Republicans Vote to Shut New Yorkers Out of Their Parks During Memorial Day Weekend
By Mike Connery on 05/28/2010 @ 06:21 PM
As Senate Democrats voted to restore funding to our parks today, Republicans proved themselves once more to be the "Party of No," voting unanimously to reject the funding and putting the profits of polluters ahead of New Yorkers who deserve access to their parks.
What's more, Republicans voted against the economic well being of our state and its citizens. The parks system is an economic engine for New York, generating upwards of $1.9 billion in revenue and over 20,000 jobs across the state. When the parks close, those jobs and revenue go away, leaving areas more economically depressed. Here's a full accounting as to how park closures would affect different areas of the state:
Allegany Region – 1.9 million visitors, 860 jobs created and $62 million in related sales and output generated by Allegany, Lake Erie, Long Point and Midway state parks
Saratoga- Capital Region – 3.3 million visitors, 2,929 jobs created and $249 million in related sales and output generated at Saratoga Spa, Thacher, Grafton Lakes and Moreau Lake state parks to name just a few.
Central Region – 2.3 million visitors, 1,620 jobs created and $134 million in related sales and output generated by Glimmerglass, Green Lakes, Verona Beach, and Chenango Valley state parks to name just a few.
Finger Lakes Region – 3 million visitors, 1,776 jobs created and $141 million in related sales and output generated by Buttermilk Falls, Watkins Glen, Seneca Lake and Keuka Lake state parks to name just a few.
Genesee Region – 1.2 million visitors, 675 jobs created and $58 million in related sales and output generated by Letchworth, Darien Lakes, Silver Lake and Hamlin Beach state parks to name just a few.
Long Island Region – 19.9 million visitors, 3,992 jobs created and $410 million in related sales and output generated by Jones Beach, Robert Moses, Montauk Point and Caleb Smith state parks to name just a few.
New York City – 4.5 million visitors, 716 jobs created and $61 million in related sales and output generated by Roberto Clemente, Riverbank and Gantry Plaza state parks to name just a few.
Niagara Frontier Region - 10.3 million visitors, 4,701 jobs created and $569 million related sales and output generated by Niagara Falls, Evangola, Woodlawn Beach and Four Mile Creek state parks to name just a few.
Palisades Region – 4.4 million visitors, 1,052 jobs created and $94 million in related sales and output generated by Harriman, Minnewaska, Bear Mountain, and Rockland Lake state park.
Taconic Region – 3.1 million visitors, 957 jobs created and $102 million in related sales and output generated by Fahnestock, Hudson Highlands, Taconic and James Baird state parks to name just a few.
Thousand Islands Region – 1.7 million visitors, 882 jobs created and $63 million in related sales and output generated by Cumberland Bay, St. Lawrence, Wellesley Island and Westcott Beach state parks to name just a few.
There was one constituency that Republicans voted for today - polluters. GOP opposition to the measure was predicated upon higher fees imposed on New York’s producers of hazardous waste -- fees that are dedicated to cleaning up the environment.
Republicans have made their priorities clear. They're on the side of corporate polluters over the people of New York, the health of our state's economy, and the open spaces that make our state great. As New Yorkers head to their local parks this weekend to honor our veterans and picnic with their family, I think they would agree that the values displayed by Republicans today are not those of New York.
Comments
Leave a Comment