On Wednesday, October 18, Bernard Melewski and Brad Edmondson came to Union to give a joint presentation in promotion of their two published books “Inside the Green Lobby: The Fight to Save the Adirondack Park” (Melewski) and “A Wild Idea: How the Environmental Movement Tamed the Adirondacks” (Edmondson). This talk was sponsored by the Kelly Adirondack Center. The two authors have previously given a few joint talks together to provide two different perspectives around the behind-the-scenes actions that went into preserving Adirondack Park, as both are local environmental advocates in Upstate NY. Melewski’s perspective comes from his role as a lobbyist for an environmental advocacy group, as he worked to influence political legislation in NY state on behalf of the group. Edmondson’s perspective comes from his work as a journalist with an interest in writing on political history and social change, as he researched the growth of the modern environmental movement, and its influence on Adirondack Park.
Melewski and Edmondson’s presentation primarily revolved around their life experiences both working with and researching the Adirondack Park. They simultaneously characterized their experiences with various other legislatures, advocates, and environmentalists who all played a part in influencing the great Adirondack Park we enjoy today. Some key figures noted were Ron Stafford, a politician in the New York State Senate, Harold Jerry, the developer/chairman of the Adirondack Council, and George Davis, the staff director of the Adirondack Park Commission, among others.
One of the main conflicts discussed during the presentation was the struggle to preserve the land of the Adirondacks, and obtain the necessary funds to protect open space. Through debates over Bond Acts, regulations of private land development, and forest protection, these highly contested issues were some of the factors that determined the outcome of the park. Involved in these decisions were the New York State Department of Conservation (DEC), Governor Mario Cuomo, Governor George Pataki, and the overall pressure from local environmentalist groups. Eventually, as matters developed, funds were obtained from the NY State Executive Chamber in conjunction with land conservation groups. A citizens advisory council composed of locals, elected officials, and environmentalists was also put into place along with limits of state use on eminent domain and negotiations with local towns over land acquisitions. Overall, the modern-day Adirondack system for land protection has made a global impact, as the nature conservancy now protects around 125 million acres of land in 79 countries.
At the end of the discussion, Edmondson noted that in politics he believes that individual relationships, timing, and persistence are highly important in influencing legislative decisions. Similarly, both speakers noted that the best ways for the audience to get involved with the land protection of the Adirondacks would be through joining organizations, voicing your concerns about issues, and subscribing to reputable sources that give up-to-date news regarding the Adirondacks. To learn more about either of the speakers, you can email them at [email protected] (Brad Edmondson) and [email protected] (Bernard Melewski). If you are interested in purchasing either “Inside the Green Lobby”, or “A Wild Idea” the books can be found on either of the author’s personal websites. The Kelly Adirondack center also looks forward to hosting more guest speakers like Melewski and Edmondson.
