In the past week, NYLCVEF hosted two environmental Candidate Forums in Westchester and East Hampton. As was made clear by the insightful questions both audiences asked the candidates, Environmental issues are extremely important to both Westchester and East Hampton residents alike.

Beginning with Wednesday’s 2017 Westchester County Executive Environmental Candidate Forum at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, candidates Rob Astorino and George Latimer answered a series of questions from the board of panelists as well as some questions asked by audience members. The panelists, Victoria Alzapiedi, Tracy Brown, and Karl R. Rábago asked the two candidates questions relating to climate change, the Westchester County Airport, the closing of Indian Point and replacements for it, and renewable energy to get a sense of their opinions on environmental issues.

Both candidates support the expansion of solar energy as a replacement to Indian Point and see natural gas as as an interim fuel for the meantime. Latimer spoke on how he believes cost oriented spending in Westchester has been detrimental to the environment and believes the Climate Change taskforce in Westchester should be reinstated. Astorino spoke on his successes as County Executive and how he will continue to reduce energy costs and give residents incentives for buying solar panels.

A full video of the forum can be watched here.

The next evening, three Republican candidates and three Democrats in East Hampton spoke with panelists to a similarly engaged audience. Beginning with Republican Candidates Manny Vilar, Paul Giardina, and Jerry Larsen, questions related to beach erosion and protection, renewable energy, ground and surface water, and plastic pollution were asked. The candidates spoke about how they will be proactive to protect the environment, rather than waiting to act after negative events. On coastal issues, Vilar emphasized the importance of adhering to the New York State Coastal Plan to improve and protect the coastline and Giardina spoke strongly against offshore windmills and instead supported the expansion of solar panels in East Hampton.

The Democrats, Peter Van Scoyoc, Kathee Burke-Gonzalez, and Jeffrey Bragman, responded as passionately as the Republicans did, once again emphasizing the importance of water to East Hampton. Van Scoyoc remarked on how the economy of the town is based on water and how there needs to be a town-wide water management plan put in place. Burke-Gonzalez, the incumbent, spoke about the importance of having clean and renewable energy in the town as well as ground and surface water. Bragman said that the landscape is an active, living thing and we need to treat it as one. A major difference from the republicans, all three Democratic candidates were in opposition of hard shore restoration and believe that the rebuilding of the coasts should be natural.

A full video of the forum can be watched here. The event was covered by the East Hampton Star and 27east.com.

As a nonprofit, nonpartisan and educational organization, the NYLCV Education Fund does not make endorsements in political races. Our goal with these forum was to educate Westchester and East Hampton residents about environmental issues and elevate the public dialogue around sustainability.

Many thanks to the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University for hosting our Westchester forum, and to Federated Conservationists of Westchester, Greenburgh Nature Center, the Pace Energy and Climate Center, and Save the Sound for partnering with us for our Westchester forum.

Many thanks to Concerned Citizens of Montauk for co-sponsoring our East Hampton Environmental Candidate forum

The Town of East Hampton has a long record of sustainability leadership, particularly on the issue of open space. But there are many steps the town can take to continue to improve its environmental performance–and the town’s elected leaders will play a critical role in this effort.]

For this reason, the New York League of Conservation Voters Education Fund, on behalf of the East Hampton Environmental Coalition is pleased to present the East Hampton Green Guide as a resource for all candidates running for town office in 2017.

The East Hampton Green Guide is a one-stop-shop for candidates, policy makers and current elected officials to learn about new opportunities and approaches to persistent sustainability challenges.

On September 25, 2017 members of the EHEC gathered to announce the release of the Green Guide

Members of the EHEC also had a chance to meet with the candidates for town board and to brief them on the important issues articulated in the Green Guide.

NYLCVEF would like to thank the following groups who contributed content for the guide and are supportive the overall goals:
CONTRIBUTORS: Accabonac Protection Committee, Amagansett Springs Aquifer Protection, Concerned Citizens of Montauk, International Dark Sky Association – New York Chapter, Long Island, Businesses for Responsible Energy (LIBFRE), New York League of Conservation Voters Education Fund, Northwest Alliance, Renewable Energy Long Island, Quiet Skies Coalition
SUPPORTERS: Defend H2O, Ditch Plains Association, Friends of Georgica Pond Foundation, Group for the East End, Peconic Baykeeper, Perfect Earth Project, Surfrider Foundation: Eastern Long Island Chapter, Third House Nature Center

Click here to download the 2017 East Hampton Green Guide

Residents of Council District 18 in the Bronx gathered to hear from city council candidates on September 5th 2017. Candidates are racing to fill the open seat of Council Member Annabel Palma, who is term-limited.

All candidates were invited, with Amanda Farias, Elvin Garcia, and Michael Beltzer in attendance.

The forum was hosted by the New York League of Conservation Voters Education Fund, alongside Waterfront Alliance, New Yorkers for Parks, and Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice. Questions were focused on sustainability, resiliency, and environmental justice issues in the community, and were asked by panelists Jose Soegaard of Waterfront Alliance, Emily Walker of NY4P, and David Schuffler of YMPJ. The discussion was moderated by Adriana Espinoza, NYC Program Manager, and opening marks were made by Marcia Bystryn, President of NYLCVEF.

The citizens of District 18, hailing from Soundview, Castle Hill, Parkchester, Clason Point, and Harding Park expressed a variety of concerns during the Q&A session. One resident expressed serious accessibility concerns regarding the lack of elevators at the Parkchester 6 Subway stop. Residents and candidates both shared concerns of access to healthy, sustainable foods. Citizens inquired about the Sheridan Expressway plans, and discussed their daily encounters with heavy truck traffic and subsequent air pollution.

The forum was held to inform voters of each candidate’s position on important environmental issues ahead of the September 12th Primary Election. Search for your polling place here.

2017 saw a range of local elections across the state, including in New York City, Long Island, the Capital Region, and Western New York. In all, we held six forums from East Hampton to Westchester County, for positions ranging from Town Supervisor to County Executive 

New York City Council District 18 Environmental Candidate Forum

Residents of Council District 18 in the Bronx gathered to hear from city council candidates on September 5th 2017. Candidates are racing to fill the open seat of Council Member Annabel Palma, who is term-limited. All candidates were invited, with Amanda Farias, Elvin Garcia, and Michael Beltzer in attendance. Learn more about the event here.

New York City Council District 35 Neighborhood Candidate Forum

NYLCVEF partnered with five local neighborhood groups– The Brooklyn Heights Association, The Crown Heights North Association, The Fort Greene Association, The Prospect Heights Neighborhood Development Council, and The Society for Clinton Hill– to host a candidate forum on Wednesday September 6th. The goal was to bring together community members and give them a platform to question candidates on policy matters of importance to them. Learn more about the event here.

Westchester County Executive Environmental Candidate Forum

Candidates Rob Astorino and George Latimer answered a series of questions from the board of panelists as well as some questions asked by audience members. The panelists, Victoria Alzapiedi, Tracy Brown, and Karl R. Rábago asked the two candidates questions relating to climate change, the Westchester County Airport, the closing of Indian Point and replacements for it, and renewable energy to get a sense of their opinions on environmental issues. Learn more and view videos from the event here.

East Hampton Environmental Candidate Forum

NYLCVEF joined Concerned Citizens of Montauk for an environmental candidate forum that engaged candidates running for town supervisor and board.  Learn more about the forum and watch videos from the event here.

Nassau County Executive Environmental Candidate Forum

On a Sunday evening at Adelphi University in Garden City, crowds gathered to hear Nassau County Executive Candidates Laura Curran and Jack Martins answer questions from the panel that included Eric Alexander from Vision Long Island, Adrienne Esposito from Citizen’s Campaign for the Environment, and Nick Sifuentes from the Tri-State Transportation Campaign. Moderated by the NYLCVEF’s President, Marcia Bystryn, the forum addressed a range of environmental issues including water and air quality, sewage management, offshore wind turbine installation, and public transportation. Read more here.

Huntington Town Supervisor Environmental Candidate Forum

The next day at the Huntington Library, Huntington Town Supervisor Candidates Tracey Edwards and Chad Lupinacci answered questions from Eric Alexander from Vision Long Island, Maureen Dolan Murphy from Citizen’s Campaign for the Environment, and Beth Fiteni from Green Inside and Out. Among the questions asked by the panel included topics related to road safety in Huntington, pesticide use, high-density housing, and waste management. Click here to learn more about the event.

On Thursday, May 4th, 2017, candidates for City Council, Borough President and all citywide offices gathered for a morning of discussions on critical environmental issues facing New York City. The event, designed to improve understanding of environmental and public health issues facing our city, featured two panels of environmental experts and advocates in conversation about some of the most pressing topics facing our city.

A third panel featured four current City Council members: Mark Levine, Costa Constantinides, Rafael Espinal, and Donovan Richards, who provided their own insights and experience on running for office and working in City Hall. NYLCVEF also presented our 2017 Green Guide, a comprehensive source for candidates to learn about opportunities and approaches to persistent environmental issues in the City.

Leading up to the general election in November 2016, NYLCVEF hosted candidate forums where residents learned where candidates running for office stood on crucial environmental issues.

View the livestream from our Congressional District 1 Congressional Candidate Forum here.

Incumbent Congressman Lee Zeldin and challenger Anna Throne-Holst presented their ideas for preserving the environment on Long Island and working with congressional leaders to protect clean water, open space and renewable energy. Candidates also responded to questions from panelists, audience members and NYLCVEF President Marcia Bystryn about these topics and a number of other local and national environmental issues.

On September 1st, the six candidates in the Democratic primary for New York's 65th Assembly district gathered to discuss their views on environmental issues in their district with advocates and community members at Southbridge Towers on the Lower East Side.

District 65 faces a number of environmental policy challenges from the area’s accelerating development and congestion and the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events. The district also continues to grow more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, and to address these issues candidates addressed topics ranging from community parks to congestion taxes in their discussion of strengthening resiliency.

Incumbent Alice Cancel and candidates Don Lee, Gigi Li, Paul Newell, Yuh-Line Niou, and Jenifer Rajkumar responded to questions from the audience, as well as from a panel of environmental experts from New Yorkers for Parks, Transportation Alternatives, the Lower East Side Ecology Center and the Waterfront Alliance. Although candidates largely agreed on the environmental challenges facing their district, there was divergence on a number of proposed solutions, including the preservation of Elizabeth Street Garden and policies relating to the regulation of plastic and carryout bags, among others. NYLCVEF livestreamed the event on our Facebook page, and you can view the footage here.

NYLCVEF would like to thank Southbridge Towers for hosting the forum, to our nonprofit partners for their insightful questions and participation, and all of the citizens who turned out to listen and submit questions to their candidates.

Our fourth and final candidate forum of the year was a huge success in Riverhead last night. The three candidates vying for the role of Town Supervisor, incumbent Sean Walter, Anthony Coates, and Jodi Giglio, discussed everything from septic tanks to solar energy to single-use plastic bags.

Answering questions from the moderator, North Fork Environmental Council president Bill Toedter, and from the audience the candidates took turns sharing their views. The forum format allows candidates to dive deep into the issues rather than spend most of their time debating with their opponents.

Check out everything you may have missed in the Riverhead News Review.

We would like to thank our co-sponsors at the North Fork Environmental Council, the Suffolk County Community College Culinary Arts and Hospitality Center for hosting us, and to the concerned citizens who turned out to ask such thoughtful questions.

Watch the whole forum on our YouTube page:

Video credit: Image Hunter Photo/Michael John Madigan

Make sure you're registered to vote so your voice will be heard on Election Day on November 3rd.

Why does NYLCVEF host forums and not debates? Let our senior vice president, Josh Klainberg, explain: There are a lot of debates that happen out there and as watchers of debates style trumps substance and you kind of lose what the issues are all about.

That's why the candidates for Southold Town Supervisor took turns answering questions from the audience and moderator last night at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Cutchogue -- so they could really get down to the issues. The candidates, incumbent Scott Russell and challenger Damon Rallis tackled complicated issues like wastewater treatment, water quality, and natural resource protection in front of the packed crowd.

Our co-host for the evening was the North Fork Environmental Council and their president, Bill Toedter, moderated the discussion. "We think it's very important to compare apples to apples about what people are saying about these issues and for you to come away with your own conclusions," Toedter said when addressing the audience.

Learn more about the event in the East End Beacon and make sure you're registered to vote so your voice will be heard on Election Day on November 3rd.