For those who were confused by the Kingston Daily Freeman's coverage of our Green Jobs Pledge initiative ("Green Pledge Makes Mayor See Red") and yesterday's sensational front-page lead story built on assertions of support and concern about the Pledge, here is a letter that I submitted to the Freeman on June 22, 2009.  According to reporter Paul Kirby, the paper's Letters section is so backed up that ours could not be published for a couple of weeks....  meanwhile, for y'all, here it is. 

To the editor,

The concept of the "Green Jobs Pledge" originated with Van Jones, now a senior official in the Obama Administration, as a way of using the new technology arena to bootstrap people and communities through the creation of new jobs in manufacturing, design and professional services.  Endorsed by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the Pledge is a simple commitment in principle, to be followed by the creation of a task force to outline action strategies.  There is no standard language, leaving it to communities to adopt approaches that work in their local contexts. 
 
I brought the idea to partners in the Kingston Green Trail Alliance – a group of community organizations focusing on environmental improvements and economic opportunities in Midtown. Rural Ulster Preservation Company (RUPCO), Mid-Hudson Energy$mart Communities, the Center for Creative Education, the Digital Corridor Initiative, and the Environmental Education Program of the City’s Parks and Recreation Program are the members of this alliance.  We recognize that clean energy and green building industry clusters have emerged as a major focus of investment for New York funding agencies such as NYSERDA and the Department of Labor, as well as a cornerstone of Ulster County’s policy and an engine for new manufacturing companies such as Prism Solar. We saw the Pledge as a local alignment with federal and state policies for economic and technology development, a complement to the Digital Corridor Initiative by providing a focus for new digital applications, and a help in qualifying Kingston for the highly competitive, $29 billion Energy-Efficiency Block Grant program for improving local infrastructure while creating good jobs.
 
In a meeting on March 13, 2009  in the office of Mayor Sottile, Guy Kempe of RUPCO and I presented the Pledge proposal. The Mayor was receptive and suggested we bring the Pledge to the Common Council.  I brought the concept to the Council, and then to the Laws and Rules Committee where it was assigned – and along the way discussed it by phone with City Planner Sue Cahill and Economic Development Officer Steve Finkle.  Alderman Hoffay offered support on Laws and Rules, and served as a channel of communication with the Council.  At the Laws and Rules meeting I attended, the only objection raised was  Alderman Polacco’s concern that the Pledge not limit healthy development. I appreciated that concern, as well as Alderman Senor’s efforts to build consensus.  If Mayor Sottile has had misgivings since our initial conversations, they should be thoughtfully and respectfully addressed.  

To be clear, the Pledge is just a statement of commitment to clean and renewable energy, green building and related industries as a local priority for job creation and retention (not necessarily the sole priority, just an important one, and a good fit with existing priorities such as the arts and digital technology).  The  implementation task force would be free to devise the most entrepreneurial, flexible approaches it can. I appreciate that a pledge to focus development on a specific industry cluster would prioritize some investments at the expense of others, and should not be undertaken without vigorous public debate.   If we can  use that discussion to find ways of creating more jobs with less controversy, then the whole city wins. 
 
Sincerely yours,

Melissa Everett, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Sustainable Hudson Valley
PO Box 4112
Kingston, NY 12401
845-384-1061/ cell 845-548-5178
everett@sustainhv.org
Www.sustainhv.org