Philadelphia Election Guide 2014: Voting for Sustainability

It’s a midterm election year! That means we get to sleep in and skip the polls, eh?

Wrong!

Although we’re not voting for a new Commander-in-Chief, there’s plenty to consider in Pennsylvania and Philadelphia. Namely, WTF will make important decisions about taxes and funding for the keystone state?! Here’s a looksy at the November 2014 Philadelphia Ballot for those teacher’s pets who want to come all prepared.

Let’s preview the Philadelphia polls and who the environmental champions (and losers) would be.

Philadelphia Ballot Questions – 2014:

Do you enjoy all those bikes on the road, more Farmer’s Markets and endless free tree giveaways ? The Mayor’s Office of Sustainability (MOS) who oversees the Greenworks initiatives, can be thanked for that. But guess what: they not currently a permanent part of our city government!

As we told you a while ago, Bill No. 130878 & Resolution No 130884 have been sponsored and championed by Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown to make MOS permanent.

Philadelphia Ballot Question 1 will appear as: Shall The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to establish and define the functions of the Office of Sustainability, headed by a Director of Sustainability? 

Hint: Vote Yes! 

The rest of the ballot questions can be found online with plain english translations, too!

Who to Vote For – PA Polls:

PA Governor 2014

Who’s Running:

• Tom Corbett – Love fracking and letting those pink drill bits soak up all of their fat profits? Tom Corbett doesn’t believe in a natural gas extraction tax. But he does love the idea of drilling in State Parks and forests.  He also doesn’t think Climate Change is a big deal. PennEnvironment even gave the governor an “F” on their report card. Is after-school detention possible, too?
• Tom Wolf: wants to re-establish the moratorium on state forests & parks for fracking that Tom Corbett loved. He also wants to invest more in renewable energy and energy efficiency and protect PA’s environment.

Our vote:  If you care about your water, camping, enjoying PA’s natural resources or your children’s future, vote for Tom Wolf.

Representative in Congress

• Armond James (R): Wants more Natural Gas jobs. Not much else environmentally on his website.
• Chaka Fattah (D): Enjoys energy efficiency/conservation projects, a smart energy grid with solar, wind & geothermal, weatherizing & creating green jobs. Add “long bike rides by the beach”, and your heart is ours, Chaka.

Our vote: The dude who took the time to chalk up his website with green lingo. Fattah FTW, obvi.

Senator in the General Assembly

• Robin Glichrist (R): His issues page is under construction less than a week before the election.
• Art Haywood (D): He’s developed a Sustainability Plan in Cheltenham Township to reduce carbon emissions, thinks fracking regulations are shoddy and digs women’s rights. #girlpower.

PennEnvironment gives the thumbs up to Art Haywood.

 

Regardless of who you vote for, make sure you get out and vote!!!

Readers, what issues are you most concerned about for the election? Tell us in the comments or on Facebook.

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