Hold politicians accountable for environmental voting records
News Article • 9/30/2020 • by Tom Sacino at Bucks Local News
Between PFAS contamination, poor air quality, and the general looming dangers related to climate change, Bucks County does not have time to wait for environmental action. When our elected officials refuse to do the right thing for Bucks County’s air and water, it’s important we hold them accountable.
SEPTA board shifts to Democratic majority for first time ever
News Article • 9/25/2020 • by Patricia Madej and Jason Laughlin at The Philadelphia Inquirer
The blue wave that crashed on the Philadelphia suburbs last November has rippled through SEPTA’s governing body, which now has a Democratic majority for the first time.
SEPTA’s newest board member, John Cordisco, a lawyer and chairman of the Bucks County Democratic Committee, gives the 15-member board an 8-7 tilt toward the Democrats. On Thursday, Cordisco replaced Charles Martin, a former Bucks County commissioner, who was appointed to the board in 2001.
Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania Launches Largest State Electoral Campaign by Environmental Group in Commonwealth History
Press Release • 9/24/2020
Leading environmental advocacy group Conservation Voters of PA (CVPA) has launched a massive statewide campaign designed to flip the Pennsylvania General Assembly to a pro-environment majority in the upcoming election. In the largest state-level electoral campaign by an environmental group in Pennsylvania’s history, CVPA will invest more than $971,000 to support candidates who are committed to ensuring our state’s families can breathe clean air and drink safe water.
Pa. needs strong public transit for equitable pandemic recovery
News Article • 9/14/2020 • by Josh McNeil and Sam Williamson at Trib Live
The covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated the economic and environmental inequities that plague Pittsburgh, and a strong public transit system will be necessary to get those impacted back to work and jump-start the economy when conditions are safe.
With the Trump administration’s response to covid-19 a complete disaster — characterized by ignoring science and leaving the states to their own devices — our state and local leadership have an even bigger role to play to get our economy moving again.
Conservation group touts environmental scorecard
News Article • 9/13/2020 • by Donna Kohut at Bucks Courier Times
Bucks County faces many environmental challenges that put local residents’ health at risk. These dangers include having the second worst air quality in the state — in part caused by the asbestos from the Rockhill Quarry, as well as the contamination of drinking water with PFAS chemicals in Warrington, Warminster, Sellersville and Horsham in Montgomery County. With other challenges looming on the horizon, like a potential liquified natural gas compressor station in the Quakertown area and the PennEast pipeline project in Durham Township, it is vital that residents know where their state legislators stand on environmental issues.
How flooding disproportionately hurts Lehigh Valley’s minority communities
News Article • 9/6/2020 • by Maria Ocasio at The Morning Call
Climate change will intensify flood risks across the Lehigh Valley. It will be our most disadvantaged residents — in many cases, predominantly people of color — whose homes and families will be caught in harm’s way.
Tropical Storm Isaias served as a wake-up call for my own family.
As the storm tore through the region, my brother Raymond quickly found himself caught in floodwaters along Allentown’s Basin Street. His 2007 Jeep Commander stranded and destroyed, he fortunately escaped safely.
Poll from environmental group says Pennsylvanians support more regulations on fracking
News Article • 9/2/2020 • by Ryan Deto at Pittsburgh City Paper
Katie Blume, political director for Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania, says the poll shows that a shift is occurring among voters, where reigning in fracking is becoming more popular than not.
“I think there is a shift. I think after the Attorney General investigation, people’s eyes have been open,” she says, referring to Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro’s grand jury indictment against fracking companies who have polluted the state.
Local lawmakers recognized as environmental champions
News Article • 8/31/2020
Five Chester County lawmakers recently joined dozens of residents virtually to discuss the state of the environment.
The lawmakers discussed their critical actions to protect Pennsylvania’s air and water and combat climate change — and how they stood up against polluters who would put their profits over environmental protection.
Congress must save transit from COVID collapse
News Article • 8/28/2020 • by Josh McNeil at Bucks Courier Times
As Congress debates new legislation to provide relief to communities devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is essential that Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation prioritize additional funding to head off a brewing crisis that threatens the future of public transit. Despite tremendous operational and safety challenges, our tenacious transit workers have put themselves on the line to ensure that the people staffing our hospitals, grocery stores, and other essential businesses could continue getting to work to provide life-sustaining services.
The road to a COVID-19 recovery has to include transit funding
News Article • 8/19/2020 • by Josh McNeil and Ryan Boyer at Pennsylvania Capital-Star
While in search of roads to recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, Pennsylvania’s roads and transit systems are suffering.
Transit agencies such as SEPTA and PATCO in the Southeast, the Port Authority in Allegheny County, and Red Rose Transit Authority in Lancaster have enabled doctors, nurses, supermarket employees and other essential employees to get to work.