Environment

Protecting Our Natural Resources

Development - Eric is a consistent voice against poor development. He is also a champion of community interests, community involvement, and concessions from developers. He tells developers when they need to do better, and opposes development that does not make sense.

Planning - Eric believes that good planning is a key to redevelopment and revitalization and that encouraging well thought out redevelopment inside the Beltway is a key toward protecting the County's rural tier, while improving blighted properties and livability.

Recycling - Eric successfully fought back attempts in several budget years to discontinue City recycling.

Cleanups, plantings, beautification - Eric has championed efforts to beautify College Park and increase plantings as well as involving students in weekly cleanups of the Old Town neighborhood.

North Gate Park - Eric strongly supported creation of a park at the Campus North Gate, this initiative was the result of a partnership between the City and the University.

Urban stream protection - Eric has been involved in cleanups of Guilford Run, and has fought against attempts to pave over this urban stream.

Stormwater - Eric has supported efforts to protect our local waterways from stormwater runoff, both in demanding better efforts from developments, but also in supporting bio-retention and other efforts.

Endangered Species Act - Eric introduced and passed a letter from the City urging Congressional support of the ESA.

Support for Greenbelt Park - Eric introduced and passed a letter of support for environmental education at Greenbelt Park.

Energy

Hybrid cars - Eric initiated College Park purchasing a hybrid car, more hybrids should join the College Park fleet in the future.

Renewable energy - College Park purchases at least 5% of its energy from renewable sources. Eric supported this effort, and seeks the City's purchase of more renewable energy.

Climate Protection - At Eric's urging, College Park is a member of Cities for Climate Protection, ICLEI, and Clean Energy Partners.

Green Building - Eric is an advocate for the City to build a ?green building? when College Park constructs its new City Hall.

Air Quality

Eric serves as a member of the Metropolitan Washington Air Quality Committee (MWAQC), and has been a consistent voice for stronger air quality measures. He has Opposed State Implementation Plans (SIPs) that did not go far enough to protect our air quality. He has consistently raises objections to harmful road projects and has advocated for better planning to reduce effect on air quality

Other Initiatives

Pesticide/Herbicide use - At Eric's urging, the City is using organic alternatives to pesticides and herbicides to control weeds at City playgrounds.

Cellular Tower - Eric successfully fought against installation of a cell phone tower on a City playground.

Fought University Greenhouse site - Eric was a strong voice in the City's successful legal case against the University of Maryland, which stopped the University from clearcutting woods to relocate its greenhouses.