Albany, NY – Senior officials in the Paterson administration say Gov. David Paterson will introduce a bill Monday that would keep all New York parks and historic sites open for the year including the upcoming Memorial Day weekend.
Join our WhatsApp groupSubscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
But the officials say the Legislature will have to agree to take $6 million from the Environmental Protection Fund to pay for it.
The staffers say lawmakers in stalled budget talks as recently as Saturday insisted that a top priority is to keep the parks and historic sites open. Paterson sees the move as a way to address a chief concern he shares, but only with the corresponding cut he has insisted upon.
The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity Sunday because the bill wasn’t yet final and wouldn’t be introduced until Monday.
This would set a terrible precedent since the environmental fund by law can only be used for specific environmental improvement programs. Keeping a park open does not meet the legal standard for these funds.
They should find a way t use the parks to make more money. Such as charging people to make birthday parties or weddings in parks, making more cabins to rent in parks, etc.