My interest in the environmental movement began with the Love Canal relocation effort where I helped organize the religious community (Ecumenical Task Force of the Niagara Frontier) to advocate for the residents. Subsequently, the Ecumenical Task Force helped form the NYS Labor-Environmental Network, a coalition of labor unions and grassroots environmental groups from communities impacted by toxic waste dumps.
In 1982, I was named director of the Western New York Council on Occupational Safety and Health (WNYCOSH) where we organized workers in the fight for safer workplaces and communities. WNYCOSH joined the national OSHA-Environmental Network (cochaired nationally by the AFL-CIO and the Sierra Club). Locally WNYCOSH worked with the local Sierra Club to prevent the Reagan Administration from undermining the Clean Air Act. During my tenure at WNYCOSH (1982–2014) I worked with area unions to eliminate toxic chemicals in the workplace and the community and for landmark legislation such as the NYS Workers’ Right to Know Law.
Recently, I have served on the Sierra Club Niagara Group ExCom. As chair of the Group’s Political Committee, I have solicited local and state political candidates to seek Atlantic Chapter’s endorsement by supporting the Chapter’s legislative priorities.
As a member of the Niagara Group’s Executive Committee I have continued to network with organized labor (e.g., the WNY Building Trades Council joined with our Group to oppose county legislation prohibiting wind turbines on Lake Erie). I also helped form and co-convene the Interfaith Climate Justice Community of WNY which has joined with the Niagara Group and the Divest NY/350.org in support of the NYS Fossil Fuel Divestment Act. With others, I represent the Niagara Group on the local NY Renews campaign to implement the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.