Highland Park Environment

When It Comes To the Environment
The Message From Mayor Mike Belsky Is:

“Think Global, Act Local”

For most, the summer justifies a more laid back attitude and an opportunity take a breather from the big issues.

Not the case for Mayor of Highland Park, Mike Belsky who earlier this summer attended the US Conference of Mayors in Los Angeles. At the conference Mayor Belsky heard from presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Bill Richardson along with Governor Schwarzenegger about what California is doing to address the issues of the environment. The common (green) thread amongst candidates focused on the role of local government as the catalyst to drive environmental change.

Mayor Belsky spoke candidly with NorthShoreInsider.com about some of the movement Highland Park has already made to reduce electricity and water while increasing clean air and recycling efforts. But this is not enough. The real push will come when local government can “adopt practices that can be measured”. For example, eliminating plastic water bottles that end up in the waste stream, having local grocery stores, pharmacies and retailers to get rid of plastic bags and even paper bags replacing them with reusable canvas bags -- even providing a reduced rate for city vehicle stickers if you own a hybrid car. Belsky’s hope is that “we institutionalize these practices in Highland Park and that we have an environmental plan that can be used by other communities, and inform other communities, so we have an impact beyond our own borders."

Next, each of the Highland Park governments will review their inventory of environmental efforts and get together at a town meeting sponsored by the League of Women Voters on October 30th at the Highland Park Country Club at 7:00-9:30pm. “This meeting will encourage input from the public on what we’re doing and what we’re trying to accomplish” and solicit suggestions by well informed community members. Lastly Mayor Belsky advises that we all keep our eyes open for soon coming announcements for this meeting and others in local publications and the media highlighting Highland Park’s Green initiatives.

Look for other information about Highland Park at www.cityhpil.com.

Please send any GREEN suggestions you’d like to share to loren@northshoreinsider.com. These will be collected and forwarded to the Mayor’s office.

Loren Greiff