The New York League of Conservation Voters (NYLCV) has endorsed Didi Barrett for State Senate in the 41st District. Read about the endorsement and Didi’s stance on local environmental issues here.
League of Conservation Voters Endorses Didi Barrett for State Senate; Barrett Outlines Her Stance on Environmental Issues
Hyde Park, NY (10/7/10) – The New York League of Conservation Voters (NYLCV) has endorsed Didi Barrett for State Senate in the 41st District, which encompasses all of Columbia County and most of Dutchess County.
Every election year, the NYLCV develops candidate questionnaires that detail its policy priorities. Based on candidates’ answers plus an interview, the League recommends the candidates most likely to be environmental leaders.
“The New York League of Conservation Voters was impressed with Didi’s commitment to preserving our state’s natural resources,” said NYLCV President Marcia Bystryn. “Her strong support for concepts like renewable energy, smart growth and reuse and redevelopment of empty buildings as a way to address not only environmental issues but also economic issues facing New York State is forward-thinking. Didi would be a great asset to the state as a senator, which is why NYLCV wholeheartedly endorses her candidacy.”
“I’m honored to be recognized by the NYLCV in this manner,” said Barrett. “Our region is blessed with incredible natural resources and as a state senator I would work to protect them. Consideration of these resources must go hand in hand with economic development. We can do this by leveraging local, federal and private dollars.”
Barrett noted that New York ranks 49th in the country both in the percentage of state budget spent on parks and natural resources and in per capita investment in the environment. Her opponent, 20-year incumbent State Sen. Stephen Saland, has consistently been one of the lowest rated state senators by Environmental Advocates, based on his record.
Barrett sees the agricultural sector as a key economic engine for the region and would advocate for farmers. She supports incentives to encourage the use of local products, would encourage new agriculture-related businesses, and knows it’s important to keep land affordable for farmers.
“This region is prime for agri-tourism, which ties the area’s rich historic and cultural treasures to the beautiful farms, active farm stands and great foods,” Barrett noted.
As a state senator, Barrett would support and encourage growth in the region’s renewable energy businesses. She is committed to “adaptive reuse” – for which there are federal tax incentives – as a way to fix existing, especially historic, buildings, and rekindle the maritime sector in this region. Adaptive reuse would also support local building trades by creating jobs.
Barrett supports the moratorium on hydrofracking, and promises to educate downstate legislators on the critical issues in the Hudson Valley and the Adirondacks.
“These are issues that impact the entire state but continue to be looked at by partisan legislators as upstate/downstate concerns,” Barrett said. “I am committed to being a link between the two.”
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