Tom Abinanti has long worked to protect our air and water and insure sustainable land use and energy policies.

The NEW YORK LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS gave Tom a 100% Environmental Rating.

In the Assembly, Tom sponsored legislation to ensure all New Yorkers adequate, affordable, safe drinking water. Too many New Yorkers have inadequate or unregulated water supplies or are dependent on a private money-making water company.

Constitutional Amendment: Environmental Bill of Rights  

Assembly member Abinanti co-sponsored New York’s Environmental Bill of Rights to protect our right to clean air and water in the state Constitution which was approved by the voters in 2022.

Drinking Water Bill of Rights

To implement the Constitutional Amendment and further protect drinking water, Assembly member Abinanti sponsored the NYS Drinking Water Bill of Rights.

 Resources Planning Council

Assembly member Abinanti sponsored legislation to expand the membership and powers of the Resources Planning Council to manage and oversee the water resources of the State. 

Department of Clean Drinking Water

New York has no Department responsible to ensure that all New Yorkers have sufficient safe drinking water at affordable rates – and to prevent contamination of additional water sources (remember Hoosick Falls, Newburgh, Rockland County, etc.) So Assembly member Abinanti sponsored legislation to create a new State Department of Clean Drinking Water.

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

Assembly member 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 and to reduce nitrogen discharges to address a  “dead zone” in the Sound.