Two Big Wins: Fighting Invasives with PRISM & Expanding Transparency
Today’s Soil & Water Conservation District Board meeting advanced two issues I care deeply about: protecting our community from invasive species and making government more transparent and accessible. Here’s what we agreed to do and why it matters.
1) Re-engaging Lower Hudson PRISM on Spotted Lanternfly
What is PRISM?
PRISM stands for Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management. New York State funds eight PRISM hubs across the state, each responsible for helping communities respond to invasive species. They provide:
Technical expertise on invasive threats like the Spotted Lanternfly.
Training materials for volunteers and residents.
Citizen science projects (data collection, trap deployments, monitoring).
Funding opportunities for outreach and education.
The Lower Hudson PRISM covers our region. We partnered with them back in 2019, and now we’re renewing that relationship with a more structured and performance-based approach.
Why Spotted Lanternfly matters
This insect may look harmless, but it’s destructive. It feeds on fruit trees, vines, hardwoods, and ornamentals. Left unchecked, it can harm farms, damage property, and disrupt ecosystems. Neighbors already report seeing them “all over Cold Spring,” “all over my place,” and right here in Carmel Hamlet.
What we decided today:
Draft a formal partnership letter with PRISM to cover training, data collection, citizen science, trap deployments, and outreach.
Engage this as a Part C project, ensuring measurable outcomes and performance measures being reached.
Start with a quick win: distribute PRISM brochures already available for residents.
Scope out education and volunteer empowerment projects, from school programs to signage at trailheads.
My perspective at the meeting
I spoke about how urgent this issue has become — not just a “down the road” problem but one visible here today. I pushed for the district to be present for taxpayers: don’t reinvent the wheel, but grab what PRISM already offers, empower residents, and make sure our work counts toward state performance standards.
I was glad to cast my vote in support of two important steps: re-engaging with the Lower Hudson PRISM to fight the spread of the Spotted Lanternfly. The PRISM partnership could give us outside expertise and ready-made resources to combat a costly invasive species without burdening local budgets.
Official Resolution Signed by Chair Cassandra Roth and myself as Vice Chair
2) Live Streaming Board Meetings for Transparency
Why it matters:
Our meetings happen in the middle of the day, making it hard for most residents to attend. Live streaming gives people the chance to watch decisions in real time, or on their own time, without having to take off work. Recordings will be archived for public transparency and education — minutes will remain the official record.
What we agreed to:
Live stream every meeting on a board-managed YouTube channel.
Use district or personal equipment so we’re not bottlenecked by county IT delays.
Archive recordings quickly so the public doesn’t have to wait.
Work with County IT through an Intermunicipal Agreement (IMA) to keep the process secure and above-board.
Purchase a dedicated Soil & Water computer (hundreds, not thousands) to manage streaming.
My perspective at the meeting…
Multiple times on the floor of the Putnam County Legislature earlier this year, I called for greater transparency and accessibility — urging that residents should never feel locked out of their own government. Today, I echoed that same point: if we want trust, we must show the work.
I pressed for a district-controlled process that we manage directly and cut through the bureaucratic red tape that slows things down. That way, we can post recordings within minutes, not days or weeks, allowing the public and the tax payers to immediately engage and be informed on how they can utilize our resources.
Official Resolution signed by Chair Cassandra Roth, and myself as Vice Chair
Why these steps matter
Both issues we advanced today reflect a simple principle: people should be informed and empowered.
With PRISM, we’re giving residents the tools to fight an invasive species already on their doorstep, while ensuring our district remains responsive to the concerns of our Putnam County taxpayers.
With live streaming, we’re breaking down barriers that keep people from seeing how their government operates.
I’ve said it before in the Legislature, and I’ll keep saying it here: transparency, accountability, and stewardship are not partisan ideas — they’re the foundation of public service.
Today’s meeting showed what happens when we take practical, neighbor-first steps: we get things done that people will see and feel in their daily lives.
