Our environment, our community, our future - a collaberative effort to maintain our quality of life. Part 1 - our local environment

Our future is all intertwined. how we treat our local environment will determine how long we will want to live here as well as the threshold question of whether there is a local above sea level to call home.

We need to protect and prepare for our future, whether it is protecting our native Pine Rocklands, Mangroves, or Everglades.  We need to grow smart or not at all.  And don’t leave out transportation.  Transportation is another Number One issue (yes - there are more than a single critical issue facing South Florida) as growing gridlock is rapidly eroding our quality of life – but more on that in a future post. 

I am proud to be doing our part on environmental and transportation issues.  There are no perfect answers, but our actions must be part of well thought out policies.

For now, check out Fred Grimm’s column: South Florida’s mayors face reality of rising seas and climate change (online Miami Herald)

The Sierra Club meeting was held on Wednesday, March 23, 2016, at Pinecrest Gardens.   I am proud to have been part of this event along with fellow mayors (including host) Pinecrest, Miami, South Miami, Key Biscayne, and Cutler Bay.  Miami-Dade Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava as also a prime participant.  The event was moderated by Sierra Club's National Executive Director Mike Brune, and Caroline Lewis of the CLEO Institute, focusing on climate change, what local officials are doing. Also introduced was Sierra Club's nationwide campaign to have cities to commit to 100 percent renewable energy. See http://www.sierraclub.org/ready-for-100.

Thank yous are also due to Jim Teas, Chair, Miami Group (and wife Kathy as well!) for all your efforts in our community.

I am also proud and remain committed to advocating for our Future.  I was among the 15 Florida mayors wrote to Sen. Marco Rubio, begging him to face the reality of climate change. (Online Miami Herald, including links to download the letters - South Florida mayors press Marco Rubio, Jeb Bush on climate change, by Patricia Mazzei)

And yes, along with the original 15, with additions to raise the number to 21 mayors and The CLEO Institute, or http://www.cleoinstitute.org/ - signing on to letters sent to moderators of the upcoming Democratic and Republican debates describing their common concern “about sea level rise and climate change,” – Online Miami Herald: Florida mayors to debate moderators: Ask presidential candidates about climate change, by Patricia Mazzei

This is our community.  Let’s not sink together, but let’s rise up and make sure we all have a long future here in and for our South Florida Communities.  I will continue to collaborate with our elected officials and those community groups committed to protecting our quality of life. 

Eugene Flinn, Mayor

Palmetto Bay