Garlow will fight to protect Rehoboth from climate change
Every day we hear about the devastating impacts of climate change in our national and local news. Given the hundreds of miles of Delaware shorelines and our low topography, effects of climate change have the potential to significantly impact the economics and lifestyle of every community in Rehoboth Beach and Sussex County.
We need a climate change commissioner on the Rehoboth Beach City Commission, and I believe Charlie Garlow is the one. Yes, several other commissioners and candidates appreciate the environment, but Garlow has the knowledge, enthusiasm and drive to make real progress in the area of climate change. He is proposing that we develop a Climate Action Plan with goals and deadlines to help protect our cherished town and county.
We actually could use one or more Charlie Garlow, climate change types on the councils and commissions in cities around our state and our country. Why? Because the impacts of climate change are getting worse all the time.
Record temperatures, larger/wilder wildfires, storms and floods greater than people can remember, and long-lasting droughts all which significantly impact the economics and lifestyles of every person in areas that are affected.
An example, my home in Rehoboth was built on a floodplain in the ‘60s. FEMA contacted me two years after Sandy came through and noted that my flood insurance would be raised exponentially by 25 percent each year for the next five years starting in 2020. This change would have pushed my flood insurance from $4,100/year to $12,500/year. I took out a home equity loan and lifted my house.
The knowledge and technology to reduce our carbon footprint and its affect on the climate are available for us.
We just need the will, and several good leaders, like Charlie Garlow on the Rehoboth Beach City Commission.
Kathryn Burgwin
Rehoboth Beach
-
A letter to the editor expresses a reader's opinion and, as such, is not reflective of the editorial opinions of this newspaper.
To submit a letter to the editor for publishing, send an email to newsroom@capegazette.com. Letters must be signed and include a telephone number and address for verification. Please keep letters to 500 words or fewer. We reserve the right to edit for content and length. Letters should be responsive to issues addressed in the Cape Gazette rather than content from other publications or media. Only one letter per author will be published every 30 days. Letters restating information and opinions already offered by the same author will not be used. Letters must focus on issues of general, local concern, not personalities or specific businesses.
