[SustainableTompkins] County government pursues sustainability

[Daniel Roth]

This announcement is wonderful but one concern I have is that we are calling
things 'sustainable' without seriously addressing the social justice
dimensions of the equation.

I could see how the 'comprehensive plan' and 'waste' issues have social
implications but that needs to be highlighted in explicit terms otherwise
this committee will be seen by groups in the community committed to the
issues of low income, communities of color, and other marginalized groups as
just another 'green' effort that doesn't relate to them.

We need to SPELL OUT THE SOCIAL SIDE OF THE SUSTAINABILITY EQUATION
OTHERWISE THIS IS JUST ENVIRONMENTALISM WITH A NEW NAME, AND PERPETUATES
RACISM, CLASSISM, ETC...

The social component of this effort is right beneath the surface we just
need to draw it to the surface and make this about equity also, otherwise
people wont see the connection and neither will we.

For example this task force could

Focus also on using local contractors to help them meet their targets.
Be sure that women and people are color are chosen as initiative leaders
Focus on energy savings in homes that are commonly supported by DSS (saving
DSS money)
Highlight how these efforts are improving the quality of life in government
sponsored places like Ithaca Youth Bureau and GIAC.

Maybe these things are obvious to some, but other people wont make the
connection that sustainability has anything to do with equity unless we are
EXPLICIT.


DAN ROTH



On 11/16/06 7:03 PM, "GayNicholson at aol.com" <GayNicholson at aol.com> wrote:

>  
Just two months ago on  September 21, I met with the county public works
> 
cabinet about creating an  energy education program based on the principle of
> 
shared  engagement for optimal social change .... Wow!   Talk  about fertile
> 
ground --  we've come far and fast!!  It's a pleasure to  work with people so
> open 
to taking on this work. 
Gay 
FOR IMMEDIATE  RELEASE
> 
           
County Committee Endorses  Sustainability Program For Tompkins
> County  
Government 
An employee-based effort to  develop sustainable
> practices in  Tompkins  
County government has gained key  support from a
> committee of the county 
legislature. 
The Legislature¹s Government
> Operations Committee, meeting on Wednesday, 
endorsed the program by unanimous
> vote, recommending that the County  
Administrator formally appoint the
> Tompkins County Sustainability Team and that the 
team be charged with
> developing  an action plan to promote sustainable practices 
by  Tompkins
> County government. 
Two months ago, employees from  several county
> departments, assisted by 
Cooperative Extension¹s Energy Smart  Program,
> informally began to investigate how 
to promote sustainable practices in
> government operations, benefiting future 
generations through social,
> environmental and economic stewardship. 
³This Œbottom-up¹ effort is
> something everyone stands to gain from,² 
states committee chair Kathy Luz
> Herrera.  ³Energy and sustainability  are clearly 
issues that are important
> to all of us and are values that county  government 
should support.² 
As
> envisioned by the employee  working group, sustainable practices to be
> 
developed would include 
    *   Energy  reduction and conservation in county
> facilities and fleets, 
with utilization  of alternative and renewable energy
> sources; 
    *   Solid  waste reduction through increased reuse and
> recycling; 
    *   Environmentally  preferable purchasing programs; 
    *
> Efficient  infrastructure design and service delivery; 
    *   Employee
> involvement and endorsement; and 
    *   Natural  resources protection and
> community development in accordance 
with the Tompkins  County Comprehensive
> Plan.
County  Planning and Public Works  Commissioner Ed Marx, one of those
> 
involved in the grass-roots effort, told the  committee the initiative builds
> upon 
programs already undertaken by county  government, such as energy-saving
> 
improvements in county buildings.  ³Everybody who has been involved so far
> is 
enthusiastic,² he said.  ³The  beauty of this is that it involves all
> employees and 
the Legislature in a  comprehensive look at how we can address
> this challenge 
in the most effective  way.²  He added that most changes
> should be able to 
be accomplished either at no additional cost or should save
> the county money. 
If approved by the Legislature  next month, the resolution
> would direct the 
team to report on progress in  developing the sustainability
> program each year 
by Earth Day. 
Contact:  Planning and Public Works
> Commissioner  Ed Marx, 274-5560; Kathy 
Luz Herrera, Chair, Government
> Operations Committee,  273-8169. 
- END -

> 
----------------------------------------------------
Gay  Nicholson, Ph.D.
> 

607-533-7312 (home office)
607-279-6618  (cell)

1 Maple Avenue
Lansing, NY
> 14882
gaynicholson at aol.com

Sustainable Tompkins 
Program  Coordinator
> 
w_ww.sustainabletompkins.org_ (http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/)
> 

Southern Tier Energy$mart Communities
Regional  Coordinator
Cornell
> Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County
615 Willow  Ave., Ithaca, NY
> 14850
agn1 at cornell.edu

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Sincerely,

Daniel Roth
(518) 727-6723

Executive Committee
US Partnership for the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development
www.uspartnership.org

Graduate Student
Adult and Extension Education
Cornell University
Ithaca NY 14850