February 9, 2017
Dear Friends,
As you may know, the Baker Administration recently announced deep cuts to the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s budget for this summer, which we believe put the extraordinary gains we have made on the region's public beaches in recent years at serious risk.
This round of cuts includes a $5 million cut in DCR's operating budget and a $400,000 reduction for seasonal staff. They also include cuts to the Metropolitan Beaches budget line, including $50,000 for algae removal in Lynn, Swampscott and Nahant and $100,000 for free beach events and programs this summer.
The region's 19 miles of public swimming beaches have the power to connect the region's residents to the recreational and educational benefits of our $5 billion investment in the Boston Harbor clean up. They also play a critical role as economic drivers for the region's beachfront communities and waterfront neighborhoods in Lynn, Nahant, Revere, Winthrop, East Boston, South Boston, Dorchester, Quincy and Hull.
That's why we are asking you to join the Metropolitan Beaches Commission and Save the Harbor/Save the Bay and sign on to a letter asking Governor Baker and Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Matthew Beaton, Secretary of the Executive Office for Administration and Finance Kristen Lepore, Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Jay Ash and other administration officials to rescind the cuts this year and fully restore the budget in FY2018.
At Save the Harbor/Save the Bay we believe in the power of clean water to transform communities and improve the quality of life we enjoy in the Boston Harbor region.
We also believe in the power of people to persuade decision makers to do the right thing.
Please take a minute to read the sign-on letter below, and send us an email with your name, affiliation and contact information so that we can add your name to the letter.
We know we can count on our friends and supporters to join us as we continue to work to put our tremendous public investment in clean water and better beaches to work for all the residents of our region.
Sign On Letter
Dear Secretary Beaton, Secretary Lepore and Secretary Ash,
As you know, late last year, the Baker Administration announced a series of 9C cuts to the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s budget for FY 2016.
Coming on top of deep cuts to DCR staff and operations in 2015, these cuts jeopardize the agency’s ability to fulfill its responsibilities on the region’s 14 public beaches in 9 communities including Lynn, Nahant, Revere, Winthrop, East Boston, South Boston, Dorchester, Quincy and Hull.
These cuts include $100,000 for free beach events and programs, $50,000 for algae removal in Lynn, Swampscott, and Nahant, and $50,000 to support the work of the Metropolitan Beaches Commission, as well as more than $5 million in cuts to staff and operations at DCR.
The metropolitan region’s 14 public beaches are an extraordinary urban natural resource which contributes to the civic, cultural, and recreational vitality and economic health of the region’s waterfront neighborhoods and beachfront communities from Nahant to Nantasket.
We know you understand how important these beaches are to the more than 1.5 million residents who live within a short ride or drive to the coast.
We are counting on you to advocate for the restoration of these funds for FY2017 and to fully restore DCR’s budget in FY2018.
Sincerely,
Senator Thomas M. McGee and Representative RoseLee Vincent
Co-Chairs of the Metropolitan Beaches Commission
Patty Foley and Bruce Berman
Save the Harbor/Save the Bay
P.S. Despite these devastating cuts, all of us remain committed to a full season of free events and programs on the region's public beaches this summer. Please help us #savethesummer and join us on Carson Beach on Sunday March 5th for the Harpoon Shamrock Splash. Register today at www.shamrocksplash.org and help us raise funds to support free beach events and programs on your beach this summer.
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