Mother Nature cooperated with sunny skies on the day that Assemblyman Thomas DiNapoli, Democratic candidate for Nassau County executive, met with environmental advocates, supporters, press and a curious Canada goose at the Roslyn Duck Pond in the newly named Gerry Park to announce his "environmental agenda for 2001 and beyond."

DiNapoli stated, "For 16 years in the halls of the statehouse, I've been an environmental leader for Long Island. But during this same period, I have also been witness to a Nassau County government where protecting the quality of the environment has not only been put on the back burner, but has at times fallen off the stove ... I believe that it is time to make the preservation of our natural resources a fundamental priority for our county government."

The DiNapoli plan is multi-pronged, encompassing practical initiatives that are readily attainable such as phasing out the use of pesticides in county parks and re-establishing a dedicated parks fund to the more complex challenge of expanding funding streams for the acquisition of open space and water recharge areas. John Turner, director of Land Conservation for the Long Island chapters of The Nature Conservancy said, "This plan is classic Tom. It is comprehensive, thoughtful, visionary and is not a knee-jerk, reactionary plan. It is in keeping with the concerns of residents who care about the environmental health of the Island."

An underpinning plank of the DiNapoli plan is to "first make the most of what we have." Calling for an open space inventory of all county-owned land, DiNapoli says, "Until the county can produce a comprehensive report of currently owned and underdeveloped properties, it is impossible to provide even a basic plan for protection, preservation and smart growth in Nassau."

Given a high priority in the DiNapoli plan is the need for the county to institute a dedicated Open Space Fund after a plan is established. He suggests "creative funding mechanisms to be considered after community input such as donations, tax check-offs, dedicated fee increases."

Also falling into the category of bringing resourcefulness and competence back to county government would be the establishment of a coordinated office of grant development to "aggressively" compete for public and private dollars. Environmental activists in-the-know spoke with barely muted anger when they compared Suffolk County's track record in securing state and federal monies for environmental purposes with Nassau's.

County Legislator Craig Johnson (11th District) underscored the need for a more hands-on approach to going after federal and state dollars. He said, "I am confident that Tom will reinstitute competence in the way the county is run."

Another key plank of the plan would be the creation of a high level Open Space and Parks Advisory Committee bringing in citizens knowledgeable in land use planning, historic preservation, parks management and municipal financing. This committee in conjunction with the county would be responsible for targeting opportunities for open space acquisition and developing criteria for prioritizing properties.

As county executive, DiNapoli would establish a Nassau County Office of Environmental Protection to provide a coherent and coordinated approach to environmental matters. Bowing to the county's fiscal restraints, DiNapoli plans to staff such an office through refiguration of existing personnel.

Mike White, chairman of the Long Island chapter of the League of Conservation Voters said, "We are excited that finally the environment is being recognized as an important issue. The League is currently going through the process of considering an early endorsement in this campaign."

Acknowledgements were made of Tom DiNapoli's environmental accomplishments in the state Legislature. He played a major role in overcoming a roadblock to the preservation of the Pine Barrens; led the eight year fight to win passage of the pesticide neighbor notification law; was a guiding advocate to ban the use of MTBE additives in gasoline in New York; and was a leader in gaining support for the $1.7 Clean Water Clean Air Bond Act in 1996 that funds the $200 million Long Island Sound clean-up efforts.

Assemblyman DiNapoli gazed around the park and said, "I have wonderful memories of coming to this park with my family when I was a boy. People love these parks and I want to reinvigorate the Adopt a Park and Friends of Parks programs for everyone's enjoyment .... By creating a renewed sense of partnership that works with the people to develop a shared list of environmental priorities and instilling a new environmental ethic in county government, we can improve our environment, protect our landscapes, preserve our history, and improve our parks, helping to restore the suburban dream that has been lost and creating the brighter future of Nassau."