Fired as DEC commissioner two months ago, and a legendary state assemblyman for decades before that, Pete Grannis has joined Environmental Advocates of New York as “special counsel.” The Times Union reports today that just after his canning — primarily the result of Grannis’ pushback against the Paterson administration’s DEC layoffs — EA Executive Director Rob Moore called it “the final insult of the Paterson administration toward environmental protection.” At that time, Grannis said he believed the circumstances of his departure would allow him to lobby his former employer without the standard two-year bar. Even so, EA spokesman Erica Ringewald said Grannis wouldn’t be appearing before DEC. Former Park Commissioner Carol Ash made a similar move by joining the Alliance for New York State Parks, although since she jumped instead of being pushed from her state post, Ash will not be able to lobby her old agency. For the full story about the battlelines being shaped over environmental issues during the upcoming Cuomo administration -- which seems ripe for a fight, click here.