A.G. Gancarski
Weeks after issuing a Tweet that could reasonably be interpreted to support President Donald Trump‘s decision to break the Paris Accord, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry still fields questions on the subject.
Curry responded to a citizen email this week on the matter, elaborating on statements he made in a presser that was — before his Tweet — focused on the more quotidian topic of summer camp funding.
“As mayor,” Curry noted, “I do not take a specific position on the international Paris Climate Accord. President Trump campaigned on protecting American workers and our nation’s economic interests.”
“As mayor,” Curry added, “I support those goals, to create conditions that are conducive to good jobs and economic growth here in Jacksonville. When the president and his administration act in a way that is in the best interest of working Americans, I am supportive of that.”
Curry cited his administration’s stewardship of natural resources as “an important commitment I make to the future success of our city. That is why I have created budgets that will phase out septic tanks that threaten our river, reduce our energy consumption, and preserve green spaces.”
Curry closed with a capital-R Republican conclusion that would be at home in a Cato Institute web post.
“This commitment here in Jacksonville is made, and will continue, without interference from federal authorities and regardless of international agreements that burden U.S. taxpayers while other nations fail to meet the same standards we do here in our nation. Policies that harm the U.S. economy are not good for the environment, taxpayers, or our long-term success,” Curry concluded.
Curry’s emailed response follows up on his presser comments.
Curry, during a press conference Friday morning discussing summer camp funding, explained his Tweet, which he said “spoke for itself.”
“I didn’t take a specific position,” Curry said about the Paris Accord, saying his Tweet was a “general statement of support” for Trump’s actions.
Rather, Curry supports President Trump’s commitment to “American jobs.” But he did outline qualms with the agreement itself, including no obligation imposed on China until 2030, which means “13 years on the backs of American workers.”
And other European countries, Curry said, are seeing their emissions go up, even as American emission levels decrease.
The Paris Accord, Curry added, “has no teeth to it.”
