PERSPECTIVES 2020-2021 micro-summits designed to bring located in New York City since 1937. together state policymakers from diverse In the months immediately following backgrounds and perspectives to have Sept. 11, we continued to staff our difficult conversations regarding regional committees, plan for a major systemic racism in America. These regional trade summit, convene more conversations are necessary to address, than 100 criminal justice and mental at a policy level, the underlying prob- health policymakers to discuss the From the Director lems of access to adequate health care or response to individuals with mental poor environmental conditions in many illness, and plan the 2002 CSG/ERC With COVID-19 cases spiking, state communities of color. Annual Meeting. Despite nine separate revenues crashing, and continued While I am proud of the program- office moves following Sept. 11, the restrictions on the size of gatherings and ming we have offered during this work of CSG’s Eastern Office contin- on out-of-state travel, there would seem pandemic, the cause for my optimism ued, just as the work of state govern- to be little cause for optimism for the really rests with our members. I am so ments has continued throughout this future of a state government association impressed with the time they have taken pandemic. like The Council of State Governments. during a challenging legislative session In times of crisis like these, I am CSG is heavily dependent, financially, to participate in our programs, to share most reminded of why CSG was on state dues support, and a significant what they are doing — what is working created. State officials know they cannot part of our mission is focused on and what is not working — with their solve many of the problems they face convening state officials. For the CSG colleagues in neighboring states. The alone. Early in the development of the Eastern Office, and the organization as value of this information-sharing to COVID-19 crisis, seven northeastern a whole, the current conditions would state officials — the reason CSG was state governors created a joint task force seem to approach that of the perfect created by Colorado State Senator to examine options for reopening state storm. Henry Toll in 1933 — has never been economies while ensuring the safety of Despite these headwinds, I am more apparent than during the corona- their respective communities. Governor optimistic about the future of CSG. virus pandemic. Cuomo said, “What we do, I want to do First, amid the massive social and This is not to say that the current on a coordinated basis.” economic disruption caused by COVID- crisis is the first to test our mettle or our In this season of thanksgiving, I am 19, CSG Eastern Office staff have been value to the CSG East member states, particularly thankful for the thoughtful able to stay connected with our territories, and provinces. In another participation of many state, territorial, members. Since our office in lower national crisis — the terrorist attacks of and provincial officials across our Manhattan closed in late March, Sept. 11 — the Eastern Office was region in our various training programs, following Governor Andrew Cuomo’s directly impacted as our offices, located webinars, and committee meetings over executive order that put New York “on in Five World Trade Center, were the past year. Their engagement with pause,” our staff has held more than 40 destroyed. All of our employees were CSG gives me cause for great optimism webinars, virtual committee meetings, able to evacuate safely, unlike the 2,977 in the future of The Council of State and conference calls engaging more than workers and first responders who were Governments as an essential organiza- 1,500 state officials from the region. tragically lost when the towers fell. tion serving the states. State govern- We have addressed issues including However, one of the most memorable ments and their leaders have shown time the impact of COVID-19 on farm and positive developments for me, following and again to be not only the innovators, rural communities, the new urgency for the displacement of the Eastern Office willing to work collaboratively to tackle rural broadband, and the virus’ staff, was the creation of a special CSG the most critical issues facing our disproportionate effect on front-line Eastern Office Recovery Fund by our nation, but also true champions of our health care workers and communities of member states. Over half the states in democracy. They are my reason for color. Our Energy and Environment the region contributed to help our office enduring optimism for the future of Committee continues to look at natural relocate to new space in lower Manhat- CSG and our country. climate solutions in response to the dire tan. These funds were provided in threat of global warming, while our addition to the ongoing dues we receive Canada-U.S. Committee focuses on the annually and included a special appro- challenges of a closed border and priation by the state of New York to Wendell Hannaford bilateral relations during the coronavi- help keep us in lower Manhattan. We Director, CSG Eastern Office rus pandemic. The tragic killing of were proud to be part of the economic George Floyd spurred our Council on recovery of lower Manhattan, particu- Wendell Hannaford is retiring after 42 years of service Communities of Color to host a series of larly as the CSG Eastern Office has been to CSG. 2 CSG East Perspectives 2020-2021 CSG East Perspectives 2020-2021 3 CSG East: Creating Policy Solutions ince 1933, state officials have turned to The Council Table of Contents of State Governments (CSG) as an impartial source Sof research and information to help them meet the chal- In Rural New Hampshire, a Creative Model lenge of governing. for Bridging the Broadband Gap ......................................4 CSG, headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky, has four regional offices in the East, Midwest, South, and CCC Micro-Summit Series Explores Policies to Keep Communities of Color Safe During a Global Pandemic .....6 West. CSG’s Eastern Regional Conference (CSG East) has States Turn to Nature-based Solutions to been located in New York City since 1937. Our team of Address the Climate Challenge ......................................10 experienced policy staff support legislative, judicial and executive-branch officials from our 18 member jurisdic- ETC Embraces Digital Trade Missions..............................14 tions in areas relating to agriculture, Canada/U.S. relations, education, energy and environment, fiscal Food Insecurity and Health: affairs, health, international trade, and transportation. A Multi-sector Approach ................................................16 CSG East facilitates the exchange of ideas among its States, Grappling with Massive Revenue Losses, member states, provinces, and territories, promotes Seek Long-Term Fix for Transportation Budgets .............18 networking among members, and conducts fact-based research and analysis to help shape effective public The CSG East Annual Meeting ........................................20 policy. We also conduct leadership training programs and U.S.–Canadian Border Closure Creates Hardship advocate on the federal level for programs and policies — and Opportunities — for Local Communities ................22 beneficial to our region. CSG East is here for you. Call, email, or visit us EASTRAIN: Bringing the Experts to You ..........................24 online at www.csg-erc.org. The Council of State Governments Eastern Regional Conference 22 Cortlandt Street, 22nd Floor New York, NY 10007 (212) 482-2320 CSG East Staff List Writer/Editor for Perspectives 2020-2021: Director Rona J. Cohen Research Associate Wendell Hannaford [email protected] Jack Aitken Rona J. Cohen [email protected] [email protected] Health Care Contributors: Deputy Director; Canada/U.S. Shirley Girouard Trade Policy and Professional David Biette, U.S.-Canada Relations Relations Policy [email protected] Development Training David Biette Meeting Logistics, Program Veronique M. Cavaillier Veronique Cavaillier, ETC and EASTRAIN [email protected] [email protected] Manager Don Hannon, Transportation Agriculture and Rural Affairs AR Braver Transportation Policy Steve Hewitt, Transportation Bob Haefner [email protected] Don Hannon Shirley Girouard, Health Care [email protected] Military and Veterans’ [email protected] Affairs and ERC Quad Tara Sad Steve Hewitt [email protected] Caucus [email protected] Debbie-Ann Paige Education [email protected] Maxwell Morley Northeast High-Level Radio- [email protected] active Waste Transportation Energy and Environmental Project Policy; Print and Multime- Uldis Vanags dia Projects [email protected] In Rural New Hampshire, a Creative Model for Bridging the Broadband Gap BY RONA COHEN Credit: Credit: Weber Lucy A crew from Consolidated Communications installs fiber-optic cable in Walpole, New Hampshire. uring a town meeting in January 2019, New Hamp- was competitive with the rates they were currently shire state Representative Lucy Weber listened paying for slow service over aging copper wires. Under Dskeptically to a pitch from a local telephone provider the deal, the town would issue a $1.8 million, 20-year offering to bring high-speed Internet service to rural bond, and Consolidated would contribute $2.5 million Chesterfield, located in the state’s southwestern corner. to cover the remaining costs. Weber’s low expectations stemmed from experience: she Such