Assembly Resolution No. 349
BY: M. of A. Jacobson
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.