Dear State Senator/State Assembly member,
Last summer, the bays and harbors we cherish here on Long Island had some of the worst water quality on record. Local beaches and clamming areas were closed, toxic brown and red tides appeared in our bays, and harmful blue-green algae poisoned our freshwater lakes and ponds. And Suffolk County officials acknowledged alarming nitrogen pollution increases in our drinking water reserves.
But you can help be part of the solution to this problem. New York State should pass legislation that will create and implement a comprehensive plan to protect our precious Long Island water resources. This plan should require the use of modern technology, set stricter limits on nitrogen pollution, and make sure that someone is in charge of cleaning up our water.
We've already made significant progress. After receiving thousands of letters from concerned residents, Nassau and Suffolk county officials have stated their intention to reduce nitrogen pollution. But we still need an Island-wide planning effort spearheaded by New York State to get action on our water pollution problems.
[Your comments will go here]
I urge you as a State official to help draft and pass State legislation now that will protect our precious Long Island water resources.
Sincerely,
[Your name]