We write to express our strong support for A.6279 (Englebright)/S.5287 (Carlucci) that amends Article I of the New York State Constitution to recognize the Environmental Rights of the people of New York. As a result of this new legislation Article 1, Section 19 of the New York Constitutions would read: "Each person shall have a right to clean air and water, and a healthful environment." The Amendment clearly has strong support. Last session, the Assembly bill passed on April 24, 2017 by a 113-26 margin with bi-partisan support. I ask you to sign on as a co-sponsor and actively press legislative leaders to bring the bill up for a vote in the Senate and Assembly. It is commonly thought that New Yorkers have a right to clean water that is not going to make us sick, and to breathe air that won't trigger health impacts like an asthma attack or lead to diseases like lung cancer and/or premature death. There is also a belief that there is a right for all to live, work and play in a protected environment. But the rights of New Yorkers to clean water, air and a healthful environment are not given the highest legal protection in the state of New York. In fact, the rights to free speech, freedom of assembly, to divorce, lotteries and even gambling are afforded higher recognition and protection in New York's constitution than the peoples' rights to clean water, clean air and a healthful environment. Through passage of this bill you have the power to change that. With first passage this year and subsequent passage in 2019, you provide New Yorkers a say in adopting constitutionally protected environmental rights It is our firm belief that establishing a civil environmental right will drive better government decision-making at all levels of government and will prevent situations or conditions in which land becomes too contaminated, water becomes too polluted, and air too dirty to support healthy lives, including a healthy economy. This Bill of Rights provision complements (is not displaced by) Article XIV of the New York State Constitution, the Conservation Article which calls for protection of the State's natural resources and recognizes environmental protection as an important public policy, but not a constitutional right. Furthermore, enshrining Environmental Rights sends a message to all that New York places a high priority on ensuring clean water, safe drinking water, healthy air to breathe, a safe climate, and a healthful natural environment. It will also help position the State to be recognized as the true national environmental leader that we want to be. Thirty-five states or commonwealths have some form of "environmental rights" or expression of environmental values in their Constitutions; but only the State of Montana and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are recognized as true leaders for protecting environmental rights on par with other political and civil freedoms we all hold dear. I believe that it is time for New York to update its Constitution with a right to clean air and water, and a healthy environment. I call on you, as my elected representative, to support mine and my fellow New Yorker's rights to clean water, clean air and a healthful environment by supporting A.6279 (Englebright)/S.5287(Carlucci). I ask that you sponsor the bill and work for its passage this year, so that it may be presented to New York voters in 2019.

We write to express our strong support for A.6279 (Englebright)/S.5287 (Carlucci) that amends Article I of the New York State Constitution to recognize the Environmental Rights of the people of New York. As a result of this new legislation Article 1, Section 19 of the New York Constitutions would read: "Each person shall have a right to clean air and water, and a healthful environment." The Amendment clearly has strong support. Last session, the Assembly bill passed on April 24, 2017 by a 113-26 margin with bi-partisan support. I ask you to sign on as a co-sponsor and actively press legislative leaders to bring the bill up for a vote in the Senate and Assembly. It is commonly thought that New Yorkers have a right to clean water that is not going to make us sick, and to breathe air that won't trigger health impacts like an asthma attack or lead to diseases like lung cancer and/or premature death. There is also a belief that there is a right for all to live, work and play in a protected environment. But the rights of New Yorkers to clean water, air and a healthful environment are not given the highest legal protection in the state of New York. In fact, the rights to free speech, freedom of assembly, to divorce, lotteries and even gambling are afforded higher recognition and protection in New York's constitution than the peoples' rights to clean water, clean air and a healthful environment. Through passage of this bill you have the power to change that. With first passage this year and subsequent passage in 2019, you provide New Yorkers a say in adopting constitutionally protected environmental rights It is our firm belief that establishing a civil environmental right will drive better government decision-making at all levels of government and will prevent situations or conditions in which land becomes too contaminated, water becomes too polluted, and air too dirty to support healthy lives, including a healthy economy. This Bill of Rights provision complements (is not displaced by) Article XIV of the New York State Constitution, the Conservation Article which calls for protection of the State's natural resources and recognizes environmental protection as an important public policy, but not a constitutional right. Furthermore, enshrining Environmental Rights sends a message to all that New York places a high priority on ensuring clean water, safe drinking water, healthy air to breathe, a safe climate, and a healthful natural environment. It will also help position the State to be recognized as the true national environmental leader that we want to be. Thirty-five states or commonwealths have some form of "environmental rights" or expression of environmental values in their Constitutions; but only the State of Montana and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are recognized as true leaders for protecting environmental rights on par with other political and civil freedoms we all hold dear. I believe that it is time for New York to update its Constitution with a right to clean air and water, and a healthy environment. I call on you, as my elected representative, to support mine and my fellow New Yorker's rights to clean water, clean air and a healthful environment by supporting A.6279 (Englebright)/S.5287(Carlucci). I ask that you sponsor the bill and work for its passage this year, so that it may be presented to New York voters in 2019.

We write to express our strong support for A.6279 (Englebright)/S.5287 (Carlucci) that amends Article I of the New York State Constitution to recognize the Environmental Rights of the people of New York. As a result of this new legislation Article 1, Section 19 of the New York Constitutions would read: "Each person shall have a right to clean air and water, and a healthful environment." The Amendment clearly has strong support. Last session, the Assembly bill passed on April 24, 2017 by a 113-26 margin with bi-partisan support. I ask you to sign on as a co-sponsor and actively press legislative leaders to bring the bill up for a vote in the Senate and Assembly. It is commonly thought that New Yorkers have a right to clean water that is not going to make us sick, and to breathe air that won't trigger health impacts like an asthma attack or lead to diseases like lung cancer and/or premature death. There is also a belief that there is a right for all to live, work and play in a protected environment. But the rights of New Yorkers to clean water, air and a healthful environment are not given the highest legal protection in the state of New York. In fact, the rights to free speech, freedom of assembly, to divorce, lotteries and even gambling are afforded higher recognition and protection in New York's constitution than the peoples' rights to clean water, clean air and a healthful environment. Through passage of this bill you have the power to change that. With first passage this year and subsequent passage in 2019, you provide New Yorkers a say in adopting constitutionally protected environmental rights It is our firm belief that establishing a civil environmental right will drive better government decision-making at all levels of government and will prevent situations or conditions in which land becomes too contaminated, water becomes too polluted, and air too dirty to support healthy lives, including a healthy economy. This Bill of Rights provision complements (is not displaced by) Article XIV of the New York State Constitution, the Conservation Article which calls for protection of the State's natural resources and recognizes environmental protection as an important public policy, but not a constitutional right. Furthermore, enshrining Environmental Rights sends a message to all that New York places a high priority on ensuring clean water, safe drinking water, healthy air to breathe, a safe climate, and a healthful natural environment. It will also help position the State to be recognized as the true national environmental leader that we want to be. Thirty-five states or commonwealths have some form of "environmental rights" or expression of environmental values in their Constitutions; but only the State of Montana and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are recognized as true leaders for protecting environmental rights on par with other political and civil freedoms we all hold dear. I believe that it is time for New York to update its Constitution with a right to clean air and water, and a healthy environment. I call on you, as my elected representative, to support mine and my fellow New Yorker's rights to clean water, clean air and a healthful environment by supporting A.6279 (Englebright)/S.5287(Carlucci). I ask that you sponsor the bill and work for its passage this year, so that it may be presented to New York voters in 2019.