Dear OWLA Members:

Owasco Lake needs your help now! We are asking our members contact their state representatives and urge them to advocate for Owasco Lake Rules and Regulations. We are asking each person to reach out to each of their reps one time each week for a period of 5 weeks (one person will make 5 contacts with each representative during this period). Members can choose to call, send email, or send a postcard. I am going to call – so I will make 3 phone calls each week – one to Governor Hochul, one to State Senator May, and one to my Assembly Person, John Lemondes – until May 2nd. The address, phone, fax, and email for legislative contacts are below. 

Please spread the word and encourage your spouse, partner, or family members to also contact their state representatives. Three family members can generate approximately 75 phone calls (or postcards or emails). Your children or grandchildren can also get involved by sending postcards. Postcards from children are very effective.

Please feel free to use the sample phone script below or head to this Action Network link to quickly and easily send emails. This text may be also used for postcards.

Phone / Email / Postcard Script

Hello, my name is ________________ I live at __________________________________

Dear Governor Hochul (State Senator or Assembly Person),

Drinking water for 50,000 people is at risk. Following NYS guidelines, a community wide effort updated the 1984 Owasco Lake Rules and Regulations and sent them to the State of New York Department of Health. In concert with a NYSDEC approved 9E plan, these rules provided a path forward for providing clean drinkable water. Rather than pass the submitted Rules and Regulations, State agencies chose to eliminate any meaningful protection for our lake. Please immediately pass the updated Owasco Lake Watershed Rules and Regulations as submitted by our community.

Thank you.

Please feel free to express your message in a more personal way – but it is important to be consistent each week in making a call, sending a postcard, or sending an email.

If you have any questions, please contact any member of the Board of Directors or email info@owla.org. You can quickly and easily email your representatives using the Action Network form at this link.

Legislative Contact Information

Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of New York State
Address: New York State Capitol Building, Albany New York 12224
Phone: (518) 474-8390
Fax: (518) 474-3767
Email: no public email 

Honorable Rachel May, Senate District 48
Address: 333 E Washington Street, Suite 805, Syracuse, NY 13202
Phone: (315) 478-8745
Email: 
may@nysenate.gov

Honorable John Lemondes, Assembly District 126
Address: 
69 South Street, Auburn, NY 13021

Phone: (315) 255-3045
Fax: (315) 255-3048
Email: lemondesj@nyassembly.gov

Honorable Jeff Gallahan, Assembly District 131
Address: 
70 Elizabeth Blackwell Street, Geneva, NY 14456

Phone: (315) 781-2030
Fax: (315) 781-1746
Email: gallahanj@nyassembly.gov

Honorable Dr. Anna Kelles, Assembly District 125
Address: 130 East State Street, Ithaca, NY 14850

Phone: (607) 776-8030
Email: kellesa@nyassembly.gov

Honorable Phillip A Palmesano, Assembly District 132
Address: 105 East Steuben Street, Bath, NY 14810

Phone: (607) 776-9691
Fax: (518) 455-4644
Email: palmesanop@nyassembly.gov

Honorable Marjorie Byrnes, Assembly District 133
Address: 79 Genesse Street, Avon, NY 14414

Phone: (585) 218-0038
Fax: (518) 455-5662
Email: byrnesm@nyassembly.gov

Honorable Lea Webb, Senate District 52
Address: 217 North Aurora Street, Ithaca, NY 14850

Phone: (607) 773-8771
Fax:  (518) 426-6787
Email: leawebb@nysenate.gov

Honorable Thomas O’Mara, Senate District 58
Address: 105 East Steuben Street, Bath, NY 14810

Phone: (607) 776-3185
Fax: (518) 426-6976
Email: omara@nysenate.gov

Honorable Pamela Helming, Senate District 54
Address: 25 North Street, Canandaigua, NY 14424

Phone: (315) 568-9816
Fax:  (585) 393-0825
Email: helming@nysenate.gov