ESFPA E-News Volume 2 - Issue 19
A round-up of our interesting stories from the week.
ESFPA is launching a new, web-based E-News. Please let us know how you like it, how it works for you or any other comments. This upgrade is another step closer to modernizing our communication efforts. Email Muriel at mchurch@esfpa.org.
News From the National Association of Home Builders
According to the NAHB, rising building materials costs and low inventory have caused new home sales prices to jump 20% on a year-over-year basis, harming housing affordability and driving down the pace of new home sales. Sales of newly built, single-family homes fell 5.9%, following a significant downward revision of the March estimate, to a 863,000 seasonally adjusted annual rate, according to newly released data by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau. Read the full story here.
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ESFPA Joins Sign On for NFIB Letter Supporting Employers
Along with several other organizations, and the tens of thousands of businesses throughout New York State they represent, ESFPA signed on to a letter urging legislators to oppose S.2762/A.766 (SWEAT). This legislation, which allows for the creation of an “employee lien” is duplicative and unnecessarily arduous as there are both state and federal laws protecting employees from wage and hour violations. To view the full letter, click here.
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ESFPA Signs On to BCNY Opposition to Deceptive Acts or Practices
NYS Senator Comrie and Assembly Member Niou have introduced legislation which would greatly expand the consumer protection deceptive acts and practices section of the general business law. The Business Council of NY has prepared a letter of opposition, which ESFPA has signed on to, as the bill will lead to a rise in lawsuits against businesses of all sizes. To read the full letter, please click here.
Webinar Opportunity: The Science Behind Forest Carbon Sequestration: Nature-Based Solutions to Climate Change On Friday, June 4th at 3pm there will be a free webinar to learn about current science on forest carbon sequestration, a nature-based way to provide positive
solutions to solving our climate crisis, featuring - Dr. Julia Burton, SUNY-ESF
- Dr. Timothy Fahey, Cornell CALS
- Dr. Robert Malmsheimer,
SUNY-ESF
- Dr. Peter Woodbury, Cornell CALS
This event is sponsored by NYS Senator Rachel May and NYS Assemblymember Anna R. Kelles. This event is aimed at educating legislators and legislative staff on the role of forests and wood products in climate policy. this webinar is also
appropriate for the general public and all are welcome to participate. Registration is required, details will be sent in confirmation email. Please register HERE. For more information, follow this link.
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FRA Action Alert for the Safe Routes Act - Log Trucks need your support!
Weight limits on interstate highways are established by the federal government while weight limits on other roadways are established by state or local governments. State weight limits for log trucks exceed federal interstate highway weight limits in all major timber producing states, including New York. This disparity discourages log trucks from traveling loaded on interstate highways. Log trucks traveling on non-interstate roads have a greater risk of accidents as they encounter two-way traffic, intersections, school zones, pedestrians, and driveways. Allowing trucks transporting raw forest products (logs, pulpwood, chips, or biomass) access to the U.S. Interstate Highway System at legal state GVW is
safer. FRA has prepared a useful Issue Brief which includes additional background information. You can view that brief here. To participate in the action alert, please click here. It takes just a few minutes to take part in the process!
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Why Grassroots Action Alerts are Important We have SIGNIFICANT opposition to keeping working forests working, and business in New York viable. We are learning to work within our new OneClickPolitics Software and hope you join us. The facts are that those individuals and
groups that fail to see the benefits of sustainable forest management and supporting sectors as a benefit to the environment and economy in New York State are organized, they are prepared, and they are VOCAL. We cannot keep playing defense. The time to speak up is BEFORE the legislation or regulation is enacted. And that time is NOW. Take a look at this email we have received from NY Renews. This is how they are fighting for their cause and engaging their participants. When ESFPA sends our next action alert, please take part to support our industry. If you don't, who else will?
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