I am tickled pink...letter from my assemblyman

**Adjam5** · 01-22-2009, 08:44 PM

I live in NY and about 15 years ago I bought myself a Lifetime Sportsman hunting/fishing/archery license. $500 for the Sportsman, fishing and turkey, and $180 for the archery. To ensure that I locked in and was exempt from future price increases for tags. They always go up. I still have to buy my trapping and muzzleloader tags.
I bought one for each, of my 3 sons right after they were born. Got in for $250 each before they turned 5.
OK fast forward to today...
NY is having its budget problems and our Governor ,by default; Gov. Patterson is looking to save some $ and cut corners and raise funds. He closed the state run pheasant farm, that raised birds for release in NYS and now, he has made a proposal to start selling a trout stamp and a salt water fishing stamp to raise revenue

. What I found out is that the lifetime licensees are NOT exempt from this increase

. We fish fresh and salt water here in NY. I live close to the Hudson river, which is brackish water. Salt/fresh mix. I got my panties in a knot and called my state assemblyman. I cannot believe the service I got from this young man. He called me back and stayed on the phone to listen to my concerns and agreed that Lifetime licensee's should be exempt from these new stamp sales.
Not only that, we talked fishing for a while and exhanged hot spots!
Today, I received a Cc: letter from his office, that he sent to the Chair of the Conservation committee;Robert Sweeny. Requsting that the fees all together be scrapped and if fees/stamps were to become a reality, to consider the people who have investeda good deal of money in Lifetime licenses and leave them out of any future price increases.

I have to tell you that I have never received such personal attention and had a politician take the time to listen and even act like a regular guy to talk fishing.
I'm almost done

My point in this post is

.
That even one letter or call from a constituent can help make a difference and make your voice be heard.
NY Assemblyman Ken Zebrowski will always have my vote. Not only because he listen to my beef, but he also is a sportsman who understands how the Sportsmen/women of this state are always looked at, to make up the difference in budgets.
Write those letters and make those calls, they make a difference!
Sorry if I was long winded. I wanted to make the full point.

Thanks for reading this.

**Texan_Til_I_Die** · 01-23-2009, 11:37 AM

Good job. Most of us like to complain about the decisions our government makes, but very few ever take the time to express their opinions to their elected representatives.

**Dawg** · 01-23-2009, 12:16 PM

We've been paying for salt and fresh water stamps for a while now in TX. Well the fresh water stamp is fairly new, I believe it was introed around 2000 or so.

That's pretty cool that he helped you out on a personal level.

Wish I would have saved up the money to buy a lifetime, but now there's no way I can see myself paying $1,000 for it.

**stevebeilgard** · 01-23-2009, 04:29 PM

sounds to me like a real well placed gripe. maybe post this in some local papers. having a representative that cares is pretty special.

**ruttinbuc** · 01-23-2009, 07:10 PM

Yes, Anthony that is pretty special. Sounds like a good guy for NY. I write, phone, and email my representatives and get no feedback whatsoever. I guess in this halfassed state you have to be party loyal from day one and kiss feet...