An impressive record of environmental achievement

NEW YORK --- The New York League of Conservation Voters, which works to make the environment a top policy and political priority in New York State, has endorsed Michael Bloomberg for a third term as New York City mayor.  

"New York City has become a national leader in the fight against climate change thanks to Mayor Michael Bloomberg," said Robert Hallman, chair of NYLCV's board. "His continued leadership will help make New York an even greener, cleaner city while growing 'green-collar' jobs that will keep New Yorkers working."

NYLCV endorsed Mayor Bloomberg four years ago, because he was showing great potential to become an environmental champion. At the time, the city was overhauling its Solid Waste Management Plan to make the city’s waste handling process more efficient and less polluting. Mr. Bloomberg played a major role in championing the plan and ushering it through the legislative process. 

The following year, Mayor Bloomberg and his team began laying the groundwork for a master sustainability plan that would revolutionize the way New York City thinks about the environment for both the short and long terms.

In 2007, he formally launched that plan, called PlaNYC, which sets sustainability goals and prepares the city for growth through the year 2030 and beyond. PlaNYC includes not only parks, water quality and energy efficiency – it reframes the notion of sustainability to include affordable housing, polluted land and traffic congestion reduction. Each of these initiatives will set the stage for a greener, cleaner city where people have much smaller carbon footprints.

"We at the New York League of Conservation Voters put a premium on accountability, and that’s why we are really impressed with Mike Bloomberg, because he is delivering on pretty much everything he’s promised. PlaNYC is not only making progress here in New York, it has created a benchmark for other cities around the world to meet," Hallman added.

That’s especially important during these challenging economic times. Years ago, critics incorrectly pitted the environment against the economy, asserting that economic growth and environmental protection were mutually exclusive. That was a false choice then and history has proven that it remains a false choice now. In fact, goals like energy efficiency retrofits, developing cleaner sources of energy and building better transportation options are a way forward for New York City.

"It would be very easy to back down on environmental initiatives when times are bad. But Mike Bloomberg has not backed down – and in fact, we just joined him at a press conference to announce a sweeping package of legislation that will make our buildings greener and put even more New Yorkers to work. It’s because of leadership qualities and a solid record of achievements like these that we at the New York League of Conservation Voters are proud to endorse Mike Bloomberg for Mayor," Hallman concluded.