When Pleasantville residents go to vote on November 7th, they will see a question on their ballots concerning the Adirondack Forest Preserve, which is about 200 miles away from Pleasantville. So why is it on the ballot?
Even though the proposed amendment only affects those living around the forest preserve, as Diane Fish, the Deputy Director of the Adirondack Council, put it, “It [the Adirondack Forest Preserve] is the people’s park.”
In other words, the New York State Constitution protects the forest preserve. Therefore, the proposed amendment is a statewide measure. So what exactly is the measure?
The proposed amendment would create a “bank” of 250 acres of forest preserve land that towns and villages in the Adirondacks and Catskills can use for health and safety projects such as maintaining rural roads and other services. As towns and villages “borrow” this land, they would be required to “pay back” the state by, for example, giving land not being used to the forest preserve.
Amendment 14, also known as the “Forever Wild” clause of the New York State Constitution protects the entire forest preserve from lease, logging, and any other kind of activity that could change the state of the preserve. Environmental advocacy groups often resist amendments to the clause; however, this one is facing little opposition.
“Some people say that it may be the start of a slippery slope,” said Fish, “but this has been five years in the making with many group meetings and strict restrictions to act as safeguards.”
The amendment has many supporters ranging from environmental advocacy groups such as Fish’s Adirondack Council, to local governments across New York.