Talk about starting the celebration off on the wrong foot. For 25 years, the Greenway has led efforts to achieve sustainable economic growth based on recreation and tourism. By folding its responsibilities into the Department of State, the governor risks much of the $963,000 in grants the Greenway receives, especially $600,000 in federal funds for the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area, the chief way of promoting the region's cultural assets and spurring its $4.5 billion tourism economy.
The Greenway helps communities focus development downtown, creating new businesses and jobs, while conserving working farms growing local produce and other open space that mitigates the harmful effects of climate change. And it has spearheaded creation of trail systems along and on the Hudson River spanning the 13 Greenway counties, providing new ways for people to connect with nature.
The Department of Environmental Conservation's Hudson River Estuary Program also benefits valley residents while strengthening the region's tourist appeal. Grants it awards communities fund creation or enhancement of waterfront parks, providing sparks for downtown revitalization. It is the lead agency in the region's approach to combating climate change, one of Paterson's priorities.
Even more significant, the Estuary Program oversees the Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda, the state's official blueprint for improving the health of the Hudson and its waterfront communities. Among the agenda's goals are restoring the Hudson's commercial fisheries, ensuring access points to the river in every town along it and making the Hudson healthy enough to swim in from the Adirondacks to New York Harbor. All would boost local economies.
Greenway Saves Towns Cash
The Greenway's regional and collaborative approach saves towns money and helps the valley compete for jobs. The 2,000 corporate executives and real estate professionals polled in a recent national survey by the Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation said the words most associated with the region are "scenic beauty" and "nature." Respondents also regarded the valley's quality of life - near the top in any firm's relocation decision - as one of its prime strengths. With jobs getting scarcer by the day, this is no time to tamper with a proven formula for success.
It's not surprising leaders in many municipalities, including Putnam County Legislator (and Hudson River Navigator) Vincent Tamagna, have spoken out forcefully against these cuts and about the myriad benefits communities derive from the Greenway and Estuary Program. So have valley legislators such as Sens. Suzi Oppenheimer and Steve Saland, Assemblymen Kevin Cahill and Marc Molinaro, and U.S. Rep. Maurice Hinchey. The fact proponents of these programs sit on both sides of the political aisle demonstrates this is a nonpartisan issue.
The Hudson Valley's future prosperity hinges in large measure on the continued work of the Greenway and Hudson River Estuary Program. With so much at risk, there couldn't be a worse time to take an ax to them.