Friends Don't Let Friends Vote for Trump

“Knocking on doors is the only foolproof plan I’ve ever come up with for curing Election Day jitters” — David Kieve, Environmental Defense Fund president

Even if you’re apolitical, which I was for more election cycles than I care to admit, now is the time to vote in political leaders who will do everything they can to fight climate change.

In my column last month, “November 5: Not a Fire Drill,” I sang the praises of what the Republican Party used to be, and compared the environmental policy between Biden-Harris and Trump. The basic message was: Kamala Harris good. Donald Trump bad. Very, very bad.

Harris, in fact, is more pro-environment than even her boss, Biden, whose 2022 Inflation Reduction Act is the largest climate investment in U.S. history. Since her days as a senator and California attorney general, her focus has always been on environmental justice.

As vice president, Harris has focused on helping vulnerable populations recover from climate-related disasters. In 2022, she worked with FEMA to secure $1 billion in grants to help communities prepare for extreme weather events. She supports infrastructure law that includes billions of dollars in funding to reduce the effects of drought and help low income Americans weatherize their homes. Harris has worked with the Labor Department to implement rules protecting workers during heat waves, including requirements that employers develop safety plans and provide access to water and shade for workers.

How is Trump bad for the environment? Let me count the ways. Oh wait, I don’t have to. There’s already a list of 100 environmental policies for fighting climate change and protecting our health and safety that he undid during his presidency (read The New York Times story “The Trump Administration Rolled Back More Than 100 Environmental Rules” from January 2021 for the full list). And for a road map of future devastation that a Trump White House would unleash, it’s very clearly spelled out in the “battle plan” for Trump’s first 180 days in office known as Project 2025.

Just as we’re beginning to recover from one of the country’s most devastating natural disasters on record and bracing for more extreme floods, hurricanes, wildfires and heat waves, Trump continues to deny established climate science, disparages renewable energy and champions unlimited production of fossil fuels. His “Flat Earth” approach to climate change puts us all in serious, irreversible danger.

Out here in the 1st congressional district, where we’re vulnerable to sea level rise, flooding, nitrogen pollution and beach erosion, we also need leaders who make protecting the environment a priority.

In congress, that would be John Avlon. As a journalist covering climate change for over a decade, he has a deep understanding of environmental issues and the importance of combating global warming. His approach is to reach across the aisle.

“Investing in clean water shouldn’t be a partisan political issue. We need to come together to invest in climate change mitigation and water quality protection before more damage is done,” explains Avon.

For a brief synopsis of how long we’ve known about climate change (since the 1800s), how much the fossil fuel industry knew, and the tactics they’ve used to hide it, check out Avlon’s three minute CNN segment, “Reality Check: A Brief History of Climate Change Denial With John Avlon” on YouTube.

His opponent, Republican incumbent Nicholas LaLota, has been given a lifetime environmental score of 14 percent by the League of Conservation Voters (basically an F-). He recently joined the spuriously named Climate Solutions Caucus, which has been derided by climate advocates as enabling conservatives with some of the worst environmental records to “greenwash” themselves by joining the group, “which does nothing to address global warming,” according to Politico. He also voted to pass the Lower Energy Costs Act, which is intended to increase oil and gas production in the U.S., while scaling back on climate initiatives. This last year, LaLota did support legislation to protect our aquifer and waterways. But seriously, given that we’re surrounded by water on three sides and our livelihoods depend on it, what District One politician wouldn’t?

In a race that’s being called, “the edge of flippable,” but is considered more of a stretch for Avlon, it’s going to be all-hands-on-deck to get him into office. If this seat does flip, it will help win a pro-environmental majority in the House, making it easier to pass climate legislation at the federal level.

Another strong environmental candidate is Democrat Tommy John Schiavoni. He is running for State Assembly and the seat that will soon be vacated by the long-term incumbent Fred Thiele, who will retire at the end of this term. Currently a Southampton Town council member, League of Conservation Voters has endorsed Schiavoni for doing everything from protecting open spaces and building electric charging stations to helping convert incandescent street lights to LED lighting, leading to an annual savings of $270,000.

With the election only 27 days away, it’s time to harness election season worry and turn it into action. Reach out to a friend. Make phone calls. Canvas door to door. Write postcards. Give someone a ride to their polling station.

Friends: Political analysis says the best campaign strategy to influence voters is to already know them. Even if they’re leaning towards the eco-destroyer, talk to your friends. Especially if they live in Michigan, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Georgia or Wisconsin. A one on one conversation may be uncomfortable, but it’s definitely effective.

Canvassing: Everyone should try canvassing at least once in their life. When I went door to door last week in Hampton Bays, most people were nice. Or nice enough. Saying “Hi” proves to be a surprisingly sophisticated campaign tool.

And ironically, you don’t need to get political. At this late date, canvassing means mostly going to neighborhoods that are Democratic strongholds and helping people with a game plan to get to the polling station on election day (or October 26 for early voting!) Sign up at mobilize.us/nysdems for a nearby location.

Phone banking: Making calls for Avlon or to a swing state is also effective. I called Georgia for the Harris campaign, and although I wouldn’t say everyone was a Georgia peach, I had some good conversations. Phone banking starts with a 20 minute training video with common sense tips like remembering to ask about how they were doing post Hurricane Helene. My favorite training insight was being reminded that when you don’t know something, you can take the novel approach of saying, “I don’t know.” Sign up at mobilize.us/nysdems.

Postcarding: Postcard writing, sometimes known as “Sharpie Therapy,” can help channel your election season angst. It’s a nice way to meet new people in the community and stay informed. Or for a slightly more couch potato approach to civic engagement, write postcards with your best friend, Netflix.

Join weekly post carding at DNC campaign headquarters (71 Hill Street, Southampton) every Tuesday and Thursday 10 a.m. to noon, or pick up postcards 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Or join a postcard writing party in Water Mill every Tuesday from 4 to 6 p.m. RSVP to Jackie at hilly.jackie@gmail.com.

If it seems like everyone has already made up their minds, remember, District One has more registered independents (or “blanks” as they’re called), than any other district in New York State. Campaigning really matters out here.

The 2024 National election will be determined by a sliver of “undecided” voters in swing states. So let’s also help this last little group of voters get down off the fence and vote.

Whichever way the chips fall after November 5, I at least want to look back and know I did everything I could to get pro-environment candidates into office … that I took the advice of Michelle Obama to “Just. Do. Something.”