Pat Kenschaft, Professor of Math at MSU, is well known in Baristaville for her organic gardening, outspoken green activism, and relentless efforts to educate friends, neighbors and local politicians how to live a happy, earth-friendly life. Naturally, we asked for Pat's take on the two hours of greenspeak during last Sunday's standing-room only Environmental Forum.
I was delighted about the extent to which all 21 of the participating candidates tried to appear concerned about our environment. We all know that lip service is not a sufficient condition for progress, but I suspect it may be a pre-requisite. It felt good to see that all involved wanted to be seen as environmental candidates.Most amazing was the congenial nature of all the interactions. I can't remember a single example of snippyness. No candidate "went after" another. All remained charming for two hours!
And how did she think the specific candidates fared?
After giving each slate and independent candidate time to answer most of the preannounced questions, they allowed for questions from the floor. My most serious criticism was that they didn't insist that the candidates stand when speaking, so we couldn't be sure which candidate was saying what, especially the two slates on the sides, Thrive Montclair and Unity Montclair. I wrote an email to both Ted Mattox and Joyce Michaelson afterward challenging their statement that more recycling would require more trucks. It would require only different use of trucks. Actually, if most citizens think about recycling, it could cut the use of trucks. Jeanne and Dick Roy fill only one garbage pail a year, two when they were raising their three children. Jeanne "precycles," as she calls it; she thinks about the destination of everything they bring into their home BEFORE they acquire it.More serious to me was Joyce Michaelson's hesitating statement that she hadn't thought much about conserving energy. This was in response to a question sent to all the slates before the forum, and she could have assigned anyone on her slate to answer it. She said that she herself had bought a Prius, but... My husband and I didn't receive what the "but" was during the panel, so Fred asked her afterward. She told him she didn't think the township could afford the upfront cost of hybrids. Fred claims that there are vehicles with higher gas mileage that would serve most township needs that are no more expensive than the ones now being used. (He probably knows. His mother told me his first word was "car" - before Dada or bye-bye - and anyone who knows the adult Fred nods when I tell them this.) The upfront cost might even be lower, and the long-term costs surely would be.
Of even greater concern was Jerry Freier's statement that we should wait to get more fuel-efficient vehicles until the technology improves. There already is vastly varying fuel-efficiency among available vehicles, and we don't have time to wait. I do agree that we shouldn't dispose of well-functioning vehicles (there is no "away"), but as we do normal replacements, fuel-efficiency should be a major criterion in the choice.
Some goofs were slightly amusing. Sandra Lang's statement that the township should sell the two parts of the Wildwood property that are disconnected from the rest is not based on fact. The Wildwood property is all connected, and I think Montclair should preserve all the open spaces it has. It is understandable that Council members haven't walked the tract, but I'm surprised they haven't studied a map, which would take only a few seconds.
Some candidates didn't hear questions properly, most notably that of Virginia Cornue, who asked about allowing Renaissance School students to help with the landscaping in front of the administration building in collaboration with the Montclair Backyard Habitat Project and the township. Joyce Michaelson and Jerry Freier responded that there is no township-owned land near the Renaissance School.
When Amanda Gamsby asked about policies on leaf blowers, I was overjoyed that all members of the Unity Montclair slate said they would ban their use in Montclair, and the others all scrambled to say what they would do to curb their use "until banning them is possible."
Alas, Rick Murnick said he would try to replace gas-powered with electric leaf blowers. Afterward, I ran directly to him to say how much worse I believe electric leaf blowers are than gas-powered ones. The pain they inflict reduces me to tears even if I put my fingers in my ears, while the gas-powered leaf blowers "only" annoy and interrupt communication, rest and work. (Whose career is more important - yours or mine?) Furthermore, some leading scientists say that eliminating coal-power plants is the most urgent step toward mitigating climate change, even more important than stopping the use of petroleum (which is in more imminent danger of running out). Rick told me he was just getting to know these issues and was running as a financially astute professional because he wants to get our budget under control. I told him I share that goal.
Personally, I was very pleased by the statements, both on Sunday and elsewhere, of Jerry Fried, Kathryn Weller, Cary Africk, Rene Baskerville, and Roger Plawker. I hope they are elected to the Council.
Beyond that, however, I was reassured by the dedication, caring, and friendliness of all 21 participating candidates. (David Taylor declined to participate.) I look forward to listening to them again at the LWV candidates' forum on Wednesday, April 30, at the LGI room at Montclair High beginning at 7:00 PM.
It takes a lot of time and energy to run for any elected office, and serving on the Montclair township council has negligible financial rewards - probably negative. That a person is willing to run simply to try to improve the world is laudable, and I want to express my appreciation for all 21 of these admirable people. In the language of the Interfaith Environmental Coalition, Montclair is very blessed.
Thank you, Baristanet, for asking me to write my response to Sunday's Environmental Candidates' Forum. I didn't take notes, so I hope the facts in the following are correct. My apologies to anyone who has been misremembered.
And kudos to the event organizers, Kevin Fried of the Interfaith Environmental Coalition and Michael Yellin of Blue Wave New Jersey.
--photo, Maryam Webster
That's Pat?! She's cute!