New York’s 19th Congressional District Environmental Candidate Forum
Forum to be Streamed on Facebook Live
What: A NY-19th Congressional District candidate forum to discuss environmental issues.
Moderator: The forum will be moderated by NYLCVEF
Co-hosts: Jeff Skelding, Friends of the Upper Delaware River
Madeline Emde, Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed
Steve Schwartz, Delaware Highlands Conservancy
Participants: Congressmember John Faso and Democratic Nominee Antonio Delgado
When: Wednesday, August 29
Congressmember Faso at 6:00pm
Antonio Delgado at 7:00pm
Where: The Western Hotel
22 Upper Main Street
Callicoon, NY 12723
Why: Your representative in Congress has a big impact on local and national environmental issues. Congress members pass legislation and secure funding for everything from water quality improvements to open space preservation to renewable energy regulations. Often, candidates do not have the opportunity to speak directly to voters about their position on environmental issues. That's why the New York League of Conservation Voters Education Fund is co-hosting this forum with our local environmental partners.
Livestream: NYLCVEF will be hosting a livestream of the forum on our Facebook page.
Format: The candidates will answer questions about protecting the environment and conserving natural resources such as the Delaware River.
Background: Stretching from the Hudson to the Delaware River, New York’s 19th Congressional District spans suburban, rural, and small-town neighborhoods.
The Delaware River Watershed provides drinking water to 15 million people and is responsible for 600,000 jobs and $22 billion in annual economic activity, including a vital tourism industry. New York anglers in the Upper Delaware River collectively spend $331 million at these fishing sites. The Delaware is home to over 250 migrating bird species and 40 different species of fish, including one of the country’s finest wild trout fisheries.
The forum will focus on efforts at the federal, local, and state levels to protect the Delaware River. Congress recently approved $4.3 million in funding for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Delaware River Watershed Fund. Continued and additional funding is critical to keep the Upper Delaware River in good shape and maximize its tourism potential to bolster local economies.