Cuomo again vetoes bill to protect Jamaica Bay
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TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | DEC. 18-DEC. 24, 2020 9
BY BILL PARRY
Earlier this month, Governor
Andrew Cuomo once again
vetoed a bill sponsored by state
Senator Joseph Addabbo and
Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer
Amato aimed at increasing
the standard of dredging
materials that are placed into
Jamaica Bay’s borrow pits.
The two-part bill would end
the sunset clause on the original
bill to protect the bay, so
it would be permanent law in
New York state instead of being
voted on every two years. It also
seeks to change the criteria for
filling the Jamaica Bay borrow
pits to comply with federal
Ocean Dumping Act criteria.
“Even though the governor
vetoed this bill again, I intend
on reintroducing it next year
and then continue to negotiate
with the state agencies,” Addabbo
said. “After seeing the
incredible improvement of the
water quality of Jamaica Bay,
with advocates saying the bay
is the healthiest it has been in
decades, and with the reemergence
of marine wildlife to the
area, Assemblywoman Pheffer
Amato and I believe the sunset
clause on this bill should be removed
and it should be made
permanent.”
Borrow pits, also known as
a sandbox, is an area where
material such as soil, gravel or
sand has been dug up for use at
another location. In a veto statement,
Cuomo said the legislation
would change the criteria
for filling Jamaica Bay borrow
pits to comply with the federal
criteria for the unrestricted
ocean dumping of dredged material,
which is not applicable
to Jamaica Bay.
“The battle is not yet over,”
Pheffer Amato said. “While I
am disappointed that Governor
Cuomo has vetoed this crucial
legislation for the protection
of Jamaica Bay, I’m looking
forward to the restart of the
legislative session so we can
reintroduce this bill, and work
with Senator Addabbo and the
governor’s office to finally get
this through the finish line.
I also want to thank all of the
advocates that have tirelessly
worked on behalf of Jamaica
Bay, and let them know that our
work is just beginning.”
Local community advocates,
including the Jamaica
Bay Ecowatchers, have praised
the bill and how much it has improved
the bay. Animals such
as seals and even whales have
been spotted off the shores.
“The Jamaica Bay Ecowatchers
will continue to fight
to protect Jamaica Bay from
contaminated dredge material,”
Jamaica Bay Ecowatchers
President Dan Mundy Jr. said.
“Governor Cuomo needs to reverse
his ill-advised position
on this bill and lead the way to
protect our only urban national
park.”
Although the bill was vetoed
for a second time, Addabbo is
confident he’ll be able to negotiate
with Cuomo and get the bill
passed.
“I look forward to the upcoming
session and the future
discussions on ways to protect
Jamaica Bay,” Addabbo said.
Reach reporter Bill Parry by
e-mail at bparry@schnepsmedia.
com or by phone at (718)
260–4538.
Governor Cuomo once again vetoes Queens lawmaker’s measures to further protect Jamaica Bay.
Photo by Mark Hallum
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