August 27, 2022
Dear Friends,
The mighty waters that flow through our region have always been a point of pride, and their importance stretches far beyond that of our locally cherished sites. From our New York-New Jersey Watershed—the most populated in the nation, that supports critical ecosystems and serves as key flood mitigation, protecting people, animals, and our environment—to the Erie Canalway that gave rise to our mill towns and spurred an era of innovation and pioneering spirit that so strongly defines our region.
This week, I had the pleasure of visiting these beloved sites, where I joined community leaders, advocates and organizations and spoke on the critical importance of maintaining and protecting our waterways.
- First, I travelled to Schodack Island State Park alongside local advocates to celebrate last month’s passage of my New York-New Jersey Watershed Protection Act. This legislation would invest $20 million annually to advance community-led restoration projects, improve water quality, support frontline communities suffering from environmental injustice, and increase public access to the watershed. I have worked for years alongside our local organizations to ensure our Watershed remains safe, sustainable, and accessible for generations to come, while remaining a local economic engine. And I’ll continue fighting to achieve this hard-fought goal.
- I also visited the Mohawk Harbor in Schenectady to meet with leaders and local stakeholders at the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, which was recently designated as a National Water Trail by Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland. I joined in celebrating this new national designation, as well as highlighting some investments advocates and I helped deliver over the past year, including historic preservation efforts and grants awarded to local communities.
As essential as these waterways are—to our history, our communities, and our economy—they remain underfunded and unsupported.
Hazardous waste and legacy chemicals continue to pollute our waterways, threatening the health and safety of ecosystems, wildlife, and our communities. All the while, threats of storm surges and sea-level rise grow more severe amid the worsening effects of climate change. It is long overdue for us to invest boldly in these vital water resources that define our heritage and our region.
I have always believed that the power of our waters can be harnessed once again to transform our region in the twenty-first century. We can build an economy today that uses our mighty waters not as sources of harm and pollution to local communities, but for enhanced public health, as cherished gathering places and sites for public outreach and education, and for the celebration of a heritage that grounds us in our deep roots while propelling us into a cleaner and more just future. Our waterways are the key to that future—one filled with smart development, innovation, and new jobs—if we respect and care for them.
I will continue fighting to protect our nation’s invaluable natural and cultural resources for the benefit of current and future generations.
As always, thank you for reading.
Your friend,
DID YOU KNOW?
My office and I have worked to make sure you remain informed with the latest local, state and federal updates and recommendations. With that in mind here is some information that may be of interest to you:
- I am honored to consider myself an ally of the Alzheimer’s community, and of all the individuals who work day in and day out to provide hope for those struggling with an Alzheimer’s diagnosis.
- On Thursday, September 1st at 1:00PM, I will be joining the Alzheimer’s Association and LifePath at Cohoes Senior Center to speak on my work in Washington fighting for seniors and those living with Alzheimer’s.
- At the event, a representative from the Alzheimer’s Association will deliver an informative presentation on the future of Alzheimer’s research and the strides they’ve made in treatment.
- My constituent casework team will also be in attendance to answer any questions you may have relating to a federal agency.
