Dear Editor,
Two weeks ago, I asked U.S. Rep. Antonio Delgado, D-Rhinebeck, at a town
hall event in Gardiner where he stands on the Green New Deal, already
knowing he does not not support it. I wanted him to publicly admit it,
though, which he did. I appreciate his candor.
However, the congressman made a couple of alarming points in his
response. First, he stated his own "Green Jobs Act" focuses on
"solutions that work." Second, he said the Green New Deal "doesn't
reduce emissions."
These responses, particularly the latter, are surprising, considering
there is already a precedent in United States history of massively
transforming our economy and public sector toward ambitious national
goals. President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal helped
lift us out of the Great Depression of the 1930s and defeat fascism in
Europe during the Second World War. It's no coincidence it's part of the
Green New Deal's title.
I find it curious Rep. Delgado proposed the Green New Deal would not
reduce emissions when it serves to transform our energy grid away from
fossil fuels, decarbonize manufacturing, retrofit existing construction
for energy efficiency, support new zero-carbon
construction, and revolutionize our agricultural sector, all while
creating hundreds of thousands of well-paying jobs.
I campaigned for Rep. Delgado last year. I am happy he successfully
unseated former Rep. John Faso, R-Kinderhook, and I hope he wins
re-election next year.
I urge Rep. Delgado to reconsider his stance on the Green New Deal. We
do not have time for incremental measures to appease the fossil fuel
industry. The climate crisis is already wreaking havoc on our country
and the world. Failure to act boldly now will make
later mitigation efforts more expensive — if we have time to implement
them at all.
Publishing history:
Daily Freeman: 12/1/19
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