I posed these two questions to each of the candidates:
"1) Given the coverage of the report from which this link comes a couple of
days ago, will you pledge to do what it takes to insure that Orange County
becomes one of the counties where air quality measurements are taken
regularly?
http://www.stateoftheair.org/2014/states/north-carolina/orange-37135.html
2) Do you believe that we have too many guns in Orange County and will you
commit to looking for ways to discourage the acquisition of any more and the
proper disposal of at least some of those we do have?
If you happened to see the NBA Commissioner's press conference this week,
you may have been struck as I was by the clarity of his answers to good
questions. I'll be anxious to see yours to the two above. I have included my
phone number, but would prefer to have the answers in writing so that I can
share them with other voters."
There responses, I think, are instructive.
Here is Barry JACOBS' response:
"Orange County has in fact tried for years to have an air quality monitor stationed here, but the state resisted. We even asked our legislators to intervene when their party controlled the legislative and executive branches, arguing the confluence of two interstate highways surely necessitated placement of an air quality monitor if we're serious about addressing the problems of air pollution.
Orange County has been proactive in addressing this issue regardless of the placement of a monitor. The county has, and still does, consider air quality to be a key component of our environment. County vehicles have been steadily converted to less polluting models, for instance, as part of a series of environmental responsibility goals I helped to put in place years ago. http://www.co.orange.nc.us/ercd/EnvironmentalResponibility.asp (I'm not responsible for the misspelling, but will get it corrected.)
We also have an ordinance that limits open burning, particularly in creating a subdivision, and have lobbied the legislature for years to allow Orange County the authority to ban open burning on code alert days.
Just the other day I challenged both of our school systems to seek alternative models to the kiss-and-go lanes that leave lines of cars idling twice daily at our schools. I've seen that at Scroggs Elementary in your area, for instance. I appreciate the convenience this custom provides for parents and children, but surely there's a less polluting alternative that can still offer the flexibility and bonding time kiss-and-go provides.
As for a monitor, without willing assistance from the state we have two viable options. We can partner with either Duke or UNC to locate a monitor in Orange County and have scientific measurements taken regularly by someone who can incorporate the data into meaningful research. We do have a staff person who monitors test wells to track water table levels, so he could easily be assigned to check the air monitor whether the county has a partner or not.
I'm willing to pledge to go it alone -- using existing staff would minimize the costs and assure steady measurement. But I'd like to try to interest a university scientist first, perhaps in partnership with the American Lung Association.
As for your question about guns, I believe there are too many guns everywhere in the U.S., not just in Orange County. Just three days ago the county commission chair and vice chair directed staff to investigate the feasibility and logistics of a gun buy-back program. (I'm the chair, as you probably know.) We also look for legal ways to limit gun carrying in public places within the county.
Please do let me know if you have any further questions or concerns. I believe very strongly that environmental responsibility and protection are central components of Orange County values. I have worked diligently to protect our air, water, land and wildlife while serving as county commissioner, on county volunteer boards, and in any regional or state-level position I've filled.
By the way, you may be interested in hearing the county's periodic State of the Environment Report on May 31. I can get you more information about time and location, or a link to the report when it's released."
Here is what I received from Bonnie HAUSER:
"1) Given the coverage of the report from which this link comes a couple of
days ago, will you pledge to do what it takes to insure that Orange County
becomes one of the counties where air quality measurements are taken
regularly?
http://www.stateoftheair.org/2014/states/north-carolina/orange-37135.html
2) Do you believe that we have too many guns in Orange County and will you
commit to looking for ways to discourage the acquisition of any more and the
proper disposal of at least some of those we do have?
If you happened to see the NBA Commissioner's press conference this week,
you may have been struck as I was by the clarity of his answers to good
questions. I'll be anxious to see yours to the two above. I have included my
phone number, but would prefer to have the answers in writing so that I can
share them with other voters."
There responses, I think, are instructive.
Here is Barry JACOBS' response:
"Orange County has in fact tried for years to have an air quality monitor stationed here, but the state resisted. We even asked our legislators to intervene when their party controlled the legislative and executive branches, arguing the confluence of two interstate highways surely necessitated placement of an air quality monitor if we're serious about addressing the problems of air pollution.
Orange County has been proactive in addressing this issue regardless of the placement of a monitor. The county has, and still does, consider air quality to be a key component of our environment. County vehicles have been steadily converted to less polluting models, for instance, as part of a series of environmental responsibility goals I helped to put in place years ago. http://www.co.orange.nc.us/ercd/EnvironmentalResponibility.asp (I'm not responsible for the misspelling, but will get it corrected.)
We also have an ordinance that limits open burning, particularly in creating a subdivision, and have lobbied the legislature for years to allow Orange County the authority to ban open burning on code alert days.
Just the other day I challenged both of our school systems to seek alternative models to the kiss-and-go lanes that leave lines of cars idling twice daily at our schools. I've seen that at Scroggs Elementary in your area, for instance. I appreciate the convenience this custom provides for parents and children, but surely there's a less polluting alternative that can still offer the flexibility and bonding time kiss-and-go provides.
As for a monitor, without willing assistance from the state we have two viable options. We can partner with either Duke or UNC to locate a monitor in Orange County and have scientific measurements taken regularly by someone who can incorporate the data into meaningful research. We do have a staff person who monitors test wells to track water table levels, so he could easily be assigned to check the air monitor whether the county has a partner or not.
I'm willing to pledge to go it alone -- using existing staff would minimize the costs and assure steady measurement. But I'd like to try to interest a university scientist first, perhaps in partnership with the American Lung Association.
As for your question about guns, I believe there are too many guns everywhere in the U.S., not just in Orange County. Just three days ago the county commission chair and vice chair directed staff to investigate the feasibility and logistics of a gun buy-back program. (I'm the chair, as you probably know.) We also look for legal ways to limit gun carrying in public places within the county.
Please do let me know if you have any further questions or concerns. I believe very strongly that environmental responsibility and protection are central components of Orange County values. I have worked diligently to protect our air, water, land and wildlife while serving as county commissioner, on county volunteer boards, and in any regional or state-level position I've filled.
By the way, you may be interested in hearing the county's periodic State of the Environment Report on May 31. I can get you more information about time and location, or a link to the report when it's released."
Here is what I received from Bonnie HAUSER:
"As you get to know me, you’ll learn that
I’m very much an “act locally” type who does her homework and engages
independent experts and varied perspectives in the conversation. We have
unprecedented challenges from growth, aging and affordability, and given
the challenges from the state, we need better planning so that we can
“walk the walk” on environment, social justice and education.
I have a strong local track record
in environmental stewardship and environmental justice, and played an instrumental
role in closing the county landfill, protecting Cane Creek Reservoir from
logging and an airport, and a host of other local and statewide issues.
I like measurements and data, and would like to learn more about the air
quality measures that you proposed. Last I looked, public health
professionals were advocating measures of acute episodes to assess
environmental impacts on public health. They claimed that its
difficult to link chronic illness because of bias and uncontrolled variables
(genetics, lifestyle, etc). Here’s
an example of recent work that Chris Heaney did with Roger Road on air quality
using acute health episodes.
Of course the real challenge
is protecting the environment under the pressures of growth and urban
development. That’s why I’m committed to work with CHT, TTA, OPT and
DOT create a strong public transportation system throughout the county
that allows people to leave their cars at home. We need to do better with
to create connections to RTP, Chatham and Mebane, and with “last mile
service”. I’m closely watching the growing interest in commuter rail to connect
the Triangle and points beyond. Controls over storm water runoff and
water quality are also of high interest to me.
Guns are harder. The
commissioners have little influence over gun legislation, and as you know that
there’s a big difference in rural vs urban. Given my urban roots, I’m
uncomfortable around guns and don’t own one. Living in a rural area, I’m
the exception. There are many reasons that people own guns - mostly sport
and safety. It is their right and I will honor that.
I’m committed to public safety
and am unhappy about concealed carry in bars and I’ve quite interested in
exploring options to undo that legislation. I’m also worried about sport hunters using rifles. Rifle bullets travel far
and could be dangerous to nearby homes. I’d like to see legislation to
require rifle hunting from deer stands. I have not explored local
authority to act on this.
I have to admit that I’m
unclear about how a firearm buy-back program would help get guns out of the
hand of criminals. That said, the Sheriff’s candidates like the idea, and
as commissioner I will support their efforts to prevent gun violence in our
communities."
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