People are often exposed, without knowledge or consent, to hazardous pesticides applied on neighboring properties. Pesticides can pose serious health and safety risks to people, particularly children, pregnant woman, the elderly and the infirm. Advance notice will allow citizens to take common sense precautions to minimize pesticide exposure to themselves, their families, pets, gardens, backyard wildlife and property.
After years of advocacy by breast cancer, environmental and children's health groups, the State Legislature passed the Neighbor Notification Law to require neighbors to be notified 48 hours before certain lawn pesticide applications. Pesticides are designed to kill. They contain various dangerous neurotoxins known to cause cancer and other serious health effects. Environmentalists had sought to enact the Notification Law statewide, but at the insistence of Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, enactment was left up to each individual county. While opponents to the Law often cite their concerns about its possible impact upon farmers, farmers are expressly exempted from the bill.
The fact took state legislative leaders so many years to even agree to the small step of notifying residents before toxic chemicals are applied next door shows the power of special interests in the state Legislature. We are now seeing the same special interests having their way with our County Legislators.
The Greens urge the County Legislature to give the residents of the county the right to know when pesticides are being sprayed next door to them.
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We think we have the 8 votes needed to win in Tompkins. But that's a very slim margin to work with. We will definitely need to place calls with certain legislators to keep them on our wide or win them over. Here's what the tally is currrently. There are seven legislators who we think should be targeted for calls at this point. Ben Tevelin and I have spoken with or left messages with each of the legislators and will keep on trying:
Solidly on our side (don't need to call):
Dooley Kiefer
Nancy Schuler
Katherine Luz Herrera
Tim Joseph
Martha Robertson
Said they would vote yes at meeting but Ben & I haven't spoken with yet (WORTH CALLING)
Michael Koplinka 257-2329
Leslyn McBean 277-5104
Peter Penniman 387-5897
Oppose or are on the fence (DEFINITELY CALL THESE PEOPLE!!)
Dick Booth 272-6573 - supports law but will vote against, due to county budget cuts
Michael Lane 844-8313 - leaning against law, but seems genuinely on fence - LH sending info
Frank Proto 277-4875 - opposes law but should get some constituent pressure on this
Barbara Blanchard 277-1374 - voted against holding hearing; don't know why
OPPOSE LAW - probably not worth calling
George Totman
Daniel Winch
Thomas Todd
