Residents of Suffolk County voted overwhelmingly in favor of Prop 2, a transformative initiative aimed at protecting and restoring our precious water resources. The passage of Prop 2 marks a monumental step forward for our environment, our economy, and the health and safety of our communities.
The approval of Prop 2 will unlock funding to modernize Suffolk County’s outdated septic systems, expand sewers, and protect local water bodies, including our beaches, bays, and harbors. By dedicating a 1/8 penny increase to the county sales tax, the community has created a sustainable fund that will enhance local water quality and protect the region from ongoing sewage pollution.
This dedicated local fund will allow Suffolk County to leverage additional state and federal support for these vital projects. These clean water projects will create thousands of local jobs, revitalize business districts, increase property values, and restore our local bays and harbors.
David Ansel, Save the Sound’s Vice President of Water Protection, said, “This is a turning point for clean water on Long Island. We thank Assemblymember Fred Thiele, State Senator Monica Martinez, and Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine for their leadership and persistence, and all the elected officials in the state and county legislatures for getting Proposition 2 on the ballot and giving Suffolk County voters a voice in their clean water future. And we applaud the voters for delivering a powerful, unambiguous message: it is time to protect drinking water, groundwater, our bays and harbors, and Long Island Sound, and it’s time to upgrade the county’s inadequate wastewater infrastructure and reduce the nitrogen pollution that has threatened clean water for too long.”
The Nature Conservancy’s Long Island Policy Advisor Kevin McDonald said, “Suffolk County residents showed up this election day and voted YES to protect our water for generations to come! This victory is the culmination of decades of work and shows the power of dedication and collaboration. The universal need for clean water transcends all politics.”
Citizens Campaign for the Environment Executive Director Adrienne Esposito said, “In an election filled with controversy, clean water has united Suffolk County! This is the culmination of over a decade of research and effort to craft a plan to restore our drinking and coastal waters. Today we made history and tomorrow will get to work to implement the clean water restoration plan.”
Save the Great South Bay Executive Director Robyn Silvestri said, “The passage of Prop #2 represents real hope in turning the tide of nitrogen pollution in the Great South Bay.”
Group for the East End President Bob DeLuca, “Tonight Suffolk County voters were presented with the most compelling environmental questions in recent memory, and they spoke with overwhelming unity on the critical need for us to invest for a clean water future. This was a great day for all Suffolk residents who enjoy our coastal waters and our Long Island way of life. Given the strength of this outcome, we are incredibly grateful to all those who helped to build and sustain the broad and enduring coalition of support that worked together, solved problems, raised awareness, earned the bipartisan support of our elected leaders, brought this decision to the public, and proved that given the chance, Suffolk voters would stand up for future of our precious environment, good jobs, and future generations.”
Suffolk County Association of Municipal Employees (AME) President Daniel C. Levler said, “The passage of Prop 2 is about more than clean water alone; it’s about creating good jobs, boosting our business districts, and strengthening the Long Island economy. Suffolk Voters have spoken to ensure a healthier environment that benefits us all and attracts visitors to our beautiful Long Island shores.”
New York League of Conservation Voters President Julie Tighe said, “We are thrilled that Suffolk County voters approved Prop 2 to restore clean and healthy water to their community. County residents have suffered from nitrogen-polluted water for far too long, and now, thanks to the voters and the hard work of so many advocates and elected officials, a solution is finally at hand to ensure a healthy and thriving community for generations to come.”
The Long Island Pine Barrens Society Acting Executive Director Nina Leonhardt said, “Today, voters in Suffolk County demonstrated that clean drinking and surface water protection are critical to our way of life. Thank you!”
LI Main Street Alliance Founder and Vision Long Island Director Eric Alexander said, “Happy to see voters support funding for clean water projects that were embraced by community and local businesses leaders. These County resources will more than pay for itself by leveraging future federal and state grants to rebuild our infrastructure.”
Peconic Baykeeper’s Executive Director Pete Topping said, “We are thrilled that the residents of Suffolk County have voiced their resounding support to fund the action needed to address wastewater pollution. Today marks a major milestone in protecting our bays, ponds, creeks, and drinking water for generations to come.”
The Surfrider Foundation Eastern Long Island Chapter Manager Jenna Schwerzmann said, “We are a coastal community that relies on clean water for our way of life. We are thrilled that Suffolk County residents recognize this and voted to ensure clean water for the future.”
Seatuck Environmental Association Executive Director Enrico Nardone said, “Suffolk County residents have made an unprecedented commitment toward protecting their drinking water, restoring coastal waters to health, and preserving environmentally important lands, all for an additional 12 cent tax on each $100 purchase. It’s the deal of the century!”