Take Action

If you are inspired and motivated to actualize smart growth, here are some things you can do:

  • Make a contribution to support our statewide work. We are the first and only statewide smart growth advocacy and education organization in New York (and we need to grow)!
  • Get in touch with us. Ask questions, share information and ideas,  consider inviting us to your community for a presentation or other interface.
  • Stay tuned to Empire State Future’s work and communications. This site is the go-to source for land use and development information for New York State. Sign up for updates to receive regular selections from our news posting and also our blogs.
  • Advocate with your local and state representatives to support our priority legislative goals and  key issues.
  • Frequently check out the sites included in our Resources section. Sites such as Planetizen bring a huge volume and variety of community planning-related stories, best practices, opinion pieces, and more to you every week. Smart Growth America also tracks and broadcasts important information; the U.S. EPA Smart Growth site includes funding opportunities and excellent background information. The Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program conducts leading research.
  • Find out who your local government officials are. In this “home rule” state, municipal level officials make most of the land use and development decisions for your community. Once you know who they are, let them know who you are and what you think and want! (You may even be able to get yourself on one of your community’s planning-related boards or commissions!)
  • Find out where your state and federal (House, Senate) representatives stand on land use and development issues; learn about what related legislation is brewing in state and federal government.