Mar 20, 2008

Hill's green record defended

Guest Opinion

By Lennie Roberts

For nearly 30 years, as legislative advocate for the Committee for Green Foothills, I've spoken up for environmental protection week after week at the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors. Sometimes our views have been listened to, sometimes not. However, one person who has enthusiastically championed clean air, clean water and protection of our natural resources is Supervisor Jerry Hill. I've been impressed by Supervisor Hill's commitment to improving the environment and the quality of life for our citizens.

I was therefore surprised to read Green Party Secretary Pat Gray's guest opinion in these pages ("Supervisor's true colors revealed," March 13) suggesting that Hill is not a champion of the environment.

Gray chides Hill for not taking a definitive stand against San Francisco International Airport's proposal to fill in large portions of the Bay to expand its runways. Since this project would likely have required permits from both San Mateo County and the Bay Conservation and Development Commission, I believe the appropriate course of action was for Supervisor Hill and his colleagues to hear from the public during the necessary public hearings before making a decision on this important issue.

Gray also wonders whether Hill would look favorably upon the proposal by Cargill and DMB to pave over several hundred acres of former baylands for development in Redwood City because they have contributed to his campaign. From my own personal knowledge of Hill's integrity and principles, his dedication to environmental protection and restoration of the Bay and wetlands will not be compromised by campaign contributions from development interests.

Here are some concrete examples of Supervisor Hill's environmental leadership, which I believe demonstrate his "green" credentials:

Despite intense opposition from development and real estate interests, Jerry Hill supported the expansion of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District to the coastside, in what he called his "proudest achievement" to date. He supported new protections for rural resource management lands adjacent to the San Mateo Highlands and in the Skyline area. He turned down Stanford's $8 million environmentally harmful sidewalk expansion proposal along Alpine Road. And most recently, he pushed for green standards for county buildings as well as new and remodeled homes, offices and industrial buildings, which will help to reduce carbon emissions.

Jerry Hill is the only Democrat in the race to replace Assemblyman Gene Mullin who has been endorsed by the California League of Conservation Voters, a group that rigorously evaluates candidates' records and positions on statewide environmental issues.

To me, Hill is as green as our hills.



Lennie Roberts is the legislative advocate for the Committee for Green Foothills and a 43-year resident of Ladera. She also was honored on March 10 by Assemblyman Ira Ruskin as woman of the year.