Democrat Steven Englebright, always a conscientious and effective representative for his district, has emerged as the leading environmental voice in the Assembly. It’s a much-needed one.
As chairman of the environmental conservation committee, Englebright, 70, of Setauket, convened joint hearings with the Senate upstate and on Long Island on water-quality issues, got a bill passed to study ocean acidification, and formed a working group on climate change that held hearings on its impact on New York.
His Republican opponent, attorney Steven Weissbard, 52, of Stony Brook, has great energy but is a climate-change denier.
Englebright supports Suffolk County’s idea for a public referendum to institute a water-usage fee to reduce nitrogen in Long Island’s waters. We expect him to use his knowledge and experience to help shepherd a good plan to reality.
Newsday endorses Englebright.