Steven Cohen: An Environmental Tale of Two Governments: New York City and the United States of America

Steven Cohen

The stark contrast between environmental policy in New York's City Hall and in the U.S. Congress was sharply displayed in two public events this month. In Congress EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson was subjected to a verbal assault by Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee during a hearing on climate and the Clean Air Act. Here in New York, Commissioner Cas Hollaway, with the strong support of Mayor Michael Bloomberg, introduced the Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) path-breaking strategic plan. Commissioner Hollaway led a celebration while Administrator Jackson endured a hazing.