Hidden Doors: An intern’s survival guide for the New York legislative session

Ella McGrail spent the 2024 legislative session as the New York policy intern for Save the Sound.  The front entrance of the New York State Capitol is impressive.   It is comprised of three enormous doors flanked by columns and crowned with copper lamps. The stairs leading up to the doors are made of gleaming white […]

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Press Release: “Maintaining the status quo is not good enough”—Save the Sound Disappointed by Incremental Progress in NYS Legislative Session

When the New York State Assembly adjourned in the early hours of Saturday, it marked the end of the 2024 legislative session. But even during a session that ran a day longer than originally scheduled, the legislature did not do enough to advance to address the many environmental challenges New York faces. “Maintaining the status […]

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Press Release: Comprehensive PFAS protections passed in NYS Senate

New York State took a major step toward turning off the tap on toxic forever chemicals Thursday, the last scheduled day of the 2024 legislative session. The State Senate passed a bill (S5648F) that would phase out the sale of everyday household items containing additionally added per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in a variety of […]

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NY Legislative Update: Many priorities remain, but not much time

This email was sent by David Ansel, our vice president of water protection. When policy intern Ella McGrail and I arrived at the Capitol on Monday, the clock was already ticking. Legislators had just returned to Albany after two weeks back home in their districts, and only 18 sessions remained on the legislative calendar. It […]

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Press Release: Save the Sound Reacts to Governor Hochul’s State of the State Address

David Ansel, vice president of water protection for Save the Sound, was in Albany Tuesday to attend Governor Kathy Hochul’s State of the State address. Here is his reaction: “I was encouraged that Governor Hochul devoted so much attention to the rising threat and frequency of damaging storms, dedicating an entire section of her State […]

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Save the Sound releases our 2024 Legislative Agenda for New York State

BUDGET PRIORITIES Our environment is at a critical crossroads. The progress we have made over the years across the Long Island Sound region will be eroded unless the investment in our environment matches the magnitude of the challenges we are facing. Our environmental budget priorities include: The continued implementation of the $4.2 billion Environmental Bond […]

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Press Release: Save the Sound disappointed by two of Gov. Hochul’s recent vetoes

Two bills poised to strengthen protections for waters across New York State were vetoed by Governor Kathy Hochul on Friday, forfeiting a critical opportunity to expand defenses after a Supreme Court decision weakened federal protections earlier this year. Class C Streams (S1725A/A4601) sought to reclassify waters used for fishing and boating but not for drinking […]

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Like a broken record

On a corner storefront in the Village of Mamaroneck, about a block from where the Sheldrake River turns away from I-95 and splits the neighborhood from commercial to residential, the wall is wrapped with three horizontal blue stripes in paint and painter’s tape. The lowest line, several feet above street level, is marked by red […]

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