Robert Winters| News-in-a-Letter| On the Environment

Here are my priority issues:

• Health and Environment Making our city “green” and keeping our residents healthy are priorities for me. I’ve worked with the city administration and the universities to build and renovate buildings so they are energy-efficient green buildings. I’ve been an enthusiastic – and personal – advocate for the Public Health Department’s "5-2-1-Go! Program", a citywide effort to shape up city residents and workers of all ages.
  
  
• Seniors’ Quality of Life As people get older, it’s harder and harder for them to stay at home and be supported by services, such as transportation. It’s my goal to see Cambridge become a model community for “aging in place,” allowing senior citizens to stay in their homes and lead healthy, productive lives.
  
  
• Transportation As former chair of the Council’s Traffic and Transportation Committee, I’ve worked to make the city better for residents who don’t use cars. Through my efforts sidewalks are now better maintained and there are more benches along bus routes.  For bicyclists, I’ve urged the sitting of bike racks at commercial locations and expansion of bike trails.

• Families with Children Because I believe families with children are good for the city, I’m working to keep the city a good place for them, expanding affordable, family-sized housing and making our schools better with excellent science education.

• Helped establish Cambridge as an environmental model for other cities with its policy of building only green buildings and promoting energy efficiency. We’ve adopted the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80%.
• Promoted wireless access in Newtowne Court and Harvard Sq. Developed a task force to bridge the digital divide. Our goal: No child or family left off-line.
• Organized Cambridge residents to support wind energy, while helping develop two solar installations for public buildings in Cambridge.
• Advocated strongly for family housing.
•  Endorsed 5-2-1 campaigns for healthy eating and exercise.
• Worked with others to build a support network for seniors so they can, if they choose, grow older at home.
• Supported safe and attractive walking and biking.

• Increase the number of solar panel installations.
• Prevent crime by promoting educational and job opportunity and community engagement.
•  Continue to make Cambridge a welcoming place for immigrants and their families.
•  Make it easy for residents and businesses to be green and energy efficient.
•  Encourage vibrant neighborhoods with local shopping to meet neighborhood needs.
•  Continue to respond to concerns of individuals, businesses and neighborhoods.
•  Advocate to increase the budget for sidewalk repairs by $1 million.
• Foster opportunities for innovation and research in Cambridge.
• Improve mental health services for children and young people.