SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News)—Speech, the free exercise of religion and access to clean water–today a New York State senate committee passed a bill called the “Green Amendment” which would add environmental protections to the state’s bill of rights.
“[In] the almost 20,000 words in the New York State Constitution, [there is] nothing there to really guarantee us the right to clear air, clean water and a healthy environment,” said state senator David Carlucci (D-Rockland), a sponsor of the amendment. “Add 15 words [and they] will really make a difference for generations to come.”
Specifically, the 15 words Carlucci’s looking to add are, “Each person shall have a right to clean air and water, and a healthful environment.”
The Green Amendment is nothing new, however. The Assembly passed the bill twice before, but it did not get beyond that, never coming up for vote in the Senate. The passage by the senate committee is the furthest the amendment has ever gotten.
An amendment must pass both chambers of the legislature in consecutive, two-year legislative sessions to be added to the constitution. Then the amendment goes to a state-wide general vote in which there must be a simple majority in favor.
Carlucci said he is more confident now.
“It’s a new day in the New York State Senate,” Carlucci said. “We have to be leaders for the nation and for the world.”
He said the new Democratic leadership is taking the issue of climate change more seriously than previous Republican majorities.
Carlucci represents a district in the Hudson Valley. Much like Onondaga Lake, the Hudson River became heavily polluted with swimming and fishing being banned.
“It’s been taken from us because of greedy corporate interests that weren’t thinking of future generations,” Carlucci said. “They were just thinking of their bottom line.”
