UPDATE: We have very exciting news to share, updating you on some key developments over the weekend. We need you to send a message to your legislators in support of a $4M Catskills line in the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) (link opens a message from our friends, Catskill Mountainkeeper, with whom the Catskill Center co-chairs the Catskill Park Coalition).  

The separate budget proposals of the Executive, Assembly and Senate for the EPF have just been released. The Assembly budget contains a new $4 million line for "Catskill Park, access and stewardship" in the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF). This is HUGE. But to make it into a reality, the Senate and the Executive need to be persuaded to go along.

After contacting your legislators, please pick up the phone and call Governor Cuomo's office (518-474-8390) and let him know you support a $4M Catskills line in the EPF. 

THIS IS AN HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY and one that will serve the Park long into the future. It's amazing that we've gotten to this point. 

Now we need your help to push the new EPF line across the finish line! Please see the email below for more information and click here to send a message to your legislators in support of a $4M Catskills line in the EPF. 

Thank you for your support of our beloved Catskills. Please contact your legislator today.

We are thrilled to share an important step towards the Catskill Park Coalition's (of which we co-chair) goal of an ongoing $4 million line for the Catskills and Catskill Park, out of the increase to the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF), proposed by Governor Andrew Cuomo. Senators Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Liz Krueger, on behalf of the Senate Democratic Conference, have included our $4M request in their budget priorities letter (please see attached letter) to Senator Flanagan, Majority Leader.

It's now up to us. \

Please pick up the phone right now and call your state representative today. Let them know you want an ongoing $4M line for the Catskills and Catskill Park, from the Governor's proposed increase to the Environmental Protection Fund. Don't know who your rep is in the NY Assembly? > http://www.elections.ny.gov/district-map/district-map.html. 

Click here to contact your legislator (link opens a Catskill Mountainkeeper page, we co-chair the Catskill Park Coalition alongside Mountainkeeper). Finally, a call in to the Governor's office (518-474-8390) in support of a $4M line for the Catskills, while thanking him for his proposed $300M EPF (an increase from $177M!), is critical. 

Time is of the essence! Budget negotiations are going on right now with less than two weeks left. The governor's never had a late budget so please pick up the phone right now. We have a very good shot at this but we need to make sure our voice is heard loud and clear: we need to BUILD A MODERN PARK! 

Finally, THANK YOU to everyone who helped make this huge first step possible by writing letters, making phone calls and knocking on doors in Albany last month for Catskill Park Awareness Day. We're not done yet, but this is moving in the right direction. Please help us spread the word far and wide!

If you have questions or need additional information, please call the Catskill Center at 845-586-2611 or email us at cccd@catskillcenter.org.

This post was written by Erik Johanson, Advocacy & Outreach Project Manager for the Catskill Center. 

Since 1969, the Catskill Center has led the effort to protect  the Catskills.  Our Mission is to protect and foster the environmental, cultural and economic well-being of the Catskill region. Become a member of the Catskill Center today to support our work.