LATIMER ENDORSED BY SIERRA CLUB

release from the Sierra Club

(September 23, 2008) Today, Sierra Club leaders from the Lower Hudson Group announced the Club’s endorsement of George Latimer in the race for State Assemblyman. George Latimer has worked hard in Albany to protect the environment by speaking out on global climate change and the threat to natural resources as well as the state’s economy.

Latimer supports the Bigger Better Bottle Bill which would expand deposits on non-carbonated beverages, i.e. sports drinks, teas, bottled water, etc. which represent millions of bottles and cans littering the environment and ending up in our waterways. Latimer realizes the peril to our watershed and water supply and wants to expand the definition of “Freshwater Wetland” to include wetlands that are one acre or more in size. He feels wetlands should be regulated by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) as opposed to federal agencies. Wetlands are a natural buffer to shorelines and filter runoff before it enters our drinking water supply.

Energy efficiency initiatives under Assemblyman Latimer include support of the Renewable Energy Development Program. This program provides incentives to utility companies that install or operate technologies that convert solar, wind or tidal energy into electricity, and the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Program which encourages municipalities to retrofit furnaces and to use energy efficient vehicles. This year, Latimer is the prime sponsor of two initiatives: a reduction in tolls for hybrid vehicles, and legislation preventing toxic waste disposal on land adjacent to or near residential property.

Sierra Club leaders urge the residents of the 91st Assembly district of Rye, Mamaroneck and New Rochelle, who care about protecting clean water, clean air and work to prevent global climate change, to re-elect George Latimer as your Assemblyman.