Local leaders rally against Gov. Hochul's changes to NY's environmental review law
Bipartisan coalition of officials warn that proposal would strip local control, endanger communities, and undermine environmental protections
May 1, 2026
Riverkeeper Team
Ossining, NY — May 1, 2026: 70 local elected officials from across New York State have signed onto a letter organized by Riverkeeper urging Governor Kathy Hochul to withdraw proposed changes to the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) included in the Executive Budget.
The signatories — representing counties, cities, towns, and villages across the state — warn that the reforms would gut New York's cornerstone environmental protection law, strip municipalities of local authority, and expose communities to serious public health and safety risks.
SEQRA has served for more than 50 years as New York's primary tool for ensuring that development projects are evaluated for their impacts on clean water, air quality, public safety, and natural resources before being approved. The proposed exemptions included in the Governor’s proposed budget would dramatically expand the number of projects that can bypass this review entirely, including large-scale residential developments, projects on sensitive farmlands and forests, and high-density housing in flood zones and on contaminated sites.
"We reject the false choice between housing and environmental protection," the officials wrote in their letter to Governor Hochul. "SEQRA provides transparency, coordinated review, and the ability to identify impacts early and require site-specific mitigation. Rushing these exemptions through the budget process risks permanent damage to New York’s natural resources."
“The communities of New York are worried about losing our keystone environmental review law. SEQRA has provided environmental protections and allowed for the public to weigh in on development projects for more than 50 years. Updating the law should not happen behind closed doors. The environment belongs to all New Yorkers; our voices need to be heard in any process that will have massive impacts to clean water and the environment. For many communities across the state, SEQRA is the only tool they have to shape sustainable development. Let’s take the time to get this right. It’s possible to have all the housing we need plus clean air and clean water.”
—Riverkeeper President Tracy Brown
—Riverkeeper President Tracy Brown
“If New York weakens SEQRA, important questions and concerns dealing with the environment will not be studied or answered. Poor land use decisions will be made that could increase flooding, traffic, pollution and have a negative impact on sewage and stormwater systems. Air quality could also be impacted in a negative manner. NYS should lead by example and work to save the planet.”
—Paul Feiner, Greenburgh Town Supervisor
—Paul Feiner, Greenburgh Town Supervisor
“Stripping local authority from the State Environmental Quality Review Act is a mistake. SEQRA gives communities the essential opportunity to pause and evaluate how development impacts infrastructure, schools, emergency services, and local character. These decisions belong with the people most affected, not a one-size-fits-all mandate from Albany. We must use this critical tool to balance growth responsibly and prioritize preserving our open spaces—not paving them over for unchecked development.”
—Joseph D. Cavaccini, Town Supervisor, Town of Wappinger
—Joseph D. Cavaccini, Town Supervisor, Town of Wappinger
“SEQRA is a law that was crafted half a century ago to protect both people and the environment that they are part of. It is wrongheaded to characterize this shield against exploitation as an impediment to progress. Rather, it has functioned well for decades as the ultimate environmental insurance policy and sunshine law that informs the public of all viable alternatives to any proposed development that might be harmful to living things before it might also compromise human health. Rolling back this historically tested and proven law so as to accelerate new housing is upside-down thinking: construction for its own sake should never become a higher priority than preventing environmental degradation . Experience has taught us that thoughtful planning underwrites the quality of life of a community. The byproduct of poor planning is asthma, lung and heart disease , and shortened lifespans. Preserving SEQRA is vital to the premise that New Yorkers are deserving of clean and healthful places to live.”
—Steve Englebright, Member, Suffolk County Legislature, 5th District. Former NY Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee Chairman.
—Steve Englebright, Member, Suffolk County Legislature, 5th District. Former NY Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee Chairman.
“Cities like Newburgh can't absorb a one-size-fits-all exemption. We're already dealing with industrial legacies, contaminated parcels, and stressed water infrastructure. And we still need housing. Without guardrails, the communities already carrying the heaviest environmental burden will be the ones who pay for it.”
—Ronald Zorrilla, Council Member, City of Newburgh
—Ronald Zorrilla, Council Member, City of Newburgh
“SEQRA [as it stands] isn't the problem. Here in New Paltz, the law has alerted our community and planning boards to threats to our environment and economy that have resulted in responsible mitigation. Fast tracking projects of up to 100 new units in rural areas IS a problem that will result in unintended consequences to our watershed, exacerbate traffic congestion and strain our ability to provide emergency services.
—Kitty Brown, Town of New Paltz Council Member
—Kitty Brown, Town of New Paltz Council Member
“As elected officials, we have a duty to protect our environment and the well-being of our constituents. The proposed changes to the SEQR process in Governor Hochul's budget undermine the very protections that ensure our natural resources and communities are safeguarded from harmful developments. I stand firmly with Riverkeeper and my fellow electeds in opposing these changes. We demand a transparent and inclusive process for any SEQR revisions as we continue to prioritize sustainability in our communities and uphold our commitment to future generations.”
—Michele Hirsch, Alderwoman, Ward 9, Majority Leader, City of Kingston Common Council
—Michele Hirsch, Alderwoman, Ward 9, Majority Leader, City of Kingston Common Council
"While I applaud and support much of Governor Hochul's priority new State legislation, I have new founded concerns with the SEQRA REFORM for Croton-on-Hudson due to its steep slopes and geotechnical risk. In a Hudson Valley village like Croton, a great deal of land could be characterized as "previously disturbed" — former and remediated rail yards, old industrial parcels near the waterfront, graded lots from earlier subdivisions. Developers will push for that classification aggressively to qualify for exemption, even on sites that have substantially regenerated ecologically. Further, Croton's unique topography — ravines, hillside lots, and ridge development — means that even a modestly sized housing project can trigger significant erosion, stormwater runoff, and slope instability. SEQRA currently forces that analysis before a shovel goes in the ground."
—Stacey Nachtaler, Trustee Village of Croton on Hudson NY
—Stacey Nachtaler, Trustee Village of Croton on Hudson NY
“Rolling back SEQRA for our region could be devastating. At a time when we are working to close loopholes in our Town Code that allow clear cutting and land disturbance without a permit, we should be ensuring safeguards are in place for environmental review on all levels. All of which is critical to ensure water quality, the preservation of crucial ecosystems, and environmental health.”
—Michael A. Iasilli, Councilmember, Town of Southampton
—Michael A. Iasilli, Councilmember, Town of Southampton
Read the letter for a full list of signatories.
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