‘I’m scared for our future’: Auburn-area leaders urge New York state to adopt rejected water safety amendments

New York City officials are deciding against implementing community-proposed changes to Owasco Lake rules and regulations. Some local leaders disagree.

Last Friday, community members and Auburn area leaders met to discuss a letter sent by the State Department of Health stating that no changes would be made to the rules and regulations for the Auburn City and Owasco watersheds. The letter stated that the proposed changes are not necessary to maintain water quality. The proposed changes come after a multi-year community rulemaking process involving the City of Auburn and several Cayuga County departments.

Auburn City Councilman and co-founder of the environmental group Save Owasco Now! Terry Cuddy said the state’s decision set back environmental protection efforts.

“I’ve been involved in several efforts to keep Owasco Lake clean, and this letter really undermined a lot of those efforts,” Cuddy said.

Auburn Mayor Jimmy Giannettino agrees.

“I’m not only frustrated, I’m scared. I’m scared for our future, I’m scared for our children’s future.”

Giannettino said updating rules and regulations is critical to ensuring safe drinking water for area residents.

“As mayor of this city, as a lifelong resident of Auburn, I will not sit back and allow this state to become the next Toledo, Ohio, Flint, Michigan, Jackson, Mississippi,” Giannettino said.

Calls on Governor Kathy Hochul to meet with local leaders and adopt proposed amendments.

Owasco City Supervisor Ed Wagner also expressed disappointment with the decision, saying the proposed changes, which are consistent with community feedback and science, should not be ignored.

“We followed the science, the science proved them wrong, and now they don’t want to follow the process,” Wagner said. “I’m very frustrated.”

The letter from the state follows a lawsuit filed against the state by the city of Auburn, the town of Owasco and the Owasco Watershed Lake Association, alleging the Department of Health failed to follow Public Health Act procedures in updating watershed rules and regulations.