Sussex County Council has hardly ever seen a residential development it did not approve of, despite their impacts on traffic, a fragile ecosystem, schools, access to medical facilities, transporting of workers, emergency services and the impact on those who make this area a summer resort. It has been a rubber stamp for developers of expensive single-family homes.
Whether directly, through their votes, or indirectly through their appointments to the planning & zoning commission, Sussex County Council members have not done adequate planning in saving our environment and sustaining a good quality of life.
We finally have a candidate running in District 3, which represents the Rehoboth, Milton, Lewes, Long Neck and Slaughter Beach areas, in Jane Gruenebaum, who understands this and has devoted her time to improving conditions for those who live, work or play here. Her leadership in the Sussex Preservation Coalition has brought about changes in buffers between developments and encouraged infrastructure improvements.
Jane has a long history of nonprofit leadership, which she began after her education. She has been the head of the National League of Women Voters; been a senior staff member at the think tank, Brookings Institution; and been the legislative director of the National Abortion Federation. She knows how to legislate and negotiate on behalf of our interests and has no ties to the real estate industry, as has traditionally been the case for Sussex County Council members.
On Tuesday, Nov. 5, vote for Jane Gruenebaum to change the priorities of our county government, putting people and our natural environment first.