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Letter To The Editor: Westchester Land Trust Pleased With State Budget

BEDFORD, N.Y. -- Bedford Daily Voice accepts signed and original letters to the editor up to 350 words. To submit your letter, email bedford@dailyvoice.com

Lori Ensinger

Lori Ensinger

Photo Credit: Contributed

To the editor,

We are pleased to share that the final agreement on a state budget includes significant investments in New York's environment. Drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, support for the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF), expansion of funding for capital projects in the New York State Parks Recreation and Historic Preservation facilities and services, and a commitment to Local Waterfront Revitalization Programs each play a vital role in the future of New York State conservation.

The 2018 State Budget is a testament to both Governor Cuomo's and the Legislature's commitment to our environment. The increase in the New York State Conservation Partnership Program to $2.5 million, and the creation of a new pool of Department of Environmental Conservation funding for land acquisition to support source water protection is especially heartening. The budget complements the work of land trusts throughout the State and re-affirms the importance of public-private partnerships in prioritizing the health of our environment.

Westchester Land Trust works together with public and private partners to preserve land in perpetuity, and to protect and enhance the natural resources in our communities. In recent years, WLT has been able to use state funds - specifically from the Environmental Protection Fund - to protect land in Mamaroneck and Patterson and to add new staff: Preserve Manager & Educator, Dr. Shaun McCoshum. Since his arrival in August 2016, Shaun has been responsible for the care and management of WLT's 29 preserves throughout the region and has provided outreach and education opportunities for hundreds of residents. Please consider joining him at one of our upcoming events.

If you are able to help us leverage this historic level of state funding for the environment, please support us (www.westchesterlandtrust.org). Our success depends on you.

Sincerely,

Lori Ensinger, President

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