November 17, 2024
Dear Friends,
Earlier this week, the sight of wildfires burning in northern Manhattan was not what one might call part of a typical news day. The fact is, we are in a serious drought. The last time we had a measurable rain in New York City was on September 29. Now, the leaves and brush that come to the ground in the fall are incredibly dry, and all it takes is one errant cigarette butt to set it ablaze.
Why has it stopped raining? I am not a meteorologist, but I suspect it has something to do with wind patterns and ground temperature. When I have asked the question aloud, the answer I receive is quick: global warming. Or, climate change. In other words, it is our fault. Our continued reliance on fossil fuels is warming the atmosphere, and disrupting normal weather patterns, causing it to dry up in some places and flood in others. I have no doubt that this is true, and a president-elect who loves to chant, “drill baby, drill” is worrisome, indeed.