We need to redouble efforts to Combat Climate Change. We need to work harder to protect our air, drinking water and open space; to promote sustainable land use policies; and to convert to renewable energy.  Our future depends on what we do today.

Climate Change

Tom Abinanti’s record when he was in the Assembly proved he is pro-environment. He didn’t just just talk about it. He did it. 

The NEW YORK LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS repeatedly rated Assemblyman Abinanti at 100%.

CLIMATE LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY PROTECTION ACT.  Assemblyman Abinanti voted to pass the New York State Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act – among the strongest climate legislation in the country – to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and implement the State’s renewable energy goals for 2030, 

DIESEL EMISSIONS REDUCTION ACT.  The Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA), first enacted in 2006 to reduce pollution from State vehicles and those under State contracts, was delayed several years at the Governor’s behest. Finally, at Assemblyman Abinanti’s insistence the DERA became effective January 2020.

Clean Air

A Plan for Clean Air

Our region does not meet federal Clean Air Act standards for ozone and particulate matter. To improve air quality, Assemblyman Abinanti proposed a statewide law to prohibit motor vehicle idling for more than 3 minutes – modeled after the law he passed when he was a Westchester County Legislator.

As a County Legislator, Abinanti passed several measures to decrease carbon dioxide and other harmful emissions into our air. One prohibited all drivers from idling their vehicles for more than three minutes. Another required  all diesel vehicles used by the county and county contractors to use ultra-low sulfur fuel and the best available technology to filter emissions.

Clean Water

Clean Drinking Water
When the Trump federal administration was seriously undermining long-standing federal clean water protections, Assemblyman Abinanti joined his colleagues in the New York State Legislature to protect New Yorkers, voting for a constitutional amendment, the Environmental Rights Bill which would codify in the New York State Constitution the right to clean water and air and a healthy environment. This amendment was passed by a vote of the public in 2022.

Assemblyman Abinanti introduced the NYS Drinking Water Bill of Rights which would put into law the right of every New Yorker to safe, clean, affordable and accessible water for hu-man consumption, cooking and sanitary purposes.

Assemblymember Abinanti also introduced a bill to facilitate the addition of a new Sate department of Clean Drinking water and another to expand the membership and powers of the Resources Planning Council to manage and oversee the water resources of the State. Both bills were designed to ensure that all New York residents have access to adequate, affordable, safe drinking water in perpetuity.

Assemblymember Abinanti voted to add $ billions to fund to the State’s Water Infrastructure Improvement Program.

Fracking

Assemblyman Abinanti is an outspoken critic of high volume hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) in New York and voted in the Assembly to ban fracking. 

Offshore Drilling

Assemblyman Abinanti voted to ban all drilling operations in proximity to New York’s shoreline

A History Fighting for Clean Water

Assemblyman Abinanti has a long history of fighting for clean drinking water. 

As Westchester County Legislators’ Environment Committee Chair, Abinanti passed a  ban on phosphorous in fertilizers in Westchester. 

He passed legislation to encourage an estimated 7000 property owners in sewer districts who are not connected to sewer lines to reduce contamination that can compromise water quality by giving a partial tax rebate for the cost of inspections and maintenance.

He also led the Board of Legislators to upgrade two sewage treatment plants that discharge into Long Island Sound. to reduce nitrogen discharges to address a  “dead zone” in the Sound

Sustainable Land Use & Energy Policies

Single-Use Plastic Bag Ban

Assemblyman Abinanti voted to ban single-use plastic bags bags effective March 2020.

Sustainable Land Use

Assemblyman Abinanti proposed legislation to require the State to offer excess state land to local governments for their use as parkland, open space or other municipal purposes before selling to a private bidder. As County Legislator, Abinanti passed a similar “Right of First Refusal Law” for Westchester to insure that small open-space parcels important to individual communities remain green..

New York State agencies need to be more sensitive to local environmental needs which directly affect the local quality of life – and often the health and safety of our community.

Assemblyman Abinanti proposed  legislation to require the Public Service Commission to rein in Con Edison’s tree-trimming/cutting practices which are devastating vast swaths of Westchester in the guise of protecting power lines. 

Clean Energy & Energy Efficiency

Assemblyman Abinanti repeatedly supported sustainable energy.

Construction practices significantly contribute to depletion of natural resources. New York needs to set an example with its own construction projects and require wherever it can that others meet “green building” practices.

Indian Point

Assemblyman Abinanti long called for the Indian Point plants to be closed – arguing they are not safe, secure, or vital.– with far too many accidents in forty (40) year old plants with even older technology. Finally, the plants closed.  Now need to ensure safe decommissioning and replace the energy with clean renewables.

Tappan Zee Bridge Mass Transit

Assemblyman Abinanti worked for a common sense plan to complete a mass-transit component which moves people, not just motor vehicles.

A History Fighting for Sustainable Land Use & Energy Policies

As Westchester County Legislators’ Environment Committee Chair, Abinanti fought for sustainable policies.

He voted to enact a new County law to require commercial pesticide applicators to give at least a 48-hour warning to neighbors before spraying pesticides near their homes. 

He sponsored Westchester’s Household Hazard Waste Notification law. He voted to initiate Countywide recycling, and for an historic Watershed Agreement to safeguard  drinking water.

As County Legislator, Abinanti  passed a Westchester law to protect smaller parcels of open space which requires the County to first offer excess land to municipalities before selling the parcels to others. He voted for every open-space acquisition/ preservation measure to come before the Westchester Legislature. And he pushed the County to participate in the purchase and preservation of numerous environmentally sensitive parcels, including:– Taxter Ridge (200 acres in East Irvington)
– Westwood (30 acres in Irvington)
– Hillside Woods (Hastings-on-Hudson)
– Hartsbrook Park (130 acres of Hartsdale woodlands, formerly the Gaisman Estate)
– 39 acres on the Hudson, between Lyndhurst and Sunnyside (Irvington/Tarrytown), for a County passive recreation park (formerly owned by the Unification Church)
– a large part of Glenville Woods (on Tarrytown Road, across from the Marriot in Greenburgh)