Mayor Email: Hello from new Bloomington resident; green initiatives 1 message Jane <seejaneread@gmail.com> Mon, Aug 8, 2016 at 11:33 AM To: mayor@bloomington.in.gov Dear Mayor Hamilton, Hello, My name is Jane Cronkhite. I have recently moved to Bloomington. I grew up here and lived in Bloomington from 1980-2000, attending Indiana University from 1996-2000. I returned and am now the Associate Director of the Monroe County Public Library. I am very excited to be back in the city I love with so many wonderful amenities! I have heard many great things about you from other residents and I was just reading about you on the City's web site. I saw you have a background serving the State as Commissioner of Environmental Management, which is fantastic. I've spent my last nine years living in San Jose, California. One thing I've noticed upon my return to Bloomington is while there are some extraordinary green spaces in the City and wonderful parks I plan to take advantage of, I think Bloomington has a way to go with other environmental protective measures. I encourage you to consider an expansion of measures such as a plastic bag ban or a more robust recycling program. I've spoken to several people who tell me they take their recycling in themselves, which I think is an inconvenience. Reading the City's sanitation page, apartments and complexes with more than four buildings do not have bins provided. I am a renter and I do not have bins, and in my few weeks in town, I've seen trash overflowing at my complex. I expect many students who live off campus are not recycling. I think the vast majority of the City's waste that is eligible for recycling is going to landfills, which is a shame. Please consider putting in more green sanitation measures to protect the City. I think residents would pay for services to protect the City; I know I would. Thank you for your consideration, and congratulations on your position serving the City! Best, Jane Cronkhite