Holt, local audience meet on environment
Congressman touches on variety of concerns during visit to E.B.
BY MARY ANNE ROSS
Correspondent

U.S. Congressman Rush Holt addresses his audience at the East Brunswick Senior Center April 12 during a discussion sponsored by the township Environmental Commission and the office of Mayor William Neary.

EAST BRUNSWICK - About 50 people came out to the township's Senior Center recently to hear Congressman Rush Holt (D-12) speak about global, national and local environmental issues.

Holt brought news from Washington and listened to questions and concerns of an enthusiastic audience during the April 12 event, which was titled "Sustainable Living in N.J.: A Discussion with Rush Holt" and was sponsored by the East Brunswick Environmental Commission.

Most of Holt's message was of hope, and his talk was good-humored.

"When you get an Academy Award for what would otherwise be seen as a boring lecture on climatology, that's a sign of change," he joked, referring to Al Gore's film, "An Inconvenient Truth."

Holt told those present that Congress is "now under environmentally friendly management," adding that Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has established the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming. He said he believes the commission will come up with "comprehensive and far-reaching" legislation on the environment, and he also emphasized the need for research into alternative energy sources such as biofuels, wind power and even fusion.

Holt discussed his work in Congress, noting that last year he was successful in getting the Environmental Protection Agency to use a more realistic method of calculating the mileage listed on the stickers of new cars.

"You know how they list city and highway mileage and on television they always say, 'Your actual mileage will vary,' " Holt said. "What they really mean is that your actual mileage bears no relationship to these figures."

He believes the new method reflects how most people really drive.

In Congress, Holt serves on the Resource Committee, which is responsible for all federal land use, including national parks. He is working to add Paterson's Great Falls to New Jersey's list of national parks.

"It is the second largest waterfall in the Colonial United States, after Niagara Falls. It's really the birthplace of the industrial revolution in our country," Holt said.

Speaking locally, the congressman praised the East Brunswick Environmental Commission, saying it is "one of the most active and effective municipal environment commissions."

"There are a lot of good things about East Brunswick, and this is one of them," he said.

Holt had a suggestion for Central Jersey towns: "I'd like to see a township adopt an individual farm," he said, noting that this is just an idea to be explored.

"Community-supported agriculture is hard to get started. If we could get town councils and taxpayers to get behind a local farmer in exchange for providing the fresh produce in that town, I think that would be a real winner for all parties," he said.

One of the audience members, East Brunswick resident Herve Barrier, expressed his own ideas for improving the local environment.

"I think East Brunswick should join the U.S. Conference of Mayors' Climate Protection Agreement," Barrier said, noting that more than 300 towns have joined. Besides protecting the environment, towns that follow the standards set by the agreement also save money.

"I would like to see taxes lowered. Right now when we build a school, for example, we don't take the cost of heating and cooling into consideration. Following the guidelines would reduce those costs. New Brunswick and North Brunswick are joining. I don't see why we can't," he said.

East Brunswick Environmental Commission member David Moskowitz was pleased with the event.

"I found the talk extremely informative. [Holt] really brought global environmental issues down to a local level."

"I thought it was great," said East Brunswick High School senior Keith Stratton. "I'm a big fan of Rush Holt. My dad and I have always talked about politics at home, especially when it comes to the environment."

Stratton has been discussing politics outside his home, too: he is part of the winning team in the school's Institute for Political and Legal Education (IPLE) team. Stratton was going to Washington with his team this week for the annual "We the People" competition.

His father, Fred, the former chairman of the East Brunswick Environmental Commission, noting he is proud of his son, was also impressed with Holt.

"He is really concerned with the environment," he said.

The Environmental Commission encourages residents to participate in their many activities. Its Web site can be found at www.njnaturenotes.com.

For information about the U.S. Conference of Mayors' Climate Protection Agreement, visit the Web site www.usmayors.org/climateprotection.