The Adirondack Council passionately works to defend the 14th amendment to the NYS Constitution which by law protects the state-owned Forest Preserve in the Adirondack Park. It reads, “The lands of the state, now owned or hereafter acquired, constituting the forest preserve as now fixed by law, shall be forever kept as wild forest lands. They shall not be leased, sold or exchanged, or be taken by any corporation, public or private, nor shall the timber thereon be sold, removed, or destroyed.” To protect this land, the Council works to promote smart economic growth within Adirondack communities. We appreciate this work!!! Thank you!
Review from CharityNavigator
The Adirondack Council seem to only care about their wealth friends that donate to them. They use this organization to attack their members neighbors and anyone who disagrees with them. The 503c tax exempt status should be removed from this organization, since it is illegal to use a tax exempt organization in this manor. In affidavits in 3 different court case they admit this is what they are doing.
Review from Guidestar
I am a life-long resident of the Adirondack Park and love, not hate, the Adirondack Council. My neighbors would scream to hear me say it, but it's true. I think real estate hustlers and other get-rich-quick types around here use the organization for a punching bag because it is easier to hate than it is to build a successful business in a rural, mountain community where winter lasts for almost six months.
You won't hear them whine about it though. The Council takes a lot of guff, but just keeps doing its job.
This park is part public and part private. It is huge. It is more than 9,000 square miles. Name any famous national park out West. Any five will fit inside the Adirondack Park. It is still a work in progress, in that the state lands still aren't completed yet. Having small towns inside a park is odd, but really makes the place special. But people who live here all the time, like me, have a hard time remembering that the park doesn't just belong to us.
I don't buy that line of nonsense about the Council wanting to hurt the economy or make people leave. That's bunk of the first order. Almost all of their staff seem to live here. Are they chasing themselves out of the park? Not likely.
Since 1975, when the Council firs started here. the economy here has gotten better, not worse. This is now the richest rural area in America, but the politics of victimhood is alive and well. To hear it from some locals, the whole park is skid row. They look at the most gorgeous landscape on earth, a 10,000-year-old forest, and they see nothing but wasted lumber and impediments to getting rich. Sad, really.
They can't see that public land doesn't stifle the economy here. It is the only reason there is an economy. Places like Tupper Lake and Long Lake, even Lake Placid, are nothing without the spectacular public lands they hold. The Adirondack Council doesn't buy land. That's the Nature Conservancy and Open Space group. But the Council is the best environmental advocacy group in America, bar none.
They make sure the state and federal governments set aside money for new public lands, for conservation agreements on private lands, and to fight pollution and the like. The Council saved the whole state environmental fund last year and stopped Governor Patterson from closing all the state parks. All the other groups helped, but the Council was always out front in the news.
That's what gets under the skin of their detractors. They are really, really good at what they do. They are as good as any national national environmental group. And they don't apologize for doing the right thing.
I guess people here love em or hate em. I love em.
Review from CharityNavigator
As a 20 year resident of the Adirondack Park, I have found the Adirondack Council to be dismissive of the cares and concerns of park residents, particularly in the economic areas. Sixty percent of park area jobs are governmental - snow plow drivers, schoolteachers, prison guards and the like. None of these jobs contribute to the economic well-being of the region, or generate wealth from which taxes can be paid. Our school population has gone down 30 per cent, but school employees have gone up 30 per cent. I am a tree farmer, practicing sustainable forestry. I can do so because of a modest but fairly secure retirement income. We need better infrastructure to facilitate environmentally desirable jobs in the area. We need to make it possible for young families to live in the park and make a reasonable living. The Adk Council says the economy is "just fine", but they do not live here and see the struggle of the local residents.
The Adirondack Council is a great non-profit that has worked hard for many years to protect the environment in New York's great Adirondack Park. I have been a member since the early 1990s. I've always been impressed by their knowledge of the issues. I love the Adirondacks. I live in the Park. I'm glad the Adirondack Council is here. I think the Park is better off because of the Council.
The Adirondack Council is a well intentioned organization run by elitist to push the indigenous population from the Adirondacks. They seem to be dishonest on most issues and use their money and political influence to ruin the economy of the region. While having their associates and board members receive sweet heart land deals for them selves. They are now being sued in state and federal courts for their actions.
Review from Guidestar
I have been going to the Adirondacks for spiritual renewal for many years. The beauty there is spellbinding and there is no other place in the world like it. The Adirondack Council is an organization that protects the park and works to preserve its breathtaking beauty for ours and future generations. The fight is constant and ongoing and extremely difficult. The people in this organization have brought many diverse groups of people together to work toward a common goal and have demonstrated their skill repeatedly with many successes. But NY State is now in financial turmoil due to mismanagement and political battles. The Adirondack Coucil is using all of their collective intelligence and talent but the park is in great danger. Please take a look at their history and accomplishments. Please write to your public officials and donate. They are keeping this treasure vibrant and wild for all of us.
The Adirondack Council has been advocating for the park for 30+ years, advocating for acid rain legislation when politicians and business denied its existence, pushing for legislation to protect water quality, and working to assure that funds are available for state land purchases. All of this has been done with consistency and effectiveness. They advocate with the backing of knowledge and information. As a resident of the park, I shudder to think of what the Adirondacks would look like without the steady influence the Council. For every major decision that is made that could profoundly impact the park, and there have been many, the Council has served as an appropriate and rational balance to the influences that could damage the park environment.