From NY1:Dozens of shuttered state parks should reopen, just in time for the Memorial Day weekend.
Early this morning, the State Assembly passed a bill that would provide $11 million for park operations this year.
This afternoon, the State Senate voted this afternoon to approve the measure.
The agreement reached with Governor David Paterson yesterday takes about $80 million from the state's Environmental Protection Fund. Of that money, $6 million will go toward reopening the parks and the remaining $74 million will go toward closing the state's $9.2 billion budget deficit.
The Paterson administration had closed 41 parks and 14 historic sites, including Bayswater Point Park in Queens to try to save money.
Critics say taking money from the Environmental Protection Fund will lead to drastic cuts for the Bronx Zoo and Botanical Garden, but the Assembly speaker says those institutions will not be affected.
"These are important for tourism, for recreation, all the things that make New York great,” said Bill Ulfelder of the Nature Conservancy. “To reduce this spending is devastating. The EPF has been treated like a punching bag through the budget process."
The money shuffle may solve the problem for now, but there are no guarantees New Yorkers won't be locked out of their park again next year.
8 comments:
Parks are needed and are a drop in the bucket vs the problems there would be otherwise if people cannot go to a park to relax or release energy by playing sports. Would you rather folks rioted in the streets when they have nothing to do or go to when it is 100 degrees out this summer?
Patterson is a complete idiot. The assembly and Senate should all be investigated. Get rid of the bums in November with your vote.
"Would you rather folks rioted in the streets when they have nothing to do or go to when it is 100 degrees out this summer?"
With all due respect, this only seems to happen in the city and the closure of Bayswater would not have caused riots. Now closing it because it cost an extra $5500 a year was pretty damn stupid. However, delaying future projects when you are expecting a million more people to show up is quite shortsighted.
what makes politicians so stupid?
a million more expected to show up in n.y.c.
is it not time to build a wall around the five boroughs,especially the county of Queens?
stupid move, why keep parks open so people can destroy them without any oversight. We need environment protection. These people are filthy and barbecue in the parks and leave fish hooks to kill ducks. damn,
Riots??? LOL, these fats people cant even walk to McDonalds, they use the drive thru.
Riots??? LOL, these fats people cant even walk to McDonalds, they use the drive thru.
Anonymous said...
stupid move, why keep parks open so people can destroy them without any oversight. We need environment protection. These people are filthy and barbecue in the parks and leave fish hooks to kill ducks. damn,
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In your view people are the problem and should not be allowed to enjoy the parks? Their parks? Our Parks? The Peoples parks?
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