Honor Clearwater and Pete Seeger

Senate Resolution No. 1126 BY: Senator METZGER COMMEMORATING the 50th Anniversary of the launching of the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, and celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the birth of Pete Seeger, co-founder of the Hudson River Sloop Restoration in 1966 WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to commemorate those events of historical significance which add strength, vigor, and inspiration to the cultural diversity and quality of life in the communities of the State of New York; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the launching of the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, and to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the birth of Pete Seeger, co-founder of the Hudson River Sloop Restoration in 1966; and WHEREAS, Many events have been planned for this year to celebrate these two milestones, some of which include: Pete's 100th Singalong Concert at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady on April 26th; Public Sail from Poughkeepsie at Waryas Park Fixed Pier on April 27th; Power of Song-Pete Seeger's 100th Birthday Party! at the Jacob Burns Film Center in Pleasantville on May 1st; Happy Hundredth Birthday, Pete! at the Rosenberg Fund for Children in Easthampton, Massachusetts on May 3rd; Pete Seeger Centennial Open Mike at the Towne Crier Cafe in Beacon on May 3rd; Riverkeeper Sweep-Beacon: Riverfront Park Cleanup at the Beacon Riverfront Park on May 4th; Pete Seeger Centennial Art Exhibit at the Howland Cultural Center in Beacon on May 4th; Pete Seeger Centennial Celebration at People's Voice Cafe in New York City at Community Church of NY on May 4th; Musical Tribute to Pete Seeger at the Franklin Street Park in South Nyack on May 5th; and Turn, Turn, Turn! A Celebration of Pete Seeger's 100th Birthday at the Bardavon Theater in Poughkeepsie on May 5th; and WHEREAS, The 100th Anniversary of the birth of Beacon resident, world-renowned folk singer/songwriter and environmental activist Pete Seeger falls on May 3, 2019; and WHEREAS, Pete and Toshi Seeger co-founded the Hudson River Sloop Restoration in 1966, which built the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater that was launched on May 17, 1969, with a mission to preserve and protect the Hudson River, its tributaries and related bodies of water; and WHEREAS, Pete Seeger and Hudson River Sloop Clearwater helped turn the tide in favor of enacting the 1972 Clean Water Act by sailing the Clearwater to Washington, D.C. in April of 1970, and organizing an historic Capitol Hill forum on the need for federal clean water protections; and WHEREAS, From 1969 to 1974, Clearwater engaged in landmark work on the Clean Water Act, to protect American waterways from polluting discharges; and WHEREAS, The Hudson River Sloop Clearwater has provided innovative environmental education programs beginning in 1970 with its on-board education program "Classroom of the Waves"; each year, thousands of school children participate in learning about local history, navigation, ecology, natural history and citizen action which has been supplemented since 1980 by on-land education programs; and WHEREAS, In 1993, the landmark document: Hudson River Angler Survey: A report on the adherence to fish consumption health advisories among Hudson River anglers, investigated and authored by Bridget Barclay, Clearwater's Environmental Action Director, became an important turning point in Hudson River PCB Superfund site case by showing the nexus between PCB contamination of Hudson River water and sediment and human health by actively demonstrating that humans were unaware of and/or ignoring health advisories and consuming PCB-containing fish; and WHEREAS, In 1998, the Hudson was named an "American Heritage River" by President Bill Clinton, and in 2002, Pete Seeger was named a "Clean Water Hero" by the Clean Water Network for his prominent efforts in the passage of the Clean Water Act; and WHEREAS, In 2004, Clearwater was added to the National Historic Register for its historical role in "articulating, publicizing, and defining the American environmental movement, as well as for directly fighting in some of the nation's most important environmental conflicts"; and WHEREAS, In 2010, as part of Clearwater's Green Cities program, Clearwater undertook a groundbreaking Community-Based Environmental Justice Inventory for the City of Peekskill, identifying major sources of pollution, disparate impacts on vulnerable populations and offered a range of suggested solutions; and WHEREAS, Two years later, Clearwater began a Climate Justice initiative in four Hudson Valley cities to assess potential environmental, economic, public health, and safety impacts of climate change on communities of color and low income in Kingston, Poughkeepsie, Beacon, and Peekskill, each of which have waterfronts vulnerable to sea-level rise along their shorelines; and WHEREAS, Clearwater has created and fostered environmental programs, and musical celebrations, including the renowned annual Clearwater Festival, to inspire, educate, and expand people's experience, awareness and stewardship of this magnificent natural resource; and WHEREAS, The Hudson River Sloop Clearwater was designed to and continues to keep alive an important era of New York State history, reminding us of the days when commerce, recreation and travel centered along the waterfront; and WHEREAS, Pete Seeger's legacy lives on through education programs, advocacy work and special events like the Great Hudson River Revival, and the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater is celebrating its 50th Anniversary as one of New York State's most effective, visible and beautiful sailing vessels; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the launching of the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, and to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the birth of Pete Seeger; and be it further RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pauses further to applaud and commend the contributions of Clearwater in its untiring work to preserve the Hudson River and its watershed for future generations; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc., Beacon, New York.