EDITORIAL: Nature is watching the election returns

Sep. 20--Never has the advice to think globally and act locally been more important. We don't even have to look at the whole globe. From the perpetual wildfire season in the West to the overabundant hurricane season in the Gulf, the United States by itself illustrates what happens when nature turns on those who abuse it.

It is tempting to put aside other concerns while we grapple with COVID-19.

For example, with tax revenue limited and likely to remain that way for years, the state has had to warn schools of impending cuts in aid. The short-sighted response from the teachers union is to sue to get all the money once promised, seeking a solution for one problem but ignoring others and making them worse.

Bus companies which did not get federal or state aid are now forced to fill vehicles beyond safe limits, making people more hesitant to ride and making mass transit less attractive at a time when it needs to be the smarter, safer, more efficient option.

And if anybody has a solution to the funding problems for the metropolitan area's mass transit deficits, a Nobel prize in economics would not be inappropriate.

As complex as these are, they do not approach the magnitude of dangers from global warming. As The New York Times reported this week, "The Trump administration has acted to repeal or weaken at least 100 environmental regulations over the past four years." Atop the list is the rule that, had it been left in place, would have made vehicles less polluting. Because the transportation industry is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the nation, this is the kind of short-term thinking that has very long-term consequences.

Should Donald Trump win a second term, we can expect more of the same. Should Joe Biden win, we can expect a reversal but one that will take decades to undo the damage inflicted since 2016 not to mention the already significant challenges already in place.

As with many other issues such as health care and education, state and local governments are not waiting to see the results of the presidential election and are trying to use the powers they have to make smaller improvements that they hope will add up to larger ones.

New York has been a leader in these causes with officials such as state Sen. Jen Metzger, the Rosendale Democrat who is well-versed in all issues concerning energy, helping show the way. That's why the New York League of Conservation Voters, the Sierra Club and Food and Water Action, all leading national environmental groups, endorsed her campaign for re-election because of her work on clean energy, climate change and protecting natural resources.

From Los Angeles to Seattle to New Orleans to New York City, mayors and other municipal leaders are considering measures to reduce reliance on cars and revamp streetscapes to encourage pedestrian-friendly, environmental-friendly and, most important of all these days, job-friendly development.

A unified approach would be best. If that is not possible, we need local leaders who understand the magnitude of the problem and seek solutions.

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