Important amendments on back of November ballot

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October 20, 2013

Commentary By Teresa Sayward

I write this to encourage everyone to vote yes on two very important constitutional amendments. The proposed amendments will appear on the back of the ballot on Election Day as Proposition 4 and Proposition 5.

Proposition 4

State agencies, Sen. Betty Little, the Adirondack Council, the Adirondack Mountain Club, the Residents Committee to Protect the Adirondacks and the chair of Hamilton County’s Board of Supervisors and I worked together to resolve this longstanding title dispute issue in Hamilton County.

Over the years, both New York state and the people engaged in lawsuits attempting to resolve titles, with mixed results. This process is costly and time-consuming. The land in question has been occupied for more than 100 years. The fire company, school properties and private businesses have contested titles. Clearly, the land is neither forest preserve nor private property. The Legislature concluded it is equitable and appropriate for the state to relinquish its claim and in exchange, the people will make payment to the state and the state will purchase and incorporate hundreds of acres of pristine land into the forest preserve. The Legislature found the title disputes constitute a unique situation found nowhere else in New York state. This dispute dates back to the 1800s and is supported by both environmental groups and state agencies.

Proposition 5

State agencies, Adirondack Environmental Groups, NYCO, Sen. Little and I worked collectively to resolve this important economic issue as well.

NYCO’s minerals at Oak Hill will be exhausted soon. NYCO operates in the towns of Willsboro and Lewis, providing employees with good wages and medical and retirement benefits. Employees are volunteer firefighters, EMTs and soccer coaches, and their children attend our school. NYCO provides critical tax revenue to local governments and school districts that reduces the tax burden of taxpayers. NYCO does business with businesses from Plattsburgh to Albany. NYCO supports not-for-profit organizations and our local communities.

Adirondack Communities depend on tourism. That’s good, but if you don’t own the business you make minimum wage. NYCO provides more than 100 jobs countywide.

The state will allow NYCO to take 200 acres for mining purposes. In return for the temporary use of this land, NYCO will give the state forest preserve 1,500 acres. Everyone will benefit from the addition of this new forest preserve land. The amendment is in keeping with the original intent of the Adirondack Park Act, which is to balance environmental protection with economic need.

Both state agencies and the two major Adirondack environmental groups support this amendment

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