What CAN we do to Clear the Air and Clean the Water?
Many of the challenges we face are regional in scope, but there are
things we can do locally that will make a difference:
Promote
strict and consistent enforcement of zoning and conservation laws.
Control traffic
flow with Gridlock Free Zones.
Improve
short-hop community transit options and promote their use.
Develop a
replacement schedule for the county fleet to include hybrid
vehicles.
Find ways to offer
more water access, helping residents to see value in
conservation and restoration efforts.
Encourage local
businesses to offer telecommuting and other traffic-friendly
alternatives.
Offer
incentives for developers to exceed requirements for permeable
area and green space preservation.
"It is time for each and every one of us to remember the
principle of stewardship."
Improving our environment as a whole seems an enormous task, but
small things can have a big impact. We can start by better
controlling traffic and growth. With 400-plus miles of shoreline,
much of Anne Arundel County was built to accommodate summer cottages
and a maritime industry. Now, with a half million people living,
learning and earning here, we need to rethink traffic patterns,
pedestrian accessibility and local transit options. Revitalizing
older areas, preserving green space and curbing sprawl with prudent
planning and land management are important steps.
This
type of planning should be done with the ongoing input of community
leaders. Coalitions of dedicated volunteers are already researching
the best practices of other communities, hoping to shape initiatives
with the greatest potential for success here. I will create an
Environmental Advisory Council to formalize their role.
"It is time to restore accountability for preserving and restoring
our environment."
"It is time to reestablish trust in government to enforce our zoning
and conservation laws."
Finally, most will agree that most of our initiatives are well
intentioned and funded and that existing county zoning and
conservation laws are sufficient. The challenges lie squarely in
implementation and enforcement. With community support, and proper
accountability measures, we can preserve existing green space, curb
run-off, restore our waterways, and find growth and transit
solutions that help reduce traffic and air pollution.
Promote
strict and consistent enforcement of zoning and conservation laws.