sicolab.org [staten island collaboration]

Your help is urgently needed to save the Staten Island Museum, Wave Hill, Queens Botanical Garden, New York Botanical Garden, Bronx Zoo, New York Aquarium, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and the Staten Island Zoological Society from severe state budget cuts proposed by Governor Paterson. This year alone, 76 living museums across New York State are singled out for the largest cut -- 55 percent

Next year, all state funding through the Zoos, Botanical Gardens and Aquariums Program (ZBGA) in his proposed budget will permanently be eliminated. If enacted this proposal would have a devastating impact with long-term, unprecedented repercussions both locally and state wide.

The support that ZBGA receives within the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) is critical to conserving New York’s environment, protecting its open spaces, addressing climate change, aiding and inspiring thousands of teachers, and growing new generations of environmental stewards. Further, it generates millions of dollars each year for state and local economies. ZBGA institutions provide jobs and host over 12 million visitors annually.

Time is of the essence. We need your help to send a message to Albany that these devastating cuts to ZBGA are unacceptable. Click on the link below and make a difference. Or you can call Governor Paterson’s office immediately at (518) 474-8390 and ask him to save ZBGA funding.

Please email this letter to everyone you know!

Act Now
http://capwiz.com/wcs/issues/alert/?alertid=12198681&type=ML

· NEW YORK RESIDENTS: PLEASE FILL OUT THE ONLINE PETITION OR CALL THE GOVERNOR AT 518-474-8390

· OUT OF STATE RESIDENTS: PLEASE CALL THE GOVERNOR AT 518-474-8390