Governor George E. Pataki

Executive Chamber

State Capitol

Albany, NY 12224

Re: Save the rest of Sterling Forest

Dear Governor Pataki:

More than 2,000 acres of Sterling Forest are still threatened to be destroyed by development. The Sterling Forest Corporation has plans to build over 1,300 housing units and 500,000 square feet of commercial space in Tuxedo, NY, right on the border of the new Sterling Forest State Park. The sprawl of this large development in Sterling Forest will negatively impact the region and reduce the quality of our new Sterling Forest State Park recently purchased for $55 million. Allowing this development sprawl will reduce the amount of unfragmented forest remaining in Sterling Forest, now only partially protected by the state park.

New Jersey contributed $10 million and New York $16 million to acquire Sterling Forest to protect this watershed that provides water to more than 2 million New York and New Jersey residents. But the job of protecting this resource is still left incomplete. This new proposed development will have a negative impact on the drinking water we are trying to protect.

I am asking for your leadership to protect the remaining 2,200 acres of Sterling Forest. New York State has funding for open space protection and the Sterling Forest Corporation is willing to sell. New York State must take action now to protect the of quality of life in the Highlands for us and our children by ensuring clean and safe drinking water and fresh air. Please help us!

Sincerely,