SIGN THIS IF YOU ARE A RESIDENT OF NEW PALTZ AND IF YOU HAVE NOT SIGNED A PREVIOUS PETITION CALLING FOR THE SAME THING.
Non-NP residents can sign here: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/pesticide-freeNP
[ After you sign, a page from iPETITIONS will appear which will inform you that your name has been registered and will then request a donation. Unless you want to give iPETITIONS money, just close the page -- no need to press continue. ]
MANY THANKS...
We, the residents of New Paltz, believe that it is our birthright to live in as toxic-free an environment as possible; and we think that New Paltz has a right to enact regulations to protect the health and safety of its citizens. That\'s why we support the passing of the proposed Healthy Turf and Landscape Law that will give our local municipality the power to restrict the aesthetic use of lawn-care pesticides in our Town and Village.
Lawn-care pesticides even at low levels of exposure are associated with increased risks of birth defects, cancer, autism, neurotoxicity, respiratory and immune-system damage, liver and kidney damage, endocrine disruption, and many other health problems like asthma. Children are especially at risk since their systems are more vulnerable and they tend to spend more time on lawns. And pesticides are teratogens they can cross the placenta and adversely affect developing fetuses, even at extremely low doses that don\'t harm adults.
As if this weren\'t enough: lawn-care pesticides also poison the environment drinking water and other bodies of water, the soil, the air, and harm pets and wildlife. And lawn-care pesticides are not only a problem outside pets and others who walk on treated lawns can track the pesticides into our homes, where these toxins persist for years and years, often degrading into compounds far more dangerous than the original chemicals.
Currently, under New York State law, our Healthy Turf and Landscape Law would be illegal. That\'s because the chemical companies have made it illegal for municipalities to try to protect their citizens from these toxins.
However, there IS something we can do: the Commissioner of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), has the sole power to grant New Paltz the authority to limit the use of lawn pesticides here, and we\'re asking him to do just that. Wont you join us
We, the undersigned, fully support the adoption of the Healthy Turf and Landscape Law for New Paltz and respectfully request the DEC Commissioner to grant New Paltz the authority to protect its community.