Do you remember Kermit the Frog's song, "It's Not Easy Being Green"? Challenges to develop "green priorities," "think green," and "become green" fill newspaper columns, radio and TV time. Recent media topics try to pull our attention away from the white landscape outside, asking us to "think green." Their reasons are not to turn our thoughts to spring.
Berkley's own Amici's Pizza was the topic of two newspaper articles that reported it is the first "green restaurant" in Southeast Michigan. "Certified Green," a feature article in Sunday's Real Estate Section told about environmentally sensitive materials and energy-saving building strategies. Handyman Glen Haege's column stated the challenge, "To 'go green' is to rethink a lifestyle."
Mayors receive an abundance of mail. One writer challenged us to develop "green initiatives" for our cities. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg sent a publication titled, A Greener, Greater New York, that contains 150 pages of goals and strategies his city has adopted. Other related topics besides "green," include clean energy, carbon neutrality, and environmentally friendly.
Early in my first term as mayor, I was challenged to sign the US Mayor's Climate Protection Agreement, and I did so. Berkley joined over 540 National Cool Cities. As a first step residents were asked to volunteer to serve on a Berkley Climate Protection Committee, and the first meeting was held in May 2007. About a dozen residents and students have attended meetings, a resolution was prepared and discussed at the February City Council meeting.
On March 3rd, the Council will act upon the resolution to establish the Berkley Environmental Advisory Committee. Their tasks will include education of residents and advising the City in order to make energy efficiency and environmentally-friendly practices a priority. Look for the Committee's booth at the Berkley Home Expo on Saturday March 15th. Anyone interested in volunteering is encouraged to call the City Manager's office at 248-658-3350.
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