Climate Change and the Economy 

Rochester People’s Climate Coalition and League of Women Voters

2015 Candidate Forum Questions

Responses by

Sandy Frankel

Candidate for Monroe County Executive 

Q: How, once elected, will you exercise the authority of your office to promote green jobs and work toward a sustainable future? 

As I demonstrated during my 20 years as Brighton Town Supervisor, I am a friend of the environment and was honored to receive the CEI Elizabeth Thorndike Environmental Leadership Award in 2012. I repaired and added sidewalks, and installed energy saving street lights to ensure that people who wanted to walk or use mass transportation could do so safely and easily, and developed a bicycle and pedestrian trail plan. I proposed a referendum that voters approved by 4 to 1 to buy and develop park land in Brighton.  I created the Brighton Farmers Market, which supports organic practices. As County Executive, I will continue to promote green transportation methods, preserve open spaces, plant trees, and encourage sustainable farming methods. 

I will take steps to attract environmentally friendly and green businesses to Monroe County. I will work with the Rochester Business Alliance and Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council to focus resources on growing green businesses and implementing sustainable environmental practices.

I applaud GM’s local manufacturing plant for their contributions to our community. This plant employs over 1000 local residents and is certified environmentally friendly and landfill free. As County Executive I will work with other manufacturing facilities—especially those associated with clean, high-tech production in optics and photonics—to encourage them to follow GM’s model.

I will continue to look for new ways to reduce the carbon footprint of the county government and the county as a whole. From small steps such as eliminating non-essential vehicles and continuing the use of green cleaning products in county buildings, to larger steps such as solar and geothermal energy for the county, and eco-innovation districts in the community. We will partner with the state to achieve its goal to reduce carbon emissions by 80 percent by 2050.

Q: Give a concrete example of a program or initiative you will spearhead to both reduce greenhouse gas emissions (or otherwise mitigate the threat of climate change) and strengthen the local economy.

Investment in green innovation is a key point in the New York State Climate Smart Community pledge. Working to make our county sustainable economically and environmentally are two sides of the same coin. We cannot have long lasting economic growth without considering the environment, and we cannot maintain our commitment to combatting climate change without keeping in mind its economic impact. As County Executive, I will work to grow our economy and protect our environment, in part, by focusing on green innovation.

One specific initiative I will spearhead as County Executive is a program to provide tax abatements to commercial, industrial, and residential projects that undertake certain “green” capital improvements. This program will allow entities to reduce their utility bills and their carbon footprint. It will also encourage companies that produce and install “green” equipment—such as solar panels—to create jobs in our county.  I would also recognize local businesses that embrace sustainability practices with a Green Business Award.

I was instrumental in the decision of a local developer in Brighton to install geothermal as part of a new commercial development project and this trend continues.  Solar residential installations are increasing, and I am optimistic about the growth of solar businesses and carbon footprint reduction. 

Q: What steps will you take to prepare your community for the impacts of climate change (e.g., increased flooding, heat waves, and vector-borne infections and diseases spread by mosquitoes and ticks)?

As County Executive, I will work with the County Office of Emergency Management to ensure that the County has comprehensive, up to date risk management and disaster preparedness and recovery plans to prepare for and react to such emergencies. The County has specific plans for addressing influenza pandemics and foot and mouth outbreaks on file.  I participated in the planning process for a potential influenza pandemic, and I know that these plans can be extended to address other vector-borne infections as well as diseases spread by insects.

I will also call on relevant offices within the State and Federal governments—such as the EPA, CDC, and Coast Guard—to assist in keeping plans up to date. By collaborating we can ensure that the County is prepared for emergencies and is in the best position to prevent them and mitigate damage.

Additionally I will ensure that the County is prepared to respond to the extreme weather, which we have recently seen and will, no doubt, experience with more frequency—from educating the public on household safety plans to equipping our first responders with the best resources for their jobs.

Q: Your community has not yet taken New York State's Climate Smart Communities pledge. Will you actively push the governing body you are part of to adopt this program? If not, why? If so, which aspects of the program do you intend to take advantage of first? (Monroe County Legislature and all other municipalities).

As County Executive, I will call on the County Legislature to adopt the New York State Climate Smart Community pledge. I will continue and expand county-wide efforts to reduce energy consumption, increase the use of renewable energy, create walkable communities, and provide greater use of alternative and mass transportation. I will also ensure that the county recycling programs are easily understandable and accessible to the public.

This brings me to one point of the pledge that I feel is of great importance: informing and inspiring the public. Our county has good recycling programs—yet the public is unaware of some of the recycling programs, e.g. disposal of fluorescent light bulbs. Our county will, under my leadership, offer abatements for green capital improvements—abatements that the public will need to be aware of. Our county must be prepared for climate change and climate-related emergencies—preparations that must be made public. Responsible action on climate change must begin with all of us. The government can only do so much on its own; we must partner with the public to combat climate change and this partnership starts with education and inspiration. My family has a Volt, a GM electric car that plugs into a regular outlet in the garage.  To encourage more people to use vehicles that use less oil based fuels, we need to expand the number of charging stations throughout the county in order to reduce carbon emissions.  Penfield is an example of a community that is moving in that direction. 

I was at the forefront in Brighton and will carry this forward for the county.