From:
"Andrea McGimsey" <[email protected]>
Subject:
LCCSS questionnaire
Date:
Friday, September 14, 2007 11:19 PM
PDR:� NO
I
support measures for preserving and encouraging a sustainable rural economy in
Western Loudoun.
As
Potomac District supervisor, I will work to build the local economy of Loudoun
County, including both the economy in eastern Loudoun, as well as the rural
economy.� Businesses, including those in
the rural area, increase the commercial tax base, bringing in much-needed
revenue to the county.
Because
our commercial tax base has decreased under the current Board's
term,
the new Board of Supervisors must support all of our local businesses
and
attract more businesses.� We need strong
zoning that supports the rural
economy,
including farms, wineries, and tourism.
2
Carbon emissions and environmental standards
I
support a comprehensive energy conservation plan for Loudoun County.
I
support adoption of the Cool Counties Initiative for Loudoun County.
I
support common sense policies that would reduce our reliance on county
landfills.
Due to
the lack of federal action on carbon emissions, we must show strong
leadership
on reducing carbon emissions at the local level.� There is
increasing
awareness among the public that our children's future is at
stake.
We must harness this awareness and human energy to start making the
needed
changes as soon as possible.
Experts
warn that we must take decisive action within the next ten years to
change
the trajectory of carbon emissions and the resulting climate change.
We must
work together as a community to inform one another, make wise,
strong,
and timely decisions, and then act.
I have
a strong track record in making information available to the public
and
building consensus among citizens, leading to real change at the policy
and
legislative levels.� I promise to show
strong leadership on this issue.
I
support a county initiative to draft green building standards legislation
to
create incentives for public and private investment in green buildings.
Green
buildings will save Loudoun money.� That
is the bottom-line.� We seem
to
easily make development decisions that will increase citizens' taxes for
many years
to come.� Surely we can make decisions
that will save Loudoun
citizens
money for many years to come.
In
addition, I see green building as a strong economic development tool.
Loudoun
has many citizens and business in the building trade.� Many business
magazines
have said that "green" is the new economy.� Loudoun can show
leadership
in green building � and profit, both in energy savings and in
economic
development in this area.
I
support the development of a school system-wide Sustainable Schools
initiative.
I
support changes in school citing policies to give greater weight to
placing
appropriately size schools near the communities they serve.
I
support changes to the school building standards to accommodate green
building
principles, which would provide a healthier environment for our
children,
use resources sustainably and generate life-cycle cost savings for
the
taxpayers.
Comments:
The
school budget comprises almost 3/4 of the entire county budget.� How we
build
and maintain our schools has a huge impact on our overall budget and
the
future of our county.� One of the
greatest ways we can address our
county's
impact of climate change is through addressing issues with our
schools.
We need
to strongly support science education in Loudoun County.� In order
to
address the challenges of climate change, our children must understand
the
basic science of the earth's living system.