Green Policy in Albany NY

Albany has had a hard time obey the few ecological reforms they do insitute -- witness the Pesticide Ordinance of 1998 which phased out Category I, II, and III pesticides over a period of 3 years, installing an oversight committeee -- NOT.  They didn't obey the law.  Let's demand more and better policies on pesticides and other green infrastructure r eforms.  Here is an update on the pesticide struggle at the Common Council, even as we speak.

Isn't it better to have a weak law that's obeyed than a strong law that isn't obeyed? --
Mike O'Brien, Common Council Member, Sub Committee on the Pesticide Ordinance

Oy Vey. WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT!!! The City needs to be accountable to the public.

The Pesticide Ordinance Committee continues to meet. Many of the presenters have been
enlightening -- especially the County of Albany's Pesticide Policy Coordinator Bob
Gallagher who has a simple process with an oversight committee which has been able to
eliminate pesticide use with very few waivers (4 in five years even though they have a
jail and nursing home and many facilities to monitor) on all County property in Albany.
They do train offices on how to eliminate the need for pesticides and widely publish the
policy.

Albany has some different challenges as well as the building in which they have been
using pesticides. We've got ponds (aquatic pesticides) and a golf course (huge
quantities of pesticides) and a city owned ball field used by high school students.
These are sites of contention and it is still being debated whether state law which
disallows pesticides from school ballparks applies. Yes, I know it would be logical for
it to.

I am demanding the law now include a rodenticide ban as our public outcry and press
coverage over threats to hawks and owls began this pesticide inquiry. And because now
the landfill does not use them, nobody can contend that they -- without that mountain of
garbage -- truly needs them. We especially want to eliminate the use the anticoagulants
which accumulate in the food chain and kill top predators.

We will need YOUR support when this committee returns with it's suggestions to the full
Common Council. Next meeting is Oct. 5 at 5:30. Judy Stacey, the city gardener will be
there.



-- Grace Nichols
mtbluegreen@juno.com
518-436-9731
"Work is love made visible." Gandhi.
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