Dear Scenic Hudson Member:

In yesterday's "State of the State" address, Gov. Eliot Spitzer outlined a number of initiatives important to the future of the Hudson Valley. Here's a quick summary:

400th Anniversary of Henry Hudson's Voyage

The entire world will turn its attention to the Hudson Valley and New York State during 2009, the 400th anniversary of Hudson's sail up the river. The governor made the anniversary a centerpiece of his address, announcing that financial resources will be devoted both to the celebration and to the creation of new parks that will enable people to enjoy the Hudson River.

As part of the celebration, the governor is backing the transformation of the Pougkeepsie Railroad Bridge into a "Walkway over the Hudson" -- a bold stroke that will spur tourism and downtown revitalization throughout the Mid-Hudson Region. In addition, the governor announced grant opportunities linked to improving the health of the Hudson River Estuary. With leadership from the newly appointed Hudson Quadracentennial Commission, initiatives like these can help strike the right balance between economic development and protection of the state's critical resources.

Investments in Parkland

Gov. Spitzer's commitment of $100 million to repairing aging facilities at state parks shows an appreciation of the many benefits that parkland and recreational facilities have on the quality of life of our cities and towns. This investment is an example of his strengthening commitment to "smart" economic development -- improving infrastructure in city and town centers while protecting the surrounding land for agriculture and recreational uses. This will make for a strong and healthy New York State.

Stewart Airport

We were glad to note the governor's continued commitment to increasing the state's energy efficiency as a strategy to combat climate change. Specifically, we look forward to our continuing involvement in the exciting initiative to make Stewart Airport so energy efficient that it can become the first "carbon negative" facility in the world. As the Stewart expansion goes forward, we will work in the surrounding areas to encourage smart growth and stem sprawling development. We also look forward to working with Gov. Sptizer to protect the "green infrastructure" around Stewart and all along the river.

Upcoming Budget Address -- Stay Tuned

Of course, funding for these bold initiatives must make it into the budget, so we will be closely monitoring the governor's budget address. In particular, we hope to see the administration's continued commitment to funding land preservation and other critical environmental priorities through the Environmental Protection Fund and Bigger, Better Bottle Bill. As the budget process moves forward, look for occasional updates from Scenic Hudson along with opportunities to communicate your priorities to the governor and legislative leaders. Together, let's persuade the state to do the right thing for the Hudson Valley environment -- and its economy.

Thanks for all that you do,

Ned Sullivan
President
Scenic Hudson