This page was last updated on September 8, 2011.
Protect clean air standards; Michael Tracht - PennEnvironment; Beaver County Times; September 7, 2011.
You won’t be surprised to learn PennEnvironment believes in manmade global warming. Other letters from PennEnvironment activists/employees include “Altmire’s vote does not tell whole tale,” “Wind power beats drilling any day,” “Address mass transit needs,” and “Fund mass transit adequately.”
Mr. Tracht graduated from the University of Chicago this summer with an “A.B. in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations” and was “Senior Fellow, Energy and the Environment at Roosevelt Institute Campus Network.” The RICN (“a division of the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute”) was “Founded in the wake of the 2004 election, the Roosevelt Institute Campus Network was formed in order to strengthen the progressive movement by meaningfully engaging young people in politics.” In other words, Mr. Tracht trained to be a leftist political activist. Mr. Tracht joined PennEnvironment in August. I’m not sure how an “A.B. in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations” is relevant to an “environmental advocacy organization.”
Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.
“This summer, we saw dozens of days of extreme heat and dangerous air pollution levels.”
[RWC] Please review Mr. Tracht’s qualifications as I noted above.
This is at least the second PennEnvironment letter to target U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire (D-4) this year.
I don’t know Mr. Tracht’s definition of “extreme heat,” but since the beginning of summer on June 21st through September 6th, we’ve had only 14 days when the high temperature was 90 degrees or higher (Pittsburgh International Airport). Mr. Tracht didn’t mention where he got his info about “dangerous air pollution levels.”
“Remarkably, while 15,000 Beaver County asthmatics struggle to breathe, including 3,500 children, President Barack Obama won’t pursue new ozone standards that could reduce smog-forming pollution, which causes asthma attacks, heart attacks, and even death.”
[RWC] Again, Mr. Tracht didn’t provide his data source.
“However, our air is at an even greater risk. Congress has taken 110 votes this year on measures that would block or roll back environmental protections, including some coming that will reduce mercury pollution, which is a dangerous neurotoxin that can cause developmental disorders in babies.
“Now, this fight is about whether our legislators will stand up for the health of Pennsylvania or stand up for polluters.”
[RWC] You have to love this. Take PennEnvironment’s position or you support pollution, “developmental disorders in babies,” et cetera. I wonder if Mr. Tracht learned this technique at the Roosevelt Institute Campus Network or during his short time at PennEnvironment.
“Our air can only get healthier if U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire makes a simple promise to protect clean air policies that would reduce harmful pollution and reduce the risk of illness to our children and families.
“Let’s hope that’s exactly what he does.”
[RWC] If you believe the folks ultimately behind outfits like PennEnvironment are really concerned about “harmful pollution” and so on, I have a bridge to sell you. Mr. Tracht’s short background is only one piece of evidence.
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