There Would Be No Better Steward of the Environment Than Harckham
It is our collective responsibility to leave the world better than we found it for future generations. That is why climate change and environmental protection must be the number one priority for elected officials at all levels.
Through only one term, state Sen. Pete Harckham has proven himself a leader in this area by co-sponsoring the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, which puts New York on track to reach an ambitious goal of reducing statewide greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent by 2050 and achieving net zero emissions in all sectors of the economy.
He has pushed for sustainability through initiatives like the Restore Mother Nature Act, a $3 billion investment in various environmental and eco-smart projects. And he has been a staunch advocate for clean air, resisting the reckless rollbacks of environmental laws at the federal level from the Trump administration.
Rob Astorino, on the other hand, has proven his ambivalence to this cause. He is a climate change denier who has openly questioned whether climate change is in any way caused by human activities. As county executive he disbanded Westchester’s climate change task force. Under Astorino’s watch, the federal government fined Westchester $1.1 million for violating the federal Safe Drinking Water Act and ultimately resorted to ordering Astorino to spend nearly $10 million to safeguard Westchester’s drinking water.
Years from now when your children and grandchildren ask what you did to help protect our world for them and for future generations, I hope you can give the same answer I can, that you voted for public servants like Sen. Pete Harckham who heed scientific consensus and fight for a better world for us all.
Robert Mayes
Crompond
