buy Pine Bush.

The Pine Bush has been identified as a priority project for acquisition in the New York Open Space Plan.

Save the Pine Bush has developed a proposal identifying land which needs to be preserved. This intensely researched plan includes both a list and a map of these parcels.

Write a letter today to ask that the remaining undeveloped Pine Bush be purchased for preserve.

Here is a sample letter. Please feel free to copy it word-for-word, or change it, or write your words for why you want to see the Pine Bush preserved.

The Letter

Dear

The Albany Pine Bush has been identified as a “priority project” for acquisition for preserve by the New York State Open Space Plan. The Pine Bush is geologically and ecologically unique, and is home to many rare and endangered species of plants and animals.

The Albany Pine Bush is under imminent threat of development. Nearly every week, developers make proposals for housing tracts or office parks to chip away at a few more acres of the Pine Bush.

The New York State Environmental Protection Fund was created to purchase land for preservation. Because the Albany Pine Bush has been identified as a priority area, and because it is under immediate threat of development, I ask that you do what ever you can to see that the remainder of the Pine Bush is purchased for preserve.

Sincerely,

Send your letter to: Governor Mario Cuomo, Executive Chamber, State Capitol, Albany, NY 12224; Thomas Jorling, Commissioner, NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation, 50 Wolf Road, Albany, NY 12205; Anthony Adamczyk, Dept. of Environmental Conservation Region 4 Director, 2176 Guilderland Ave., Schenectady, NY 12306; Lee Kiernan, Dept. of Environmental Conservation Region 4 Real Property Director, 2176 Guilderland Ave., Schenectady, NY 12306; or Mayor Jerry Jennings, City Hall, Albany, NY 12207 or your alderman or town councilman or send one to each!

Are you involved in the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, a church group or school class or senior citizens group? Writing letters would be a great environmental project for any group. This may be the single most important thing you can do for Pine Bush preservation. The political climate is right, and the money is there. A massive out-pouring of support now can make all the difference in the world!

If you would like a copy of Save the Pine Bush’s preservation plan, please send a check for $5 to cover copying and postage to The Plan, c/o Lynne Jackson, Save the Pine Bush, 33 Central Ave., Albany, NY 12210. For more information, call Lynne at 434-1954 or Jerry Mueller or John Wolcott at 465-8930.

published January 94 Newsletter