Monthly Archives: October 2017

According to a 2014 report by the Institute of Education Services, the average age of public school buildings in the United States is 44 years. This is an increase of four years from the last time the survey was conducted in 1999. Moreover, here in New Jersey, the average age of public school buildings is more than 50 years. Our rapidly aging schools force us to ask important questions about their safety for students and staff. Many public schools were built during the 1950s and 1960s to accommodate the baby-boom generation. Unfortunately, during that era of public school construction, asbestos-containing materials were commonplace. From ceiling and floor tiles to mastic, joint compounds, insulation and cement, asbestos was found in hundreds of products and heralded for its strength and ability to withstand heat and chemicals. Those benefits also came with a price tag—the mineral is carcinogenic, and exposure to airborne fibers has been linked to mesothelioma, asbestosis and other diseases. Asbestos is a fibrous mineral that is invisible to the naked eye. Asbestos-containing products served a variety of uses in home and building construction, but also had valuable roles in automotive applications and shipbuilding until the mid-1970s when regulations were issued [...]

The landmark 2010 Offshore Wind Economic Development Act should have made New Jersey a national leader in offshore wind. Yet, for seven years, little action has been taken to capitalize on this opportunity for creating family-sustaining jobs, increasing clean energy production, and stimulating economic development. Governor Christie, much like the Trump Administration has stalled, and rolled back progress on climate policy. It’s rare to find such broad consensus on policy issues, but on August 16, several dozen leaders gathered under the shadow of massive wind turbines at the Atlantic City Utilities Authority to demand New Jersey take action on offshore wind. The United Steelworkers District Director joined the Offshore Wind Business Network executive director as well as labor, faith, environmental and community organizations gathered to discuss offshore wind as a foundational strategy in the fight for more clean energy jobs and less greenhouse gas emissions. Read the full Opinion-Editorial in the Star-Ledger by John Shinn, Director of District 4, United Steelworkers and WEC Board Member and Dan Fatton, executive director, WEC.

The latest hurricane disasters are yet another wake-up call. Climate change is happening and causing sea-level rise, worsening storm surges, increasing air temperatures that lead to more rainfall, and boosting water temperatures — all of which make storms more severe. July 2017 was the hottest month ever measured on earth, raising the temperature (up to 7.2 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than average) of the Gulf of Mexico, and making Harvey wetter and stronger, jumping to a Category 4 hurricane just hours before making landfall — an unprecedented event in decades of record keeping. Millions of people have been affected. People are in need of shelter and services, and just as we saw after Superstorm Sandy, damaged facilities are spewing toxic materials into communities, and public health is at risk. Recognizing the urgency of the climate crisis, more than 50 organizations formed Jersey Renews; labor unions, faith leaders, community and environmental organizations are standing in solidarity and urging action. Climate change poses a massive threat to our coastal state, yet we believe that strong actions to counter it also offer an opportunity to prepare New Jersey for the future. Read the full Opinion-Editorial in NJ Spotlight by Dan Fatton, executive director for the New Jersey Work Environment Council. October 3, 2017 [...]