March 2008

Senator LaValle Hosts Annual Environmental Roundtable

Senator Ken LaValle's annual Environmental Roundtable provided the opportunity for groups and individuals to voice their concerns about issues they would like to have addressed in Albany.

The topics discussed ranged from stopping Broadwater to increasing and improving educational outreach about recycling to the protection of sea horses and horseshoe crabs.

This annual forum, held since 1999, is always well-attended and brings together a group of people whose ideas and concerns allow Senator LaValle to chart his legislative agenda for the coming session. Senator LaValle was joined by Assemblyman Fred Thiele and other county and town elected officials concerned with working together to improve the quality of life for local residents .

Land Preservation
Senator LaValle has had a significant impact on land preservation - for example his Community Preservation Fund legislation has given the local governments on the East End the resources needed to preserve valuable open space. He was also instrumental in protecting the taxpayer from picking up the cost of state land taken off the tax rolls. He succeeded in securing PILOT payments in lieu of taxes on the Pine Barrens core preservation area in the 2006-07 budget. This translates into over $3 million directed to local school districts where tax revenues have been diminished by nontaxable state owned properties. Senator LaValle strongly urged the school districts involved to use the funds to provide tax relief to homeowners.

Senator LaValle noted that land preservation is a valuable and much desired community enhancement tool. However, when land is preserved by the state it is removed from local tax roles. Since tax payments are not being received on these properties, the local taxpayer faces a financial burden over and above the typical tax liability. The PILOT payments provided in this budget generate new revenues for school districts located within the core preservation area of the Pine Barrens. The school districts that benefit from this initiative are Rocky Point, Eastport/South Manor, Longwood, Riverhead, and Hampton Bays.

"I worked with great determination to ensure that the school districts that have been negatively affected by the Pine Barrens land preservation effort were fairly compensated,"said Senator LaValle.

"It is my expectation that the school districts scheduled to receive the PILOT payments use the revenues to maintain quality education programs and provide tax relief to homeowners."

Stony Brook University Campus at Southampton
Senator LaValle was the driving force behind the purchase of the Long Island University (LIU) Campus in Southampton. He received well-deserved praise for securing $35 million in state funding, allowing for Stony Brook University's (SBU) purchase of Long Island University's (LIU) Southampton Campus.

"As chair of the Senate Higher Education Committee I am extremely pleased that the shared vision of two great universities has resulted in the expansion of one the highest ranking public education institutions in the nation,"said Senator LaValle. "I am certain that this purchase will be recorded in SUNY's history as one of its wisest investments in higher education."

Advanced Energy Research and Technology Center at Stony Brook University
The Senator and the Long Island Republican Senate delegation secured $35 million in state funding in the 2006 budget to create the Advanced Energy Research and Technology Center at Stony Brook University in Stony Brook. The mission of the Center will be to develop reliable, economical, and plentiful sources of energy generation, transmission, and distribution. KeySpan enabled research activities to get off to an immediate start by donating the use of its facility in Islandia until construction is completed.

The funds are allowing Stony Brook University to move forward with plans to establish a research center designed to uncover new energy sources, while ensuring sustained economic development and the protection of our natural resources.

Studies will include exploring renewable energy sources, enhancing performance of traditional fuels, and employing cutting edge fuel cell technologies. The desired outcome is cheaper, cleaner energy that will generate an economic resurgence for New York State.

"We are in dire need of new energy sources to fulfill the ever-increasing demand for power in New York State, particularly on Long Island,"said Senator LaValle. "We are fortunate to have among us some of the most renowned research institutions in the nation. The Center will take advantage of our assets by collaborating with the brightest and the best from the education, research, and business communities to create a more efficient and cost effective source of energy. It is my hope that the Center's research will unlock the mystery to alternative sources of energy and help reduce our dependence on foreign fuels, create new jobs, and enhance our economic growth."