CanadaNews’ Reporter Notes

“Going Green” has officially caught on.  Of the 32,000 Americans surveyed in a recent poll, the majority believe local efforts to be environmentally sensitive will pay off for their communities by attracting new businesses and development.  This is creating “green collar jobs,” and boosting the local economy. 

The U.S. Conference of Mayors commissioned Zogby International to conduct the poll.  This poll was to be considered part of the Mayors’ 10 Point Plan, “Strong Cities, Strong Families, for a Strong America.”  It is commonly known as the Conference’s legislative agenda of priorities for cities and urban areas.

The results of the survey were presented by Zogby International President and CEO John Zogby Wednesday during the 76th Winter Meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors at the Capital Hilton Hotel.  The survey also included a discussion of top priorities for Americans as the 2008 election season gets underway.

The results show strong support for community initiatives that focus on the environment. More than half - 56 percent - believe their local government should “go green” and make environmentally friendly and energy efficient changes throughout their local community, even if they may have to “significantly change” their lifestyle, Zogby explained.   The local communities are in majority support of this idea. 

Majorities also believe that if their local communities adopt more environmentally friendly policies, there will be a positive impact on the local economy. They think green technology will create new local jobs make their communities better places to live. Nearly half - 48 percent - say they would be willing to pay higher taxes if the increase would fund environmentally friendly improvements in their community.

Many Americans are already taking conservation efforts into their own hands - 68 percent say that in their personal lives they have already adopted water conservation measures. The survey also shows more than half of Americans - 53 percent - say they would be willing to use mass transit if it were easily accessible from their homes and where they work, and the pressure of rising gas prices may make it an even more attractive alternative.   The only problem is with those in rural areas.  However, some people present at the conference believe those in rural areas would prefer having more gas-friendly vehicles. 

Two in three - 65 percent - said the raising price of gasoline makes them more likely to consider using mass transit and 44 percent would be willing to pay higher taxes if they knew all the added taxes were being spent on improving or creating public transportation where they live.  Although most Americans express dissatisfaction with the overall rate of return they receive for their tax dollars, they view the use of their local taxes more favorably than the taxes they pay on the state and federal levels.

Nearly four in 10 - 39 percent - believe they receive the best service in relation to the amount of taxes they pay at the local level, compared with 16 percent who believe they receive the most benefit from state taxes and 13 percent who believe their federal tax dollars give them the greatest return.

Wednesday night, Conference President Mayor Douglas Palmer of Trenton, New Jersey presented an award to New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg for his leadership on global climate protection.

Mayor Bloomberg was being honored for his leadership on the international priority of climate protection. His plan for New York City sets a new standard for action by cities throughout the world - a 30 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. With its 127 separate initiatives, PlaNYC strives to make New York City among the world’s most sustainable cities.

Accepting the award, Mayor Bloomberg said, “This award is a real honor, but it could have gone to any number of other mayors who are some of the country’s strongest environmental leaders - Chicago’s Rich Daley; Seattle’s Greg Nickels; Miami’s Manny Diaz - those are just a few of the names that come to mind.”

“Last week, I was in California with Governor Schwarzenegger and Governor Rendell of Pennsylvania. We launched a new, nonpartisan coalition of mayors and governors called Building America’s Future. We’re going to push for a new national commitment to infrastructure, and I hope all of you will join us,” Bloomberg invited his colleagues.

He suggested that the federal government establish a capital budget to fund infrastructure upgrades. “Almost every mayor in this room has a capital budget, and so does just about every industrialized nation,” he said. “But not Washington.”