SOURCE:
https://tbrnewsmedia.com/suffolk-county-legislator-englebright-honors-cce-for-40-years-of-advocacy/
December 12, 2025
Suffolk County Legislator Steven Englebright (D-Setauket) invited Citizens Campaign for the Environment co-founder Adrienne Esposito and CCE board and staff members to the Suffolk County Legislature’s Nov. 25th General Meeting to honor them for 40 years of advocacy. Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffrey (R-Lindenhurst) joined Englebright at the podium, where the CCE team received a proclamation along with flowers and balloons.
“We are honored to recognize the members of Citizens Campaign for the Environment and its co-founder Adrienne Esposito for 40 years of service,” Englebright said. The legislator added, “It has been a privilege to work with you over the decades, Adrienne. I thank you and all of your staff for the commitment that you bring to a healthier and cleaner environment. I look forward to continuing to work with Citizens Campaign for the Environment in the future.” McCaffrey described CCE as “a vital partner in the Suffolk County Legislature’s ongoing efforts to embrace proactive environmental stewardship” over the last 40 years.
“Highlighted by our collaboration in passing of the Suffolk County Water Quality Restoration Act, their leadership in promoting improvements to our drinking water, sewer systems, renewable energy projects, and so much more has been crucial in the betterment of our natural resources,” the presiding officer said. “I congratulate Executive Director Adrienne Esposito and her entire team on this great milestone.”
Since 1985, the not-for-profit has empowered New York and Connecticut residents to increase their influence in vital and diverse environmental campaigns to protect natural resources and public health. CCE has grown in the last four decades from a handful of people to an impressive 120,000-member organization that engages in research, lobbying, and public education. The members also continue working to encourage the public by providing them with opportunities to participate in the political process and thereby advancing projects that benefit the natural environment.
Working with other organizations and elected officials, CCE has been part of countless grassroots accomplishments that have led to environmental victories such as upgrading failing sewage treatment systems; support for large-scale renewable energy projects, including offshore wind farms; advancing climate change protection measures; and adoption of some of the nation’s strongest drinking water standards for PFOA, PFOS and 1,4 dioxane.
In 2022, CCE’s work also led to New York voters overwhelmingly approving the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act, which gave the state the authority to allocate $4.2 billion for environmental projects. Esposito thanked Englebright for inviting CCE to the General Meeting.
“CCE has been thrilled to work with elected leaders throughout Suffolk County for the last 40 years to protect our drinking water, preserve land, and restore our bays, harbors and estuaries,” Esposito said. “We thank Legislator Englebright for recognizing our achievements in protecting public health and the environment over the last four decades, and we are grateful for his continued partnership. Suffolk County has been at the forefront of combatting nitrogen pollution, protecting open space, reducing plastic pollution, banning toxic chemicals, fighting climate change and more. We are pleased to acknowledge great success working with the Suffolk County Legislature for the last 40 years and look forward to keeping up the fight through the decades ahead.”