West Orange Students To Rally, Demand Action On Climate Change

WEST ORANGE, NJ — UPDATE: The rally previously scheduled for Feb. 13 has been postponed to Feb. 20 at noon. Our original article follows below.

A group of West Orange students plan to hold a “rapid environmental action” on Sunday, Feb. 13 in front of Town Hall, 66 Main Street from noon to 2 p.m. A rain date is set for Sunday, Feb. 20.

Organizers behind the rally said they were partly inspired by local events in the wake of Hurricane Ida. Following the flooding, a rockslide permanently displaced 45 families living at Ron Jolyn on 275 Northfield Avenue. The loss of 1,000 trees on a ridgeline granted by variances at the West Orange Zoning Board to build the Seton Hall Prep Athletic Complex may be to blame, some activists and families have alleged.

“It is time for West Orange officials to face reality,” said Daniel Shapiro, a Golda Och student and a member of the NJ Student Sustainability Coalition, a statewide organization of students working for environmental action.

“The climate crisis is threatening us,” said Shapiro, who is helping to spearhead the rally along with his peer on the coalition, Svanfridur Mura.

“Some of our friends have literally lost their homes,” Shapiro said. “All we see is more development and destruction of our local environment. This needs to change, now – full stop.”

Organizers said environmental issues are “personal” to them in a news release. They wrote:

“West Orange is a mountain town with steep slopes and a flood-prone valley. West Orange residents are concerned that our mountains are falling down from overdevelopment while our taxes are going up. At the same time, existing environmental ordinances, such as protecting all forests and not building on ridgelines, are not being enforced. Every West Orange resident has the right to pure water, clean air and soil, and healthy environments. We have a right to have greenspace within walking distance of our homes. We have the right to an environment with natural resilience to disasters. We have a right to live free of excessive noise and pollution. Yet our town officials have encouraged overbuilding and extensive tree cutting. Instead of taking meaningful actions to safeguard our futures, they have focused their ‘environmental’ efforts on greenwashing: ignoring serious threats.”

Organizers said they’re demanding that the West Orange Town Council and mayor vote on comprehensive legislation to:

1. “Prevent any future environmental negligence as occurred at the disaster at Ron Jolyn Apartment Complex.”
2. “Preserve the Mt. Pleasant forest and the Hecker Carriage House.”
3. “Create a stronger tree ordinance. Ban the sale and planting of invasive species.”
4. “Ban any further construction on steep slopes or ridge lines.”
5. “Ban gas powered blowers and trimmers.”
6. “Demand the County define the boundaries of the Turtle Back Zoo and object to any further development in South Mountain Reservation. Use the Open Space Trust Fund for land preservation.”
7. “Cut down on municipal carbon emissions, including through measures such as electrifying town vehicles, improving the energy efficiency of municipal buildings, and finding clean energy alternatives to current energy sources.”
8. “Join a clean energy aggregation program to reduce residential carbon emissions.”
9. “Promote a walkable, bikeable town.”
10. “Promote electric vehicle usage by building electric charging stations.”
11. “Establish a comprehensive and aggressive town-wide plan to reduce carbon emissions and improve climate resilience to protect residents.”
12. “End permits for new construction heated by fossil fuels and enforce energy efficiency among new developments.”

“West Orange residents want a livable, sustainable West Orange, and are preparing to rally for our futures,” organizers said. “Students are increasingly anxious and frustrated with the lack of action to protect their futures, and will only be passive for so long.”

“There are do-able, affordable measures West Orange can, should, and must take today for the wellbeing of residents tomorrow,” organizers added. “In a crisis, excuses don't matter. Actions count.”

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com

Sign up for Patch email newsletters. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Don’t forget to visit the Patch West Orange Facebook page.