Yesterday, Gordon Starr Barnstable Town Council Candidate Precinct 1 was endorsed by U.S. Senator Ed Markey at Nirvana Coffee Shop in Barnstable Village.
“We
need leaders at the local level to influence policies that are going to
help us to avoid the worst and most catastrophic consequences of
climate change, we need to think globally but need to act locally. ”
The Cape Cod Times article notes that the town council election is not a partisan race. Gordon is registered as “un-enrolled” nevertheless, Gordon’s strong record of supporting the environment caught Senator Markey’s attention for an endorsement.
Markey was on the Cape to attend the Net Zero Conference being held at Cape Cod Resort and Conference Center in Hyannis.
Gordon has lived in Barnstable Village for over 40 years
Gordon knows Barnstable Village. He values its traditions and respects its character. Gordon understands what is important to the villagers. He is a great listener and wants to hear what matters to you!
Visit About Gordon to learn more about Gordon’s story. Aside from being endorsed by Senator Ed Markey, Gordon has curried favor with townspeople across the village, as indicated by the many lawn signs lining route 6A.
Here’s a proposal for some big picture thinking. Can we come together to create a Cape Cod climate task force, using common sense and goodwill to create a blueprint, a compact, to guide and unite us all in this new era?
As my bio states, I am the “environmental guy”. Click here to learn more about my story, my interests, and why I believe that I can help to make Barnstable resilient in the face of climate evolution.
And for those of you for whom the link doesn’t work, here’s the copy from Mimi McConnell’s Cape Cod Times Editorial of Sept. 11, 2019.
Hats off to Wellfleet and its neighbors for their enlightened approach in exploring nontraditional methods to reduce wastewater pollution in Wellfleet Harbor (“Wellfleet weighs multifaceted watershed cleanup approach,” Aug. 26, Page 1).
This augurs well for the rest of Cape Cod if we can open our minds to examining and then adopting new solutions proven elsewhere in our country but also in other nations – whether it be to address water quality or other issues. Too often we turn to “horse and buggy” fixes in today’s world of reliable alternatives and new technologies.
But this brings up the larger question facing this peninsula: What are we doing now, today, in concert, to prepare for the escalating impacts of global climate change? We do not have the 10- to 12-year period we hear touted; the changes are cascading now, affecting weather, the economy, rising seas, the balance of nature and ultimately our way of life right here.
Can we come together to create a Cape Cod climate task force, using common sense and goodwill to create a blueprint, a compact, to guide and unite us all in this new era?
This would obviously require legislation, created by the people of Cape Cod after intensive input from all elements of our population. We are blessed with world-class scientists right here in Woods Hole; we have progressive business leadership; we have courageous environmental and groups; we have enlightened political leaders; we have an informed but unorganized public open to new ideas – yet there is no cohesive or united effort yet to address the biggest challenge of our time.
This is not a proposal for a feel-good study group but rather a convening of knowledgeable and determined Cape Codders. Care in forming this task force would be imperative to ensure balance, fairness and doability. Funding for staff and logistics would be needed and could come from financial and real estate entities (whose futures are central to this effort). Might our Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce take the lead in forming this task force, using great care to be inclusive, balanced and practical, with a deadline of, say, 18 months?
Yes, this is complicated, and indeed daunting; but I have faith that we on Cape Cod will find common ground at this extraordinary time of awakening to this local yet international challenge to the planet entrusted to us. It will require ingenuity, integrity and wisdom to play our part in the future of our global village. Let’s make it happen!
Barnstable & West Barnstable Town Council Candidates Gordon Starr & Kris Clark at the 2019 One Cape Summit
I spent Monday and Tuesday at the Cape Cod Commission’s 2019 One Cape Summit. Workshops addressed climate change through adaptation and mitigation. Also fantastic discussions about the issues concerning year-round housing on the Cape.
2019 One Cape Summit: Wequasset Resort patio overlooking Pleasant Bay
This year’s One Cape Summit focused on Environment and Economy. Day #1 featured speakers on environmental concerns. Eric Fisher, CBS Boston’s WBZ-TV’s chief meteorologist recounted not only the conditions leading up to the previous week’s tornadoes, but also stated that July 2019 was the hottest July on record for Boston. In fact, the Washington Post reports that June was the 414th consecutive month with above-average global temperatures.
The One Cape Summit Day #2 agenda included presentations on town planning tools. These tools integrate design, economics and public input to develop strategies for improving quality of life while increasing living space density. Town of Barnstable planners are looking to the future to ensure that affordable workforce housing opportunities are created.
Finally, a presentation by the US Census Bureau emphasized the need
for our participation in the 2020 census. The importance of keeping
respondent data strictly confidential was both emphasized and
reiterated. And, the US Census Bureau is offering census takers jobs at
$19/hour. Here’s a link to see if you qualify 2020 US Census Job Opportunities.
