Commentary
Strength In Numbers: An Environmental Town Hall
Last week, we saw over 200 people fill University of Houston Downtown’s White Oak Ballroom. The chance to voice observations, complaints, hopes and concerns to a power packed panel proved to be too tempting to pass up. The panel, comprised of Mark Vickery, Larry Soward, Representative Jessica Farrar and Stephen Linder, Ph. D, listened, responded and sometimes apologized for issue after issue. From landfills and injection wells to toxic neighbors and breakdowns in the ability of agencies to professionally and effectively communicate with citizens, almost no stone was left unturned as voice after voice was heard for almost two hours.
The town hall’s underlying purpose was that, as we approach the Sunset Review of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, organizations such as Air Alliance Houston would give citizens a way to make their voices heard
What we saw on the night exceeded our hopes. Not only did we have a turnout that resulted in standing room only for much of the evening but we witnessed a roomfull of strangers from all corners of the Houston region – from Conroe to distant Bay City – share, relate and support one another. The voices blended throughout the evening to reinforce the message that the Houston region cares about its environment and needs to see improvements in key areas. The fact that the TCEQ Executive Director and key regional staff were present and listening was crucial. Beyond the Sunset review of the TCEQ, such interactions between agency and citizen are tremendously powerful, not only for a person who needs to be heard but for the regulator who needs to hear. We trust that the evening was as positive for those who came before the panel as it was for those sitting on the panel. Having such dialogue – honest, impassioned, respectful dialogue – is something that has been sorely lacking in the Houston region. If there is any lasting result of the night, it is our hope that we can start to have much more such dialogue and see our conversations bear real results in environmental improvements. For those who couldn’t make it, and for those who wish to listen again, enjoy the download below.
