SULLIVAN – As a result of the people of New York voting on Election Day, the proposition “Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act” passed both statewide and in Sullivan County. Local environmental agencies are hoping to see a portion of the funds make its way into the Catskills. 

According to the New York State Board of Elections and the Sullivan County board of Elections, the polls showed an affirmative outcome on the bond act, passing in Sullivan County with a vote of 11,646 in support to 9,685 opposed. 

Statewide, it passed with a vote of 3,416,894 in favor (59.28 percent) and 1,654,091 opposed (28.70 percent.) According to the data, 692,129 voters (12.01 percent) left their vote on the proposition blank.

The act is designed to issue $4.2 billion in general obligation bonds for projects classified as climate change mitigation, flood-risk reduction, water infrastructure, and land conservation and recreation.

The distribution of the funds are set to go as follows – up to $1.5 billion will be set aside for air and water pollution reduction projects, wetland protections to address sea-level rise, storm surge, and flooding, relocating or retrofitting facilities, green building projects, solar arrays, heat pumps, and wind turbines in public low-income housing areas, zero-emission school buses, street trees and urban forest programs, green roofs and reflective roofs, and carbon sequestration on natural and working lands.

At least $1.10 billion is intended to address flood-risk reduction, coastal and shoreline restoration, relocating and repairing flood-prone infrastructure and roadways, and ecological restoration projects.

Up to $650 million is expected to be allocated for land conservation and recreation plans, programs, and projects, and fish hatcheries.

Finally, at least $650 million is dedicated for projects related to wastewater, sewage, and septic infrastructure, lead service line replacement, riparian buffers, stormwater runoff reduction, agricultural nutrient runoff reduction, and addressing harmful algal blooms.

Will Sullivan County see any of it?

While there are no guarantees that Sullivan County’s and Catskill areas numerous municipalities or environmental protection agencies will be receiving any funds from this environmental bond act, it is required that at least 35 percent of the monies be allocated to “disadvantaged communities” throughout the state. 

The push for the passing of the bond act has caused optimistic anticipation in the county for environmental leaders and concerned citizens.

The Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed, Friends of the Upper Delaware River (FUDR), and the New York League of Conservation Voters (NYLCV) worked together with watershed partners to promote the bond act in the weeks leading up to November 8.

On September 1, The Upper Delaware Council (UDC) had hosted presentations from High Garst, the state policy advocate for the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed, and Jeff Skelding, Executive Director of FUDR, to promote and inform the public on the bond act.

In their presentations, Garst and Skelding gave an overview of the possibilities and examples should money flow into the area. 

These included repairing and replacing aging water and wastewater infrastructure, preserving farms and farmland, building community resilience in the face of changing weather patterns, creating local jobs to implement on-the-ground conservation projects, enhancing community parks and outdoor recreational opportunities, and addressing economic and environmental inequities for underserved communities.

“Our unified action around the Clean Water, Clean Air, Green Jobs Bond Act, lead regionally by FUDR, highlighted the significant benefits this statewide investment could present to the watershed. We look forward to working with our partners in the region to ensure that funding from the Bond Act is steered towards New York’s Upper Delaware River Region, securing sound investments in the economic and environmental future of our communities and our watershed,” Skelding said.

Laurie Ramie, UDC Executive Director, is also hoping for the Catskills region’s acquisition of a portion of the funds.

“The public education effort clearly managed to overcome the concern that it wouldn’t be noticed on the flip side of the ballot or would be overshadowed by so many other issues clamoring for voters’ attention. It was appropriate to delay its consideration during the early pandemic days,” said Ramie. 

“It now becomes a historic investment in our future. We’ll be watching to see how the funding can be leveraged to meet local needs.” 

Elected Officials seek to secure

Senator of New York’s 51st Senate District Peter Oberacker said, “Clean air, clean water, and green jobs are all vital.  The area of the state that I represent is filled with natural beauty and resources that must be preserved for generations to come. With those thoughts in mind, I am supportive of legislation to protect our environment while also ensuring that we are doing so in a commonsense, fiscally responsible manner.”

“I voted against the bond act due to the high price tag and concerns with oversight – this cannot become just another slush fund for the governor to pay for pet projects,” Senator Oberacker said.

“Now that the bond act has received public approval, I will be partnering with local officials to make our region’s needs known. I have already had several conversations with leaders in Sullivan County and throughout the 51st Senate District regarding aging infrastructure, flood remediation, and other projects that would fall under the bond act umbrella and I will be fighting to secure our fair share of the state dollars,” Senator Oberacker added. 

The Democrat reached out to 100th Assembly District representative Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther for comment on the passing of the bond act but did not receive a response by presstime Monday.