I received a questionnaire from the West Orange chapter of the New Jersey Sierra Club and thought it might be of interest to voters who are interested in environmental issues in town. I hope that you will see my approach for governing and how much I value environmental protection and climate action. As I say at the end of this somewhat lengthy Q&A, I appreciate your consideration.
The questionnaire with my responses included follows:
September 1, 2024
Sierra Club questions for West Orange Town Council Candidates Election November 5, 2024
DEADLINE for RESPONSE: September 4, 2024
Please type your answers below the questions, you may add lines to make more space.
Candidate Full Name Printed: Jonathan Redwine
Candidate Phone Number:
Candidate email: Redwine4WestOrange@gmail.com
Please read all the questions and respond to them in writing.
Q. Do you believe that West Orange has shown a commitment to actively confront climate change and townwide flooding? One way is by increasing our tree canopy which has diminished from 30% to 27%.
A: I do not think that our town has demonstrated a commitment to actively confront climate change. We have started to track our vehicular fleet and track energy usage in municipal buildings, but we have no process in place to reduce fossil fuel usage. Although we have strengthened the tree protection ordinance, we need strong enforcement of that ordinance.
To combat climate change and to prepare for its impact, we need to review our zoning ordinance and make sure that we are prepared for things like increased flooding and hotter summers, but also need to make sure that installation of renewable energy sources like solar panels is as simple as possible for homeowners. Development projects need to be required to retain stormwater runoff on their properties with trees and catchment basins and renewable energy sources should be required for any development or redevelopment. West Orange must take an active role in our collective obligation to confront climate change - both its root causes and its consequences - and right now has no systematic plan to do so.
Would you be willing to designate a budget requirement that 1000 native street trees be planted each year for the next 5 years? The cost would be approximately $500 per tree.
Yes. I would insist that we have a plan for planting, with locations identified, and the program fully funded. I believe that the program would require additional personnel and equipment, which we need to prioritize. Planting would likely be concentrated in September - November and such a program would have to be sufficiently detailed so that our elected officials will be held accountable to successful implementation of the program.
I would propose the program as 5000 trees over 5 years and earmark money each year to support that goal. Year 1 would include identifying equipment and personnel to carry out the program with increasing numbers of trees planted each year through 5 years, but would intend to continue the planting program well beyond the 5th year. Right now private landowners, the town, and others (for example, PSEG) remove approximately 900 trees from our canopy each year, so this program just barely begins to replenish the damage sustained over the last 4 decades. I think that the overriding goal to be implemented would be to reverse the canopy losses we see year over year until we are gaining trees every year. The key is that we establish a process in place to reverse aggregate tree loss and replenish the canopy.
Q. Do you agree that gas-powered blower noise and pollution can be a detriment to the quality of life in West Orange? The collection of leaves takes our Dept of Public Works limited staff members’ time from mid-October to mid-January. It is also very costly. During that time leaves are piled in streets creating hazardous conditions.
Would you be willing to sponsor legislation that will phase in a plan that requires leaves be mulched into lawns to the greatest extent possible and create a limited phase out the townwide collection of leaves?
I would be supportive of a systematic effort to educate residents on the benefits of mulching leaves into their lawns and a gradual phase out of the townwide collection of leaves.
One of the issues we have in our town is a failure to plan our revenue and costs. We do not create goals for revenue generation and the recycling center, which is the recipient of the townwide collection of leaves, is managed by a private entity that is paying minimal rent to use the 12+ acres of land to collect and mulch leaves and other organic material for millions of dollars in profit. West Orange should be garnering much more revenue from that resource. Unless we are planning our revenues and costs better, West Orange will not be able to effectively prioritize, set, and achieve goals that reflect the values of our residents.
Would you be willing to vote for a seasonal ban on the use of gas-powered leaf blowers with a full ban within one year?
I am open to the idea and want to see such a ban implemented sensibly, meaning in a way that minimizes harm to our residents and maximizes environmental benefits that such a ban would bring. I know that nearby towns that have implemented leaf blower bans and have immediately been sued by landscapers. I would be interested to understand how those lawsuits have been resolved and what the outcomes are for residents of those towns so that we can publicly understand the implications. I know that a ban on gas-powered leaf blowers would be a positive for the environment - reducing emissions and reducing noise pollution.
Q. West Orange has an Open Space Trust Fund intended for the sole purpose of buying undeveloped land.
There are two properties that are performing flood control for residents, one is on steep Mt. Pleasant Ave., The Mount Pleasant Forest. Would you vote yes to negotiate and acquire the 12.7-acre 800-tree forest?
Yes. The price must be in line with market rate for preserved properties. I would also pursue other avenues to preserve that property, if available. There may also be an opportunity to engage with state environmental regulatory officials to preserve the land, to restrict development on the land, or to otherwise preserve it in perpetuity. I would prioritize pursuit of all of these avenues to prevent destruction of that forest.
The second property is the West Essex Highlands also on a steep slope and with limited access. Would you vote to condemn if necessary and acquire this property using bonds and Green Acres Funds?
Yes I would vote to acquire that property. The town needs to pursue all available options to avoid the disastrous proposed development on that property. Preserving that forest is critical to the future of our town for many reasons, not least of which is that the town’s sewage infrastructure is likely not in a condition to absorb approximately 500 new units. We have to stop developing and get our own house in order so that our infrastructure will support our population without undue burden.
Q. The Zoning Board is appointed by the Mayor and Town Council. The Planning Board is appointed solely by the Mayor. Would you pass an ordinance to require appointments to the Zoning and Planning Boards to meet strict ethical conflict of interest standards and to be more reflective of the citizens and the environmental community?
A: The structure of the Planning Board has skewed the way development is proposed and implemented in this town. I think we need to review the structure of our municipal government to make sure that elected officials have the power to represent their constituents. Right now, however, the Mayor controls the trajectory of our town and actual checks and balances are not as robust as they need to be. Revisiting the organization of our town government under the Faulkner Act is an idea I would support. I think the Council should be expanded to include representation from specific Wards to supplement at-large candidates. We need to have an honest discussion about representation in our town. Before pursuing this, I want to understand the mechanisms for such change, including legal standards and voting requirements. All of this is to be done in the open with resident input.
Q. Are you aware of the problem with invasive species plants such as bamboo, knotweed and Japanese barberry, infesting our forests and our private property?
Would you introduce an ordinance to ban the sale and planting of invasive species in our community?
A: Yes, and I would insist that we have systematic enforcement of such a ban.
Q. Noise, intrusive commercial endeavors from homes, cleanliness and maintenance are issues in our town. Do you feel that the town zoning and quality of life laws are being enforced? What would you do to improve this?
A: I believe that our enforcement of zoning and QoL laws are selectively enforced, to the detriment of our community. This is not just an issue in these departments. I would seek to review the efficiency of each department in town and recommend improvements. That review includes enforcement of zoning and QoL laws. Because of our structure of government, the buck stops with the Mayor and that person is responsible for how well our municipality supports its residents. I see a lot of room for improvement and would publicly bring specific recommendations to the town and the Mayor for improvement.
Q. Artificial turf has been found to increase the ground temperatures up to 150F. It also leaches microplastics into the environment. Would you vote to ban any further installations in West Orange?
A: Yes.
Q. Will you ask the recycling contractor to put recycling bins in public spaces?
A: Yes.
Q. Do you agree to decline campaign contributions from business entities who wish to do business with the town?
Yes or No.
A: Yes.
Q. How many times during 2024 have you made public comment at Town Council meetings, Planning Board Meetings or Zoning Board meetings about any of the above issues? Which ones?
0-4
5-10
10+
A: I always wonder how impactful public comment is at meetings - that’s one reason I’m running - to have an impact and a voice/vote that can make a difference. I’ve commented at Town Council and Planning Board many times, probably 5-10 this year, and many more times in the past. I’ve spoken lately about the Essex Highlands proposal and advised the Planning Board on ways they could and should suspend the current hearing. I’ve also advocated in Environmental Commission meetings for opposition to West Essex Highlands and other issues that have been raised this year. When I was on the Zoning Board I was often a lone voting member calling for renewable energy to be included in redevelopment plans, and voted against projects like the self-storage facility on PVW, the proposed self storage facility at the site of the former bowling alley, and the Essex Green redevelopment proposal.
I have also am Chair of the Sustainability Committee where we are laying the groundwork for an administration to set data-driven goals for reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, conversions to renewable energy sources and alternative fuel vehicles. We need a systematic plan to do our part to fight climate change and right now our town is doing effectively nothing to confront it. I have learned that one needs effective leverage in the government to have an immediate impact - that is why I am running.
Q. How many times during 2024 have you made public comment at Town Council meetings, Planning Board Meetings or Zoning Board meetings about any issues?
Please describe which issues?
0-4
5-10
10+
A: Please see above response. I advocate for environmental issues before the many town boards and committees, including the school board, by the way, whenever possible. I have asked each about plans to confront climate change, for example. After asking, I have reached out to individuals in the schools and in the administration to try to motivate them toward action. In my experience, it is difficult to motivate people who are in a position to drive change and I hope that by becoming an elected official, my advocacy will have more of a positive impact. I am running to make that positive impact and to make our town focus on climate and other environmental issues. No one else running has the proactive record of working with everyone within our governmental structures that I have on these issues.
I appreciate your consideration.
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