new england currents Fall 2016 • The Clean Water Action Newsletter Election Day 2016: The High Stakes Battle for Our Health and Environment It’s hard to imagine a more urgent or starkly defined clean energy policies that cut carbon pollution. election season than this one. New England has many In Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, opportunities to stand with candidates who will Clean Water has endorsed the superstars who have lead the way in the fight for clean air, clean led the campaigns for green jobs creation water, and healthy communities. Clean Water and solar energy, for green infrastructure Action is highlighting the key races that will investments in our communities, for phase- strengthen the voice of our champions, bring outs of toxic flame retardants that threaten in a new crop of enthusiastic leaders, and build firefighter health. the political power we need to win the battle for a Please support these candidates and volunteer with healthier tomorrow throughout the region. Clean Water Action to get out the vote on Tuesday, Our process is strictly non-partisan — endorsements November 8 so New England’s green values will are based on environmental track records and new be well represented by elected officials. For more commitments in important areas like protecting information, or to volunteer in this effort, please call children’s health from toxic chemicals or advancing the Clean Water Action offices nearest you! connecticut endorsements Dante’ Bartolomeo: Dante’ has advocate for protecting children been a co-sponsor on all Clean been a senate champion for Clean and the most vulnerable residents Water priority bills and a tireless Water Action’s flame retardant from chemicals that pose health advocate for his constituents and bans and the chemicals of concern hazards such as flame retardants. all of Connecticut. initiatives. She is a strong Terry has been a vocal champion Annie Hornish: Annie was a advocate for protecting children, for environmental issues including former state representative and families and firefighters from water protection. now a challenger to a long-term toxic chemicals and a supporter Jonathan Steinberg: Jonathan incumbent in the Senate. She of our environmental priorities, has been a long term and strong has a track record of supporting particularly protecting our state’s advocate for all of Clean Water policies that protect children and waters. Action’s initiatives. He’s been a is supportive of Clean Water’s Terry Gerratana: Terry has leader on shifting to sustainable, work on toxic chemicals, expanded been a senate champion and renewable sources of energy renewable energy initiatives bill sponsor for the chemicals and policies to protect residents and policies that protect the of concern bill and a strong from toxic chemicals. He has environment. 88 Broad Street, Boston, MA 02110 | Phone 617.338.8131 | www.CleanWaterAction.org/ma 2074 Park Street, #308, Hartford, CT 06106 | Phone 860.232.6232 | www.CleanWaterAction.org/ct 741 Westminster Street, Providence, RI 02903 | Phone 401.331.6972 | www.CleanWaterAction.org/ri massachusetts endorsements massachusetts Clean Water Action endorses the candidates below. Please see our endorsements full list of endorsements at right. For more information on the Adam Hinds for State Senate: Adam has worked locally and candidates we’ve endorsed: internationally to advance public health, economic development, and www.cleanwateraction. peace initiatives. org/2016-Endorsements- Massachusetts Jack Patrick Lewis for State Representative: An ordained minister and community advocate for LGBTQ issues, Jack believes our state STATE HOUSE: must continue to invest in the development of clean energy resources, Rep. Cory Atkins, 14th Middlesex expand its commitment to public transportation and protect public lands. He will be welcome as a strong progressive voice on Beacon Hill. Rep. Marjorie Decker, 25th Middlesex A young leader in the Massachusetts Eric Lesser for State Senate: Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier, Senate and former employee of the Obama administration, Eric 3rd Berkshire has taken on initiatives related to millenials, manufacturing and modernizing our state’s government. He is a strong advocate for Natalie Higgins, 4th Worcester renewable energy, and recognizes Massachusetts must continue to lead Paul Jacques, 4th Bristol in innovative solutions to combat climate change. Jack Patrick, 7th Middlesex Jamie Eldridge for State Senate: Jamie has led fights to phase out Matt Patrick, 3rd Barnstable fossil fuels, oppose gas pipeline expansion, grow a renewable energy Rep. Denise Provost, economy, protect our natural environment, support sustainable water 27th Middlesex infrastructure and ensure green technologies reach all people. STATE SENATE: Clean Water Action has also endorsed two ballot questions that are before Massachusetts Voters: Julian Cyr, Cape and Islands Yes on 3: Prevent extreme farm animal confinement Sen. James Eldridge, Middlesex Confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) confine enormous and Worcester numbers of egg-laying hens, breeding pigs, and veal calves in cages so Adam Hinds, Berkshire, Franklin, small they can barely move. They produce enormous and extremely Hampden and Hampshire concentrated amounts of waste that pollute water and air and threaten Sen. Eric Lesser, 1st Hampden public health in neighboring communities. Question 3 would prohibit & Hampshire any confinement of pigs, calves, and hens that prevents them from lying Sen. Jason Lewis, 5th Middlesex down, standing up, fully extending their limbs, or turning around freely. Voting YES on ballot question 3 would protect our rivers, air, and health CAPE COD COMMISSION: as well as reduce animal suffering. Mark Forest In Boston — Yes on 5: Implement the Community Preservation Act Barnstable County Commissioner The Community Preservation Act, adopted in 2000, allows cities and towns to add a small surcharge (matched by state funding) to property taxes to be used for affordable housing, parks and historic preservation. Over 160 cities and towns have embraced it and it’s time for Boston to do the same. Question 5 would add a 1% surcharge to property taxes in Boston. The average single family homeowner would pay an average of only $24 per year, and in turn, the city would generate up to $20 million every year for CPA projects such as acquiring land to protect water quality and reduce climate change impacts, developing and improving green space, and creating affordable housing. Voting YES on 5 will help ensure that as Boston continues to develop it will do so in a sustainable and affordable way. rhode island endorsements Rhode Island’s Green Economy Bond: Vote Yes on Question 6 in November Rhode Island may be the smallest state in the na- in Rhode Island to illustrate how this investment in tion, but it is a giant when it comes to its natural as- the state’s environment will reap benefits for years to sets. Rhode Island is known for its vast open spaces, come. conserved woodlands, and of course its glorious Specifically, the Green Economy Bond provides beaches and waters. Despite thriving tourism and money for historic state park redevelopment, state recreation sectors, it has been slow to recover from and local land acquisition, recreation programs, the economic downturn of the last decade. expansion of the state bike path network, brownfield Realizing that the engine for Rhode Island’s eco- remediation and redevelopment, and stormwater nomic recovery has been its environment, state management. The idea is that these monies work leaders led by Governor Gina Raimondo included a together to create healthy, livable, and connected $35 million Green Economy Bond in the 2017 state communities. budget as an investment in Rhode Island’s environ- Furthermore, funded projects will put millions of ment and economy. additional dollars into the state economy thanks to If approved by Rhode Island voters in November, new, local construction and maintenance jobs as the Green Economy Bond will allocate millions of well as boosts to the existing tourism and recreation dollars to local governments to protect and preserve industries. green spaces, improve water quality, expand the Rhode Island’s environment — from iconic land- state bike path network, and build healthier commu- scapes and coastline to local foods and vibrant nities while providing local jobs for state residents. neighborhoods — is at the heart of why people A broad coalition of organizations including Clean choose the Ocean State to live, visit, work and raise a Water Action, Audubon Society of Rhode Island, family. Passage of the Green Economy Bond — Ques- The Nature Conservancy, Blackstone Valley Tourism tion 6 on the November ballot — will mean direct Council, Bike Newport, the Rhode Island Building investments in the health of Rhode Island’s lands, and Constriction Trades Council and many others waters, and communities along with a boost to the are working together to reach out to communities state’s economy. ▶ For more information, visit www.yeson6ri.com rhode island endorsements Full list of Rhode Island endorsements: This year, Clean Water Action between Rhode Island’s economic is endorsing a large slate of wellbeing and environment candidates in Rhode Island, and natural resources. Sen. U.S. HOUSE all of whom have made the Teresa Paiva-Weed and Rep. David Cicilline, District 1 environment a top priority. Teresa Tanzi have led the way in Jim Langevin, District 2 A common theme among all the legislature to boost Rhode