From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (annparry.com)
April 27, 2021
Activists urge NYS Assembly to pass legislation to create Nassau County Water Authority
- contact info for NYS Assembly members at end of post
Mineola, NY, USA. April 26, 2021. At rally, activists hold signs saying STOP TAXING OUR WATER, and Water for ALL! Faced with a 26% rate increase from New York American Water going into effect May 1, 2021, activists and residents who are NYAW customers rally. (© 2021 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)
Yesterday, April 26, activists held a rally in Mineola about the unfair burden of paying dam-bursting rates – about to rise 26% higher on May 1st – for water from New York American Water, a private company.
Living in Merrick, I’m among over 124,000 customers of NYAW in Nassau County who pay rates many times higher than county residents with municipal water.
Mineola, NY, USA. April 26, 2021. MARGARET MAHER, from non-profit Food and Water Watch, speaks at rally. Faced with a 26% rate increase from New York American Water going into effect May 1, 2021, activists and residents who are NYAW customers rally. (© 2021 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)
Since 2011, I’ve been covering rallies and attending meetings about the extreme, unfair difference in rates customers pay for water from private companies versus municipal water in Nassau County.
Mineola, NY, USA. April 26, 2021. Activists and civic leaders – including in front row, center, wearing lapis blue face mask and jacket, CLAUDIA BORECKY, a Co-Director of CAWS (Clean Air Water Soil) – rally at Theodore Roosevelt Executive and Legislative Building. Faced with a 26% rate increase from New York American Water going into effect May 1, 2021, activists and residents who are NYAW customers rally. (© 2021 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)
But the notable changes water customers have experienced over the past 11 years have been repeated sales from one private water company to another, and a flood of rate hikes.
Mineola, NY, USA. April 26, 2021. At front, GEORGE POMBAR, President of Glen Head-Glenwood Landing Civic Council, speaks at rally. Faced with a 26% rate increase from New York American Water going into effect May 1, 2021, activists and residents who are NYAW customers rally. (© 2021 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)
New York State Senate Bill S.989a
Recently, however, New York State Senate Bill S.989a passed – sponsored by Sen. James Gaughran (Dem.-5th District, Northport) – which relates to the assessment of property owned by water-works corporations – including creating a Nassau County Water Authority and exempting water works corporations in counties of populations over one million from a special franchise tax.
In addition to NYS Sen. James Gaughran, Sen. John Brooks (Dem. – 8th Dist., Seaford), Sen. Leroy Comrie (Dem. – 14th Dist., St. Albans) Sen. Todd Kaminsky (Dem. – 9th Dist., Long Beach), and Sen. Kevin Thomas (Dem. – 6th Dist, Garden City) actively supported the bill’s passage, and speakers at the rally thanked them.
Mineola, NY, USA. April 26, 2021. L-R, DAVE DENENBERG, Co-Director of CAWS; LLOYD NADEL (speaking at mics) attorney for Glen Head-Glenwood Landing Civic Council; ERIC WELTMAN, Senior Organizer for Food & Water Watch and Food & Water Action; (activist); GEORGE POMBAR, Pres. of GH/GL Civic Council; and AGATHA NADEL, Director of NSCC, speak at rally. Faced with a 26% rate increase from New York American Water going into effect May 1, 2021, activists and residents who are NYAW customers rally. (© 2021 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)
But for New York American Water customers to avoid the 26% rate hike, and for such changes to take place, the NYS Assembly must also pass corresponding legislation before May 1st. [See UPDATE near end of post]
Mineola, NY, USA. April 26, 2021. Activist META MEREDAY, of Baldwin, speaks at rally and holds up sign saying: NY Assembly, Only You Can Stop the Rate Hike! Faced with a 26% rate increase from New York American Water going into effect May 1, 2021, activists and residents who are NYAW customers rally. (© 2021 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)
Contact your NYS Assembly member:
New York State Assembly members: assembly.state.ny.us/mem/
Michael Durso • District 9
nyassembly.gov/mem/Michael-Durso
dursom@nyassembly.gov • 516-541-4598
Charles D. Lavine • District 13
nyassembly.gov/mem/Charles-D-Lavine
LavineC@nyassembly.gov • 516-676-0050
David G. McDonough • District 14
nyassembly.gov/mem/David-G-McDonough
mcdonoughd@nyassembly.gov • 516-409-2070
Michael Montesano • District 15
nyassembly.gov/mem/Michael-Montesano
MontesanoM@nyassembly.gov • 516-937-3571
John K. Mikulin • District 17
nyassembly.gov/mem/John-K-Mikulin
mikulinj@nyassembly.gov • 516-228-4960
Taylor Darling • District 18
nyassembly.gov/mem/Taylor-Darling
darlingt@nyassembly.gov • 516-489-6610
Edward P. Ra • District 19
nyassembly.gov/mem/Edward-P-Ra
rae@nyassembly.gov • 516-535-4095
Judy Griffin • District 21
nyassembly.gov/mem/Judy-Griffin
griffinj@nyassembly.gov • 516-561-8216
Michaelle C. Solages • District 22
nyassembly.gov/mem/Michaelle-C-Solages
SolagesM@nyassembly.gov • 516-599-2972
Mineola, NY, USA. April 26, 2021. AGATHA NADEL, Director of North Shore Concerned Citizens (NSCC) speaks at rally, and behind her at right is ERIC WELTMAN, Senior Organizer for Food & Water Watch and Food & Water Action. Faced with a 26% rate increase from New York American Water going into effect May 1, 2021, activists and residents who are NYAW customers rally to urge NYS Assembly to push through legislation, before then, corresponding with NYS Senate Bill S.989As to establish a Nassau County Water Authority. (© 2021 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)
Company & groups in post:
New York American Water – www.amwater.com/NYAW/
facebook – nyamwater
CAWS – LI Clean Air Water and Soil – www.licaws.org/
Food and Water Watch –
www.foodandwaterwatch.org/2021/03/02/stopping-privatization/
Glen Head-Glenwood Landing Civic Council –
www.facebook.com/ghgwlcivics/
North Shore Concerned Citizens (NSCC)
→ UPDATE: New York State Assembly Bill A07279
Before May 1, 2021, NYS Assembly Bill A07279 passed, which “relates to the establishment of the north and south shore water authority and capping the rate a water-works corporation may increase its rates and charges.” It was sponsored by Rep. Charles Lavine (Dem. – Dist. 13, Glen Cove), and co-sponsors Rep. Judy Griffin (Dem. – Dist. 21, Rockville Centre), Rep. Michaelle Solages (Dem. – Dist. 22, Elmont), and Rep. Michael Montesano (Rep., Ind., Cons. – Dist. 15, Glen Head).
NYS Assembly Bill A07279 differs from NYS Senate Bill A.989.a in some significant ways. For one, the NYS Assembly bill would form a North and South Shore Water Authority, covering fewer New York Water Authority customers than the Nassau County Water Authority NYS Senate Bill S.989.a would cover.
my Photo Gallery: Rally to Stop NY American Water Rate Hikes