State Senate votes to force Paterson to reopen 55 parks

Four days before the Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial beginning of the summer parks season, the state Senate Tuesday voted 59-0 to force Gov. David A. Paterson to reopen 55 state parks closed in the state's budget crisis.

The legislation, which would keep parks open until Albany lawmakers pass a state budget - now 57 days overdue - has to be passed by the Assembly and signed by Paterson to become law. The governor has signaled his opposition.

Paterson spokesman Morgan Hook said the Senate bill is unconstitutional and the governor would veto it.

On Monday, Paterson proposed legislation that would reopen 41 state parks and 14 historic sites closed last week - including two on Long Island - by taking $6 million from environmental programs funded by the Environmental Protection Fund. The Senate took no action on that bill.

"If the Senate really wants to address the parks issue, they should pass the governor's bill," Hook said.

Nissequogue River and Brookhaven state parks on Long Island are now shuttered due to the stalemate.

Assemb. Steven Englebright (D-Setauket) said Assembly leaders are negotiating with Paterson to avoid a vote on the Senate bill. "With the Memorial Day weekend, the Legislature is prepared to take action in both houses before the end of the week," he said.

Sen. John Sampson (D-Brooklyn), the Democratic conference leader, said park closures would devastate small businesses that depend on park traffic. "We need a fair and responsible budget, and cutting our parks is neither a fair nor responsible solution to the fiscal crisis," Sampson said.

Democrats want Paterson to spend money they say was included for parks operations in emergency spending bills that are keeping the state government functioning. Paterson says the bills do not include money for parks.

His plan has angered legislators, environmentalists and park advocates, who say the Environmental Protection Fund has never been used for daily park operations.

Park advocates and some legislators said if the legislators' bills don't pass quickly, Paterson's proposal might become law as lawmakers face mounting public pressure to reopen the parks.