Help Ban Neonics in NY!

Act now: Tell Governor Hochul to sign the Birds and Bees Protection Act into law!

The Birds and Bees Protection Act (A.7640/S.1856) has been delivered to Governor Hochul and she has until December 23rd to sign this measure into law.

Ways you can help:

  • Complete NY Audubon's action alert by clicking here.

  • Call the Governor, whether you reach a live person or an answering machine, please tell the office your name, where you are from, and that you want Governor Hochul to sign The Birds and Bees Protection Act (A7640/S1856A) to protect New York State’s birds, pollinators, water, and public health from highly toxic neonic pesticides. You can reach the Governor’s office at 1-518-474-8390 between 9:00am to 5:00pm.

Act now, we are so close to achieving a huge win for New York's environment and the protection of the wildlife we love.

From the Neonic Fact Sheet:

“Neonicotinoids or “neonics” are neurotoxic pesticides linked to massive bee and insect losses around the globe and, increasingly, to vast water and soil contamination, ecosystem-wide harms, and human health concerns in New York. Cornell University research reveals that the neonic uses that pose the greatest threats to New York’s bees are also those that provide little-to-no benefits to users or are easily replaceable with safer alternatives. 

 

The Birds and Bees Protection Act (A7429-Englebright/S6998 –Hoylman) prohibits these wasteful uses – specifically, neonic-treated corn, soybean, and wheat seeds, and non-agricultural, turf and ornamental uses – to provide a targeted, science-based approach to address the heart of New York’s neonic contamination crisis, benefiting New York’s environment, agricultural economy, and health.” 

Strong's Yacht Center Proposed Yacht Storage Buildings at Mattituck Inlet


Strong’s Yacht Center has submitted to Southold Town a site plan to remove 4.59 acres of a 60’ high oak forested  bluff and build two large storage buildings for supersized yachts at 5780 West Mill Road, on Mattituck Inlet.  Each 1.3 acre building is larger than a football field. The two buildings together are 101,500 square feet; for comparison, the Walmart on Route 58 is 169,500 square feet and the Lidl (former Toys’R’Us) is 35,000 square feet. The property is adjacent to Mill Road Preserve, a Southold Town nature preserve. 

The SYC proposal includes:

  • removing 634 mature trees, mostly oak, of 50-80 feet average height and diameters of 6” to 39” from a coastal oak-beech forest characterized by New York State as “rare”

  • excavating 134,900 cubic yards (364 million pounds or 182,143 tons) of dirt and sand, destroying the bluff, to bring the grade down to about 9 feet

  • hauling the sand and dirt to Calverton with 22-wheeler trucks, each weighing 107,000 pounds, totaling about 9,000 truck trips on narrow local roads in six months; the trucks would go down Sound Ave to Northville Turnpike and Route 105 then proceed onto Route 58 to Tanger Mall

  • building an 875 foot long concrete retaining wall estimated 40 feet high to hold back the rest of the bluff

  • constructing two steel buildings for supersized yacht storage - one 52,500 sq. ft. and 49,000 sq. ft. and each 48’ high,

  • installing 8,000 gallons of propane storage tanks, heating systems, roads, etc.

Close to 5 acres of pristine oak, beech, maple, hickory and sassafras forest would be eliminated entirely, with total construction impacting close to 6 acres. A further 9 acres of oak-beech forest habitat would be degraded due to the “forest edge” phenomena where invasive plants and white-tailed deer generally take over within 195 feet of the forest edge. 

The site, immediately adjacent to Southold Town’s 27-acre Mill Road Preserve, where NFAS has held bird walks, also contains wetlands. The removal of the 50’ high bluff would eliminate ecosystems for 105 species of plants, 26 species of trees, 89 species of birds, 20 species of mammals, and 3 species of reptiles and amphibians. The species include several on the federal or NY State endangered, threatened, special concern and special conservation need lists.

North Fork Audubon Society is still reviewing the environmental impacts and will likely make written comments for the Southold Town hearing May 15. We urge members to become informed about the issues. Information is listed below:

Videos:

 

New York State Environmental Bond Act - Proposal Number One
Legislation was Successfully Passed!

Thank you for your support in passing the "Clean Air, Clean Water, and Green Jobs Bond Act", Proposal Number One.

The measure will provide funding as follows: 

*  Restoration and flood risk reduction not less than one billion dollars one hundred million ($1,100,000,000); 

*  Open space land conservation and recreation up to six hundred fifty million dollars ($650,000,000); 

*  Climate change mitigation up to one billion five hundred million dollars ($1,500,000,000); and, 

*  Water quality improvement and resilient infrastructure not less than six hundred fifty million dollars ($650,000,000).

Specifically, Proposal Number One will allow for New York State to respond to climate change by: reducing flooding; restoring the vitality of natural areas; providing funding to buy more parkland and preserves such as the Pine Barrens, along Long Island's coastline and farmland; advancing water quality projects like reducing stormwater pollution; funding "green buildings" on SUNY campuses; eliminating dangerous lead pipes used for drinking water; and many other worthwhile projects.

Thank you to John Turner for providing this information.