Ulster County Lawmakers Support the Passage of the Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022

Posted October 30, 2022

KINGSTON, NY—Through the passage of Resolution No. 494 in the October 18, 2022 Session, Ulster County Legislators reaffirm commitment to addressing the effects of climate change in Ulster County and across New York State by encouraging everyone to vote “Yes” on Ballot Proposal 1, the Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022, this November. 

If approved by voters, the Environmental Bond Act will allocate $4.2 billion to fund environmental projects that protect clean drinking water, upgrade water infrastructure, fight climate change, preserve open space and family farms, and keep communities safe from extreme weather. The proposal will bring much-needed support for municipal projects including sewer and lead service line replacement, stormwater improvements and other necessary investments into community resiliency in Ulster County and across the State. 

Legislative Chair Tracey Bartels (Towns of Gardiner and Shawangunk, District 16) states, “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for New Yorkers to modernize infrastructure to mitigate the effects of climate change, reduce flood risks, and protect clean drinking water.” Chair Bartels adds, “Over 100,000 jobs will be created statewide as part of this historic initiative. I encourage every Ulster County voter to support the Environmental Bond Act.” 

Under the bond, $1.5 billion will be allocated for climate change mitigation; $1.1 billion for stream restoration and flood risk reduction; $650 million for water quality improvement; and $650 million for the open space and land conservation.  Of this, 35 percent of all projects and funds are required to benefit environmental justice communities as set out in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act of 2019. Presently there are more than 40 potential environmental justice census tracts across Ulster County that would be eligible to apply under such criteria. 

“In addition to supporting municipal infrastructure resiliency projects, the Environmental Bond Act will require that communities most damaged by environmental degradation and pollution obtain over one-third of the benefit from these bonds,” said Legislator Phil Erner (City of Kingston, District 6), the sponsor of the resolution. 

“Voter approval of the Environmental Bond Act will allow Ulster County towns and communities across the state to plan and complete infrastructure projects such as flood mitigation and stormwater management that are designed with the climate of the future in mind,” said Legislator Brian Cahill, Chair of the Economic Development, Planning, Education, Employment, Arts and Agriculture Committee (Towns of Kingston and Ulster, District 4). 

Proposition #1 is located on the back of the November 8 ballot. Early voting begins on Saturday October 29, 2022, and ends Sunday, November 6, 2022. Election Day is Tuesday, November 8, from 6:00 am to 9:00 pm. All registered voters can look up their Election Day polling site and a sample ballot on the Ulster County Board of Elections website elections.ulstercountyny.gov. 

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