2021 NYS Virtual Preservation Advocacy Day
Like so many events this past year, the Preservation League’s annual preservation advocacy day looked a bit different from past years. We reflected on how our 2020 advocacy day was one of the final in person events many of us had attended, as it occurred shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic fell upon the nation.
While we wish we could have joined our supporters in person to attend meetings in the Capitol and Legislative Office Building in downtown Albany, we successfully transformed our advocacy to a virtual Zoom event. Our attendees included familiar faces as well as some new advocates from across New York State who were eager to convey to legislative leadership the importance of preservation in their communities.
A screenshot of our Advocacy Day group in the Zoom meeting with Assemblymember Danny O’Donnell.
Our afternoon began with opening remarks by Erik Kulleseid, Commissioner of the Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation. We then enjoyed meetings with the offices of: Senator Brian Benjamin, Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes, Senator Liz Krueger, Senator Jose Serrano, Assemblymember O’Donnell, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins. We sincerely appreciate the legislators and staff who took time to meet with our group.
Our advocates articulated the importance of preservation initiatives in their communities, their professions, and to them personally. This year we paid special attention to:
Increasing the Historic Tax Credit from 20%-30% for projects under $2.5 million [Assembly: A03670, Senate: S04439]
Protecting the authenticity and integrity of our National Historic Landmark NYS Canal System, the oldest continuously operating canal system in our country by removing the Canal System Revitalization Act from the budget. We ask the NYS Legislature to intentionally omit it from their budget bills.
Rethinking the Governor's proposed Empire Station Complex to limit demolition of National Register-listed and eligible buildings surrounding Penn Station. Our specific legislative ask is for the proposed $1.3 billion Capital Projects Budget appropriation (page 854) for this urban renewal land grab to be removed from the Legislative budget bills.
Funding for NYS Office of Parks Recreation and Historic Preservation (NYS OPRHP) and the NYS Council on the Arts
Including support for capital investment at NYS OPRHP, with particular attention to the needs of NYS Historic Sites, as well as historic buildings and landscapes within NYS Parks
Maintaining Historic Preservation Grants under a $300 million Environmental Protection Fund
Support of the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution [Assembly: A04742, Senate: S04410]
Thoughtful siting consideration for the renewable energy our state needs to ensure a sustainable future
After a great afternoon of engaging meetings, we reconvened to hear remarks from Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner, who is an incredible champion of historic preservation here in New York.
A big thank you to everyone who made this year a success…from legislators and their staff to our advocates who made time to support preservation…YOU make preservation possible!