Scenic Hudson President Ned Sullivan Comments on Gov. Spitzer's State of the State Address

HUDSON VALLEY -- Ned Sullivan, president of Scenic Hudson, served as co-chair of Gov. Eliot Spitzer's transition team on smart growth and previously served as deputy commissioner of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and commissioner of the State of Maine Department of Environmental Protection.

He offered the following responses to the State of the State.

Regarding the 400th Anniversary of Henry Hudson's Sail up the River

"We at Scenic Hudson are thrilled that Governor Spitzer has made a strong commitment to the 400th anniversary of Hudson's sail up the river through his State of the State address and his commitment of financial resources to the celebration including "legacy projects" that will create new parks to enable people to enjoy the Hudson River.

The governor's backing of the transformation of the Pougkeepsie Railroad Bridge into a Walkway over the Hudson is a bold stroke that will spur tourism and downtown revitalization linking Poughkeepsie, the Town of Lloyd and the Mid-Hudson Region. It is exciting that a grassroots initiative started by the Walkway Over the Hudson, spurred forward by generous financial support from Congressman Maurice Hinchey and the Dyson Foundation, has now garnered New York State's support as a centerpiece of the Quadricentennial Celebration. The governor has recently appointed capable new leadership of the Hudson Quadricentennial Commission, announced grant opportunities linked to the health of the Hudson River Estuary, and now made it the very heart of his State of the State address. During the year 2009, the entire world will turn its attention to the Hudson Valley and New York State. The actions he has announced today will help lay the groundwork for this year of celebration and ensure that planning for the coming century strikes the right balance between economic development and protection of the state's critical resources," said Mr. Sullivan

Regarding Investment in Parkland

Mr. Sullivan said, "Governor Spitzer's commitment of $100 million to repairing the aging facilities at the state's parks is a demonstration of his understanding that the quality of life of our cities and towns is enhanced immeasurably by high quality parkland and recreational facilities. The governor's speech indicates he is strengthening his commitment to 'smart' economic development – focusing investment of 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."

Climate Change and Energy Efficiency

"Governor Spitzer's speech indicated a continued commitment to increasing the state's energy efficiency as a strategy to combat climate change. We at Scenic Hudson are committed to continuing to work with him on the exciting initiative to make Stewart Airport the first "carbon negative" facility in the world and to ensure that expansion of operations around the airport encourages smart growth and stems sprawling development. We also look forward to working with him to protect the 'green infrastructure' around Stewart and all along the river. These are the natural areas that meet the highest state standards for scenic and ecological values," said Mr. Sullivan.

Upcoming Budget Address

"Scenic Hudson looks forward to the governor's budget address, and we hope to see the administration's continued commitment to funding land preservation and other critical environmental priorities through the Environmental Protection Fund and the Bigger, Better Bottle Bill," said Mr. Sullivan.

Scenic Hudson works to protect and restore the Hudson River and its majestic landscape as an irreplaceable national treasure and a vital resource for residents and visitors. A crusader for the valley since 1963, we are credited with saving fabled Storm King Mountain from a destructive industrial project and launching the modern grass-roots environmental movement. Today with more than 10,000 ardent supporters, we are the largest environmental group focused on the Hudson River Valley. Our team of experts combines land acquisition, support for agriculture, citizen-based advocacy and sophisticated planning tools to create environmentally healthy communities, champion smart economic growth, open up riverfronts to the public and preserve the valley's inspiring beauty and natural resources. www.scenichudson.org

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