Council Narrowly Supports State Transportation Climate Initiative

In a bipartisan vote, the Common Council voted 6 to 4 to express its support for the State Legislature to pass a regional climate initiative focused on reducing the effects of transportation on climate change. 

The initiative was considered by the legislature last session, but in the face of stiff opposition from corporations profiting from the destruction of the earth's climate, legislators failed to take action. Governor Lamont initially said this bill would not be a priority of his this year, but in the face of public outrage, he back tracked. It is not clear at this time whether the legislature will have the courage to place the public's interests above those of petrochemical profiteers. 

Support for the Council resolution to urge passage of the climate initiative was bipartisan. Republicans Ed Ford and Phil Pessina supported the resolution, though each said that the legislation was not perfect and the effects should be closely monitored. Democrats Ed McKeon, Gene Nocera, Vinny Loffredo, and Darnell Ford also voted in favor.

Democrat Grady Faulkner abstained, suggesting that the Council should focus on more urgent problems. 

Democrat Anthony Mangiafico voted against the resolution. Mangiafico said, "there are much better ways of doing this than raising gas prices." Republican Tony Gennaro expressed a similar sentiment, "I'm going to vote no tonight, because I don't think it does enough." Neither Gennaro nor Mangiafico has ever proposed alternative approaches to addressing the climate emergency. 

Democrat Megan Carta, and Republican Linda Salafia joined Mangiafico and Gennaro in opposing this modest effort to reduce the destruction of their constituents' environment.