Archive
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING: Putting a face on Budget cuts
There will be a hearing on Monday 12/13 at Pace’s campus downtown – “Putting a Face to the Budget Cuts.” The hearing is before the State Senate Finance Committee and the public has the opportunity to testify and tell the Senators just how the budget cuts are affecting them. It is a good opportunity to talk about the effects at Riverbank State Park. Below are details on the hearing.
Senate Standing Committee on Finance
http://www.nysenate.gov/event/2010/dec/13/notice-public-hearing-putting-face-budget-cuts
Chair: Senator Carl Kruger
Public Hearing: Putting a face on Budget cuts
Place: Pace University, 1 Pace Plaza, Level B, New York , New York
Time: 10:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M.
Contact: Ms. Kit Flood (518) 455-3225
Media Contact: Senate Press Office (518) 455-2415
NY Times – Another Emergency Bill Averts Albany Shutdown
By NICHOLAS CONFESSORE
Published: June 14, 2010
ALBANY — State lawmakers narrowly approved the latest in a series of emergency budget bills on Monday night, temporarily averting a government shutdown that officials said would be catastrophic for New Yorkers.
After days of bitter public debate in which Gov. David A. Patersonand state lawmakers each sought to pre-emptively cast blame for a potential shutdown, the State Assembly and Senate each approved the emergency bill, largely along party lines.
In the Democratic-controlled Assembly, the bill was approved by a wide margin, with some Democrats joining nearly all Republicans in opposition. In the Senate, where Democrats hold a 32-to-30 majority and faced an internal revolt over the emergency bill, all but one Democrat ultimately voted for the legislation. They were joined by three Republicans, despite suggestions from Republican leaders last week that all their members would withhold support until a complete budget deal was reached.
“To not pass this extender would drive New York into a state of chaos,” said Hugh T. Farley, one of the three Republicans who voted for the bill. Mr. Farley, whose district in the Schenectady area is home to thousands of state workers, called the late budget “the worst thing that I’ve seen in my 34 years in the Senate” and warned, “Don’t count on me for any more extenders.” The budget was supposed to have been approved by April 1.
Monday’s emergency bill was the 11th introduced by Mr. Paterson and approved by the Legislature since March 31, when the state’s previous fiscal year expired. As in the last such bill, the new emergency bill also incorporated a package of long-term spending cuts that advanced, in piecemeal fashion, an all-around state budget deal.
The new bill included about $326 million in cuts to programs for the mentally disabled and social services. After negotiations between the governor and the Legislature last week, the bill restored some money that Mr. Paterson had sought to cut from summer youth programs, welfare grants and programs for the elderly. Part of that spending will be offset by canceling new programs, while some will have to be made up with cuts elsewhere in the budget as talks continue.
It is difficult to gauge how much progress is being made on a budget agreement, as Mr. Paterson and the Legislature continue to describe those discussions in starkly different terms.
Meeting with reporters on Sunday, Mr. Paterson described himself as far apart from the Legislature. On Monday, however, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said, “We are moving closer and closer on an overall budget plan, and we hope to succeed on that.” He added, “I can’t tell you whether the governor is optimistic or pessimistic.”
Because the last few emergency bills have also included some long-term budget cuts — to Medicaid, for instance — part of the new budget has in effect already been completed. In each of those areas, Mr. Paterson has inserted his proposed cuts into the emergency bills, but then allowed the Legislature to tinker with some specific programs while keeping the sizes of the cuts roughly the same.
Officials said that the three-way negotiations were now focused on about $700 million to $800 million of potential savings, including reducing the Legislature’s discretionary pork-barrel spending, known in Albany as member items, and Mr. Paterson’s proposal for a new tax on hospitals and other health care institutions.
One legislative official, who insisted on anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about the negotiations, estimated that 50 to 60 percent of the state’s spending for the current fiscal year had been locked in. Of a projected deficit of more than $9 billion, the official said, that left a gap of about $1.7 billion to be met with further cuts, new taxes or borrowing.
In that sense, the efforts of the last week have brought the state closer to a budget deal simply by narrowing the decisions that remain. And the remaining gap could be closed using a combination of ideas, including Mr. Paterson’s proposal to tax sugared soft drinks, the Assembly’s proposal for short-term borrowing, or the Senate’s proposal to refinance New York’s share of the nationwide tobacco settlement. (Deeper cuts are also a possibility.)
But some of the most politically tough decisions have not yet been made. Mr. Paterson has not ruled out inserting sweeping school cuts into the next emergency bill, which could set off a war with Mr. Silver, who has fought to shrink those cuts by about $419 million.
“There are some difficult cuts that have to be made, and we have to work them out,” Mr. Silver said.
Serrano Thrilled with Memorial Day Weekend Attendance at State Parks
José M. Serrano
Posted on Friday, June 4th, 2010
“I am so thrilled and excited to learn of the major increase in park attendance that we are currently seeing. Now more than ever, we should recognize the significance that State Parks hold for the people of New York,” stated Senator José M. Serrano after the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation announced that with 1.17 million visitors over Memorial Day weekend (May 29-31), attendance at State Parks soared by 245,296 visitors. This translates to a 17 percent increase from the 2009 holiday weekend.
Serrano, who is the Chair of the Senate Committee on Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation, was a vocal advocate in the fight to keep State Parks open, after Governor David A. Paterson proposed budget cuts that would have padlocked many parks throughout the state.
“Had our parks been closed, the people of our state would have been deprived of one of our greatest natural resources,” said Serrano. “Our communities’ access to recreational and physical activities would have been greatly diminished. Additionally, the state would have lost significant revenue that, if Memorial Day weekend is any indication, will increase considerably from last summer.”
In addition to the increase in overall park visitors, the amount of State Park system campsites that were occupied over the holiday weekend increased by a whopping 88 percent when compared to last year. There was also a significant increase in sales of the Empire Passport, an annual pass that provides unlimited use of most of New York’s State Parks.
“Just as the state is undergoing a financial crisis, so is the average New Yorker,” said the Senator. “State Parks and Historic Sites are a worthwhile, economical alternative to expensive summer retreats, as they offer varied educational, recreational and relaxation opportunities that every New Yorker can enjoy.” He continued, “Thanks to the hard work and support of vocal parks advocates throughout our communities, Parks Commissioner Carol Ash and her staff, and the people of our state, we can all look forward to a thriving summer park season.”
NYSR – ALL PARKS AND HISTORIC SITES ARE OPEN!
Players on Riverbank's Soccer/Football Field
May 28, 2010
Lewis Burgess
The Parks are Open for the Memorial Day Weekend and the Rest of the YEAR!
The Assembly (86-47) and Senate (32-27) and Assembly approved Governor Paterson’s Program Bill #267, A11308, S7988 early this morning at 2:59 am and afternoon at 2:37 pm. The bill provides $11.2 million dollars to maintain operations at 178 parks, 35 historic sites and all campgrounds in the Adirondacks and Catskills for State Fiscal Year 2010-2011. It will provide $134 million for a wide variety of environmental projects and establish a state-wide E-waste program to reuse and recycle electronic equipment that is expected to generate $4 million in revenues from fees, surcharges and penalties that will go into for the Environmental Protection Fund.
To achieve these results $80 million was diverted from Real Estate Transfer Tax (RETT) revenues. These revenues would have been deposited into the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF). $6 million of the $80 million went to reopen the 55 closed parks and historic sites. $5.2 million went to fund all the open parks and historic sites for the rest of the fiscal year. $5 million was used for payments to local governments in the forest preserve. The EPF received $130 million for RETT and $4 million from the E-Waste program. EPF funding in SFY 2009-10 was $212 million. This year EPF funding was reduced by$78 million.
OUR VOICES HAVE BEEN HEARD!
OUR LEGISLATORS AND GOVERNOR DID THE RIGHT THING! THANK YOU!
LET US ENJOY OUR PARKS THIS WEEKEND, THIS SUMMER AND FOR REST OF THE YEAR!
ENJOY RIVERBANK!
NYSR – Paterson says there appears to be an agreement to keep parks open, maybe
Governor David A. Paterson
May 27, 2010
Updated: May 27, 2010 at 10:16 pm
Lewis Burgess
Governor David Paterson says an agreement may be reached to keep all state parks open for the Memorial Day weekend if lawmakers approve the legislation.
On the “The John Gambling Show,” on WOR radio 710, Paterson said negotiations that ended early Thursday morning at 4:00 am would provide $11 million for full operations this year.
“We worked until about four o’clock in the morning and the staffs of the Senate and Assembly and the governor’s office appear to have resolved the issues about the state parks, if the legislators come in this morning and find that this is to their liking and, the Senate and Assembly members will conference this morning, then they will probably pass the needed legislation and the parks will be open,” Paterson said in the morning.
However, there have been conflciting reports throughout the day. Shortly after 5:00 p.m. when the Senate session ended, Senator Eric Schneiderman (D – Manhattan) told CBS 6 there were only “elements of a deal,” explaining that his conference had made changes to the governor’s draft of the bill.
Program Bill #267 is now ready for a vote and serves three purposes. The bill provides $11.2 million dollars to maintain operations at 178 parks, 35 historic sites and all campgrounds in the Adirondacks and Catskills. It will provide $134 million for a wide variety of environmental projects and establish a state-wide E-waste program to reuse and recycle electronic equipment that is expected to generate $4 million in revenues from fees, surcharges and penalties for the Environmental Protection Fund.
To achieve these results $80 million was diverted from Real Estate Transfer Tax (RETT) revenues. These revenues would have been deposited into the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF). $6 million of the $80 million went to reopen the 55 closed parks and historic sites. $5.2 million went to fund all of open parks and historic sites and $5 million was used for payments to local governments in the forest preserve. The EPF received $130 million for RETT and $4 million from the E-Waste program. EPF funding in SFY 2009-10 was $212 million. This year EPF funding was reduced by$78 million.
There is no guarantee that the bill will pass the Legislature because of legislator and environmental opposition to the $78 million reduction of the Environmental Protection Fund.
The Assembly and the Senate is expected to vote on the bill tomorrow, May 28th.
Press Release – SENATOR SERRANO’S PUSH FOR PARKS FUNDING PAYS OFF
Senator José M. Serrano
(Albany, NY) – Senator Jose M. Serrano (D-Manhattan/Bronx), chair of Cultural Affairs, Tourism and Recreation Committee sponsored legislation (S7776-A) that passed unanimously today in the Senate, allowing State Parks and Historic Sites to open for the summer season.
“We have made our voices heard, and there is now a light at the end of the tunnel” said Senator Serrano, who has spent the last several months making the case in Albany for funding State Parks.
This legislation requires that State Parks and Historic Sites maintain the same hours of operation as they did last year and allows the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to use funds already appropriated in the extender bills so that parks and historic sites are able to carry out preparations for the summer.
Senator George Maziarz (R-C, Newfane), co-sponsor of this bill said, “We need to implement a plan quickly so our closed state parks and historic sites can re-open and be enjoyed by the public as much as possible this summer season. Finding a way to keep these popular locations open in the face of our fiscal crisis has been of great importance to me, and this bill puts us on the right path.”
Serrano, who recently met with Governor Paterson to request that parks be included in future extender bills, and sent him a sign-on letter with broad bipartisan support to the same effect, said he applauded Paterson’s efforts to provide for funding to keep parks open but doesn’t agree it should come out of the Environmental Protection Fund.
“The EPF is vital to the long-term environmental health of the state by helping to sustain Zoos, Botanical Gardens, and Aquariums as well as municipal parks. Funding for Parks and the EPF must both be protected; otherwise New Yorkers will lose the quality recreational environment on which they have come to rely.”
The Senator took a proactive approach to keep state parks open and protect our historic treasures that affects million of New Yorkers.
“I am very pleased to pass legislation that we were able to give New Yorkers their parks back. With a 5 to 1 return on investment to the state, parks help generate $1.9 billion annually in economic activity and this bill ensures that we won’t miss the opportunity to bring in revenue this Memorial Day weekend.”
Assemblyman Steve Englebright is sponsoring this legislation in the Assembly where it will also be voted on later this week.
Friends of New York’s Environment Urge NY Legislators Not to Pick-Pocket Environmental Fund to Reopen Parks
by Environmental Advocates of New York
ALBANY, NY (05/25/2010)(readMedia)– More than 200 civic, conservation, community, environmental, public health, zoos, botanical gardens and other groups called on members of the New York State Assembly and Senate today to reject Governor David Paterson’s plan to reopen state parks by cutting the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF). The Governor’s proposal to divert dedicated EPF monies to reopen state parks and historic sites and prevent additional parks from closing is unacceptable and would simply add insult to injury.
The Executive budget proposal released earlier this year underfunded New York’s Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, as well as other environmental agencies, forcing some state parks to close. The Governor’s newest proposal again threatens the integrity of the EPF and puts critical programs that protect New York’s environment and public health at risk. It also completely ignores the priorities of the Legislature and solutions proposed in their budget resolutions.
“The Governor’s proposal is yet another attempt to balance the state budget on the back of New York’s environment,” said Marcia Bystryn, President of the New York League of Conservation Voters. “Offloading state agency staffing and operations into the EPF was never the Fund’s intended purpose, and could put the viability of this effective program at risk in the future. The EPF was not intended for, nor should it be used, to cool a political hot potato.”
The state has already swept $500 million from the Fund and that loan has not been repaid. Consequently, millions of dollars of critical projects across the state have not been funded and a long project backlog exists. Both the Assembly and Senate have passed budget resolutions that restored funding to keep parks open, made restorations to the Fund (which was slated for a disproportionately large cut), and rejected “offloading” state agency operations and other programs into the already strapped EPF.
“The Governor’s proposal tries to force the Assembly and Senate to either fund parks or fund other environmental programs, which is a false choice,” said Robert Moore, Executive Director, Environmental Advocates of New York. “It’s the Governor’s way of passing the buck on his earlier decision to close state parks.”
“It is outrageous of the Paterson Administration to be playing politics with New York’s Parks and Historic Sites right before the traditional start of summer – the Memorial Day weekend. Holding New Yorkers and their guests hostage, while trying to manipulate and pressure the Legislature to do something it knows is inappropriate, is a despicable abuse of the Office of Governor,” said Albert E. Caccese, Executive Director of Audubon New York.
Friends of New York’s Environment is a broad coalition of 200 plus environmental, health, agricultural, parks, recreational and urban stakeholder groups and coalitions who work together to advocate for real increases in the State’s Environmental Protection Fund, state environmental and parks staffing, and dedicated funding for environmental protection.
Ithaca Journal – Paterson wants parks open for Memorial Day
Legislators balk at taking money from environmental funding
By Cara Matthews •Albany Bureau • May 24, 2010, 7:30 pm
Riverbank State Park Promenade - What will happen on Memorial Day? (Photo Courtesy of F. Andre Fortune)
ALBANY — After refusing to release aid for more than 50 state parks and historic sites, leading to their closure, Gov. David Paterson submitted legislation Monday that would reopen them in time for Memorial Day weekend.
But the Assembly and Senate as well as environmental groups criticized the proposal, which would use an additional $6 million from the state Environmental Protection Fund. It would require lawmakers to approve part of Gov. David Paterson’s budget proposal from January that would reduce EPF spending to $143 million, much lower than either house is aiming for.
Paterson said the Senate and Assembly have to cut elsewhere in the budget in order to open the 41 parks and 14 historic sites and maintain services at 23 other parks and one historic site.
“I have heard from my colleagues in the Legislature that funding state parks and historic sites is a top priority, but I have not heard any specific solutions as to how to pay for it,” Paterson said in a statement.
He cautioned that the bill would “require sacrifice.”
“There is a no free lunch. If legislators want to fully fund the parks, that money must come from a real source,” he said.
The public parks and historic sites have been closed while the governor and lawmakers attempt to reach a budget deal, which has been made more difficult because the state faces a $9.2 billion deficit for the current fiscal year. The governor has been proposing bare-bones emergency budget extenders each week for the current fiscal year, which began April 1, as a strategy to get lawmakers to pass a budget.
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan, said he would bring the Paterson’s proposal up with fellow Democrats, who control the Assembly, “but I would expect the members might not like his overall plan. They definitely are committed to opening the parks, and I believe alternatively they might just pass a mandate to open the parks.”
The governor shouldn’t have closed the parks in the first place, Silver told reporters Monday, and said the governor actually is “re-routing $110 million from the Environmental Protection Fund and telling all of you that it is a $6 million program.”
Silver spokeswoman Sisa Moyo said the Assembly is working with the governor on the legislation “to see what we can accomplish.”
Paterson spokesman Morgan Hook said the administration was unclear on how Silver arrived at the figures he used.
Keeping parks and historic sites open has been one of the top priorities of the Senate Democratic majority, said Travis Proulx, a spokesman for Senate Democratic Leader John Sampson, D-Brooklyn.
“The governor’s current proposal has implications far beyond parks funding. We appreciate that he has responded to our efforts to keep the parks fully operational, and are partnering with his office on language that will open the gates without devastating the EPF,” he said.
Paterson’s bill would reduce funding levels for nearly all programs funded by the EPF by 4.5 percent to obtain the $6 million needed for the parks, several of which have remained open with private or local-government funding. The budget the governor proposed in January already includes $5 million from the EPF for personnel expenses associated with capital projects for parks and historic sites.
“Given this opportunity to vote up or down on this particular issue, I now expect that the Legislature will return its focus to passing a responsible budget,” he said.
The governor’s budget proposes reducing appropriations from the Environmental Protection Fund from $212 million to $143 million. The Assembly’s resolution restored the amount to $168 million while the Senate’s would put the total at $222 million, said Alison Jenkins, Environmental Advocates of New York State’s fiscal policy program director.
The EPF fund was $255 million in 2008-09 and was supposed to jump to $287 million in the current year, but it was only funded at $222 million and was cut during the year to $212 million, Jenkins said.
Jenkins said the governor is playing a game of “political chicken” and “picking the Environmental Protection Fund’s pocket to keep the parks open.”
EPL/Environmental Advocates, the New York League of Conservation Voters and the Long Island Environmental Voters Forum issued a statement Monday that said the governor’s bill would “inflict long-term damage on every facet of New York’s environment: capital spending on water quality, farmland protection, forestry, community recycling programs, zoos, aquariums and much more.”
“He’s putting a gun to the head of the Environmental Protection Fund and threatening to pull the trigger if the Legislature doesn’t correct his past mistake of closing state parks,” said Robert Moore, executive director of EPL/Environmental Advocates.
Governor Paterson – Governor Paterson to Introduce Bill to Fully Fund State Parks and Historical Sites
May 24, 2010
Governor David A. Paterson today announced that he will send a bill to the Legislature that would provide funding to continue the operation of State parks and historic sites this year. Enactment of this bill would allow 41 State parks and 14 historic sites to remain open and would provide for continued services at 23 parks and one historic site. The bill would also continue necessary and critical programs funded through the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF).
“I have heard from my colleagues in the Legislature that funding State parks and historic sites is a top priority, but I have not heard any specific solutions as to how to pay for it,” Governor Paterson said. “The bill I will send today to the Legislature will provide a funding plan for parks, but will require sacrifice. There is no free lunch. If Legislators want to fully fund the parks, that money must come from a real source.”
The Governor’s bill includes a fund transfer and appropriation authorization. Specifically, this bill would:
- Reduce the amount of real estate transfer tax (RETT) revenue deposited into the Environmental Protection Fund in State Fiscal Year 2010-11 by $67 million, from $199.3 million to $132.3 million, and remove references to RETT deposits related to prior fiscal years; and
- Provide discrete appropriations for the approximately 30 categories/programs funded in the EPF. The total amount appropriated in this bill is $143 million, representing the necessary funding for State fiscal year 2010-11. The bill also creates a new category in the EPF to fund State park operations at $6 million.
The bill does not increase State spending since proposed new funding, critical to keeping parks operating, will be offset by one-time across-the-board reductions to nearly all programs funded in the EPF. Deposits into the EPF from the Real Estate Transfer Tax will be reduced commensurate with the recommended spending levels.
“Given this opportunity to vote up or down on this particular issue, I now expect that the Legislature will return its focus to passing a responsible budget,” the Governor added.
Save Riverbank 
NYSR – Parks, Rocks, Hard Places — and Hope!
May 25, 2010
Lewis Burgess
The bill was leaked by senior officials in the Paterson Administration and was presented as a “parks bill” on Sunday night to the Associated Press.
The media took the leak for granted and published the hope that parks could reopen if the Senate and Assembly approved Governor Paterson’s “parks bill.”
For a half day or so on May 24th, it appeared to the public and to some Legislators that Paterson was offering a way through the budget impasse blocking park reopenings. The Governor now appeared to say “Yes” to park openings versus saying “No” repeatedly since February 18th. Then it all fell apart when it was realized that this was not a “parks bill” but an appropriations bill that contained monies in great excess of the $6 million mentioned in the leak.
Governor Paterson has consistently maintained that he would take all of the parks and historic sites off the chopping block if Legislature came up with substitutive cuts and/or revenues. If not, they all would be closed. So far, the Legislature has not come up with a plan to fund the parks.
Governor Paterson ordered the parks closed and service reductions enforced.
This was done though the budget and its proposed cuts were not passed and while there is sufficient payroll money in the extender bills to keep many if not all parks open. Governor Paterson closed the parks not because there was not enough money available but for other reasons left unspoken.
The Governor closed the parks by not giving authorization to the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) to keep them open until the budget is passed. At Riverbank State Park, employees were transfered to other parks with full pay and none were laid off.
The closing of the parks and service reductions were seen as a punitive measure used to pressure the Legislature to accept the Executive Budget or to pass one. The closings and service reductions sparked fierce state-wide debate and opposition to Governor Paterson’s position.
To alleviate the constant to pressure to open the parks and to push through a similar EPF reduction plan found in the Executive Budget, the Governor resorted again to pitting citizens, groups and Legislators against one another. The first move like this was the furlough measure.
In the Executive Budget, Governor Paterson planned to increase park and administrative fees and take $5,000,000 from the EPF to keep 34 parks and historic sites and service reductions at 18 additional facilities off the chopping block. However, 55 parks and historic sites would still be closed along with service reductions in 23 additional parks and 1 historic site.
So using the EPF to pay for the parks and other things is not a new recommendation. It was made before in the 2010-2011 Executive Budget.
The recommendation to shift EPF funds to finance parks was rejected by both the Senate and Assembly in their March budget resolutions. Despite these resolutions, Governor proposed it again on May 24th and upped the EPF reduction for park expenses by $1,000,000 to $6,000,000.
By submitting this bill for an up or down vote, Governor Paterson scrambled the Legislature’s continuous effort to have him re-open the parks and to hold the parks harmless in the process of settling a budget with a $9.2 billion deficit.
But as anticipated, the appropriations bill, which pits environmentalists, park goers, and Legislators against one another has not been received well. Over 200 environmental, health, agricultural, parks, recreational and urban stakeholder groups and coalitions want to see the appropriations bill bite the dust and are pressuring the Legislature and Legislators to do so. Park goers strongly want the parks to be re-opened and are putting pressure on their legislators to do something about it.
Because of this tactic, the submission of the bill by Governor Paterson is being labeled as “playing political chicken,” “playing chicken,” “stealing from Peter to pay Paul, “holding parks hostage,” “a pathetic political ploy,” ” a dangerous shell game,” “the Governor’s three-card Monte.”
The members and leaders of the Senate and Assembly are conflicted and could not vote on the bill on Monday. They are between a rock and a hard place.
Governor Paterson says: “It will be a responsibility that they will have to bear, because we have accommodated their wishes.”
The Legislature is trying to ease its way out of the place that Governor Paterson has placed them. At the Leader’s meeting held this afternoon, everyone is playing nice in the sandbox and looking for money to keep the parks open. This appears to be a good sign but nothing has changed.
However, there may be a real chance that the Parks will reopen and service reductions removed until a budget is passed.
To counter the Governor’s executive authority over OPRHP, on May 7th, Senator Serrano and Assemblyman Steve Englebright have sponsored bills (S7776A , A11013A) that if approved will give authority to OPRHP to operate and maintain all parks as before.
The bills authorize and direct the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation “to operate and maintain all state park and state historic sites under the office’s jurisdiction pursuant to the same seasons of operation, and at least the same hours of operation, service levels, and public access to facilities as were implemented the beginning of the fiscal year that ended March 31, 2010.”
These bills will be voted on today (May 25th) and most likely will pass and will allow the parks to reopen until the budget is passed. Update: The bill passed in the Senate, on May 25, 2010 (59-0)
There is still time before Memorial Day to make things happen for the citizens of New York. Hopefully, the parks and Riverbank will receive a reprieve from closing and service reductions with the approval of the bills submitted by Senator Serrano and Assemblyman Steve Englebright.