New Coalition Presses East Hampton Candidates On Environmental Positions

Sept. 19, 2011 - PRLog -- EAST HAMPTON --- Several independent environmental groups have, for the first time, banded together to ensure all candidates in upcoming elections for East Hampton Town Board and Town Supervisor address key environmental issues.  

The newly formed group, the East Hampton Environmental Coalition (EHEC), held a news conference on Monday, September 19 on the lawn of the East Hampton Town Hall to formally announce their initiative and unveil their survey to the public.

The EHEC questionnaire polls each candidate about such Town environmental policy issues as coastal preservation planning, aquifers and drinking water, surface water and estuarine health, open space preservation, light and noise pollution, environmental planning and code enforcement, solid and water waste management, and the candidates’ environmental credentials and philosophies.  

The survey has been disseminated to all candidates, who are invited to file responses by October 14. Responses will be posted exactly as submitted on the New York League of Conservation Voters Education Fund Web site at http://www.nylcvef.org/easthampton.

“The voters of the Town of East Hampton have long been passionate about the environment and they want to know where the candidates stand on issues that matter to them most,” said Marcia Bystryn, President of the New York League of Conservation Voters Education Fund. “The East Hampton Environmental Coalition’s goal is to empower voters with the information they need to make an informed choice at the polls on November 8.”

T. James Matthews, Chair of the Northwest Alliance, said: “Our estuaries and lakes are the nurseries of our marine life, the home of threatened species, and the jewels of our moraine. Sadly they are usually too fouled to allow shellfishing. Our town needs to take decisive action to restore and protect these precious water bodies.”

“Once elected, officials make appointments and take votes that have a huge impact on the sustainability, cleanliness and well-being of the environment that is the foundation of our Town's quality of life and economy,” said Robert Stern, President of the Concerned Citizens of Montauk. “CCOM believes that voters deserve to be fully informed about a candidate’s policy priorities before the election, not after.”

“The aquifer is being destroyed and we want to know what candidates will do to stop it if elected,” said Alexander Peters, President, Amagansett Springs Aquifer Protection.

The EHEC is comprised of 11 independent environmental groups representing thousands of local citizens.  These organizations -- some in force for more than 40 years -- have worked to preserve and improve the natural environment in East Hampton and have provided guidance for the development of the municipal government’s environmental policy.    

The EHEC includes the following groups:

Accabonac Protection Committee
Amagansett Springs Aquifer Protection
Concerned Citizens of Montauk
Dark Sky Society
Garden Club of East Hampton
Group for the East End
New York League of Conservation Voters Education Fund
Northwest Alliance
Quiet Skies Coalition
Surfrider Foundation
Third House Nature Center