SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — Nov. 2 will present New Yorkers with five proposal questions on the back of their ballots. Among those proposals is one regarding environmental rights, something the New York Water Environment Association has been fighting to get on the ballot for over a decade.
The Environmental Rights Amendment, or #Prop2 as it’s stylized on social media, reads: “The proposed amendment to Article I of the New York Constitution would establish the right of each person to clean air and water and a healthful environment.”
However, for members of the NYWEA like Libby Ford, the wording is disappointing.
“I am frustrated that the language isn’t better than it is,” Ford said.
Currently, six states like Pennsylvania and Montana have environmental rights amendments in their constitutions.
“The people have a right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and esthetic values of the environment,” Pennsylvania’s amendment reads.
“The state and each person shall maintain and improve a clean and healthful environment in Montana for present and future generations,” Montana’s amendment reads.
Despite being similar in length, New York’s proposed environmental rights amendment contains significantly vaguer language than its fellow states. For this reason, people are concerned that even if #Prop2 is passed, it will take as long as half a decade to get clearly defined.
“It’s probably going to be three to five years of court cases before we know what the amendment means,” Ford said.
Regardless of how long it might take to actually be put into action, Ford said there is no better time than the present to get the environmental rights momentum rolling.
“If we’re ever going to put something into the Bill of Rights section of the Constitution, now’s the best chance,” Ford said.
Proposal 2 will be voted on by New Yorkers this Tuesday, Nov. 2.
