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Sunday, February 11, 2007
NY Gov. Spitzer's choice for DEC is no friend of outdoorsmen
Recently, Gov. Eliot Spitzer announced that he has selected Assemblyman Alexander "Pete" Grannis as the new commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation.
This controversial nomination has created quite a stir among the outdoors sporting community. But did any sportsman in this state actually think the anti-gun Spitzer would nominate a friend of the sporting community to this influential position?
Here is who Gov. Spitzer has nominated:
Grannis was first elected to the Assembly in 1974 and represents the Upper East Side of Manhattan and Roosevelt Island. He currently serves as legislator, serving as Chair of the Assembly Insurance Committee and as a member of the Assembly Ways and Means Committee.
The Governor's press release says Grannis has championed environmental issues throughout his tenure in the legislature. He was a leader in fighting for the passage of SEQRA, the original bottle bill, and the clean-up and revitalization of the state's brownfields.
Grannis also has played a key role in the enactment of a wide range of environmental legislation, including measures related to acid rain, clean air and water, fluorocarbons and recycling. He chaired the Assembly's first Subcommittee on Toxic Waste, sponsored legislation ensuring a worker's right to know about hazardous materials in the workplace and has worked to regulate the transport, storage and disposal of toxic wastes. Grannis authored the state's rapid transit noise code and has been at the forefront of the fight to have the MTA convert its polluting diesel bus fleet to clean fuels.
The press release continues his accolades: Grannis is a three-time winner of the Legislator of the Year award from the Environmental Planning Lobby and was accorded similar honors by the Audubon Society, the Environmental Action Coalition and Environmental Advocates. He also received the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Public Service Award in recognition of his efforts in promoting the humane treatment of animals.
WHAT THE RELEASE DOESN'T MENTION
The ultra-liberal Grannis has continually received "F" or "0" ratings from national and regional pro-sportsman's organizations.
Grannis is as anti-gun, anti-hunting, anti-trapping, anti-ATV, anti-snowmobiles, and anti-outdoors land use as any politician in the lower 48 states.
In the assembly, Grannis has introduced or supported legislation designed to destroy New York State's traditional outdoors culture.
DEC'S BLACK HOLE
Many years have passed since the DEC has had a qualified commissioner. Unfortunately, political hacks have served as commissioners, deputy commissioners and regional administrators, thereby effectively "dumbing down" DEC's natural resources management.
This year will be no different.
In a questionnaire issued by the League of Humane Voters of New York City, an animal protectionist organization, Grannis was asked to respond to a series of questions. Question number 3 asks Grannis: What are your animal protection goals for the next term, should you be elected? Grannis's answer: "Empowering counties to ban trapping."
Question 11: Do you support legislation to ban canned hunts in New York State? Answer: "I am a co-prime sponsor of this legislation."
Question 12: Do you support legislation, such as NYS Senate bill S. 2142 of 2005 and Assembly bill A. 1835 of 2005, the "home rule trapping bill," to allow local counties and municipalities to ban the use of steel-jaw leg-hold traps on fur-bearing animals? Answer: "I authored this legislation in the Assembly."
Question 13: Do you support a ban on steel-jaw leg-hold traps? Answer: "Yes."
Question 24: Would you support legislation to make cruelty to wildlife a felony? Answer: "My bill - A. 1850A."
Reviewing these answers and legislation that Grannis has sponsored details his commitment to ban hunting and trapping. In addition, he supports the anti-gun measures Spitzer dreams of passing.
So, a question begs to be answered: who in the North Country supports Grannis? To answer that question you have to look no further than Peter Bauer, executive director of the Residents' Committee to Protect the Adirondacks, an environmental group that has strongly opposed traditional sportsmen's use but strongly supports Grannis as DEC commissioner.
It is interesting to note that in the last edition of the Progressive Farmer magazine, St. Lawrence County was selected as one of the top 10 rural counties to live in the United States. The reason was because of the tremendous outdoors activities, more specifically, its quality hunting and fishing.
Obviously Gov. Spitzer is not on the side of sportsmen and their traditional activities. His choice of commissioner reflects his lack of concern.
