Greening Framingham

Framingham must double down on activities and investments in making Framingham more green and sustainable.

For too long Framingham has been behind our neighbors on fighting climate change. Today we are making progress, but more must be done to leave our kids a better future. 

For John, sustainability is a way of life. Driving an electric vehicle, growing his own fruits and vegetables in his garden, keeping bees, and composting are all part of the Stefanini household. 

For John’s last two terms, he:

• Advocated for the cleaning of environmental justice sites, such as Mary Dennison Park, Cedar Swamp and 350 Irving Street; 
• Wrote the Municipal Aggregation ordinance to bring community, clean energy to Framingham; 
• Created the Sustainability and Bike, Hike and Sidewalk Committees to bring residents’ voices into the discussion on how to make Framingham more green and increase public transportation; 
• Supported the purchase of land for the Bruce Freedman Rail Trail, and the expansion of rail trails, including the Upper Charles Trail, in South Framingham; 
• Worked with local community gardens to provide open space for residents to grow their own food and supported efforts to bring more community gardens to neighborhoods; 
• Supported and participated in the efforts of Keep Framingham Beautiful.

Framingham needs to bring top-notch qualified environmental professionals to the table to help us develop and implement efficient and cost effective policies and programs that will enhance and help sustain our environmental integrity.

John will support policies, budgets, and appointments that:

• Reduce, recycle & reuse our solid waste streams and safely reduce, eliminate and dispose of hazardous waste by setting aggressive measurable goals for each and establishing known best practices, and provide curbside composting;
• Increase residents awareness of how they can conveniently reduce their carbon footprint and help make Green Framingham a reality in our homes and in our daily lives;
• Preserve, protect and promote our open space and recreational areas, including our working farms, Farmers’ Markets, and community gardens;
• Locate charging stations throughout Framingham, including at our schools and Memorial Building;
• Increase Framingham’s use of renewable energy, reducing its overall power consumption, utilizing a more environmentally friendly fleet of vehicles, and exploring additional alternative energy sources including wind, solar and non-fossil fuel sources to power technology; and,
• Cleanup environmentally contaminated sites throughout our community, including 350 Irving Street, General Chemical, and Dennison Park, prevent pollution, stop pollution and hold environmental polluters responsible.

To achieve these goals, we need to make our environment one of our top priorities. Framingham, needs a cabinet-level Director in charge to monitor and manage our progress in achieving these goals.