Protecting New Yorkers – Dominic Frongillo

Deputy Supervisor Frongillo leads statewide movement of elected officials to protect New Yorkers

On Monday, June 4, more than 280 local elected officials from 34 counties across New York State called on Governor Cuomo to continue the fracking moratorium and to do additional study before a decision is made whether to allow fracking. Their request, which they delivered in the form of a letter to the Governor, crosses political lines and comes from elected officials from more than half of New York State’s counties.

At a press conference in Albany, elected officials shared issues of concern to municipalities and released their letter to Governor Cuomo. They spoke about how the Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) review of fracking has significant shortcomings. To address their concerns, a number of studies are needed before – not after – any decision is made about fracking and before fracking commences anywhere in the state.

One of the elected officials who started the initiative, Town of Caroline Deputy Supervisor Dominic Frongillo, said, “As local elected officials, we are on the front lines of this issue, and a number of critical studies have not been done to determine the consequences of fracking and drilling operations to the constituents we represent. The impacts of fracking don’t respect municipal boundaries or political parties, which is why we’ve already seen such an overwhelming and bipartisan response in support of this initiative from across the state.”